Edward Hartman Green or “Daddy Ed”, died on Tuesday, September 20, 2016.  He was one month shy of his 81st birthday.  Ed died at home, in Beaumont, Texas surrounded by his wife and six children.  Ed’s body finally succumbed to congestive heart failure.  His mind was sharp to the end.

            Ed was born in Beaumont, Texas on October 23, 1935.  He was the son of Edward Hartman Green, III and Dorothy Riggs Green.  Ed was an only child.

            Ed’s formative years took place during the height of World War II. Both parents supported the war effort.  Ed lived in Beaumont until 1943 when he and his mom followed Captain Green to New York City.  They lived in New York for a year until Captain Green shipped out.  Ed was proud of the fact that his dad fought in all three Naval Theatres (Atlantic, Mediterranean and Pacific).

            During this year in New York, Ed’s schooling was a little unique.  He did not attend classes.  Rather his mom worked on teaching him other lessons such as learning to appreciate opera, nature, museums, and reading at the New York City Library.

            When Ed and his mom returned to Beaumont, Ed continued his Catholic schooling at St. Anne’s Grammar School.  He then continued on to St. Anthony High School.

            While in high school, Ed played football and golf.  He was All District Center on the football team.

            Upon graduating from St. Anthony High School, Ed attended the University of Notre Dame from 1953 to 1957.  He joined the Naval ROTC to help pay for his education.  He graduated with a BA in Business, and as a commissioned officer, rank as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.

            Ed immediately served two years in the U.S. Marine Corps.  He had various stations including Okinawa.  He has quickly promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant.  He was in charge on an Ontos or “tank killer” for a Squadron.

            Ed was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps in 1959. 

            During this entire time, Ed had met and befriended Margaret Phelan.  The relationship started when he was 6 years old, their fate was inextricably intertwined.  While their dating was on and off through high school, Ed did have the honor of being Margaret’s Neches River Festival escort.

            After high school, the relationship was complicated by the fact that both traveled for school and then work.  While Margaret might have been in the United States, Ed was in Okinawa.  When Ed was in the United States, Margaret might have been Cuba teaching.  Nonetheless, they reconnected for good while Ed was attending the University of Texas Law School starting in 1959.

            On November 25, 1960, Ed married his sweetheart, Margaret Phelan.

            Ed graduated from University of Texas Law School in May 1962.  He was a new father at the time.  He returned to Beaumont, and was licensed to practice law in September 1962.

            In his professional career, Ed embarked on a 55 year distinguished career as a tenacious and accomplished trial lawyer. In his waning years he labored fiercely for Mil-Vid Company and brought it incredible success with his negotiating skills. His uncle, John Green, was a great mentor to him in Mil-Vid.  Though he practiced for 55 years, being a lawyer is not what defined Ed.

            Starting in 1962, “Poppa Ed” side of his life began, and he devoted the balance of his life to his family.  Family was, unquestionably, his priority.

            Ed and Margaret raised six children and helped raise their ten grandchildren.  Over the years they have fought for, provided for and protected their family.  Ed took great joy and pride in sharing in the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren.

            Ed has been described as “leading a purpose driven life fueled by family”.  Truer words have rarely been spoken.  Ed dedicated his life, in all he did, to providing and protecting his wife and children.  That legacy will be his greatest.

            As noted, Ed was an accomplished trial attorney.  He was involved in some of the leading tort litigation in Jefferson County, Texas and, therefore, in the United States.  However, Ed was not defined by the practice of law.  He had many hobbies and loves.  These generally could be divided seasonally.

            Ed loved the fall, and opening of football season.  He followed the Oilers while in Houston.  He loved Notre Dame Football. He spent many Saturdays dove hunting and listening to Notre Dame Football and Sundays, after church, dove hunting and listening to Houston Oiler Football.

            He particularly looked forward to the opening of duck season which continued through winter.  He loved being in the blind at 5:30 in the morning, waiting on the sunrise at the opening day of the first hunt and every hunt thereafter, even cold January mornings.

            Spring gave way to the Astros baseball.  He followed them religiously, no matter how bad they were.  Watching on television he would chart the games.  He could recite statistics and history as if reading from a book. 

Spring morphed into summer which meant incorporating fishing into watching baseball.  All the fishing poles would be worked on. The boat would be prepared. All six children (including the girls) were reminded on how to find a submerged oyster reef with a cane sounding pole.

Even with those time constraints, Ed still found time to become a dangerous poker player, a city handball champion, an opera lover and world traveler.  The family will always remember him for packing his own Vienna sausage as a safety net for any country that he visited.

Ed is survived by his true love, Margaret Phelan Green his wife of almost 56 years.  He is also survived by his six children, Edward Hartman Green, V and wife Leigh, Mary Green West and husband Charlie, Meg Green Branch and husband Ronnie, Annie Green, Katherine Green Pope and husband Chris and Rachel Green Crutchfield and husband Barry.  He is also survived by his ten cherished grandchildren: Hart “Seis” and Everett and Adelle Green; Cordelia and Edward Pope; Mirabel and Bolivar Branch; and Nathan, Max and Alex Crutchfield.

The family would be remiss without mentioning his beloved cats, Sassy and Bat Cat.  They too were with him all the way through his fight.

Ed has too many nieces, nephews and in/outlaws to name.

Ed was predeceased by his father Edward Hartman Green, III (1958) and his mother, Dorothy Riggs Green (1987). 

A gathering of Ed’s family and friends will begin 5:00 p.m., with a Christian Vigil at 6:30 p.m., Friday, September 23, 2016, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00am on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at St. Anne Catholic Church, 2715 Calder Avenue, Beaumont.  His interment will immediately follow at Magnolia Cemetery, Beaumont.  The funeral will be officiated by Monsignor William Manger.  Pall Bearers are his six children, some of whom will be represented by their spouse.  Pall Bearers will also include all grandchildren.

Honorary Pall Bearers are Tanner Hunt, Charlie Weinbaum, John Sehon, Charles Wales and Brigadier General Mike P. Cokinos.

Donations in Ed’s name can be made to The American Heart Association, P.O. Box 841125, Dallas, Texas 75284.  In that vein, the Green family would like to offer special thanks to Doctors Randy and Tommy Lombardo and Dr. George Thomas who helped facilitate the medical miracle of allowing Ed Green to live a full life even with multiple heart problems.  The family is especially appreciative and thankful to all of the caregivers who became part of the family during the last eight months of Ed’s life.  This includes in no particular order Linda Simon, Thyra Simon, LaTonya Morris, Georgia Robinson, Donna Robertson, Cynthia Bertrand, the Head Hospice Nurse, Amber Rickenbrode.  All of the family offers a very special thanks to Oscar Valdez and Olga Olivaries for everything they did for Ed and the Green Family.

Ed’s devoted love and Catholic faith, his relationship to God and the love and support of his Catholic clergy provided great comfort and strength throughout the course of his life.  This support and strength was especially realized over the last few years of his life.