Shirley Ann Jacobs Alter passed away peacefully on the morning of May 2, 2010. Born June 23, 1929, in Beaumont, Shirley was the daughter of Helen and Morris Jacobs, founders of what is now Alter’s Gem Jewelry, Ltd., a 95 year old family business.

Shirley attended Beaumont High School and then the University of Texas where she belonged to Sigma Delta Tau sorority and earned a degree in Bachelor of Arts Honors Plan II in 1950.

Shirley married Nelson Tobias Alter, of San Antonio, on June 12, 1949. They made their home in Beaumont where Nelson became President of Alter’s Gem Jewelry.  Shirley is survived by her husband, Nelson, their children – Alyce and Dennis Alter of Chesterfield, MO, Sherri and Keith Alter of Wichita, KS, Wendy Alter of Los Angeles, CA and Lori and Brian Alter of Beaumont, TX.  They enjoy ten grandchildren – Jennifer and Grant Alter, Blake Alter, Allison Alter, Laine and Adam Alter, Daniel Alter, Devon Alter, Carly Alter and Arianna Alter; and, one great grandson, Jackson Parker Alter.

Shirley was very active philanthropically. She was President of the local chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women in 1965 and 1966, President of the Sisterhood of Temple Emanuel in 1967 and 1968 and was a life member, President of the Buckner Children & Family Services of Southeast Texas Auxiliary from 1970-1972 and remained on the board until her recent illness, served on the Board of Directors of Temple Emanuel where she was President Elect from 1994-1996 and as President from 1996-1998.  Shirley was active in several other organizations including the Beaumont Music Commission, the Own-A-Book Club, the board of the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, and was a local founder of Reach To Recovery in 1973.  She was active in the BMW Drive for the Cure of breast cancer and named a hero of the Susan B. Komen Foundation in 1997.  She also was active in the Julie Rogers Gift of Life Foundation.

Shirley will best be remembered by her unbounding love of family, her regal demeanor and her genuine warmth and care for others. 

Services will be held 11:00 AM Wednesday, May 5, 2010, at Temple Emanuel, 1120 Broadway in Beaumont with burial to follow in Hebrew Rest under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont.

Should you so choose, donations are requested to be sent to Temple Emanuel, 1120 Broadway, Beaumont, Texas 77701; Buckner Children & Family Services of Southeast Texas, 9055 Manion, Beaumont, Texas 77706; or the Julie Roger Gift of Life Foundation, 2390 Dowlen Rd., Beaumont, Texas 77707.

Lori Alter shares this story…

I have a secret.  I have a secret and I have held it for nearly 30 years.  This seems like the right time and place to share my secret.

It was about those 30 years ago, when my dad, of blessed memory, began worrying that his youngest daughter needed a husband.  Ok, so I bought into the idea.  As I was looking for what I considered “husband” material, it became clear, that I was also looking for a good mother-in-law.  I know that when you marry, it is a package deal including lots of other family members, but that mother-in-law was tops on my list.  As many of you know, I lost my mother as a teen ager.  That left a void that I knew could be filled through a great mother-in-law.

Brian and I had been dating awhile when I was invited to my first trip to Beaumont.  As I walked nervously in the door, I felt immediately welcomed and part of the family.  It didn’t hurt that my now adult niece Allison and nephew Grant ran up and hugged me, but I felt an instant connection and comfort with Mother.  She was warm, wise, charming and beautiful.

Over the years I learned a lot from Mother.  She was beautiful on the inside as well as on the outside. She was direct and honest.  Although she never minced words, her words were spoken with kindness and a gentle tongue.  I remember early on, when one of my sister’s-in-law and I were in a room with Mother.  The sister-in-law began to say something negative about another of us girls.  Mother immediate put her hand out and said, “Stop.  I don’t want to hear it, and if you have something to say to that person, take it to her.”  Wow.  I learned quickly that she was never going to take sides, and if there were words to say, say them and be done.

I learned how to be a better person from Mom.  We shared our love of cooking and entertaining.  She taught me a lot about being a hostess and over the years she slowly let up her hold on having all the family dinners in their home.

She taught me how to be a better wife and mother.

She taught me how to be a better volunteer and leader and she had a stronger belief in me than I had in myself.

Toward the end, I often teased Mom that I was her favorite  daughter/daughter-in-law. Truth was, she loved us all equally and unconditionally.

I had a great mother-in-law. She became to me, a great mom who led her life with dignity, glamour, passion, wit, love and lots of fun.

My secret is out.  Come to think of it, I don’t think it is a secret at all.