Doris Adele Firmin Jeansonne, 95, of Beaumont, passed away Monday, August 29, 2011 surrounded by her loving family.

Doris was formerly a school teacher in central Louisiana. Her biggest and best job later in life was Jimmy’s wife and the mother of their five children.

She was born May 12, 1916 in Cottonport, Louisiana to Louis and Edna Firmin. She was the youngest of four children (one brother and two sisters). They were raised and lived on a farm in Cottonport.

Doris loved music and at the age of 13 she played guitar and sang. She played with a group at school functions, family gatherings and in the country neighborhood. She said that was their entertainment in those days.  She also played piano by ear and could play anything she heard. She passed this wonderful God given talent on to some of her children and grandchildren.  She insisted that every one of us should be exposed to music and see where it would take us. 

At 18 Doris left the farm and traveled by train to Shreveport, Louisiana, where she attended St. Vincent’s College and Academy.  She made her way through school working for the nuns at the school and with money sent to her from her brother.  She received her teaching degree May 28, 1937, at the age of 21.

She told us that during the first year of school all of the girls were homesick and would cry at night.  The girls asked her why she did not cry and she said her mother had told her to be happy, and get an education, because there was nothing to come home to but lots of hard work on the farm.

After graduating, Doris came back to the small Louisiana town of Cottonport and began teaching school.  She specialized in English and had an unusual talent in spelling. Doris could spell correctly any word she was given.

Our father, James Jeansonne earned a bachelor’s degree at Northwestern University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, and also returned to central Louisiana to teach school.

They each met the love of their lives while teaching that year.

Doris married Jimmy, Christmas Eve, 1939, while they were both on Christmas break from teaching. They honeymooned in Alexandria, Louisiana.

They moved in with Doris’ parents, when at age 25 she had their first child and she continued to teach.

Doris would stay in Louisiana while Jimmy worked summers in the southeast Texas petrochemical industry to help their income for the growing family.  Doris stopped teaching when their second child was born.

One summer while jimmy was working in southeast Texas, he called Doris and told her he had been offered a permanent position at BF Goodrich Company in Port Neches.  Doris told him to stay there, accept the job, and she would come meet him.

Doris, borrowed a truck, loaded up the two babies, loaded everything they owned, and over gravel roads took off for southeast Texas.  She was never homesick.

Three more children were born in southeast Texas.  Jimmy continued to grow in the chemical industry and was now maintenance superintendent of Jefferson Chemical Company/Texaco.  After twenty-five years Jimmy took early retirement.  He and Doris then concentrated on various land developments and raising their cattle on a ranch in Hillister, Texas.

After selling the ranch, Doris and Jimmy, traveled to many wonderful locations around the world. They stayed for months at a time in several different countries.  Jimmy was doing consulting work for Scientific Design of New York.

While Jimmy worked, Doris took language classes in each country and always made efforts to learn the different cultures.  Doris wrote and published a book of their unique travels “We Were There”, for her children and grandchildren to enjoy. Together they loved and enjoyed people, new experiences, music, dancing at every opportunity, living life to its fullest.  Above all they loved their family and keeping us close in love.

Doris and Jimmy finally settled in Beaumont, Texas.

Doris was preceded in death by her soul mate, Jimmy, who passed away at 91. Doris is also the last surviving sibling in her family.

Doris leaves behind all of her five children, Felice J. Girouard and her husband Marvin of Fort Worth, Stephen Michael (Mike) Jeansonne of Lumberton, Jane J. Fontenot and her husband Dean of Beaumont, Lanell P. Jeansonne of Novi, Michigan, and Neil James Jeansonne and his wife April of Beaumont; thirteen grandchildren; and twenty great grandchildren.

Doris taught her children to pray and to always have faith in God. In the family we knew her prayers were always answered. She prayed for our special intentions, and we always knew her prayers would be answered.  Above all, she taught us to give thanks to God for our blessings.  Doris was a teacher and a wonderful example of a wife, mother, and grandmother to all of us.

Thank you God for the overwhelming blessings our family has received to have had these two such wonderful parents in our lives to 91 and 95 years of age. 

The family wishes to thank all of Libby’s ladies, Becky, Rhoda, Phyllis, and Brenda, who provided Doris, our mother, with love care and support.  They helped us make sure Mom was never alone.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated  10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 3, 2011 at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church Chapel, 6825 Gladys, Beaumont followed by entombment at Greenlawn Memorial Park, Groves under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 N Major Drive, Beaumont.  A rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m. Friday evening, September 2, 2001 followed by visitation at Broussard’s.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church, 6825 Gladys, Beaumont, Texas   77706.