Marion Gladys Burnette DeGutis, “Grandmama from Georgia”, “Aunt Marion” or “Mrs. D.” died Friday, October 24, 2014, in Silsbee, Texas, at the age of 98. Marion, who was a quick-witted, feisty farm girl from Virginia, brought joy to her family and friends throughout her life. Her final months were spent peacefully and with little pain, and recently celebrated her 98th birthday with a Dr. Pepper (her favorite), cake, ice cream and many family members.
Marion was born on October 8, 1916, in Gladys, Virginia, to Otey Guster Burnette and Mary Hester Kessee Burnette (“Granny” and “Grandaddy”), and was the last surviving of their 12 children. Marion was preceded in death by her husband, Al DeGutis; her six brothers, Raymond, Lawrence, Junior, Bill, Richard and Curtis Burnette; and by her five sisters, Reva Burnette, Louise Inge, Frances Cheryba, Eursie Belcher and Pauline Burnette.
Marion DeGutis was born and raised on a farm in Campbell County Virginia. She met the love of her life, Al DeGutis, who was a finish carpenter and contractor, and eventually moved to a house on Wheeler Street in Hapeville, Georgia in 1945. She remained there until 2005 when she moved to Beaumont, Texas to be closer to her daughter and her Texas family, but she always considered Gladys, Virginia her home.
While in Hapeville, Marion was very active including spending time going to garage sales, crafting, painting and firing ceramics, crocheting and playing bingo. Marion prided herself by knowing everyone on Wheeler Street. Her grandchildren have fond memories of her Dodge Dart (with plastic covering on the seats), their attic full of toys, the never-ending basement full of woodshop tools and projects, her terrapin pit in the backyard, the infamous personalized water bottles (made out of recycled dish soap bottles, and labeled using a permanent marker) in the ice-box and the time spent back on the farm in Virginia. Marion never met a stranger; a trait that she passed to her daughter, Marie. In her later years in Georgia, and then in Texas, she spent most every afternoon in a lawn chair in her front yard, accompanied by her dog, Bambi, waving to everyone on foot, bicycle or car. She lived independently until earlier this year when she moved to a retirement home in Silsbee, Texas.
Marion is survived by her daughter, Marie Broussard and her family; grandchildren, Dale Broussard of Nederland, Texas; Tom Broussard and his wife, Donna, of Lumberton, Texas; David Broussard and his wife, Toni, of Spring, Texas; and Marian West and her husband, Steve, of Carrollton, Texas; 12 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Viola Burnette and numerous nieces and nephews.
A gathering of Mrs. DeGutis’ family and friends will be from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., Saturday, November 1, 2014, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. A second gathering will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Monday, November 3, 2014, at Finch & Finch Funeral and Cremation, 124 Flynn Street, Gladys, Virginia 24554. Her graveside service will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, November 4, 2014, at Kedron Baptist Church Cemetery, 7862 Brookneal Highway, Gladys, Virginia 24554.
