October 11, 1915 – February 11, 2005
Husband, Daddy, Granddaddy,
Great Granddaddy
Carrell was born the second child of Elisha and Mina Jane (Carrell) Shinn in Van Zandt County, Texas. His early childhood brought him to Port Arthur, Texas, where he lived the majority of his remaining life. He graduated from Port Arthur High School in 1933. At 19 he started work at Gulf Oil Refinery in the Canning Factory. In 1976, he retired at the age of 60 as Section Head of the Accounting Department.
During the years in Port Arthur, he raised a family of two daughters and a son, Judy, Susie, and Rich. He had a thriving income tax business, which he maintained for sixty years, retiring at the ripe age of 83.
Following the death of his wife, Alma (Zoch), in 1970, he married Helen Brainard Beard in 1976, moving to Groves until 2002.
In 2002, after the death of his second wife, he married Virginia Christopher Shinn, and traveled, enjoying all the wonders of the world. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Beaumont where he and Virginia have been active in both the church and Sunday school class.
Carrell’s life long interests include hunting, both deer and fowl, fishing, telling tall tales, and enjoying people and life in general. He was always up for a good time, with a big smile. He provided many, oft times repeated, stories and tales of times gone by, with many friends and extended family.
His Bloody Bull recipe is renowned, as is his Venison Chili and Duck Gumbo.
He leaves his wife, Virginia; three children and their spouses, Judy and Mike Schmid, Susie Heimbach, and Sandy and Rich Shinn; grandchildren and their spouses, Kevin Deerman and wife Alicia, Kim Deerman McCleary and husband Derrick, Jaime Dyer Williams and husband Robert, Michelle, Kari, and Brendan Shinn, Mark Schmid and wife Tracey, and Jay Miller and wife Amanda; and great grandchildren include Conner and Collin Golighty, Cassey Schmid, Ashleigh and Michael Miller and Dax McCleary. He is also survived by his half-brother, Jess Cunniff, along with numerous nieces and nephews. His newly extended family and their spouses include Cheryl and Gary Christopher, Geri and Todd Christopher, Linda and the late Craig Christopher, their children and grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Abby Ross Shinn, Bentrice Weaver, Jeppie Joyce Whitt; and one brother Elwyn M. Shinn.
Visitation will be Sunday, February 13, from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Broussard’s, 1605 N. Major Drive, Beaumont, Texas. A memorial service will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, February 14, 2005 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 3430 Harrison, Beaumont, Texas. Honorary pallbearers will be all his grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice or to one of his. Those charities include The Salvation Army, 2350 I-10 East, Beaumont, Texas 77703; Young Life of Southeast Texas, 985 IH-10 North, Suite 111, Beaumont, Texas 77706; Some Other Place, P. O. Box 843, Beaumont, Texas 77704; or Trinity United Methodist Church of Beaumont, P. O. Box 7410, Beaumont, Texas 77726.
He will be missed by many long time friends and all his family.
