Joel Swilley Martin, 87, of Beaumont, died Thursday, May 19, 2016, at Atria Collier Park, Beaumont. She was born on December 12, 1928, in New Willard, Texas, to Lacy Lee James Swilley and Hoxie Vernon Swilley, and had been a longtime resident of Beaumont.
As a child Joel spent happy summers in New Willard with her Granny Swilley and many cousins. She always delighted in seeing her extended family at the annual Swilley Reunion. Her father’s job caused them to move several times in some years but that resulted in her skipping a grade and graduating from Beaumont High School a year early (1945). Surviving tuberculosis at 19, she had a strong work ethic that she instilled in her children. Her employment included First Security Bank and Southwestern Drug Company plus she retired twice, first from Coburn Supply and then from Coburn Credit Union. When her husband Charlie retired in 1994, they moved to Kerrville where they enjoyed Hill Country life for several years, but they missed being close to family, so they relocated to Kingwood in 2001. After Charlie passed away in 2010, Joel remained in Kingwood until 2013 when she returned to Beaumont, moving into Atria Collier Park, where she made many friends and enjoyed bingo and music events.
Joel loved her lunches with high school classmates and was looking forward to their 71st reunion in June. Watching sports was a lifelong passion, especially Duke Blue Devil basketball, Texas Ranger baseball, Peyton Manning and PGA golf. She always had pets, mainly parakeets and dogs, and supported the work of the Humane Society. She missed her beloved Yorkie, Boo, who died in 2015.
She is survived by her children, George E. Brown III and his wife, Debbie, of Jacksonville, Texas and Martha Pate, of Beaumont; grandchildren, Stephanie Denise Castle, of Houston; Nicole Brown, of Katy; Joel “JoTe” Brown, of Austin; Suzanne Pate and Jennifer Pate, both of Beaumont; Jamie Holland and her husband, Randy, of Teague; and Jason Lee, of Jacksonville, Texas; eleven great-grandchildren, and siblings, James Swilley and his wife, DeCondia; Glenda Nunez and her husband, Dan; and Paula Doyle, all of Beaumont, as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Joel is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Charles S. Martin III; and sister, Irma Howard; and nieces, Patricia Borgstedte and Darby Guin.
A gathering of Mrs. Martin’s family and friends will begin at 12:00 p.m., with her funeral service to follow at 2:00 p.m., Monday, May 23, 2016, at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 1350 North 23rd Street, Beaumont. Her interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.
Memorial contributions may be made to Humane Society of Southeast Texas, P.O. Box 1629, Beaumont, Texas 77704; St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 1350 North 23rd Street, Beaumont, Texas 77706; or to an organization of one’s choice.
