Kristi Lin Coleman Benson, 37, died Saturday July 9, 2005 after a long battle with cancer and M.S.
Kristi was a native of Beaumont, Texas. Her family moved to Kingwood, Texas when she was in middle school. She graduated from Kingwood High School in 1986. She returned to Beaumont to attend Lamar University. Kristi met and married Brian Benson making Beaumont their home. Kristi worked for Airborne Express for 12 years until her M.S. made it impossible to continue working.
A love for animals, especially dogs, was a great passion in her life. She will be greatly missed by Chip and Sweetie-pie. Always ready to create some fun and full of energy is how she will be remembered. Kristi loved to dance and enjoyed a good joke. Her strong will to live and fighting spirit was a lesson to all of us.
Survivors include her husband, Brian Benson; parents, Troy and Sherrill Coleman of Lumberton; brothers and sisters-in-law Troy and Cissy Coleman of Kingwood and Tod and Marilee Coleman; nephew, Andy and niece, Cassie of Lake Jackson; uncle, B.E. Cruthirds of Burkeville, Texas; mother-in-law, Mary Ann Luna of Spring Lake, Michigan; brother-in-law, Jeff Benson of Spring Lake, Michigan; sister-in-law, Trisha Sadler of New Hope, Alabama; step-mother-in-law, Maureen Benson of Beaumont; and a host of other family members and close friends who will miss her greatly.
A gathering of family and friends will begin 6:00 p.m. Tuesday July 12, 2005 at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont with a memorial service to follow at 7:00 p.m.
The family would like to thank Optioncare for exceptional support, especially nurses Bambi Chapman and Nancy Allen for their compassionate and extraordinary efforts. Also, special thanks to Noel Parson for her sincere, loving, family-like care of our precious Kristi. You all worked so hard to make life better for her and helped us cope with the hardest time of our lives. As for Brian’s sister Trisha, you were an irreplaceable lifeline for Kristi and a great comfort to all of us. We would like to note a special place in Kristi’s heart for her dear friend Paul Elliott whose visits meant the world to her.
Because of her love of animals, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the SPCA, 2050 Spindletop Road, Beaumont, Texas and Puddin’s Place, 2512 Hwy 69 South, Lumberton, Texas 77657.
God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be, so He put His arms around you and whispered, “come to Me.” With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you pass away; and although we loved you dearly, we couldn’t make you stay. A precious heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest. God broke our hearts but showed us, He only takes the best.
A million times we’ve missed you, a million times we’ve cried. If love alone could have saved you, you never would have died. In life we loved you dearly, in death we love you still. In our hearts you hold a place no one else will ever fill. It broke our hearts to lose you, but you didn’t go alone. Part of us went with you the day God took you home.
We love and miss you very much.
