Mavis K. Dent
“Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Master.” Mavis Killion Dent, 79, graduated to glory, August 18, 2005 in a Beaumont hospital after a lengthy illness.
Born in Cherokee County, she grew up in Hemphill where she was the Salutatorian of the Class of 1943. Mavis married I.O. Dent in 1946 and they moved to Beaumont where she lived the rest of her life. Faith, family and friends were the greatest blessings of her life. A member of North End/Wesley United Methodist Church for almost 60 years, she was an active member of the Wesleyan Service Guild, Women’s Society of Christian Service, United Methodist Women, and Fidelis Class. She volunteered at Some Other Place, the PTA, and on various church ministry teams across the years.
Mavis served as secretary for Jefferson County Sheriff R.E. “Dick” Culbertson from 1964-1988. She enjoyed meeting the public at the courthouse. Helping with grandchildren, playing bridge, and traveling were her retirement joys.
Mavis is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Mike and Sharon Dent of Tyler; brother and sister-in-law, Curtis and Sue Killion of Nederland; grandchildren Chad Wright of Huntsville, Amanda Griffin of Kemah, Douglas Dent of Denver, Colorado, Martha Dent of Tyler, and Andrew Dent Griffin of Atlanta, Georgia; great-grandchildren Savannah Wright and Grady Killion Wright of Huntsville; and five nephews. She was preceded to heaven by her husband of 50 years, I.O. Dent (1997); sister, Genita Holt (1996); son, Gilbert Dent, MD (1981); and daughter, Marilyn Dent Wright (2004).
The family is grateful to Drs. George Thomas and Joseph Holland and the staff of the Skilled Nursing Facility of Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital of Beaumont for their most compassionate care of Mavis the past five weeks.
The life and eternal life of Mavis Dent will be celebrated in a Memorial Service of Death and Resurrection, August 20, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church. Revs. Jim Bass, Peter Miller, and Bill Scales will lead the celebration. Honorary pallbearers are members of the Fidelis Class. Interment at Forest Lawn Memorial Park will precede the service at 10:00 a.m. The family will receive friends at the church after the memorial service. Visitation will also take place from 6-8 p.m. Friday evening, August 19, 2005 at Broussard’s 1605 N. Major Drive in Beaumont.
Memorial contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church Altar Guild Fund, 3810 N. Major Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77713.
