Lena Higginbotham Fontenot, 92, of China died September 24, 2005. Born in Church Point, Louisiana, she moved to China, Texas when she was four years old and resided there until her death.
Known to her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and other family and friends as "Mammy," she was the hard-working wife of a rice farmer who enjoyed living on a farm and working in the outdoors. She loved gardening, animals, and took pride in cutting her own yard until she was in her early eighties. She especially loved her home and family and possessed a special joy in cooking for them. Her home was always warm and welcoming, and it was certainly hard to ignore the tantalizing aroma of gumbo and sweet dough pies drifting through the house. She derived her happiness from her church and serving others, especially her family, and never asked for or expected anything in return.
She is survived by her daughters, Uethel Burrows and her husband Jerry of China and Anita Leger and her husband Michael of China; three granddaughters, Jaylyn Hatton of Beaumont, Tyree Saunders of China, and Denise Clement of Richmond; four great-grandchildren, Jason and Anne Marie Hatton of Beaumont, Stran Saunders of China, and Dillon Linzay Clement of Richmond. Lena was preceded in death by her husband of thirty-nine years, Linzay Fontenot.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 8, 2005 at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in China with burial following at China Cemetery under the direction of Broussard's, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. A Christian Vigil will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday evening at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in China with visitation beginning at 5:00 p.m. Serving as pallbearers will be Les Hatton, Doug Saunders, Ernest Clement, Jr., Raymond Courville, Adam Courville, Richard Courville, Amery Wright, and Danny Melancon.
Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, P.O. Box 38, China, Texas 77613-0038.
