Rita LaVaun Blakeman Green, formally of Beaumont, passed away on March 12, 2007 in Austin, Texas where she resided with her husband of fifty-nine years, Frank ‘Cecil’ Green.
Rita was born August 27, 1929 in Beaumont, Texas to Louis Reid Blakeman, Jr. and Albina (Binnie) Flomina Schiller. Rita attended Beaumont High School and Lamar Junior College before marrying Frank ‘Cecil’ Green in September 1947.
Rita began her musical career at the age of seven, finding many outlets for her musical interests including playing for Widman Dance Studio in Beaumont in her teenage years. Through her playing, she earned superior ratings in Piano on the statewide level and received a music scholarship to major in piano performance at Lamar University. She incorporated her love of Piano, Classical, Theatrical and Popular Music performance into her vast repertoire throughout the years – just ask her grandchildren!
While being a support to her husband and rearing five children, Rita returned to Lamar to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1962. Her career as a beloved, and well remembered, Music and Classroom teacher in Port Neches-Groves ISD spanned twenty-five years. Rita continued her love of music while being employed as an organist at various churches within Texas and Georgia, but her loyalty remained with the Methodist Church.
Rita and Cecil have enjoyed their retirement years, involving themselves in the collection of antiques, genealogical research, and travel throughout the US and England to share their time with family and friends. Many of those years were spent in Cleveland, Georgia, where Rita, fondly known as “Grandma” to a generation of White County students, shared her musical talents with various community and high school theatrical and choral organizations.
Rita is survived and remembered fondly by her husband and children - Gail and husband, Gwyn Jones, Terry and husband, Randy Hinson, Cecil and wife Monique, Cecile and husband, Dickie Hughes, and Blake and wife Gwen. Her legacy lives on in the vibrant lives of their eighteen grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren and through her brother, Louis Reid Blakeman, III his wife, Kathy, and their family including two nieces and four grandnieces.
Rita was cared for in her last days by many supportive people including the amazing staff of Arden Courts Alzheimer’s Care facility and Austin Hospice’s Christopher House. The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, memorials should be sent to any Alzheimer’s Association providing support to persons affected by this debilitating disease.
A gathering of family and friends will take place at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont, Texas on March 14, 2007 from 7:00 pm -9:00 pm. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 15, 2007 at the mortuary followed by interment at Forest Lawn Cemetery.
