Mary Natalie Phelan passed away on Wednesday, May 2, 2007 in her home surrounded by her seven children. She was born on September 12, 1925 in Halletsville, Texas to Garland (Buck) and Mary Edwin Dufner.
Her two brothers, E.J. Dufner and Gorden Dufner preceded her in death. Natalie grew up in Halletsville and Victoria, Texas. In 1943 she moved to Cuero, Texas to work on a military base. There she met Cornelius (Neal) Myers Phelan, Jr. They were married a year later on April 26, 1944. They spent their honeymoon in Cuero, Texas on a ranch. She and Neal returned to Beaumont to start and raise a family of eight children.
Neal preceded her in death on June 27, 2001. Her youngest son, Mark Dufner Phelan died from cancer on July 27, 2000. Her granddaughter Kathryn Sykes died of cancer on May 5, 2002.
Natalie is survived by seven children; four sons and three daughters, Michael Phelan of Beaumont, Cornelius Myers Phelan III (Cornell) of Phoenix, Arizona, Father Tom Phelan, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Orange, James (Jim) and his wife Jean Andrews of Beaumont; and three daughters, Camille Phelan Sykes of Beaumont, Sheila Phelan Winans and her husband Jim of Plano, Denise Phelan Leonhardt and her husband Curt of New Braunfels. Natalie is survived by sixteen grandchildren, Eric Phelan and wife Laurie; Jason Phelan and wife Cheryl, Shannon Phelan Reed and husband Jarrod, Kimberly Phelan Ivey, Christy Phelan Simon and husband Jason, Brandi Phelan Coffin and husband Frank Coffin III, Kimberly Schlottman and husband Will, Taryn Sykes and Lee Smith, Christian Sykes, J.R. Winans and wife Marta, Audrey Winans, Colleen Winans, Grant Winans, Taylor Natalie Leonhardt, Cullen Leonhardt and T.J. Phelan. Natalie is also survived by eleven great-grandchildren, Colton Phelan, Liam Phelan, Sean Phelan, Cole Phelan Simon, Natalie Blair Simon, Mark James Simon, Cameron Todd Ivey, Mason Schlottman, Makayla Reed, Bailey Phelan, and Grace Kathryn Smith.
Natalie was a loving, gracious and compassionate daughter, sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her husband, Neal’s favorite story is how he used to drop love letters from his airplane to Natalie’s house below during their courtship. Natalie was an avid fan of TV westerns, an excellent cook and homemaker. She and Neal were members of the San Souci dance club. With her young family, she enjoyed going to the beach, having Sunday dinners, and having picnics with extended family. After her children grew up and married, Natalie loved to have the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren congregate at the house, around the kitchen table, especially for Sunday dinners and holidays. Natalie and Neal were members of St. Anne’s Church since 1956. Their favorite pastime during retirement was to go for long car drives and spend time with family. As well as an excellent homemaker, Natalie was a successful business woman.
She and her husband Neal co-founded Phelan Hearing Center in 1968. Her sons, Dr. James (Jim) Phelan and Mark Phelan—both clinical audiologists continued and built the audiology practice during the 1980’s to the present. Natalie’s grandchildren Christy Phelan Simon and husband Jason, and Brandi Phelan Coffin joined the audiology practice as clinical audiologists in the early 2000’s. Natalie (MamMaw) was much loved by her in-laws, friends, children and especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren--she always had a hug, a piece of candy in the kitchen drawer or a Popsicle ready when they came to visit.
She touched the lives of more people than she even knew and will be missed so much.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 1:00 p.m. Friday, May 4, 2007 at St. Anne Catholic Church with burial to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont. A Christian Vigil will be 7:00 p.m. Thursday, May 3, 2007 at the Mortuary.
Memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charities, Hospitality Center, P.O. Box 829, Beaumont, Texas 77704-0829.
