Jennifer Lynn McLemore of Gilchrist, Texas passed away in September of 2008, as Hurricane Ike swept through her small community. We will remember Jan fondly as a wonderful Mother, Grandmother, Sister, daughter, and Friend. Jan’s laughter could fill any room, making everyone feel right at home in her presence. Jan’s outgoing, friendly, and caring personality connected with people, allowing her to enjoy the simple events sometimes taken for granted. Jan once said of her job and life,
“I recently changed jobs and am really enjoying the challenge and the new respect. It feels good. We finally got a cool front and it makes me feel like a kid again…it is funny that the cool weather makes us all feel a little “frisky”…even if the next day our joints hurt from all of the frolicking! Not the old kind of frolicking…the kind where you throw the ball for the dogs and run with them and play with the kids…oh well…even with the joint pains, I feel better.”
I can see Jan “frolicking” on the beach, smiling as the fresh ocean breeze caught her golden hair. Remember her happy like this. When faced with a challenge, she never hesitated, but put her heart and soul into finding a resolution or making the best of it. Jan died just as she lived; loving life and living life to its fullest. Jan’s final challenge required more than she could give, as a living person. Her spirit lives on in those who keep her memory alive.
Jan loved her job working at UTMB in Galveston in the Neurology Department, as Clinical Research Coordinator. She spoke of this position in the quote above and spoke of her work and the daily challenges of giving her best. She especially enjoyed assisting with the newsletter and always forwarded each letter. I remember getting the announcement that the newsletter was “going NATIONAL, folks!” Her enthusiasm and dedication bubbled through her email, if that’s possible.
Jan’s legacy lives on through her children: Mark Gassiott and wife Tami of Silsbee, Sherry Glover of Missouri, Laurie Corder of Missouri, Randy Jones and wife Bethany of San Leon, Texas, and Thomas Johnston and wife Samantha of Nederland. Jan cared and loved all of her grandchildren, cradling them when they were infants and holding their hands as they grew. At the birth of one of her grandchildren, she said, I “didn’t recognize myself…I was so excited over the whole process.” She was so happy and proud to be there for her newest grandson. Jan also leaves saddened siblings, as she was the eldest of seven children. She will be missed by her brother Richard Selix of Honey Island; and sisters Karen Selix of Arkansas, Marilyn Fritts of Arkansas, Margaret Davis of Kountze, and Jodi Roed and husband Peter of Michigan, with warm remembrances in the heart of her mother, Mary Selix of Kountze.
Jan loved her family, but when it came to good friends, no one could replace her companion and friend Hoodoo, her dog, who also lost his life alongside his loving master.
Jan is preceded in death by her father, LeRoy Albert Selix and brother, LeRoy Michael Selix.
A memorial service will be held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, January
3, 2009 at Broussard’s Mortuary, 1605 North Major Drive in Beaumont. Sign guestbook: <http://www.broussardsmortuary.com.
