Ruby Pitre Finney of Beaumont passed away Tuesday, August 4, 2009, at Calder Woods in Beaumont. The daughter of Irma Marie (Dumesnil) and Don Paul Pitre, she was born in Franklin, Louisiana before moving to Port Arthur as a young girl.
The young Ruby Pitre graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, and continued her education at Port Arthur College. During her school days, she worked the retail sales counter of her Dad’s ice cream business, “The Alaskan” on the corner of Ninth Avenue and Seventh Street in Port Arthur.
Throughout her life, Mrs. Finney remained a hardworking and industrious woman. With her first husband, E.T. Goodwin, she was the owner and operator of the Ninth Avenue Gulf Service Station in Port Arthur, and Goodwin’s Fabrics on Boston Avenue in Nederland. Later she became the Secretary to the Executive Director of the Port Arthur Housing Authority where she worked until she retired in 1972.
While she had many occupations throughout her years, her most important and lasting one was that of Mother. She was the caretaker of the home front, nurse of scrapes and bruises, arbitrator of sibling differences, designer and seamstress of her daughters’ cheerleader and Red Hussar uniforms, Senior Ball gowns, and roller skating outfits, re-stitcher of baseball uniforms, kitchen manager and chief chef for a family of seven. Her children’s activities became her own as she participated in the grade school Parents Teacher Association, sold snow cones and popcorn at the concession stand of the Little League and Babe Ruth baseball leagues, and cheered on the various teams of the Thomas Jefferson Yellow Jackets and Nederland Bulldogs. Above all, she was a Mother, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother who had an unwavering love of her family.
Mrs. Finney was an accomplished amateur golfer. She was a member of the Port Arthur Country Club, and once played a pro-am golf match against the famed Babe Zaharias. Later she joined the Wildwood Ladies Golf Association, the Wildwood Civic Club, and the Wildwood Home and Garden Club. Additionally she loved to play cards, and would host her very good friends for weekly bridge parties.
Throughout her life, she was a devoted Christian whose faith found many homes. Most recently, she was a parishioner of St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church in Beaumont. In the past, she belonged to the Wildwood Baptist Church, where for many years she was in charge of serving coffee to all those in attendance. She was a charter member of Wesley Methodist Church in Nederland. Also during various times, she belonged to The Methodist Temple and St. James Catholic Church both in Port Arthur.
Mrs. Finney is survived by her husband James W. Finney, MD; her daughter, Carol Goodwin Callaway of Houston, son, Don Goodwin and his wife Charlotte of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, son, Roy Goodwin and his wife Cheren of Woodville, son, Mike Goodwin and his wife Lindy of Wildwood; and daughter, Jan LaPoint and her husband Scott of Evergreen, Colorado.
Her grandchildren include Karen Thompson, PhD, M. Ross Thompson, Dana Lynne Thompson, Paul Goodwin, Erik Goodwin, DDS, April Johnson, Jason Goodwin, Chris Goodwin, Mark Goodwin, Wayne Brown III, and Caroline Janowiak along with sixteen great-grandchildren.
Preceding her in death are her parents, Irma and Don Pitre; brother, Roy Paul Pitre, MD; and her first husband and the father of her five children, E. Thurston Goodwin.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 8, 2009, at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church with interment to follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Groves under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. A gathering of her family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a Christian Vigil at 6:00 p.m. Friday, August 7, 2009, at Broussard’s.
The family wishes to thank the nurses and aides of Calder Woods Skilled Nursing Center for their care, comfort and respect of their mother. A special thanks goes to Robin Shaffer of Calder Woods and Corkey Holt of Odyssey Healthcare for their love, comfort, and professionalism.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
