Jacque MiMi Hatfield Law, 96, of Beaumont went home to the Lord on Sunday, January 17, 2010, at home surrounded by her family. Born and raised in Beaumont, Texas, she lived there all her ninety-six years and was a Homemaker and an Avon Representative.
Jacque was born in Beaumont, Texas on March 5, 1913, to Emma Stuart and James N. Hatfield. She had three sisters, Emma “Pat” Blasingame, Mary Eleanor “Mamie” Walker, Gladys Rudd Kinnear; and one brother, Bubb Rudd. Her surviving nieces are Stella Bess Rudd Stewart, Lea Griffin Perlitz, and Jeanne Walker King of Houston; and nephews, Rick Beale, Ronnie Beale, Stuart Barnhill and Mike Walker.
Orphaned at the age of 2, she and her siblings were raised and provided for by her Mother’s very large Stuart family. They grew up in the center of this large family and Uncles Jess and Rube Stuart made sure that they had a good lot of love, a good education and a new gown for every dance. She graduated from South Park High School and attended Denton College for Women. She enjoyed tennis, swimming and was an avid fisherman.
She and her sisters grew up in Beaumont at a time when there were so many fun things to do and they were in the middle of all of it. Their Uncle Rob Stuart built a baseball stadium in Beaumont on Avenue A and bought his own baseball team, the Beaumont Exporters. The three girls attended all the games and loved to flirt with Uncle Rube’s ballplayers. He eventually had to ban them from sitting behind home plate because they distracted the team too much. The girls always attended the Saturday night dances on the roof of Hotel Beaumont and it was there she met the love of her life, Wallace Law. She always said that when he walked in the door she told her friend “There is the man I am going to marry.” She did.
They raised their two children Stuart and Eleanor, during the toughest time for this country and gave them the most wonderful of childhoods. There was always something fun to do on the weekends like going to the beach, fishing on Taylor’s Bayou, or crabbing in one place or another. Times they spent together. Wallace and Stuart loved to hunt and fish and many meals were made from wild game and fish. She was an excellent cook and homemaker, having been taught by the best, her Aunts Alice Henslee and Bess Stuart.
She was profoundly deaf since early childhood and learned to read lips. She attended school and college sitting on the front row of the class. The teacher was asked to face her in order for her to understand what was being said. It was perfectly natural to have a conversation with her, simply by facing her and a great many people never knew she could not hear. She always had a small dog by her side and would train them to alert her to a crying baby, ringing telephone or a knock on the door.
She was thrilled by her large family of grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren and took so much pride in all of their accomplishments.
MiMi watched every football game she could find on television and her family would like to thank the NFL and all of the various colleges and high school football teams for the entertainment they provided her with. The world of football has lost a great fan.
She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, William Wallace Law; and siblings “Bubb” Rudd, Gladys Rudd Kinnear, Mary Eleanor “Mamie” Hatfield Walker, and Emma “Pat” Hatfield Blasingame.
MiMi is survived by her son, Charles Stuart Law and his wife Ann; and daughter, Eleanor Law Means. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, Charles Stuart Law, Jr., Cindy Law Neilsen and her husband Robert, Wallace Law and his wife Christine, Wilton Rene Law and his wife Denise, Big Rich Courville and his wife Chelle, Suzy James and her husband Robert, Jennifer Muirhead, Donnie Courville, and Bobby Means and his wife Melissa; nineteen great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.
Her family would also like to thank her caregivers who made it possible for her to remain in her own home all of her life. Judy Perkins, Josie Turner, and granddaughters Jennifer Muirhead, Karly Muirhead and Rachel Burke.
We most especially appreciate all the loving compassion, care and comfort that the staff of Hospice of Texas gave her and us in the most difficult of times. Her nurse, Judy K will be in our hearts forever for being there for her and us, on every single step of this last path.
Her funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 22, 2010, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont with burial to follow at Magnolia Cemetery. A gathering of her family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday, January 21, 2010, at Broussard’s.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Audiology Department, Lamar University, P.O. 10011, Beaumont, Texas 77710.
