Stanley Robert Plettman was born in Port Arthur, Texas, on January 18, 1925 to Albert and Blanche Lipoff Plettman.
Stanley received a bachelor's degree in Business with highest honors from the University of Texas at Austin in 1944. He then received a commission from the United States Navy where he served for two years. He received his law degree, with honors, in 1949 from the University of Texas School Of Law. While attending law school, he was Editor-in-Chief of the Texas Law Review, Grand Chancellor, and a member of the Order of the Coif.
Stanley joined Orgain Bell and Tucker in Beaumont in 1949, and became a partner in 1952. He had a general practice with an emphasis on wills, probate, trust matters and estate planning as well as business, land and mineral transactions and has been of counsel for the firm since 1993. He was a former Chairman of the Corporation, Banking, and Business Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, a Texas Commissioner (Life Member) to the National Conference of Uniform State Laws, and a Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.
Stanley got much fulfillment from his work and once wrote: "There is a thrill and a beauty to a thing well done. Many times you are the only one who can or will really appreciate why it was such a good piece of work....Self satisfaction is the ultimate professional pleasure and reward."
His community involvement included service as president of Temple Emanuel, Temple Emanuel Brotherhood, and Schlesinger Geriatric Center.
After his retirement, Stanley and Maurine traveled the world extensively. Some of his favorite times were spent at their Bolivar Peninsula beach house watching sunrises and seeing pelicans flying along the shoreline. He had great fun spending time with his two grandsons and was so proud to see them grow into young men.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Blanche Plettman.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-four years, Maurine Kariel Plettman; his daughters, Linda Surley of Houston, Susan Plettman Rankin and husband James Rankin of Austin, Elaine Plettman and husband Steve Cummings of Boston; his grandsons, Jonah Plettman Rankin of Seattle and Zane Wolfe Rankin of Austin. Also surviving is his cousin, Norma White and husband Jerry White of Beaumont; brother-in-law, Louis W. Kariel, Jr. and wife Audrey Kariel of Marshall; niece, Nancy Kariel of Dallas; and nephew Mark Kariel of Houston.
The family wishes to thank his caregivers, Gwen Comeaux, Gwen Durham, and Camellia Griffin for their gentle and compassionate care of him and his family during his illness.
His funeral service will be 1:00 p.m., Monday, August 9, 2010, at Temple Emanuel, 1120 Broadway Street, Beaumont under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, with burial to follow at Hebrew Rest.
Pallbearers are Jonah Plettman Rankin, Zane Wolfe Rankin, Mark Kariel, Stephen Tew, Brian Tew, Brian Alter, Joe White, David White, Benny Hughes, and Hoke Peacock. Honorary pallbearers are: Nelson Alter, Frank Dover, Carl Waldman, Jerry White, Harold Eisen, Paul Kessler, Maurey Meyers, Lawrence Blum, S.L. Greenberg, and Charlie Weinbaum.
Memorial contributions may be made to Temple Emanuel, 1120 Broadway Street, Beaumont, Texas 77701; University of Texas School of Law, 727 East Dean Keeton Street, Austin, Texas 78705, or a charity of your choice.
