Melvin Lloyd Serres, 82, of Buna died January 12, 2011 at Harbor Hospice House in Beaumont. Born October 14, 1928 in Little Rock, Arkansas, he was the son of Grace and John Serres. Due to his father being in construction, Melvin lived in several states while growing up. When he was about 15, the family finally settled in the Aldine/Houston area. He graduated from Aldine High School in 1947 and then he attended Rice University and graduated from the University of Houston.
Melvin married Joyce Duke, “The best thing that ever happened to me,” on August 20, 1950. He proudly served in the United States Marine Corps and was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War.
In 1956, he moved to Nederland and was hired by the Nederland Independent School District as a coach and to run the district’s swimming pool, where he taught many children and adults how to swim. He was always proud to be a part of the coaching staff when Nederland won their state championship in 1957. He resigned from NISD to work for Geigy Pharmaceuticals, however, returned to what he loved, coaching football and teaching Texas history at Woodlawn Junior High in Groves. After thirty-six years of teaching, he retired from Port Neches-Groves Independent School District.
He and Joyce moved to Buna in 1989 to enjoy the country lifestyle, raising goats, donkeys, and numerous other “pets.” He celebrated sixty wonderful years with our beloved Mom and never got over losing her in August 2010.
Melvin will be remembered for his deep love of his family, the joys of football, his fascination with the history of Texas, and his never ending love of the Marine Corps.
Survivors include his sons, Mike Serres and his wife Christine of Buna and Chris Serres and his wife Cindy of Beaumont; daughter, Peggy Griffin and her husband Mark of Nederland; grandchildren, Justin and Alysia Serres, HN Devan Serres, USN, Scott and Mandy Griffin, Kayse and Michael Gunter, Destiny LeBlanc, Ashley Serres, and Zac Highlander; great grandchildren, Cyrus Griffin, Jace and Victoria Mattingly, Remington LeBlanc, Grace and Ava Root, and Ryan Highlander; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Weldon Duke and his wife Ann of Shiner, Texas; and many loving nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Joyce Duke Serres; and brother, John Serres.
Graveside services with military honors will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 15, 2011 at Brookside Memorial Park, 13401 Eastex Freeway, Houston, Texas under the direction of Broussard’s, 505 12th Street, Nederland. A gathering of family and friends will be Friday evening, January 14, 2011 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Broussard’s.
Memorial contributions may be made to Buna Veterans Memorial, P O Box 283, Buna, Texas 77612 and the Humane Society of Southeast Texas, P O Box 1629, Beaumont, Texas 77704.
The family would like to express their gratitude to the caring staff and nurses at Harbor Hospice House and his sitter, Mrs. Hathaway.
“Semper Fi”
