Lloyd Shell, Jr., 90, of Beaumont, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, November 29, 2011. He was born April 8, 1921, in the Rosedale community of Beaumont to Ada French Shell and Lloyd Shell, Sr. A lifelong resident of Beaumont, he was a descendant of Beaumont pioneer John Jay French and a graduate of Beaumont High School, class of 1938.
He worked for forty-one years for what was then the Magnolia Petroleum Company, later named Mobil and Exxon-Mobil refinery. His refinery work was interrupted by World War II, when he entered the United States Navy in 1943. He served as a gunnery instructor at the Anti Aircraft Training Center on the Naval Base in San Diego, California. After the war, he returned to Beaumont and to the Magnolia Refinery. He retired in 1982.
Lloyd was a man of many talents: talented at softball, hunting and fishing, he was also a craftsman, woodworker, and musician. He was a respected member of Southeast Texas Dulcimer Friends and other regional musical groups. Both Lloyd and his wife Georgia participated in many musical events at Heritage Village Center near Woodville and at the French Trading Post Museum, which was his great-great-grandfather's home in Beaumont.
He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, David Andrew “Mickey” Shell; and sister, Delma Shell Fail.
Survivors include his high school sweetheart and wife of over seventy years, Georgia Cole Shell; two sons, Lloyd Wayne Shell of Thibodaux, Louisiana and James Earl Shell of The Woodlands; daughter, Jill Shell Thrash of Beaumont; sister, Gloria Shell McKnight; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Special thanks go to the caregivers in his final months: Ruth Wilson, Barbara Sears, Rosie Guillory, Toshiba Washington and Harbor Hospice that enabled Lloyd's family to care for him at home.
His funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 2, 2011, at Rosedale Baptist Church, 7110 Concord Road, Beaumont, with burial to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue. A gathering of his family and friends will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Thursday, December 1, 2011, at Broussard’s.
Memorial contributions may be made to Rosedale Baptist Church, 7110 Concord Road, Beaumont, Texas 77708; Alzheimer's Association, 700 North Street, Suite M, Beaumont, Texas 77701 or to the charity of your choice.
