Vida Etoile Bevil Blair, age 88, died at her home in Kountze, Texas on January 28, 2013, surrounded by loved ones both human and feline. Born August 30, 1924, in Kountze, she was the youngest child of Judge Andrew Leak Bevil and Vida Margaret Singleton Bevil and a direct descendant of early Texas settler John Bevil founder of Jasper County. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband of 49 years John Blair, her brother A.L. Bevil Jr. and her dear companions Miss Puppie, Ajax, Lucy, Bo, Twink and Billy Bob.
“Tincy” Bevil grew up surrounded by a large and loving extended family and many Bevils and Singletons frequently came “home” to Kountze. The daughter of a country lawyer, her Depression era childhood was much like that of fellow tomboy Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird. Friends reported to her mother that they loved to see the red haired child on her horse, her head thrown back laughing from the pure joy of riding. As she grew older she spent many happy hours dancing, especially jitterbugging, at which she excelled, whether at the Honey Island pool pavilion or as she and her friends rolled up the rugs in her parents’ house or enjoyed a party in the McKims’ attic. Her greatest pleasure however was to be invited to accompany her father and his friends Arden Hooks and Carl Richardson to give the dogs a good run after a fox through the Big Thicket. Like her father, she thought the voices of the hounds on a crisp, cool night were the most beautiful music in the world.
After graduating from Kountze High School in 1941 she attended Lamar College but soon transferred to Texas Christian University at the encouragement of her aunt, longtime T.C.U. supporter Maud Black. T.C.U. provided a wonderful, life changing experience. Dr. Lewis Fallis, the chair of the speech and theater department, believed in her talent and selected her to study at Priscilla Beach Theater in Plymouth, Mass., one of the most respected schools of theater training in America whose alumni include Paul Newman, Estelle Parsons and Rob Reiner. Shortly before suffering a devastating stroke in 2009 she endowed a scholarship at T.C.U. to enable students in the theater department to pursue unique educational opportunities away from the T.C.U. campus. It brought her great pleasure to know this fund enabled Horned Frogs to take the stage in London.
She met John Blair when she was a first grader and he a second grader. They married August 31, 1945, the day after her 21st birthday and formed a strong partnership until his death Feb. 2, 1994. Following her graduation from T.C.U. they returned to Kountze “temporarily” and lived there the rest of their lives. She taught 2nd grade and 6th grade to fill emergency vacancies and formed special bonds with her students, especially those who needed a bit of extra help. Her home and kitchen were always open to young people. On a lark she bought a dune buggy and spent hours giving kids rides. She loved family, animals, travel, books and bookstores, the beauty of language well written or well spoken, shopping, champagne, clearing brush, and dessert which was always to be eaten first. She hated pretense, uncomfortable shoes and speed limits. Her faith in and love of Christ fostered by her mother, was absolute and truly remained like that of a little child. Through all difficulty and disaster, natural and otherwise, she said her prayers and went to sleep peacefully at night. Her lifelong love of books and her concern for literacy led her family to make the gift of the children’s section of the Kountze Public Library which is named for her and her mother. Following her husband’s death she and childhood friend Jane Jordan Creel opened The Judge’s House Antiques, a highly unprofitable business which afforded her much happiness.
She is survived by her daughter Frances and son-in-law Sam R. Bethea; her older sister Martha Buchanan; her beloved first cousin Mary Louise McKee who she considered her sister; and nieces, nephews and cousins. Her life was greatly enriched by her “other daughter” Becky Wilder , her niece Ellen Buchanan and her friends Zelda Kelley, Earlene Clark and James Barner all of whom did their best to bring the world to her following her stroke.
Her family extends their appreciation to her beloved preacher Tony Fitzgerald and his wife Sheila; her faithful friend and gardener of many years Oscar Scarbrough; her housekeeper Sharon Pickard; her devoted caregivers Janie Dancer, Trish Foust, and Libby Taylor’s Earth Angels Lisa Ezell, Charlette Green and Denise Joyce. We are especially grateful to Dr. George Thomas and his nurse Dede and to Dr. Robert P. Walmsley for taking such good care of her over the years and to the staff at Lifechek Pharmacy, Texas Home Health Hospice, nurse Ron Ladwig and nurse’s aide Stephanie Bias.
A graveside service for Mrs. Blair will be at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 31, 2013, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont, under the direction of Broussard’s, 530 West Monroe, Kountze. A reception will follow at a location to be announced at the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Texas Christian University, The Lewis Fallis and Vida Blair Endowed Travel Fund, attn. Chandler Smith, TCU Box 297044, Ft. Worth, Tx. 76129.
