Bessie Clairday Manuel
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Bessie Clairday Manuel
June 14, 1928 - July 15, 2015
Bessie Clairday Manuel, 87, of
Beaumont, died Wednesday, July 15, 2015, in Beaumont. She was born in
Alexandria, Louisiana, but lived her entire life
in Beaumont, and the close suburb of Lumberton for ten years. She was a graduate
of South Park High School.
She married her first husband,
Johnie Clairday, in Beaumont, and had one son, Matt Clairday. Johnie died in 1978, and Bessie raised her son as a single Mom. She
worked in CPS Child Protective Services in Beaumont for a decade before
retiring in the 1990s.
Bessie remarried Wesley Manuel, in
1992, and they were able to travel and enjoy life until his death in 2010.
She loved to sing, and did so in the
choir at First United Methodist Church for many years, where she also taught
Sunday school. Bessie did modeling also, and was a finalist in the Senior
Miss Texas. She was a past President of the Optimist Club in Beaumont, and
loved to raise money for local children. Her life was about helping
others. Bessie also belonged to the Woman's Club, where she sang in local
programs.
She is survived by her son, Matt
Clairday and his wife, Robynn, of Las Vegas, Nevada; stepchildren, Nancy Jarzyna
and her husband, Edward, of Flatwoods, Louisiana; John Manuel and his wife,
Gail, of West Palm Beach, Florida; Cathy Manuel and Dea Marie Manuel, both of
Lake Charles, Louisiana; nephew, Rick Tiller; and niece, Pam Tiller, both of
Dallas; and close family friend, Christina Picard.
A gathering of Mrs. Manuel’s family
and friend will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Sunday, July 19, 2015, at
Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. Her funeral service will be 2:00
p.m., Monday, July 20, 2015, at First United Methodist Church, 701 Calder
Avenue, Beaumont, with her interment to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park,
Beaumont.
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