Joel Swilley Martin
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Joel Swilley Martin
December 12, 1928 - May 19, 2016
Joel Swilley Martin, 87, of Beaumont, died
Thursday, May 19, 2016, at Atria Collier Park, Beaumont. She was born on
December 12, 1928, in New Willard, Texas, to Lacy Lee James Swilley and Hoxie
Vernon Swilley, and had been a longtime resident of Beaumont.
As a child Joel spent happy summers in New Willard with her Granny Swilley
and many cousins. She always delighted in seeing her extended family at the annual Swilley Reunion. Her father’s job caused them to move
several times in some years but that resulted in her skipping a grade and
graduating from Beaumont High School a year early (1945). Surviving
tuberculosis at 19, she had a strong work ethic that she instilled in her
children. Her employment included First Security Bank and Southwestern Drug
Company plus she retired twice, first from Coburn Supply and then from Coburn
Credit Union. When her husband Charlie retired in 1994, they moved to Kerrville
where they enjoyed Hill Country life for several years, but they missed being close
to family, so they relocated to Kingwood in 2001. After Charlie passed away in
2010, Joel remained in Kingwood until 2013 when she returned to Beaumont,
moving into Atria Collier Park, where she made many friends and enjoyed bingo
and music events.
Joel loved her lunches with high school classmates and was looking forward
to their 71st reunion in June. Watching sports was a lifelong passion,
especially Duke Blue Devil basketball, Texas Ranger baseball, Peyton Manning
and PGA golf. She always had pets, mainly parakeets and dogs, and supported the
work of the Humane Society. She missed her beloved Yorkie, Boo, who died in
2015.
She is survived by her children,
George E. Brown III and his wife, Debbie, of Jacksonville, Texas and Martha
Pate, of Beaumont; grandchildren, Stephanie Denise Castle, of Houston; Nicole
Brown, of Katy; Joel “JoTe” Brown, of Austin; Suzanne Pate and Jennifer Pate,
both of Beaumont; Jamie Holland and her husband, Randy, of Teague; and Jason
Lee, of Jacksonville, Texas; eleven great-grandchildren, and siblings, James
Swilley and his wife, DeCondia; Glenda Nunez and her husband, Dan; and Paula
Doyle, all of Beaumont, as well as numerous cousins,
nieces, nephews and friends.
Joel is preceded in death by her
parents; husband, Charles S. Martin III; and sister, Irma Howard; and nieces, Patricia Borgstedte and Darby Guin.
A gathering of Mrs. Martin’s family
and friends will begin at 12:00 p.m., with her funeral service to follow at
2:00 p.m., Monday, May 23, 2016, at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 1350 North
23rd Street, Beaumont. Her interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park,
Beaumont.
Memorial contributions may be made
to Humane Society of Southeast Texas, P.O. Box 1629, Beaumont, Texas 77704; St.
Andrews Presbyterian Church, 1350 North 23rd Street, Beaumont, Texas 77706; or
to an organization of one’s choice.
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