Faye Louise Elkins, born March 29, 1939 passed from this earthly life to enter the kingdom of heaven on Saturday, June 13, 2015.
Faye was a lifelong resident of the Southeast Texas area including the past 40 years in Beaumont. She has faithfully served the people of the Beaumont area as a member of the medical profession for the past 50 years. Her career began at St. Terese Hospital in 1958 as a Medical Technologist and ended only recently in March of this year as Laboratory Supervisor for Dr. Jay Proctor. Through the decades, her role has always been in the laboratory and whether as a Med. Tech, Lab manager or something in between, she was always there. Her in-depth knowledge, experience and kindness towards people made her a critical provider in the health and well being of countless others.
Faye had an adventuresome spirit and loved to travel. Her adventures took her to many parts of the world such as Montreal, Hawaii, and Lake Tahoe with her husband, Melvin. She took great joy in traveling to visit her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughters in California. They would take trips to the mountains, beaches and all parts in between. She also loved to see her son and family in the Dallas area. Those adventures took her to many sporting events that had her cheering the grandkids from the sidelines, as well as countless birthday parties, graduations and many other special family events that have taken place over the years. When she was not on the road traveling, she enjoyed many special times with Melvin’s children and family.
Faye was also well known as an expert seamstress and enjoyed cooking delicious meals for family and friends.
In the earlier years, Faye loved to spend time at her parent’s house on Toledo Bend Lake. Many early mornings through late afternoons you would find her with her cane pole under a huge oak tree on the bank of the lake, Crappie fishing. When her fishing trips were not at the lake, they would be on the piers of Crystal Beach with Melvin. As much as she loved to pull them in, she never was a big fan of taking them off the hook. Faye always had a fishing pole in her trunk and when asked why, her response would be “you never know when you will find a hole that needs to be fished”.
Faye accepted the Lord as her Savior at a very early age and was a deep-rooted, faithful Christian for her entire life. In knowing that, there is great comfort in the fact that she is now enjoying the splendors of heaven. Her earthly Christian service began watching her father preach the Bible from pulpits deep in the heart of East Texas while her mother would bring the “special music”. Her final Christian service was as a member of the Dawndale Baptist Church in Beaumont. Through the years, Faye’s love of God and Gospel music had her playing the piano for Sunday morning service or any other time there would be gospel singing. She had an extensive collection of just about anything Gaither, Booth Brothers or Signature Sound. Even with her recent physical limitations, she continued to attend as many Southern Gospel concerts as she could.
Faye was preceded in her passing by her father, Bronson Bailey “Bean” and Vera Russell Read of Milam, TX. She is survived by a host of family and friends that spans the area, state and country. They include her husband of 31 years, Melvin Elkins, who has represented Electrolux in Beaumont for over 55 years. Sisters, Nelda Muirhead of Beaumont, TX and Freida Smith and husband Joe of Athens, TX.
Daughter, Dr. Leda Smith and husband Sean from Coalinga, CA. Son, Russell and wife Cindy Clay of Lewisville, TX. Stepchildren Maurice and wife Ann Elkins and Melva Lou and husband Jack Vick of Beaumont, TX.
Grandchildren include Bailey and husband Dexter Markley of San Luis Obispo, CA., Emily Smith of Coalinga, CA., Ashley and husband, Bryan Woodson of Frisco, TX, Derrick and wife Ryan Miller of Plano, TX., 2LT Hunter Clay of Killeen, TX., Tony and wife Sarah Patterson of Beaumont, TX and Nicole and husband Kent Bellow of Conroe, TX.
Great- grandchildren include Addyson Bolton, Carter Woodson, Piper, Jordan, and Sadie Patterson.
Extended family includes Susan Clay Cole, Carol McNeil, Rebecca Clay, Bill Clay, and Karen Kay Clay Weisinger.
Pallbearers: Donnie Muirhead, Jack Muirhead, David Muirhead, Derrick Miller, Hunter Clay, and Chris Small.
Funeral service will be held at Claybar Funeral Home, 1155 N. Eleventh Street, Beaumont Texas 77702 on Wednesday June 17 at 2:00 PM. Processional and internment to follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 PM on Tuesday, June 16.