Elizabeth M. Yarbrough

Elizabeth Velez Dupuy Yarbrough passed away on July 20, 2015, at her home in Beaumont, Texas.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00am, Friday, July 24, 2015, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Orange. Officiating will be Father Joseph P. Daleo. Cremation will follow under the direction of Claybar Haven of Rest Crematory.

Visitation will be from 6:00pm-8:00pm with a Rosary at 7:00pm, Thursday, July 23, 2015, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

Mommy was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico on October 5, 1934. She was the youngest daughter of Milton and Maria Velez of Puerto Rico. Early in her life, her family moved to New York City where she spent her childhood in the Bronx. She then traveled to Louisiana and met our father, Ivan Dupuy. Together, they moved to Orange, Texas in 1958 where they raised their 3 daughters and 1 son. Our father passed away in January, 1975 and mommy continued to raise her 4 children. She was known as a people person.

During this time she met her second husband, Dr. Kenneth Yarbrough and they married in September of 1985. Mommy continued to build on her “people person” personality by assisting others in interpreting Spanish language and sign language. Also, she volunteered at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in any way that she could assist. During her marriage to Dr. Yarbrough they traveled throughout the world and Mommy made friends with her open personality.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, Ivan Dupuy, Dr. Kenneth Yarbrough, and her daughter in law, Rhonda Mier Dupuy.

She is survived by her children, Marilyn Lewis and husband Brad, of Beaumont, Texas, Lynnett Gonzales and husband Fernie of Tampa, Florida, Judy Lewis and husband Greg, of Humble, Texas, and Michael Dupuy and fiancé Sloane Johnson, of Orange, Texas.

Her grandchildren called her “Nana” and “Gram” and she was proud of them and loved them dearly. Her surviving grandchildren are Aaron Gonzales and his wife Diana, of Florida, Dr. Christopher Lewis, of Missouri, Greg Lewis and wife Sue, of South Carolina, Ivan Gonzales, of Florida, Gabe Dupuy, and Allison Lewis, of Texas.

Our family would like to thank the doctors and staff at Baptist Hospital in Beaumont, Texas and Compassion Hospice and Tender Loving Caregivers for the kindness and support they provided our family and mother during this time. Thank you Dr. Clayton and Ooman. We would like to give a special thanks to Mommy’s nurse, Oliva Pinson and Paula Powell for the kindness that they also showed our mother during the last years of her life. Also, our brother in law, Brad Lewis for the time and effort that he took in cooking what mommy liked to eat no matter what time of day it was. To all the friends that provided the support to her children during her illness.

We will miss mommy the “people person” of our family and thank you for being our mom and helping us be the people that we are.