Mary Joyce Chandler Guillot, 96, or Orange, Texas, passed away on December 23, 2025, in Beaumont, Texas.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00, Monday, December 29, 2025, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Burial will follow at St. Mary Cemetery in Orange.
Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., Saturday, December 27, 2025, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange, with a rosary to begin at 7:00 p.m.
Born in Raywood, TX, on August 4, 1929, to Gertrude Entler and Robert Chandler. Mary was energetic and filled with life. She always wanted to be “on the go” and loved being with her family and friends whether it be celebrating birthdays, traveling, “thrifting”, quilting, or working in her garden. She was very animated when recalling her many memories of time spent with her family during vacations. Some of her favorites were memories from their time at their beach cabins on Crystal Beach, train ride to New Orleans with her sisters (1990s), and van trips to Tennessee (Elvis’ Mansion - Graceland). She also enjoyed traveling with her husband, Elton, and her children, Joyce and James “Pete”, to many vacation destinations such as Las Vegas, Mexico, Wyoming, and Colorado.
As the oldest of 9 siblings, she cared for each of them from cradle to wedding altar. As a teenager her father took her to work with him, and she became a meter reader for Gulf States Utility. Then she was a switchboard operator at the hospital and finally she was a receptionist for Dr. James Jones for over 25 years.
Her last years were spent in her home of 78 years, surrounded by her friends and family.
She is preceded in death by her husband Elton Guillot; son James “Pete” Guillot; parents Gertrude Entler and Robert Chandler; brothers Robert “Buddy” Chandler Jr, Raymond Elton Chandler, Wendell Chandler; sisters Elsie Faye Daniels, Bonnie Lummus, Elizabeth Ann Boyett.
She is survived by her daughter Joyce Morris and husband Paul; grandchildren Robert Morris and wife Julie, Andrew Morris and wife Cortney, Anne Marie Guillory and husband Steven, Renee Celeste and husband Zachary, Michele Fennema and husband Austin; great-grandchildren Lillian and Amelia Morris, Wesley Morris, Graham, Griffin, and Grey Guillory, Audrey and Leonardo Celeste, Jack and Poppy Fennema; sisters Lera Mae Dickey, Nelda Irene Pricer, Vickie Charleen Madoch.