Christene Elizabeth Tinsley

Christene "Chris" Elizabeth Tinsley, entered into heaven on April 3, 2016. She was born to JohnTalmage Brian and Achsah Elizabeth Maxey on May 31, 1928 in Vidor, Texas. Chris was united in marriage with J.T. Tinsley, Jr. May 12, 1951 in Vidor, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, J.T. Tinsley, Jr. and her loving step-mother Goldie Brian. Left to cherish her memory are daughter Liz Brekke and husband Dale; son, Tom Tinsley; Grandchildren Chris Tinsley and fiancee Lorie, Stan Barkley, David Barkley, Amey Tinsley and partner Neeley; great-grandson Aiden Tinsley; daughter-in-law Cindy Tinsley.

As a person who loved life, she was an extreme over-achiever with a great intellectual curiosity and a voracious reader with a passion for learning. After retiring from teaching at age 59, Chris never really left the classroom and returned to the school from which she retired to volunteer. In addition, she also volunteered at her daughter's school and her daughter-in-law's school. She not only volunteered in the classroom but also volunteered in the childrens ward at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center as a clown after gradutating from Clown Alley. A three time cancer survivor, Chris became an active volunteer for CanCare and voluteered for 8 hours every Monday on the cancer floor of Methodist Hospital until she was 83 and no longer physically able to do so.

Visitation will be held at Forest Park Lawndale from 5-8 PM on Tuesday, April 5, 2016 and services at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 with graveside services to follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery, 8701 Almeda-Genoa Road. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to either CanCare of Houston or Houston Hospice.