Lanis Sheffield

Lanis Colquitt Sheffield was born April 6, 1943, in Port Arthur Texas to Wilma Justice Sheffield and Jasper Colquitt Sheffield, and passed away at home October 12, 2024, at the age of 81 from complications of a stroke. He was a lifelong resident of the area, graduating from Port Neches-Groves High School in 1961. He began working at the age of 16, first at Miller's Grocery Store in Port Neches, then at Duplantis’ Gulf Service Station. In January 1964, Gerry Landry Sheffield became his bride of 60 years. After marriage, he entered the petrochemical field, first at Texas-US Chemical for 11 years and then moved on to Gulf Oil and retired from Valero in 2010. Shortly after that, he discovered he had developed a form of liver cancer brought on by the many blood transfusions he'd received due to hemophilia. He was placed on the UNOS donor list and was on the list for only six weeks when the call came that an individual from Florida chose the selfless act to be an organ donor and was a perfect match. He honored this selfless donor daily for his new lease on life 14 years this past May. He enjoyed PNG football and instilled the pride, honor, and tradition of being an Indian in his children, whose children have carried on the tradition. (We don't talk about those who strayed to the other side of Mid-County Madness.) He attended every Little League game, dance recital, and halftime performance his shift working schedule allowed. He followed the Astros, any team wise enough to have Bum Phillips as their coach; metal detecting; collecting Gulf Oil memorabilia; traveling; and reading his favorite authors, Louis L’amour and James Lee Burke.

He is survived by his wife Gerry; his daughters Leiah Fuselier (Scott) of Ragley, LA and Linda Simon Ramsey (Sean) of Nederland; sons Chris Sheffield of Diboll and Craig Sheffield (Stephanie) of Port Neches; eleven grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren, with March 2025 bringing one more; sisters-in-law, Patsy Jakovich and Betty Landry Mallet; and brother-in-law, Rodney Landry (Ava); aunt June Driskill and uncle Billy Lapham; ten nieces and nephews; more cousins to count without possibly forgetting one; lifelong friends from the PNG Class of 1961 and those he acquired along life’s path.

Lanis was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Hestel Sheffield and Earl Sheffield; his in-laws, Winnie and Noe Landry; his son-in-law, Rick Simon; and infant nieces, Karen Sheffield and Carrie Landry.

Lanis requested there be no funeral or visitation but instead cremation with a private family commitment. The family will honor his other request with a Celebration of Life, not a memorial service but instead, a party where his friends could meet his children and tell stories of things they did in their younger days you never want your children to know about. In lieu of flowers, Lanis requested charitable donations be made to Camp Ailihpomeh ( https://www.camp-ailihpomeh.org/donate) , a camp allowing children with hemophilia to experience summer camp like those without medical complications, or UNOS ( https://unos.org/give/) , the United Network for Organ Sharing. The last gift of charity one can give is the gift of life. One single organ donor can save up to eight lives and improve the lives of over 75 people. The family would also like to thank the staff of Intrepid USA, Hospice at Home for their compassionate and diligent care of Lanis through his last days. Tara and Belle, you were the hands of the angels.