Marilyn Ruth Eldridge

Marilyn grew up in Beaumont and attended Pennsylvania Elementary school and Crockett Jr High and was a 1966 graduate of South Park High School in Beaumont, Texas. She was also a graduate of Chenier Business College, also located in Beaumont. After graduation, she, her mother and sister owned a small gift shop in Beaumont. Marilyn also had other jobs, one was working in a bookstore close to Lamar University. There, she saw a former South Park classmate, Jack Eldridge, who was attending Lamar at the time. After a while, they started dating and eventually married on October 20, 1977. They spent the next 47 years together until Jack's passing in 2024. Together, they traveled the world while Jack was in the Air Force including assignments in Belgium, Iceland and Saudi Arabia. After Jack's 32 years in the service, he retired in 2001 and they settled in San Antonio. In July 2023, they moved to Nederland to be closer to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Marilyn loved to do word searches, cross-stitching and loved watching mystery shows and Wheel of Fortune. Marilyn never met a stranger. She always said, "God didn't give me a singing voice but gave me the gift of talking and I do it well!" She could strike up a conversation with anyone. Marilyn had the sweetest soul and would do anything for anyone.

She will be missed terribly.

Those left to cherish her memory are her sister, Jo Ann Bates and husband, Cal; Sons, Doug Eldridge and his wife, Terri and Jeremy "Bubba" Eldridge and fiancé Stacy and Doug and Bubba's half-sister, Amanda Gutierrez and husband, Mike; Brother-in-Law, Brant Eldridge; sister-in-law, Christy Jones and husband, Tim; Grandchildren, Gage Eldridge, Madison Eldridge, Alexis Eldridge, Caden Eldridge, Shea Wilkerson, Bradley Fant, Dylan Gutierrez; Great-grandchildren, Cooper Daughrity, Everlee Lane, Maverick Janeaux, Tori Janeaux, Gabriel Eldridge, Azrael Eldridge, Lillian Eldridge; nieces and nephews, Debra DeMartini, Stephen & Nahara Eldridge, AJ DeMartini, Miranda DeMartini-Allen, Kaleb Jones, Harrison & Ana Jones, Christi Bates, Josh & Brittany Bates; lifelong friends, Don & Shirley Trahan and Mike & Vicki Watters.

She is preceded in death by her parents, spouse, Jack and her grandchildren Ronnie Eldridge and Brittnie Eldridge-Adaway.

This past year for Marilyn has been a roller coaster of doctors, hospitals, rehabs, etc. We want to thank all the doctors, nurses and other staff that have taken such great care of her. We want to especially thank the staff at Mid Jefferson Extended Care Hospital in Beaumont, the staff there went above and beyond and showed

such compassion and caring for her and we are beyond grateful.