Shirley Rae Lavine

On March 9, 1935, a beautiful baby girl was born to Leo and Mattie Moultrie in Crowley, Louisiana, the third of seven children. They named this gift Shirley Rae. The family moved to Beaumont, Texas when Shirley was young. She attended Charlton Pollard High School and graduated from Hebert High School in 1953. Shirley was a top student.

After finishing high school, Shirley worked at St. Theresa Hospital where she met the love of her life, Amos Lavine Jr. They were united in marriage for 54 years. Theirs was a marriage built on a solid foundation of love and devotion. He was by her side until the end.

Shirley and Amos had three children and moved their young family from Beaumont to Houston, Texas. Shirley and Amos worked hard to provide the best life possible for their children. Their children were their number one priority and the center of their world. Shirley and Amos sacrificed to provide everything their children needed and nearly everything they wanted.

Shirley was initially a stay at home Mom but in her quest to provide the best for her children she attended Durham College and became a Keypunch Operator. She worked at Gordon’s Jewelry and later at Southern Pacific Railroad, where she worked for 27 years until her retirement.

Shirley was a strong Christian who accepted Christ at an early age. She was a member of McCabe Methodist Church in Beaumont as a child. Once she was married she converted to the Catholic faith. Several years ago, Shirley and Amos began attending Lakewood Church, where they attended faithfully until Shirley was no longer able.

Shirley loved to travel. The family took vacations every year when the kids were young, sometimes with Shirley’s parents in tow. They loaded up the station wagon or the motor home and just went. Shirley and Amos continued that tradition with their older grandkids and sometimes took long driving vacations on their own after their retirement.

Once Shirley retired, she was free to enjoy her favorite hobbies – shopping and giving. She was a hugely big hearted person who supported numerous charities and gave generously to her family and friends. She was a “Coupon Queen” before couponing was in vogue. She loved a bargain and loved sharing those bargains with others.

Shirley leaves to cherish her memory and legacy her husband Amos Lavine Jr; daughters Shirlynda Ferguson (Charlie) and Amye Lavine; son Kevin Lavine (LaTanja); grandchildren Aluvya Adams (Tyree), Arthur Adams (Shawana), Allyson Adams Fulton (Devin), Alysha Adams Carrier (Tyron), Alonzo Adams (Tiffany), Kennard Colwell, Keneshia Colwell, Janae Ferguson, Khyree Ferguson, Keanna Lavine, and Kevin Lavine Jr.; siblings Addie Lincoln (Claude) and Leo Moultrie (Berta); sisters-in-law Rosa Lee Mouton and Sedonia Lazard; great-grandchildren Samuel Harris, Aja Adams, Devin Fulton Jr., DeVaugn Fulton, Tytianna Moore-Harris, Deanna Fulton, Tyanna Moore-Harris, Sanaa Adams; “adopted” sons John Ojeaga and Sylvester Griffith; “adopted” daughter Alveda Williams; long time friend Mary Lou Johnson; special friends Bernadine Garner, Tony & Anna Hendricks, Ann & Gerald Julian, Mae Ferguson, and James & Elsie Kelley; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.