Irene Best

Ila Irene Laird Best was born Feb. 8, 1920, and passed away Wednesday, June 11, 2008. Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., on Monday, June 16, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visitation at Broadmoor Baptist Church, 9755 Goodwood Blvd., on Tuesday, June 17, from 9 a.m. until service at 10 a.m., conducted by Dr. John Goodwin, Dr. Jarrett Banks and the Rev. Pam Williams. Interment in Resthaven Gardens of Memory. Pallbearers will be Jacob Best, Dr. Joshua Best, Charles Murphy, Bob Epperson, Tom Averette and Henry Chiles. Irene is survived by her beloved family, son and daughter-in-law, Ken and Susan Best; grandchildren, Jennifer Best, of Dallas, Jacob Best, of New Orleans, and Dr. Joshua Best and wife Jessica, of Shreveport; a sister, Edna Bryant, of Waco, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews of Texas. Preceded in death by her husband, J.B. "Jiggs" Best; son, Dean Best; and siblings, Buck Laird, Wade Laird and Libbie Laird. Irene lived a life of love and service to others. Raised on a hard scrabble cotton farm in central Texas, she learned early the value of hard work. Life in the Depression was difficult. Many summer nights her bedclothes would be wet from sweat, even while sleeping. Some winter mornings she would awaken to find snow on her bed, blown in through cracks in the walls. After graduating from high school in Reagan, Texas, she moved to Port Arthur, Texas, to attend business school. She worked in a laundry to help put herself through school, earning nine cents per hour. While in business school, she was assisted by several kind-hearted ladies, setting the stage for later service in her life. She worked as a secretary in a shipyard in Port Arthur during World War II. There she met her husband, J.B. Best. He worked there as a supervisor, building destroyer escorts for the U.S. Navy. They married in 1944. As the war wound down, Mr. Best took a job with Delta Tank Co. and they moved to Baton Rouge. In 1950, Mr. Best left Delta Tank to form the first of two family businesses. Irene was active in both until her retirement. Her first son, Ken, was born in 1945. The second son, Dean, was born in 1949. She was always active in her children's school activities, serving as room mother on several occasions. She was a wonderful mother, instilling in her sons a strong sense of discipline. She believed the biblical admonition to "spare the rod and spoil the child." She had an especially strong belief in personal responsibility and the value of hard work and education. She had little time for people who would not work to improve or support themselves, but would give tirelessly of her time, resources and love to anyone in need. In 1959, she and her family joined Broadmoor Baptist Church, where she served in many capacities. She taught Sunday school to various age groups for many years, serving as a role model to anyone who wished to be a Sunday school teacher at Broadmoor. In 1984, Broadmoor Baptist Church ordained four women as deacons for the first time. She was one of those four. In addition to serving on the deacon board, she also served on the church trustee council. She also served on the pastor search committee that brought Glen Edwards to Broadmoor Baptist Church in 1970. Her finest work, however, came in later years when she served as the church's representative to its homebound members. She personally visited more than 30 families each month, maintaining their contact with the church when they were no longer able to attend. As an ordained deacon, she also regularly shared communion with some of those she visited. In her later years, she, too, became homebound. Health problems precluded her attending church for the last five years of her life. In addition to her church work, she also did other community volunteer work, most notably with Cancer Services of Baton Rouge. One year, she was named Volunteer of the Year for her service. She was once asked by one of the staffers where she got her work ethic. The questioner noted that she was more regular than some of the paid staff. She also worked many hours for the American Red Cross, having served in many different capacities. She never sought positions of prestige or recognition in her volunteer work. She preferred to serve the people in need and leave the management to others. She lived a life that truly embodied "the golden rule" while remaining keenly aware of one's responsibility to be a productive, honest, hardworking citizen. She kept in her bedroom a framed copy of "the golden rule" that had belonged to her dad. She was loved and respected by all who knew her. Her kind spirit and sweet smile will be missed. She is with the Lord, whom she loved and prayed earnestly in her waning years to join. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Broadmoor Baptist Church.