Floreine Elouise Gambrell

Floreine Elouise Smith was born to Wesley Homer and Adelia Eveline Curson Smith on November 25, 1920 in Houston, Texas. She left this earthly life to enter the heavenly Kingdom on August 8, 2012 at 91 years, 8 months, and 14 days. She is survived by one son, L.B. Gambrell, Jr. and wife, Bobette; one daughter, Janel Gambrell Sewell, and husband, Jim; grandson Brian Gambrell and wife Janet; grandson Rob Gambrell and wife Lisa; grandson Kirk Gambrell and wife Laura; granddaughter Ashlyn Nethery and husband Eric; and grandson Heath Poindexter and wife Staci. Floreine Gambrell was blessed to know and love 11 great-grandchildren: Connor and Cody Gambrell, Will and Blake Gambrell, Spencer and Sean Gambrell, Addie and Jack Labay, Jake Nethery, Reeves and Hannah Poindexter. She was raised in Houston and actively involved in Sunday School and other activities at Trinity Baptist Church with her younger sister, Madeline. It was at church she met the love of her life, Louis.

On July 14, 1939 she married Louis Booth Gambrell, who was to be her sweetheart for 61 years. Theirs was a blessed life together where they raised two children, L. B., Jr. and Janel Carol. Floreine and Louis spent many years serving the First Baptist Church of Spring Branch. She always taught an adult women’s class in the department where Louis served as director. They made a great team!

Floreine received an Associate Degree from a Houston Business College; however, most of her work when the kids were in school was serving her Lord through church visitation, family visits, church committee participation, and teaching the scriptures she believed. When the children left home, she worked first in the accounts payable department at Lone Star Industries, and eventually, retired as the executive secretary for the Houston Company.

She will always be remembered as a gracious caregiver and friend to those who needed emotional support. In their later years together, Floreine and Louis organized and led numerous church trips of sight-seeing and delightful fun activities with senior adults.

Floreine loved her plants and was a bird watcher. She spent organized time nurturing her plants and could share tidbits of information on the birds living in her neighborhood, as well as Texas.

Floreine and Louis taught their grandchildren to love ice cream. At their house there were always flavors to choose from and ice cream to eat before bedtime. She was proud of her family and loved each of them deeply. She instilled her faith, her hope, and her care in those she met. Floreine Gambrell was a gracious, spirit-filled lady and a blessing to her surroundings, as well as those who knew her. Her earthly life will be missed, but those who love her are happy she is walking the streets of gold!