William “Bill” Frederick Miranda, Sr.

William “Bill” Frederick Miranda, Sr., 86, of Beaumont, died Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas, Beaumont. He was born December 19, 1936, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Ruby Dean Webb Miranda and Vincent Albert Miranda.

Bill was a loving husband, father, brother and loyal friend. He never met a stranger, having a ready smile, quick witted joke, and a helping hand for everyone he met. He lived a full and colorful life and had many entertaining and fascinating life stories to share. He was born in Baton Rouge and was the son of Italian immigrant, Vincent A. Miranda, proprietor of The Brunswick in downtown Baton Rouge, where Bill learned his hard work ethic and eventually met his wife. He attended Sewanee Military Academy in Tennessee and used his athleticism and strength to compete in football, wrestling, boxing and gymnastics. However, it was Bill’s love of nature that began as a young child spending time with family in the countryside of Oak Grove, Louisiana hunting and fishing that prompted him to pursue a forestry degree from Louisiana State University and a career in forestry management in east Texas. After graduating from college, Bill married his first love, Gail Vorhoff.

Bill was in the ROTC program at LSU and then served proudly in the United States Army at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, achieving the rank of Captain in field artillery. In his lifetime, Bill fought forest fires in Oregon, estimated Timber in the jungles of Honduras, and marked timber all over Louisiana and the East Texas Piney Woods. As Bill progressed into management at Southwestern Timber Company in Jasper, Texas, his friendliness and persuasiveness made him well-suited for his role in public relations and lobbying for the interests of the forestry industry. In this capacity, he organized trips to view the Apollo moon launches at Cape Canaveral, Florida and actively campaigned in east Texas for political candidates such as President Richard Nixon, Senator Lloyd Benson and Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe, as well as many other local elected officials. While working for Temple-Eastex Incorporated, he was involved with the development of the Big Thicket National Preserve. In 1974, Bill and Gail moved their three children to Beaumont where Bill would eventually start a new career as a real estate broker, developer and property manager. Upon leaving the forestry industry, Bill initially worked for Bella Construction Company. However, as his real estate and property investments expanded with partners. Bill then became the manager of GHM Investments.

Bill and Gail were married for 57 years until she passed in 2016. He was a loving and devoted family man and spent quality time with them all. He would play all sorts of games with his family, including dominos, ping-pong, pool, horseshoes and of course, golf. He coached Little League baseball and was the resident quarterback for the neighborhood football games on Ivy Lane. He would often share his love of nature with his children, taking them all out hunting, fishing at Lake Rayburn and water skiing along the Neches River. He also loved surf fishing at Crystal Beach and spending time at their beach cabin at Sandy Shores with family and friends. Bill was active at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church and in his community. Always a competitor, Bill was passionate about weightlifting (and socializing) at the gym and loved playing golf over the years with fellow golf members at Rayburn Country Club, Beaumont Country Club and Brentwood Golf Club. He loved to compete and often said he was “a good loser but an even better winner.” In 1997, Bill was appointed to the Board of the Jefferson County Drainage District 6 and served as Secretary and Vice President in his twenty years of service. He also continued to be actively involved in real estate until his retirement in 2021. In the last six years of his life, Bill was fortunate to meet and eventually marry in 2021, the second love of his life, Hazel Adair. She shared his passion for golf and love of travel. He embarked on several new adventures with Hazel, her children and grandchildren. Bill touched countless lives in his nearly 87 years, and he will leave a lasting legacy in the many friends and family that will carry his memory.

Bill is survived by his wife, Hazel Adair-Miranda; children, Bill Miranda, Jr. and his wife, Liz, of Richardson; Linda Miranda Gaudio and husband, Mark, of Scottsdale, Arizona; Jeff Miranda of  Austin; Jimmy Adair and his wife, Vicki, of Orange; Janice Haney and her husband, Rusty, of Amarillo; Johnny Adair and his wife, Jessica Garth-Adair, of Beaumont; grandchildren, Meredith Miller and husband, Chance; Hillary Hard and her husband, Matt; Christopher Gaudio; Zachary Miranda; Trey Miranda; Chase Miranda; Jeromy Adair and his wife, Kristi; Julie Adair; Eric Haney and his wife, Kate; Ty Abshire; Tory Abshire; Tate Whitney; True Whitney; and Thadius Adair; great-grandchildren, Thomas Miller; Rylee Ward; Jayden Adair; Luke Adair; Jaycob Adair; Loki Adair; Paige Haney; and Avery Haney; and sister, Elaine Miranda Miller.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Gail Vorhoff Miranda; grandson, Tye Adair; siblings, Vincent Webb Miranda, Patricia Miranda Bonnette, and Edward Ruskin Miranda.

A Rosary for Mr. Miranda will be recited at 5:00 p.m., with a gathering of his family and friends to follow until 7:00 p.m., Friday, December 8, 2023, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, December 9, 2023, at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church, 6825 Gladys Avenue, Beaumont. His interment with military honors will follow at Magnolia Cemetery, Beaumont.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, New York 10306; The Gift of Life Prostate Screening Program, 2390 Dowlen Road, Beaumont, Texas 77706; or the Garth House, 1895 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont, Texas 77701.