Brenda Ruth Tamplin

Brenda Finch Tamplin, 81, known to many as Mimi and MawMaw, passed from this life on the morning of December 16, 2023, at Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospital in Houston, surrounded by her two children. She was born on March 18, 1942, to Ruth and Fabe Finch in Elton, Louisiana, where she attended school.

She met her husband, Arthur Ray Tamplin, while living in Nederland.  They were married on March 21, 1967, and raised Ray’s daughter, Connie, and had a son together, Mark. Brenda and Ray were married until his death in September 2013.

During her later years of life, Brenda enjoyed a relaxed, yet packed schedule of fishing with her grandchildren at the lake, watching her grandchildren’s sports and extracurricular activities, adamantly keeping her yard managed, and supervising many of Mark’s “small” projects at the lake house. She loved to be involved in all aspects of her family’s life and oftentimes made the effort and the drive to meet up with her grandchildren and take them to lunch or dinner just to have some time to chat about life and see them.

Brenda selflessly and consistently put others needs before her own and oftentimes could be found taking care of family members, friends, church members, and others. In her 81 years of life, Brenda never met a stranger and was not scared to speak her mind to anyone, especially someone who wanted to comment about the shape of her yard or how many hours she worked on it. Her funny one-liners and quick-on-her-feet remarks always kept friends and family members on their toes and was oftentimes the main entertainment at an event.

Brenda is preceded in death by her parents, Ruth and Fabe Finch; husband, Arthur Ray Tamplin;  brother, Harvey Finch; and brother-in-law, Dan Crowley.

She is survived by her sister, Faye Finch Crowley; son, Mark Tamplin and his wife, Angela; daughter, Connie Furby and her husband, Ken; grandchildren and spouses, Jody and Steven Swango, Jana and Jarred Lane, Ty and Kylee Tamplin, and Trent and Sara Tamplin; great-grandchildren, Sophie Swango, Jacie Lane, and Jackson Lane; sister-in-law, Mary Finch; niece, Dana Crowley Gray; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.

Brenda will forever be remembered in our hearts and will be missed by many.

A gathering of Brenda’s family and friends will begin at 10:00 a.m., with her funeral service at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at Broussard’s, 490 Cemetery Road, Silsbee. Her graveside service will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Wimberly Cemetery, 1640 FM 3172, Shelbyville.