Florence Carlisle

Florence Carlisle, our dear, beloved, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend passed away early Thursday morning, May 3rd, 2018. Our souls are settled because we know hers is in heaven, united with her Lord and Savior, her husband of sixty-four years Paul Wesson Carlisle, as well as her son Mark Carlisle.

Florence and Paul’s legacy lives through their three sons and their spouses: Gary and wife Sylvia, Chip and wife Susan, and Mark and wife Ann, as well as their six grandchildren and spouses: Gary Jr. and wife Kristie Carlisle, Cortney and husband Palmer Thompson, Paige and husband Wade Stewart, Erin and husband Josh Bibb, Kristin and husband Andrew Morton, and Wes and wife Martha Carlisle. Fourteen great-grandchildren represent the youngest generation to carry this legacy forward.

Florence was born one of ten children on December 28, 1923 in Biry, Texas to Annie and Henry Mussman and raised on the family farm. Her childhood was strongly influenced by the presence of children and animals, and her environment bred a pioneering spirit for ingenuity. Resilient to the crippling effects of the Great Depression, she learned to make what she didn’t have and fix what didn’t work. These ideals framed her worldview and served her well throughout her life.

Florence valued education. In addition to the daily lessons of family home life, she walked miles to receive a formal education. She graduated from High School in Mathis, Texas in 1941. The first in her family to go to college, she borrowed $500 from her church’s Women’s Society to afford her first-year tuition at Southwest Texas State Teachers College.

During her freshman year in college she met the love of her life Paul Wesson Carlisle. They shared a beautiful courtship that was shaped, molded, and tested by the nation’s entry into World War II. Soon thereafter, Paul was called into service in 1942. Florence exchanged letters with Paul expressing devotion and included inside jokes played out on different continents oceans apart. Florence received her teaching certificate and taught first through tenth grades in a rural county near George West, Texas.

While Paul was on leave in April 1943, they married in Corpus Christi, Texas. Florence gave birth to Gary Wayne Carlisle in 1944, while in the care of Paul’s extended family. Upon the declaration of Victory in Europe in 1945, Paul’s service to his country ended. Florence greeted him by introducing him to his first-born son. They returned to Southwest Texas State Teachers College where she and Paul lived on campus and he completed his degree. They then moved to Beaumont Texas in 1947, and Florence gave birth to sons Paul Wesson Carlisle, Junior in 1949 and Mark Bevin Carlisle in 1953. During this time Florence was fully devoted to raising her boys, loving her husband, and serving her Lord. Paul and Florence joined Wesley United Methodist Church family in 1947. Florence taught Sunday class, led and served using her many talents for over seventy years. Florence was a creative parent, building a home full of love, joy, truth, and competition, where thoughts were clever and decisions were penny-wise. Paul led the home, and Florence cultivated the spirit.

As her boys grew and left for college, Florence returned to work at Lamar University and Beaumont school district Resource Department and affording them a college education. Her boys married and started their own families, and she became “Nanny”, as she was lovingly called by six grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren for forty-seven years. She served as their touchstone in life, helping them identify what things were truly precious and what things may shine today but fade over time. She passed on life lessons with her sense of humor and firm moral compass. Most of all, her deeds and decisions reflected her values and beliefs. There was not one false note in her life. Moment to moment, day after day, year after year, and cherished decade after cherished decade, she shared her love, creativity, joy, and Christian spirit with her family. Because of her life, we have our lives, and we are eternally blessed.

Love radiated from Florence who has known and served her God so well for so long. The family would like to express their deepest gratitude and appreciation to all of Florence’s friends and prayer groups.

A gathering of Mrs. Carlisle’s family and friends will be from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., Sunday, May 6, 2018, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. Her funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, May 7, 2018, at Wesley United Methodist Church, 3810 North Major Drive, Beaumont, with Reverend Robert Besser officiating. Her interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont, with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Gary Carlisle, Jr., Paul W. Carlisle III, Rory Carlisle, Cooper Carlisle, Tanner Carlisle, Jack Thomas Niland, Judge Wesson Niland, Parker Carlisle, and Carson Morton, serving as pallbearers.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, 3810 North Major Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77713.