Clifton Audilet

Clifton Audilet, 87, of Beaumont, Texas went to be with his Lord and Savior and his beloved wife, Gearldine, on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026. He was born on June 12, 1938, to Ottie Craig and Jack Audilet.

Clifton was raised in Beaumont and graduated from South Park High School in 1956. His childhood home and his present home were always on Washington Boulevard. When he was growing up, the childhood home was considered rural because the city limits had not yet reached that area. Country life with animals and gardens had him learning to work at a young age. He was taught the work ethic that never stopped. As a teenager, he would go to the Houston Livestock calf scramble to catch a cow to show in the next year’s showing. He won several ribbons over the years he showed. This love of cattle was rekindled many years later when he was able to get back into ranching and raising cattle again. When he was finally able to purchase his own ranch; he was the happiest man on the earth. He loved the peace he got from being out at the farm.

One of the jobs Clifton had as a young man was at Playground Park, in which he ran the “Tilt-a-Whirl”. He met his future wife when she came to ride. He kept her on the ride until she agreed to go out with him. Clifton and Gearldine married on August 17, 1956, with a promise to Gearldine’s mother that he would see she graduate from high school. He kept that promise. They were married for sixty-nine years and are now rejoicing in Heaven together forever.

Clifton and Gearldine were a great team. They built a wonderful life for themselves and their children, Tammy, Cindy and Terry. Clifton was known

as a Jack-of-all-Trades by many because he could do so many different jobs. He was a carpenter in his early years, building furniture and cabinets for many homes in Beaumont. He and Gearldine built their own home over time and he

built furniture for their home as well. Clifton was a machinist for Shaffer Tool before getting the call that he was old enough to go to work at the Beaumont DuPont plant at 21.

He was a devoted Christian and held the title as oldest member of Amelia Baptist Church before he passed, where he was ordained a Deacon as one of the youngest deacons elected for the position at the age of 26. He taught a boys Sunday School class for many years before being the adult class director. Clifton held many positions in the church and loved his church family.

Clifton bought a tractor and mower to help with extra income by cutting lots in Beaumont for many people. He enjoyed the tractor work and purchased another tractor and fixed it up. He sold it and bought another. This repetitive process became his hobby that transformed into a full-time tractor dealership for nearly 60 years. In fact, there came a point where he had to choose between DuPont and the business.

Clifton worked hard all his life and loved every minute of being at his own business. People would often ask him, as he started getting into his later years, “When are you going to retire?” His answer was always the same: “When they put me six feet under!” And he was there every day until illness took over.

Survivors include his sister, JoAnn Mendoza of Beaumont; children, Tammy Goines and husband, Lyle; Cindy Touchet and husband, Jim; Terry Audilet and wife, Cynthia, all of Beaumont. Grandchildren, Aaron Mouton and wife Cathy, of China; Colton Audilet and wife, Chelsea, of Mont Belvieu; Micah Goines of Columbus, Mississippi; Hannah Baldwin and husband, Ben, of Beaumont. Great-grandchildren, Natalie Mouton, Marisa Hernandez, Mariah Garcia, Paislee Bertsch, Coy Bertsch, Tyler Baldwin; and multiple nieces, nephews and other family members. Also, dear friends he thought of as a bonus daughter and granddaughter, Brenda Kennedy and Annaleigh Kennedy.

Clifton is preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife, Gearldine, and his siblings, Betty Vrana, Jimmy, Raymond and George Audilet and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to Amelia Baptist Church, 8055 Brighton Street, Beaumont, Texas 77707.

A gathering of Mr. Audilet’s family and friends will be from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., Sunday, April 12, 2026, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. His funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, April 13, 2026, at Amelia Baptist Church, 8055 Brighton Street, Beaumont, with his interment to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.