Gearldine Audilet

Gearldine Audilet, 87, of Beaumont, died Tuesday, February 24, 2026. She was born on December 10, 1938, in Silsbee to Lillie Lee Edwards and Major Eli Bearden.

Gearldine grew up the youngest of six children.  To help at home she began her work career at an early age at the local Dairy Queen close to her home in the old location on College Street near the Avenues.  She would work in several other businesses in Beamont always gravitating toward bookkeeping.

Gearldine and Clifton met at Play Ground Park where he manned the “Tilt-a-Whirl” ride. He would keep her riding it until she was nearly sick.  They said they had a “Whirl of a Romance” from the ride.  They married in August of 1956. Gearldine still had her senior year to complete. The only way they were able to marry early was to promise her mother that he would see that she graduated from high school. He kept that promise.

In 1958, Gearldine and Clifton started their family.  Their children came three years apart.  Gearldine was a stay-at-home mom in the early years and took in odd jobs to help with expenses.  Gearldine would always plan a summer vacation for the family and staying in a pop-up camper was the way the family saw a lot of the United States (and Canada).  Gearldine loved the Lord and always was willing to do many things at church to help out.

In the later 1960’s, Gearldine and Clifton started working with used tractors, equipment and parts. They turned Clifton’s little hobby into a thriving business, and she ran the company at times alone while Clifton was still working at DuPont.  She worked hard all her life and was a good businesswoman.

Gearldine loved to travel and was blessed to get to see a lot of the world in a short amount of time.  She and Clifton traveled for a time and later she would take trips with family and friends.  Gearldine had travel buddies that were great friends and she always loved being with them.

Gearldine will always be remembered as a great loving person with a beautiful smile and will always be missed.

Survivors include her husband of sixty-nine years, Clifton Audilet; daughters, Tammy Goines and her husband, Lyle, and Cindy Touchet and her husband, Jim; son, Terry Audilet and his wife, Cynthia, all of Beaumont; grandchildren, Aaron Mouton and his wife, Cathy, of China; Colton Audilet and his wife, Chelsea, of Mount Belvieu; Micah Goines of Columbus, Mississpi; Hannah Baldwin and her husband, Ben, of Beaumont; great-grandchildren, Natalie Mouton, Marisa Hernandez, Moriah Garcia, Paislee Bertsch, Coy Bertsch, Tyler Baldwin; multiple nieces, nephews, and other family members; and dear friends that she thought of as a bonus daughter and granddaughter, Brenda Kennedy and Annaleigh Kennedy.

Gearldine is preceded in death by her parents, brothers, sisters, and other family members.

The family would like to say a special thanks to the staff of Oakridge Assisted Living Beaumont for the great care they gave to Mrs. Audilet.

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

A gathering of Mrs. Audilet’s family and friends will begin 10:00 a.m. with her funeral service at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 28, 2026, at Amelia Baptist Church, 8055 Brighton Street, Beaumont. Her interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont, under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major, Beaumont.