Leah Gail Pickett Van Cleve (Gail)

Leah Gail Pickett Van Cleve (Gail), was born on January 29, 1936, in Port Neches, Texas, and completed her earthly journey in Beaumont, Texas on October 4, 2023. She was surrounded by family as she commenced the next part of her journey with her Lord and Savior.

Gail was born to Ruth Aileen East and Cleveland Pickett, and shortly after her birth, her father was transferred to Texaco’s Lockport, Illinois, roofing plant, where the family lived until 1952, when her father was transferred back to Port Neches.

Gail made many lifelong friends in Lockport and remained in close touch with many of them until the end of her life. She began school in Lockport and continued there into her junior year when her father was transferred back to Port Neches. At Port Neches, she again made many lifelong friends and cherished all those friendships.

She began her education at Port Neches in mid-year 1953, quickly making friends with whom she maintained lifelong contact. She met a Nederland Boy through a blind date arranged by those friends and invited him to the Port Neches Sadie Hawkins Day dance on November 13, 1953. That blind date quickly evolved into a life commitment when they began steady dating the following March and then married on November 23, 1955, in the First Methodist Church of Nederland.

The couple had begun college classes at Lamar College prior to their marriage, and after marriage, Gail interrupted her college career and took a job at Gulf States Utilities power plant in Beaumont, helping to support the two while Guy worked summers and nights while continuing his pursuit of an engineering degree. Prior to his graduation in June 1960, their first two children, Guy Van Cleve III, and Kelli Van Cleve Derouen Benton were born. A third child, Stacey Van Cleve Wallis DeVillier was born following Guy’s graduation. The family settled into a home in Nederland built by Guy.

After the youngest began school, Gail returned to college, earning a BA degree, and teaching high school English at Thomas Jefferson High School in Port Arthur for ten years before retiring permanently. She then opened and ran a travel agency for about 8 years with her youngest daughter. During those years, she and Guy enjoyed international travel and marvelous vacations.

The couple was blessed with six grandchildren: Amber Kaye Wallis Chesnutt, Leah Michelle Wallis, Nicholas Edward DeVillier, Lindsay Nicole Derouen, Kiersten Taylor Benton Allen, and Travis Andre Benton.

Six great-grandchildren were added to the family. They are Rylie Gail Chesnutt, Sophia Dominica Chesnutt, Madison Kozlowski, Cayson Kozlowski, Conner James Allen, Laykin Jane Allen. All the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren live in the Beaumont-Port Arthur-Orange area of Southeast Texas.

Her surviving sister is Patsy (Roger) Ruettiger of Joliet, IL, and surviving nieces and nephews from that family are: Roxanne Ruth (Bill) Wirt, Sandra Lynn (Nicholas) Ficarillo, Julia (Thomas) Hlavacik), Gregory (Betsy) Ruettiger and Carrie Ruettiger, all living near Joliet IL except for Roxanne, who lives in Colorado Springs, CO.

Surviving nieces and nephews from her sister Billy Sue’s family (Gail’s and Guy’s nieces and nephews) are Patricia (Thomas) Senffner of Marquette Heights, IL, Michlyn Goddard of Lombard, IL, Tommy (Gordon) Fitzsimmons of Chicago, IL, Molly (Craig) Randall of Elmhurst, IL, William (Claudia) Kane of Maryland Heights, MO, John (Deborah) Kane of UT.

She is also survived by numerous great and great-great-nieces and nephews.

A gathering of Mrs. Van Cleve’s family and friends will be 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.,  Monday, October 9, 2023, at Broussard’s, 505 North 12^th Street, Nederland. Her funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., October 10, 2023, at Broussard’s, with her entombment to follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park Mausoleum in Port Neches.