Sean Michael Giffin
Sean Michael Giffin of Lakeway, Texas, died Tuesday, March 7, 2023. Sean was raised in Beaumont, Texas. He attended high school at Legacy Christian Academy and earned his BS degree from Texas A&M University. Postgraduation, Sean worked for Travis County as an Operations Specialist.
Sean’s soft-spoken demeanor and loving compassion, coupled with a wry sense of humor and deep sense of loyalty to family and friends, will be missed by all.
Sean’s many hobbies included hunting and fishing, playing and collecting guitars, tennis, hiking, and photography.
Sean is survived by his parents, Mike and Holly Giffin of Beaumont; aunt, Nina Vincent and husband, Johnny Vincent, of Bridge City; uncles, Philip Pearson of Bremerton, Washington and Mark Gilbert and Matthew Gilbert, both of Bridge City; aunts, Dixie Reynolds, Linda Hyder, and Connie Adams of Bridge City; and numerous cousins.
He was preceded in death by grandmothers, Norma Cardiff and Marie Giffin; a brother, Clinton; and aunt, Winnie Stout.
A gathering of Sean’s family and friends will begin at 1:00 p.m., with his funeral service to follow at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont, conducted by Pastor Nathan Cothen. A family committal will be held at a later date.
Honorary pallbearers include Mark Gilbert, Matthew Gilbert, Carter Patrick, Dakota Swisher, John Vincent, Randy Underwood, and Collin Brice.
Video
Gathering of Family and Friends
Broussard’s Mortuary Major Dr.
- 1605, North Major Drive, Beaumont, Texas, 77713,
- March 15, 2023
- 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Funeral Service
Broussard’s Mortuary Major Dr.
- 1605, North Major Drive, Beaumont, Texas, 77713,
- March 15, 2023
- 2:00 pm
Mike and Holly. Our hearts break for you. May God bless you with his comfort and peace as only he can.
Jane & Ron Roberts
To know Sean was to know kindness, compassion, patience, fun, adventure, and love that knew no bounds. To know my Sean was to know singing at any break of silence, dancing around the living room after playing with our cat Lucy, never being able to sit down without him laying on me and asking for head scratches, constantly having a camera pointed at me and seeing his big grin behind it waiting for mine, and never having to chop my own vegetables for dinner – because it was his favorite part. Sean could make anyone feel special and that’s what he spent his time doing. He truly was a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day to anyone he came across. That’s how I’ll always remember him, my big happy personal sunshine. I’ll make sure to appreciate every sunny day knowing that it’s him smiling on us, and admire every sunrise / sunset a little bit longer since he’s up there painting his own masterpieces for us to enjoy. His memory will live on, and his presence will always be with us and for that I’m thankful to always know he’s near.
John 15:12 “John 15:12: My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. “
As I write this letter I’m going through all the memories me and Sean had together. And if you knew Sean, a few things would come to your mind: Baseball, fishing, outdoors, and the color red. Sean loved all of these things. But that’s not his legacy. Sean and I became attached to the hip at a very young age. We vacationed together , played sports together, went to Astros games together, fished together, and went to college together. We grew up together. And I watched him grow from a young boy into a gentle, loving, strong, empathetic, and caring young man. When Sean loved, he loved hard. Growing up together meant we fought like brother and sister, and in those moments, when the friendship was tested, Sean always stuck by my side teaching me how to show love. He had the biggest heart of anyone I know and he taught me to be a better daughter, sister, and friend. Sean’s legacy isn’t rooted in the fact that he loved to fish or be outdoors and adventurous. His legacy is rooted in his commitment to do what Christ commanded us to do in John 15:12, and that’s to love.
My friendship with Sean lasted almost twenty years. It started in fourth grade, and while our love has taken many forms over the years, before there was love, there was a fourth grader’s contempt. I was unlucky enough to have a crush on the same girl as Sean when I started at Cathedral in the Pines elementary. I say it was unlucky because if you knew Sean, you know he was NOT someone you wanted to compete against. I would find myself sitting on a chair next to our crush, and all of a sudden I would be crashing butt-first to the floor with Sean in the seat I had just taken. He was faster and stronger and I never stood a chance.
Luckily for me, nine-year-olds are quick to forget, and we soon became friends. My friendship with Sean was not a timeline decorated with spectacular moments of huge expression, but instead was a steady stream of acceptance and delight in one another. In a world of chasing those moments to post on instagram, my friendship with Sean was more a weighted blanket that brought security, warmth, and calmness. I was lucky enough to speak with Sean just a couple weeks ago as I was listening to Switchfoot’s album “Beautiful Letdown.” I always think of Sean when I hear those songs, and I wanted to tell him that. Our conversation was brief, but it brought me back to an image I’ll never forget of karaoke in the gymnasium in sixth grade with Coach Herr. She was playing the album and letting students take the karaoke microphone in turn to perform one of the songs. I remember Sean holding the corded mic and singing along with Jon Foreman these lyrics:
“I want to see miracles
To see the world change
To wrestle the angel for more than a name
For more than a feeling
For more than a cause
I’m singing ‘Spirit take me up in arms with You’
Because you’re raising the dead in me.”
He stood there with his silly smirk, never one to take himself too seriously. But I sat there as a 12 year old, mesmerized by his confidence and expression, and I continued to be mesmerized by his life and fight for what is real and honest and true. I saw him in real time wrestle that angel for more than a feeling or a name. I saw his self-acceptance evolve and grow, and through every life change I went through, he demonstrated that same radical acceptance for me in a way that few people have ever shown me. I am comforted by the awareness that many were fortunate enough to feel the same way. So my mind’s eye will continue to envision that devious smirk singing an off key version of Switchfoot in a hideous gymnasium, because it is a tick on the timeline. It is not a moment of beauty contrasting what was otherwise darkness. Not at all. It marks a moment of Sean’s beautiful life, reflecting a trajectory towards wholeness and openness that humbles me, and I hope to strive for a semblance of that for the rest of my life.
Not only was Sean a wonderful friend, he was also the closest thing I ever had to an older brother. If you ever had the pleasure of getting to know Sean, you’d know he was a man of few (but very calculated) words, lots of hidden talents, and had a fantastic sense of humor that was always followed by a contagious laugh that would light up a room.
There was point in my life where Sean came to visit every single day, twice a day, with an iced coffee in his hand no matter the time of day. We shared so many great memories together from trips hunting, fishing, skiing, and camping, playing guitars or any other instruments we could find, and spending hours wasting gas in my old truck just listening to music together. We didn’t always need to be doing something though; some of my favorite memories include just sitting outside on a beautiful day enjoying his calm, gentle demeanor.
Sean taught me there is a subtle appreciation to all things in life- always pointing out the most extensive details in the most miniscule of things. He showed me the most random, unpredictable moments are the funniest. And most of all, he never failed to use the words “love you” in every conversation. Sean will be deeply missed here on Earth. For now, his memory will live on through us, but through faith I know I will see my brother again.
As a nervous 7 year old girl, newly adopted, I walked into Mrs. Skinner’s classroom at Cathedral Christian on the very first day of school. I can remember clearly with tears in my eyes being overwhelmed thinking that I wouldn’t make any friends at my new school…until I met Sean Giffin. This treasure of a friendship went throughout my elementary years, middle school, and into highschool. I look back on my childhood and there are a few memories where Sean isn’t a part of them. Whether it be movie nights, school dances, sitting together every day at lunch, fun trips, countless weekends spent together, and everything in between. My life is sprinkled with sweet memories of him. Sean was the type of friend who could make you laugh on your saddest days, who would answer the phone any time of day or night because you needed him, love you through your best and through your worst, he was a constant in my good moments and the hard; Sean was a once in a lifetime kind of friend and I’m so thankful he was mine. My heart is broken in his absence, but I will forever hold dear the time the Lord has given me with Sean. My heart clings to the verse and the hope of Heaven, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:13-14.
I love you all sweet Giffin family, always.
Sean, my best friend mí amigo; my brother from another mother. We’ve been best friends for so long I don’t even remember meeting you. But I’ll never forget all the laughs and memories we shared, I’ll cherish them forever. Thank you for blessing my life, you’ll be forever in my heart. Rest in peace brother.
Sean was the little brother I never had. We spent summers and lots of weekends driving each other crazy. When he was little, his favorite color was red. He loved matchbox cars, Mission Impossible, and being outside. His floppy hair and charming smile could make you laugh even when he was being a pest. He was such a handsome candle lighter in my wedding. I’m so thankful we stayed in touch as we both got older. He often asked about my kids, and was excited to share about all of his adventures. My heart is broken, but I am so grateful to have Sean in my life.
Mr and Mrs Giffin,
I am heartbroken to hear about Sean. He was such a great kid. I loved coaching him in tennis and watching him play soccer with Maddie. I am praying for you both. May our Lord comfort you and keep you.
Love, Coach Herr
I want to extend my deepest sympathy to you all. I don’t know what else to say.
Holly and Mike my deepest condolences. I will be in continued prayer for you and your entire family.
Mike and Holly, my heart is broken for you. I can’t even imagine how horrible this is for you. My prayers and hugs are with you. Anne just called me to let me know.
I am truly heartbroken. I’m keeping your family in my prayers.
Mike and Holly, my thoughts and prayers are with both of you.
Holly, I want to wish you my condolences and love. I want to thank you for sharing pictures of you and your family with me. Hoping God’s spirit will lift you and Mike up. Sheri
Our family has many happy and fun memories with Sean. He was such a sweet and kind hearted young man, that touched our lives deeply. I don’t know if many people knew this about Sean, but he was a chicken fried steak connoisseur! We visited many restaurants together and he absolutely loved to rate each one he had. His favorite one by far, was the one at the Gritsmill River, he had many memories there going with his family in the summer times, I feel that is why he always rated that one a ten. Playing tennis with Sean, was always a sport! He was very competitive when it came to tennis! We would get so tickled because he would almost knock you off the court to get that ball if you were playing on his team. We had the pleasure as well from skiing in Jackson Hole, to hiking in Oahu. He loved being in nature! It’s really hard to process that he’s no longer on earth with us. But I know without a doubt, he is no longer suffering and is at peace now. He will be missed by our family immensely. We will hold on to our happy memories of Sean.
-Walt & Sonya Hornaday
Austin, TX
Mike and Holly we have so many fond memories of Sean. He was such a soft spoken and gentle young man. Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you durning this very difficult time.
Larry and Patti King
Prayers for you All in this difficult time.
Mike and Holly, we send you our love and prayers. We know you are so broken now but please remember that your many friends love you both so much. We are here for you. ❤️❤️ ????