Tributes

Burks, Lewis and Peter Bauerlein would like to invite you to celebrate the life of their mother, Elnor Bauerlein Lamb, who passed away on July 15, 2020 at the age of 96. She died peacefully in her sleep surrounded by people she loved. Mom was born in Jasper, Texas on February 10, 1924. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, Port Arthur, Texas in 1942 and entered the wartime economy as a PBX operator in Beaumont, Texas. Shortly thereafter she met her country boy husband-to-be Elvyn Burks Bauerlein, who was working as an equipment operator at the local shipyard. She called him “Bud” and he called her “Pij” (short for pigeon). They quickly fell in love despite the war that was raging in the Pacific. Not long after, Dad was notified that he had been drafted and was scheduled to be shipped out to the Philippines. Unwilling to allow the war to separate them, they married at a relative’s house before Dad departed. They wrote love letters and sent pictures to each other for two years while Dad did tours in the Philippines and Japan. They reunited after the war at the St. Anthony Hotel in downtown San Antonio more in love than ever and thankful to be together again. Fifty-five years later, the St. Anthony would once again play a part in another Bauerlein love story as the site of one of her granddaughters’ wedding receptions. We have no doubt that she treasured that day as she relived her sweet memories with Dad. They remained happily married for 40 years and raised their family mostly in Houston, Texas before he passed away in 1984. During those 40 years that she was married to her best friend, Mom was a loving wife, a devoted mother and a consummate homemaker. Some might say that our house ran like a Swiss watch. In fact, it was Mom who organized all our moves across the country. Make no mistake, if one of her boys was too slow before a move, they would end up in the dish barrel with the rest of the non-essential goods. Our meals were always tasty, nutritious and on time whether we were eating steak or spam. Our pants were neatly pressed and our shirts were starched with precision. However, not one of us could outdo our Mom, who was always dressed to perfection. Beautiful inside and out, she was famous for saying “This old thing?” when being complimented on a new dress. But her greatest accomplishment was not creating a comfortable home for her family even though she wore the title of “homemaker” with great honor. Mom taught us the importance of loyalty to the ones you love, grace in the face of adversity, the power of a positive spirit, and that anything is bearable with a little bit of hard work and humor. Even after we each left home to pursue our individual lives, we were always proud to call her our Mom. After Dad passed away, Mom was lonely. That loneliness was filled by the second man she fell in love with, Joe Ed Lamb of Houston, Texas. Mom and Joe Ed met at St. Andrews Methodist Church where Joe Ed was the Sr. Pastor. They married on June 26, 1987 and served together in churches in Houston, Lufkin, Trinity and San Antonio, Texas. When Mom married Joe Ed, she found purpose once again as a pastor’s wife. She filled that position with the same grace and charm that she had as a homemaker for her boys. Mom and Joe Ed retired to San Antonio in 2001 where she was able to take a much needed rest. She spent the next 18 years caring for Joe Ed and hosting her children and grandchildren while serving at her local church. When her health declined in mid-2018, she and Joe Ed were forced to live separately as she entered a memory care facility. They saw each other frequently, but dementia and Alzheimer’s had stolen many of the memories she shared with Joe Ed, Dad and her boys. However, Alzheimer’s was not able to steal the loving and caring spirit that characterized Mom from her early days in Jasper. She was treasured at her care facility as the sweetest, kindest person. She was known for how she loved and appreciated everyone, never said a cross word, shared the purest prayers, and could “cut a rug” on Karaoke Night. Despite her fading memories, her love for her family was etched onto her heart. She loved to tease her boys when they came to visit about who was most handsome or had grey hair. There was not a single doubt about the depth of her love for all of her family members as she discussed each one frequently with her caregivers. At every family gathering, she never failed to proclaim how proud she was of her boys and their families. She was always quick to claim that we never gave her a moment's trouble and “wouldn't take a million dollars for any of us” because she loved us so much. Mom, we all miss you, and we love you dearly. We are grateful for the honest, Christian example that you set for us over the years as you lived each day to its fullest. You will be lovingly remembered by each of us, including our wives, your grandchildren and great grandchildren. Thank you for sharing your life with us and for giving so freely of your love and kindness to everyone who experienced the blessing of knowing you.

Tributes

Elnor Byerly Bauerlein Lamb

February 10, 1924 - July 15, 2020