Olabell Stevenson

March 9, 1915 - October 17, 2011

Olabell Talbert Stevenson, 96 of Port Arthur, died Monday, October 17, 2011. She was born on March 9, 1915, in Rio Vista, Texas, to Earl and Ruby Allen Talbert. She graduated from Rio Vista High School and from business school in Fort Worth, Texas. In 1933, Olabell moved to Port Arthur and lived with relatives, where she attended Port Arthur Business College. She was trained in Library Science through the Baptist Library Department of Nashville, TN. Olabell married W. A. "Bill" Stevenson in 1935. Olabell loved reading and music and enjoyed playing the piano. She had a life long interest in learning and had traveled in all 50 states, England and Scotland. Olabell was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Port Arthur, where she was the librarian for over 50 years. She was a member of the Groves-Port Arthur Chapter #953 Order of Eastern Star, a past president and music director of Port Arthur Assembly #160 Social Order of the Beauceants, and the Daughters of the Nile Ramallah Temple, Galveston. She was preceded in death by her husband, William A. Stevenson, her father and mother, Earl and Ruby Talbert, step-mother Sallye Will Talbert, grandson Brett Bailey, and son-in-law Lannie Gillette. Survivors include her three daughters, Ruth Ann Gillette of Palacios, Texas, Sara Broussard and husband Jim of Daly City, California, and Becky Beresford and husband Bobby of Port Neches, Texas, sister, Rosalene Moseley and husband Homer of Pharr, Texas, six grandchildren, nine great- grandchildren and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews. She will be dearly missed by everyone who loved her. In lieu of usual remembrances, memorials may be directed to First Baptist Church of Port Arthur or to the charity of your choice.