Curtis Abshire

Curtis Abshire died peacefully at his home in Winnie, Texas, Monday, May 21, 2018, surrounded by his children. He was born on November 18, 1919, in Welsh, Louisiana. Curtis was the son of Dorina Bourgeois Abshire and Sostan Pat Abshire. His family moved to Winnie when he was two years old, where he resided for most of the remainder of his life. He attended East Chambers School. He served in the U.S. Navy as a 1st Class Signal-Man during World War II, for six years.    

After his military career he returned to Winnie, where he married Lillian Mae Benoit on December 31, 1944. He then took on a career as a pumper for the Sunoco (Sun Oil Company). He worked twenty-one years for Sunoco. During his tenure at Sunoco, he started a part-time job as a plumber. In 1964 he decided to get his certification as a Master Plumber and in 1968 he went full-time and opened his own business in the Winnie Community known as “Abshire Plumbing”. He owned and operated a hardware and plumbing business for the next thirty years, until his retirement in 1994.  

Curtis was best known for his love of gardening and working in his yard. He loved raising flowers and vegetables to share with all his family and close friends. He loved to duck hunt and his favorite hunting buddies were his sons, Harold and Tommy along with his grandson William, and his nephews. e   In his younger years he loved working with and training hunting dogs. He had a strong love for his family which he always placed first in his life. He was a man of strong faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. He was a member of St. Louis Catholic Church in Winnie. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus for many years. He served faithfully in his Church for many years in the capacity of lector, and usher up till the last several years.   After the death of his wife, one of his favorite past-times was going to the Casinos with friends and family.

Survivors include his brother, Huey Abshire, of Hamshire; and sister, Earline DeVille, of Sulphur, Louisiana; his son, Tom Curtis Abshire and significant other, Paula Rothwell, of Winnie; daughters, Concetta Rollins and husband, Malcolm Rollins, of Hamshire; Kim Mazzola and husband, Johnny Mazzola, of Winnie; Kay Benson, of Winnie. . He is also survived by eighteen grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Curtis was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian Benoit Abshire; two sons, John William Abshire, and Harold James Abshire. He was also preceded by his parents; brother, Douglas Abshire; sisters, Yula Mae Broussard, Edna Weisse, and Hilda Abshire.  

A gathering of Mr. Abshire’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., with his Rosary recited at 6:00 p.m., Thursday, May 24, 2018, at Broussard’s, 134 West Buccaneer Drive, Winnie. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Friday May 25, 2018, at St. Louis Catholic Church, 315 West Buccaneer Drive, Winnie, with his interment to follow at Fairview Cemetery, Winnie.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the Altus Hospice Home Care Staff of Beaumont, Texas for all the care and concern given to him over the last month.  Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.