Peggy Bivins Szafir

Our mother, wife, gran and friend, Peggy Halley Bivins Szafir, left our presence on August 21, 2019, and is in the presence of her Heavenly Father and others of her family and friends.

A longtime resident of Beaumont, Peggy was a graduate of Lamar University and had a long and wonderful career as an elementary school teacher. She loved her students and often said that she would have taught without pay. She was a member of the South Park Teacher Association, Texas Teachers Association and the National Teachers Association. She was also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma and PEO International, organizations that celebrated the advancement of women in education. She was a strong woman who always supported other women!

Peggy was a private person, but a powerful force in the lives of those she loved. From the “beach bunch” to her tennis partners, she cherished her friends and was always the consummate hostess. But her best was always for her family. We all were blessed immeasurably by her generosity, her unconditional love, her cooking and her always happy demeanor.

Mom was preceded in death by her husbands, Bert Bivins and Alex Szafir; her parents, Meata and Mack Halley; and sisters, Leona, Maxie, Bea, and Doris. She is survived by her sons, David (Carol) and Randy (Terri); grandchildren, Zach Bivins, Jessie Bivins, Patrick Bivins (Allison), Kayce Bivins Goff (Ryan), Katie Bivins Abbie (Justin) and Sammi Bivins Adams (Jeremy); along with great-grandchildren, Bo Abbie, Jackson Bivins and Colt Bivins.

Peggy was a longtime member of First Baptist Church where she taught the Bible to young people and adults alike. She became a member at Calder Baptist Church in 1996 and loved her church family there until her graduation to Heaven.

The family would like to give heartfelt thanks to Diane Christianson at Calder Woods for her graciousness during mom’s stay there, and especially to her care givers Diane McNeal, Florence and Terral. Mom truly loved them all!

A gathering of Mrs. Szafir’s family and friends will begin at 1:00 p.m., with her memorial service at 2:00 p.m., Friday, August 30, 2019, at Calder Baptist Church, 1005 North 11th Street, Beaumont, under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. A family committal was held at Broussard’s Crematorium, Beaumont.