Mary Ravey Baker

Mary Ravey Baker, 98, of Beaumont, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 20, 2021 with her children by her side. Mary was born in Sulphur, Louisiana on May 1, 1923 to Edgar and Malena Ravey. She grew up in Sulfur LA. and moved to Port Arthur when depression started; after her mother bought a home in Orange she moved with her there for a time. Mary seemed to always be interested in working, this is probably why she never seemed to learn to stand still or sit down. Working as a child to help her family during depression, Mary instilled in her children the value of working and working hard. When she was 18, Mary moved to Port Arthur with an aunt and worked at the cannery at Texco refinery. After a time, Mary found out she could make more money with the tips made as a carhop; ever the savvy woman she saved her tips and bought properties. As a child of the great depression, Mary was always careful with everything she had; never one to waste food and always saving for the next emergency because life taught Mary that planning and saving were very important. Full of life and vibrant, Mary had close friendships with many people and did so many things over the course of her life. She once had a shrimp boat built and she crabbed and shrimped commercially. She had crab traps set from Texas to Louisiana and would run them daily. She would take her children out with her on the boat and crabbing, giving them the love they have for fishing and the ocean. She owned many rent homes and a Tavern in Port Neches that she operated for years. Always helping others Mary loved to cook and she would often make gumbos feed everyone who came in the neighborhood. She became loved by all who met her.

Mary was the type of mother who was always there for her children- teaching them and guiding them with love and patience through life; for example, she taught them to frog in the rice fields and during crawfish season she often took the girls to catch crawfish as they crossed over HWY 73. She was strong, took charge of doing what needed to be done, and never stopped. Some of her best times were spent with her family. Mary was always close to her Aunt Annie Biederman and Uncle Herman Biederman, they shared many times together cooking, going on vacations together and visiting family in LA.  Mary’s children, sisters and family were always the heart of her world. Her interests as she got older turned more to fishing, frogging, crabbing and of course Mary always had a love for her collectable dolls. Mary will be remembered as an independent woman, a backbone of her family, and the woman who never met a task or challenge she couldn’t tackle; she will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Paula Jean Reed-Hunley and husband William Hunley of Tombstone, Arizona, and Velma Jane Baker Ronquille and husband Chester Joseph Ronquille of Port Arthur, Texas; her son, Michael Wayne Baker and wife Patricia Lynn Wells Baker of Highland, Texas; her sister, Rose Mae Ravey Linz; her granddaughters, Angela Marie Lopez and husband DeWayne Lopez, and Christine Renee Ronquille; as well 2 great-grandchildren, extended family and friends.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Edgar Ravey and Malena Trahan Ravey; her siblings, Lena Bosarge, Edna Smith, Vivian Tarver, and Henry Ravey; and her grandson, Vernon Lee Johnson Jr.

A time of visitation for family and friends will be held on Friday, August 27, 2021 at Lumberton Family Funeral Home, 766 S Main St. Lumberton, TX 77657, from 5:00pm until 7:00 pm. Mary’s funeral service will be on Saturday, August 28, 2021 beginning at 10:00 am at Lumberton Family Funeral Home with interment to follow at Memory Gardens in Nederland.

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