Celia Savilla Viel

Celia Savilla Williams Viel, 88 of Groves, Texas died at home with family and friends. Celia was born August 8, 1922 on a family farm near Maydelle, Texas to Royal and Mattie Williams. She lived in Port Arthur and the surrounding area for 59 years. She was a retired beautician who loved visiting with and making women beautiful. Many clients and co-workers were lifetime friends and she helped them to be beautiful not only at the beauty shop, but followed them to nursing homes, hospitals, private homes and even in death at funeral homes. Celia is survived by her only daughter, Deborah Higbie and husband, George Higbie of Groves; two grandchildren, George Edward Higbie, III of Baltimore, MD and Celia Ann Hegbie Anderson and husband, Bryan Anderson of Doha, Qatar; sisters, Eloise Rowland of Blanchard, LA, Dorthy Cegielski of Houston, TX and Betty Jo Light of Garland, TX; and dear friend Josephine "Peggy" Higbie of Groves, TX as well as many niece and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Armand Joseph "Jeff" Viel from Dover, NH. Celia and "Jeff" met in Orange, TX during World War II and were married July 17, 1945 in New Iberia, LA. They soon moved to San Diego, CA for a couple of years and then made their home in Port Arthur, TX. Celia was a wonderful and loving mother and grandmother from the minute all were born. She was a great conversationalist who could talk with strangers and immediately make them smile. She was one of the hardest working women that passed on her work ethic to younger generations by demonstration. She began working as a beautician at age 18 and continued working until the age of 80 when she retired to take care of her husband. Celia was a member of the Baptist Church of Maydelle. She attended the Chapel at Christus St. Mary Hospital for many years with her husband, Jeff and special events with her daughter and grandchildren at the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant. In later life she attended the Groves Senior Citizen Center and loved seeing old friends and meeting new ones there. Her little smiles, funny sayings and her living example of "The Golden Rule" will surly, be missed by family, neighbors, and friends. Celia touched the lives of many and will never be forgotten. Celia is smiling now in heaven surrounded by those she loved that went before her. We find peace knowing she is happy and watching over the ones she left on earth. Visitation will be held at Levingston Funeral Home in Groves from 2:00p.m.-4:00p.m. on Saturday, September 25, 2010. A short service will begin at 4:00p.m.followed by a "Celebration of Life" to be shared with friends and family at her home. Burial will follow on Monday, September 27, 2010 at 1:30p.m. in the Houston National Cemetery where she will be laid to rest with her husband. Contributions can be made in her name to the Scholarship Fund at the Providence Presbyterian Church.