Gabriel Raphael Hanks

Gabriel Raphael Hanks, 91, of Port Acres, Texas passed away on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, at the Medical Center in Port Arthur, Texas.

Gabriel was born on January 23, 1931, in Church Point, Louisiana to Mary Anna Comeaux Hanks and Valcin Hanks. He was a United States Army Veteran serving in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. Gabriel had also trained soldiers to serve in the Korean Conflict here in the states. He was a retired process operator for Texaco and for a little while with Starr Enterprises for over thirty years. Gabriel was an avid fisherman and was called “Sea Bob” by his co-workers at Texaco. He often made gumbo for his buddies at the plant from time to time. Gabriel was a member of the St. Theresa of the Little Flower Catholic Church in Port Acres where he cut the grass for the church and called Bingo for the “Young at Heart” club at the church. Gabriel was the family historian or “story teller”. He would tell stories about family history in Europe as well as here in Port Acres. Gabriel was known for being “very loud” and boisterous to all that knew him and according to his family, was the “worst driver known to man”. Gabriel loved his family, friends, co-workers, church family and everyone he knew; he was kind of person that knew no strangers. He will be missed!!

Survivors include his wife of sixty-nine years, Elizabeth Joyce Sonnier Hanks who he married on April 11, 1952, which turned out to be the best thing he ever did; children, Rita Presley and her husband Gary of DeRidder, Louisiana, Robert Hanks and his wife Susan of Groves, Mary Hanks of Port Arthur, Charles Hanks and his wife Denise of Vidor and Nancy Bernard of Nederland; brother, Lester Hanks of Midland, Louisiana; grandchildren, Brian Hanks, Gary Hanks, Michael Hanks, Jennifer Jackson, David Hanks, Kelsey Hanks and Jessica Bernard; great grandchildren, Austin Hanks, Madalyn Lindley, Beaux Lindley, Sara Lindley, Tommy Arnold, Debbie Arnold and Katie Arnold.

Gabriel was preceded in death by his parents, Valcin and Mary Anna Hanks; son, Gerald Hanks; granddaughters, Anna Christine Presley and Sarah Marie Hanks; brothers, John Erol Hanks, John Nelson Hanks and LeRoy Hanks and his sisters, Eva Rose Strahan and Mary Jane LeJeune.

A gathering of friends and family will take place from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Sunday, November 6, 2022, at Melancon Funeral Home in Nederland with a Rosary to be recited at 6:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. Monday, November 7, 2022, at St. Theresa of the Little Flower of Jesus Catholic Church in Port Acres with burial to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Nederland.