Maurine Hines Knight

Maurine Hines Knight, 91, formerly of Port Neches, Texas, shed the bonds of Alzheimer's disease and began her eternal life May 31, 2016. Levingston Funeral Home in Port Neches is handling her arrangements. Friends and family are invited to attend the viewing on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 from 2:00 4:00pm and/or 7:00 9:00pm at Levingston Funeral Home. Maurine's funeral service will be held at 10:00am on Wednesday, June 8 at the First United Methodist Church in Port Neches. Interment will immediately follow the service at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Beaumont, TX. Born October 4, 1924, to Mittie and E. O. Hines in Port Neches, Texas, Maurine was one of four daughters and remained deeply devoted to her family throughout her life. She grew up during the Great Depression and World War II, graduating from Port Neches High School in 1942 before taking bookkeeping and secretarial courses at Chenier Business College in Beaumont. In 1943, she joined the clerical staff at Pure Oil Company in Nederland and worked there for 40 years as Pure Oil became Union Oil and then Chevron. Maurine was one of the original leaders of the Office Workers Union at Pure Oil and held various positions in that organization. She championed better benefits and wages for clerical workers, held top clerical positions and was respected by her peers and management. She loved mentoring new clerks, and during this work, she financially supported her parents while her father was on strike. Raised in the Baptist church, Maurine became a member of the United Methodist Church more than 40 years ago. Marriage isn't easy, but she finally found happiness in 1994 when she married Jack Minden Knight, who died in 2013. Through it all, Maurine loved to travel. She caught the travel bug early when, in her 20s, she and three friends drove to Mexico City. She visited many places around the world; some of her most memorable trips included Fall Foliage trips in New England and Canada, experiencing the culture and art in Saint Petersburg, Russia, the beautiful gardens and spectacular scenery of Switzerland and the wildlife of Custer State Park, South Dakota, where Jack survived a bison attack. She was always mindful of her appearance: her just-so hair, her beautiful makeup and her impeccable clothes. The staff at her local Talbot's addressed her as Ms. Knight whenever she walked through the door. Maurine and Jack made many happy memories dining and dancing at The Pompano Club in Port Neches. In her 70s, she took up painting in earnest and earned a second-place ribbon at the Port Arthur Art Guild Art Show. Little by little, Alzheimer's stole those happy pieces of her life. She died in memory care at The Willows in Winchester, Virginia. Survivors include her daughter, Patricia G. Poole (William C. Williams) of Hedgesville, WV and sister Alice Katherine Peet (Curtis Peet) of Bartlesville, OK. She was preceded in death by sisters Edwina Hines and Velma Joyce Wolgast. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials in Maurine's name to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601-7633. You also can donate online at alz.org.