Elizabeth J. Rimare

1924 - 2021

Elizabeth J. Rimare
November 22, 1924 - August 23, 2021
Fort Worth, Texas - Elizabeth Josephine Baggs Rimare, age 96, a native, and longtime resident, of Fort Worth, passed away on Monday, August 23, 2021 in the home of her daughter. No service will be held, per Elizabeth's request.
Elizabeth, the eldest of four children, was born to Marvin David and Nancy Hooper Baggs. Elizabeth graduated from North Side High School in 1943. She married the love of her life, John B. Rimare, Jr. on November 21, 1945, in Fort Worth. They lived in Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana and were happily married for 58 years, until John passed away in 2004. Elizabeth was a loving wife, devoted mother, adoring grandmother, and proud great-grandmother. She loved her family fiercely and unconditionally. Elizabeth leaves behind a legacy of faith, kindness, compassion, and courage.
In addition to her parents and husband, Elizabeth was preceded in death by her brother, Johnny Marvin Baggs; two sisters, Mary Joyce Legan, Nancy Alice Nassef; nephews, Lewis Arwine, Jr., John Arwine, Bruce Legan; niece, Diana Franklin; sisters-in-law, Janelda Arwine, Maureen Keeler; brothers-in-law, Lewis M. Arwine, Tommy Legan, Richard Keeler, and George J. Nassef, M.D.
Elizabeth was a passionate Christian woman who believed that through prayer, the power of heaven comes to earth. The impossible becomes possible. Her favorite Bible verse was Mark 11:24. "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Jesus Christ was the driving influence of her existence, the meaning behind her life.
Elizabeth found joy in the simple things. She loved fresh brewed coffee, the first bite of a decadent dessert, raking crispy amber leaves on a cool autumn day, seeing the iris and daffodils blooming in her flowerbeds, watching robins splashing in the birdbath, cuddly kittens, and starlit nights.
Elizabeth was the epitome of a fine Southern lady. She was always gracious, thoughtful and kind, and gifted with a spirit of generosity. Elizabeth gave joyously and willingly without expectation of receiving anything in return. Elizabeth, and her husband John, loved to host large festive parties for their friends and neighbors in Shreveport. They would transform their back porch into a dreamy paradise by hanging white twinkle lights in the eaves, to give guests the illusion of dining under the stars. Elizabeth would spend days preparing plentiful platters of deep-fried buttermilk brined chicken, grilled corn on the cob, fried green tomatoes, and heaping mounds of her sumptuous Southern style potato salad. Desserts were delectable; chocolate curl cream pie with an Oreo crust, a melt-in-your-mouth butter cake topped with ripe strawberries, luscious lemon meringue pies and freezers of homemade vanilla ice cream, which were hand-cranked to sweet perfection. All the food and beverages, including the tall chilled glasses of sweet peach tea, would grace the cedar tops of picnic tables covered with white gingham tablecloths. Elizabeth believed that cooking is like love; it should be entered into with enthusiasm and zeal, or not at all.
Elizabeth is survived by her daughter, Carol Giles, and husband, Frank; grandson,
John Giles, and wife, Charity; two adorable great-grandchildren, Jack, and Emma; nieces, Georgia Arwine Spiller, Elizabeth Arwine, Melody Legan Dennard, Lisa Wickers, Melanie Haughinberry, Sherry Grieco, Janet Waters, Loetta Boechstiegal; nephews, George Nassef, Jr., Terry Legan; cousins, Bernice Gilbert, Charlie Hooper; many
loving great-nieces, great-nephews and two devoted friends, Barbara Jackson, and Olga Armendarez.