Evelyn Marlin Lord

1926 - 2024

Evelyn M. Lord, former Mayor of Beaumont, 98, died peacefully at her residence following a short illness on Friday, December 13, 2024.

She was born December 8, 1926 in Melrose, Massachusetts to Mary Janette Nourse and John Joseph Marlin.

She grew up in Medford, Massachusetts and graduated in 1944 from Medford High School and from Boston University in 1948 with a BA in Romance Languages. She was president of her class in her Junior Year and a member of the All University Student Senate and Sigma Kappa Sorority.

Evelyn met Samuel during World War II at an ROTC dance at Tufts University in 1945 and married him in February 1948. They lived in Bound Brook, New Jersey for the first year of their marriage where Sam was employed by the DuPont Company. They then moved back to Massachusetts so that Sam could pursue his Ph.D at M.I.T.

Evelyn worked at M.I.T. until the birth of her first son, Steven Arthur, in June of 1950. She and Sam welcomed a second son, Jonathan Peter, in April of 1952, and Sam graduated from M.I.T. in June of the same year. The family then moved to Wilmington, Delaware while Sam, returning to the DuPont Company, worked at the Experimental Station in Wilmington.

Evelyn became active in the newly formed League of Women Voters, becoming the president of the Wilmington League. She was also vice president of the Delaware Parents and Teachers Association, resigning from both of these state-wide organizations to run for and become a member of the Delaware State Senate in 1962. Three more children were added to the family while in Delaware, son, Nathaniel Edward in 1955, daughter, Victoria Marlin in 1958, and son, William Kenneth in 1963.

Sam was transferred to Louisville, Kentucky in 1965. Evelyn then attended the University of Louisville's Brandeis School of Law, graduating in June of 1969. While at Law school, she was the administrative editor of the Law School Journal, clerked for the County Attorney as a law clerk, and worked as administrative assistant to the County Judge of Jefferson County, Kentucky. She also served as president of the Kentuckiana Girl Scout Council and as vice president of the Louisville League of Women Voters.

After graduation, Evelyn continued to work with the County Judge in Louisville, later becoming interim head of the Hospital District and of the Jefferson County Improvement District. Her career with County government was cut short by her husband's transfer to Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

Evelyn became active in Londonderry serving with the Red Cross Meals on Wheels and as Chairman of the Londonderry Save the Children Fund. She was chairman of the Drumahoe chapter of the Women's Institute and represented the country on the Board of the Associated Country Women of the World in London. She also was a delegate to international conventions of the ACWW in Birmingham, England and in Denmark.

While residing in Londonderry, she wrote a weekly column for Delaware's The Wilmington Journal entitled "The Derry Diary," concerning the effects of the political turmoil there on everyday life.

Upon Sam's transfer to Beaumont, Texas in 1975, Evelyn again became active in the local League of Women Voters and served on the board of the Texas State League. She was a Legal Administrator for Orgain, Bell & Tucker. Her interest remained highest, however, in matters at the local level, and she then became president of the Beaumont LWV. Resigning from the local League board in order to preserve the League's nonpartisan standing, she ran for, and was elected to, Beaumont City Council in 1980. She became Mayor Pro Tem in 1982 and announced her plan to run for Mayor in 1984. Once again, DuPont upset her plans with the transfer of her husband once more to Northern Ireland.

Back in Londonderry, she resumed her activities with the Women's Institute and the Save the Children Fund. This term abroad, Sam and Evelyn made much of their opportunity to travel to many parts of the world and to study many different cultures.

Sam retired after finishing his assignment in Northern Ireland, and the couple made the decision to return to Beaumont, Texas. Evelyn immediately jumped back into civic affairs and ran for and was elected Mayor of Beaumont in 1990 and again in 1992. She also was active in other organizations, serving as President of the United Way and as a charter member of the Foundation for Southeast Texas.

Evelyn was called to serve again as Mayor of Beaumont in 2000 and served her fourth and final term in 2002. During her third term as Mayor, Evelyn served as chairman of the Spindletop Centennial Commission.

The most important thing to Evelyn was the future and welfare of the young people in her community. To that end, she served on the boards of the Boy Scouts Three Rivers Council and the San Jacinto Council of the Girl Scouts and created the Evelyn M Lord Teen Court.

Evelyn was the recipient of many awards, including the Boy Scouts Silver Beaver award, the Athena Award given by the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, and Man of the Year at the Neches River Festival.

Many friends were special to Evelyn throughout her life, including a group of women who met monthly and called themselves the HPGs. Evelyn also wishes to thank her many wonderful caregivers, Linda, Jana, Kaitlin, and Shirley, the Altus Hospice caregivers, and especially her longtime friends and aides, Beverly Barnes and Katherine Leister.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Samuel S. Lord, Jr. of Beaumont; her sister, Betty Marlin Gates (husband Ralph, deceased) of South Yarmouth, Massachusetts; and sons, Steven Arthur Lord (wife Cheryl, deceased) of Batavia, Ohio; Jonathan Peter Lord (wife Diane) of Louisville, Kentucky; and Nathaniel Edward Lord (wife Sacha) of Claremont, California.

Evelyn is survived by her daughter, Victoria Lord Murphy (David) of Tyler; son, William Kenneth Lord (Angela) of Longview; brother, Paul Richard Marlin (Virginia) of Reading, Massachusetts; ten grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Foundation for Southeast Texas, Evelyn and Sam Lord Endowed Fund, 700 North Street, Beaumont, Texas 77701.

A gathering of Mrs. Lord's family and friends will begin 10:00 a.m., with her funeral service at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 1350 North 23rd Street, Beaumont. A private family graveside service will be held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont, under the direction of Broussard's, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.

Complete and updated information may be found at: broussards1889.com