Beatrice "Beth" Elizabeth Hollier Zipprich

Beatrice "Beth" Elizabeth Hollier Zipprich, affectionately known by all as “Beth”, was born in Port Neches, Texas, on August 24, 1925, to F.N. Hollier Sr. and Ernestine Lee Hollier.  She passed to her heavenly reward on May 6, 2024, in sleep peacefully in her apartment after a full day of activities with more planned for the next day. She lived life to its fullest, and then some. Beth was a beacon of God’s love and lived out His message by never meeting a stranger and always being eager to help.

Beth was a smart, precocious child who attended Port Neches High School where she played in the band, graduated early, and completed her studies at Port Arthur Business College then went to work at the Port Neches Refinery before she was 19. It was during WWII that she met Sylvester Joseph Zipprich (Zip) in Galveston. They were married in 1944.  After military service they moved to Port Neches and became involved in various community activities especially at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church. For her part, Beth’s involvement with St. Elizabeth began with her Baptism as one of the first girls baptized in the Church. She was given the name “Elizabeth” by the founding Pastor, Fr. Hardy and it became her middle name, and nickname “Beth”.  She was involved in virtually every ministry at St. Elizabeth and was recently honored at St. Elizabeth’s 100-year anniversary. 

In her spare time, Beth was an avid seamstress and later quilter and entered many quilting competitions.  She was always in learning mode and not afraid to try new techniques to make her quilts. Today many of her quilts are now with various family members.

Those that knew Beth knew that she was independent and always a force to be reckoned with. She never held back expressing herself and could do anything she resolved to do.  Being a wife and a mother, Beth never lost sight of her own individual identity.  She helped manage political campaigns, served as Secretary for the Texas House Game and Fish Commission, and retired as the Assistant to the Plant Manager for Mobil Chemical Company in 1988. During WWII, Beth drove a

Jeep and investigated traffic accidents at Camp McCoy.  Based on this long-ago driving experience, in 2016, Beth bought a “jacked-up” Jeep with a winch on it just in case she needed a vehicle to escape in during a potential hurricane evacuation. And she did so during hurricane “Ike”.

Beth and Zip loved square dancing; a passion started by the St. Elizabeth School Mother’s Club.  Later as a member of several square dance clubs, she was also one of the first women square dance callers and once called at a national square dance convention.  Some family vacations were planned around these square dance conventions.

 

Beth and Zip enjoyed travelling. They made annual car trips to Illinois with the children to see Zip’s family. Later Beth and Zip took long driving vacations to many places on both coasts and central and mountain States.  In their 60s they took up skiing in New Mexico and Colorado.  She and Zip took an Alaska cruise for their 50th wedding anniversary.  Branson trips were frequent in the early Branson heyday.  She visited Rome for a week of sightseeing and an ordination. To study Spanish, she spent a week in Veracruz, Mexico. She was always on the go.

Beth’s most precious times were those spent at family gatherings with her children, Grandchildren, and Great Grandchildren, especially at their beach house in Crystal Beach. This was especially true during the annual 4th of July celebrations. She loved to take the kids crabbing and was very patient with all of them as they grew up.

After a lifetime in Port Neches, she moved in 2019 to CHRISTUS St. Joseph Village in Coppell, Texas to an independent living apartment. Not surprisingly, she immediately became active in social outings, activities, and appreciated daily Mass at the Village.  Beth was amazed at the friendliness of the staff and residents and was a friend to everyone she met. She was delighted when she got her driver’s license renewed for two years at age 98 and was looking for renewal when she turned 100. 

Beth is preceded in death by her parents, F.N. Hollier Sr. and Ernestine Lee Hollier, Zip her husband of 60 years, brothers Oscar and Francis, and sister Bernice; and daughter Carliss Ann Zipprich Rosello (Corky). Survivors include son John L.

Zipprich II, and daughter Marilyn Zipprich Birt (John); four grandchildren Jodie Rosello Baker (Lyle), Sabrina Birt Dubberly (Shannon), Clayton Rosello (Roxana), and Melissa Birt Gonzalez (Adolfo); six great grandchildren; Ashlyn Dubberly, Keira Dubberly, Keaton Dubberly, Maryanne Baker, Wiley Baker, Roger Rosello, and an additional great grandchild (Baker) due in late May.

Memorial donations may be made to: St. Elizabeth Youth Ministry, 2006 Nall St., Port Neches, Texas, 77651