Bennie Chimene Sr.

Bennie Clyde Chimene died on July 11, 2017 at the age of 68 in Cypress, Texas after a long battle with cancer at the home of his son, Bennie Jr. His daughter, LoElla, was by his side. Bennie is survived by his sons Bennie Chimene Jr and wife Laura (Fessler) of Cypress, Texas and Jayme Chimene and his wife Danielle (Paulk) of Cypress, TX; daughter LoElla Chimene and her husband Steven Miller of Hockley, TX; his sisters Eileen and her husband Kenneth Peavy of Winnfield, LA and Darlene and her husband David Forsyth of Trinity, TX; his brother Richard and his wife Mary (Harris) of Conroe, TX; his grandchildren Cassandra Chimene, Miranda Carlton, Elizabeth Carlton, Erick Chimene, Samantha Chimene, Jessie Garza, Kierstin Garza, Ashton, Isabella Chimene, and Wyatt Miller; four great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Kenneth Morton Chimene and Macle (Welch) of Jacinto City, TX; his first wife Margaret (Curtis) of Houston, TX; his second wife Noreen (Andersen) Hartman of Dallas, TX; his third wife Teresa (Van Valkenburg) of Houston, TX; his daughters Tina Chimene and Christine McGhee of Houston, TX; his brothers Frank of Beeville, TX, Leon of Doniphan, MO, and Hylton Bruce of Jacinto City, TX; his sisters Minnie Jewell James of Jacinto City, TX and Kathryn Jeffus of Buffalo, OK. Bennie was born to Kenneth Morton Chimene and Macle (Welch) on September 6, 1948 in Houston, TX, the sixth of nine children. He married Margaret Curtis in 1967. Together, they had daughters Tina Marie and Christine Louise. His first daughter Tina died in infancy. His second daughter Christine died in 2016 from Huntington's disease. Bennie later married Noreen Andersen in 1975. Together they had Bennie Clyde Jr, Jayme Ray, and LoElla Marie. Bennie also married Teresa Gail Van Valkenburg in 1985 and later Kimberly Simmons in 2002. Bennie attended Galena Park High School. He was a veteran of the United States Army and worked for many years as a welder and later as a long haul truck driver. He became disabled after suffering a spinal injury while working as a truck driver. He also suffered from mesothelioma. Bennie was proud of his Texas roots which dated back to the 1800s. He enjoyed road trips, fishing, gardening, and spending time with family. In his youth, he was known for his great singing voice. Later in life, he spent much of his time caring for his ailing daughter Christine, who suffered from Huntington's disease. He will be greatly missed by his family. His remains will be inurned at the Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr., Houston, TX 77038.