Della Laverne Noble Mathews, 91, of Orange, Texas, departed from this life on April 7, 2016, in Beaumont, Texas.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, April 10, 2016, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Officiating will be Minister Mark Legendre of North Main Church of Christ in Vidor. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, April 11, 2016, at McMann Cemetery in San Augustine.

Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

Born in Wichita Falls, Texas, on March 31, 1925, she was the daughter of Harry Polk Noble and Maizie (Vincent) Noble. Laverne was a passionate person who loved and experienced life to the fullest. She loved to travel especially to Santa Fe, New Mexico with her beloved husband J.L. Mathews. Some of Laverne’s interests included making stained glass, hooking rugs, stamp collection, reading, square dancing, antiques, and quilting. She was a member of the Golden Triangle Quilt Guild and especially loved to quilt with her friends in the Blockheads quilt group. She also had a lifelong love of cats.

Having received her Masters of Education from Lamar University, she taught sixth grade classes at Anderson Elementary, Salk Elementary, and North Middle School for West Orange-Cove CISD for 23 years. After retiring in 1986, she became a volunteer at the hospital in Orange and also taught reading to adults who needed help. She also donated quilts to Boys Haven. Laverne intensely loved her family and friends and loved to attend activities in which her great grandchildren were involved. She was always enthusiastic with a smile on her face. She was generous and fun and loved to be in the middle of family activities. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, J.L. Mathews; and her sister, Bobbie Lou Thompson.

She is survived by her sons Jay Mathews and wife Betty and Stan Mathews and wife Linda, all of Orange; grandchildren, Bryan Lee Mathews and wife Lisa, of Beaumont, Amanda Lee Mathews Mazzola and husband Brian, of Beaumont, and Clay Michael Mathews and wife Ayumi, of Champaign, Illinois; brothers, Harry P. Noble and wife Kelly, of College Station and David I. Noble and wife Mary Ann, of San Augustine; great-grandchildren, Vincent, Anthony, and Lucian Mazzola, Julian, Christian, Madeline, and Adrianne Mathews, and Sakura and Rei Mia Mathews; along with her beloved cat, Sammy.

Serving as pallbearers will be Bryan Mathews, Clay Mathews, Brian Mazzola, Steve Noble, Scott Noble, and Ronald Roberts.