Christine Lehmann O’Quinn

Published 12:03 am Sunday, February 14, 2016

FAYETTE —  A memorial service for Christine Lehmann O’Quinn, 82, who died Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016, will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Fayette United Methodist Church with her daughter and son-in-law, the Revs. Sandy and Steve West, officiating.

Visitation will be 1 p.m. Saturday at the church.

Christine Lehmann O’Quinn was born Aug. 10, 1933, in Fayette, the daughter of Ulabelle and Ralph Lehmann.

Chris married the love of her life, Byron. They met in second grade, and were Mr. and Miss Fayette High School together in 1952. She graduated from LSU, where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority, with a bachelor of arts degree in education, and later earned her master’s degree in learning disabilities from Texas A&I.

Chris began her adult life as an elementary school teacher and a Naval airman’s wife. Through the years, Chris and Byron were residents of Fayette; Pensacola, Fla; Hutchison, Kansas; Brunswick, Maine; and Kingsville, Texas. They lived in New Orleans and Baton Rouge for the majority of their marriage before retiring to Diamondhead. Recently, they moved to Huntsville, Ala., but Chris always called Fayette home.

“Miss Chris” was well loved by the children in her own family, the neighborhood children, and her students. She taught many children to read, and shaped their lives with encouragement and affirmation. Most of her career was spent teaching at the Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation. Chris was a life-long Methodist and a leader in local missions. She was accepting, non-judgmental, gentle, kind and loving, and will be missed by so very many.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Anna Noble, all of Fayette.

Survivors include her husband of 60 years, Edgar Byron O’Quinn, two daughters Sharon O’Quinn Mazzanti and husband, Gary and Sandy O’Quinn West and husband, Steve; one son Christopher O’Quinn and wife, Trish; seven grandchildren, Damian O’Quinn and wife, Jessica, Amy O’Quinn, Debbie West, Jeremy West, Anne Marie Mazzanti, Matthew Mazzanti, and Daniel Mazzanti; two great-grandchildren, Layton O’Quinn and Baylen O’Quinn; one sister, Camille Tedder; and a number of loving nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Fayette Cemetery Association or Diamondhead United Methodist Church.