If you’ve lived in Southeast Texas for any length of time, you know that the local paper isn't just a place for news. It’s a record. When someone passes away between the Neches River and the Gulf, the Beaumont TX Enterprise obits section becomes the town square. It’s where we go to see who we lost, sure, but it’s also where the history of the Golden Triangle gets written in real-time.
Honestly, though, finding a specific notice or trying to place one yourself can be a total headache if you don't know the ropes. Things have changed. The way we handled this ten years ago isn't how it works in 2026.
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The Digital Shift: Finding Recent Notices
Most people start their search by frantically Googling a name. That’s fine, but it’s often messy. The Beaumont Enterprise partners with Legacy.com to host their modern obituary database. If you are looking for someone who passed away in the last few days—like Arthur Lee "Tatee" Thomas or Carleen Lula Wall, both of whom had notices recently in January 2026—the Legacy portal is your fastest bet.
It’s updated constantly. You’ll find the funeral times, digital guestbooks, and links to send flowers. But here’s the kicker: the digital version sometimes has more info than the print one. Families often trim the print version to save on costs (which are steep, trust me), while the online version might have the full, rambling story of a life well-lived.
Digging Through the Archives (The 1985 Wall)
If you’re doing genealogy, things get a bit more technical. The Enterprise has a long memory, but it's split up.
- 2001 to Present: The paper maintains a searchable archive on its own site. You can browse headlines for free, but actually reading the full article or obit usually costs about $3.95 for a single hit.
- The NewsBank Era: For deeper dives, the paper uses NewsBank. If you have a current subscription to the Enterprise, you can often get into these archives (dating back to around 1985) without paying the per-article fee.
- Microfilm & Libraries: If you need something from the 1920s or the oil boom era of the early 1900s, you’re going to the Tyrrell Historical Library. There is no way around it. They have the microfilm. It’s a beautiful building, but bring your patience.
How to Actually Place an Obituary Without Going Broke
This is where people get stressed. If you’re a family member trying to navigate this, you have two main paths.
Most people let the funeral home handle it. Places like Broussard’s or Proctor’s Mortuary do this every day. They have a direct line to the Enterprise ad desk. But you pay for that convenience.
If you want to do it yourself, you need to email AdObits@BeaumontEnterprise.com.
You can’t just call and dictate it anymore; they need it in writing for "verification." This is basically to make sure nobody submits a fake death notice as a prank (yes, it happens).
The Cost Factor
It’s expensive. Period. The price is based on line count and whether you include a photo. In 2026, a standard, medium-length obituary with a small black-and-white photo can easily run several hundred dollars for a single day in print.
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Pro Tip: If money is tight, ask for a "Death Notice" instead of a "Paid Obituary." A death notice is often a free or low-cost listing that just gives the vitals: name, age, and funeral time. It doesn't have the "he loved fishing and his grandkids" part, but it gets the word out.
Why Accuracy Matters (More Than You Think)
I’ve seen families get into huge fights because a cousin's name was misspelled or a step-child was left out. In the world of Beaumont TX Enterprise obits, once it’s in ink, it’s permanent.
The Enterprise staff usually doesn't fact-check the family's submission. If you say Grandpa was a war hero but he never actually served, they’ll print it. But the community knows. And more importantly, future genealogists will be led astray. Double-check your dates. Triple-check the spelling of the great-grandkids.
Beyond the Enterprise
Don't forget that Beaumont is a "Golden Triangle" town. Often, people who lived in Beaumont worked in Port Arthur or Orange. It is always worth checking the Port Arthur News or even the Southeast Texas Record if you can't find a name in the Enterprise.
Also, Facebook has changed the game. Many local families now post the full obituary on their own pages or in local community groups like "Beaumont Texas Memories." Sometimes those posts have the raw, unedited stories that the newspaper editors might have trimmed for space.
Actionable Steps for Families
If you are currently managing the passing of a loved one in Beaumont, here is exactly what you should do:
- Draft the text early. Don't wait until you're at the funeral home. Write it at home when you can think clearly.
- Decide on your budget. Are you okay with spending $500 for a Sunday print run, or do you want to stick to the digital-only version?
- Gather the "Vitals." You need the full name, age, birthplace, and surviving relatives list ready.
- Verify the service time. Do not submit the obit until the funeral home has 100% confirmed the chapel or church time. Corrections in the paper cost extra money.
- Use the search tools. If you're looking for an old record, start with GenealogyBank or the Tyrrell Library's online portal before paying for individual articles on the Enterprise website.
The Enterprise has been around since 1880. It’s seen the Spindletop gusher and every hurricane since. Your family's story is part of that long, muddy, oil-soaked history. Just make sure you get the details right.