Christine Marie Himel of Texas City, Texas, passed into Heaven with family by her side on January 15, 2026, at the age of 84. Born on August 14, 1941, in Rockport, TX to Edward and Beulah Lassiter, Christine enjoyed her childhood as the youngest of 4 children, running around on her grandparents’ land. Christine dedicated her life to raising her children with her beloved husband, Ralph Himel, and attending every game, recital, concert, awards ceremony, and any other event for her grandchildren that she could. She enjoyed lengthy and frequent phone calls with her sisters and was always willing to help her children and grandchildren with anything they needed. She was affectionately known as Mom, Ma, Granny, Swimmel, Sister, Teen, and Tina, and was an adopted grandma to many neighborhood kids and her grandchildren’s friends through the years. Christine also enjoyed casino trips with her sisters and visiting family in Louisiana.

Christine is survived by her sons Larry Whitley (Debbie), Thomas Whitley (Lona), and Chris Himel; sisters Elizabeth Walraven and Marjorie Lassiter; as well as numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She is preceded in death by parents Edward and Beulah Lassiter, husband Ralph Himel, daughter Melinda Himel, brother Charles “Bubba” Lassiter, and cherished members of the Hawes, Lassiter, Whitley, and Himel families.

A visitation will be held on March 21, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., with a memorial service following at 12:00 p.m., at Temple Baptist Church (1200 22nd Street N, Texas City, TX), where she attended faithfully for many years.

The family would like to thank the staff at Sodalis Senior Living for taking such great care of Christine, as well as her loving neighbors of many years, Lon, Gloria, and Sunny, for their devoted friendship and consistent help with anything she needed.