Vernon N. Havard

Funeral services for Vernon N. Havard, 81, of Lufkin will be held Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel in Lufkin with Brother Gary Forrest and Major Brad Flurry officiating. Graveside services with military honors will follow in the Jonesville Cemetery.

Vernon N. Havard went to sleep Saturday, August 4, 2012 and woke up in the presence of his Lord and Savior. He was born June 10, 1931 in the Saron Community, Angelina County, Texas to the late Tom and Cora (Cryer) Havard. He married Clarine Garlington January 19, 1952. Mr. Havard and was employed for 25 years with Monroe Calculators. In 1980 he went to work for A&NR Railroad and retired in 1998. He was a licensed barber.

Mr. Havard was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. He served his country in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1954, and is a veteran of the Korean Conflict.

At a young age Mr. Havard realized he had a love for music and began to sing and play the guitar without ever taking a voice or guitar lesson. Oftentimes he would bribe his big brother into letting him ride his bike if he could play his guitar. He was a talented musician and song writer. He formed the bands ""Vernon Havard and the Western Wranglers"" and ""Vernon Havard and the Nuggets"".

Anyone who met him knows he never met a stranger. If you knew him, you loved him, and he loved you. He was a people's person, and like Jesus, he loved all the little children of the world. Children were drawn to him as much as he was drawn to them. He enjoyed fishing, camping, playing music, letting his grandchildren and great-grandchildren drive his barge, giving piggyback rides, and wrestling with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the living room floor. Mr. Havard served as a deacon of Parkview Baptist Church from 2001-2011.

He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Clarine Havard of Lufkin; daughters, Rhonda Woodward, Rita Fancher, and Regina Barrett, all of Lufkin; daughter and son-in-law, Renee and Pat Montes of Lufkin; brother and sister-in-law, Melvin and Ann Havard of Houston; grandchildren, Melissa Prince and husband Tommy of Lumberton, Major Brad Flurry and wife Liz of Ohio, Brian Flurry of Lufkin, Clint Barrett and wife Laura of Lumberton, Brittanie Thornton of Lufkin, and Tanner Montes of Lufkin; great-grandchildren, Brailey and Bree Prince, Hunter and Drew Flurry, Autumn and Briceton Flurry, and Carson, Kadin, and Landon Barrett; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Cora Havard; brothers, Carl Havard and Vernie Havard; and sisters, Gloria Tyson, Lou Sheffield, Merl Grimes, Noralene Drillings, Lela Havard, and Christene Havard.

Pallbearers will be Brad Flurry, Larry Garlington, Briceton Flurry, Clint Barrett, Gary Woodward, Tanner Montes, Brian Flurry, Pat Montes, James ""Bubba"" Ainsworth, and Tommy Prince.

Honorary pallbearers will be the Deacons of Parkview Baptist Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Parkview Baptist Church, 111 Parkview Circle, Lufkin, Texas 75904, or Hospice in the Pines, 1504 West Frank Avenue, Lufkin, Texas 75904.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Our loss is Heaven's gain. Heaven's choir has been blessed with a new beautiful voice because we know our Daddy will be singing in that Heavenly Angelic Choir in the sky. We will love and miss you and think of you every day of our lives until we meet again. This is not a final goodbye Dad, as we will just say ""See you soon"".

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, and I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.