William A. Sessions

Funeral services for William A. ""Bill"" Sessions, 81, of Lufkin will be held Thursday, May 3, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Eddie Ballard officiating. Interment will follow in the Mt. Hope Cemetery.

Mr. Sessions was born October 4, 1930 in Wells, Texas to Hugh and Oleta (Phipps) Sessions, and died Monday, April 30, 2012 in a local hospital.

Bill worked in his childhood years on the family ranch, his dad's grocery store, and his dad's gas station. He was a man of many talents.

He married Mary Jane Price on October 16, 1949. They moved to Houston shortly afterwards where he was employed by the Texas Department of Transportation as Lab Tech Engineer. After retiring from TxDOT in 1985 he moved back to Wells to his old home place. After retirement he worked part time for TxDOT in Rusk.

He loved building swings and gliders. His favorite was picture frames from old barn wood from his grandfather's barn. He sat up at many flea markets throughout this area selling his handiwork.

Bill had a heart of gold and helped anyone in need, especially his family.

Bill was a member of Herty Baptist church and The Seekers Sunday School Class. His favorite ministry at the church was ministering to ""The Members Without Partners"". He loved to bring smiles to these lonely people.

Bill loved to travel. He made four trips to Alaska, always telling people that he had his own bed and breakfast and travel guide there. He was privileged to have two nieces there to take him behind the scenes that most people do not get to see.

Bill was preceded in death by his first wife of 54 years, Mary Jane (Price) Sessions; brothers, Clifford Sessions, Larry Kyle Sessions; sister, Mary Catherine Sessions Oldham; and his parents.

He is survived by his wife, Nell Sessions of Lufkin; daughter, Crystal Lynn Sessions of the Lufkin State School; daughter and son-in-law, Deborah Lynn and Ronald Carlson of Houston; brother, David Sessions of Lufkin; brother and sister-in-law, Gale and Shirley Sessions of Lake Cherokee; sister and brother-in-law, Sue and Lee Roy Smith of Pollok; and sisters-in-law, Sue Shelton of Lufkin and Betty Smith of Houston.

Bill is also survived by his extended family whom he loved dearly, fondly remembered as PaPa B: son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Janet Cates; daughter and son-in-law, Sherry and David Massingill; grandchildren, Krystal Blanton, Wade Cates, and Blake Cates; and great-grandchildren, Sydney Blanton and Lane Phillip Forrest.

Pallbearers will be his nephews, Tracy Coe, Kent Oldham, Kerry Oldham, and Glenn Oldham, and grandsons, Wade Cates, and Blake Cates.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Mt. Hope Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 901, Wells, Texas 75976 or the Herty Baptist Church Building Fund, 2914 Atkinson Drive, Lufkin, Texas 75901.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

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

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.