Eunice Letney

Funeral services for Eunice Letney, 89, of Lufkin will be held Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Odis Bryan officiating. Interment will follow in Whitehouse Cemetery. The family will welcome friends and loved ones for visitation on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Carroway Funeral Home.

Eunice was born October 11, 1935, in San Augustine County, Texas to Jannie Tabitha (Carrell) and Dossie Columbus Stringer, and went home to her Lord and Savior on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at Hospice in the Pines. Eunice loved being raised alongside a close knit and large multi-generational family in the Pineywoods of San Augustine County and that is where the joy of helping family was sown into her heart. That neck of the woods is also where she graduated valedictorian from Broaddus High School and met her future husband, Herman Letney. They were married on March 19, 1954, and often told the story of going to the preacher’s house without an appointment where they pulled him out of his cornfield to perform their marriage on his front porch with the preacher’s wife as their witness.

After Herman’s military service, while moving into their first apartment in Beaumont, they met Ada and Pat Weaver, and the couples formed a lifelong bond while having fun playing dominoes and raising their children together. Later, Herman’s career in photofinishing took the family to St. Louis and they settled in Kirkwood, Missouri.  The family was soon blessed to have Burton and Judy Bryan’s family move near enough to enjoy family being close.  But after a time, Eunice and Herman decided it was time to get back to Texas before one of their boys got married up there. They moved the family to Lufkin and Eunice’s mother, Jannie, moved into the family home, and later, Herman’s mother, Susie, also lived with them. In 1973, they opened their photofinishing business, Diamond Photo. Eunice loved meeting new people and learning their stories. Soon customers became friends as she connected with them over the counter of their family business.

Eunice’s home was always filled with neighborhood kids including the lucky ones she kept for family and friends. One of these children couldn’t pronounce Eunice and it came out Nunie, which became a beloved nickname the rest of her days.

Every place Eunice lived, she was a welcome, active member of her church, where she taught Sunday school and vacation Bible school. But outside the church was where there were no bounds to her ministry to anyone she met, family, friends or strangers. She never looked down on anyone, rich or poor. If someone needed help or was having a hard time, she found a way to help them through it. Eunice’s greatest passion was her kinfolk who knew they could depend on her for help in any situation at any time. For her, offering to help someone in need was part of her nature, and not helping was simply not an option. Eunice was one of a kind.

Eunice will be forever remembered by her children and spouses; her daughter and son-in-law, Calleise and Heath Johnson; sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Brenda Letney, and Greg and Lori Letney; grandchildren and spouses, Katie and Chris Cowan, Kallie Letney, Abby Letney, Justin Carter, Clinton Carter, Kristin and Casey Salagaj, Nikki and Matthew Lehman, and Blake and Lindy Letney; great-grandchildren, Dax Cowan, Andy Salagaj, Joe Salagaj, and Gus Carter. Also, Dawana McGaughey, Wanda and Oval Terry, lifelong friend Ada Weaver Hart, and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Dossie and Jannie Stringer; parents-in-law Prentis and Susie Letney; husband, Herman; son, Bo; grandson, Gregory Keith; daughter-in-law, Karen Carter Letney; brother Leon Stringer, sisters Dovie Bryan, Gladys Snell, Elsie Pouland, Gracie Letney, and Faye Mott Lewis.

Pallbearers will be George Wagner, Chad Havard, Darrell Snell, Justin Carter, Clinton Carter, and Brent McGaughey.

The family would like to give a special thank you to Hospice in the Pines and their dedicated staff.

Memories and condolences may be added, and live webcasting of the services may be viewed, at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.