Harold Estes

Memorial services for Harold Estes, 85, of Lufkin will be held Thursday, June 26, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at Harmony Hill Baptist Church with Pastor Todd Core, Bob Flournoy, Walt Scalen, and Michael Bryan officiating. A private family burial will be at Manning Cemetery.

Mr. Estes was born February 22, 1940 in Bryson City, North Carolina to the late Amanda (Williams) and Theodore Estes, and died Monday, June 16, 2025 in a local hospital.

Mr. Estes was a longtime resident of Lufkin. He served in the U.S. Army National Guard and owned and operated Texas Timberjack for more than 50 years. He was a member of Harmony Hill Baptist Church.

Eulogy by Bob Flournoy:  I want to tell you about my closest friend of almost 50 years. It is always easy to say good things about good people, but good does not start to describe Harold Estes. This is a man who forged a life with divine purpose and destiny, and his family, his friends, his community, his Nation, his employees and associates, and his customers were the real beneficiaries of that life.

Harold was a reflection onto each of us of the greatness of an omnipotent God who knows and cares about us all; a God who makes a way when there seems to be none; a God who has provided a Savior upon request and belief that He is.

Harold was not a preacher, and certainly not an actor. He was without pretense and was never ashamed of who he was, a son of the most high God. Harold seemed to be just a man with a plan who could usually produce providential results. Knowing him as I did, most of the time the results would actually turn out greater than his own mind could conceive.

I always stood in awe of Harold’s amazing ability to make things happen. I expected that some day he would write a book and call it “The Art of The Deal”, but somebody beat him to it, and it happened to be President Trump. It was okay because Harold loved him. I had to acknowledge that they, Harold and Donald, had been appointed by our Creator, for such a time as this, to do great things and serve His purpose while here.

It may seem presumptuous to compare anyone to Jesus Christ, but Harold had many of the characteristics that Jesus wants us to have. His death, burial and resurrection made it possible for Harold and all of us to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. Eph. 3:20

Harold was not perfect, but he was the epitome of what it looks like when man puts on the very nature of God: love, joy, peace, patience (maybe Harold came up short on this), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (most of the time). Harold expressed those traits with exceptional generosity.

Harold’s generosity reminds me of the story of King David and Mephibosheth, who was the crippled son of David’s best friend, Jonathan, who was the son of King Saul. In spite of being hated and feared by Mephibosheth, King David brought him into the palace to live and restored to him all the land that his grandfather, King Saul, had owned. It is an incredible story of forgiveness, grace and mercy, and I commend it to you to read in II Samuel 9. Like King David, Harold was a man after God’s own heart, and showed kindness to so many.

Harold married Cornelia Huff on June 13, 1964. That was obviously providential, and clearly the second best decision that he ever made (next to accepting Jesus as Lord). They have made a formidable partnership. Jesus, Harold and Connie make a three-stranded cord that cannot be easily broken in the midst of tribulation. Like most of us, they have faced difficult times and events, but always with the blessed assurance that victory was on the way.

When Harold passed to the next phase of his life on June 16, 2025, he embraced the greatest victory of all. He is in a place that was designed for him and his family. His patience has now been perfected, as he and Jonas patiently wait at the Pearly Gates for Conni and Eric, Adriana, Enzo, Emmanuel, Eva, Edith, and Ebbitt to join them for eternity.

As for me and Genie, and all of Harold’s friends, we are not saying Goodbye, but just farewell for now. See you soon!

Your friend, Bob

Survivors include his wife, Conni Estes of Lufkin; son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Adriana Estes of Magnolia; grandchildren, Enzo Estes, Emmanuel “Hank” Estes, Eva Estes, Edith Estes, and Ebbitt Estes; sisters, Louise Hintze and Betty Estes, both of Atlanta, Georgia; brother and sister-in-law, Joe and Elizabeth Huff of Windsor, North Carolina; sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Dave Alexander of Travelers Rest, South Carolina; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Jonas Estes; sister, Barbara Weingrad; and parents-in-law, Pat and Jim Huff.

Pallbearers will be Kevin Cook, Emmanuel “Hank” Estes, Brady Franks, Steve Bradley, Larry Sumrall, and Garrett Innerarity.

Honorary pallbearers will be Bob Flournoy, John Sloan, Don Weir, Roy Zenor, Joe Loving, Al Bautista, Keith Drewery, and Lloyd Finch.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Mosaic Center, Inc., P.O. Box 154225, Lufkin, Texas 75915, Harmony Hill Baptist Church, 2708 S. Chestnut Street, Lufkin, Texas 75901, or Our Savior’s Church, 101 Marie Antoinette Street, Lafayette, Louisiana 70506 or online at oursaviorschurch.com/give (select Lafayette).

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at Carroway Funeral Home.

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

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.