Jc Hounshell

Visitation honoring JC Hounshell will be held Sunday, December 29, 2024 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Carroway Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held Monday, December 30, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. in the Cross Cut Cemetery near Cross Plains, Texas with Brother Gary Hounshell officiating. JC was a member of Denman Avenue Baptist Church.

JC died peacefully at his home on Thursday, December 26, 2024 at the age of 97. He was born March 14, 1927, the youngest of six children, to Christopher Columbus and Allie Hounshell in the Hounshell log cabin in Brown County, Texas.

After graduating from Grosvenor High School, he was drafted into the United States Army serving a short time until the war ended. He then moved to Abilene to attend Business College and went to work for Lone State Gas Company. JC married his high school sweetheart, Joyce Ritchie, in 1950. Around the age of 30, he contracted Guillan-Barre Syndrome which affected his lower extremities.

JC was a true musician at heart. Around the age of 5, he would sneak his older brother’s fiddle and taught himself to play. He never took lessons and always said he learned from others, just watching and listening. He and Joyce traveled the state and nation to fiddle contests where he came back with many championship plaques. They hosted many a practice session at their home involving numerous fellow musicians and friends. He also judged many contests. He was so well known in the fiddling world that he was inducted into the Fiddlers Hall of Fame in 1993. Later in life, he built and repaired fiddles that he sold across the nation. Along with being a musician, he was quite the woodworker, working in his shop for hours at a time.

In 1974, JC and Joyce moved to Lufkin to work with her sister and brother-in-law, Drapon and Dan Vines, at Lufkin Creosoting Company. They spent the rest of their time living in Lufkin and traveling to fiddle contests. They touched the world with their talent and friendship.

Survivors include his nieces and nephews, Gary and Dana Hounshell and Travis Hounshell, all of Brownwood, Mary Beth and Dennis Hounshell and Larry Hounshell, all of Lubbock, Bobby and Barbara Ferguson, David and Martha Vines, and Nancy Vines, all of Lufkin, and Marian and Lee Durrand of Austin; along with numerous other nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; five older siblings; and his sweet wife of 74 years who passed September 20, 2024.

JC’s family would like to express thanks to his caretakers, Oskarine Kegler, Denice Oliphant, and Yasmine Lane, and to his special neighbors, Sandra and Jim Havard.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.

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

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.