Lola Bess (Shofner) Hanchey

Funeral services for Lola Bess (Shofner) Hanchey, 80, of Huntington will be held Monday, September 23, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. Huntington First Baptist Church with Brother Bob Killam officiating. Interment will follow in the Shofner Cemetery.

Lola Bess Hanchey was born January 27, 1944 in the Ora Community to Loy and Callie Shofner. She was the youngest of seven children. She moved “into town” to Huntington with her mom and dad at the age of seven. Her dad was a well-respected, upright constable for Angelina County and her mom was a homemaker. One of Gammie’s fondest memories with her dad was when  she got to occasionally ride along with him on his patrols and collect those in the community who needed to sleep off what ailed them, she got much amusement out of this. She was the apple of his eye and very much a “Daddy’s girl”. She lost her dad, Loy, at the young age of 15 and her mother, Callie, stepped up and went to work at the HHS cafeteria to support her family. Callie passed down to Lola her recipes, her love, and wisdom learned from caring for and raising seven children.

To meet Lola was to love her. If you were lucky enough to walk through her front door you were treated like family. In her younger married years, she was a homemaker and was recognized by the State of Texas as the Best Young Homemaker in the State in 1976.

Gammie had a servant’s heart and regardless of the season in her life, she always found ways to give back to the community and the people. She truly felt blessed to serve at the food pantry and looked forward to it each week. She made new friends and we know they will miss her greatly.

Gammie and Jeff celebrated 25 years of marriage together. They loved each other through many seasons of life and were always there for one another. They went on so many adventures together, traveled and shared memories. Each morning they loved the simple pleasure of being with each other and drinking their morning coffee on the patio.

You could find her watering her plants or piddling with her many ferns. She had a green thumb and loved sharing her passion for her gardening by sending pictures of new leaves to everyone! She loved baking and serving banana bread slathered with melting butter. You could certainly never leave her house hungry. If you swam in her pool, you would be offered salsa, and at least five popsicles before you left!

Lola loved her family more than anything. Survivors include her husband Jeff Hanchey; sons, Michael Kevin Green, Franklin Loy Williams; bonus children, Devon and Nicole Bass, Lynley and Blake Walker, and Ryan and Grace Hanchey; grandchildren, Madisyn Berry and husband Cody Berry, Callie Whitworth and husband Kaelan Whitworth, Landee Williams, Tyler Green and wife Kaylee Green, Austin and Casey Bass, Ana Kate and Theo Hanchey, Kinley and Faith Walker; along with her new loves in life, her great-grandchildren, June Bess Berry, Sunny Mae Berry, Freya Fern Whitworth, and Barrett Asher Green.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Loy and Callie Shofner; and her brothers and sisters, Rayford Harrison, Punk (Glenn T. Harrison), Billie Jean Nerren, Emo Jean Walters, Loy Beth Murphy, and Callie Norene Berry.

Gammie had so many special nieces and nephews, untold numbers of special friends, who she always had a way of lifting up and making them feel loved. Mom, aunt, Gammie, Great-Gammie, sister, wife, friend, lover of all people, you will be so greatly missed. We weren’t done loving you, but we know you’re with Jesus, and finally reunited with all your family.

Pallbearers will be Jace Berry, Kolby Hopson, Wendell Harrison, David Harrison, Cody Berry, Kaelan Whitworth, and Tim Harrison.

Honorary pallbearers will be Greag Harrison, Travis Nerren, and Joe Nerren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Food Pantry at Huntington First Baptist Church, 702 N. Main Street, Huntington, Texas 75949.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Sunday evening at Carroway Funeral Home in Lufkin.

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

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.