Elton Ray Stimits, 77, of Evadale went to be with Jesus on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 5:10 p.m. He died peacefully at his home surrounded by his family and friends.
A lifelong resident of the Buna and Evadale area, he was a retired truck driver from Bruce's Inc. and a veteran of the Korean War.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Katie Stimits; 3 sons Wade Stimits and wife Laverne of Buna, Clinton Stimits and wife Lisa of Buna, and Marty Stimits of Evadale; 3 daughters, Pam Baumann and husband Thomas of Evadale, Darla Cagle and husband Jody of Buna, and Maria Hoke and husband Ricky of Buna; 17 grandchildren, Amanda Stimits, Joshua Stimits, Christi Franklin, Summer Bihm, Garth Baumann, Brice Stimits, Brittney Ward, Brant Stimits, Jordy Cagle, Darson Cagle, Cody Chartain, Cody Stimits, Patrick Jacobs, Autumn Reeves, Amity Reeves, Ashlyn Reeves and Lane Hoke; 10 great-grandchildren, Ashley McCullar, Katie Morrison, Kyle Rylee and Hallie Franklin, Kinsley Bihm, Cade Flores, Brooklyn Ward, Kaylen Chartain, and Brynli Duhon; 3 brothers Burlee Prine, Cecil Stimits and Curtis Stimits; 2 sisters Viola Prine and Mary Ellen Cole; and mother-in-law Hallie Harris.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ozie and Charlie Prine, and Dan and Ollie Stimits, brothers Marvin and Charlie Lee Prine and sister Mary Walraven.
Elton was an honest and hard working man who could be called on by his family and friends for anything they needed anytime day or night. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping gardening and tinkering in his junk, but most of all he loved being surrounded by his family and friends having cookouts and talking over good times. He will be sorely missed by every life he touched.
Funeral services will be held Sunday March 23 at 2:00 p.m. at Farmer Funeral Home in Silsbee, Texas. Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m. Saturday March 22. Interment will be at Morse Cemetery in Buna, Texas. Services will be conducted by Reverend Talmadge Stanley and Reverend Jeff Gravis. Pallbearers will be his sons, Wade, Clinton and Marty Stimits and sons-in-law, Thomas Baumann, Jody Cagle and Ricky Hoke. Honorary pallbearers will be his grandsons.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
