Joe Heathington, Sr.

Joe Heathington, Sr., age 81, died at 12:13 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, 2003, at his residence in Tulia. 

Masonic graveside services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23, 2003, at Rose Hill Cemetery under the direction of Wallace Funeral Home.

Mr. Heathington was born November 27, 1921, in Donley County, Texas, where he grew  up.  He served during WWII in the Army Air Corps from 1941 to 1946.  He attended the University of Alabama as a Cadet before he was discharged in 1946.  He married Hazel Frazier on July 23, 1944, in Clarendon.  They lived in Tulia since 1946.  He was a farmer, and he raised cattle and horses.  He also raised and sold registered Short Horn cattle.  He also worked as a construction superintendent in Dallas, Abilene, and Amarillo.  He was a member of the Masonic Lodge for over 50 years.  He was a York Right Mason and a Hella Temple Shiner.  He was a lifetime member of the VFW.

Survivors include his wife of Tulia; one son and daughter-in-law, Joe and Linda Heathington, Jr., of Buffalo Gap, Texas; three sisters, Mary Harman of Tulia, Yvonne Holland of Amarillo,  and Nell Baldwin of Abilene; two grandchildren, Jimmy Don Heathington of Dallas and Sonya Freeman of McKinney; three great grandchildren, Kyla Freeman, Kandyce Freeman, and Kassy Freeman.

Memorials may be made to Masonic Children’s Home in Fort Worth; Ronald McDonald House in Amarillo; and West Texas Rehabilitation Center in Abilene.