Marshall Ray Windham

Mr. Marshall Ray Windham, Sr. of Hitchcock passed away at home after a courageous 8-year battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Mr. Windham was born October 28, 1933 in Lott, TX, the fifth child of John Lewis and Lu Etta Bone Windham. He graduated from Chester High School and Sam Houston State Teachers College. In September 1955 he began his coaching and teaching career at Spurger ISD, then on to Hitchcock ISD and he retired from Galveston ISD after teaching 35 years. "Coach" Windham then started selling used trucks until his illness progressed and he again retired. He grew up in scouting, reaching the rank of Eagle Scout and worked in scout leadership for many years. He volunteered at the Sam Rayburn Wilderness Camp for the Island Boys Club, retired as Chaplain from Hitchcock Volunteer Fire Department and was named the Hitchcock Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year in 1993 and Premier Citizen in 2008. He is a member of the Hitchcock First Baptist Church. He was preceded in death, December 27, 2002 by his first-born and only son, Marshall Ray (Butch) Windham, Jr. and June 2, 2008 his last-born daughter, Beth Ann Windham Davis Evans; parents, John Lewis and Lu Etta Bone Windham; brothers, Alfred and Eugene Windham. Mr. Windham is survived by his wife of 53 years, Willie Maude Dyson Windham; daughter, Brenda Kaye and husband, Donald Kemmerling, II; daughter-in-law, Brenda Jo Chisum Windham and; son-in-law, Jay Evans; sisters, Mary Erma LaGrone of Lott, Jewel Durham of Pasadena; sisters-in-law, Doris Windham of Crosby and Lucille Lamb of Cleveland. His beloved "Grand" children are: Christopher Windham, Donald Kemmerling, III, Joshua Kemmerling, Cody Kemmerling, Howell Windham, Lauren Davis, Nicholas Davis, Haley Davis, Kyle Davis, Grace Windham, Stephanie Evans and Devon Williams. The family will receive visitors on Monday, March 23, 2009 from 5 - 8 p.m. at Hayes Funeral Home, 10412 Highway 6, Hitchcock, TX (409) 925-3501. Funeral services will be conducted 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, 2009 in the chapel of the funeral home with Doctor Rick Smith of Arcadia First Baptist Church and Brother Gerald Pepper of Laneville, TX, a college friend, will officiate. The burial will be at 12 High Noon Wednesday, March 25, 2009, at Rockland Cemetery in Rockland, TX. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Memorial contributions may be made to the Beth Ann Windham Davis Evans Scholarship Fund at Texas First Bank, P.O. Box 608, Santa Fe, TX 77510 and/or Hitchcock Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 546, Hitchcock, TX 77563 and/or Hospice Care Team, 1708 Amburn Rd, Texas City, TX 77591. www.hayesfuneralhome.com Hayes Funeral Home