Cecil Thomas Sumner

Services for CECIL THOMAS (TOM) SUMNER, 84, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 25, 2004 at First Christian Church, Lufkin, with Reverend Mike Hunter officiating. Entombment will follow in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park. Mr. Sumner was born June 3, 1920, in Emerson, Arkansas, to the late Emma (McGough) and John T. Sumner. He died Tuesday, June 22, 2004, in Houston, Texas. Mr. Sumner served in the United States Army as 1st Lt. in World War II. After graduation from the University of Illinois, he moved, along with his wife, Leona, and their children, to Longview, where he was the Secretary/Treasurer of R. G. LeTourneau Co. His career took him to Ft. Worth as VP of Acme Brick Co., to Houston as VP of AFCO Industries, and to Diboll as Financial VP of Temple-Inland, Inc. Upon retirement, Tom and Leona took to the road, enjoying years of traveling in their Foretravel motorhome across the United States and Canada. Family, friends and golf also received a great deal of his attention. He always believed in serving his community by contributing time and resources. He was a member of First Christian Church of Lufkin, serving as a Church Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, and Chairman of the Congregation and General Board. While living in Pinecrest Retirement Community, he served as President of the Residents' Association. He was greatly loved and will be dearly missed. He was an incredible role model for all who touched his life. Mr. Sumner was preceded in death by his loving wife of 54 years, Leona A. Sumner; parents, John T. and Emma Sumner; brother, John W. Sumner; and sister, Elinor Young. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Marilyn Sumner of Houston; daughter and son-in-law, Jane and Bruce Humphreys of Houston; grandsons, Thomas A. Humphreys of Austin and Michael L. Humphreys of Houston; sisters, Betty Pace of McNeil, Arkansas; Eunice Bradley of Seminole, Oklahoma; and a number of nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be J. C. Birch, Bob Brown, Vince Treadwell, Don Brawley, John Langford and Ben Broughton. Honorary pallbearers will be Derrill Cates, Joe C. Denman, and the Men's Sunday School Class of First Christian Church. For those so desiring, memorials may be made to First Christian Church, 1301 S. First Street, Lufkin, Texas 75901; or to any charity of your choice. Friends are invited to a visitation with the family from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday evening, June 24, 2004, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Gipson-Metcalf Funeral Home, 1515 S. Chestnut, Lufkin, Texas 75901. Gipson-Metcalf Funeral Directors of Lufkin, 1515 S. Chestnut, Lufkin, Texas 75901; 936/634-4411