Earl W. Clawater Jr.

TYLER -- Services for Dr. Earl W. Clawater Jr., 86, of Tyler will be held at 11 a.m. today, Jan. 11, at Christ Episcopal Church with the Rev. Harrison McLeod officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery under the direction of Lloyd James Funeral Home. Dr. Clawater died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2005, in Tyler. Dr. Clawater was born April 12, 1918, in Tyler to Dr. E.W. and Emily Morgan Clawater and was their only child. After attending Tyler public schools, Dr. Clawater graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Dr. Clawater completed an internship at Philadelphia General Hospital before beginning active duty with the U.S. Navy during World War II. His World War II service took him into combat in the South Pacific, including the initial combat assaults on Guam, the Philippines and Iwo Jima. Dr. Clawater was awarded a total of nine combat stars and the Bronze Star. After the war, Dr. Clawater married Jean Shaw in 1945. Dr. Clawater served a residency in urology at Philadelphia General Hospital until 1949, when he returned to Tyler and became the first practicing urologist in the East Texas area. He was a member of the staff and chief of urology at East Texas Medical Center Hospital and Trinity Mother Frances Hospital, served as medical staff president at the former and participated in numerous committees at both hospitals. He was also a consultant to the University of Texas Health Center at Tyler and a board member of the East Texas Medical Center Foundation. Active in many professional societies, Dr. Clawater was certified by the American Board of Urology in 1953 and was a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He was a member of the Smith County Medical Society, the Texas Medical Association, the American Medical Association, the American Urological Association and the Texas Association of Genitourinary Surgeons, serving all in various leadership capacities. Dr. Clawater was a dedicated physician for more than 50 years until his retirement in 1998. Dr. Clawater was a strong Christian who lived his faith. He loved Christ Episcopal Church and served in numerous leadership positions over his adult life. Many times, Dr. Clawater was elected vestryman and senior warden, and taught an adult Bible study for more than 25 years. Keenly interested in quality education, Dr. Clawater served as a member and president of the TISD Board of Trustees and as a member and president of the Board of Trustees of All Saints Episcopal School. He served as an officer of the UTMB Galveston Medical Alumni Association, the UT Ex-students Association and UT Dads Association. Dr. Clawater was also named to the UTMB Galveston President's Club and UT Chancellor's Council. In 1979 Dr. Clawater was honored with the Ashbel Smith Distinguished Alumnus Award at UTMB Galveston. No profile of Dr. Clawater would be complete without mention of his enthusiasm for golf, hunting and the University of Texas football or his devotion to his family. He was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Jean, the mother of his three children. Dr. Clawater is survived by his wife, Billie Clawater; his children, Lynn and her husband, Carr Stanley Jr., of Wichita Falls, Bill Clawater and his wife, Nancy, of Tyler, Wayne Clawater and his wife, Hollee, of Houston and stepdaughter, Teresa Fitzgerald of Kingwood; seven grandchildren, Katie, Morgan, Allie, Jean Rose and Grace Clawater, Wynne Wideman and her husband, Craig, Lee Staley and his wife, Ann; and three great-grandchildren, Will, Staley and Parker Wideman. Pallbearers will be Chad T. Hanna, Wayne Brown, Lee Loftis, Tim Alexander, Dr. Peyton Luckett, Raymond Hedge, Elam Swann and Trey Yarbrough. Honorary pallbearers will be Franklin Swann, Tom Swinney, George Hall, Elmer Ellis, Dr. Tom Alexander, James C. Wynne Jr. and Dr. Steven Roberts. The family received friends 4-6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10, in the Guild Hall at Christ Episcopal Church. Memorials may be made to Christ Episcopal Church, 118 S. Bois d' Arc, Tyler, TX 75702, or to a charity of choice.