Gerald Devault

Gerald Harvie Devault FARWELL- Funeral services for Gerald Harvie Devault, 69, of Lubbock, Texas, will be at 2 p.m. CDT on Tuesday May 1, 2012 at the First Baptist Church in Farwell, Texas with Dr Herbert Bergstrom and Rev. Russ Ponder officiating. Burial will follow at Portales Cemetery with Lincoln Devault, Garrett Devault, Griffin Petrich, Joe Irby, Jim Irby, Billy Smith, Stacey Petrich and Greg Tabor as Pallbearers. Honorary Pallbearers for Gerald will be Holt Irby, Sherman Creek, Derrell Smith, Melvin Littlejohn and All his Lions Club Friends. Gerald went to be with the Lord on Saturday, April 28, 2012 in Clovis, New Mexico. He was born September 24, 1942 in Clovis, New Mexico to Harvie and Eura Devault. He grew up in Portales, New Mexico. He married Doris Smith of Dora, New Mexico in June 1960. He graduated from Texas Tech University in 1965 with a degree in animal science where he was a member of the Texas Tech University Meat Judging Team. In 1965, he began his career with Glover Packing Company where he was employed until 1973. Following his career in the meat business, he ventured out into the retail business first establishing Ladye Bugg, Calico Cottage, Garden Center Nursery, the Greenhouse, and Devault Floral at the South Plains Mall. In 1982, a second location of Devault Floral was opened on 19th Street until retirement in 2010. Upon retirement he moved to Farwell where he was a member of the First Baptist Church. Gerald dedicated his life to serving others. No place was that more evident than his service with the Lions Club and living their credo We Serve. He was a founding member and the charter president of the Lubbock Lip Lipscomb Lions Club. Gerald served on committees for the Texas Lions Camp and The Lions Eye Bank of Texas. He was a Governor for District 2-T2 in 1983-1984 and later became president of the Past District Governors of Texas in 1990-1991. He was a recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellow for dedicated humanitarian services. As a young man, he coached his boys' numerous sports teams and has continued to support his grandchildren in their sports and activities. One of his proudest accomplishments was being able to say all three of his kids were Texas Tech graduates, and he was looking forward to seeing his grandchildren follow in their footsteps. He passionately loved his family and friends. Gerald loved to hunt Blue Quail and fish the rivers of Tres Ritos for trout. Some of the best times of his life were spent playing marginal golf with dear friends, cooking-out with his family, and attending family reunions. Gerald was preceded in death by both of his parents and brother-in-law, Bill Smith. He is survived by his wife, Doris; his son, Gregg and daughter-in-law Wendy of Midland; his son, Kendall and daughter-in-law Tracy of Farwell; his daughter, Lori and his wife's son-in-law Stacey Petrich of Midland; grandchildren, Garrett, Avery, Cambry, Lincoln, Cassidy, Griffin, Madison, and Shelby; sisters, Felton Creek and brother-in-law Sherman and Brenda Devault all of Lubbock; brother, Holt and sister-in-law Laverne Irby of Garland; sister-in-law, Louise Smith of McKinney; brother and sister-in-law, Derrell and Jody Smith of Waco; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The family would appreciate any memorial in his name. Most special to him would be the Texas Lions Camp. P.O Box 290247 Kerrville, TX 78029. Arrangements are under the direction of Wheeler Mortuary of Portales, 575-356-4455, www.wheelermortuary.net.