George Clinton Huckabay Jr.

George Clinton Huckabay, Jr., 87, of Midland, passed away on Tuesday, February 21, 2012, at 4:06 p.m., in Midland Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, February 24, 2012, at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Chapel in Midland, with Rev. Larry Bailey officiating. George was born on 14 May 1924, to George Clinton Huckabay, Sr. and Earline Yarbrough Huckabay in Bossier Parrish, Louisiana. Upon graduation from Bossier City High School in 1942, George volunteered in the U.S. Navy and was stationed at the 6-22 Naval Training Station in San Diego, California. He had many entertaining navy stories of dancing to the big bands playing San Diego. After an Honorable Discharge on 18 May 1946, he returned home to Bossier, where he began selling Studebakers at Hutchins Motors in Shreveport, Louisiana. George married Dorothy Atchley on 26 June 1947, in Shreveport. He served as sales manager for Red River Chevrolet and received Red River Chevrolet's Distinguished Salesman Award for 1963, and also received Chevrolet's highest selling award, induction into Chevrolet Hall of Honor. Huckabay Chevrolet was incorporated in 1967, when George moved his family to Midland. George embraced this community and loved to sponsor programs for young people. He was Vice President of Junior Achievement from 1969-1977 and was an honorary member of Midland's Future Farmers of America. Huckabay Chevrolet sponsored a little league baseball team for ten years. George loved it when kids rang the doorbell selling products for club and school fundraisers. Friday night always included the radio broadcast of a Lee or Midland High football game. Saturday, he followed his LSU Tigers and Sunday brought a Cowboys game. He supported all local businesses and served on the Midland Chamber of Commerce. The son of a Bossier City police chief and deputy sheriff, George held law enforcement and our local officials in high regard. George loved Midland and chose to sell his dealership and to enjoy early retirement here. A known perfectionist, George never got his golf game exactly where he wanted it, but he scored a hole-in-one playing with Bob Johnson, Tom Nesbitt, and Bill Mewhorter on the Ranchland Hills' 11th hole. Lifelong hunter and fisherman, George began skeet shooting with friends Bill Smith, Charles Eiland, and Gordon Marcum and competed in the National Skeet Shooters Association events. The love of horses ran deep in his heart as he rode his pony, Nippy, at an early age, with his father. A member of the National Quarter Horse Association, George rode, showed, and raced his beloved quarter horses for many years. George's last years have been spent learning and painting western art and enriching the lives of his family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, and six sisters. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Huckabay; two daughters, Paula Huckabay of Midland and Pamela H. Byrd and husband, James Charles Byrd of Shreveport; one granddaughter, Amy Byrd Johnson and her husband, Heath Johnson of Dallas; two great-grand- daughters, Lila Claire and Elizabeth Mae Johnson; and one sister, Annie Loyd Hall of Benton, LA. Pallbearers are Larry Crowder, Walter Laufer, Bill Smith, Herb McKinley, and Bobby Gotovac. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorials be directed to St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 3011 W. Kansas Ave., Midland, TX 79701; or Junior Achievement of the Permian Basin, 303 W. Wall St # 807, Midland, TX 79701. Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com.