David Scott Sooter

David Scott Sooter passed away peacefully on March 13, 2025 at age 96. He was born on December 26, 1928, in Slaton, Texas to Claude Earl and Eunice Dora Crone Sooter. The second of seven children, he was named after his grandfathers, David Earl Sooter and Cyrus Scott Crone. His family’s farm produced cotton and milo, as well as peas, beans and watermelons. They attended First United Methodist Church in Woodrow, Texas where he was baptized as a teenager.

David graduated from Cooper High School in 1946 and studied business law and accounting at Draughons Business College in Lubbock, Texas. He worked for Santa Fe Railroad prior to serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After boarding a ship in Seattle that was bound for Korea, the Artillery Battalion onboard was diverted to Alaska. After a few months, he returned home to marry Chlorea Vickers and they returned to Alaska where they lived until his service ended. They both had very fond memories of their adventures and the sights they saw during that time.

After returning to Texas, David worked for Lubbock Production Credit Association in Seminole and Lubbock, making loans to farmers and ranchers, and later for Texas Farm Credit Bank in Houston. After retiring and moving to Coleman, Texas, he became the City Manager in Coleman and served in that position for about ten years.

David shared the last 20+ years of his life with his significant other, Oneida England, and her family in Bedford, Texas. They were members of the beloved Christian Homemakers Sunday School class at First United Methodist Church in Hurst, Texas.

Throughout his life, David was active in the Chamber of Commerce in various locations as well as Rotary International, where he was named a Paul Harris Fellow for his service and contributions to the Rotary mission. He was a proud grandparent and member of a large extended family and attended many baseball, basketball, football and soccer games as well as diving meets, music recitals, band concerts, graduations, weddings and other events in the lives of his grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

David is survived by a brother Charles Sooter and a sister Patsy Herring and husband Dee, sister-in-law Francis Sooter, a daughter, Banay Newton (Lehman), a son, Scott Sooter, seven grandchildren, Sarah Sooter, Phillip Newton (Sarah), Kiersten Lipps (David), Adam Newton (Stefani), Madison Sooter, Margaret Newton (Joe Aronson), and Marlena Sooter, and two great-grandchildren, Lucy Newton and Forest Newton, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, other extended family members and friends. He is also survived by Oneida’s England’s daughter Sandi Griffin, grandson Kevin Garrett (Charlie), great-grandchildren Geordian Abel (Austin), Brooks Garrett, Kobe Garrett, and great-great grandson, Hutton Abel.

Preceding him in death were his parents, his children’s mother, Chlorea, brothers Eugene, Ray, Wayne and Jimmy Sooter, sister-in-laws Jean, Evelyn, Inez, Chris and Jeannette Sooter, significant other Oneida England and her son-in-law David Griffin.

David’s family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to all of the staff at Santa Fe Trails Assisted Living, Cleburne, Texas for their unwavering support and attention to him daily over the past 18 months and to Wings Over Texas Hospice for their compassionate care during his final days.

David’s funeral service will be held on Friday, March 28, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Lucas Funeral Home,1321 Precinct Line Road, Hurst, TX 76053 with burial following at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, TX 75211.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Wreaths Across America (wreathsacrossamerica.org), Rotary International (rotary.org) or First United Methodist Church of Hurst (fumchurst.org).