John Edward Gorrell

John Edward Gorrell, of Thornton, passed away Tuesday, April 26, 2011, from a tragic vehicle accident caused by the severe weather. He was 53. Visitation will be Friday, April 29, 2011, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M., at Groesbeck Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, April 30, 2011, at The First Baptist Church of Groesbeck, with Rev. Troy Brooks officiating. Burial will follow in Cobb Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Roger Nutt, Barry Capps, Jeff Conner, Joe Fuller, Chance Farmer, and Scott Phillips. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Monroe Jungmann, Stuart Wharton, Bubba Stone, Joe Robinson, Ron Lucksinger, Steve Conrad, and Ronnie Ferguson. John was born in Houston on October 18, 1957, and raised in Groesbeck by his grandparents, Ray and Etta Belle Herod Gorrell. He graduated from Groesbeck High School in 1976, where he had been active in FFA, and received the Lone Star Farmers Degree that year. John entered Texas A&M University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science, Class of 1980. He ran a cattle business for awhile, and then began his career with Purina Mills Feed Co. as a cattle specialist, traveling over Texas in his work the past 28 years. John was united in marriage with Becky Haygood on February 14, 1981 in Spring, Texas. Although they lived away for a few years, they moved back to make their home in the Thornton area in 1987. Raising their sons, Jacob and Joshua, in the Groesbeck Schools, John was always actively involved in all his son’s activities. He loved hunting white-tail deer in West Texas, and took the sons hunting every deer season. John also loved 4-wheeling, and he and Becky loved family trips in the fall to Colorado, where they rode the 4-wheel-drive trails. And John spent many happy times meeting his son Joshua in Waco to go to the movie theater. He also loved working with his cattle. John was a member of the Purina “Ole Timers” and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Groesbeck. John was preceded in death by his grandparents; a sister, Debbie Salter; and his father-in-law, James Haygood. He is survived by his wife of thirty years, Becky Gorrell; son and daughter-in-law, Joshua and Diana Gorrell of Stephenville; son, Jacob Gorrell of Cypress; half-sister, Virginia Wisniske; uncle, John Jenkins of Groesbeck; mother-in-law, Virginia Haygood of Spring; brother-in-law, Jim Haygood and wife, Lali of Lafayette, LA; brother-in-law, Andy Haygood and wife Kristina of Simi Valley, CA; nephews, Andrew Haygood of Dallas, Ethan Haygood of Lafayette, and Jim Haygood of Lafayette; and cousins, Carol Jenkins of Groesbeck, Kelley and Brian Samford of Groesbeck, and Julie Nichlos of the Woodlands.