Charles "C.A." Autry Stanley

Charles Autry "C.A." Stanley of Thornton, passed away on Tuesday, October 3, 2017, after a very brief residence at Windsor Healthcare in Groesbeck, at age 88. Visitation will be held at Central Baptist Church of Thornton, beginning at 9:00 A.M., preceding the funeral services, on Thursday, October 5, 2017. Funeral services will begin at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, October 5, 2017, at Central Baptist Church of Thornton, with Reverend Tracy Sims officiating. Pallbearers are Ron Crow, Greg Tate, John David Stanley and Charles C. Stanley, Jr. Honorary pallbearers are Joe Kidd, Bill Bell, and Daniel Wietzikoski. Mr. Stanley will be buried in South Park Cemetery in Pearland at 2:30 P.M. on Wednesday, October 11, 2017. C.A. was born May 23, 1929 to Aut and Stella Mae (Luster) Stanley in Patmos, Arkansas, and he later lived and attended school in San Benito, Texas. C.A. served in the U. S. Army from 1950 through 1952. After the Army, C.A. graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington. C. A. was united in marriage with Nancy Craig on August 29, 1953 in Corpus Christi. They moved to Houston in 1954, where they raised their three boys. C.A.worked in Houston for General Electric, until he started his own business, Stanley’s Sales Company. He enjoyed his business, which he and Nancy ran until he retired, and he was widely respected as a successful businessman. C.A. served on the Board of Directors of Enterprise Bank (later Allegiance Bank) in Houston, and truly enjoyed being involved in banking. After he and Nancy retired from their electrical business, they moved to Thornton in 1999. While living in Pearland, C.A. had started a cattle enterprise, and after his habit of meticulous research (on any subject) he decided on raising Marchigiana cattle, which is an Italian breed. He really enjoyed his cattle which he continued to raise at Thornton, as well as the banking business. At age 75, he had promised Nancy to resign from the Board of Directors, but he continued making trips to Houston for each board meeting until he began to honor his promise when he was 85. C.A. loved to tell stories, and he also kept in contact with his Army buddies, meeting every year in Flatonia for a luncheon together. He had enjoyed gardening in Pearland, raising enormous 12” okra pods. He enjoyed making jelly, from harvesting wild plums and grapes to the preparation in the kitchen with Nancy. They also spent hours together making their hot sauce. C.A. also was a woodworker, making tables and canes, and enjoyed carving. He made baskets out of peach seeds, and would give his crafts to family and friends. He will be lovingly remembered as a terrific husband, a great Dad, and as PeePaw and Great PeePaw. C.A. was preceded in death by his parents, and a son, Steven Mark Stanley. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Stanley of Thornton; son,Charles C. Stanley and Janet Stanley of Flatonia; son, Darryl Scott Stanley and Theo of Houston; grandsons, Charles C. Stanley Jr. of Cibolo and John David and Jennifer Stanley of Katy; and great grandsons, Nathan Stanley and Zander Stanley of Cibolo.