Clyde Gilbert Hurt, Jr.

Clyde Gilbert Hurt, Jr., (also known as “Punkin” or “Red”) of Groesbeck, passed away at Ascension Seton Medical Center in Austin on Friday, March 17, 2023, at age 74.

Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m., prior to the funeral service on Saturday, March 25, 2023, in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel.

Funeral services will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel, with Ronnie Driskell of the Central Baptist Church of Thornton officiating.   Burial will be in Bellfalls Cemetery in Troy.

Pallbearers will be Connor Driskell, Steven Hurt, Jr., Daniel Whitlock, Ethyn Hurt,  Braden Hurt, and Travis Moore.  

Clyde was born February 20, 1949 to Clyde Hurt, Sr and Etauh (Law) Hurt, in Nashville, Tennessee.   He grew up in Nashville and attended East Nashville High School.

Clyde spent his senior year in Vietnam.   He entered the U. S. Army in 1967 and was in Vietnam for a year, and then honorably discharged in 1970.

While Clyde was stationed at Fort Hood in Texas, he met Sandra Lee Ridgeway from Waco.   After he was discharged, Clyde and Sandy were united in marriage in 1971 in Nashville and lived in East Nashville.   Clyde worked there as a house painter.

Clyde and his family moved to Waco, Texas in 1977, and he worked as an industrial painter in Waco.    Clyde was a big NASCAR fan, all his life, which was natural as many of his family were involved in the industry.  His grandfather built the race car for Marty Robbins, with several of the family involved in the body, the engine and painting it, and a picture of the car was on an album cover.  His cousin, Bobby Hamilton, was a race car driver.   

Clyde took his family to Talladega twice a year from 1970 through 1976, and when they made trips back to Nashville to visit family, they attended the Saturday night races.   He also attended the NASCAR races in Texas, and along with his family, loved to watch them on TV.

Clyde was a devoted “PA” to his many grandchildren and great grandchildren.  He loved being with them and showed up at all their sporting events, dance recitals, or other activities as often as he could.  He leaves behind a large family to remember him and to continue being NASCAR fans.

Clyde was preceded in death by his father, Clyde Hurt, Sr; his mother, Etauh Neal and his step-father, Ed Neal (Daddy Ed); his wife Sandy Hurt in 2005; brother-in-law, Billy Patterson; and two great grandchildren, Dregynn Paul “FatHead” Hurt and Haize Hurt.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Jackie and Dottie Hurt of Spring; son, Steven Hurt of Groesbeck; and daughter and son-in-law, Senoya and Ryan Driskell of Tyler.  His five grandchildren are:  Kenda Hurt of Groesbeck, Steven Hurt, Jr. and wife, Kaitlyn Hurt of Groesbeck, Delores Whitlock and her husband Daniel Whitlock of Thornton, and Connor Driskell and Claire Driskell of Tyler.   The great grandchildren are:  Braden Hurt, Ethyn Hurt, and Ke’anda “KeKe” Hurt; Harper Hurt, Hadley Hurt and Steven Lynn “Tripp” Hurt III ;  and Miley Whitlock and Ripp Whitlock.   He is also survived by sisters, Tanya Jones and husband Steve of Nashville and Kim Patterson of Nashville.