Willard "W.A." Aaron Dugan

Willard Aaron “W.A.” Dugan, of Groesbeck passed away at his daughter’s home on Thursday, January 28, 2021, at age 88.

Visitation will be held Sunday, January 31, 2021, from 1:00 -3:30 P.M. at Groesbeck Funeral Home.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 1, 2021, at the Pavilion at Faulkenberry Cemetery.

W.A. was born August 8, 1932, to Henry Dugan and Velma (Willard) Dugan and grew up on the family farm at Prairie Point.   He was called “Skeet” by his older three brothers.   He started elementary school at Prairie Point, and then attended Groesbeck High School.  When W.A. was sixteen he went to Houston and found work there with Howard Hughes’ tool company.   Years later, he started his own business, Valiant Tool Company in Pasadena.

In Houston, W. A. met Betty Jean Clark and they were united in marriage on May 21, 1955.   They lived in Pasadena and started a family with two children.   During this time, they had bought land and built a home at Groesbeck and W.A. started a cattle operation, returning on weekends to tend to things.   Before the children were school age, they decided to move to this home so the children could go to school in Groesbeck.   W. A. moved his tool company to Highway 164 near Groesbeck.   He also had worked at Dugan Trailer Company with his brother, and then established the True Value Hardware store in Groesbeck.   After he sold the hardware business, he devoted his full time, every day, to his cattle.   In fact, he wouldn’t travel because he did not want to leave the cattle.    

W.A. was a respected member of the community and well known locally among the cattlemen.  He had his “special seat” every Thursday at the Auction Barn and expected “his seat” to be available for him at that time.   W. A. was a long-time member of the Bethel Baptist Church.   

W.A. was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Velma Dugan; his wife, Betty Dugan in 1995; a grandson, Randy Brown; and his brothers, Henry Dugan, James Dugan, and Lonnie Dugan.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Adam and Tamara Dugan of Bryan; and daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Don Stevens of Groesbeck.   His grandchildren are: Aaron Dugan of Bryan, Alizabeth Dugan of Bryan, Brittany and Jeff McDowell of Fairfield, Keith and Vivian Brown of Bremond, Kaytee and Jason Vincent of Groesbeck, Michael and Amy Stevens of Keller, and Curtis and Heather Stevens of Fate.  The great grandchildren are:  Braden, Reid, Gage, Bailey, Beckett, Cason, Jace, Olivia, Sophia, Eleanor, and Colton (due in March.)   He is also survived by his special friend, Minnie Dockery.