Gerald Furr was born on September 3, 1924, in the community of Rhea’s Mill, Texas to Jessie (Robinson) Furr and Clarence Leroy Furr. He went home to his Heavenly Father on January 24, 2004. Gerald became a Christian at age ten, began his farming career at age 15 and purchased his first plot of farm-land at age 17. He never left Rhea’s Mill except to serve as a Merchant Marine from 1944-1946. On December 15, 1946, he married Pasty Ruth Gilliland; they reared three children, Brenda, Sharon and Paul. Gerald was ordained as a deacon at the Rhea’s Mill Baptist Church in 1950 and served in that capacity for 41 years. He taught Sunday school and served on numerous personnel and building committees. Gerald served for 20 years on the Joe Atkinson Music Evangelism Board. He also served on the Collin County Farm Bureau Board, the Agriculture Services Center (ASC) Committee, Collin County Tax Appraisal Board, the Collin County Farm Museum Board, and was a member of the Executive Board of the Collin County Youth Park. He was selected as Collin County’s “Farmer of the Year” in 1959 and as Collin County’s “Soil Conservationist” in 1960. He enjoyed collecting antique farm machinery, playing “42” and listening to gospel and bluegrass music. Gerald’s priorities were his faith, family and farming. He was a servant of God, a devoted husband, Daddy, PaPaw, son, brother, and friend to many. He was passionate about his farming and firmly believed it was God’s calling for his life. Gerald is survived by his wife, of 57 years, Pat Furr; his children and their spouses, Brenda and Glenn Gaustad of Dallas, Sharon and Truett Camp of El Dorado, Arkansas, Paul and Jana Furr of Rhea’s Mill; grandchildren and spouses, Angela and Dave Chisholm of Plano, Texas, Jeremy Johnson of Krum, Texas, Matt and Trish Furr of McKinney, Greg Gaustad of Plano, Heather and Robert Brown of Garland, and Erin Camp of El Dorado, Arkansas; brothers, Jack Furr and wife, June of Rhea’s Mill and Dale Furr and wife, Jan of Amarillo; sister, Carolyn Shaw and husband, Butch of Denton; sisters-in-laws, Lynn Furr of Prosper and Sarah Gilliland of Irving, Texas. His parents, Jessie and C. L. Furr; and brother, Ralph Furr preceded him in death. Serving, as pallbearers are Bob Allen, Steve Coffman, Virgil Chastain, Joe Farr, Jack Geren, Jerry Standerfer, Donald Vest and Jeff Williams. Honorary pallbearers are members of the Joe Atkinson Music Evangelism Board of Directors: Marvin Curb, Ed Gatlin, Bob Hendrix, Jerry Hodges, Jerry Hoodenpyle, Jack Longgear, Jimmy McCloud, George Slaughter, Marie Vestal and Merle Welpman. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 27, 2004, at Rhea’s Mill Baptist Church with Rev. Travis Maxwell officiating. Interment will follow at Cottage Hill Cemetery in Celina. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Monday at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Rhea’s Mill Baptist Church Mission Fund.