Earl W. Hulsey

On Wednesday June 21, 2006 Earl Weldon "Big Daddy" Hulsey met his savior at Hospice of East Texas. The celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2006 at ten 'o clock at his home church of Bascom Assembly of God in the community of Bascom with Dr. Leslie Bartley and Pastor Craig Little of Antioch Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow at Sand Flat cemetery under the direction of Caudle Rutledge Funeral Home. Earl was born in the community of Bascom on June 12, 1935 to the late Rosa Mae and Freeman Hulsey. He was raised in Bascom with his seven siblings, where his family attended church and maintained the small farm that the family lived on. Earl leaves behind his best friend and wife of thirty-seven years, Sue Hulsey, whom he loved and cherished with all his heart. Together they raised their children, and were very involved with their families. As a young man during the years of 1958 through 1960 Earl served in the 32nd artillery of the U. S. Army in Fort Sill Oklahoma. He retired as a trainman from the Cotton Belt Railroad after twenty-two years of employment. He was passionate about playing his guitar throughout his life. He was a member of the musical group The Fowler Playboys, and he played for the elderly at nursing homes around East Texas. Earl's hobbies included traveling with his wife on long camping trips to many places which include Kentucky, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana. He loved sharing his afternoons with his wife tending to their yard work, and entertaining friends and family that he valued tremendously. He attended church at Antioch Baptist Church in the Sand Flat community where he lived with his family for most of his adult life. Earl lived strongly by the motto LIVE STRONG during his last few years, and has inspired his friends and family to do the same. Big Daddy will be remembered and missed daily by the lives he touched as a loving, strong, and kindhearted man who enjoyed his life to the fullest and found great joy in simple pleasures. Earl is preceded in death by his mother Rosa Mae Hopkins, father Freeman Hulsey. Two brothers, William Eugene and Glen Hulsey, and one son Jerry Don Oxford. Survivors include his brave loving wife Sue Hulsey of Tyler. Daughters and son-in-laws; Donna and Tim Williams of Chandler and Gay and Danny Craig of Tyler. Grandchildren; Christopher Oxford of Japan, Calli and Jared Williams of Tyler, Laura Eckeberger of Nacogdoches, Justin Eckeberger of California, Emily Nix of Chandler and great grandchildren Cornelia Allmon of Nacogdoches, and Gavin Williams of Tyler. Siblings; Charlene and Audrey Robinson, Olen Ray and Patsy Hulsey, Charles Henry Hulsey, Frances and Dr. Leslie Bartley, and Glenda and Charles Ray Tate. Sister-in-laws; Tennie Faye Hulsey, and Peggy Hulsey. Pallbearers are Chris Melton, Gene Hulsey, Quinton Rheams, Clinton Benson, Nathan Benson, and John David Bartley. Honorary pallbearers are Tillman Hill and C.D. Hill. Visitation will be on Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. The family requests that all contributions be made to Hospice of East Texas.

Earl W. Hulsey

June 12, 1935 - June 21, 2006