MERRIT LEE “SONNY” MCCURRY
1930-2017
Merrit Lee “Sonny” McCurry entered into eternal rest on August 3, 2017. Surrounded by loving members of his family, he died peacefully at the age of 87. Born April 16, 1930 in Wharton, Texas, he was the son of Andrew Merrit McCurry and Elizabeth Meadows McCurry. Sonny was an outstanding athlete and graduate of Wharton High School. He was a 3-year varsity letterman in football for Rice Institute in Houston. He was chosen to play in the 1951 East-West Shrine football game and was a member of the “R” Association for former Rice athletes. While at Rice, he served in the Marine Reserves and was ultimately drafted into the U.S. Army and served for 2 years in Panama City, Panama. Sonny was employed by Mueller Brass Company for 27 years and retired as a regional Vice President in 1992. He was an avid golfer and a proud member of the “Grumpy Old Men” group at Stephen F. Austin Country Club in San Felipe, Texas. He never met a stranger, and his smile lit up every room.
Sonny is survived by his life partner of 34 years, Susanne Tatum of Pattison; his 6 children, Merrit “Sonny” McCurry, Jr., Michael McCarthy McCurry, Margo McCurry Creekmore, Leah McCurry Croxton, Michelle “Chelle” McCurry, and their mother, Leah McCarthy McCurry, all of whom are from Houston, and Jason Merrit McCurry of Tampa, FL. Sonny has 10 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. He is further survived by his sisters, Dorothy Kielman of Wharton and Joy Sue Pittman and husband Dan of Victoria; his mother-in-law, Corrie Pattison Tatum, brother-in-law, John Tatum and wife Patsy, sister-in-law, Mary Jane Ruble, as well as many precious nieces and nephews. Sonny was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Hazel Terrell, Beulah Habermacher, Billie Jo Vrazel Smith and Robert Lee McCurry.
The family will receive friends on Friday, August 11th, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at Schmidt Funeral Home, 819 Waller Ave., in Brookshire. The Memorial Service will be held at Pattison United Methodist Church in Pattison, 3711 Avenue H at Hwy. 359, on Saturday, August 12th at 11:00 am. Active pallbearers are Billy Browne, Terry Hendley, Mark Boles, Ray Neal Habermacher, John Tatum, Jr., and Michael Tatum. Honorary pallbearers will include Robert Garbrecht, U.L. “Buddy” Edwards, Thomas Brundrette, Thomas Hudgins and Michael Ginsberg. Following a reception at the church, family and friends are also invited to attend a celebration of Sonny’s life to be held at Fuad’s Restaurant in Houston, 6100 Westheimer Rd., starting at 2:00 pm.
The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to the management and staff at Evergreen Cottages for their dedication and loving care over the last 4 years.