WHITNEY, Texas — Roy Kenneth Paxton,

age 76, of Whitney, Texas, went home to be with his Heavenly Father on Sunday afternoon, June 14, 2020, in Waco.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 18, 2020, at Marshall and Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Garden of Memory near Hillsboro. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at the funeral home.

Roy was born in Altus, Okla., to Haward L. and Melba A. (Leonard) Paxton on June 14, 1944. He began his education in Humphreys, Okla.; then the family moved to Altus, and he graduated from Altus High School in 1962. After graduating from high school, he attended Altus Junior College and moved to Tulsa, Okla. He was united in marriage to the love of his life Karen Jane Gray on Sept. 27, 1963, in Broken Arrow, Okla.

Roy worked at North American Aviation for 3 and a half years. Then, he and Karen moved to Gainesville, Ga., where he worked for Luzianne Coffee Company. In 1969 the couple moved to Arlington, Texas, and Roy worked for Ling Temco Vought Aeronautics.

Roy along with his fatherin-law started their own company together in Arlington in 1973, eventually moving the company to Hillsboro in 1978. Roy owned and operated Hillsboro Auto Sales for over 20 years.

Roy began Rollin’ Properties Construction Company, purchasing houses, remodeling them and renting them to persons in need. It was always a dream of Roy’s to have a restaurant. In 1989 he bought the Majestic Theatre in Hillsboro. It was there where Roy and Karen served the public and made many friends and continued to make many memories until 1998.

Roy loved to entertain and opened Karen’s Gourmet and the Interurban Plaza, which he completely remodeled in 2000. The plaza was designed for weddings, club organizations and private events with catering provided.

Roy was very involved in the Hillsboro Optimist Club serving as lieutenant governor with various projects such as organizing the first lighted Christmas parade, Optimist youth baseball coaching kids, and Toys for Tots for 34 years.

Roy and Karen lived in Bella Vista, Ark., for five years, where he was a very faithful and devoted member of the Presbyterian Church of Bella Vista, served as a deacon, a member of the outreach committee, and was deeply involved in fellowship. Family was of utmost importance to Roy. He enjoyed spending time with them on the lake, boating, fishing and teaching his children and grandchildren to ski. Roy also enjoyed cooking, dancing and music. He was a man always willing to help anyone in need.

He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.

He is survived by his spouse, Karen Jane Paxton of Whitney, Texas; son Roy Kenneth Paxton II and wife Tina Marie of West, Texas; daughter Karie Lee Bradley and husband Bart Elwin of Henderson, Texas; grandchildren Klinton Hunter McCown and wife Kallee of Henderson, Texas, Kenneth Craig McCown and wife Hannah of Laneville, Texas, Kolby Fisch- er McCown of Henderson, Texas, Manning Lee Bradley of Henderson, Texas, Mason Neal Paxton and wife Maggi of Ruston, La., Griffin Foster Paxton of San Antonio, Texas, Easton Gray Paxton of West, Texas, Braden Todd Bradley of New York, N.Y., Collin Dale Bradley of Hallsville, Texas; great-grandchildren Karsyn Arrow McCown, of Henderson, Texas, and Kreed Michael McCown of Henderson, Texas; sister Linda Sue Moore, Bartlesville, Okla.; uncle Jack Paxton and wife Fran of Overland Park, Kan., and several nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and a host of friends.

Memorials in Roy’s name can be made to American Heart Association, P.O. Box 841125, Dallas, Texas, 75284; American Lung Association, 8150 Brookriver Drive, Suite 5102, Dallas, Texas, 75247; or American Cancer Society, 1700 Lake Success Drive, Waco, Texas, 76710. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Roy Kenneth Paxton, please visit our floral store.