William Ira Scudder

William Ira Scudder, 98, of Possum Kingdom, passed away Saturday, October 3,2009 at his home. Services will be 2 pm Tuesday at the Graford Church ofChrist with Larry Pratt, William Eudy and Jim Compton officiating. Burialwill be in the McAdams Cemetery. Pall bearers will be Robert (Joe) Payne,John Payne, Ira Cooper, Micah Cooper, Steve Scudder, Bobby Green, Jonathan,Justin and Jake Akins. Honorary pall bearers will be Ansel Johnson, KadeJohnson, Travis Cooper and Jesse Payne.Mr. Scudder was born July 17, 1911 in Graford, Texas, the son of Jim H. andJessie Lee Patterson Scudder.He married Mary Lida Marguerite McMillan who preceded him in death in 1996.He then married Gayle Sanders who preceded him in death in 2001. He was alsopreceded in death by brothers, Robert and Claud and sisters, Doris andKittie Gail.An earlier tribute stated the following, ".a good friend, fellow Christian,a good example, loved and respected by all and the oldest living member ofthis congregation."Ira has worn many hats over the past 98 years, beginning when he was veryyoung. He started to school in Strawn but graduated high school fromGraford. At a young age at Strawn he did yard work for a gentleman, pluscleaned out his chicken house on Saturday. Also in Strawn, he unloaded propsand caps (supports) from a gondola car for a coal mine. After moving toGraford, Ira did farm work which included shocking grain, picking cotton andgathering corn and working with a threshing crew. He then worked in Mr.Mathis' store as a soda jerk and sold refrigerators. Graford was a largertown then. He helped construct Ft. Hood and other army camps. He owned andoperated a grocery and dry goods store, did substitute teaching, held a realestate license and returned to being a carpenter and doing constructionwork. He was one of the first members of the Board of Directors of the PaloPinto General Hospital. He was a faithful member of the Graford Church ofChrist for 83 years, also serving as an Elder and congregational songleader.Survivors include his daughters Linda Payne and husband Milton ofNacogdoches and Claudia Cooper and husband Charles of Gordon; grandchildren,Robert (Joe) Payne, John Payne, Jennifer Payne, Julie Payne, Ira Cooper,Mary Ellen Johnson, Katie Cooper, Micah Cooper; great-grandchildren,Jonathan Akins, Justin Akins, Jake Akins, Ansel Johnson, Kade Johnson,Portia Cooper, Travis Cooper, Olivia Payne, Jesse Payne; numerous nieces,nephews, great nieces and great nephews.