Clarence Duane Propes' Obituary
Services for Clarence Duane Propes will be held at Millville Baptist Church, FM 782, Henderson, Texas, at 11:00 a.m., Monday, May 16, 2011, with burial in Millville Cemetery under the direction of Rader Funeral Home of Henderson. The Rev. David English, Dr. Bruce Tankersley and the Rev. Jerry Smith will officiate. Mr. Propes passed away on May 14, 2011, in Good Shepherd Hospital, Longview. He was born March 14, 1936, to Cullen Augustus and Robbie Husband Propes, the fourth of five children, in Joinerville, Texas.
He attended school in Henderson, graduating from HHS in 1954, and received a scholarship to Kilgore College, where he majored in industrial arts, receiving an Associate of Arts degree in 1956. He was recruited by Hughes Tool Company in Houston, remaining for five years before becoming a vocational teacher in Galena Park High School, followed by positions as drafting teacher and director of vocational education at Longview High School. After designing changes for making the "old Sears building" an educational facility, he became director of continuing education at Kilgore College, Longview Center, where he served for twelve years before retirement in 1992.
During his teaching years, he earned a B.S. in Education at University of Houston and a M. Ed. in Administration from TAMU, Commerce. His reward as a vocational teacher and administrator was to see students in successful careers, using the skills learned in his classes and special programs.
On June 14, 1958, Clarence married his high school sweetheart, Joan Carlisle, at Millville
Baptist Church, and she joined him in the Houston area, teaching music in Galena Park. They immediately joined First Baptist Church, where he served as youth Sunday School teacher and director, and was elected to the deacon board at age 27. When their son was born in 1966, they chose to return to East Texas to allow him to know his grandparents and grow up in the small town environment they had enjoyed. Clarence continued the Bible teaching he loved, teaching adult classes at Oakland Heights and First Baptist
churches. His most recent class was the Berean Men's Class, a group of older men whose serious study inspired and challenged him.
After retirement, he lived on their Millville farm, where he enjoyed gardening and working in his workshop. He served on the Millville Cemetery Committee for the past 12 years, during which time the cemetery obtained a Texas Historical Marker for 150 years of continuous use.
Mr. Propes is survived by his wife, Joan, son and wife, Duane Carlisle and Pam Propes,
granddaughter, Kinley Nicole Propes, step-grandson, Corey Tanner Wright, sister and husband, Lurene and Glen Brown, sister-in-law Becky Propes, several nieces and
nephews, and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Johnny, Calvin, and Carroll.
Pallbearers will be Robby Propes, Cecil Propes, Keith Loftin, Kenneth Brown , Eddie Johnson and Michael Shapell. Orville Todd, Earl Harkins, Don Baker, Randall Coggin, Homer Wilson, the Berean Bible Class of First Baptist Church , and the HHS Class of 1954 will serve as honorary pallbearers.
The family will receive friends at Rader Funeral Home, 1617 Judson Road, Longview,
2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Sunday, May 15.
Memorials may be made to Millville Cemetery, 110 Baker St., Henderson, Texas 75652, or to a charity of choice.
A memorial guestbook may be signed online at www.raderfh.com.
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