Bobby J. LaGrone

Bobby J. LaGrone, 77, of West Orange, died Wednesday, January 29, 2014, at Senior Rehab in Port Arthur.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 4, 2014, at First Baptist Church, 7637 MLK Dr. in Orange. Officiating will be Reverend Barry Bradley, pastor of First Baptist Church. Burial, with military honors, will follow at Orange Forest Lawn Cemetery in West Orange. Masonic rites will also be provided by Madison Lodge 126, AF&AM.

Visitation will be from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Monday, February 3, 2014, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

Pallbearers will be John Martin, Tom Woolley, Scott Bandy, Chad Prewitt, Dale LaGrone, Johnnie LaGrone, Jimmy LaGrone, and Wailynn Cole.

Born on February 21, 1936, in Marion, Alabama, Bobby was the son of Bruce and Nannie LaGrone. He was a former resident of Lufkin and had lived in Orange for the past 44 years. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran, attaining the rank of Sargent. He was a graduate of Eastern New Mexico University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth and he did advanced work in Psychology and Political Science at the University of Texas.

A Baptist minister for 25 years, Bobby was a former pastor of McDonald Memorial Baptist Church in West Orange. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Orange where he served as secretary of the Senior Adults.

Bob was a member and past master of Madison Lodge 126 AF&AM. He was a 32nd degree mason; a member of El Mina Shrine in Galveston, Grotto in Beaumont and Scottish Rite.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bruce and Nannie LaGrone; brothers, Bruce, Jr., Edward, and Vernon “Trigger” LaGrone and sisters, Doris LaGrone, Frances Crews and Kitty Sue Murphy.

Bobby is survived by his wife, Eula F. LaGrone of West Orange; daughter, Renee Kassiah; step children, Sharon Dryden, David Bandy and his wife, Joanie; brother, Bill LaGrone and his wife, Colleen; sisters, Judy Remsen, Jessie “Pete” Hasty and her husband, Richard, Cleo Chadwick, Jeanette Hopkins and her husband, Carlton, JoAnn Ray and her husband, Hershel; sisters-in-law, Mary Frances LaGrone and Joye LaGrone.

Also surviving are his grandchildren, Shon McKinley, Misty Newton, Chad Prewitt and his wife, Robin, Scott Bandy and his wife, Anna, Christi Curl and her husband, Michael, Sara George and her husband Chris and great grandchildren, Dalton, Jorden, Clint, Addison, Nathan, Wailynn, Haeley, Lauren, Davey and Ruari.

For those who wish, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 1453, Orange, Texas 77631.