Roy Bennett

Local businessman and lifelong area resident Roy Farris Bennett, 48, of Uvalde, passed away peacefully at his home on April 28, 2007, after a three-year battle with a brain tumor.

He was born April 22, 1959 to Ben H. and Marinel Bennett in Uvalde. He was a 1977 graduate of Uvalde High School and earned degrees from Southwest Texas Junior College.

He Married Cecily Ede of Knippa on November 28, 1981 in Uvalde.

Bennett ranched on the Bennett Arrowhead Ranch in Batesville, where he and his family raised cattle, sheep and goats.

He was the shop foreman at AgroFord, which is now known as Agro Equipment, before starting his own business, Bennett Mobile Repair, which he operated until 1998 when Bennett and partners purchased the Uvalde John Deere Dealership, which he managed and named it Uvalde Tractor And Implement. The partnership later purchased and, under Bennetts management, operated the John Deere dealerships in Castroville and Pearsall. Due to Bennetts battle with cancer the business was sold in October of 2006.

Among his civic activities were his past services on the Uvalde County Appraisal District Board and being a former member and chaplain of the Uvalde Volunteer Fire Department. Bennett volunteered with the Uvalde County Livestock Show and the Uvalde Youth Rodeo Club.

For most of Bennetts life he was a member of the former First Christian Church were he served as elder, song leader, Sunday school teacher, Logos leader and many other capacities. He later became a member of First Presbyterian Church, were he was ordained as an elder, and served as a Sunday school teacher and in other positions. His other ministries included serving as a director for Christian Action Group, a mission outreach organization that serves Mexico and South America, working as a missionary in Haiti and printing Bible Tracts for Distribution in Mexico.

He worked with the Greater Uvalde Emmaus and Chrysalis Communities, organizations which further Christian spiritual Growth.

A lifelong musician, Bennett played the piano, trombone, guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle and accordion, among other instruments. He used his music as an integral part of his Christian ministry.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and one brother, Fred Carson Rusty Bennett.

He is survived by his wife of 25 years; one daughter Kami Gale Bennett of Uvalde; three Sons, Carson Rusty Bennett, Mickey Gerdes and wife, Kristi and Andy Gerdes and wife, Heather all of Uvalde; one grandson, Tyler Gerdes; and three granddaughters, Brianne Gerdes, Krislyn Wimberley and Caitlin Wimberley, all of Uvalde; two brothers, Baxter Bennett and wife, Carmen of San Antonio and Blaine Bennett and wife, Nancy of Uvalde; one sister-in-law, Mary Sue Laffere and husband, Don of Uvalde and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Funeral sevices will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Robert Richarz, pastor of Living Water Church in Utopia, the Rev. Richard Carroll, pastor of First Presbyterian Church and the Rev. Scott Bradford, pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating

Interment will follow at Rio Frio Cemetery near Leakey.

Pallbearers will be George Franklin, Roy Kothmann, Terry Carson, Ralph Hesse, Dudley Ilse, Joe Parker, Clark Ward, and Kip Boales. Honorary pallbearers will be Brad Crawford, Barrett Rambie, Ben Kothmann and all of Bennetts former employees at Uvalde, Medina and Frio Tractor and Implement.

Service

Funeral

First United Methodist Church of Uvalde
301 N. High
Uvalde, TX  78801
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
2:00 P.M.

Cemetery

Rio Frio Cemetery
200 Deer Creek Rd
Rio Frio, TX  78879

Memorial Contributions

Greater Uvalde Chrysalis Community
301 N. High
Uvalde, TX  78801

Habitat for HumanityHav
115 W. Mesquite
Uvalde, TX  78801