Funeral services for Jerry Lynn Havard, 72, of Lufkin, will be held Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at Shafer Funeral Home in Lufkin with Bro. Butch Duncan officiating. Interment will be at Union Springs Cemetery in Polk County.

            Mr. Havard was born December 8, 1951, in Lufkin, Texas, to the late Orbry Lynwood Havard and Viola Lillian (Henry) Havard, and died Sunday, May 19, 2024, at his residence.

            Mr. Havard resided in Lufkin for most of his life. He was the 5th oldest child and had 6 children of his own. Mr. Havard also had several unknown children; “Papa was a rolling stone.” He retired from Brown-Root where he worked as a boiler maker and from Dupree Enterprise where he worked as a truck driver for 35 years. Mr. Havard then went on to his final retirement, becoming a commercial fisherman.  He was known to help anyone in need. Mr. Havard’s hobbies included fishing, gardening, and conversating with family and friends.

            Mr. Havard once tried to give his daughter Melissa a punishment over doing the dishes and boy did it back fire on him! He told Melissa that she better have those dishes done by the time he got back from running his lines…..well Melissa didn’t get the dishes done (she went back to bed instead). When Mr. Havard came in and saw that the dishes weren’t done, he decided to punish her. He didn’t have the heart to spank her because she was his baby, so he grabs Melissa by the foot and drags her off the bed, hitting the floor of course. Mr. Havard had her go outside tells her that she must help him clean his fish. Melissa says “Oh no I’m not touching that”….because she didn’t like getting dirty. But after the 3rd or 4th fish cleaned, she actually enjoyed cleaning the fish and met Mr. Havard outside everyday to help him clean the fish, just so she didn’t have to wash the dishes.

            Mr. Havard is survived by his baby girl and husband, Melissa Havard and Jeremy Unsell of Pollok; daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Jerry Reeves; son and daughter-in-law, Paul Ray and Ashley Havard of Huntington; son and daughter-in-law, Jerry Lynn “Bubba” and Lottie Havard; daughter, Felicia Havard of Huntington; son, Daniel Nash of Port Arthur; grandsons, Dakota Unsell, Dillon Glawson, and Dakota Reeves, all of Lufkin; granddaughters, Lilly Sheffield, Jerry “Bob” Sheffield, Cheyanne Sheffield, Graci Havard, Destiney Reeves, Brittany Havard Treat, and Ashlyn Free, all of Lufkin; 2 sisters and 5 brothers; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

            He was preceded in death by his parents; loving wife of 30 years, Freddie B. Havard; brother, F.J. Havard; sister, Nelda Cox; nephew, Orbry L. Havard; and niece, Treasa Kay Decker.

            Pallbearers will be Verne Goodenough, Jeremy Unsell, Skylar Martin, Jerry Reeves, Paul Havard, and Dakota Unsell.

            Honorary pallbearers will be Dillon Glawson and Roger Wagnone.

            Special memorials may be made to Gentiva Hospice, 1022 S. John Redditt Dr., Lufkin, Texas 75904.

            Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at Shafer Funeral Home.

            Shafer Funeral Home, Lufkin directors.