Robert Vernon Hudgins

Services for Mr. Robert Vernon Hudgins, 89, of Grand Saline, were scheduled for 2 p.m., Saturday, December 2, 2017, at Bartley Funeral Home with Bro. Darrell Lewis and Bro. Randy Edwards officiating. Interment followed in Woodside Cemetery under the direction of Bartley Funeral Home. Mr. Hudgins passed away November 27, 2017, in Tyler. He was born December 24, 1927, to Frank Milton & Fannie Bethena Miller Hudgins and grew up in the Alba, Texas area. He graduated from Alba High School in 1945 and worked on the family farm. On January 9, 1946, he joined the Navy and served as an engineman until January 8, 1948 when he received his honorable discharge. Robert married Reva Lou Tipps shortly after that on May 10, 1949, and for the next 20 + years worked as a railroad switchman for the Union Terminal in Dallas, Texas—jumping on and off trains, and raising his family of girls in Dallas, Kaufman, and Grand Saline, Texas. During those and the following years, Robert also had many side jobs including repairing small engines and lawn mowers, operating a bulldozer, raising cattle, and as general contractor building houses. In 1969 he owned and operated the first self-service gasoline station in Grand Saline, Texas. Robert went on to develop the Stadium Addition, building several houses in Grand Saline until the early 1980s when he opened his small engine repair shop on Highway 80 where he worked on chain saws, lawn mowers, and other small engines. He continued repairing engines and raising cows until January 2016. He attended Rejoicers Sunday School class at Main Street Baptist Church in Grand Saline. Mr. Hudgins was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Grady Hudgins; and sister, Dorthy Riggle. At almost 90 years old, Robert leaves behind a legacy of loved ones including—Reva, his loving wife of 68 years; his three daughters, Sherion Jackson and husband Andy of Longview, Linda Monk and husband Mike of Grand Saline, and Robbie Monk and husband Ronnie of Grand Saline; six grandchildren, Jon Jackson and wife Rachel, Stacey Hastings and husband Tracy, Michelle Lewis and husband Monty, Dean Monk and wife Beri, Heather Grace and husband Jeremy, and Lindsey Phillips and husband Andrew; thirteen great-grand-children, Jake, Alexia, Marti, Macoy, Mazie, Macray, Maylee, Levi, Jessi, Bo, Dylan, Kolbi and Jaleigh; and his sister, Nadine Phillips and husband Bobby of Alba; and numerous other relatives and friends. Robert Vernon Hudgins—husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother — will be missed dearly and forever loved. Pallbearers were Dean Monk, Monty Lewis, Andrew Phillips, Jeremy Grace, Kurtis Riggle, Lannie Dean Hudgins, Bobby Dean Phillips, and Leslie Miller. The family received friends 6-8 p.m., Friday, at Bartley Funeral Home.