Roy Whitehead

On May 31, 2023, Roy Whitehead of Smiley, Texas passed away peacefully at home at the age of 81. Roy was born the youngest of 10 children to James Edward Whitehead, Sr. and Viola Mae (Parker) Whitehead who have preceded him in death along with his sister, Edna Mae Whitehead; and brothers, Otis Whitehead, Chester Whitehead, James Whitehead, Jr., Vernon Whitehead, and Barney Whitehead. Roy went all 12 years of school in Smiley, Texas.  He graduated as the salutatorian of the Class of 59.  After graduation Roy spent a short time at North Texas State University before following all of his brothers into the military.  Roy joined the Army in 1964 and was sent to Fort Polk Louisiana before ending up at Fort Benning Georgia.  Roy ended his military stint in 1966 and came back home to Smiley where he started dating Kathy.  He asked her to marry him in the fall of 1966. Roy worked a few different odd jobs around the Smiley area when he got the opportunity to go to work for Brown & Root in Bay City, Texas.  This opportunity would turn into a career.  Roy worked for Brown & Root for the next 30 years.  After working 30 years for Brown & Root, Roy worked another 15 years on and off for various construction companies.  Roy started out as a pipefitter helper and worked his way up to Project Manager.  In 1979 Brown & Root chose Roy to be the face of the company by running an ad featuring him in several national publications. For most of Roy’s career he was able to keep the family in Smiley.  He had to drive a long distance to work for many years, but it kept the family in one place for a long time.  After Smiley, Roy and family moved to Springerville, Arizona where they would spend the next 8 years. Roy loved traveling, camping, golf, but most of all he loved music.  Roy came from a family that loved music. Roy was playing guitar at an early age and always had a guitar within arm’s reach.  Roy played in a band in his younger days and passed his love of music, and more specifically, the guitar, down to both of his sons.  In his later years, Roy liked nothing more than sitting around playing guitars with his 2 sons. Many people are described as “loved by everyone”, but Roy truly was loved by all. Roy is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Kathy (Glasco) Whitehead; sons, Jeff Whitehead (Kelly), and Bobby Whitehead (Linh); grandchildren, Drew Smith, Brooke Smith, Erin Whitehead, Payton Whitehead, and Jasper Whitehead; great-grandchildren, Chloe Smith, Riley Smith, Sabrina Smith, and Diesel Smith; sisters, Frances Krause, Anna Rose Kolb (Doug), and Pauline Kuecker; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and other loving family and friends. Visitation will be held on Friday, June 2, 2023, 4:00pm-7:00pm, at Finch Funeral Chapel in Nixon, Texas. A Chapel Service will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2023, 10:00am, at Finch Funeral Chapel in Nixon. Burial will follow at Smiley Baptist Cemetery. Reverend Marvin Miles will officiate the services. If desired, donations may be made in Roy’s name to the Smiley Baptist Cemetery, or to the Dementia Society at https://www.dementiasociety.org/donate, or mailed to PO Box 600 - Doylestown, PA 18901.