Hoot C. Fairchild
It is with thankfulness, sorrow and joy that we announce the death of Hoot C. Fairchild, age 94, of Harwood. Thankfulness in that he was a wonderful husband, father, brother, son, uncle and friend. In sorrow that he is no longer with us, but in joy that he is now with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; has been reunited with his 4 brothers and beloved Grandson and that one day we shall see him again.
Hoot was born December 10, 1928 in Big Spring, Texas, the fifth son of Mitchell Cleve Fairchild and Frances “Frankie” Emma Vaughan Fairchild. His father moved the family around a good bit working for different ranches, but when Hoot was a young boy, the family moved to the Darst Creek Oil Field and a few years later to the Harwood Area where Hoot would spend the remainder of his life.
Hoot married the love of his life, Marjorie Appling, on June 27, 1951. They were blessed with 71 years and 10 month of marriage and three sons, Clint, Wain and Ace. Hoot is survived by his wife, Marjorie, sons Clint (Julie), Wain (Kim) and Ace (Renee); 6 grandchildren, Duke Fairchild (Angie), Jason Fairchild (Jackie), Lisa Fairchild Short (James), Travis Fairchild (Melissa), Randy Eardley (Emily) and Ryan Eardley (Stephanie); and 9 great grandchildren; as well as a large extended family of nieces and nephews. Hoot was predeceased by his parents; brothers Sam Scrap Fairchild, Monroe Stump Fairchild, L. M. “Mac” Fairchild and James M. “Jimmy” Fairchild; and grandson Marshall Allen Fairchild.
Hoot began his working career as a roughneck in the oil fields around Luling before devoting all his time to farming and ranching. Hoot was the consummate “Cowboy”! He grew up riding horseback, had great roping and tracking skills and understood cattle and knew how to handle them. For a time, Hoot worked as a “cowboy” for some of the ranches in the area. He and his brothers, Mac and Jimmy, raised cattle and were blessed to develop a fine family ranching operation. Hoot knew his cows up until very near the end and enjoyed nothing more than visiting the pastures and keeping an eye on his cattle. Even in the years when he was unable to work his cattle, he continued to tell the “Boys” how to take care of things on the ranch. In 2011 Hoot was awarded Outstanding Conservation Rancher of the year by the Gonzales Soil and Water Conservation District.
For many years Hoot farmed watermelons and had the Grand Champion Melon several times at the Luling Watermelon Thump. He was well known among the watermelon farmers in the area and over the years shipped many trailer-truck loads of melons out to other parts of the country.
As long as his health allowed, Hoot was an active member of Harwood Baptist Church.
Pallbearers: J. M. Fairchild, III, Duke Fairchild, Jason Fairchild, Travis Fairchild, Randy Eardley and Ryan Eardley. Honorary Pallbearers: Alex Fairchild, James Short, Bobby Oliver, Ross Hendershot, Steve Hendershot, Ross Cheatham, James Westbrook, Dean Seitz, Mitch Fairchild, Leonard Martin, Rusty Martin, Randy Martin, Scotty Martin, Bubba Damon, Beverly Johnson, Johnny Johnson, Butch Gilkey, Ronnie Gilkey, Gary and Robin Hendershot, Jessie Lee and Dwayne Zumwalt, Johnny Halliburton, Barney and Edward Perry, Keith, Glenn, Ryan, and Lane Zumwalt, Wayne Holstein, Bubba Baker, Dougie Fullilove and the many “Boys” that worked harvesting watermelons for Hoot.
Visitation will be Friday, May19th from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Seydler-Hill Funeral Home Gonzales. Services will be Saturday, May 20th,10:00 a.m. at Harwood Baptist Church with Rev. Todd Craven officiating. Internment Harwood Cemetery.
Donations in Hoot’s memory can be made to Harwood Community Center, P. O. Box 80, Harwood Cemetery Association, P. O. Box 70, Harwood Baptist Church, P. O. Box 93, Harwood 78632. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home in Gonzales.
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