Palestine High School Alumni Association

A Memorial Service for Elton Philip Myers, who passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Athens at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, October 5, 2011, with the Rev. Dr. Joe Warren and the Rev. Lynn Parker officiating. A private family burial at Oaklawn Memorial Park will precede this service.He was born August 4, 1916 to the late Harry I. Myers and Estelle Dreyfuss Myers in Palestine, Texas, where he graduated from high school. He continued his education at Texas A&M University where he was a member of the Ross Volunteers, and he received his B.S. Degree in Civil Engineering there in 1938.

On July 28, 1949, he and Margaret Thurman married in Palestine. They have two daughters and have had 62 wonderful years together.

Elton was a veteran of World War II. He served from September 1941 to April 1946 and was a Captain in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 154th Combat Engineer Battalion. Much of his time in the service was spent in the South Pacific.

His professional career was with the Texas Highway Department from 1938 to September 1979 except for the years he was in the service. His work meant a move from Palestine to Athens in 1961, and he was Supervising Resident Engineer for Henderson County from 1961 to 1974 and for both Henderson and Anderson Counties from 1974 to 1979. Upon retiring in 1979, there was an Athens city-wide luncheon in his honor given by the Athens Chamber of Commerce. After retiring, he did part-time work for Velvin & Weeks Consulting Engineers. He was a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers and the Texas Society of Professional Engineers.

Elton was a member of the First United Methodist Church for 50 years. He served on the Board of Trustees, the Administrative Board, the Building & Grounds Committee, and the Council of Ministries. He also served as president of their beloved Builders Sunday School class.

He also served as president of the Athens Rotary Club and was made an Honorary Lifetime Member after his health declined and he could no longer attend meetings.

Additionally, he was a life member of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of its Transportation Committee. He served on the City of Athens Charter Review Committee, the City’s Architectural Committee, and the Athens Loop Committee. He was honored at the opening of the final stage of the Loop. He was also the chairman of the first Henderson County Appraisal Board, and he served on the board of the Athens Country Club where one of his favorite past-times was to play golf.

After retirement, he continued to be active in helping the advancement of Athens. Among his initiatives was the successful effort to widen what is now the south portion of S. Palestine St. so it could better serve East Texas Medical Center and beyond.

Next to his family, his heart was with the Men’s Golf Association at Athens Country Club and Keep Athens Beautiful.

He was preceded in death by a brother Harry I. Myers, Jr., who was killed in action in World War II, and a sister, Lucille Myers.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret Myers, Athens; daughters Sharon Myers Davis of Palestine, Michele Myers Martin and husband Roy Martin of Athens; brother Clarence L. Myers of Big Spring; grandchildren Dana Davis McCormick and husband Jon of Grapevine, Darby Davis of Hong Kong, China, James L. Hull and wife Tara of Sugar Land, Jay Philip Martin and wife Tanie of Austin, and Katie Martin of Portland; two great-grandsons, Travis McCormick and Philip Martin; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Honorary pallbearers are Dick Dwelle, Tom Byrne, Hugh Armstrong, Larry Beeman, Harry Brown, Mike Garner, Neil Velvin, Bob Gould, Peter Gould, Damon Douglas, Steve Grant, Pat Wallace, Jack Ward, Dr. Joe Ed Smith, Dr. Ken Lemmon, and all members of the Builders Sunday School class.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorials being sent to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 911, Athens, TX 75751, or to Keep Athens Beautiful, 203 N. Prairieville, Athens, TX 75751.