Roll Call Tribute

Published in Waco Tribune-Herald on June 26, 2010 Edward Rafferty Jr. Edward Thomas Rafferty Jr. died June 24, 2010, in Amarillo, Texas.Services will be 11 a.m. Monday, June 28, at the United Methodist Church in Gruver. An additional memorial service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 29, in Amarillo at The Continental, 1300 S. Jackson. Burial will be in Gruver Cemetery by Boxwell Bros. Funeral Home of Spearman. Visitation with the family will be 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 27, at the funeral home. Ed was born July 8, 1923, to Agatha and Edward Rafferty in Liberal, Kan.Ed attended the Pleasant Hill School located on the family homestead and he later graduated from Gruver High School.He graduated from Texas A&M in 1943, and was commissioned into the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant.He served in Patton's Third Army in World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star.He married Margery Brewer, in 1945, in Bryan.They returned to Gruver, where he farmed and ranched until the end of his life.He established Palo Duro Feeders, one of the first commercial feedyards in the area.Ed was proud of his Irish heritage, of being a Texas Aggie, but he was most proud of his country. Being a combat veteran, he understood the price of freedom. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Colleen; and his daughter, Sandy. He is survived by his sisters, Johna Bonnot of Edna, Texas, and Pat Rafferty of Tulsa, Okla.; his daughter, Molly Rafferty of Amarillo; and his son, Barney Rafferty and wife, Vickie, of Waco; and his former wife and friend, Margery Rafferty.He is also survived by six grandchildren, Trevor Cone, Sean Cone, Erin Hemelstrand, Stacey Smith, Jennifer McCormick, and Tommy Rafferty; four great-grandsons, Dillon Cone, Carter Cone, Kaiden Cone, and Duncan Hemelstrand. The family wishes to express their gratitude and appreciation to Accolade Home Health and particularly, Eric Rodgers, Marilyn Kiser, and Denia James for their loving care of Ed during his last months. The family suggests memorials to Gruver United Methodist Church, Box 977, Gruver, Texas, 79040, or a favorite charity. Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home, 806-659-3802 July 8, 1923 - June 24, 2010 Sign the Guest Book at www.wacotrib.com

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