Jewel Langford

Services for Retired Air Force Master Sergeant Jewel Pender “Jay” Langford, 83, of Tyler, will be held on Saturday, July 7, 2012 at 9:00 AM at Stewart Family Funeral Home with Rev. Jeff Gage officiating. Burial will follow at Tyler Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Mr.Langford passed away Saturday, June 30, at The Hospice of East Texas, with his loving family by his side. Jay was born February 3, 1929 in Tyler, Texas to Jewel Pender Langford, Sr. and Alma Mae Dudley Langford. Papa Jay’s life and experiences was that of an American dream and hard to sum up in words. He was a mechanic in the U.S. Air Force who traveled the world and fought for his country two years in Vietnam. Of the many stories of war he loved to tell, his favorite was about how he loved giving candy to the Vietnamese children. Family and music were an influential part of Jay’s life and well known throughout the community. He enjoyed gathering with friends and family to play music on the back porch and loved to pick that guitar! Jay also loved nature and loved camping with his family. He lived in a beautiful log cabin in the mountains of Tennessee for many years after retirement and preferred to only drink fresh spring water. One of his final requests was for a bucket of spring water and a ladle. Jay enjoyed being with family and sharing stories of his many experiences, including a story of how neighbors would come and leave mason jars of moonshine in his mailbox from time to time. Jay is survived by his wife of 63 years, Eva Ballard Langford and children, Stephen Michael Langford, Susan Elizabeth Stine, Sheryl Prock Bellar, David Alan Langford and Katherine Langford; Grandchildren, Elizabeth Barker, Jennifer Prock, Stephen Langford, Jr., Michael Prock, Derek Langford, Jason Rachels and Cody Langford; great grandchildren, Alyssa Prock, Margot Langford, Jorden Langford and Alice Langford. Pallbearers will be Greg Stine, Cody Langford, Michael Prock, Jason Rachels, Max Bretherick and Kyle Huse. The family would like to give a special thanks to The Hospice of East Texas for their kindness and care giving, not only to Jay, but to all of our family members. We will all miss you PAPA JAY. Your memories and music will forever be with us until we all meet again. Visitation is scheduled from 6:30 to 7:30 PM on Friday, July 6, at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway, in Tyler.

Jewel Langford

February 3, 1929 - June 30, 2012