Sid Rogers Finklea

Sid Rogers Finklea, 76, of Tyler Texas passed away October 1, 2013 at Hospice of East Texas Home Place. Services will be held at Stewart Family Funeral Home on Friday October 4, 2013 at 10:30 AM with Dr. Paul Powell and Rev. Derwood Galloway officiating. The family will receive friends 30 minutes prior to the service. Burial will follow at Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery, under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Sid was the son of Tera E. Finklea Hayes and Sid Finklea. He was born December 3, 1936 in Marshall. He was a 1955 graduate of Chapel Hill High School and was a life member of the Chapel Hill Alumni Organization. Sid attended Tyler Junior College and it was there he developed his interest of chemistry. Sid began his career in the oil and gas industry with The Tretolite Company in Lafayette, Louisiana. He later joined Champion Chemical Company and moved his family to New Orleans, Louisiana prior to becoming self-employed as an independent oil and gas producer in East Texas. He was an active member of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers. Sid was a member of Green Acres Baptist Church and enjoyed his special friends of the Sammy Rhodes Sunday Morning Bible Study class. He was an avid supporter of Mission Dignity, a foundation that assists retired ministers and their spouses. Before moving back to Tyler he was a member of the St. Lukes United Methodist Church in Kilgore where he served on several committees. He was a former Rotarian in the Henderson Rotary Club and President of the Kilgore Booster Club. His outlook on life was always filled with love and laughter. You always knew he would greet you with a smile and when you asked how he was doing he always answered “If I was any better I couldn’t stand it”. He shared his life with so many through his generosity and kind spirit. He was always looking for a good laugh to enjoy and you could count on him having a funny story to share. His love of life and his kind giving spirit will be missed by all who have known and loved him. He is survived by his loving family including his wife of 56 years, Virginia Caperton Finklea; daughters, Jeana Finklea Lefler of Dallas and Kristy Kaye Finklea Smith and son-in-law Cliff Smith of Abilene; a devoted grandfather of two grandsons who were his pride and joy, Jonathan Collin Robertson of Longview, and Trenton Laird Lefler of Dallas; a very special first cousin whom he loved and called his big sister, Vondal Wray of Lindale; sister-in-laws, Peggy Black, Mary Morrison and Lora Caperton; brother-in-law, James Black of Tyler; and many cherished cousins, nieces and special nephews. Honorary Pallbearers are the members of the Sammy Rhodes Sunday Morning Bible Study. Memorials can be made to Hospice of East Texas Foundation, 411 University Blvd., Tyler, 75701 or Mission Dignity, P.O. Box 2190, Dallas, 75221-9954 in memory of Sid R. Finklea.

Sid Rogers Finklea

December 3, 1936 - October 1, 2013