Funeral services for Ornie Perdue Jr. of Malakoff are scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Sunday, December 1, 2019 at the First Baptist Church of Malakoff, 220 W Mitcham St., Malakoff, TX 75148, with Bro. Jody Jones and Bro. Casey Perry officiating. Interment will be at 2:00 p.m. Monday, December 2, 2019 at Camp Ruby Cemetery, 124 Camp Ruby Rd, Livingston, TX 77351.
O. R. Perdue Jr., age 90, of Star Harbor, TX and formerly of Nederland, TX, passed away on November 27, 2019. He came into this world on October 1, 1929 in Beaumont, TX, as a pilgrim passing through a foreign land on his way to crossing the Jordan River to his Heavenly Home. His parents were Ornie Ransom Perdue Sr. and Grace Ann Moore Perdue of Nederland, TX.
O.R. and Viola were married in 1952 and have lived in Star Harbor for 27 years.
O. R. graduated from Nederland High School in 1947 and went on to Lamar University in Beaumont, TX, and graduated in 1949 with an Associate of Arts Degree.
He was a Charter Member of Central Gardens Baptist Church in Nederland, TX, where he was ordained as a deacon. He served as Sunday School Superintendent, Training Union Director and Treasures and Scout Master of Troop 54. O. R. and Viola were married in this church August 1, 1952 by Brother Horace H. Spell. In August 1992, O. R. and Viola joined the First Baptist Church of Malakoff, TX.
In January 1949, while attending Lamar University, he joined the Texas Army National Guard in Beaumont, TX, as a private. Upon completing twenty years of service, he retired as a Captain and was Battalion's Intelligence Officer. He joined the U.S. Army Retired Reserves and served until 1989 when he was notified by the U. S. Army that upon obtaining the age of 60, he was automatically retired from the Army with 40 years, 8 months and 25 days of service.
While in the Guard he received the Texas Faithful Service Medal and two Meritorious Service Medals. He was a Life Member of the National Guard Association of Texas and Charter Life Member of the Military Officers Association of America. He was also qualified for promotion to Major.
He went to work for the Pure Oil Company in 1949. In 1968, the Union Oil Company of California bought out Pure Oil, so he ended up retiring from Union Oil on July, 1, 1986, with 33 years of service. He spent his last 8 years as General Maintenance Foreman over the Routine and Turnaround Maintenance Planning and Scheduling Department.
In politics, he served on the Nederland ISD School Board and gave his daughters, Cindy and Brenda, their High School Diploma. Upon moving to Star Harbor in 1992, he was elected to the Malakoff ISD School Board and gave two of his grandchildren, Jason and Lindsey, their High School Diplomas, which is very unusual.
He served on the Board of Directors of Jefferson County Water Control and Improvement District #10 for 27 years, 19 years as president of the Board. During this stint he and Viola received a personal invite from former Governor Allan Shivers to attend the Inaugural of Governor Dolph Briscoe and LT Governor William P. Hobby in Austin, TX, on January 16, 1973. He was a Charter Member of the Jefferson County W.C.I.D. #10 Volunteer Fire Department and served as President of the Department for 10 years before moving to Star Harbor. He also served on the City Council of Star Harbor, TX, for 15 years.
He worked on his Genealogy and was able to trace his ancestry and published a book containing their genealogy.
On September 28, 2019, O. R. celebrated his 90th birthday with over 120 friends and family in attendance. O.R. had told guests that attended his 80th birthday party that they were invited to his 90th but told his guests at his 90th party that he wasn't going to invite them to his 100th though.
He is very much loved by his family and friends and will greatly be missed. He was a man of faith and conviction. He did whatever it took to make his community better.
O.R. was preceded in death by his parents Ornie and Gracie Perdue.
He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Viola Francis Slaughter Perdue and a great family consisting of daughters, Cynthia Lou Perdue of Pineville, Louisiana, Brenda Perdue Stukey Morse and husband, Walter, of Eustace, TX; and son, "Buddy" O. R. Perdue III and wife, Linda of Wylie, TX; grandchildren, Christopher Lee Perdue and wife, Julie, Zachary Ryan Perdue, US Air Force, Jason Wayne Stukey and wife, Lori, of Canton, TX and Lindsey Kay Stukey Colwill and husband, Lance, of Forney, TX; great-grandchildren, Jaxon Wayne and Jake Henry Stukey, and Lydia Marie and Lincoln Ransom Colwill; sister, Nelda Marie Brown and husband, Dr. James N. Brown, of Crystal Beach, TX; and sister-in-law, Gladys Mae Slaughter Weaver and husband, Bert; and many cousins, nephews and nieces.
Serving as pallbearers will be Christopher Perdue, Jason Stukey, Mike Brown, Zachary Perdue, Gary Stukey and Lance Colwill.
Visitation will be held Saturday, November 30, 2019 at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home from 5-7:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Faith in Action, C/O First Baptist Church Malakoff, P.O. Box 408, Malakoff, TX 75148
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home family.
You may light a candle or write condolences to the family at www.hannigansmith.com