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Sunset Memorial Park- Email Details
- 5127 North St Nacogdoches, Texas 75965
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IN LOVING MEMORY OF Joseph Traynham Fuller
Joseph Traynham
Fuller
May 23, 1931 – June 2, 2018
Joseph Traynham Fuller's Obituary
Joseph ("Joe") Traynham Fuller passed away peacefully in Nacogdoches, Texas on June 2, 2018. Joe was born on May 23, 1931 in Galveston, Texas, and was raised on the island, graduating from Ball High School in 1950, where he also received his military training certificate from the Reserve Training Corps.
Joe enjoyed growing up in Galveston and the island culture. He spent summers in Pittsburg, Texas, with his grandmother Cora "Biggy" Traynham and grandfather Reuben Charles "Daddy Doc" Traynham, the town dentist, whom he was named after. He learned to fence and was an avid horseman at an early age, teaching himself to ride bareback. He also worked as an "animal boy" for the University of Texas Medical Branch, and liked telling stories about rounding up poisonous snakes for research purposes as a teenager.
Joe served in the Army during the Korean War in the early 50s and was based in El Paso. After his military service, Joe attended the University of Houston where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1961. During his time in college, Joe lived in Mexico City where he enrolled in the University of Mexico and also participated in an archeological dig, a life experience that remained a highlight of his youth.
Joe moved to Nacogdoches in the mid-60s, where he would spend most of his adult life. He loved the Piney Woods and the people in this community, with numerous friends around every corner of town. For many years, Joe owned a Texaco truck stop on Hwy 59, providing part-time employment for SFA students, several of whom remained close to him throughout his life. After retiring from Western Oil Company, Joe spent hours volunteering with Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful, the Master Gardeners, and Lamp Lite Theatre. He loved listening to National Public Radio and reading the local and national newspapers, clipping numerous articles of interest for his daughters and quizzing them to make sure no juicy political news was missed.
Joe loved animals and nature and tending to his farm off of Appleby Sand road, where he enjoyed the sprawling old oak trees, the ancient hardwoods, and the ponds scattered across the property. He kept a menagerie of farm animals over the years and was never without some "critter" close at hand. He loved dogs and always had horses, sharing his love of them with his daughters. Many of his horses were rescues, and he once traded gasoline from his Texaco station for an old horse from a customer who could not afford to pay. His idea of fun was to help round up loose livestock from neighboring farms. He was an excellent gardener and shared his knowledge of gardening and his crops of tomatoes and other produce with friends and family.
Joe was predeceased by his mother, Alice Blair Traynham Fuller, and father, Charles Merchant Fuller. He is survived by his beloved partner of 20 years, Sarah McMullan, his four daughters, Patricia Fuller McCandless and husband Bruce McCandless III, Caroline Kate Droit and husband Rick Droit, Alice Fuller and partner Matt Neiman, Frances Fuller Margraf and husband Jason Margraf, his grandchildren, Emma McCandless, Carson McCandless, Daniel Traynham Droit, and Raleigh Margraf, his sister Patsy Bryant, his nephew Dee Bryant and nieces Deenise Bryant and Janet Bryant, and step grandchildren Gregory Margraf, Jesse Droit, and Austin Droit.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Hospice of East Texas, the staff of Senior Care of Stallings Court, Dr.Vijaya Pokala, Dr. Donald Cagle, and Dr. Carey Lindemann for their care and compassion during the last few months of his life.
Family and friends are welcome for a graveside service scheduled for 2 pm on June 16 at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery followed by a 3 pm reception at Lamp Lite Theatre to celebrate Joe's life. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Red River Radio or Lamp Lite Theatre.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joseph Traynham Fuller, please visit our flower store.
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