Cleatus Speed

Funeral services for Cleatus Speed, age 86, of Sulphur Springs will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, July 26, 2012, at Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Perry Johnson officiating. A military graveside service, under the direction of the Hopkins County Military Coalition, will follow at Posey Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Gary Speed, Jr., P.F.C. Matthew Pryor, Ronald Denny, Chris Dixon, Jeramy Speed, Randy Speed, David Beadles and Ricky Beadles.. Honorary pallbearers will be Rev. Jim Tomlinson, Mitchell McCarty, Brent Johnson, Bryson Sims and Rodney Beadles. Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home.
Cleatus Speed passed away Monday afternoon, July 23, 2012 at Paris Regional Medical Center. He was born September 10, 1925 in Emblem, the son of T. T. and Elizabeth Speed. He married Joyce Dixon April 3, 1946 in Sulphur Springs. She preceded him in death in 2004. He married Dortheal Willis Denny in March, 2006; she survives.
His trade was barbering; his profession was preaching the gospel. He pastored Baptist Churches in Hopkins, Wood, Upshur, Cass, Rains, Van Zandt and Angelina Counties and conducted revivals in about as many over a period of 50 odd years. He served his country in World War II in the United States Navy in 17 foreign ports from England to Japan. When the war was over he was honorably discharged and was back home in Sulphur Springs before he was 21 years of age. He enjoyed sports, hunting and fishing, etc. He loved playing music and was the M.C. for the Sulphur River Boys and Girls String Band for over 20 years, playing at nursing homes, special events, etc. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Woodmen of the World and associate member of the Sheriffs' Association of Texas.
Survivors include: two sons, Larry Speed and wife, Cathi, of Greenville, Gary Speed and wife, Maggie Sue of Gilmer; daughter, Lisa Ann Pryor and husband, Richard of Kilgore; grandchildren, Jennifer Guerra, Jeramy Speed, Cristy Speed, Misty Winans, Gary Speed, Jr., Breann Dabreu, P.F.C. Matthew Pryor, Kelsey Pryor, Kristi Noddin, Kelly Patterson, Karen Scott, Brent Johnson, Tamara Sims and Lance McCarty and 19 great- grandchildren; stepdaughter, Nancy McCarty and husband, Mitchell; stepson, Ronald Denny and wife, Mary, all of Sulphur Springs and many, many friends. He is also preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, Elmer Speed, Derwood Speed, Sam Speed and William Speed and three sisters, Edith Glossup, Lucy Williams, Evie Robbins and two infant sisters.