Jeffrey Gideon

Funeral services for Jeffrey Wayne Gideon, 53, of Sulphur Springs will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Friday, March 17, 2017 at First Baptist Church, Sulphur Springs with John Ginn officiating and Rev. Fred Lewis assisting. Interment will follow at Restlawn Memorial Park with Reggie McMullin, Keith Brice, Jay Young, Greg Martin, Stephen Stone, Sam Johnson, Mike Petty, Jeff Orwosky, Javier Nieves-Arce and Bubba Jay Edwards serving as pallbearers and friends from the Class of 1981, Sulphur Springs High School serving as Honorary pallbearers. Visitation will be held from 6-8 P.M., Thursday, March 16, 2017 at Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home.

Following an extended illness, Jeff passed away peacefully from the earth to be with his Heavenly Father on Sunday morning, March 12, 2017 at Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas Texas. Jeff was born in Tyler, Texas on July 29, 1963, the son of Hoyt Wayne and Betty (Kistenmacher) Gideon.

Jeff was a graduate of Sulphur Springs High School Class of 1981, where he served as the senior class president. He then graduated in 1985 from Texas A & M University in College Station where he received two degrees, a BBA in Finance and BBA in Business Management. He was proud of the fact that he graduated exactly 100 years from the same alma mater as his great grandfather, Judge T.D. Rowell of Jefferson, Texas. Jeff began his career in the corporate relocation business and then moved into Default Servicing/REO, where he was an executive for multiple companies through the course of his career handling residential real estate, real estate owned, as well as, traditional buyers and sellers. He was experienced in all phases of the REO industry. At the time of his death, Jeff was a realtor with “It’s Closing Time Realty” in Fort Worth, TX.

Jeff was an Eagle Scout and attended Philmont Scout Camp in New Mexico on two different occasions. While there he earned the nickname of “Ted Bear” and many of his friends refer to him as “Ted”. He was extremely proud to be an “Aggie” and attended as many football games as he could, he was also an avid Cowboys, Rangers, Stars and Mavericks fan and an all-around sports enthusiast. Over the years, Jeff had many pets because of his love for animals, especially his cat “Burgess”. In his spare time, Jeff loved to read books and on special occasions he wrote poetry, even having a couple of poems published in the Ft. Worth Star Telegram. While growing up in Sulphur Springs, Jeff became a member of First Baptist Church and then joined Glenview Baptist Church in Fort Worth. Jeff was a devout Christian, attending many bible studies throughout his life. Jeff will always be remembered for his dry wit, his ability to make friends and love of laughter.

Jeffrey is survived by his family, Damaris Gideon; daughter, Stephanie Arce; son, Javier Nieves-Arce and wife Brittany and new granddaughter, Mackenzie Nicole, all of Ft. Worth, TX; mother, Betty Gideon of Sulphur Springs; sisters and brother-in-laws, Jane and Paul Lawrence of West Chester, PA and Gail and Charles Westbrook of Sulphur Springs; nieces and nephew, Ashly Westbrook of Dallas, TX, Chasen and Elizabeth Westbrook and daughters Harper, Aubrey and Maven of Prospect, KY, Alyssa Lawrence of Dallas, TX and Andi Lawrence of Charlottesville, VA. He leaves behind not only his family but many wonderful friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Hoyt Wayne Gideon; grandparents Eddie and Grace Kistenmacher and Hoyt and Essie Gideon.

Memorials can be made to Hanna4hope.com, 610 Price Drive, Rockwall, TX 75807; First Baptist Church Building Fund, 116 Oak Avenue. Sulphur Springs, TX 75482 or a memorial of your choice.