Funeral Services for Monroe Gumm, age 85, of Brownwood, will be held at 10:00 am Thursday June 23, 2011 at the Coggin Avenue Baptist Church with Tim Skaggs, Bill Allen, and Mike Habermehl officiating. Services are under the direction of Davis-Morris Funeral Home. Burial will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday June 24, 2011 at the Earthman Memory Gardens in Baytown, Tx. Visitation will be held from 6-8 pm Wednesday evening at the Davis-Morris Funeral Home. Mr. Gumm passed away at his home on Monday, June 20, 2011 in Brownwood.
Monroe was born September 23, 1925 in Chilton, Texas to Guy Gumm and Allie (Chandler) Gumm. He graduated from Lott High School in 1943. He attended Lee College of Baytown and the University of Houston. He served in the Air Force Reserves from which he was honorably discharged.
He married Betty June Christian of Highlands, Texas on March 26, 1950.
He began employment with Humble Oil & Refining Company (later merged with Exxon) in Baytown, Texas in 1944, starting in the Instrument Department. In May, 1963, during his employment with Exxon, he was transferred to the Svenska Esso Chemicals Plant in Stenungsund, Sweden, as part of a group of trained managers to assist in the construction of the plant and training of its operating force. He retired in 1984 after 40 years, as a Zone Supervisor of the Mechanical Division/Maintenance of Exxon Chemicals.
For many years, Monroe and his daughter Elisa spent countless hours training and showing horses in and around the Houston area, an activity that both of them greatly enjoyed. He was also an avid tennis player and hunter.
In 1992, Monroe and Betty moved from Baytown to Brownwood, Texas, to be closer to their only child, Elisa and her husband, Charles. They became members of Coggin Ave Baptist Church, where Monroe served as an Outreach Chairman of the Deacon body and Sunday school director-adult department. In retirement, they enjoyed traveling in their RV and he always had numerous ongoing improvement projects at their home.
He was a lifetime member of Sampson Masonic Lodge of Highlands, Texas.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Betty Gumm of Brownwood; a daughter, Elisa Porter and husband Charles of Brownwood; a brother, Mack Gumm and wife Betty of Kerrville; and a sister-in-law, Johnelle Eilers and husband Vernon of Crosby,Tx, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Julie Gumm; sister and brother-in-law, Maymie Sue Hadley and husband H. L. Hadley; and a brother and sister-in-law, Milton Gumm and his wife Nancy Gumm.
The family wishes to convey a very special thank you to Monica McCorkle, Randy Calhoon, Marissa Gober and Linda Laing for the loving care with which they attended our husband and father. Also, a special thank you to the Lighthouse Hospice for their help during Monroe’s final days.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.