Gary Harton
Gary Wayne Harton, 60, of El Campo passed away June 29, 2017 surrounded by his family at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. He was born Oct. 28, 1956 in El Campo, to Kermit and Esther Staff Harton. Even though Gary didn’t play football at the junior high level, he started as a sophomore at defensive tackle with the fighting Ricebirds’ Class of 1975, being selected as All District three times. Following a standout career at El Campo High School, the mailbox would often be filled with offers from colleges from all over the United States to play ball. He chose to play as a WCJC Pioneer and then transferred to Middle Tennessee State University as a Blue Raider where he earned All Conference honors. One of his fondest memories was sacking Morehead State quarterback and future New York Giants Hall of Famer Phil Simms. He was even invited to the Cleveland Browns’ rookie camp but his love of agriculture convinced him to use his degree in Agriculture Business to pursue his true passion. He grew up bailing hay and ranching cattle with the family until they began farming corn, cotton, and milo. He started selling farm equipment with Schult Implement, then Alloway, and eventually opened his own Case IH dealership in Edna- Jackson County Equipment Company. He also prided himself in being a respected farm equipment appraiser. He loved the land. His best man at his wedding, Stan Rod, introduced him to the love of his life at the Wharton County Fair. He married Sharon Ottis on Jan. 16, 1988. They raised three children whom he coached in softball, baseball, football, and scouts. He coached third base for the select baseball team The El Campo Dragons. He was actively involved with the Troop 226 Boy Scouts and got to see his son become an Eagle Scout. Preceding him in death were his infant son Christopher Matthias, infant sister Sharon Marie, grandparents Bill and Esther Harton, and Emil and Frances Staff, and parents-in-law Matt and Clarice Ottis. Survivors include his wife of 29 years, children Erica, Ashley, and Jacob, parents, brothers Kermit (Theresa) Harton and Glenn (Cheri) Harton, sisters Pam (Jim) Fleming and Sherry (David) Long, sisters and brothers-in-law, Yvonne (Sam) Evans, Mary Ottis, and Melinda (Thad) Bujnoch, his faithful companion Addisen, many nieces and nephews as well as countless friends. His favorite pastimes included mowing, riding the four-wheeler, teaching his kids to swim, gardening, picking dewberries, and watching the deer, birds, and the squirrels on his 12 acres. He loved fishing, cooking breakfast on weekends especially his famous one-eyed eggs, and family get-togethers. He enjoyed following the Blue Raiders athletics, Houston Astros and Texans, and of course his El Campo Ricebirds. Even in his later years he confessed to having the urge to be out playing with the Ricebirds. His family was his world. Nothing pleased him more than attending his children’s college graduations. Being a devoted father, he could be seen supporting his kids at basketball, volleyball, football, power lifting and band events. He loved watching his son play on the reinstated Southwestern Pirates football team. He was a member of St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in El Campo and served as a member of the Parish Council. The family will receive friends and relatives on Saturday, July 1 at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church from 9 a.m. until the rosary at 10:30 a.m. Funeral Mass will follow at 11 a.m. with Father Michael Rother officiating. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Memorial Park Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Trey and Kyle Harton, Bryan Powell, Pete Chavez, Daniel Pacer, and Brad Schilhab. Honorary pallbearers will be Mark Porter, Rusty Cook, Chad Stevens, Rick Hubenak, Stan Rod, John Caveness, Lloyd Cerny, Donald Mach, Bob Peter, Boy Scout Troop 226, and members of the El Campo Dragons Baseball team. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Gary Harton Athletic Scholarship Fund at Prosperity Bank in El Campo. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.triskafuneralhome.com.