M. Neil Pugsley

Funeral: 11 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church in Bridgeport. Burial: Sunset Cemetery. Family will receive friends 6-8 PM Friday at the funeral home.

Rev. Lucia McKee Kremzar will offficiate. Honor Guard: Mike Coyne, Kenneth Morris, Ray Baker, Rusty Washam, George Ott, and Scott Strange.

Neil was born on September 28, 1934, the son of Harry T. and Mildred (Vowell) Pugsley, in Fort Worth. Neil was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, and friend. Most recently, he was elected DCAPT-W of the Eighth Coastal Region, US Coast Guard Auxiliary.

A graduate of Carter Riverside in Fort Worth, he married Kay Clendening on December 17, 1954 and from that most happy union, three children were welcomed into the world. Now there are also 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Neil was an Eagle Scout, Vigil Order of the Arrow, Certified Christian Educator for the Presbyterian Church, US. He graduated from Presbyterian School of Christian Education in 1960 and served 17 years in various areas of Christian Education in Waco, Miami, and Atlanta and Camp Calvin before returning to Texas. He was a long time leader in church recreation, serving as many years at the Annual Recreation Workshop as leader and director at Montreat, NC and Camp NaCoMe, TN as well as many local churches.

After returning to Texas in 1971 he worked in a local business and retired to continue a small ranching operation in Wise County.

Through the years, volunteering his expertise and service has always been an important part of his life. He was a former reserve Police Officer for Fort Worth through the REACT program for several years in the late 1970's and early 1980's. He graduated from TCU's Ranch Management Program, attending the evening division classes for 3 years, and was active in the Texas Agricultural Extensive Program in Decatur. He started his collecge education at Texas A & M and in 1995 returned there earning his Master's Degree in Agricultural Education in 1996.

A life long Presbyterian, he and Kay are members of First Presbyterian Church in Bridgeport.

Left behind to cherish his memory is: wife of 54 years, Kay Pugsley of Decatur; son, Kens Pugsley and wife Reneau of North Richland Hills; daughters, Marsha Owen of Port Aransas and Nancy Pugsley of Bridgeport; 8 grandchildren: Brent and wife Lindsay, Lia, Alyssa, Christa, Ryan, Bethany, Matthew, and Jonathan; 2 great grandchildren: Jackson and Drew; sister, Gay Durden and husband Mike of Lewisville; special cousins and other extended family members.

Donations in his name may be made to First Presbyterian Church in Bridgeport, Annual Recreation Workshop, or the USCG Auxiliary Life Ring.

Hawkins Funeral Home Bridgeport, 940-683-2211

Kay

This is Susan Presseau, Jack's oldest. Just wanted to let you know how sorry I was to hear about Neil, and that I was remembering our summers together. Our time at Camp Calvin was one of the highlights of my childhood, and he was such an important part of that!

I can just see him leading "My aunt came back" in front of the dining hall after lunch.... One of my favorite childhood memories is seeing that little snake crawling in the grass when you and I were sitting outside at your house, and picking it up to show you. You of course were NOT expecting that and jumped a mile...you always put up with our shenanigans so gracefully. I think the 3 months of the year at Camp Calvin made more of an impression than the other 9 months in Clinton, hands down!

So many good memories...singing and playing guitar, hiking out to find quartz crystals, the thunderstorms and the lightning hitting the lake, Annie Maude making us clean fish, catching snapping turtles, finding passion flower vines, eating wild plums and blackberries (and picking off the ticks), playing tag with your boxer (Dee?), watching the moon landing, Peter Paul and Mary and Simon and Garfunkel, churning home made ice cream. Catching the butterlies and mounting them in the office. Making lanyards (LOTS of lanyards). Getting stung by the wasps while canoeing in my camp week in 7th grade, and sleeping in the teepees. Walking in the rain, and sliding in the mud.

Please tell Nancy, Marsha and Ken that they're in my thoughts and prayers--I know they miss their dad so much.

With love,

Susan Presseau Dickerson

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