Thomas Marshall Rawle

Funeral is 3 p.m. Sunday at Cornerstone Baptist Church with Dr. Larry Cornell and Rev. Ray Cobb officiating. Interment: Preskitt Cemetery. Family will receive friends 5-7 p.m. Saturday at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home.

Pallbearers include Mark McClanahan, Christopher Moore, Aaron Stewart, Trey Little, D. J. Lusty, Dr. Tom Rawle, and Justin Romine.

Thomas was born June 30, 1920 in Wise County, Texas to John Thomas and Clyde (Wallace) Rawle. He married Neoma Marie Little on November 15, 1939 in Brideport, Texas. He was a member of Cornerstone Baptist Church.

Left behind to cherish his memory are his wife, Marie Rawle of Chico; his son, Nolan Rawle of Chico; his daughter, Kay Milligan and husband Leslie of Azle; his three granddaughters, Suzanne Stewart and husband Woody of Azle, Sonya McClanahan and husband Mark of Haslet, Lisa Little of Chico; his brother, his great grandchildren, Aaron Stewart, Chris Moore, Breanna and Hunter McClanahan, and Ashley and Trey Little; other relatives and a host of friends.

Thomas is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Hazel Cobb; and brother, W.D. Rawle.

Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home 940/627-5959

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My sincere condolences to Marie Rawle and the entire family. I have had the great privilege to have known Mr. Marshall Rawle for just over 4 years. Although he is my fiance's Grandfather (PawPaw) I still referred him to as my own Grandfather. Some of my visit's occurred during the holidays and some birthdays however the most memorable visits occurred when nothing in particular was happening. The day I was placed into the pen with about 50 or so cattle Mr. Marshall was right there watching. Of course he was on the other side of the pen although I would later find out he so wanted to be in there with his beloved son Nolan and I. Being from the city this is something I was not yet used to but was willing to give it a try. We were just separating the cows to be taken to auction for sale. I wore some clothes that I didn't care if they had gotten dirty or not. Lisa, my beautiful fiance', didn't tell me to wear loose pants just in case I had to jump over the metal bar. I'm not saying I tore my "britches", but I did hit the fence a couple of times when I thought I needed to and it would have been easier had my pants not have been so tight. Anyway Nolan gave me a stick I guess to defend myself with but I thought it was so small we were going to use it to roast marshmallows! I'm pretty sure the stick Nolan used was probably a branch from a sequoia judging from the size of it. It wasn't easy keeping an eye on the cows and trying not to get hit by the metal maze of gates that seemed to remain connected to each other by the aged steel. Mr. Marshall Rawle sat in his motorized chair as close as he could to the metal fence. I believe just so he could feel the vibrations from the nervous cows striking the metal poles as they sometimes refused to go where we wanted them to. Ok, the cows weren't nervous, but I was. I actually managed never to have actually stepped into any cow patties! Mr. Marshall Rawle sat in his chair looking at us and pointing every so often. Ok, he was eye-balling me making sure I stayed alert and paid attention. He wanted to be in there so bad! I sort of felt I was being tested as to how I was doing. I felt like Billy Crystal did when Jack Palance would give him that steely eyed look. It was fun. That day Mr. Marshall Rawle wasn't just sitting in his motorized chair watching Nolan and I. He was right there with us sitting high in the saddle providing encouragement to me by just being there. Besides I couldn't screw up because I didn't want to hear Nolan calling me a "City Slicker." Today Mr. Marshall Rawle sits in his saddle looking upon us and will continue providing knowledge, courage, heartfelt strength and a vibrant demeanor to be enjoyed by everyone. I am so honored to have known you Sir having lost my Grandfather when I was 13. It meant a lot to me to have found "a" Grandfather again. May you rest in peace and know that we love and miss you.

Detective D. J. Lusty #2043
East Division Criminal Investigations
5650 E. Lancaster Avenue
(817) 392-4824

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