Edwin Pharis

Elzy Edwin Pharis was born October 26, 1933, and passed away in New Braunfels, TX March 27, 2025, just 17 days after the death of his wife of 72 years. He is survived by his children, Beth Pharis Brimer and Edwin Todd Pharis and 4 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Elzy Lee Pharis and Vera Emmet Pharis, his brother Emmet Dale Pharis, his sister Shirley Jean Pharis Rogers, his son Tracey Lee Pharis and wife Sherilyn, and his son-in-law James D. Brimer.

Edwin was born in Big Sandy, Texas, on a farm where his father was a sharecropper during the great depression. The family moved to West Texas at age 2, where his father found employment in the oil business. The family moved many times following a drilling rig to such places as Goldsmith, Odessa, Denver City, Alice, Freer, Falfurrias and finally to Corpus Christi. Edwin was amazed at all the green grass and salt water there and fell in love with the coast. He fished the Laguna Madre at every opportunity.

Edwin graduated from Flour Bluff High School in 1950 at the age of 16. He went to work on drilling rigs and was then hired by Humble Oil Company as a roustabout. Early in his career, he held 2 jobs and attended college at night to further his education. He worked as a design draftsman in the Corpus Christi office and was promoted to Gas Technician and then Field Superintendent in the Flour Bluff district. He retired from Exxon after 26 years, accepting a position as Production Manager for an independent oil & gas company in Houston, drilling, completing and producing wells in ten states. Nine years later, he started his own consulting business, which he enjoyed for 20 years. He has a gas field in Texas named after him. He retired after 54 years in the oil & gas business. Edwin enjoyed hunting and fishing for a lifetime. He was a motorcycle touring enthusiast, traveling in 48 states and 3 countries with Ruth. They also enjoyed many cruises and toured Europe twice.

Edwin's greatest joy was his wife and children. He spent countless hours with them hunting, fishing, boating, water skiing and camping. He served as Cub leader at Woodlawn Elementary and Boy Scout Master for troop 238 at Trinity Baptist Church in Corpus Christi. He was a volunteer in community activities serving on the building committee at Oakwood Baptist, being a Deacon at First Baptist Church, and was an active member of the Senior Adult Ministry at First Baptist and the Puppet Ministry. He and Ruth were especially supportive of the Comal County Republican party and the Hill Country Tea Party. He was a life member of the National Rifle Association and annual member of the Coastal Conservation Association.

A visitation for Edwin will be held Monday, March 31, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Zoeller Funeral Home, 615 Landa St, New Braunfels, Texas 78130. A graveside service will occur Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at 10:00 AM at Guadalupe Valley Memorial Park, 2951 TX Hwy 46, New Braunfels, Texas 78130.