Rev. Bonner Magness

Reverend Bonner Clinton Magness, 84, of Lufkin, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, August 14, 2012. He was born on November 30, 1927 to Etta May Dowell Magness and Clinton Roy Magness in North Zulch in Madison County, Texas.

Reverend Magness graduated from Baylor University in Waco, Texas and Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He served as pastor for 63 years with Southern Baptist churches in Freeport, Pasadena, Highlands, San Augustine, Liberty, and McKinney. In "retirement" he continued to serve as interim pastor for 22 more churches, the last being Burke Baptist Church.

During his lifetime, he was always a country boy at heart and enjoyed beekeeping, gardening, deer hunting, and traveling. He collected antique tools and gardening equipment. He was an extremely generous person, and he and his wives endowed scholarships at Baylor University. Reverend Magness never forgot the older people in the congregations where he had served and continued to visit with them even after he had moved on to other churches.

Reverend Magness was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Elizabeth Harris Magness; his daughter, Marilyn Magness Brittain; and his wife of 12 years, Clara Daniel Magness.

He is survived by his wife, Lavon Golden Magness; daughter and son-in-law, Bonnie and Tom Zinn; son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Milton S. and Kathie Magness; granddaughters and husbands, Melodi and Marc Morelli and Marcie and Matthew Lasiter; grandsons and wives, Adam and Elmira Brittain and Brent and Holly Brittain; 7 great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Brenda Harman Magness; special cousin and husband, Betty (Magness) and Dick Hudson; and many friends and relatives.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Baylor University, George W. Truett Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 97126, Waco, Texas 76798.

Pallbearers will be Jeremy Golden, Matthew Lasiter, Brent Brittain, Bobby Chandler, Charlie Mann and Gene Baker.

Services for Reverend Magness will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, August 19, 2012 in the Gipson Funeral Home Chapel, with Bro. Jerry Chandler officiating. Interment will follow in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday evening at Gipson Funeral Home.

Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com

Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home