Jerald Lynn Whitehead

Jerald Lynn "Tad" Whitehead, 82, born February 10, 1933 in the Linn Flat community of Nacogdoches, passed away peacefully August 24, 2015, surrounded by family and friends. He was a long time resident of Nacogdoches, graduating from Cushing High School and attending Stephen F. Austin University. He enlisted in the Army and served honorably during the Korean War. He then began a long career in the petroleum industry as a Control and Instrumentation Engineer and Supervisor, working for Occidental Petroleum, Edwards Engineering, Bolivian International Pipeline and others. He was able to live his dream of traveling the world, working in Bolivia, Columbia, Peru, Ecuador and China as well as stateside. He especially enjoyed working in remote and mountainous parts of Bolivia and Columbia. One of his fondest memories was hearing a friend play guitar and sing Willie Nelson songs while watching the amazing colorful birds deep in the jungles of South America. After retiring, he loved spending time with friends and family, especially his grandson Parker. He loved animals and was always willing to dog-sit for his neighbors. He never met a stranger and looked forward to lunch or coffee at the Country Kitchen and Kinfolks restaurants.

Tad is survived by his son, Mark Whitehead and wife Amy of Georgetown; grandson, Parker Whitehead of Georgetown; sister, Sue Warner and husband John of Nacogdoches; brothers, H.M. “Butter” Whitehead and wife Claudine of Nacogdoches, Joe Bob Whitehead and wife Joanne of Nacogdoches, Frank Whitehead and wife Betty of Nacogdoches, Don Whitehead and wife Delores of Grand Prairie, and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Tad is preceded in death by his parents Clifford and Maggie Whitehead; brother, Clifford Whitehead Jr.

Services for Mr. Whitehead will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015, visitation starting at 10:00 a.m. at Cason Monk-Metcalf's Sunset Chapel, Nacogdoches, with Rev. Bob Whitehead officiating. Interment will follow at Linn Flat Cemetery.

Pallbearers will include Richard Whitehead, Robert Whitehead, David Sears, Michael Smith, Bryant Birdwell, William Rogers.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Linn Flat Cemetery Association, 5668 County Road 817, Nacogdoches, Texas, 75964.

The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Sid Roberts and staff at Laird Cancer Center, Donna Mooney and the nurses and staff at Willowbrook Rehabilitation, and Jennifer Turlington and staff at Heart to Heart Hospice, all of whom treated Tad with an amazing amount of care and compassion.