Jewel Thurston Proctor, age 90, was born on December 1, 1930, in Copeville, Texas, and died on December 3, 2020, at University Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
After graduating from Nevada High School in Nevada, Texas, in 1947, Jewel attended North Texas State University for a short time until he enrolled in the Navy in January, 1951. While on leave from the Navy, Jewel married the love of his life, Floyce Jean Campbell, on April 5, 1951, at Gaston Avenue Baptist Church in Dallas. Upon returning to the Navy, he served in Guam during the Korean War until he was discharged in January, 1955. Upon returning to the states, Jewel continued his college education at North Texas State where he received a bachelor's in industrial arts and a master’s in education.
Jewel was a public school teacher for 28 years, teaching junior high math, photography, and woodshop, in Dallas, Kilgore, and Henderson, Texas, until he retired in 1985. After his school retirement, he worked for Analab in Kilgore, Texas, for a number of years. During retirement, he and his wife Floyce loved to travel - seeing their grandchildren and traveling through most of the 48 states and many of our country’s national parks. Jewel was also an avid high school and college sports fan - traveling miles to see high school finals, and he was a huge fan of Texas A&M where he had football season tickets for 28 years.
Jewel was a strong Christian man and an active church member. He served as an adult Sunday school leader, as well as a deacon in three different churches: Gaston Avenue Baptist Church, Dallas; Lakeside Baptist Church, Dallas; and First Baptist Church, Kilgore. His faith was very important to him - he was a great example to those around him and to his family - and after moving to Lubbock, Jewel was quick to find a church home, Calvary Baptist Church, where he continued to serve and grow. In conjunction with his faith, Jewel became a Mason in 1971. During his years as a mason, he held many different offices within the Scottish Rite Chapter, including Commander and Recorder.
Jewel preceded his sweet wife of 69 years, Floyce Jean Proctor, in death and is survived by three sons: Bruce and wife, Laura; Randall and wife, Charlotte; and Mark and wife, Melissa. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Aimee Lubas (Adam), Steve Proctor (Heather), Rebekah Proctor, James Proctor, Matthew Proctor, Michela Heth (Ryan), and Madison Proctor; as well as four great-grandchildren: Spencer Lubas, Jayce Proctor, Ashley Proctor, and Harry Proctor.
A memorial service will be held on January 16, 2021, at 1:00 p.m., at Resthaven Funeral Home, 5740 West 19th Street, Lubbock, Texas, 79407. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 5301 82nd Street, Lubbock, TX, 79424.
