Mr. Sid Ashby

Funeral services for Sid Ashby, 81, of the Shakerag community, will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, July 1, at Calvary Baptist Church with Pastor Mike Littlefield, Bro. Jason Taylor and Bruce Richmond officiating. Interment will be held at Duncan Cemetery under the direction of Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home. Family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Sunday, June 30, at the funeral home chapel. There will be a celebration of life gathering at Calvary Baptist Church Fellowship Center following the graveside service, and relatives and friends are invited to join the family there. Those who attend visitation or the funeral will have an opportunity to record favorite memories or stories about Ashby to share with the family. Ashby died Friday, June 28, at Henderson Health and Rehab. He was born September 25, 1942 in Henderson, Texas, to Edgar and Eunice (Branham) Ashby. He was raised in the Shakerag community in Rusk County. After graduating from Henderson High School in 1961, he attended East Texas State University where he received a bachelor’s degree in agriculture. During his time there, he also received his American Farmer FFA degree and was a two-time judge for the Texas High School Rodeo Association state finals. He worked on the college farm and took a lot of pride in being a “Buck Hughes Farm Boy” where he learned to be “rough and tough” and was first introduced to dairy farming. On July 25, 1964, Ashby married Judy Lennon of Miller Grove, Texas. After completing college, the couple moved to Ralls, Texas, where Ashby worked on the Lloyd Gamble farm. He also worked on a farm in Clarksville, Texas, before he and Judy moved back to the Shakerag community. In 1967, they built a dairy barn and began milking cows, which he continued to do for 45 years. Ashby introduced agriculture to local youth by providing them with employment at the dairy, and taught them the importance of a diligent work ethic, integrity and the value of an honest day’s work. He received two runner-up Texas Star Young Farmer awards in recognition of his exceptional farming skills. In addition to the dairy, Ashby’s other agriculture interests included gardening and sharing produce with neighbors and friends. He enjoyed producing quality hay and received multiple honors for growing the Grand Champion bale at the Rusk County Hay Show. He was named the 2019 Rusk County Farm Bureau Outstanding Farmer and was an avid supporter of the Rusk County Youth Project Show as well as local 4-H and FFA programs. He also enjoyed hosting educational field trips for area schools and ag programs. He was proud of his Rusk County heritage and was well versed in Texas geography. Ashby served on the Rusk County Electric Cooperative Board of Directors for 38 years. He was a faithful member at Sardis Baptist Church where he served as a deacon for 41 years. He was also a charter member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church of the Pleasant Grove community, which later moved to Henderson. He found pleasure in spending time with his family, reminiscing about childhood stories with cousins and friends, and providing his grandkids with unique farm experiences. In his later years, after completing his dairy career, he could often be found riding around the farm on his Gator, checking fences and tending to his cows. Ashby was preceded in death by his parents, wife of 45 years, and infant son Samuel Loyd Ashby. Survivors include son Trent Ashby and wife Nickie of Lufkin; three daughters, Mikyela Tedder and husband Mark of Leander, Mardra Ashby of Shakerag, and Emily Whitworth and husband Bennie of Shakerag. His grandchildren include Garin and Grant Ashby, Macy Tedder, and Baxter Whitworth. Other family members include cousins Kenneth Gladden, Jimmy Gladden, Charles Gladden and wife Jackie, Brenda Crockett and husband Sam, Hal Martin and wife Rosa, and brother-in-laws Johnny Lennon and wife Kathy, and Rex Lennon. He also leaves a host of nieces and nephews. Pallbearers include Mark Tedder, Bennie Whitworth, Benny Evans, Ken Evans, Donnell Wright and Joe Collins. Honorary pallbearers include Dr. Mike Ward, Bill Jones, Buddy Bankhead, Henry Hart, Jr., Maxie Sparks, Matt Doerge, Terry Nichols, Harold Jacobs, George Brady, Ben Milam, Mike Engle and Greg Gibson. The family would like to express their gratitude to Henderson Health and Rehab and Hospice of East Texas for taking such excellent care of our loved one. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sardis Baptist Church, 13174 CR 4187, Henderson, TX, 75654, or the Rusk County Ag Program – Hay Show, 113 East Fordall St., Henderson, TX, 75652. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.crawfordacrim.com.

Mr. Sid Ashby

September 25, 1942 - June 28, 2024