No greater honor can be bestowed upon a man than to be called “Daddy”. Even into their 50’s, that’s the only name his children knew him by.   Daddy passed away Sunday, August 2, 2009 at Harbor Hospice in Beaumont.   Daddy was an honorable man; an honest and hardworking man. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t do. We always knew we could call on Daddy to fix anything that needed fixing.    Born and raised on a farm in Alabama, he enlisted in the US Army at the age of 18. In 1948, he brought his young wife to Texas to begin their life together. He retired from Gulf in 1985 and then could almost always be found tinkering in his shop. But what he really loved doing was spending time with his grandchildren just being their PaPa.   He is survived by the love of his life, Rachel; their three children: Gerald Lofton, Cheryl Smith (Frank) and Eugene Lofton; 7 grandchildren: Gregory (serving in Iraq), Jarrod, and Chris Lofton (serving in Afghanistan); Travis and Tyler Smith; Jason Williams and Jesse Lofton. He is also survived by a sister, Bernice Ashcraft (Harvey).   Preceded in death by his mother, Ennie Mitchell, brother, R.D. Mitchell and granddaughter, Rachel Morgan Smith.   Funeral Service will be 11 AM Friday, August 7, 2009 in the chapel of Broussard’s in Nederland with Rev. Eric Armstrong officiating. Interment will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Nederland. A gathering of family and friends will begin at 10 AM until time of service at the mortuary on Friday.   Memorial contributions may be directed to Triangle Baptist Church 3605 N. Hwy. 69 Nederland, TX 77627 or to a charity of your choice.