Gerald Eugene Minyard, 86, of Port Neches, died Wednesday, June 29, 2011, at Harbor Hospice in Beaumont.  He was born November 11, 1924, in Colmesneil to Carrie Rawls Minyard and Madison Maddox Minyard.

Gerald enjoyed sixty-four years of love and laughter with his hometown sweetheart, Elma Ray Sturrock.  He graduated from Colmesneil High School before serving in the Army Air Corps during WWII.  Gerald and Elma Ray married in 1946 and made their home in Port Neches.  He was a Master Mason, OCAW member, operator at Neches Butane and a member of First Baptist Church of Port Neches for over sixty years.

Gerald will be remembered as a good man who found good in all, held no grudges, never “kept score” and provided well for his family.  A worker once started a fire in the house and Gerald saved that man from burning, suffering severe burns to his own hands, in the process.  He was always the gentleman, rising to shake a hand or greet a lady.  When visitors were leaving they would hear him say, “No use rushin’ off.”  Gerald could whittle a monkey from a peach seed, play any instrument with strings, shoot bogey golf and enjoy it, draw and paint like an artist and make toys for the kids.  He and Elma Ray were at hundreds of events over the years, to encourage two sons, four grandsons and three great granddaughters.

Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, seven brothers and sisters, son, Kyle Ray; and granddaughter, Amy Kate Minyard.

He is survived by his wife, Elma Ray Minyard of Port Neches; sons, Jerry Minyard and his wife, Debbie of Beaumont and Randy Minyard and his wife, Kay of Kingwood; grandsons, Brian Minyard and his wife, Laura of Dallas, Mark Minyard and his wife, Ronda of Houston, Brady Minyard and his fiancé, Lauren Mascovic of Austin, and Luke Minyard of Beaumont; and great-granddaughters, Molly Kate and Mary Caroline Minyard of Dallas and Avery Grace Minyard of Houston.

His funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 1, 2011, at Broussard’s, 505 12th Street, Nederland, with burial to follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park in Port Neches.  A gathering of his family and friends will begin at 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 1, 2011, prior to service time.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Harbor Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 21463, Beaumont, Texas 77720 or Professional Health Care Home Health Foundation, 2533 Calder, Beaumont, Texas 77702.