Posted: Mon 10:50 AM, Jun 18, 2012
Funeral Home: Strickland Funeral Home
October 28, 1954 ~ June 13, 2012
Clyde James Sowders, Jr., of Somerville, passed away quietly on Wednesday, June 13, 2012, at his home, surrounded by his family after a short fight with pancreatic cancer.
Born in Wilcox, Arizona on October 28, 1954 to Clyde James Sowders, Sr., and Gladys Littlefield-Sowders. Clyde moved to Somerville with his parents and siblings in 1968 when they bought the Gulf Station. Clyde helped his father run not only Sowders Gulf Station, but also the Somerville Ambulance for Burleson County. He continued to be an active EMT for many years after. He was also a Reserve Somerville Police Officer for nine years. Clyde joined the Somerville Volunteer Fire Department when he was 17 years old. Clyde has stayed active with the fire department carrying several distinct titles. He was named Assistant Chief in 1985 and he served as Chief during 2008 until 2009. He worked for the Santa Fe Tie Treating Plant for 22 years and then transitioned over with Koppers Industries for another 17 years. He was also a part-time mechanic. Clyde has been an active member of First United Methodist Church of Somerville since March 14, 1993. Clyde attended TSTC-Waco, where he met Louima Ann Strucely-Sowders in November 1973. Clyde and Ann were married on September 28, 1974.
Clyde is preceded in death by his grandfather, Robert "Big Papa" Sowders; his father, Clyde James "Paw" Sowders, Sr., a brother, Walter Mikel Sowders and his sister, Kathylou Sowders-Leasure.
Survivors include his wife, Louima Ann Strucely-Sowders; his three sons, daughters-in-law, and their children, Clyde James Sowders, III and Alicia Martinez-Sowders, their children, Sierra Trinity and Clyde James Sowders, IV "C.J."; Howard Matthew Sowders and Kristin Autrey-Sowders and their children, Chase Mikel, Halie Elaine and Elora Rayne; Fredrich Adam Sowders and Shandala Maldonado, all are from Somerville; his mother, Gladys Littlefield-Sowders of Somerville brother and sister-in-law, William and Virginia Rathjen-Sowders of Somerville, his sister, LyndaDee Sowders of Somerville; sister and brother-in-law, Kevin "Red" and Dana Hilligest-Leasure; father and mother-in-law, Paul and Louima Strucely, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Janet and Gary Schwarz, Ruth and Mark Graupmann and Cherie and Carter Stone; brother-in-law, and sister-in-law, Nick and Cheryl Strucely; along with many more wonderful family and friends.
Funeral services for Clyde will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 16, 2012 from First United Methodist Church in Somerville with Rev. Victoria Simons officiating. Interment will follow in Oaklawn Cemetery, in Somerville. Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday with the family present at Strickland Funeral Home in Somerville.
The family has requested that memorials in remembrance of Clyde, be made to United Methodist Scholarship Fund, Somerville Volunteer Fire Department and Hospice Brazos Valley.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Strickland Funeral Home in Somerville. We invite you to visit our website at www.stricklandfuneralhomes.com and sign the on-line register book and leave a note of condolence to the Sowders family.
