Lionel Summerford

Tupelo - Lionel Glenn Summerford, 83, died Saturday, May 2, 2009, at The Sanctuary Hospice House after an extended illness. He was born in Smithville on June 6, 1925 to Dee Calvin and Vera Cruz Robinson Summerford. His family moved to Amory in 1930 and after graduating from Amory High School in 1942, he attended East Mississippi Junior College in Scooba. He proudly served in the United States Marine Corps and was a veteran of World War II stationed on the Island of Guam. He returned to complete his education at Mississippi State University, graduating in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He was employed with the Mississippi State Highway Department from 1949 until his retirement in 1990. After retirement, he continued to be extremely active in community affairs serving as a member of the Tupelo Thoroughfare Committee and the Tupelo Traffic Committee. He was awarded a fifty year member pin of the Tupelo Masonic Lodge 318 where he had served as Worshipful Master. He was also awarded a fifty year pin of American Legion Post 49 and was the state domino champion in Mississippi. An avid outdoorsman, he loved both hunting and fishing. He was a longtime member of Wesley United Methodist Church.

Services will be 2 p.m. Monday, May 4, 2009 at The Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues with Rev. Raymond Rooney officiating. Burial will be in Amory Masonic Cemetery.

Survivors include his wife of 19 years, Myra Ann Summerford of Tupelo; two daughters, Lisa Buse and husband, Bubba, of Tupelo and Julie Summerford of Hollywood, Florida; one grandson, Kyle Buse and wife, Cathryn, of Decatur, Alabama; one sister-in-law, Jerri Summerford of Springfield, Missouri; one nephew, Kenneth Scott Summerford of Haslet, Texas and several other nieces and nephews; and his caregivers, Overa, Alice and Sharon.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Ellen Crenshaw Summerford, who died in March of 1989; one daughter, Marta Ellen Summerford; one sister, Juanita Chaffin and husband, Everett; three brothers, Kermit Summerford and wife, Clara, Scott Summerford and Gilbert Summerford.

Pallbearers will be Beau Buse, Rick Crone, Rob Clanton, Russ Clanton, Ben Harrelson and Chris Lansdell.

Visitation will be 4 - 7 p.m. Sunday, May 3, 2009 at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Sanctuary Hospice House, P.O. Box 2177, Tupelo MS 38803 or Faith Haven Children's Home, PO Box 835, Tupelo MS 38802 .

Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com