Bennie Loyd Latham

Bennie Loyd Latham age 83 of Gatesville, passed away on Sunday, January 31, 2021 in Waco.

Bennie’s family will receive visitors from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 4, 2021, at Scott’s Funeral Home.  Graveside services will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Turnersville Cemetery, with James Baize officiating.

Bennie Loyd Latham, known by everyone as “Squirrel” was born on January 16, 1938 in the Liberty community, near Turnersville.  He was the second son of the late Bennie Wesley and Neoma Huffman Latham.  He grew up in the Whitehall community and went to school in Gatesville.  He married Betty Joan Sadler on October 4, 1958.   They resided in Gatesville, where he worked for the Gatesville State School for Boys and Millard Sadler Gin in Turnersville. They moved to Ft. Worth in 1966. He worked for Bell Helicopter and Miller Brewing Company, for over thirty years, retiring in 2001.  After his retirement, they moved back to Gatesville in 2002 and built a home on his parents homestead, “The Home Place”.  He was a Baptist and a 50-year member of Gatesville Masonic Lodge #197 A.F. & A.M.  He enjoyed doing yard work in “his own way”, fishing on the Brazos, and piddling with his cows.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Bobby Ray Latham and Robert Leon (Cotton) Latham and his wife, Jonelle.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Betty Latham; sons, Randal Latham and wife, Michelle, Mark Latham and wife, Shana, Jeff Latham and wife, Marcie; sister, Nelda Carothers and husband, Bobby; sister-in-law, Charlotte Latham; grandchildren, Brandon Latham and wife, Carly, Lauren Smith, Diamond Williams and husband, Derek, Billy Heath Latham and wife, Ericka, Mary Kate Coalston and husband, Ryan, Morgan Harman, Colten Key, Kolton Latham and wife, Amanda, Haley Moore and husband, Wacey, Kendal Latham, Lyndsie Bergman and husband, Hunt, Klayton Latham and wife, Lauren; great-grandchildren, Byron Latham, Betty Claire Latham, Payden Smith, Jaxton Williams, Carson Williams, Berkley Coalston, Ella Latham, Mabrey Moore, Brooks Moore, Sadler Cockrell, McKenzie Coble, Kash and Kimber Latham, Ransom Sims and Addison Snyder; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family has designated that memorials be given to the Turnersville Community Center, P.O. Box 701, Gatesville, TX 76528.