Submitted by Robert L. Haddock

 

 

 

Temple Daily Telegram

Temple, Bell Co., TX

Saturday, November 29, 2003

 

Charles Woodson

“Cotton” Waits

 

     Charles Woodson “Cotton” Waits, 86, passed away peacefully in his sleep on November 25, 2003 at his in Rogers, Texas. He was born on November 15, 1917, in Durango, Texas.

 

     He married Hazel Douglas Clowers on August 31, 1940, in Durango, and on August 5, 1942 they moved to the community of Joe Lee, near Rogers, Texas, where he would be the foreman of his uncle’s 1300 acre ranch on the Little River. There he would raise their family and live for the next 35 years before retiring from the toils of ranching and move just outside Rogers in 1977.

 

     He then went to work for his brother-in-law at Newton-Neroc, until retiring for good. As a young man, Cotton Waits was well known for his baseball skills around the Central Texas area. He was always quite proud of his baseball accomplishments and the men he played with and against for many years. He could recall with glee many of the things that had happened during his playing career. He served as a trustee for Rogers ISD. He was a lifelong Methodist and belonged to the First Methodist Church of Rogers for over 60 years and taught a class there for many years.

 

     He showed his continued ability to select a good mate, when he met and married Lora Jansing on December 28, 1985. He was a good man, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather.

 

     He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Hattie Waits, his first wife of 42 years Hazel, a son, Kenneth Wayne, sister, Erra Waits Saxon, and brother, Winfrey.

 

     He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Lora, sons Carl Woodson, and wife, Susie, of Dripping Springs, Texas; Charlie Joe, and wife, Shirley, of Rogers, Texas; Clayton and wife, Marsh of Dime Box, Texas; Larry Arthur, and wife, Judy, of Gando, Texas; and daughter-in-law, Margie Waits Rose of Rogers, Texas. Step-daughter, Suzette Arnold, of Temple, Texas; sister, Josephine Waits Crow of Waco, Texas; brother, Leonard, and wife, Hazel Lee, of California. Grandchildren; Tim Waits, Kristi Waits, Craig Waits, Jason Waits, Stacey Waits Scott, Jeff Waits, Amanda Waits Portillo, Brantley Waits, Matthew Waits, Cori Beth Waits Radley, Mark Waits, Clint Arnold, Jarret Arnold. Great-grandchildren; Emily Waits, Allison Waits, Julia Portillo, Nicole Portillo, and many nieces and nephews and friends. Funeral services were held at the First United Methodist Church in Rogers, Texas Friday, November 28 at 2:00 P.M., Reverend Mike Madden officiated. Burial was at Rogers Cemetery. Sheffield Funeral was in charge of services.