Merl Saxon W5CNM
 
 
Merl Saxon, 97, of Lufkin, was born July 22, 1910, in Carmona, Polk County, Texas, the son of the late Lela (George) and J. Albert Saxon. He passed away on Wednesday, November 28, 2007, in a Lufkin nursing facility.

Mr. Saxon grew up in Lufkin, and graduated from Texas A&M University in 1932 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. This was during the Depression. From 1933 to 1936, he worked for Lufkin Foundry and Machine Company; and from 1937 to 1939 he was a Transmitter Engineer for KPRC and KTRH radio stations in Houston. From 1940 to 1946, he was a Radio Inspector for the FCC's Dallas office; 1948 to 1949, the Chief Engineer of the Texas State Radio Network in Fort Worth; and 1949 to 1950, part owner and Manager of a new broadcast station in San Marcos. In 1950, Mr. Saxon began the operation of his Consulting Radio Engineering business in Lufkin, serving a wide area from New Mexico to Wisconsin to Florida and back. He operated this consulting business until his retirement in 1995. Mr. Saxon was a member of Denman Avenue Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife of 74 years, Frances Elizabeth Saxon of Lufkin; daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara and John Parker of Lufkin, Janelle and Hugh Beckcom of San Antonio; grandchildren and spouses, Adam B. and Rosanne Parker, Alex B. and Linda Parker, Arthur B. Parker, W. Jim and Cathy Turner, and Robin and John Wyrembelski; great grandchildren, Maigan Parker, USMC L.CPL. Luke McCreary, Wil McCreary, Caleb Parker and Sarah Turner; several nieces, nephews and other relatives; and special friends, Kent and Helen Graham, Charles Lawrence, and the Parkwood Place Unit 3 Caregivers.

Honorary pallbearers will be Adam B. Parker, Alex B. Parker, Arthur B. Parker, Caleb B. Parker, John Wyrembelski, and Jim Turner.

Expressions of sympathy in Mr. Saxon's memory may be made to the Denman Avenue Baptist Church Building Fund, 1807 E. Denman Ave., Lufkin, Texas 75901.

Services for Mr. Saxon will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, December 1, 2007, in the Elwyn M. Gipson Memorial Chapel in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park with Reverend Charles Roberts and Dr. Herman Hendrix officiating. Interment will follow in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park.

Friends are invited to visit with the family from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday evening at Gipson Funeral Home.

Gipson Funeral Home; W.A. Dempsey, director