Carroway-Claybar Funeral Home

Roy Carroway, Jr.	Roy is the son of Roy, Sr. and Carolyn Carroway of Lufkin, Texas. He was born in Nacogdoches, and moved to the Hudson Community in 1964. He graduated from Hudson High School in 1982, the Dallas Institute of Funeral Services in 1983, and attended Angelina College. Roy began his career in the funeral business in 1981 at Gipson Funeral Home under the watchful eye of Elwyn M. Gipson. He served as senior funeral director with Gipson Funeral Home for 12 years. In 1994, Roy moved to Gladewater, Texas, and became the co-founder of Croley Funeral Home. After the sale of the largest family owned funeral home in Lufkin to a corporation, Roy moved back to Angelina County in 1999 to open Carroway Funeral Home. In 2002, he and Brown Claybar, owner of Claybar Funeral Home, merged to form Carroway-Claybar Funeral Home. Roy is a member of the Angelina Chamber of Commerce and the Lufkin Masonic Lodge. He is a member and past board member of the Texas Funeral Director Association, member of the Lufkin Host Lions Club, and a past president of the East Texas Funeral Directors Association.
Brown Claybar	The son of Lannie and Marjorie Claybar, Brown was born and reared in Orange, Texas. He is a graduate of Stark High School, Stephen F. Austin State University and Commonwealth College of Mortuary Science. He became a licensed funeral director and embalmer in 1973 and returned to Orange to help run the family funeral business. Brown is President of Claybar Funeral Home, Inc and part owner of Carroway-Claybar Funeral Home. He is married to Linda Anderson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Billy Mack Anderson of Lufkin, Texas. They have two children, Warren and Sarah. Brown and Linda attend First United Methodist Church in Orange. Brown has served as President of the West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District, Orange City Council, Orange Rotary Club, Southeast Texas Hospice Board of Directors and has been a board member and Secretary Treasurer of the Selected Independent Funeral Directors. Brown enjoys cooking and outdoor activities.
Warren Claybar	Warren is the son of Linda and Brown Claybar and represents the third generation of the Claybar family in funeral service. Warren was born and reared in Orange, Texas and attended West Orange-Stark High School. Like his mother and father, he attended Stephen F. Austin State University and graduated with a degree in Management. After graduating from college, Warren attended Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service where he attained his Funeral Director's license. Warren is general manager of the Claybar Funeral Homes. "It is a great honor to have the opportunity to continue the legacy of service founded by my grandfather, and expounded upon by my father." In his leisure time, Warren enjoys hunting, fishing and his work.
Roy Sr. & Carolyn Carroway	Roy, "Gus", Sr. and Carolyn Carroway have been an active part of Carroway-Claybar from the beginning. They are both Funeral Assistants and are active in Public Relations for Carroway-Claybar Funeral Home. They have been married since 1956. Together they have three children and nine grandchildren. Gus graduated from Coushatta, Louisiana High School in 1953. He attended S.F.A. on a basketball scholarship from 1953 to 1957 and received a B.S. and M.E.D. Gus taught at Hudson I.S.D. from 1964-1979 and at Central I.S.D. from 1980-1984. Gus is also a retired pastor. Gus still performs funerals and weddings and does personal counseling. Gus is a former member of Lufkin Jaycees, Lion's Club and Ministerial Alliance. Carolyn graduated from Nacogdoches High School in 1953. She attended S.F.A. from 1953-1956, and received a B.S. and M.E.D. Carolyn retired from teaching in 1990 from Hudson I.S.D., after 25 years. Carolyn is a member of Altrusa International of Lufkin and the Garden Club of Huntington. Carolyn is also known for her cooking. They attend First Assembly of God and Providence Baptist Church.
Hila Westbrook	Hila has been Office Manager since the opening of Carroway Funeral Home. Prior to her employment with Carroway Funeral Home, Hila worked for nine years in accounts, pre-need trusts, payroll, and cemetery records at Gipson Funeral Home. Hila is married to Roy Westbrook and has two sons, Ryan and Reid. They are members of Keltys First Baptist Church.
Charles E. Walker	Charles was born and raised in the Ora Community of Angelina County, Texas and was a graduate of Huntington High School and Landig College of Mortuary Science. He has been married for over 50 years to Frances Wright Walker of San Augustine, and has two children and two grandchildren. He is a member of First Baptist Church. Charles is a 50 year member and past Master of the Masonic Lodge, a 32 degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Shriner, and past patron of the Order of the Eastern Star. He is a former member of the Lion of Texas Eye Bank. Charles has been a funeral director and embalmer for over 50 years. He is a past president of the Houston Harris County Funeral Directors Association from 1986-1987, and East Texas Funeral Director of the Year in 1997. Charles worked for Gipson Funeral Home in Lufkin for several years and has been with Roy since the opening of Carroway Funeral Home.
Wayne Roberson	Since 1984, Wayne Roberson has served the families of East Texas, as a Funeral Director. His experience includes more than thirteen years in Lufkin with Gipson Services. He and his wife Donna have one adult son, Matthew who lives in Tyler. Wayne is involved in the Gideon Ministry and is a member of Denman Avenue Baptist church were he serves as a deacon. Wayne is a graduate of Oklahoma State Tech as well as San Antonio College, College of Mortuary Science. Born in Monroe, Louisiana and raised in Lindsay, Oklahoma Wayne has grown to love the pineywoods and is proud to call East Texas home. His favorite pass time is spending time with family and taking care of the farm in the Lilbert community.
Ty Shafer	Ty graduated from Tascosa High School in 1999 and attended Amarillo Community College. He graduated from Dallas Institute of Funeral Service and has been a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer since 2003. He is a member of the First Christian Church.
Ron Crocker	Ron was born in Lufkin, Texas to Reverend H. Elvin and Frances Crocker. After graduating from Alief High School and Commonwealth College in Houston, he moved back to Lufkin to work for Elwyn M. Gipson at Gipson Funeral Home. His tenure there was twenty years. During that time he served as Senior Director, Assistant Manager, Vice President of Funeral Operations, and general manager of Garden of Memories. After S.C.I. acquired Gipson-Metcalf, Ron served as senior director and general manager of all their locations in Lufkin and Huntington, Family Funeral Care, Gipson Memorial, and Garden of Memories. He has been with Carroway-Claybar Funeral Home since March of 2004. Ron has been active in the Lufkin Band Boosters for several years as a member, vice-president, past president, and is now serving as a class vice-president. He is also a member of the Angelina County Historical Society. Ron is married to Robin Ross Crocker and they have three children.
Russell Harvey	Russell was raised in Lufkin and grew up in the Harmony Hill Baptist Church, and is a 1983 graduate of Lufkin High School, he worked for Lufkin Trailers from 1985-1989. In 1988 he married Kathy Smiley from Corrigan and chose to go into the family business. Her parents have owned Corrigan Funeral Home since 1981. In July of 1989 he entered the institute of Funeral Service in Houston where he received his associate degree in Mortuary Science in 1990. After graduation he came back to Corrigan to serve his apprenticeship and received his funeral directors and embalmers license in 1991. For the past 16 years he has worked for Corrigan Funeral Home and the past 8 years served as General Manager. He has served the Corrigan Community in many capacities; served on the Corrigan Housing Authority Board, Corrigan Youth Baseball Association Board and as a coach, Corrigan Lions Club, he also has served on the board of trustees' for the First United Methodist Church and now is serving as Co-Chairman for their Administrative Board and is currently serving his second term on the Corrigan-Camden ISD Board of Trustees. He is past-president of the Southeast Funeral Directors Assn., and served on the Texas Funeral Directors Board of Directors for 2 years, he also served as co-chairman of the John Cathey Memorial Golf Tournament for the Texas Funeral Directors Assn. for 4 years. He and Kathy have two children, Corey (16) and Andrew (12).
Lisa Pinner	Lisa has been a secretary at Carroway-Claybar Funeral Home since October 2003. Lisa graduated from Central High School in 1982 and Angelina County Junior College in 1985. Lisa has a son, Justin Plopper, who is in the senior class of 2005 at Central High School. She is a member of Trinity Baptist Church and the Central Athletic Booster club.