MSGT Luther J. Farris III, United States Army, Retired

MSGT Luther J. Farris III, United States Army, Retired


Luther J. Farris III was born May 11, 1942 at Quantico, Virginia and passed away September 18, 2010, at Harker Heights, Texas, at the age of 68.

Luther proudly served his country in the United States Army, enlisting in 1959, and retired 22 years later with the rank of Master Sergeant.  His duty assignments included service in Vietnam.  His many military awards include the Bronze Star for Valor, five awards of the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Ranger Tab.

Luther pursued  higher education, earning a PhD in Psychology from Rochville University. 

Luther married the love of his life, Karin Ria Geret,  in Herrieden, Germany.  After retiring from the Army, Luther and his family lived in the Harker Heights area where he was an active member of American Legion Post 573, VFW Post 3892 and DAV Chapter 22 of Nolanville, Texas.

Luther was an avid Redskins fan, and enjoyed taking his children fishing in their younger years.

Interment services with full military honors were held on September 10 at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas.  In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American Flags around the committal shelter during the services.

A United States Army Chaplain led the gathered family and friends in final prayers.  The Army Honor Guard rifle detail fired three volleys of fire, representing Honor, Duty and Country.  The Army bugler played taps, and an American flag was folded into the traditional triangle and presented to Luther’s dear wife, on behalf of the President of the United States, a grateful nation and the United States Army.

Luther’s cremains were then sealed into a niche of the columbarium wall, as his family gathered ‘round and the American flag flew at half-staff, in his honor, at the top of the hill.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, four sons, four grandchildren and many other dear family and friends.

The family suggests memorial donations to the American Cancer Society.

With thanks to the Killeen Daily Herald for biographical information.

SFC Michael Lane Williams, United States Army, Ret.

SFC Michael Lane Williams, United States Army, Retired

Michael Williams was born July 16, 1961 in Waco, Texas and passed away September 10, 2010 in Temple, Texas at the age of 49, of injuries received in a motorcycle accident.

Michael graduated from Plano High School, where he was active in the ROTC, swim team and Color Guard.

Michael proudly serviced his country in the United States Army for twenty years, retiring in July 1999 with the rank of Sergeant First Class.  He served in Bosnia, Germany and Korea.  His numerous decorations include the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal.

After his retirement, Michael worked for seven years for Tapestry Solutions, a company that provides computer software to the military.  During that time, he was in Kuwait for one year, in Iraq for two years and in Haiti for two months, supporting military operations.

Michael was a fan of the Texas Longhorns and loved riding his motorcycle.

Funeral services were held on September 15, 2010 at the Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home Chapel in Killeen, Texas.  In attendance were Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags to welcome the arriving family and friends.  The Riders then led the procession to the nearby Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery for interment with full military honors.

Welcoming the hearse carrying Michael’s flag draped casket were fifty American flags, lining the road in front of the committal shelter, blowing briskly in the Texas wind.  The Riders used those flags to form a line of flags around the shelter while the military honors were performed by the Army Honor Guard.

An Army rifle detail fired three volleys of fire, representing Honor, Duty and Country.  The Army bugler played taps.  The flag covering the casket was folded into the traditional triangle and presented to Michael’s dearly beloved wife, Brenda, on behalf of the President of the United States, a grateful nation and the United States Army, in thanks for his many years of dedicated service.

SFC Michael Williams was then laid to rest on the upper plain of the cemetery as the flag on the hill above flew at half-staff in his honor.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, three sons, two daughters, his father and many other dear family and friends.

With thanks to the Killeen Daily Herald for biographical information.

First Sergeant John Wayne Pitts, USA, Retired

First Sergeant John Wayne Pitts, USA, Retired


John Pitts was born February 13, 1949 in Richmond, Virginia and passed away September 5, 2010, at the age of 61, in a Killeen, Texas hospital.

John proudly served his country in the United States Army for 22 years, 9 months, with tours of duty in Vietnam and Korea.  He retired in 1993 at the rank of First Sergeant.  Among his many military decorations were the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement, seven awards of the Good Conduct Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

At the time of his passing he was a member of the VFW, Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion and the NRA.

Funeral Services were held September 10, 2010 at the Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Copperas Cove, Texas.  Present were Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags at the entrance to welcome the arriving family and friends. 

At the conclusion of the services, the Riders led the funeral procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas.  There, the Riders formed a line of American flags around the committal shelter while final prayers were said, and full military honors were rendered by the Army Honor Guard.

A rifle detail fired three volleys of fire, representing Honor, Duty and Country.  The Army bugler played taps, and the flag that draped the casket was folded into a tight triangle and presented to John’s dear wife, of 29 years, on behalf of a grateful country and the United States Army.

First Sergeant John Pitts was then laid to rest on the sloping plain, over looking the Texas hill country.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Joyce, seven children, 12 grandchildren, one great-grandchild and many other dear family and friends.

With thanks to the Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home for biographical information.

Capt. Dwayne F. Simmons, United States Army

Capt. Dwayne F. Simmons, United States Army

Dwayne Simmons was born November 22, 1973 in Moncks Corner, South Carolina and passed away August 29, 2010, at the age of 36, of a heart attack, in Richmond, Virginia.
He was based at Fort Lee, Virginia, having recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq.

Dwayne graduated from Berkley High School, and earned a B.S. in Business Administration at Claflin University.  He joined the Army in 1996 and served in Desert Storm in Kuwait.

His military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.  He was an avid fan of the Pittsburg Steelers.

A Funeral Mass was held September 10 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Killeen, Texas with Chaplain John Gabriel officiating.

Scores of Patriot Guard Riders, from all over the country, convened at the church to form a line of American Flags at the entrance of the church to welcome the arriving family and friends.  The Riders, from as far away as Portland, Oregon and Canada, were in Killeen for the annual “Gathering of the Guard.”

After the service, over 100 motorcycles rode in the funeral procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen.  There the Riders formed a line of flags around the committal shelter as final prayers were said, and full military honors were rendered.

An Army rifle detail fired three volleys of fire, representing Honor, Duty and Country.  Taps was played by the Army bugler.  The flag that covered the casket was folded into the traditional triangle and presented to Dwayne’s loving wife, Vannette, on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army for his faithful service.  Folded flags were also presented to his mother and his two children.

Capt. Dwayne Simmons was then laid to rest on the gentle slope of the cemetery as the American flag flew at half-staff on the hill above, in his honor.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, son, daughter, mother, a brother, four sisters and many other dear family, friends and fellow soldiers.

With thanks to the Killeen Daily Herald and the Harper-Talasek Funeral Home for biographical information.

Link to television news report.

http://www.centraltexasnow.com/global/story.asp?s=13135081

SFC Larry Gorley, United States Army, Retired

SFC Larry Gorley, United States Army, Retired

Larry Gorley was born November 15, 1947 in Houston, Texas and passed away on August 23, 2010 at Plano, Texas, at the age of 62.

Larry proudly served his country in the United States Army and retired having achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class.

Funeral Services were held on August 30 at the Harper-Talasek Funeral Home Chapel in Killeen, Texas.

Interment services followed at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery.

Awaiting the arrival of the hearse carrying the flag draped casket were the Patriot Guard Riders.  The Riders formed a line of American flags around the committal shelter as the Army Honor Guard rendered full military honors.

A seven rifle detail fired three volleys of fire, representing Honor, Duty and Country.  The Army bugler played taps, followed by the traditional folding of the United States flag that had covered the casket.  The flag was then presented to Larry’s dear wife on behalf of a grateful country and the United States Army.

SFC Larry Gorley was then laid to rest on the gentle sloping plain of the cemetery as the flag flew at half staff on the hill above.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife and many dear family and friends.

Fred Holliday, United States Army Veteran

Fred Holliday, United States Army Veteran

Early on Monday, August 30, 2010, a contingent of Patriot Guard Riders assembled at the Branford Dawson Funeral home in Temple, Texas, to honor another fallen veteran.  This one a veteran of Korea.

The Riders escorted the hearse containing the flag draped casket of Fred Holliday to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas.  When they arrived, they were met by fifty American flags waving gently in the early morning wind, and other Riders.

The Patriot Guard Riders formed a line of flags around the  committal shelter as military honors were rendered by the Army Honor Guard.  The Army bugler played taps.  The United States flag that had draped the casket was folded into the traditional triangle and presented to Fred’s sister, on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army for his years of dedicated service. 

Fred Holliday was then laid to rest on the gentle slope of the cemetery as the flag flew at half staff on the hill above.

Left to cherish his memory are his sister and other dear friends.