Howard Leon Mehaffey, born to H. H. and Eddith Roberson Mehaffey Nov. 2, 1927, in Breckenridge, Texas, died Aug. 4, 2017, in Weatherford, Texas.
After graduation from Breckenridge High School, Howard was employed for R&G Drilling Company in Breckenridge, Olney and Big Spring, where he received notice that Uncle Sam needed him for the Korean Conflict.
After basic in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and training with the Signal Corps in Camp Gordon, Augusta, Georgia, Howard was stationed in Germany as a teletype operator. He sent and received both clear and cryptic messages between 7th Corps and 7th Army.
Home at last in Texas, he was employed by Texas Pacific Coal & Oil Company and sent to Hamlin, Texas.
He later owned and operated a trucking company in Hamlin.
Howard and surviving wife Pat (Capps) married Aug. 4, 1950, in Henrietta, Texas. He is survived by daughters Keven (Bryce) Fowler, Kimi Beeson and Kayla (David) Lee; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren; as well as brothers Aaron, Joe and Terry, and sisters Jenice Bacon and Sue Thompson.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Claude and Maurice; two sisters, Lorese Russell and Estrella Cooper; and a grandson, Drew Fowler.
A memorial service was Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017, at 2 p.m. at Morehart Mortuary in Breckenridge, with Rev. Charles Kuhn officiating. Memorial gifts may be made to First United Methodist Church, Breckenridge or a favorite charity and may be left at Morehart Mortuary.
