Roll Call Tribute

Ernest Morris Hudgens 

January 4, 1945 - January 28, 2024 

A memorial service for Ernest Morris Hudgens will be held Friday, February 2, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Lufkin with the Reverend Walker McWilliams officiating. A reception will follow immediately after the service in the Great Hall. A private graveside service for family will be held at a later date.

Ernest Morris Hudgens was born January 4, 1945 in Houston, Texas to the late Ernest Jewell and Juaneva (Burns) Hudgens, and died Sunday, January 28, 2024 following a brief illness.

Ernest lived in Lufkin his entire childhood and graduated from Lufkin High School in 1963. He attended Texas A&M University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Masters in Computer Science. Ernest served in the Corps of Cadets as commanding officer, where he received the Fritz Award as outstanding company officer from among 32 companies. He was a member of the Ross Volunteers for two years and chosen as one of the top ten military cadets in the nation his senior year. After finishing college, he went on to serve as an officer in the United States Army where he was stationed at Fort Belvoir. Here he met his future wife, Virginia Bradford, and they married on August 18, 1976.

Ernest and Virginia (Ginna) made their home in Lufkin where they raised their two daughters. He took over at Jewell Hudgens Machine Company as the third-generation owner and eventually sold the machine shop in 1990. Ernest continued to work at Jewell Hudgens until 2007 when he retired.

Ernest was a past president of Friends of the Ellen Trout Zoo and former member of Rotary. In retirement, he enjoyed serving his church with friends and fellow retirees where they tackled small and large projects. He was a passionate hunter and outdoorsman and enjoyed training squirrel dogs while also attending his grandchildren’s baseball games and dance recitals. He was a skilled woodworker and problem solver. Ernest was a loyal friend to many and a faithful husband, father, and grandfather.

Ernest was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Virginia Hudgens; daughters and sons-in-law, Elizabeth and Paul Maupin and Lauren and Jeremy Worley; grandchildren, Meg Worley, McClain Maupin, Faith Worley, and Bradford Maupin; and brother, George Thomas Hudgens.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity of your choice.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com. 

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.