JL “Papa” Furgason

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JL “Papa” Furgason, 77, of Pampa passed away on Sunday, November 29, 2020 in Amarillo.

Services will be 2:00 PM on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at Mary Ellen & Harvester Church of Christ with Keith Feerer, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Due to COVID-19 the church requests that everyone attending the service wears a face mask.

JL was born on July 14, 1943 in Clovis, New Mexico to Henry and Lela Bell Furgason. He married Helen Crawford on March 3, 1962 in Pampa. They lived all over the country before moving to Skellytown in 1978. He went back to school in his 40’s to obtain his welding degree from Frank Phillips. JL worked as a compressor mechanic for 40 years for several different companies. After his retirement from Hess Corporation in Seminole in 2008 he returned to Pampa and begin his career as a school bus driver for Pampa ISD. JL loved his job as a bus driver and many were convinced if he didn’t drive the bus, they weren’t going to win the game. He served as a board member for the Gray County Association of the Mentally Handicapped. JL enjoyed coaching softball and baseball for little league teams and the church team. He volunteered for several years with the Skellytown Fire Department, Skellytown EMS, and as mentor at the Jordan Unit. JL loved his family and never met a stranger in his life. He was the kind of man that enjoyed helping people. JL will be remembered as a loving husband, daddy, papa, and friend.

JL was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Leon Furgason; and 2 nephews, Doyle and Terry Furgason.

He is survived by his bride, of 58 years, Helen Furgason of the home; 2 sons, Johnny Furgason and wife Susan and Jacky Furgason all of Pampa; 1 daughter, Rebecca Fulton and husband Doug of Pampa; 1 sister, Joyce Epperson of Pampa; 1 brother, Dwayne Furgason and wife Frances of Pampa; 12 grandchildren, Mikala Furgason and fiancé Jonathan Taylor, Kolbi Linder and husband Ty, Nathan Furgason and wife Bennett, MaKayla Whalen and husband Joey, Lorelai Fulton, Alexandria Fulton, Joseph Furgason, Jerritt Furgason, Christian Reeves and wife Brittany, Nick Wells and wife Alexis, Payton Wells, and Michaela Wells; 9 great-grandchildren, Aniston Linder, Levi Linder, Theo Scout Furgason, Rylee Whalen, Emilee Whalen, Preslee Whalen, Lane Wells, Marloe Wells, and Dezabella Wells; several nieces and nephews; and many others that loving referred to him as “Papa”.

Memorials may be made to your favorite charity.