George "Tinker" Edward Cantrell

George Edward "Tinker" Cantrell, of Lake Brownwood and former Coleman resident, went to fish with Jesus on Friday, March 22, 2013 at the Veteran's Hospital in Temple after 64 years one month of his time in our world. Graveside services with Military Honors will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 25, 2013 at the Coleman City Cemetery Pavilion with Pastor Edmund Wheeless officiating. Services are under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.

Tinker was a loving husband, caring dad, gripy papaw, dedicated son and helpful uncle and friend and proud veteran. Tinker's true passions after his family were the great outdoors and fishing. George was born February 22, 1949 to Marvin "Bill" Aaron Cantrell and Minnie Grace Croft Cantrell in Taft, California. He grew up in Coleman and Brown Counties. His younger years were spent fishing the creeks, tanks and lakes and running the back roads with his cousins and friends. While hanging out with one of his friends, Jimmy Smith, Tinker met and later married Mary Lois Smith in 1969. In April, 1971, he decided to join the United States Army and was assigned to 7 Steps to Hell doing helicopter repair and photography in the Vietnam War and was also stationed in Germany.

In 1972, he was honorably discharged from the United States Army and furthered his education while attending Howard-Payne University, studying business. To look for employment, he moved Mary and their three children to Irving, in search of a better life. The big city took its toll and after awhile, Mary and George divorced in 1979. Afterwards, he met and married Anna Nelson and had his namesake and youngest son. While living in the Dallas area, he worked as an inspector for Texas Instruments and LTV. He later became a reverse engineer, working with the software Chromalloy program auto cad. After Anna became sick and passed away in 1999, George moved back to the Bangs/Brownwood, area to care for his elderly parents. George and Mary made peace with each other and remarried on April 3, 1999, and have been happy ever since.

While on his journey of life, George became a man of conviction and was remorseful to the last days of his life for some of the choices he made. And although some will never forgive him, our Lord and Savior did. After working as an electrician's helper and a few lay-offs in the Brownwood area, George began volunteering for Good Samaritans Ministries in the food pantry. A few months later, his true blessing came by helping others and was offered a position as the manager of the Good Samaritan Food Pantry. He held that position for five years and finally retired. He then settled at Lake Brownwood to spend his desired life of watching wildlife, fishing, piddling in the yard, in his shop and the garden.

George is survived by his wife, Mary Cantrell of Lake Brownwood, four children, Steven Edgar and wife Stacie of Coleman, Susan Dawson and husband Jerry, of Coleman, Aaron Mike and wife, Jamie from Rockport, Edward Cantrell and wife Chancadee of Corpus Christi; one brother, Arthur Dale Cantrell of Huntsville, one adopted brother, Marvin "Pete" Howard Cantrell and wife, Becky of Mississippi, nine grandchildren, four step-grandchildren and two step great-grandchildren; several aunts, uncles and multiple nieces, nephews and cousins.

Family visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sunday, March 24th at Stevens Funeral Home, 400 West Pecan Street, Coleman.