Nelson S. Roughton

Nelson Roughton, 98, passed away Sunday, July 20, 2014, just one week short from his 99th birthday. He was born to Mack and Florence Roughton in Corsicana on July 27, 1915. He was a lifetime resident of the Corsicana area. His grandfather was the first doctor in Navarro County. Nelson was raised in the Drane Community on Farm Road 744. He loved traveling and visited all the states except for one. Clocks were a passion and for many years repaired broken clocks and sold new ones and at times kept the clock working at the courthouse. He was known as “Tick Tock” the clock man by many people. He was craft gifted. He was skilled at woodworking and made clocks, plant stands and other items. He learned the art of canning and spent several years repairing furniture. Nelson loved people and never met a stranger. He always had a twinkle in his eye. Nelson’s jobs varied: a salesman for a grocery company, teller at First National Bank, worked for a year on Alaska Highway in construction, Bethlehem Steel as a machinist, spent 50 years as a licensed funeral director and returned to First National Bank where he retired. He spent 3 years in the United States Navy stationed next to the Nemesis in the Hawaiian Islands. He was in the intelligence division and for many years after he left the Navy there would be “someone” to come by and remind him he wasn’t to tell what he knew. He was blessed to have had two wonderful wives, Vernie Griffin Roughton and Ann Cottar. He was preceded in death by his two wives, Vernie and Ann and several sisters and a brother. He is survived by his children, Margaret Evans and husband Rome McDaniel of Garland, William “Bill” Roughton and wife Linda of Corsicana, Carolyn Cottar Draper and husband Phil of Streetman, Thomas Cottar and wife Linda of Baytown, Ronald Cottar of Conroe and Paul Cottar and wife Debbie of Corsicana and too many grandchildren and great grandchildren to count. The family would like to express their sincere thanks to JoAnne as she cared for and loved Pop and he loved her. She became and will always be family. Our continued thanks to several other sitters and the staff at Heritage Oaks Retirement Village. Visitation will be Friday, July 25, 2014 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home. Service will be 2:00 pm Saturday, July 26, 2014 at Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Floyd Petersen officiating. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery.

Nelson S. Roughton

July 27, 1915 - July 20, 2014