William Taft “W.T” Hass Jr. 1936-2019

Funeral services for William Taft “W.T.” Hass, Jr., 83, of Alba were Aug. 4 at the Wilson-Bartley Funeral Home chapel in Alba with Rev. Danny Barrett and Rev. Dee Bryant officiating.

Burial was in Salem Cemetery in Alba under the direction of Wilson-Bartley Funeral Home.

Mr. Hass passed away Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Alba, with his family by his side.

He was born Wednesday, July 15, 1936, in Rains County to the late William Taft Sr. and Doris Mae Bell Hass. W.T. served in the U.S. Army. He lived in the Alba area since 1975 and retired from Trane Air Conditioning in Tyler as a truck driver. He loved farming, and he was especially known for growing watermelons. He was a member of the Alba United Methodist Church, Teamsters Local Union 745, and Masonic Lodge 1440 in Emory.

Survivors include Joan McBride of Alba, mother of  his daughters, Jayna Fountain and Leanna Burge and husband Ronnie of Alba; step-son, Carl Durbin of Effingham, Ill.; step-daughters, Nancy West of Mauk, Ga., and Terry Keller of Effingham, Ill.;  brother, Preston “Sonny” Hass of Alba; sister, Patsy Pennebaker of Emory; five grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife of 24 years, Mary Hass; and granddaughter, Nicole Keller.

 Memorials can be made to the Alba United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 231, Alba, Texas 75410, or the Masonic Lodge, 1589 U.S. 69, Emory, Texas 75440.