Thurlo Wayne ”Cotton” Halford Sr., 82, of Batesville passed away Tuesday, June 8, 2021. He was at home, surrounded by family.
He was born June 15, 1938, in Gamaliel, Arkansas to William Sirrel Halford and Dollie Ann (Hathcock) Halford. Cotton attended grade school at Mt. Pleasant (Hog Danger) and high school at Bakersfield, Missouri.
Cotton was honorably discharged from the army in 1964 and he returned to being a toolmaker for Boeing in Wichita, Kansas. He had been a machinist for over 50 years. In 1993, he founded TWH Enterprises �” an Aerospace Manufacturing Facility/Job Shop. Cotton was a Polled Hereford cattle rancher. He loved showing horses and was an auctioneer for many years. He was a Mason and a member of the Cave City Masonic Lodge. Cotton was always the life of the party and enjoyed family gatherings. He was so proud of his loving family and enjoyed going to his grandkid’s sporting events.
Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Nancy (Anika) Halford; one daughter, Vonda Miley (Michael) of Southside; three sons, T.W. Halford (Kristin), Justin Halford (Ruth), and Lance Halford (Ramona), all of Southside; one sister, Louise Tilson of Tulsa, Oklahoma; nine grandchildren, Blaine French, Hannah Crowl, Brooke Halford, Devan Halford, Denisse Halford, Juliet Halford, Victoria Halford, Austin Halford, and Jeron Brewer; one great-grandchild, Sophie Grace Miley as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
Pallbearers are Blaine French, Trenton Tosh, Jared Tucker, Devan Halford, Greg Tilson, P. J. Hudson, Genaro Suarez, and Michael Reynolds. Honorary pallbearers are Michael Miley, Keith Mize, James Roach, Jeron Brewer, Gary Don Tilson, Randall Mitchell, and Billy Cummings.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 12, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. at the Roller-Crouch Funeral Home in Batesville with Billy Sutton officiating. Burial will follow at Kyler Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Independence/Jackson County Cattlemen’s Association Scholarship Fund, PO Box 2872 Batesville, AR, 72503 or to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105 or to JDRF (Diabetes Research), www.jdrf.org
