Joe Elton French

Joe Elton French, 88, of Maydelle, passed away peacefully at his home Thursday, May 16, 2024 after a long illness.

Joe was born on November 20, 1935 to Richard Elton (Red) and Edith Pearl Hassell French. He graduated from Maydelle High School in 1954. After high school, he married Gladys Emadean Wilcox, of Rusk, and attended Tyler Junior College and Henderson Co. Junior College. He later attended the Basic Recruit Training Center at the Texas Department of Public Safety and became a Texas State Trooper for 24 years. He later was appointed Sheriff of Cherokee County by the Cherokee County Commissioners Court and served for 2 years. After that, he worked as a dispatcher for 20 years at Cherokee County Electric Cooperative Association. He was a member of Eastside Baptist Church, in Rusk, and a Master Mason in Euclid Masonic Lodge No. 45, in Rusk. Joe truly lived life to the fullest through simple pleasures. After retirement, he enjoyed chatting with friends at the coffee shop and being with family on lots of special occasions.

Joe is preceded in death by his parents Richard Elton (Red) and Edith Pearl Hassell French; his wife of 65 years, Gladys Emadean Wilcox French; his brother, Dwain French; his daughter, Deanna Cox; and great grandson, Dylan Cox. He is survived by his brother Sherrill Kent French and wife Holly of Maydelle; his sons, Doug French and wife Marcy of Maydelle and Dale French of Maydelle; his grandchildren Ashley French of Maydelle; Robert Cox of Tyler; Katy Stover and husband Cord of Rusk; his great grandchildren, Joseph Cox of Jacksonville; Lane Stover and Olivia Stover of Rusk.

Visitation will be 6-8pm Saturday, May 18th at Wallace-Thompson Funeral Home in Rusk. Services will be at 2 pm, on Sunday, May 19th. Masonic Internment will be at Mt. Comfort Cemetery in Maydelle following the funeral service.

Serving as pallbearers are Robert Cox, Cord Stover, Patrick Ball, Brandon Hood, Conan Pace, and Patrick Ezell. Honorary pallbearer is Kenny Birdwell.