Chesley Auten

Biography

Chesley Jerome Auten, of Whitney passed away on Friday February 24, 2012 at the age of 91 years, 6 months and 4 days. Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at Marshall and Marshall Funeral Directors Chapel in Whitney with Rev. Eddie Booth and Rev. Rusty Penny officiating. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 PM, Monday at the funeral home in Whitney. Interment will follow at Prairie Valley Cemetery near Whitney.

Chesley was born August 20, 1920 in the Prairie Valley Community, the son of Otis Lee and Ethel (Overton) Auten. He grew up in Prairie Valley and graduated from Whitney High School. On July 20, 1937 he married Wanda Christine Overton. The couple moved to Stephenville where he attended Tarleton State University. He taught school briefly at Prairie Valley, then coached and taught at Three Way, Texas and Morgan Hill, Texas. During World War II, he served in the Army Air Corps as a test pilot. He also later flew reconnaissance over Korea for the Air Force during the Korean war from an Air Force base in Kansas. For several years, he was a Texas State Trooper until he moved into the State Intelligence Division and served in Internal Security Investigation for several years.

In 1965, he left law enforcement and served as the Superintendent of Lake Whitney State Park. In the early 70's, he became the first Director of Law Enforcement for the Texas State Park System where he served until his retirement. For the past 34 years, he owned and operated Auten Farms where he raised beef cattle. Until the past year, he and Wanda enjoyed their retirement on the land where he was raised. They were married for over 73 years. The couple attended Prairie Valley Baptist Church. They faithfully gave to the church, kept their cattle fat, were always available to help their children, and seldom left home except to go to church, the grocery store, and Wal-Mart.

Chesley was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Doyle Auten & Marshall Auten of Whitney; and two sisters, Ruby Boswell of Sipe Springs, Texas and Opal Jones of Stephenville, Texas.

Survivors include his wife Wanda; one daughter Joyce Hill and her husband Jimmy; two sons, retired Major Chesley Darvin Auten and wife Barbara and Dr. Cliff Auten and wife Annette all of the Prairie Valley area; eight grandchildren, Lucretia Hill Price, Suzanne Hill Sessums, Tracy Auten Brightwell, Eric Auten, Clinton Auten, Kevin Auten, Kara Auten Sneed and Kristopher Auten; twenty-four great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren; and a large extended family.

Memorials may be made to the Prairie Valley Cemetery, 112 HCR 2105 Loop South, Whitney, Texas 76692.

Funeral Service

Tuesday February 28, 2012 , 2:00 PM at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Whitney

Visitation

Monday February 27, 2012 , 6:00 - 8:00 PM at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Whitney