Edwin James Horak

Edwin James Horak, 90, of Temple, Texas passed away Saturday, November 23, 2019 while staying at the Olin E. Teague Veterans Hospice Community Center. He was there for four months after a five-year battle against colon cancer with his beloved family by his side. Visitation for Ed will be held on Friday, November 29, 2019 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Crotty Funeral Home in Belton. Funeral service will be held at Crotty Funeral Home on Saturday, November 30, 2019 at 1:00 PM with Pastor Becky Sogge officiating. Burial will follow at Bellwood Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to CTVHCS VS (135), eg: Hospice Unit, 1901 Veterans Memorial Dr., Temple, Texas 76504 Volunteer Services. Ed was born Saturday, September 14, 1929 to Frank and Olga (Adamek) Horak and grew up in Ricardo, Texas. He was a true Texan with Czech heritage running through his blood. Ed enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping with the family, listening to Czech polka bands, square dancing, and all sports, especially the Dallas Cowboys. In Ed's early years, he helped on his family farm just south of Kingsville, Texas. He helped with the chores around the farm such as milking cows and feeding the animals before school. He also helped pull cotton in the summertime. Ed was a 1947 graduate of H. M. King High School in Kingsville, Texas. Ed enlisted into the United States Army in 1953, taking his basic training at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. He served three years in the Army, two of those years in Korea. On February 16, 1963, Ed married the love of his life, Hazel Thurmond, of Kingsville, Texas. It was there in Kingsville they raised their family. Ed retired from Hoechst- Celanese in 1992 after 25 years of service as an operator. Ed and Hazel moved to Morgan's Point Resort in February 1997 to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Ed was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He was a man always looking for something to do-going for walks, fixing things around the house, helping his grandchildren feed the deer, or picking vegetables out of his garden. He loved pulling old nails out of boards and enjoyed straightening them up to be used later. Ed and Hazel joined two camping clubs and enjoyed traveling and camping for many years with friends. Their biggest trip was towing their camper along with another couple and making the journey across the United States, Canada, and Alaska. Ed is survived by his wife Hazel Thurmond Horak; two sons, James (Donna) Horak and grandson, Michael, of Belton, Texas, and Frank (Connie) Horak of Holland, Texas and grandchildren, Jacob and Shelby, of Nacogdoches, Texas; his brother Billy Joe Horak of Kingsville, Texas, and several nieces and nephews. He is proceeded in death by his parents Frank and Olga Horak, and sister, Doris Horak Wallis. Arrangements are entrusted to Crotty Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Belton. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Edwin James Horak please visit our Sympathy Store.