Elmer D. Hairgrove, Jr.

No services are planned at this time for Elmer D. Hairgrove Jr., 91, of Bridgeport, Texas.

Elmer Dee “Sonny” Hairgrove, Jr. entered into the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in Decatur, Texas, at the age of 91 on July 16, 2026.

Sonny was born on September 8, 1934, in Dallas, Texas, to Elmer Dee Hairgrove and Dorothy Lee Meyers Hairgrove. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 52 years, Lorraine Maxine Bardin Hairgrove, his parents, his daughter Beth Hairgrove Quillen, and his brothers, Billy Hairgrove and Charles Hairgrove.

A devoted member of Bethany Baptist Church for many years, Sonny faithfully taught the men’s Bible class and found immense joy in studying God’s Word, often speaking with great enthusiasm about reading the entire Bible over the course of every year for many years. His desire to understand Scripture as deeply as possible even led him to study Hebrew and attend classes within the local Jewish community so he could better appreciate the customs, language, and traditions that illuminate the Bible. He believed that every new insight brought him closer to the heart of God.

A lifelong learner, Sonny possessed an insatiable curiosity that never diminished. He delighted in understanding how things worked, why they mattered, and the stories they had to tell. Whether marveling at the engineering of the streets of downtown Dallas during his days working at the Texas Department of Transportation, searching Texas fields for relics of the past, crafting beautiful jewelry from ordinary stones, preserving vegetables worthy of award-winning ribbons at the State Fair of Texas, or building furniture with his own hands, Sonny found joy in discovering the extraordinary within the ordinary.

Those who knew Sonny best remember not only what he knew, but how he lived. He possessed a gentle spirit, an exceptional work ethic, a quick wit, and a playful sense of humor. He delighted in sharing stories, chuckled at his own punchlines, and could gently tease those he loved in ways that left everyone smiling. Time spent with Sonny always left people with a warm, comforting feeling and the unmistakable assurance that they had been in the presence of someone who genuinely cared.

If Sonny could leave one final message, it would be this: know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Of all the knowledge he pursued throughout his life, nothing compared to knowing the One he faithfully served. His greatest joy was growing closer to his Lord, and his deepest hope was that others would experience that same saving grace.

He is survived by his granddaughter, Laurabeth Caban and husband Michael of Haslet, Texas; his grandson, Wyatt Quillen of Weatherford, Texas; his sister, Jackie Sorrells of Lindale, Texas; his brothers, Walter Hairgrove of LaRue, Texas, and Bob Hairgrove and wife Sena of Dallas; along with many beloved nieces, nephews, extended family members, and countless friends whose lives were enriched by knowing him.

© (Hudson & Torres Family Funeral Home)

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This obituary is a work protected under international and federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this compiled work may be reproduced, altered, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author.

The author hereby grants the newspaper the right to publish the compiled work on the dates and location provided in the submission details and further grants to the newspaper the right to reproduce the work electronically in any website or digital medium owned or controlled by the newspaper, provided the copy is not altered or modified in any way. The funeral home’s website domain must accompany any reproduction of the work. The work must not be used for or by any person for direct commercialized gain in competition with the author, the funeral home, or their respective businesses.