Carl Deloach

It was a good run.
When Daddy came in from a railroad trip, Mama would ask, "Was it a good trip?" and he would always reply, "It was a good run."
Carl C. "Rusty" DeLoach, age 86, made his last good run from this life to be with his Lord in Heaven on August 1, 2013 after a brief illness. True to their devotion to one another, Rusty was joined on his last good run by "the love of his life", Juanita Elizabeth "Nita" Morgan DeLoach only twelve hours later, when the Lord took her in her sleep.
A lifelong resident of the Smithville area, Rusty was born September 8, 1926, on the family farm in Upton, Bastrop County, Texas to William Lee and Rena Belle Deavers DeLoach.
Rusty attended a one room school house in Upton until his family moved to Smithville. While attending Smithville High School and playing football for the Fighting Tigers, he met the love of his life, Nita. Also at this time, Rusty began working on the Missouri Kansas Texas Railroad at the young age of 16 as part of the rail crew. Nita and Rusty's courtship and his work on the Katy were suddenly interrupted by World War II. Rusty enthusiastically joined the United States Navy in 1944 and served on the destroyer USS Black in the Pacific Theater. After the war, he returned to Smithville and resumed his employment with the MKT Railroad and married his high school sweetheart, Nita Morgan, on September 19, 1947. Rusty demonstrated devotion in many ways...to his wife, Nita, whom he adored, enjoying a marriage of 65 year; to his family who were the priority in his life and also to the railroad, where he served the Katy for 44 full years. Rusty served with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, was a member of the Oddfellows Lodge, American Legion and the Veteran's of Foreign Wars. Rusty was also a member of the Smithville United Methodist Church and was active in the United Methodist Men's group where he was instrumental in starting the recycling program. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Rusty loved attending his children and grandchildren's games and activities. His calm, steady manner made him the anchor of his family, a source of strength in times of trouble, and a wonderful example to his children and grandchildren. A man of few words, he loved running trains, playing dominoes, golf and tending to his cattle. He leaves as a legacy the value of hard work, commitment, loyalty and love of family. Thanks for your love, Daddy. It was a good run.

Mama's Devotion
Juanita Elizabeth "Nita" Morgan DeLoach, age 88, was born August 31, 1924 in Bastrop County, Texas to William Elisha and Mariah Lodemia Sims Morgan. She grew up in the small railroad town of Smithville during the Depression. After high school, she moved to San Antonio to attend business school and then on to Houston for her first job in the accounting department at Sears & Roebuck Co. When her high school sweetheart returned from World War II in 1946 they continued their romance, married, and briefly stayed in Houston unti they returned to Smithville in 1948 where Rusty continued work for the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad.

Nita took on the role of wife and became a devoted mother, faithful example and true friend to their three children, Rita, Cindy and Rusty. As with many women of The Greatest Generation, the early focus of Nita's life was devoted to raising their children, teaching Sunday School and helping in the community. Ever involved in her children's school endeavors, she never missed a PTA meeting and never a church meeting without her oatmeal cookies. She was a Cub Scout leader, perpetual room mother, participated in the March of Dimes, the American Cancer Society, and patriotically served in school, city, state and national elections. Whenever asked what she did for a living, she outstretched her hands, palms up, and said "Just a housewife." However, what a wife and mother she was. She taught her children many lessons about life and giving. She did this not only by example, but by testimony. She was always giving one-liners of advice ... "It doesn't cost a dime to be friendly;" "You can get glad in the same pants you got mad in;" "You can be happy with little or much."
She pursued being a mother with such enthusiasm and joy, that she never fully realized her family was her life's work until her 80th birthday when she looked around the room and said, "My goodness, would you just look at this family. I must have been busy these past years". Over time, Nita became "Nana", the much loved grandmother of nine grandchildren and great-grandmother of fifteen. Her smile, sense of fun and love graced every significant event in their lives - dance recitals, piano recitals, Pinewood Derbies, football, baseball, & basketball games, graduations, weddings, holidays and birthdays. Always in on the fun, she was roller skating with them in her sixties and fishing and swimming with them in her seventies. If she loved anything more than being a mother, it was being a grandmother. All received her words of wisdom from time to time always beginning with, "now doll, this may just be your Nana talking, but . . .".
Nita had a love for the Lord her entire life and passed His love to her children and grandchildren. She read The Upper Room devotionals out loud every morning after breakfast. She was a faithful member of First United Methodist church of Smithville for all of her 88 years, where her passions included serving as treasurer, the Bazaar and especially the United Methodist Women's group.
Thank you for your devotion, Mama.

Rusty is preceded in death by his mother and father, his brothers Doyle D. DeLoach, Billy Darris DeLoach and John Haney DeLoach and sister, Marie DeLoach George .
Nita is preceded in death by her mother and father, and dear sister, Bertha Marie Morgan Gray.
They are both preceded in death by their oldest daughter, Rita Marie DeLoach Bunte.
Those left to cherish their memory are son and daughter-in-law, Carl C. DeLoach, Jr., and Wanda of Lubbock; daughter and son-in-law, Cindy DeLoach Klutts, and Carlos of Austin; son-in-law, Bill Bunte of Smithville; Rusty's sister Jewel DeLoach Hancock of Baytown; and his brother-in-law Andrew George of Somerville. They are also survived by their grandchildren, Landon Holly and wife Kristin of Lubbock; Clint Holly of Dallas; Carl C. DeLoach III "Russ" of Lubbock; and Nikki DeLoach of Lubbock; Jarrett Bunte of Austin; and Carissa Bunte Cassatt and husband Thomas of Frisco; Tiffany Klutts Brumley and husband Wayne of Austin; Brandt Klutts and wife, Kim of Boerne; and Clayton Morgan Klutts and wife Katherine of Austin; and.great-grandchildren Buddy, Ellie, Mary Morgan & Wren Brumley of Austin; Brooks, Molly & Weston Klutts of Boerne; Carter, Clayton, and Charlie Klutts of Austin; Trevor Cassatt of Frisco; Gracie Marie Bunte of Austin; Brooklyn & Easton Holly of Lubbock; and Kellan Holly of Lubbock.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.,Saturday, August 3 at All Faiths of the Pines in Smithville. Funeral services will be held in conjunction at First United Methodist Church, Smithville at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, August 4th. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Serving as pallbearers will be Brandt Klutts, Clayton Morgan Klutts, Landon Holly, Clint Holly, Russ DeLoach, Buddy Brumley, Brooks Klutts, Larry Wayne Hancock, Bill Bunte, Wayne Brumley, Thomas Cassatt, Andrew George, Terry Rosanky, Bud Ray, Doyle Rogers and J.R. Scallorn.

The family wishes to express their deep gratitude and affection for Deloris Hill, Bettye Marshall, Shirley Hastings, Earlene Oliver and Rosie Brown for their wonderful and compassionate care of Nita and Rusty over the past years.
Memorial gifts may be made to First United Methodist Church, 400 Olive Street, Smithville, Texas 78957 or Smithville Historical Railroad Park, P. O. Box 100, Smithville, Texas 78957.
Arrangements by All Faiths of the Pines,110 American Legion Road, Smithville, Texas 78957, 512-237-3836.