Denison- Funeral services for Carl David Englutt, Sr., age 80, will be held at 1:00 PM Friday, January 8 at Waldo Funeral Home. Burial will follow at White Mound Cemetery. His death occurred unexpectedly while visiting his daughter in Van Alstyne, Sunday morning, January 3, 2021.
Mr. Englutt was born in Achille, Oklahoma on February 16, 1940, the son of Roxie Mae Chumbley and John Forrest Englutt. He graduated from Colbert High School in 1958. He served in the US Army, primarily in Germany. He was an active member of the Masons for 53 years with membership in the Constantine Lodge #13 of Bonham, Texas.
Mr. Englutt was a fireman for the Sherman Fire Department where he was the first fireman to drive an ambulance for the department when it took over ambulance service. He retired after 25 years of service. He was a hard-working man who often was found working two or three jobs. He was a member of Kemp Baptist Church. He was an avid fisherman; loved all animals, especially horses, and trail rides.
Mr. Englutt was preceded in death by his parents; sister Anne Frances Gurley; brother John Forrest Englutt II; and brother James Hoyatt Englutt.
Mr. Englutt is survived by wife Nina Lela Carter Englutt of Denison; son David Englutt of Howe; and daughter Leasa Ramsey and husband Freddy of Van Alstyne; grandson, Jared Hunter Ramsey and wife Whitney of Howe; great-grandchildren, Aubrey and Gracie Wall all of Howe; sisters: Dorothy Anderson and husband David of Denison; Lauretha Collins and husband Mike of Denison; and Jan Grantland and husband Billy of Denison. He is also survived by niece Dymetra Cline and husband Bobby and great-niece Micha Wadley, all of Denison; niece Roxie Wilson and husband Ricky of Bells and great-nephew John F. Englutt III and wife Teresa of Sherman.
Visitation will be from 4:00 – 6:00 PM, Thursday, January 7 at Waldo Funeral Home. The register book can be signed online at waldofuneralhome.com.
Robert Lee Trotter, 67, of Howe, Texas, died unexpectedly on December 19, 2020 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident nine days earlier. and passed later at the hospital due to surgery complications. His loss was completely unexpected, and the family is shocked and deeply saddened.
Mr. Trotter was born in Sherman, TX to Paul E. and Virginia Trotter. He briefly lived in Sherman until his family moved to Howe, TX. There he grew up spending most days outdoors playing with his brothers and sisters, picking on each other, which they all continue to do. Mr. Trotter graduated from Howe High School and began working at Magni- Fab. He ended his career as a Supervisor at Western Canwell. In his spare time, he loved being outdoors and spending time with his family and friends.
Mr. Trotter never met a stranger. No matter how long or short he’d known you, you could count on him to help you with anything. He was such a great hugger that numerous friends and family referred to him as a “big ol’ teddy bear”. If he wasn’t at his home in his comfy recliner watching football or Nascar, he could be found outdoors riding around on his motorcycle, fishing, or hanging out at the river.
Anyone that knew Mr. Trotter, knew he was a kind, caring, and adoring father. He was a very loving dad to his daughters, Leslie and Randi, and an outstanding stepfather to Johnna and Kelley Money. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for his children and never did a visit or phone call does not end with an “I love you”.
Mr. Trotter was preceded in death by his mother, Virginia, his father, Paul E., and his sister Paula Wornhor. He is survived by daughters Leslie (Tom) DeFrange and Randi (Brandon) Trotter, grandchildren Taylor (Dustin) Powell, Hailey DeFrange, Zoie DeFrange, Zak DeFrange, Khalid Trotter, Raegan McKinney, and Rilyn McKinney as well as great-grandchildren Cooper Geer and Coulson Powell. He is also survived by sisters Debby (Jerry) Copeland and Nyala (Bruce) Williams and brothers Wayne Trotter and Paul David Trotter as well as Aunt Juanita (Bill) Jennings and several nieces and nephews.
When the family is ready, there will be a memorial ride in his honor followed by a celebration of his life.
Steve Ellis Sasser, age 62, of Howe, Texas passed away peacefully in his sleep on December 9, 2020. Steve was born to Charles Arnold Sasser and Chloe Lynn Sasser on October 30, 1958. Steve was a graduate of Howe High School in 1977. Following high school, Steve pursued his dream and became what many people know him as; he became “Steve Casey (Dane)” to the people who loved wrestling. He traveled the world and lived his life to the fullest during this time along with acquiring lifelong friends, one of who is Chaz Taylor. Chaz was his wrestling buddy and one of his best friends who has always been there for him. Steve was proud of his career and accomplishments in the entertainment field of wrestling. There are still many people that can recall his performances. His family enjoyed “bringing out the old videos and giggling around the table watching them”.
When Steve retired from wrestling, he returned to his hometown and opened Gold’s Gym in which he operated for a few years. He continued to be committed to athletics and staying physically fit following his retirement from wrestling. Around the year 1999, he met his wife, Deanna. At that time, Steve was planning to return to Japan to wrestle again. He opted not to return to wrestling and Steve and Deanna were married in 2000. Deanna had three children that Steve accepted in the marriage and played a big role in their lives. Together, he and Deanna operated Fed Ex delivery routes for approximately 15 years. Steve enjoyed working in the yard and loved his dogs, specifically his “wolf dogs”.
Anyone that knew Steve knew that he was one of a kind. He had a “macho” personality with a soft heart. He loved BIG even when he snarled his nose. If there was one important accomplishment Steve could boast about, it was the fact that he was a child of God. He accepted the Lord as his Savior on February 20, 2000 at First Baptist Church in Howe, TX and was baptized by Roger Tidwell as an expression of his faith. The Howe Enterprise got it right when they stated,” It was the day the entire congregation gave the former wrestler the biggest and most important cheer he had ever received.” Steve’s witty personality, sense of humor, and big heart will definitely be missed by many, but we can rejoice knowing he has his wings.
Steve is preceded in death by his father, Charles Sasser. He is survived by his wife, Deanna Sasser; stepdaughter, Amber Nash and husband, Joel Nash; stepdaughter, LeAnn McCollum and husband, Zack McCollum; stepson, Kent Foster; grandchildren, Riley and Zane McCollum, Ethan Barnard, Emaree Weeks, Capri Foster, and Paisley Foster; mother, Chloe Sasser; sister, Cherie Harris; Niece, Jordan Gardenhire and husband Austin Gardenhire; great-nephews Cameron and Carter Gardenhire; and stepmother, Lenora Sasser; along with multiple friends and extended family members.
Our dearest sympathies are with family and friends at this time. Due to the current Covid-19 restrictions, there will be no services at this time. Please continue to pray for Steve’s family. Remembrances may be made in the form desired and can be sent to 920 Calder Street Howe, TX 75459.
Jared Coffey, a 39-year-old serial entrepreneur, opened Guns N More at 281 Celtic Road in eastern Howe in April 2018 and as any new small business, began to advertise and market to a new client base. But in March, his business began to skyrocket due to the uneasiness of COVID-19.
Jared Coffey
“In one day, we did $24,000 (of sales) in March,” said Coffey. “That was the first day the FBI database was overwhelmed so we had 37 transactions in two hours and all of them denied.”
Due to the FBI being overwhelmed, they contacted gun distributors and told them to place all orders in delayed status. Coffey said he had items that were in delayed status that he did not figure would otherwise have sold for 15 years.
Coffey and co-owner Alan Austin were processing all down payments and all full orders, FBI notifications, and customer communications between the two of them. The 37 transactions in that first hour turned into 800 for the month.
“It was crazy,” said Coffey. “It just compounded from there. I was being searched (online) more than Dairy Queen.”
After the initial surge in March, things leveled off, but orders are steadily increasing.
“We sold out the whole shop in three weeks,” said Coffey. “We replenished it and shut down for about three days to re-price and regroup.”
Coffey began to set his alarm at 1 a.m. each day to purchase ammunition online and 4 a.m. each day to purchases guns online to restock the shelves. He would then wake up at 6:30 a.m. to start his other businesses and open the gun shop at 8 a.m.
“It’s kind of been like that, but now it’s only one or so nights a week to get up at 4 a.m. to buy ammo, but that has since stalled. There’s nothing (to purchase).”
All the creativity of purchasing at odd times and purchasing from Canada and importing items are no longer options as the suppliers are now dry.
“There’s nothing. Buying from the fat guy in Indiana in his basement or whatever is gone. It’s all made full-circle and it’s all gone,” said Coffey. “I have more guns than five Academies right now.”
He says before the election, things looked like they were going to calm down and everyone was stocked up on their ammo, but all things changed after the election.
“No one anticipated all this rigged stuff,” said Coffey. “We all knew it was coming, but we didn’t think they’d get away with it. So, it has since kicked back into gear and the problem is there are 62 trillion allocations on ammunition. That’s impossible to produce.”
Coffey says producers are stockpiling ammo and not distributing it. Once they reset the allocations, they will then disperse.
“I think that’s going to be determined once we determine who the president’s going to be,” said Coffey. “But for now, everyone’s just going to have to fend for themselves. It’s the same thing as toilet paper.”
Currently, there is no lag for those wanting to purchase a gun. Coffey says those that pass the FBI forms with a “squeaky clean record” will have no problems. But if the purchase is on a Friday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., one would be put into delayed status due to the FBI overload.
“There are three parts of the process—proceed, deny, or delay,” said Coffey. “Delays have been 50-50. Proceeds are typically 90 percent and delays are 10 percent. Even little old ladies in wheelchairs with a squeaky-clean past is taking three days to get through. But it is speeding up. The gun purchasing side of things is starting to descend a little bit. It’s the custom-build side and that’s why we’re so busy.”
He gave the example of someone not necessarily wanting a particular Glock, but it was purchased because it was all that was available. Therefore, that person brings it to Guns N More to custom the Glock.
“We’re the hot rod shop for guns. It’s what we do,” said Coffey. “Guns sales is not my forte. It is 21 percent of my bottom line. That shop (pointing to where 50/50 partner Alan Austin was working) is what makes this money here.”
The shop where Austin works was once a tractor barn but have been converted to a custom gunsmithing shop filled with locker ovens, paint cabinets, and of course Austin and his expertise artwork on guns. Austin is a Certified Gunsmith with the accreditation from Armorers Courses from all major manufacturers such as Smith & Wesson, Glock, and Remington. He was formerly a Small Arms Artillery Technician for the Army, then attended a two-year college (Lenoir College) for a civilian certification.
All Guns N More practices are era dated down to the bluing process. With top of the line machinery. They say if they cannot find a part, they will make it. Their chemical processes are industry-leading and the attention to detail is renowned.
Coffey also owns Behavior Network, a clinic in McKinney for autistic children and adults. His wife Dr. Amanda Coffey is the clinical director while he serves as operations director. He says they began their business at their kitchen table with nine clients and two girls working for them. They now have 347 school districts, 1,500 clients, 144 employees, and a 20,000 square foot operation.
They also operate a transitional home for when autistic children must leave the clinic and need to go to a state institution or permanent housing.
“We created a business model for them to go into a home temporarily to acclimate them into that permanent process. So, we own several houses across the state to do that,” said Coffey.
On top of the other businesses, Coffey also produces hay from his property for Tractor Supply.
On top of all the businesses and waking in the wee hours of the morning, Coffey also manages to volunteer his time to coach baseball and football for the Howe Youth Sports Association.
“The special part is that my wife is a hard worker,” said Coffey. “She was the 300th Board Certified Behavior Certified Analyst in the country and the 14th P.H.D. in behavior health.”
He said that working directly with CPAs and lawyers to build the behavior health company, he forced himself to do it.
“But now I have 64 bachelor’s degrees, 19 master’s degrees, and five PHDs that work for me and I have no college degree,” said Coffey. “My grandad always used to say, ‘employ people that are smarter than you, but don’t be outsmarted by them and if you don’t have the money, put your back into it.’”
He says that he and Amanda’s philosophy is to always wear everything on their sleeve, be honest and live debt-free.
“We just run a really square business—all of our business models are really squared off,” said Coffey. “She’s talented.”
Coffey spoke very highly of the talent of his co-owner Austin. He said he invested his money into his skillset, and it is currently paying off. A gun shop in Texas is a pretty safe gamble.
