Clyde Westbrook Hensley III

Submitted by Cameron1 on

Clyde Westbrook Hensley III, “Sonny,” passed away Saturday, March 30, 2019, at the age of 75 and surrounded by his loving family. 

He was born Oct. 15, 1943, in Corsicana, to Clyde Westbrook Jr. and Margaret (Willard) Hensley and into two families that trace their roots back to Stephen F. Austin’s “Old Three Hundred.” Clyde moved to Southern California in the late 1950s with his family and attended Whittier High School where he met his future wife, Noel (Bee) Hensley.

After graduating in 1961, Clyde returned to Texas, enrolling at the University of Texas where he made the Longhorn baseball team as a walk-on freshman. The following year, Clyde and Noel were married and had the first of two children. After graduating from Texas in 1967 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Education, Clyde began his professional career working for TWA in Kansas City, MO, and later, Chicago, IL.  In 1972, he returned to Texas to join the family business, Hensley Apparel. In 1996, Clyde left the apparel industry and embarked on a 20-year career as a teacher in the Carrollton and Lindale school districts.  He is remembered fondly by countless teachers and former students from Long Middle School, Creekview High School, and Lindale High School where Clyde taught social studies, U.S. government, U.S. and Texas History, and psychology. Sonny loved spending time with his family and friends, playing golf and poker, landscaping, hanging out with his dogs, and following the Cowboys, Rangers, and, of course, his beloved Longhorns. 

He was extraordinarily proud of his seven grandchildren, three of whom have followed in his footsteps by attending the University of Texas.

Clyde is survived by his son, Jeff (Colleen) Hensley; daughter, Anne (Doug) Martin; brothers, David (Rhonda) Hensley, and Robert Hensley; seven grandchildren, Mallory Martin, Vanessa Martin, Kyle Hensley, Stephanie Martin, Kaden Hensley, Kacey Hensley, and Margaret Martin; and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, April 6, at 2 p.m., at the Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home, 2800 N. Travis Ave., Cameron, TX, 76520, followed by interment at Walker’s Creek Cemetery.

Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home of Cameron is in charge of arrangements.