Pat Garner Hedgcoxe, 76, died at home on Sunday, July 26th, 2009. He was born to Wilbur Leland and Emma Lou Brown Hedgcoxe on January 4th, 1933 at his family's home near Allen, in Collin County, Texas.

After graduating from Plano High School, Pat graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering. He continued his education and obtained his PhD in Engineering Mechanics in 1964.

Pat worked initially as a teacher's assistant at UT Austin and then served in the US Air Force as a 1st Lieutenant in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Pat worked in the defense industry over the years and was employed with Tracor, Inc. in Austin, and later with General Dynamics and Lockheed both in Fort Worth.

He began his teaching career with a short tenure at Trinity University in San Antonio. Then in the late 1960s, he became a professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Houston Main Campus. In the early 1970's he enjoyed the challenge of opening the new Engineering Department at the University of Houston, Victoria Campus. As Department Head, he spent evenings recruiting a full staff, and nights teaching himself new subjects for lecture the following day.

Pat was preceded in death by both his parents as well as his sister, Wilburta McCarley, brother, Jack Hedgcoxe, brother, John Hedgcoxe and sister, Mary Bankhead. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Patricia Blackwell Hedgcoxe; his son H. Reiffert Hedgcoxe and wife Anne Mc Cauley Hedgcoxe of Houston, Texas, as well as his daughter Lou H. Houser and husband Mark Houser also of Houston, Texas; his six grandchildren, Clair Hedgcoxe, Will Hedgcoxe, Dixie Houser, Sarah Houser, Ellie Houser and Amy Houser all of Houston, Texas.

A loving husband, father and grandfather, Pat was loved dearly by family and many friends. Pat loved his years of teaching and mentoring students. He was well known for his oratory of Robert W. Service, and particularly his rendition of "The Cremation of Sam McGee". He was also an avid sailor and spent many happy days sailing at Lake Travis, Galveston Bay, and Canyon Lake.

Friends and family are invited to attend a visitation Wednesday, July 29, 2009 from 6:30 to 8:00 in the evening at Freund Funeral Home, 213 N. Gonzales Street, Cuero, Texas.

A memorial service will be conducted at 11:00 in the morning on Thursday, July 30, 2009 at Grace Episcopal Church, 102 East Live Oak, Cuero, Texas. A reception will follow directly afterwards in Proctor Hall. Barefoot Bankhead, Bill Blackwell, Sam Glass, Henry Hedgcoxe, Tim Megason, Harold Nichols, Bob Reichard and Bucky Sager are serving as pallbearers.

The family would like to express its deepest gratitude and heartfelt thanks to Dr. Jennifer Gonzales and all the nurses and EMS at Cuero Community Hospital, Dr. Qadri and nurses at Oncology and Hematology of Victoria, as well as Vollie Griffin, Becky Lira, John Jackson, Don and Elva Eggins.

To celebrate Pat's love of The University of Texas and passion for teaching, the family has created the Pat Garner Hedgcoxe Endowed Scholarship in Engineering Mechanics at UT Austin. If desired, remembrances may be made to the Endowment at the following address: The University of Texas at Austin, Cockrell School of Engineering, Attn: Pat Garner Hedgcoxe Endowed Scholarship, 1 University Station C2104, Austin, Texas 78712-0287.

Freund Funeral Home, 361.275.2343.