Floyd Lee Nettles

Funeral services for Floyd Lee Nettles, 87, of Deer Park, Texas will be held on October 29, 2022, at 10:00A.M. in the Cochran Funeral Home, in Livingston, Texas with visitation preceding from 9:00A.M. – 10:00A.M. Interment will follow in the Carmona Cemetery, Carmona, Texas

Born on November 17, 1934, the son of John Cicero “Jack” and Katy Maze Nettles, Floyd Lee Nettles, known as “Papaw” to his family, passed away on October 22, 2022. 

Floyd grew up in Livingston, Texas where he attended school.

While at Livingston High School, he played football and was named All State Guard and Linebacker, 1951 and 1952; All District Linebacker 1952; Football Captain 1952; and was selected All School Favorite 1953.  After graduation, he accepted a football scholarship and enrolled at Texas A&I in Kingsville, but later quit to help his family and start one of his own.  

He married Marjorie Sailer on June 17. 1955 and they spent the next 62 years together with their three sons, nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.   An avid hunter of ducks and deer, he shared this passionate hobby with friends and family until his final hunt in 2020.

Floyd joined the Houston Police Department on April 28, 1958, Academy Class # 18. During his tenure with the department, he was assigned to Identification, Office of Technology Services and Special Operations Divisions until his retirement on January 1, 1991.

That retirement lasted for less than 24 hours when he joined Harris County Constables Office, Precinct 1, as a Constable until May of 1996. During his time on the force, he saw firsthand the closing of Colt Stadium and the construction of the Astrodome. He worked the security detail on April 26, 1959 when Cuban Leader Fidel Castro visited Houston.  He was also present as security at the Rice Hotel November 21, 1963 for President Kennedy, and he served on security details for many other dignitaries over the 38 years of wearing the badge.  Always the athlete, his love of jogging afforded him the opportunity to run with President Ronald Reagan and President George Bush at Memorial Park. He had the honor of throwing the opening pitch for the Astros at the Astrodome upon his retirement from the Constables Office.

After retirement, Floyd and Marjorie spent their time attending every sporting event their grandkids had, driving back and forth to Carmona to check on their cows, and working constantly on her flower beds and the ever expanding “honey-do” list that she would have ready.  

But he could never be away from his fellow retired Houston Police officers, so he joined the board of the Houston Police Retired Officers Association, and took over membership, where he worked the phones, calling and recruiting all of those he could get to join and then helping any member to get the wheelchair or walker they needed.  

Weekdays you could find him at 6:15 am with the guys walking and working out at Dow Park staying active and in shape.  Then he would go over to the Maxwell Center, work in the garden to grow tomatoes, okra, and potatoes to help with the kitchen, but there was always too much, so everyone who knew him got fresh veggies also. 

Third Thursday Men’s Group of Carmona was something he looked forward to every month, and he would be the first to be there and the last to leave, always looking for the new guy that wasn’t a diehard Republican or Life member of the NRA.   Still no matter what, by the end of the night Papaw would still shake their hand and wish them well. 

But Sunday mornings were his favorite. He loved go to Carmona Church and sit on the front row, see all the familiar faces, sing loud and proud his own version of the hymn, listen to Brother Charlie’s sermon and visit with him afterwards about how he liked it or if he thought it went too long… in the nicest way he could.  

Floyd is preceded in death by his wife Marjorie, his parents, his siblings; Jewel, Alvis, Wilson, Jack Raymond, Arbury Earl, Glenn Roy, Kenneth, Betty, and Elmer.  

He is survived by his sisters Fay Hamilton and her husband, Bob of Spring, Texas and Dene Courtney and her husband Lee of Buffalo Grove, Illinois: and his sons and daughters-in-law; Floyd and Cindy Nettles, David and Veness Nettles, Doug and Carla Nettles. Grandchildren David, Daniel, Dusti, Drake, Sue, John, Alicia, Jordan, and Erica.  Great-grandchildren Sadie, Sawyer, Dane and Jade. And numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Serving as Pallbearers will be David Alan Nettles, Daniel Nettles, Drake Nettles, John Nettles, Jordan Nettles, Dustin Porterfield, Brady Hogan and Preston Vaughn.