ENNIS ELWOOD JOINER

Ennis Elwood Joiner, 93, died Sunday, September 8, 2024, in Gorman, Texas, in the home he shared with his daughter, Linda.

Ennis was born December 1, 1930, in the Duster community in Comanche County, Texas.  He was the second child of T. D. "Bill" and Hope (Dukes) Joiner.

Ennis attended school at Duster until the fourth grade when they moved to the Kokomo community where he attended the Gorman schools.  He graduated from Gorman High School in 1947 at the age of 16 and entered John Tarleton Agricultural College where he was one of the top ten honor graduates.

He married Nina Beth Hale on April 23, 1950.  They immediately moved to Jal, New Mexico, where he had a job with El Paso Natural Gas Company.  They stayed at Jal for the next twenty-five years.  After their children were grown, they moved to various places including Gallup, New Mexico; Midkiff, Texas; and Bethioua, Algeria.  Ennis retired in 1985 after 35 years with EPNG to his hometown of Gorman, Texas.

He loved gardening, crossword puzzles, and reading.  He had an amazing memory for details in all subjects.  He was a Baptist deacon, a Sunday School teacher, and a Gideon.  Although he had been a church member for years, he was saved and became a Christian in 1959 during a revival meeting at Calvary Baptist Church in Jal.  He continued as an active leader in each of the churches he attended over the years.  His final church membership was at Lake Leon Baptist Church.

He is survived by his two children, Linda Glover of Gorman and Stephen and Betty Joiner of Abilene.

His grandchildren were always special to him:  Diana Blankenship of Gorman, David Joiner and wife Mandi of Abilene, Janice Derington and husband Jeremy of Stephenville, Mary Beth Leach and husband Justin of Holliday, and Mark Glover and wife Stephanie of Austin.  He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Debra Joiner.

Ennis and Nina Beth also had eleven great-grandchildren. Garrett and Abigail Gilder, Skyler Blankenship, Gemma and Juniper Glover, Hannah, Makenna, Cora and Carter Derington and Brynn and Sadie Leach

He had seven brothers and sisters and is survived by his sisters, Billie Jean Grisham and Joyce and Ernie Bramlett; and also by his brothers, Don and Nita Joiner, David and Sandra Joiner, and Howard and Barbara Joiner. He was preceded in death by his sister, Lucy Joiner and his brother, Chester Joiner.

For Ennis and Nina Beth family was very important, but their relationship with Jesus Christ was what influenced their lives and home the most. Ennis prayed for the people he loved that each of them would not only be saved,  but also would live as disciples of Jesus.  He looked forward to seeing them in Heaven and hoped they would all be there.

Graveside funeral services celebrating Ennis' life were held Saturday, September 14, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. in De Leon Cemetery with son, Stephen Joiner, and dear family friend, Richard Watson, officiating.