A funeral service for F. Wayne "Tops" McWhorter, 76, of Marshall, Texas will be held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, December 18, 2023, Cypress Valley Bible Church in Marshall, Texas. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sunday, December 17, 2023, at the Church.

F. Wayne McWhorter passed away in Longview, TX Wednesday, December 13th, 2023, with his three children by his side. He was loved dearly.

Wayne was born July 19, 1947, in McAlester, Oklahoma and lived in Talihina, Oklahoma where he attended elementary school. When the Korean War broke out, the family moved to Portland, Oregon while his father served as a medic in the US Army. After the war, the family moved to Odessa, Texas where Wayne attended Permian High School where his 4-man relay team achieved a state track record. He worked at the local grocery store, Goodyear Tire plant, and ran his roofing company throughout high school. He was able to buy his first car, a Ford Torino, white with a red stripe and pay for his education at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He initially graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in biology. While at Baylor, he studied diligently but enjoyed his free time with Sigma Tau Epsilon club and met his future wife of 48 years, Early Trulene Rhodes, on a double date. Wayne originally took the medical path to become a dentist, but God redirected him when he failed to pass the chalk carving test on his final exam. He then took a business elective course and breezed through it and realized he had found his calling.

He accepted his first job as a pharmaceutical representative with Squibb & Co. covering the Beaumont territory. At this time daughter Heidy was born while Wayne became one of the youngest employees ever hired and achieved high sales and promotions in the company. When Squibb offered to promote him and move his family to Chicago, Early's mother, Edith Rhodes, urged him to return to Baylor to complete his MBA. He took 107 hours in business school and graduated with an MBA. He later passed the CPA exam to become a Certified Public Accountant. The family moved to Arlington, TX where Wayne joined Arthur Young, a national accounting firm with offices in Fort Worth, TX. Shortly after their son Cash was born.

In 1978, Wayne accepted an offer from his dear Baylor friend to join Carlile, Fitts & Company in Marshall, TX, which later became Fitts, Feille & McWhorter CPAs. Daughter Cara was born soon after their move to Marshall. In 1984, Wayne and George Fitts sold their interest in the accounting firm to join Carlile & Howell, Inc., an oil and gas company. Wayne served as VP of Finance for Carlile & Howell, Inc. After the oil and gas company was sold, he became Chairman and CEO of what would eventually become First Service Bank. The bank group grew quickly from two to nine locations under Wayne's leadership. Wayne led the sale of First Service Bank to Hibernia in 1998. He was a former Deacon at First Baptist Church, Marshall, TX for 40 plus years.

In 2003, he was approached to run for Harrison County Judge with the goal to get the county out of debt. He won the election, becoming the first Republican and non-attorney to win in 100 years. Wayne's leadership for 4 years brought solid financial improvements for the county and community. To his honor, he helped secure state funding to restore the Harrison County Courthouse, the crown jewel of downtown Marshall, Texas. He was encouraged to run for another term but declined to focus on his health and family.

Wayne and Early magically surprised their children in 2005 on Christmas Eve with a cabin in Whitefish, Montana. The cabin was named "Standing Bear Cabin" after they witnessed a black bear standing upright on their property at a cave entrance, and Wayne proudly photographed the bear.  He enjoyed many wonderful years in the mountains and outdoors there with family and friends particularly hunting, golfing at Whitefish Lake Golf Club, joining buddies at Pin & Cue for MNF (they didn't watch football), and building a barn with a soundproof room for target shooting and reloading. His sidekick was his beloved Llewellin Setter, Lady, who attended all important meetings.

Wayne filled his retirement years hunting North American game and when the quail left Texas, he and Lady found grouse in the hills of Canada. His personal records included a 10-foot Alaskan brown bear, a Canadian elk, and a North Pole Muskox. A special memory was inviting his 8-year-old granddaughter, Carlin, on his Montana buffalo hunt.

Sadly, in 2017, Wayne and Early parted ways. Wayne then relished spending quality time with his children including cross country drives to visit Heidy in Florida at the Walt Disney Company, Cash in Texas at his ranch brokerage business and Cara at her title company work. He divided his time between Marshall, Argyle and Lucas, TX spending time with his four grandchildren of which he was extremely proud. He loved attending any activity that Carlin, Cate, Trinity and Cash II were involved in. His children could always depend on him to be there at a moment's notice to lend a hand, offer wisdom and advice. He regularly attended Cypress Valley Bible Church where he was a part of the Men's Bible Study. In the final year and a half of Wayne's life, he found unique companionship and friendship with Stella Ann Clark of Marshall, TX, enjoying intentional time with her, her children and her grandchildren.

A highlight of this year for him was walking his daughter, Heidy, down the aisle to her husband, Paul Mongeon, in Montana, as well as witnessing his son Cash achieve multiple career milestones by God's provision, and his youngest daughter Cara as she progressed in her newfound title career.

His family loved seeing his heart for Jesus grow and are thankful that Wayne lived a fulfilled Christlike life. Even though his time was cut short, we find comfort that he is in Heaven, and we will be joined together and reunited in eternity one day to worship our Savior together.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents; parents, Frank Calvin McWhorter and Margueriette Louise Mills McWhorter and cousins, Jane Wisniewski, Sue Thompkins and Billy Jo Hadley.

He is survived by his children, Heidy Lee McWhorter Mongeon and husband, Paul, Cash Rhodes McWhorter and wife, Kimberly and Cara Allison McWhorter Clark; grandchildren, Carlin Grace Clark, Cate Trulene Clark, Trinity Paige McWhorter and Cash Spencer McWhorter II; sister, Rita McWhorter Strange and husband, Jim; cousins, Daisy Gibson and James Wayne Wisniewski and wife, Kristie; former spouse, Early Rhodes McWhorter along with his nephews and numerous other family and friends.