William Kirkpatrick Furrh Jr., known to all as Pat, was born February 7, 1931, in Marshall, TX to Winifred Brownrigg Furrh and W.K. "Kirk" Furrh Sr. He lived at the corner of Furrh St. and Victory Dr. until he left home for the Navy. However, his second home was on Fern Lake. Pat was blessed with several cousins and their adventures were the subject of the countless stories Pat would tell and re-tell. Whether he was on Fern Lake with his Brownrigg, Hilliard and Littlejohn cousins, or in Elysian Fields hanging around the Furrh Store with his Furrh, Hodges, and Ware cousins, it was a given that Pat was having fun and mischief might be near. Many of his times at Fern Lake were spent at Camp Fern.

Started by his cousins, Camp Fern was always a part of Pat's life. From his summers as a camper on Fern Lake, for the family members who followed him there his presence at Camp lingered. Pat's name is woven into the story of Camp, (literally, he left it carved in the cabins).
His years at Camp helped shape him into a leader and friends there remained friends for life.Through his 94 years he carried with him the history of Camp Fern and Fern Lake.

Pat graduated from Marshall High School in 1948. He followed his father, who was a Marine, into the service and spent that summer in Camp Hood in Killeen with the National Guard. He then attended North Texas State College, majoring in History. The good times he had living in a house with a group of golfers, including Billy Hill from Marshall, provided stories in the years to come.

In 1951 Pat joined the US Navy during the Korean War. Boot Camp in San Diego was followed by Aviation Ordinance School in Jacksonville, Florida for 13 months. He then served on the carrier Lake Champlain in Pensacola, Florida. Then to Norfolk, VA to serve on the Valley
Forge until he was discharged in September 1954 with the rank of Seaman.

Following the Navy, Pat returned to Marshall and joined his father and brother-in-law Earl Rhoades at Brownrigg Insurance Agency, which was founded by his maternal grandfather John Brownrigg. The Agency was signed over to Earl and Pat in 1956. Pat specialized in commercial insurance. In the late 1950's, Pat attended the first independent insurance school available and went on to attend many Advanced Commercial Lines Insurance programs steadily increasing his knowledge. Pat was a hard worker and concentrated on expanding the number of commercial customers served by the Brownrigg Agency.

A few years after joining the Agency, Pat double-dated with his close friend Lou Bates, who set him up on a blind date. The blind date didn't work out, but he took a fancy to Lou's date, Alice Reed Henderson of Longview.

Pat married Alice on March 17, 1957, in Longview. They settled in Marshall and built their family: daughters Keeton Ann Furrh Forbes, Patricia Louise Furrh Agnor, and son William Kirkpatrick "Kirk" Furrh, III. As a father Pat shared his love of Fern Lake, camping, playing games, especially card games, with his family. He also shared his devotion to family and his vast knowledge of his family history.

In 1971, his nephew Les Rhoades joined the agency. Pat and Les regularly attended Certified Insurance Counselor courses and seminars, many times accompanied by their wives. During these years, Pat and Les acquired or merged with over a dozen small agencies. Together they continued to build their knowledge and their business.

Pat and Alice loved to travel and visited many countries over their 63 years together. They enjoyed meeting new people on their trips and would often keep in touch with these friends for many years. In early years Robert and Norma Geddie, Charles and Annis Snider and Joe and Lajuan Snider were often their travel companions. Later they traveled frequently with Don and Glenda Knutson, Jim and Sharon Harrod and Ronnie and Diane Snider.

There were memorable times with their many friends in their Wine Club, their Supper Clubs, Poker Club, as well as through Church and golf. They had many fun adventures traveling with the golf friends Billy and Joan Jones, Ed and Wilma Miller, and the Herveys. The Poker Club started out playing for pennies but eventually they gave up poker and focused on their time together. Pat and Alice were longtime members of Club 25, a social club started by his mother and 24 of her good friends. The close friends and family who Pat treasured are too numerous to list here, but know he valued each one.

In the 1970's Pat took up a new hobby, learning about wine. He teamed up with old friends Franklin Jones, Jr. and Roger Lewis to explore French wines (before California wines were well known). This led to many wine dinners and later included the Vetetos and Kolbs on
their guest list.

Pat and Alice were lifelong active members of Trinity Episcopal Church. Pat served as an acolyte as a youth, then on the Vestry several years, on search committees and chaired an expansion committee that was responsible for remodeling the Youth and Sunday School wing. Most notably he could be found greeting members as an usher for the 8:00 am service, usually with son Kirk serving also.

Supporting the city of Marshall was important to Pat, and he did so freely and never with the expectation of recognition. He served on many boards, including United Way, Camp Fire Girls and Boy Scouts of America where his fundraising ability was invaluable. The Harrison County Crimestoppers was a long-term commitment with over 15 years on the board and serving as president for many of those. The Rotary Club was another, as well as The Marshall Depot board.

He was involved with the Marshall Cemetery Association since the 1960's, in part because his Brownrigg relatives are buried there. He and Bill Sullivan and Martin Spangler worked together to improve the cemetery, including getting headstones and footings on unmarked graves of soldiers. Pat served as sole board member for over 20 years and led fundraising efforts to save the cemetery. Later Bonnie Spangler assisted with restoration of headstones and other improvements, as well being instrumental in the publication of a book about the cemetery, written by Max Lale in 2002.

Both Pat and Alice had family history with the railroads of Texas so preserving and restoring the Marshall Depot meant a lot to them. Mayor Audrey Kariel called on Pat to serve on the board, which he did for over 17 years, and to assist in the major fundraising that was needed. Pat was critical in overcoming the many obstacles they faced when meeting the standards of the Southern Pacific Railroad in leasing it, the renovations required to insure it, and the funds needed to establish a historical museum. Alice was a volunteer greeter for several years, meeting the train and welcoming passengers. Pat also served on the board of the Marshall, Elysian Fields and South Eastern Railway, which was formed by his Grandfather Matt Furrh. Pat and his cousin Judge John Furrh worked together on the board, by keeping the books and serving in various capacities over many years.

Until he was in his nineties Pat challenged his mind through reading and puzzles, and his body by following a strict regimen of exercise and walking. Pat was an avid reader and his passion was history, especially World War II strategy and battles. Throughout his life Pat maintained his sense of humor and a positive attitude.

Pat died November 25, 2025, and is interred beside his wife Alice in the Columbarium at Trinity Episcopal Church of Marshall. His familiar form walking the roads at Fern Lake or the halls of The Oaks will be missed by many. He is survived by daughter Kee and husband Bruce Forbes of Longview; daughter Patti and husband Stuart Agnor of Marshall, son Kirk Furrh and wife Karen of Tomball; and grandchildren and step grandchildren Al Agnor and wife Kallie of Longview, Andee Agnor and Matt Birdwell of Brighton, CO., Cally Nicholson and husband Nathan of Marshall, Alex Garza and husband Jeff of Marshall, Robert Forbes and wife Jordan of Longview; and greatgrandchildren: Liam Forbes, Tate Nicholson, Evie Nicholson, Scarlett Agnor, Wyatt Agnor and Rhett Agnor.

The family is grateful for the care and kindness of the staff at The Oaks, especially Kim Ponder.

A Memorial Service for Pat and Alice will be held Saturday, February 14th, 2026, at Downs Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 9:30-10:30 am, with the service starting at 10:30 am. A lunch for family and friends will follow at The Mercantile downtown.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to: Camp Fern Legacy (1046 Camp Rd, Marshall, TX, 75672) or The Marshall Depot (marshalltxdepot.com/donate).