GORDO Leonard Dwight "Sonny" Housel, Jr., age 75, of Gordo, died November 21, 2013, at home. Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday, November 24, 2013, at Gordo First United Methodist Church with Rev. Glenn Sandifer officiating. Burial will follow in Gordo City Cemetery with Skelton Funeral Home of Reform directing. Visitation will be Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. The body will lie in state one hour prior to services at the church.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife, Tenza H. Housel of Gordo, Ala.; sons, Mark Housel (Cindy) and Paul Housel (Tricia), all of Birmingham, Ala.; sisters, Martha Crocker (Buddy) of Reform, Ala. and Charlotte Bailey of Reform, Ala.; three grandchildren, Brayden, Ethan and Lucy Housel, all of Birmingham, Ala.; niece, Nancy Beard (John) of Birmingham, Ala.; nephew, John Stewart (Hannah) of Woodstock, Ga.; and several cousins.

Mr. Housel was born January 19, 1938 in Gordo, Alabama to the late Leonard D. Housel, Sr. and Lottie Elledge Housel. Gordo First United Methodist was his life-long church and his voice blessed the Chancel Choir, the First United Methodist Men's Choir and the Pickens County Singing Men. Sonny was employed for many years at Housel Hardware, a family owned business, during which time he developed several Gordo subdivisions. He later managed Beta Raven, Inc. He was a U.S. Army veteran, a past member of the Rotary Club and life long resident of Gordo.

Pallbearers will be Clinton Brown, Walter Brown, Mitch Dyer, Jimmy Ellis, Fred Johnson, Dale Lancaster, Kenny Poole and Roddy Sanders.

Honorary pallbearers are Sammy and Barbara Ann Bailey, John and Joyce Baker, Jerome and Wanda Billings, Dr. John Brandon, Stanford Branyon, Holly Dyer, Joseph Hassell, Jerome and Peggy Hickman, Dr. and Mrs. Ronald Henderson, Dr. Warren Holley, Dr. and Mrs. Neil Honea, Dr. Drake Lavender, Joe and Fern Mullenix, Minton Mullenix, Albert McGee, Jr., Josh Pate, Dr. and Mrs. Jon Sanford, Gerould "Pud" Thomas, Gordo First United Methodist Men's Choir, Pickens Singing Men and the staff of the Gordo Family Practice Center.