Harold Dean Stanger

Funeral services for Harold Stanger will be at 11:00 am, Wednesday, March 17, 2021, at First United Methodist Church in Overton with Fred Parsons officiating. 

Visitation will be from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Tuesday, March 16, 2021, at Cottle-Pearson Funeral Home in Overton.

Harold was born on January 9, 1938, in Grand Saline, Tx.  He grew up in Van where he played football throughout high school and was recruited by several colleges.  He decided on North Texas State University, due to the closer proximity to home, where he played football for 4 years while receiving his degree.  He was drafted to play professional football but opted to go Canadian, where he went to play for the Edmonton Eskimos.  His football career was cut short due to an injury that almost cost him his eye.  He then returned to Texas to start his coaching career.   His first coaching job was at Valley View High School where he was the ONLY coach and coached all sports.  He led both the football and basketball teams to district championships.  He also coached at Farmers Branch, Big Sandy, and Grand Saline before landing in New London where he coached with a phenomenal coaching staff for the West Rusk Raiders.  He later took the job of assistant principal for West Rusk High School.  In the spring of 1979, he was hired by Overton ISD as the middle school/high school principal after the passing of Mr. Billy Jack Roberson.  (And on a side note - once he took this position, every single year after graduation when the crowd began to thin out, he took the flower arrangements that decorated the auditorium for graduation and put them on Billy Jack’s grave.  He did that every year, for 24 years.)  His tenure at OHS spanned over 24 years.  It was definitely “home”.  Upon retiring from OISD, he taught part-time at Chapel Hill High School.  He then went to work at Azleway Boys Ranch as a discipline coordinator.  He then returned to OISD as the ISS Instructor.  One of the many perks of that job was the benefit that he was able to coach golf while both Colby and Landon played in high school.  He made state appearances with them both!  He officially retired after the 2018 school year.  

Harold held many titles in his lifetime….among those include:  Sam, Sammy, Booger Red, Coach, Dad, and Daddy Sam.  Anyone who knew Mr. Stanger knew the title he was most proud of was “Daddy Sam”.  There was nothing in this world he would not do for his grandkids!  When Trent was born, they were inseparable!  He took him absolutely everywhere with him!  You never saw one without the other.  And then as the clan grew, he bought a bigger truck just to make sure he had enough room for all of them.  Of course, Maci would tell you she’s always been his favorite and I’m sure the boys would not completely agree, but she definitely had him wrapped around her finger! The stories those kids can tell about Daddy Sam could have you laughing for hours.  So many wonderful memories with such a phenomenal man.  What a true blessing!

Harold leaves behind his daughter, Misty Rhodes (and husband Charles); a son, Skip Stanger; Grandchildren - Trent Carpenter-Longview, Colby Carpenter, Landon Carpenter, and Maci Carpenter - all of Overton; and  Jett Stanger - Tyler;  a sister, Beth Byrd of Troup.  But Harold not only leaves behind his blood relatives - Every single student he ever coached or had in school while he was a principal, are “his kids” which he proudly displayed in his office with each graduating class picture hanging under a sign he had made that read, “All My Children”.... and the teachers he worked with over the years are “family” as well.  Part of him will always live on in each of them due to the impact he made in their lives.  He will forever be loved, remembered, and missed dearly.  

Pallbearers will be Allen Cook, Terry Waggoner, Mike Clyde, Joe Johnston, Mike Rogers, and CR Evans.

Misty would also like to send a special thanks to Quality Care Home Care.  A very special thanks to Geneva, Jessica, and D’Andre...I never could have done this without you.  Thanks for taking such good care of my dad and loving him as your own.  

Arrangements are under the direction of Cottle-Pearson Funeral Home, Overton.

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