Wise County, TX - Obits: From the Wise County Messenger, August, 2001 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Submitted by: Lola Withrow: lolawithrow@yahoo.com With permission of Wise County Messenger: http://www.wcmessenger.com *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter,and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** Many thanks to the Wise County Messenger for permission to store their online obits/death notices in the USGenWeb Archives ======================================================================= AREA DEATHS & FUNERALS Thursday, August 2, 2001 B.J. Wilde 1916-2001 Service for B.J. Wilde, 85, of Decatur will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 2, 2001, at Coker Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Jerry Miller will officiate. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery. Visitation was to be 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Wilde died Tuesday, July 31, 2001, at home. Born May 4, 1916, in Windthorst, he was retired from the warehouse at Wise Electric Co-op. He married the late Mary Belle Fisher Jan. 12, 1946, in Wichita Falls. She preceded him in death April 1, 2001. Wilde was a World War II Army veteran and a member of the First Baptist Church in Decatur. Survivors are a son, Bill Wilde and his wife, Kerry, of Trinity; daughter, Holly Laird of Decatur; sister, Petronilla Muerer of Decatur; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 2, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eula Mae Sanford 1910-2001 Service for Eula Mae Sanford, 90, of Decatur was to be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, at Coker Funeral Home Chapel. Doug Vaughn was to officiate. Burial was to follow at Bethel Cemetery. Sanford died Monday, July 30, 2001, in Decatur. Born Dec. 30, 1910, in Cooper, she was a medication aide at a nursing home. She married the late Gwane Sandford in Duncan, Okla. She was a member of the Bell Baptist Church in Decatur. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Nita Ducharme. Survivors include five sons, Tony Pryor of Dallas, Odell Pryor and Charlie Pryor, both of Decatur, Joe Pryor of Fort Worth and Lewis Pryor of Colorado Springs, Colo.; one daughter, Jean Walke of Levelland; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 2, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jackie ‘Bluegrass’ Don Bennett 1939-2001 Graveside service for Jackie "Bluegrass" Don Bennett, 61, of Bridgeport was Tuesday, July 31 at Oaklawn Cemetery. The Rev. Doyle Slimp officiated. Bennett died July 29, 2001, at a Bridgeport nursing home. Born August 29, 1939, in Duncan, Okla., Bennett was a truck driver for Bob Gentry Sand and Gravel. He was a Baptist. He is survived by his wife, Noley Fay Bennett; three sons, Eric Bennett of Boyd, Cavin Riggs of Rhome and David Riggs of Paradise; three daughters, Rhonda Gober of Paradise, Annette Meadows of Boyd and Christy North of Decatur; a brother, Bill Bennett of Childress; two sisters, Janice Roland of Lake Brownwood and Jo Norvell of Decatur; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 2, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Luther Edward Leverett 1929-2001 Service for Luther Edward Leverett, 72, of Bridgeport will be Thursday, Aug. 2, at 10 a.m. at Hawkins Funeral Chapel. Rev. Joe Richardson will officiate. Burial will follow at West Bridgeport Cemetery. Leverett died Sunday, July 29, 2001, in Decatur. Born Jan. 10, 1929, in Electra, he was a retired truck driver for Martin Eagle Oil. He was also a Baptist. He was preceded in death by his wife, Melva Leverett, in 1996 and a brother, J.C. Leverett. He is survived by two sons, Jackie Leverett and wife Monica and Terry Leverett and wife Lockade; a daughter, Rhonda McKnight and husband Joe; two brothers, Junior Leverett and Freddie Leverett; two sisters, Pat Reeves and Jeanette Bevill; eight grandchildren, Toni, Amanda, Kelly, B.J., Shelley, Jeremy, Melissa and Kay Lynn and four great-grandchildren, Andrea, Ariel, Rheason and Kelan. Pallbearers will be B.J. Leverett, Jeremy Leverett, Terry Leverett, Matt Jenkins, William O’Dell, Bubba Garner and Louis Martinez. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 2, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arthur Martinez Sr. 1921-2001 Service for Arthur Martinez Sr., 79, of Bridgeport, was to be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, at St. Johns Catholic Church in Bridgeport. Father Gonzolo Morales was to officiate. Burial was to follow at Mexican Cemetery in Bridgeport. Martinez died Saturday, July 28, 2001, at a Denton hospital. Born Dec. 23, 1921, in Bridgeport, he retired from Acme Brick after 37 years of service. He was a U.S. Army veteran and a member of St. Johns Catholic Church in Bridgeport. He and Molly Hernandez were married July 17, 1946, in Fort Worth. Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Molly H. Martinez of Bridgeport; daughters, Virginia Burgin and husband, Don, of Bridgeport, Linda R. Martinez of Fort Worth and Julie Lamb and husband, Joel, of Bridgeport; son, Arthur Martinez Jr. of Bridgeport; grandchildren, Michael Burgin of Lafayette, La., Rachel Burgin of Bridgeport and John Lamb of Bridgeport; and brothers, Bruno Martinez and wife, Refugia "Cuca" and Pete Martinez and wife, Juanita, all of Fort Worth. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 2, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Franklin William ‘Pete’ Rosenburg 1903-2001 Graveside service for Franklin William "Pete" Rosenburg, 98, of Decatur was Tuesday, July 31 at Bethel Cemetery. The Rev. Don Spain officiated, assisted by Tim Wertz. Pallbearers were Billy Joe Snider, Blake Sandford, Sonny Loyd, Wendell Cauthen, Weldon Cauthen and James Wood. Rosenburg died Sunday, July 29, 2001, in a Decatur nursing home. Born April 29, 1903, Rosenburg was a retired farmer and a member of Eagle Drive Baptist Church. He married Sadie Ruth Rowe on April 8, 1930, in Decatur. He is the last of the W.W. and Nettie Rosenburg family. He was preceded in death by his wife, Sadie Ruth Rowe; two sisters, Myrtle Loyd and Alice Kerr; two brothers, Carl and Thomas Rosenburg; a son, Evans Rosenburg and a daughter, Ruth Rosenburg. He is survived by a sister-in-law, Bernice Rosenburg of Decatur and several nieces and nephews. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 2, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, August 5, 2001 Colonel William Joseph McIntyre Jr. 1914-2001 Service for Col. William Joseph McIntyre Jr., 86, of Eliasville is Tuesday, Aug. 7 at the Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday, Aug. 6, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. He was the father of Dr. Tim McIntyre of Decatur. McIntyre died Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2001, in a Denton hospital. Born Dec. 27, 1914, in Philadelphia, Penn. to William J. and Rose Teresa Sommers McIntyre, he attended the University of Maryland and Command and General Staff College and married Phyllis P. Wright on July 7, 1950. McIntyre retired from the U.S. Army Signal Corps on Sept. 1, 1968, after serving during World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War. After his retirement he became a self-employed rancher. He was active in the N.R.A. and was a Republican fund-raiser. He is survived by his wife Phyllis, of Garland; a daughter, Kathleen Kammer of Denton; four sons, William McIntyre III of Friendswood, Kevin McIntyre of Kaufman, Dr. Tim McIntyre of Decatur and Brian McIntyre of Fort Worth; and five grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 5, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, August 9, 2001 Weldon Hobert Grissom 1919-2001 Graveside service for Weldon Hobert Grissom, 82, of Fort Worth was Tuesday, Aug. 7 at Alvord Cemetery. Bill Cleveland officiated. Grissom died Sunday, Aug. 5, 2001, in Arlington. Born May 26, 1919, in Alvord, he was an oil scout for Marathon Oil Company. He married the late Marian Kornblatt in Luling on April 15, 1985. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and was an Army veteran. He graduated from Texas Christian University in 1952. He is survived by a son, Randy Grissom of Santa Fe, N.M.; two daughters, Carolyn Ferrel of Fort Worth and Barbara Burleson of Reston, Va.; a brother, Kenneth Grissom of Fort Worth; a sister, Neva Nell Harris of Dallas; four great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren and two stepdaughters, Lunette Jarrett of Luling and Melanie Lopez of Grand Prairie. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 9, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Harold Eugene Walker 1924-2001 Service for Harold Eugene Walker, 77, of Decatur was to be Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 10 a.m. at Coker Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Johnny Irish was to officiate. Burial was to follow in Oaklawn Cemetery. Pallbearers were to be James Cates, Bobby Wilson, Willard Howell, Sam Renshaw, Geary Washburn and Joe Lambert. Honorary pallbearer was to be Bob Boyd. Walker died Aug. 5, 2001, in Denton County. Born April 20, 1924, in Decatur he married the late Ann Hinkle in 1958 in Oklahoma. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and a member of the First United Methodist Church in Decatur. Walker was preceded in death by his wife, Ann Hinkle Walker and is survived by one son, Dwight Walker of Lewisville; one daughter, Charlotte Alexander of Grand Prairie; one sister, Mary Jean Masterson of Toole; four great grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 9, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard Brown 1965-2001 Service for Richard Brown, 36, of Bay City was to be Wednesday, Aug. 8, at 10 a.m. in Bay City. Rev. Don Coleman was to officiate. A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at East Bridgeport Cemetery in Bridgeport. Brown died Monday, Aug. 6, 2001, in Houston. Born July 30, 1965, in Bridgeport, to Richard J. Brown and Doris Marie Coleman Green, he was a member of the Baptist church, a resident of Bay City for the past five years and a former resident of Seminole. He was an operator at Phillips Petroleum. He is survived by his wife, Sheryl Lynn Chasteen Brown of Bay City; two daughters, Ashley and Kelsie Brown and a son, Taylor Brown, all of Bay City; his father, Richard J. Brown of Bridgeport and mother, Doris M. Green of Seminole. Pallbearers were to be Eric Blalock, Gene Hughes, Scott Coleman, Bryan Coleman, Carl Cox, Jimmy Royston, Bryan Lowery and Tom Blackstock. Honorary pallbearers were to be John Lewis, Ron Hall, Gus Whalon, Woody Smith, Jody Claybourn, Nick Aparicio, Jerry Murphy and Derrick Smith. The family asks that memorials be made to Vitas Hospice House Care of Park Plaza Hospital in Houston. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 9, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, August 12, 2001 Albert Henry Small 1915-2001 Service for Albert Henry Small of Decatur is Monday, Aug. 13, at 10 a.m. at Decatur Church of Christ. Robert Isham will officiate, assisted by John Scott. Burial will follow in Oak Grove Memorial Park in Irving. Visitation is Saturday, Aug. 11 from 7 to 8 p.m. at Coker Funeral Home. Small died Friday, August 10, 2001, at his residence. Born Sept. 19, 1915, in Grand Prairie, he married Dorotha McKeever on June 22, 1940, in Irving. He was a machinist, retired from Menasco Aerosystems Division, a merchant mariner in World War II and a member of the Decatur Church of Christ. He is survived by his wife, Dorotha Small of Decatur; two sons, George Small of Marietta, Ga. and Curtis Small of Decatur; three daughters, Audrey Dyer of Decatur, Alma Jean Fenton of Murchison and Cindy Boyd of Arlington; two brothers, Vernon Small of Canton and James Small of Irving; one sister, Mary Jo Whatley of Wichita Falls; 16 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 12, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bertha Delight Perkins 1898-2001 Graveside service for Bertha Delight Perkins, 102, of Decatur was Friday, Aug. 10, at Cottonwood Cemetery. George Wilmont officiated. Perkins died Thursday, Aug. 9, 2001, in Decatur. Born Dec. 11, 1898, in Cottonwood, she was a caregiver and resident of Sunny Hills Nursing Center. She is survived by several nieces, nephews and friends. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 12, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Janice Annette Wilkins Moore 1939-2001 Memorial service for Janice Annette Wilkins Moore, 61, will be Sunday, Aug. 12, at Bridgeport Care Center at 3 p.m. The Rev. Bruce Anderson will officiate. Moore died Friday, Aug. 3, 2001, in Decatur. Born Nov. 4, 1939, in Vivian, La., to the late James Earlie Wilkins and Jessie Belle Hanson Wilkins, she was a retired registered nurse and a charter member of Hosanna Baptist Church in Bridgeport. She was preceded in death by two brothers, James Harold Wilkins and Charlie Wilkins. She is survived by four sons, Randy Duke and Kenny Foust of Alvord, Donny Duke of North Richland Hills and Jason Wilkins of Crossett, Ark.; two brothers, DeWayne Wilkins of Lou Ann, Ark. and Dennis Wilkins of Louisiana; a sister, Jimmie Bryant of Smackover, Ark.; two granddaughters, Christine Duke of Alvord and Jasey Wilkins of Crossett; three great aunts, Wilda Vincent of El Dorado, Ark., Wynell Franks of Hot Springs, Ark. and Ethel Dean Adams of Farmerville, La. and numerous nieces and nephews. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to Hosanna Baptist Church. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 12, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- George Powell McLelland 1941-2001 Graveside service for George Powell McLelland, 60, of Euless were to be held on Saturday, Aug. 11, at 10 a.m. in Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park in Colleyville. McLelland died Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2001, at his residence. Born April 26, 1941, in Crestview, Fla. he married Judy Burno on May 2, 1964 in Temperance, Mich. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Lillie McLelland. Survivors include his wife, Judy McLelland of Euless; one son, Mark McLelland and his wife, Toni, of Rhome; one daughter, Beth Markee and her husband, Brian, of Chattanooga, Tenn.; two grandchildren, Pamela and Eric McLelland, both of Rhome; a brother, John McLelland and two sisters, Elna Nieder and Kitty LaVann. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 12, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Henry Leonard Allen 1910-2001 Service for Henry Leonard Allen, 90, of Decatur, was to be Saturday, Aug.10, at 2 p.m. at Balsora Baptist Church. The Rev. Michael Hardaway was to officiate assisted by B.D. Workman. Burial was to follow in Willow Point Cemetery near Balsora. Pallbearers were to be Chris Van Rite, Wesley Van Rite, Forrest Wilhite, Tony Guinn, David Foreman and James Love. Honorary pallbearers were to be Billy Holt and the Balsora Baptist Church deacons. Allen died Aug. 10, 2001, at a Fort Worth hospital. Born Nov. 13, 1910, he was a lifetime resident of Wise County. He married Dovie Thompson on Feb. 7, 1942, in Weatherford. They were married 59 years until her death on March 6, 2001. He retired after 40 years as a barber and was a dairy farmer for 20 years. He helped organize the North Texas Milk Producers Assn. He was a member of the Balsora Baptist Church where he served as deacon for 57 years and was a member of the Jack County Sheriff’s Posse. He was preceded in death by three sisters and two brothers and is survived by a daughter, Ann Moore and husband, Foy; a son, Melton Allen and wife, Mary Jo; a brother, A.C. Allen; two sisters, Trecie Laird and Jewel Gary; six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 12, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, August 16, 2001 Doyle James Leonard 1923-2001 A private service for Doyle James Leonard, 78, of Bridgeport will be held at a later date. Visitation was to be from 2 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15, at Hawkins Funeral Home. Leonard died Monday, Aug. 13, 2001, in Bridgeport. Born May 20, 1923, in Hamburg, Ark., he was a retired self-employed truck driver. He is survived by three sons, Lloyd Dean Leonard of Crossett, Ark., Paul J. Leonard of Willows, Calif. and Russell Leonard of Yuba City, Calif.; two daughters, Linda Leonard of Antioch, Calif. and Debbie Manes of Marysville, Calif.; a brother, Dudley McGouch of Richlands, N.C.; a sister, Evanell Korn of San Juan Capistrano, Calif.; 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 16, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Georgia Lois Williams 1904-2001 Service for Georgia Lois Williams, 96, of Haltom City was Tuesday, Aug. 14, at Asbury United Methodist Church in Haltom City. Burial followed at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Fort Worth. Williams died Friday, Aug. 10, 2001, in Fort Worth. Born Sept. 21, 1904, in Decatur, to John and Sara Ella Baits Hughes, she was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, John R. Williams in 1991. She is survived by two sons, Jerry Williams and his wife Betty and Paul Williams and his wife Joyce; five grandsons and eight great-grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 16, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eunice Richmond 1905-2001 Service for Eunice Richmond, 96, of Sunset will be Thursday, Aug. 16, at 3 p.m. at Morris Memorial Methodist Church in Chico. The Rev. Charles Cox will officiate, assisted by Rev. Darius McKay. Burial will follow at Chico Cemetery. Richmond died Sunday, Aug. 12, 2001, in Bridgeport. Born May 24, 1905, in Park Springs, she was a homemaker and member of the Morris Memorial Methodist Church. She is survived by three sons, James Richmond and wife Sue of Pecos, T.C. Richmond and wife Mattie of Fort Worth and Charles Richmond of Corpus Christi; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Wendell Berry Sr., Larry Wilson, R.V. Hopkins, Kenneth McKay, David Carroll and Robert Holland. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 16, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Albert Henry Small 1915-2001 Service for Albert Henry Small of Decatur was Monday, Aug. 13, at 10 a.m. at Decatur Church of Christ. Robert Isham officiated, assisted by John Scott. Burial followed in Oak Grove Memorial Park in Irving. Small died Friday, August 10, 2001, at his residence. Born Nov. 19, 1915, in Grand Prairie, he married Dorotha McKeever on June 22, 1940, in Irving. He was a machinist, retired from Menasco Aerosystems Division, a merchant mariner in World War II and a member of the Decatur Church of Christ. He is survived by his wife, Dorotha Small of Decatur; two sons, George Small of Marietta, Ga. and Curtis Small of Decatur; three daughters, Audrey Dyer of Decatur, Alma Jean Fenton of Murchison and Cindy Byrd of Arlington; two brothers, Vernon Small of Canton and James Small of Irving; one sister, Mary Jo Whatley of Wichita Falls; 16 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 16, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, August 19, 2001 Edith L. Stephenson Arnold 1911-2001 Service for Edith L. Stephenson Arnold, 90, of Decatur was to be Saturday, Aug. 18 at 10 a.m. at Coker Funeral Home Chapel. Roger Rhoades was to officiate. Burial was to follow in Oaklawn Cemetery. Pallbearers were to be Russell Cox Sr., Russell Cox Jr., Carey Cox, Isaac White and Tres House. Arnold died Aug. 15, 2001, in Bridgeport. Born April 23, 1911, in Fairview, W. Va., she was a resident of Decatur for 43 years. She was an active member of the church of Christ, the Wise Regional Hospital Auxiliary, Decatur Quilting Club and other organizations. She married E.G. Stephenson Aug. 1, 1930, in Cushing, Okla. She married Leslie Arnold in 1980. Both preceded her in death. She is survived by one son, P.E. Stephenson of Houston; two daughters, Lenore D. "Peggy" Cox and Willetta Sue House, both of Ruidoso, N.M.; six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 19, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mildred Morris Cherry 1919-2001 Service for Mildred Morris Cherry, 81, of Springtown will be held Monday, Aug. 20, at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Cottondale. The Rev. Chuck Weatherbee is to officiate. Burial will follow in the Springtown Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Ceasar Belser, Frank Alviso, Matthew Hall, Sammy Byrd, Jo Mark Byrd, Omar Pasilas, Rogelio Robles and Eduardo Leal. Cherry died Friday, Aug. 17, 2001, in Fort Worth. Born Oct. 28, 1919, in Lone Wolf, Okla. Cherry was married to John Harrison Cherry on Aug. 23, 1943, and retired from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram after more than 23 years. She is survived by her husband, John "Chick" Cherry; two sons, John Cherry Jr. and David Foster Cherry; two daughters, Madeline Byrd and Martha Johnson and her husband Johnny; two brothers, Murrill Morris and his wife Lois and James A. Morris; two sisters, Cleo Mariash Lubin and Margaret Struve; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 19, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- William Lloyd ‘Bill’ Longley 1951-2001 Service for William Lloyd "Bill" Longley, 49, of Bridgeport is Sunday, Aug. 19 at Central Fellowship Church of Christ in Decatur. Marcus Brecheen and the Rev. Johnny Irish will officiate. Longley died Sunday, Aug. 12, 2001, in Bridgeport. Born Dec. 29, 1951, in Wichita Falls, he was a human resource director. He married Gatha Fleming on June 11, 1977, in Wichita Falls. He was an active member of Boy Scout Troop 194 of Bridgeport, the Central Fellowship Church of Christ and the Walk to Emmaus Community. He is survived by his parents, Lowell and Sara Longley of Wichita Falls; his wife, Gatha; two sons, Landon and Russell, both of Bridgeport; brothers, Rick of Wichita Falls and Robert and wife Susan of Euless. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 19, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, August 23, 2001 Billy Eugene Young 1947-2001 Graveside service for Billy Eugene Young, 54, of Joshua is Thursday, Aug. 23 at 2 p.m. at the DFW National Cemetery. Young died Saturday, Aug. 18, 2001, in Fort Worth. Born Jan. 20, 1947, in Fort Worth to Everett Eugene and Dorothy Hunt Young he married Vicky Love on July 14, 1989 in Carter County, Okla. He served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam, attached to the 667 W 30 helicopter detachment and was an aircraft assembler for Lockheed Martin for 16 1/2 years. He is survived by his wife, Vicky Young of Joshua; a son, Houston Brent Sinclair of Cleburne; three daughters, Stephanie Ivy and husband Tim of Burleson, Lisa Dickens and husband Jeff of Saginaw and Crystal Joy Tarver of Joshua; his mother, Dorothy Lewis of Fort Worth; three brothers, Terry Young of Fort Worth, Tommy Young of Anson and Burt Young of Ranger and seven grandchildren. The family asks that memorials be made to the American Cancer Society. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 23, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Randy Wayne Brown 1954-2001 Service for Randy Wayne Brown, 46, of Boyd was Tuesday, Aug. 21 at 11 a.m. at Christian-Hawkins Chapel in Boyd. Dr. Johnny Ramsey officiated. Burial was in the Boyd Cemetery. Pallbearers were Phil Brown, Joe Brown, Richard Fey, Rick Drake, Kevin Drake and Gary Don Johnson. Honorary pallbearers were David Drake, Buster Reynolds, Al Fulton, Pete Taylor, Ernie Morvan, Andy Warner and Sammy Marlow. Brown died August 17, 2001, in Grapevine. Born Oct. 25, 1954, in Fort Worth, he was an Alliance Boating Center salesman. He grew up in Boyd, served in the U.S. Navy and was a Baptist. A son, Joshua Wayne Brown preceded him in death. Survivors include his parents, Kenneth and Maudie Brown of Boyd; two sons, Joe and Kelsey Brown; a daughter, Kara Brown; a brother, Phil Brown and wife Christine; a sister, Lisa Brown, a grandmother, Lola Brown and one nephew, Richard Fey. Memorials may be sent to the Leukemia Society, 5353 W. Dartmouth Ave.LL, Denver, Colo.,80227. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 23, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Esther L. Smith 1911-2001 Service for Esther L. Smith, 89, of Duncan, Okla. was held Aug. 1 at the Immanuel Baptist Church in Duncan. The Rev. Randy Southerland officiated with Dr. Jack Robbins assisting. Burial was at Resthaven Memorial Gardens. Smith died July 30, 2001, in a Duncan nursing home. Born Oct. 15, 1911, in Salem, Ore. to Willard and Helen Bernard, she married Floyd J. Smith at Carson City, Nev. He preceded her in death on Aug. 15, 1998. She was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church since moving to Duncan in 1949 and retired from Halliburton Energy Services after 25 years. Following the death of her husband she moved to Bridgeport and was an active member of the Bridgeport Senior Center where she was selected Senior Citizen of the Month in February, 1999. Survivors include three daughters and their husbands, Nita and Ollie Beavers of Duncan, Charlotte and Richard Iwanowski of Fayetteville, N.C. and Marcia Louise and Cal Wayne Moore of Bridgeport; a sister, Cleda Land of San Antonio; a brother, Elis Bernard of Auburn, Calif.; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She always had a cheerful smile and a friendly word for everyone she met. The family suggests memorials to the Bridgeport Senior Citizens Center. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 23, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mildred Lorene Golaz 1920-2001 Service for Mildred Lorene Golaz, 81, of Paradise, was to be Saturday, Aug.25, at 10 a.m. at Hawkins Funeral Chapel in Bridgeport. The Rev. Jason Parnell was to officiate assisted by the Rev. M. L. Melton. Burial was to follow in Paradise Cemetery. Pallbearers were to be Micheal Peacock, Jason Miller, Kenny Pryor, Craig Erwin, William D. Golaz and Lee Golaz. Honorary pallbearer was to be Rich Denver. Golaz died Aug. 22, 2001, in Decatur. Born Feb. 28, 1920, she was a housewife and a member of the First Christian Church in Paradise. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Carl Golaz Jr. and her sister, Christine Read. She is survived by three sons, the Rev. James Carl Golaz and wife Anita of San Antonio, William Henry Golaz and wife Jo Anne of Paradise and Charles D. Golaz and wife Joan of Paradise; a daughter, June Ellen Golaz of Golden, Colo.; a brother, James Elbert Smith Jr. and wife Ardith of Fort Worth; her brother-in-law, W.D. Read of Boyd; 11 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 26, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mary Lou Turner 1922-2001 Service for Mary Lou Turner, 79, of Fort Worth, formerly of Wise County, will be Monday, Aug. 27, at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Cottondale. Burial will follow at Cottondale Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Shannon North Funeral Chapel in Fort Worth. Turner died Thursday, Aug. 23, 2001, in Fort Worth. Born Feb. 19, 1922, in Hill County, to Littleton and Nellie Lee Petty Daniel, she was a homemaker. Her husband, the late Rev. W.A. Turner helped organize the First Baptist Church of Cottondale. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Clifford Daniel, Herman Daniel and Ellis Daniel. She is survived by a son, Ellis Sloan Turner and his wife, Shirley; a daughter, Mary Jean Floyd and her husband, Vaughn; six grandchildren, Darrin Turner, Stephen Turner and his wife Amy, Karen Turner, Michael Floyd and his wife Donna, Sheryl Floyd Dickerson and her husband Bret and Charles Floyd and his wife, Treva; six great-grandchildren; two brothers, Morris Daniel and Weldon L. Daniel and two sisters, Minnie Ince and Corine McFarland. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 26, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wanda Price McFarland 1942-2001 Service for Wanda Price McFarland, 59, of Dallas, was to be Saturday, Aug. 25, at 3:30 p.m. at Restland Funeral Home in Dallas. The Rev. Michael Waco was to officiate. Burial was to follow in the Restland Memorial Park. She was a Bridgeport native. McFarland died Aug. 23, 2001, in Dallas. Born Aug. 16, 1942, in Loveland, she was raised in Bridgeport. She was employed with Zidell Properties and Construction Company for 14 years and was a past board member of Willow Falls Home Owners Association. She is survived by her husband, James McFarland; a son, Ross McFarland; a daughter, Kimberly Garza; her mother Evelyn Price of Bridgeport; her brother, Wayne Price of Bridgeport; her sister, Marsha Dale of Paradise; a granddaughter, Jessica Garza and two grandsons, Ryan and Dusty McFarland. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 26, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Berlie R. Upton Jr. 1934-2001 Service for Berlie R. Upton Jr., 67, of Jackson, Miss., formerly of Decatur, will be Monday, Aug. 27 at the First Baptist Church of Hurst. The Rev. Jeff Burnett will officiate. Visitation will be Sunday, Aug. 26 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Lucas Funeral Home in Hurst. Upton died Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2001, at his home. Born June 4, 1934, he was a retired air traffic controller. Survivors include his wife of 46 year, Barbara Upton; a son, S. Upton; a daughter, Jana Burnett and her husband, the Rev. Jeff Burnett; his father, Berlie R. Upton Sr.; grandchildren Holly Upton, Blake Burnett and Brooke Cramer and her husband, Mike. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 26, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Myrtle Faye Taylor 1917-2001 Graveside service for Myrtle Faye Taylor, 84, of Bridgeport was to be Monday, Aug.27, at 10 a.m. at Pleasant Grove Cemetery No. 1. Taylor died Aug. 23, 2001, in Bridgeport. Born Aug. 1, 1917, in Greenwood, she was married to the late Johnny Franklin Taylor. She was a Baptist. She is survived by her seven sons, Billy Wayne wilson of Waco, Edward Taylor of Bridgeport, Denny Taylor of Joshua, Johnny Taylor of Wisconsin, Donald Taylor of Iowa, Bill and Raymond Taylor of Oregon; two daughters, Shirley Strasser of Waco and Rosie Taylor of Missouri; several grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 26, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Laura Byrd Leggett 1930-2001 Burial for Laura Byrd Leggett, 71, of Decatur was to be at Springtown Cemetery. There are no services planned. Leggett died Aug. 22, 2001, in Decatur. Born May 7, 1930, she was a homemaker. She is survived by a brother, Tom Leggett. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 26, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, August 30, 2001 Thurman Roger Stice Sr. 1938-2001 Graveside service for Thurman Roger Stice Sr., 63, of Paradise was to be Wednesday, Aug. 29, at 10 a.m. at East Bridgeport Cemetery. Rev. Gary Sessions was to officiate. Stice died Sunday, Aug. 26, 2001, in Paradise. Born Aug. 18, 1938, in Greenwood, he was a retired barn builder for Boyd Built Industries. He married Roberta Hines on Feb. 21, 1959, in Ardmore, Okla. He is survived by his wife, Roberta Stice of Paradise; two sons, Roger Stice and his wife Barbara of Paradise and Chris Stice and Felisha of Bridgeport; a daughter, Alisha Stice and Daniel of Paradise; four grandchildren, Stacy, Kevin, Brenton and Rayawna; a brother, Arthur Stice of Crowley; a sister, Opal Byford of Decatur and several nieces and nephews. Pallbearers were to be Chris Stice, Terry Hines, Lloyd Monroe, Bobby Headley and Wayne Jennings. Honorary pallbearers were to be David Hines and James Hines. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 30, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ora Jay Davis Sr. 1921-2001 Graveside service for Ora Jay Davis Sr., 79, of Cleburne were to be held on Thursday, Aug. 30, at 10 a.m. at Oaklawn Cemetery in Decatur. Rev. Robert Baze was to officiate. Davis died Monday, Aug. 27, 2001, at a Cleburne hospital. Born Nov. 2, 1921, Davis was a retired electrician for a machine shop and was a U.S. Navy veteran. He was married to the late Dorothy Simmons. He is survived by a son, Ora Jay Davis Jr. of Cleburne; three daughters, Jetta Gray of Lakewood, Calif., Kay Kirkland of Decatur and LaVerne Walls of Bridgeport; two brothers, Rex Davis of Batesville, Ark. and Jessie Davis of Thida, Ark.; 15 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 30, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amos Albert Byrd 1916-2001 Service for Amos Albert Byrd, 84, of Bridgeport was to be Wednesday, Aug. 29, at 10:30 a.m. at Hawkins Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Joe Motsenbocker was to officiate. Burial was to follow at East Bridgeport Cemetery Byrd died Monday, Aug. 27, 2001, in Bridgeport. Born Sept. 12, 1916, in Park Springs, he was a lifetime resident of Wise County and was owner of a Shamrock service station in Bridgeport for 13 years until his retirement in 1973. He married Hazel Grimes on March 6, 1937, in Vernon. He was a member of the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce, a former mayor of Sunset and a former Sunset ISD school board member. He was preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin and Hester Byrd; a son, Charles; a daughter, Jeannine and a brother, Olin. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Hazel Byrd of Bridgeport; daughter-in law, Linda Byrd; son-in-law, Clifton Robbins; six grandchildren, Kent, Lisa, Alan, Mark, Mike and Lori and 10 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers were to be Alan Byrd, Mike Byrd, Michael Coyne, Kent Robbins, Mark Robbins and Rick Mewbourn. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 30, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Martha Lee Western 1919-2001 Service for Martha Lee Western, 81, of Decatur was Monday, Aug. 27, at First Baptist Church of Decatur. Randy Weaks officiated. Burial followed at Pleasant Grove Cemetery #3. Western died Friday, Aug. 24, 2001, in Dallas. Born Aug. 28, 1919, in Wise County, she was a retired owner and operator of Whites Auto in Mansfield. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Decatur and married the late J.T. Western in Wise County in 1937. She is survived by a son, Terry Western of Chico; a sister, Sylvia Lee of Keller and five grandchildren. Pallbearers were Kevin Lumsden, Randy Neighbors, Danny Neighbors, Todd Buckner, Kent Bailey and Keith Bailey. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 30, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Minnie Arrington 1919-2001 Service for Minnie Arrington, 81, of Rhome was to be Wednesday, Aug. 29, at 10 a.m. at Rhome Assembly of God Church. Burial was to follow at Aurora Cemetery. Arrington died Saturday, Aug. 25, 2001, in Decatur. Born Oct. 21, 1919, in Wise County, she was a homemaker. She married the late Ross Thomas Arrington on Aug. 7, 1937, in Decatur. She was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Ronnie Arrington and Teri Arrington. She is survived by three sons, Jimmy Arrington and wife Mari of Bromide, Okla., Thomas Arrington of Newark and Alton Young and wife Gale of Boyd; a daughter, Billie Romine and husband Oscar of Rhome; a sister, Ruby Lewis and husband Ray of Paradise; 13 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers were to be Steve Barrons, Rip Butler, Kenny Byers, Robert Miles, Harold Norris and Richard Young. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Rhome Assembly of God Church building fund. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 30, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas Hodges 1919-2001 Service for Thomas Hodges, 82, of Alvord was Tuesday, Aug. 28, at Coker Funeral Home Chapel. Bill Cleveland officiated. Burial followed at Oaklawn Cemetery. Hodges died Saturday, Aug. 25, 2001, in Alvord. Born June 4, 1919, to W.E. (Eddie) and Lula McGuairt Hodges in the Hopewell Community, he was a rancher. He married Tommie Ann Wooten on May 3, 1941, in Waurika, Okla. He was a member of the Hopewell Baptist Church. He attended Lone Mound School and later Alvord. After the sixth grade, he went to work on the farm and was sent to West Texas to pick cotton. In 1946, he and his wife purchased a 409 acre dairy farm two miles south of the Audubon community. At 28, he signed a co-operator’s agreement with the Denton-Wise County Soil Conservation District. He and his wife were awarded the state-wide honor of "Come Back Farmers" in 1953 and 1954. In 1985, the dairy cattle and equipment were auctioned and the land was converted to farm and ranch land. He was preceded in death by his parents; nine siblings and a son, Truitt Gene Hodges. He is survived by his wife, Tommie Ann Hodges; a son, James Hodges of Decatur; three daughters and sons-in-law, La’Wayne and Karl Hauser of Fort Worth, Jo Evelyn Atkins of New Braunfels and Margaret and Cleddy Gilbreath of Gainesville; a sister, Meredith Hale of Alvord; a sister-in-law, Beulah Hodges of Alvord; eight grandchildren, Truitt Jr. and Linda Hodges of Alvord, Todd and Robyn Hodges of Decatur, Aaron and Christine Cowan of Seoul, Korea and Fayetteville, N.C., Micah and Audrey Cowan of Fort Worth, Christy and Danny Patton of Houston, Carl Atkins and Shelia McCormick of Haslet, Nicole and Robert Orsburn of Gainesville and Amber Gilbreath of Gainesville; nine great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces. Pallbearers were Roger Hodges, Ronnie Hodges, W.L. Wooten, Lloyd Pitts, Floyd Pitts and William Good. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 30, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Martha Ruth Isbell Hornback 1922-2001 Ruth Hornback of Decatur tried to retire several times. In 1984 she retired from the Gettys and Terrell Insurance Agency after almost 20 years of service. It wasn’t long before she was employed as secretary at the First United Methodist Church in Decatur. Failing health forced her retirement from the church in 1993. That just gave her more time to devote to the Decatur Hospital Auxiliary. She was honored last year at the hospital auxiliary luncheon for 1,500 hours of service. Her death at age 78 on Aug. 27, 2001, ended a lifetime of service to her family, her community and her church. Funeral is at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 30, at First United Methodist Church in Decatur. The service will be conducted by her nephew, Dr. Charles R. Millikan, pastor of Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church in Galveston, Dr. Rusty Hedges, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Decatur and the Rev. John Earl Taylor of Dallas, retired pastor. Burial will be in Oaklawn Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Jared, Joshua, Glenn Frank, Paul, Grant, Justin and Hunter Hornback and Coleman Sterling. Martha Ruth Isbell Hornback was born in Whitewright on Nov. 19, 1922, to the Rev. Keener Regan Isbell and Eva Young Isbell. She graduated from Mineola High School and attended what is now the University of North Texas, seeking a degree in music. She married James Franklin Hornback in Center, Texas, in 1943, in a ceremony performed by her father. The Hornbacks moved to Decatur in 1954 to enter the dairy business. Jim Frank’s untimely death in a farming accident in 1982 lead to Ruth’s assuming his position on the Wise County Farm Bureau board of directors, a position she held for 14 years. Her church activities included teaching Sunday school, singing in the chancel choirs, serving as president of the United Methodist Women and serving eight years as a UMW district officer. She also served as president of the Decatur Woman’s Club in 1964 and as parliamentarian and secretary of the hospital auxiliary. She traveled extensively in Europe, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark and was an avid bridge player. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her sisters and brothers-in-law, Emily Isbell Blunk and W.D. Blunk and Geraldine Isbell Millikan and the Rev. Herman C. Millikan and a brother, K.R. Isbell Jr. She is survived by her three sons and daughters-in-law, James Richard Hornback and Sylvia Wood Hornback of Austin, Gary Don and Sheryl Messersmith Hornback of Richardson, Ronald Isbell and Julia Atwater Hornback of Cascade, Wis.; eight grandsons, Grant, Paul and Glenn Frank Hornback and wife Michelle of Houston, Hunter Hornback and wife Courtney of Raleigh, N.C., Justin Hornback of Smithfield, Va., Jared and Joshua Hornback of Richardson, Coleman Sterling of Austin; three granddaughters, Elizabeth Sterling and husband Christian Parker of Austin, Dawn Earley and husband Tim of Mesquite, Deanna Rae Cutler and husband Brian of Rockwall; and great-grandchildren Mati Lynn Hornback, Timothy Wallace Earley Jr., Lynita Earley, Megan Earley and Nolan Barrington Cutler; sister and brother in-law, Margaret Ann and Dr. Robert L. McLeroy of Gainesville; sister, Mozelle Reid Isbell of Austin; and many nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to the J.F. Hornback Agricultural Memorial Scholarship Fund, in care of the Wise County Extension Service, Decatur or the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 302, Decatur. Wise County Messenger, Aug. 30, 2001 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------