Wise County, TX - Obits: From the Wise County Messenger, March, 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 Stella Viola Smith 1910-2002 Service for Stella Viola Smith, 91, of Bridgeport, will be Monday, March 4, at 2 p.m. at Hawkins Funeral Chapel in Bridgeport. The Revs. Bill Higgins and Gary Demmitt will officiate. Burial will follow at Thomas Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Gene Hearn, Jonathan Smith, Chad Woodard, Christopher Smith, Russell Conkling and Richie Poland. Smith died Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2002, in Fort Worth. Born Sept. 26, 1910, in Alvarado, she married James Ernest Smith May 20, 1941 in Dallas. She was a charter member of the Thomas Home Demonstration Club and a member of the Cates Street Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Anita Ann and all of her brothers and sisters. She is survived by her husband; her son, Rodney A. Smith and wife Suzanne of Temple; two daughters, Jean Poland of Grand Prairie and Nancy Woodard and husband Craig of Bridgeport; seven grandchildren, Beverly, Richie, Rebecca, Heather, Chad, Jonathan and Christopher; seven great grandchildren; and numerous nephews and nieces. Wise County Messenger, March 3, 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alice P. Mayberry 1910-2002 Graveside service for Alice P. Mayberry, 91, of Decatur was Friday, March 1 at Alvord Cemetery. Bill Cleveland officiated. Mayberry died Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2002, in Decatur. Born June 13, 1910, in High Rolls, N.M., she was a convenience store clerk. She married the late Harry Todd Mayberry on June 28, 1928, in Rankin. She is survived by two daughters, Bonnie Lynn of Alvord and Mary Romine of Kilgore; a sister, Bernice Lockhart of Belen, N.M.; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Wise County Messenger, March 3, 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Allen Cliff Rieves 1930-2002 Service for Allen Cliff Rieves, 71, of Weatherford and a Decatur businessman, was Thursday, Feb. 28 at Aledo United Methodist Church. Bob Briles officiated. Burial followed at Bethesda Community Cemetery. Pallbearers were Jeff Garrett, Tony Simmons, Charlie Simmons, Chris Simmons, Stephen Simmons and Langston Layne. Rieves died Monday, Feb. 25, 2002, in Weatherford. Born Nov. 25, 1930, in Ennis, he graduated from Milford as a valedictorian of his class. He started to work in the automobile industry for Wyndham Chevrolet in Italy. He was the manager of a Western Auto Store in Haskell for 10 years. In 1967, he moved to Dallas. He was a business manager for McDavid’s in Fort Worth for 23 years. In 1996, he and his wife Brenda bought two H & R Block Franchises, one in Decatur and one in Mineral Wells. He was an active member of the Aledo United Methodist Church and taught Sunday school classes. He was a member of Lake Weatherford Community Association. He was preceded in death by his first wife Nancy and brothers, Lynn and Jack Rieves. He is survived by his wife Brenda; son, Richard Rieves of Hamburg, Germany; daughter Kathy Hoerle and husband Keith of North Richland Hills; grandson, Shawn of Spring; and granddaughters, Christina and Stacey of North Richland Hills. Wise County Messenger, March 3, 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, March 7, 2002 Larkin Leon ‘Sonny’ Collum 1934-2000 Service for Larkin Leon "Sonny" Collum, 67, of Chico was to be Wednesday, March 6, at 2 p.m. at the Morris Memorial United Methodist Church in Chico. The Rev. Charles Cox was to officiate. Burial was to follow at Chico Cemetery. Pallbearers were to be Tim Jordan, James Foxworth, Jacob Palmer, Levi Foxworth, Anthony Bartoo, Terry Hand and Reid Bridwell. Collum died Friday, March 1, 2002, in Woodville. Born June 5, 1934, in Jay, Okla., he had been treated for chronic leukemia for the past five years. Collum was the oldest son of Rev. Fred E. Lark Collum, an intinerant Methodist preacher and his wife Elizabeth Manon Brook Collum. He was a member of the Seed of Faith Church of Woodville. He is survived by a brother, B.R. Collum and wife Carol; a sister, Margaret I. Young and husband Melvin; and several nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to the Morris Memorial United Methodist Church of Chico, P.O. Box 504, Chico, Texas, 76431. Wise County Messenger, March 7, 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hubert Wayne ‘Bud’ Penn 1926-2002 Service for Hubert Wayne "Bud" Penn, 75, of Newark was to be Wednesday, March 6 at noon at Christian-Hawkins Funeral Chapel in Boyd. The Rev. Jimmy Withers was to officiate. Graveside services were to follow at Laurel Land in Dallas at 2:30 p.m. Penn died Sunday, March 3, 2002, in Dallas. Born Aug. 2, 1926, in Dallas, he was a veteran of the Navy, serving in WWII and Korea. He was an aircraft mechanic, retired from Bell Helicopter. He was a Catholic. He is survived by two nephews, Rick Penn and wife Jan of Dallas, Bill Penn and wife Kathy of Garland; and six great nieces and nephews, all of Garland. Wise County Messenger, March 7, 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Abbs 1944-2002 Service for Jim Abbs, 57, of Decatur was Tuesday, March 5, at Coker Funeral Home Chapel in Decatur. Berl Pedigo officiated. Abbs died Friday, March 1, 2002, in Dallas. Born Aug. 26, 1944, in Pittsburgh, Pa., he married Christine L. Vetterly Aug. 4, 1984, in Waco. He is survived by his wife; his mother, Alberta Abbs of Pittsburgh; his sons, Christopher and John Abbs of Decatur, Jimmy, Brian and Jason Abbs of Pittsburgh, Craig Abbs of Philadelphia, Pa. and Jay Guthrie of Slidell; his daughters, Melissa Guthrie of Sanger and Erin Guthrie of Decatur; two brothers, Robert Abbs of Ohio and Gary Abbs of Pittsburgh; a sister, Barbara Huff of Granberry Township, Pa.; and 18 grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, March 7, 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Guadalupe Cantu 1944-2002 Service for Guadalupe Cantu, 57, of Decatur, was Tuesday, March 5 at the First Baptist Church in Bridgeport. The Rev. Eulogio Puebla officiated. Burial followed at East Bridgeport Cemetery. Pallbearers were Filiberto Ortiz, James Hodges, Jesus Rodriguez, Joel de Leon, Eliazar Torres and Enrique Fraga. Cantu died Saturday, March 2, 2002, in Dallas. Born March 22, 1944, in Naua Coah, Mexico, he was a carpenter and a member of the Primera Iglesia Bautista Church of Decatur. He is survived by his wife, Yolanda Cantu; his son, Fernando Cantu and wife Cristina; his daughter, Maygan Cantu; his stepson, Jesse Ramirez, Jr. and wife Yolanda; two stepdaughters, San Juana Yolanda Corona and Rosary Bustamante; two brothers, Fernando and Vicente Cantu; two sisters, Martha Cantu and Carmen Quiros; and 12 grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, March 7, 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thelma Connie Smith 1915-2002 Service for Thelma Connie Smith, 86, of Alvord will be Thursday, March 7, at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Alvord. Bill Cleveland will officiate. Burial will follow at Alvord Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Ray Richey, Jeff Berry, David Smith, Jimmy Meyers, Dale Morris and Chuck Smith. Smith died Monday, March 4, 2002, in Alvord. Born Oct. 29, 1915, in Forestburg, she was a homemaker. She married the late Johnie E. Smith, Sr. in 1936, in Alvord. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Alvord. She is survived by her son, Johnie E. Smith, Jr. of Alvord; three daughters, Connie Bacon of Port Isabel, Charlotte Boland of Decatur and Chanda Berry of Alvord; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, March 7, 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, March 10, 2002 Shirley Lee Gunn 1947-2002 Graveside service for Shirley Lee Gunn, 54, of Boyd was to be Saturday, March 9, at 1:30 p.m. at Long Branch Cemetery in Montague County. Gunn died Tuesday, March 5, 2002, in Boyd. Born June 15, 1947, in Woodland, Calif., she was a machinist. She married Ronnie Williams Oct. 9, 1969, in Fort Worth. She was preceded in death by her sister Sandra and two brothers, Mike and Lee. She is survived by her husband; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Tamplen, Jr. of Boyd; her children, Tammy Jean Dunn and Tina Marie Toshnog, both of Kent, Wash. and Sabrina Kay Daniels of Anchorage, Alaska; her sisters, Georgeann Baldson of Utah, Sue Jackson of Pelican Bay and Melissa Young of Rhome; and six grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, March 10, 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beatrice Barker Jones 1910-2002 Service for Beatrice Barker Jones, 92, of Bridgeport was Thursday, March 7, at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Bridgeport. The Rev. Johnny Irish officiated. Burial followed at East Bridgeport Cemetery. Jones died Tuesday, March 5, 2002, in Bridgeport. Born Jan. 11, 1910, in Bridgeport, she had lived in Trinity Independent Living Center for the last four years. She was preceded in death by eight brothers and sisters and her husband of 65 years, Paul. She is survived by her sister, Betty Newton of Bridgeport; her sisters-in-law, Polly Jones Smith of Oklahoma City and Pauline Barker of Garland; and a host of nieces and nephews. Wise County Messenger, March 10, 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- James Clifford Seals 1978-2002 Service for James Clifford Seals, 23, of Bridgeport was Friday, March 8, at the First United Methodist Church in Bridgeport. The Rev. Johnny Irish and Dr. Michael Parsons officiated. Burial followed at East Bridgeport Cemetery. Pallbearers were Ken Kilpatrick, Butch Laxson, Keith McComis, Mike McComis, Scott Podhaisky, Louis Zarantello, Travis Moore and Joe Thompson. Seals died Monday, March 4, 2002, in Fort Worth. Born Dec. 31, 1978, in Hurst, he was a 1998 Bridgeport High School graduate. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Bridgeport and was a self-employed machinist contractor. He is survived by his mother, Margaret Splawn and husband Clifford of Bridgeport; his father, Jim Seals and wife Vicki of Runaway Bay; his brother, Jason Seals and wife April; his sister, Lisa Podhaisky and husband Scott; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Wise County Messenger, March 10, 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- James Strother Grisham Sr. 1917-2002 Service for James Strother Grisham, Sr., 84, of Paradise was to be Saturday, March 9, at 2 p.m. at Hawkins Funeral Chapel in Bridgeport. Joe Richardson was to officiate. Burial was to follow at East Bridgeport Cemetery. Pallbearers were Greg Fletcher, Larry Boenish, Jim Wellborn, Leroy Green, Danny Gilreath and Russelll Read. Grisham died Wednesday, March 6, 2002, in Decatur. Born Aug. 30, 1917, in Bridgeport, he was a retired farmer and a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in World War II. He married Cloyce Chapman Feb. 2, 1946, in Decatur. He was a Methodist. He was preceded in death by his wife on Feb. 4, 2002, his brother, Elbert, sister, Irene Green and his parents, Johnny and Ester (Brewer) Grisham. He is survived by his son, James Grisham, Jr. and his wife Judy of Paradise; a brother, Marvin Grisham of Irving; three granddaughters, Gina VanWart and husband C.J. of Weston, Mo., Amy Fletcher and husband Greg of Midlothian and Lori Wellborn and husband Jim of Paradise; eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Wise County Messenger, March 10, 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Albert C. Morris Jr. 1926-2002 Graveside service for Albert C. Morris, Jr., 75, of Slidell was to be Saturday, March 9, at 2 p.m. at Oaklawn Cemetery. Charles Taylor was to officiate. Pallbearers were to be Brandon Kilmer, Justin Morris, Jeff Kilmer, David Kilmer, Travis Hill, Terry Hess, Loren Joe Kilmer, Jr. and Jeremy O’Kelley. Morris died Wednesday, March 6, 2002, in Denton. Born March 13, 1926, in Denton County, he was a retired dairy farmer and a U.S. Army veteran. He was a member of the Church of Christ. He married Winetta Belle Hancock Dec. 24, 1947, in Decatur. He was preceded in death by his sister, Winnell Boner; brothers, Lowell and Sam Morris and son-in-law, Loren Joe Kilmer, Sr. He is survived by his wife; his sons, David Morris of Whitesboro, Wayne Morris of Chico, and Tim Morris of Decatur; his daughters, Martha Kilmer and Joetta Kilmer of Slidell; his brother, Olan Morris of Fort Worth; his sisters, Almeta Carr and Arese Malcolm of Decatur and Anna Lee Wallace of Fort Worth; 12 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, March 10, 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, March 14, 2002 Juanita June Meritt 1927-2002 Service for Juanita June Meritt, 74, of Denton was Monday, March 11, in Denton. The Rev. Elmer Nugent officiated. Burial was in Sweetwater Cemetery. Meritt died Friday, March 8, 2002, in Denton. She was born June 25, 1927, in Decatur to Archie and Ida Foster. She was co-owner of Meritt Construction Company. She is survived by her husband, Bobby Joe Meritt of Denton; two sons, Ernie Meritt of Denver, Colo., and Timothy Meritt of Denton; seven daughters, Gayla Meritt of Denton, Sandra Arce of Edinburg, Joveda Meritt and Vaunda Chapman, both of Las Vegas, Nev., Rebecca Fournier of Beatrice, Neb., and Carrie Merrit and Michelle Tye, both of Fort Worth; three brothers, Jessie R. Foster of Houston, A. Harold Foster of Azle and Paul M. Foster of Clear Lake, Colo.; 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, March 14, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Betty Pannell 1925-2002 Graveside service for Betty Pannell, 76, of Azle was Tuesday, March 12, at Aurora Cemetery. The Rev. Jimmy Withers officiated. Pannell died Friday, March 8, 2002, in Frisco. Born April 5, 1925, in Erie, Pa., she married General Preston Pannell in December 1952, in Ventura, Calif. She was a member of the Aurora Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by six brothers and sisters. She is survived by her husband; a sister, Helen Myers; two daughters, Dani Sue Rea and Lena Mae O’Brian; four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, March 14, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- James W. Ward 1951-2002 Service for James W. Ward, 50, of Paradise was Tuesday, March 12, at First Baptist Church in Paradise. The Revs. Joe Motsenbocker and George Dryer officiated. Burial followed at Bethel Cemetery. Pallbearers were Ricky Potter, Randy Potter, Donnie Potter, Tom Hall, Jeff Ward and Bryant Dunn. Ward died Sunday, March 10, 2002, in Decatur. Born Sept. 9, 1951, in Bridgeport, he graduated from Paradise High School in 1970. He married Wanda Patchin in 1972 and joined the U.S. Air Force the same year. He was in the K-9 Unit and while stationed at Carswell Air Force Base he was sent to Korea and Thailand on two different tours of service. He retired as a tech sergeant with 20 years of service in 1992. He drove cross country transport trucks from 1994 until he went to work for QOS Trucking in Chico in 2000. He was a member of the Paradise First Baptist Church and the Wise County Veterans Group. He is survived by his wife, Wanda Ward of Oklahoma City, Okla.; his parents, Floyd and Ruby Fuqua of Paradise and Paul Ward of Douglasville, Ga.; two sons, Timmy Patchin of Fort Worth and Jeff Ward and wife Toni of Paradise; two brothers, Kenneth Fuqua and wife Cristy and Frank Fuqua, all of Paradise; a sister, Mary Prince of Oklahoma; three grandchildren and several uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins. Wise County Messenger, March 14, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charles Emory Estes 1948-2002 Service for Charles Emory Estes, 53, of Cottondale will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at the Coker Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Tim Staub will officiate. Estes died Saturday, March 9, 2002, in Decatur. He was born June 19, 1948, in Arlington to Charles "Red" Mansfield and Mantie LaVelle Estes. He graduated from Arlington High School in 1966 and the University of Texas at Arlington in 1971 with a mechanical engineering degree. He worked with his dad’s firm, Estes and Stout; Ray Boyd Plaster and Tile in Garland; T & M Plaster in Garland and his last year as an estimator for Southwest Lath and Plaster in Garland. He married Deborah Sue McCollum in Terrell on June 15, 1985. He was an avid hunter and member of the Arlington Sportsman Club. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Deborah Estes; and two stepsons, Benny Lindley and Greg Lindley, both of Paradise. Wise County Messenger, March 14, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- King Hampton Butler 1934-2002 Graveside service for King Hampton "Hamp" Butler, Jr., 67, of Rhome was to be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 13, at Slidell Cemetery. Charles Taylor was to officiate. Butler died Saturday, March 9, 2002, in Decatur. Born Oct. 8, 1934, in Slidell, he had been a cattle rancher since 1957. He had been a cattle salesman at the Fort Worth Stockyards for 28 years. He is survived by a son, Brett Butler of Decatur; a daughter, Lisa Herring and husband Jeff of Rhome; a sister, Cora Lee Brashears and husband Bobby of Amarillo; and a grandson, Zachary Herring of Rhome. Wise County Messenger, March 14, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Margaret Verlene Pate 1933-2002 Service for Margaret Verlene Pate, 68, of Alvord, was to be Wednesday, March 13 at 11 a.m. at Coker Funeral Home Chapel. Ron Hart was to officiate. Pallbearers were to be Scott Chancellor, Jerry Hutto, Levi Pate, Brandon Lee, Bobby Weatherly, David Weatherly, Doyle Johnson and Brad Freeman. Burial was to be in Ball Knob Cemetery. Pate died Monday, March 11, 2002, in Decatur. She was born Dec. 11, 1933, in Jacksonville. She was a nurse aid. She is survived by three sons, Freddie Pate and his wife Teresa of Jacksboro, David Pate and his wife Kim of Alvord and Jeff Pate and his wife Cammi of Wichita Falls; three daughters, Kathy Weatherly and her husband Bobby of Chico, Mary Murphy and her husband David of Forestburg and Linda Tammen and her husband Bill of Wichita Falls; two brothers, Bill Hart and his wife Carol of Phoenix, Ariz.; and Ron Hart and his wife Honey of Jacksonville; three sisters, Glenda Boyer and her husband Ray of Mesquite, Lanelle McBride of Mesquite, and Donna Johns of Jacksonville; 13 grandchildren and 11 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Hershell; two sons, Steven Paul Pate and Aaron Dale Weatherly; a grandson, James Lee; her parents, W. V. and Lora Bell Hart; and one sister, Gail Moad. Wise County Messenger, March 14, 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Frances Veazey 1932-2002 Graveside service for Frances Jannette Holloway Veazey, 69, of Southlake, mother of Rhad Brady of Paradise, will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery on Mountain Creek Parkway in Dallas. Veazey died Sunday, March 10, 2002, at her home. She was born April 14, 1932, in Spur, Texas to William Abb and Bera Mae Holloway. After graduating from Spur High School, she attended Hardin Simmons College in Abilene where she met and married Perkins Veazey in 1950. She later earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education from Texas Tech University. She had taught elementary school for more than 20 years in Lubbock, San Antonio and Irving before retiring. She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Doyle Holloway, Calvin B. Holloway, Harvey Bryant Holloway and Glenn Dwayne Holloway. She is survived by her husband; two sons, Randolph Bryant and his wife Debra of Waco; Rhad Brady and his wife Kathryn of Paradise; one daughter, D. LaRue Corbin and her husband Arnold of Southlake; a brother, Max Holloway of Alvord; four sisters, Mozelle Thomas and Lois Lusko, both of Abilene, Jean Jones of Littleton, Colo., and Jane Colburn of Quitman; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the International Myeloma Foundation, 12650 Riverside Drive, Ste. 206, North Hollywood, Calif. 91607 or to another charity. Wise County Messenger, March 14, 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert L. Smith 1921-2002 Graveside service for Robert L. Smith, 80, of Bridgeport was Tuesday, March 12, at Sweetwater Cemetery. Smith died Saturday, March 9, 2002, in Bridgeport. Born April 12, 1921, in Randlett, Okla., he was a retired grain elevator operator. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He married Wynema Faye Armstrong Aug. 3, 1946, in Henrietta. He was preceded in death by his wife; two brothers, Harvey Smith and Bobby Smith; a sister, Minnie Mae McNabb; and a daughter, Janice Smith Roberts. He is survived by two sons, James Smith and wife Judy of Duncanville and Ronnie Smith and wife Teri of Bridgeport; two daughters, Patty Rogers and husband Eddie of Chico and Melanie Bradish and husband Bobby of Paradise; a son-in-law, Ronnie Roberts of Fort Worth; 16 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, March 14, 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, March 17, 2002 Janet Mayo Garnett 1951-2002 Graveside service for Janet Mayo Garnett, 50, of Cottondale was Friday at Oaklawn Cemetery in Decatur. Mark McKinney officiated. Garnett died Tuesday, March 12, 2002, in Dallas. She was born March 29, 1951, in Pauls Valley, Okla. She married Randall Dale Garnett Dec. 28, 1968, in Fort Worth. She was a cook. Survivors include her husband; her parents, John and Annie Dill of Amarillo; one son, John Garnett and his wife Pam of Victoria; one daughter, Tammy Hilton and her husband Troy of Cottondale; three sisters, Linda Steele and her husband George of Amarillo, Pat Hall and her husband Ralph of Longview and Jo Anna Hurry and her husband Chester of Fort Worth; and six grandchildren. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Lee Boyd 1937-2002 Graveside service for John Lee Boyd Sr., 64, of Keller, was Thursday, March 14, at the Rosston Cemetery in Rosston. Ted Brown officiated. Boyd died Tuesday, March 12, 2002, in Weatherford. He was born Dec. 6, 1937, in Johnson County. He was a retired metal worker. His parents, John W. and Jeannie Smyth Boyd, preceded him in death. He is survived by two sons, John Lee Boyd Jr. and his wife Deborah of Fort Worth, and Wilton Dudley Boyd and his wife Amy of Rosston; a daughter, Kerry Lynn Williams and her husband Billy of Keller; and five grandchildren, Katie, Beth, D.J., Lainey and Will. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- General Preston "Bill" Pannell 1921-2002 Graveside service for General Preston "Bill" Pannell, 80, of Azle was to be at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at Aurora Cemetery. The Rev. Jimmy Withers was to officiate. Pallbearers were to be Andrew Vandergriff, Gerald Sanderson, Jackie Smith, Bob Kongable, Brad Adcock and Bob Noble. Pannell died Thursday, March 14, 2002, in Dallas. He was born Dec. 14, 1921, in Wolfe City. He was a retired auto salesman and custom home builder. He married Betty Frame in Ventura, Calif. He was a veteran of the Navy and served in World War II. He was a member of the Aurora Baptist Church. He died as a result of injuries from an auto accident that killed his wife Betty. He was also preceded in death by his brother, J.B. Pannell. He is survived by two daughters, Dani Sue Rea of Azle and Lena Mae O’Brian of Sherman; a brother, Walter Pannell of Decatur; four grandchildren, Ryon, Clay, LeeAnn and Scott; and three great-grandchildren, Britney, Briana and Carie. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pearl M. Randolph 1921-2002 Service for Pearl M. Randolph, 80, of Rhome was Monday, March 11, at the Church of Christ in Newark. Bobby Boaldin officiated. Burial followed at Aurora Cemetery. Pallbearers were Harry Crites, Donnie Crites, Mark Jenkins, Josh Crites, Kevin Roberson and Randy Randolph. Randolph died Saturday, March 9, 2002, in Decatur. She was born June 15, 1921, in Baton Rouge, La. to Joseph and Margaret Sanchez Salita. She was a homemaker and a member of the Church of Christ in Newark. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Randolph on March 21, 1999. She is survived by one son, Lee Randolph and wife Lisa; one grandson, Joshua Randolph; one granddaughter, Melanie Randolph; and three sisters, Grace Alcala, Dorothy Barber and Lena Gerald. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alfred Narramore 1928-2002 Graveside service for Alfred Narramore, 73, of Arlington was to be Saturday, March 16, at 3:30 p.m. at Moore Memorial Gardens. Narramore died Wednesday, March 13, 2002, in Arlington. Born Dec. 1, 1928, in Bowie, he was a retired civil engineer. He was in the U.S. Army serving in Korea from 1951 to 1952. He sang in and directed the SPEBSQSA Barber Shop Chorus in Arlington. He was employed for 45 years with TxDOT, retiring in 1993. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Carole Narramore of Arlington; four daughters, Vicki Vannatta and husband Jim of Boyd, Kimberly Hutchison and husband Craig of Birmingham, Ala., Sherran Fuller of Arlington and Missy Trubatisky and husband Steve of Keller; his mother, Mary Grace Robinson of Bowie; 10 grandchildren; five step grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Edna Chancellor 1907-2002 Service for Edna Chancellor, 94, of Decatur will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 17, at the Coker Funeral Home Chapel. Barry Jameson will officiate, assisted by Gary Demmitt. Burial will follow at Alvord Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons. Chancellor died Thursday, March 14, 2002, in Decatur. Born Oct. 22, 1907, in Comanche, she was a homemaker. She married Charles Chancellor March 5, 1930 in Wichita Falls. She was a member of the First United Methodist church in Alvord. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1961; a son, W.J. Stark; grandchildren; Cathy and Jeffery Chancellor and Calvin Stark; and a great-grandson, Ethan Chancellor. She is survived by her sons, W.C. Stark and wife Dianne of Granbury, Lonni Chancellor of Jacksboro, Charles Chancellor of Bowie and Ray Chancellor and wife Beth of Alvord; her daughters, Rosemary Miller and husband Pat, Estelle Watts and husband Bobby and Margaret Anderson and husband Curtis, all of Decatur; 27 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, March 24, 2002 Donald Dewey Burk 1930-2002 Private services for Donald Dewey Burk, 71, of Chico were held in Denton. Burk died Tuesday, March 19, 2002, in Chico. He was born Aug. 7, 1930, in Boston, Mass. to James Dewey and Georgie (Dixion) Burk. He graduated from Northeast Massachusetts University with a degree in engineering. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he went to work for the Polaroid Camera Company and became the head of the design department. He is survived by his wife, Irene Burk of Denton; his son, Donald Burk, Jr. of Chico; and two grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, March 24, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Willard Young Jr. 1927-2002 A memorial service for Robert Williard Young Jr., 74, of Sunset was Friday at the First Baptist Church of Alvord. Bill Cleveland officiated. Young died Tuesday, March 19, 2002, in Denton. He was born Sept. 25, 1927, in Start, La. He was a retired Army veteran and a retired Wise County sheriff’s deputy. He was a member of the First Baptist Church. He married Debra Colleen Scott on March 26, 1981, in Lake Worth. He is survived by his wife; two sons, Robert Young III of Fort Worth and Kelley Young of Watauga; a stepson, Jimmy Huxford of Indiana; and three stepdaughters, Rena Alexander of Sunset, Veda Vester of Indiana and Gerilyn Neal of Fort Worth; a brother, Don Young of Richardson; a sister, Billie Rene West of Kaufman; 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Wise County Messenger, March 24, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sybil Inez Waldrip 1927-2002 Service for Sybil Inez Waldrip, 74, of Boyd was Tuesday at Christian-Hawkins Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Lyle Asbill officiated. Burial followed at Boyd Cemetery. Pallbearers were Brian Smith, Danny Benton, Raymond Benton, Robert Thompson, Shawn Waldrip and Dee Jay Waldrip. Waldrip died Saturday, March 23, 2002, in Sulphur, La. Born April 8, 1927, in Durant, Okla., she married Raymond Waldrip on May 22, 1948, in Alvord. She was a Baptist. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Martha (Tackett) Adams; a son, Charles Waldrip; a brother, Leroy Adams and her sister, Myrtle Smith. She is survived by her husband, Raymond Waldrip; two sons, J.T. Thompson and wife Joyce and Raymond Waldrip and wife Anita; two daughters, Shirley Smith and husband Jon and Helen LeDoux and husband Danny; three sisters, Faye Frances, Irene Lemmons and Ann Adams; 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, March 28, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adelle Rice Ross 1915-2002 Service for Adelle Rice Ross, 86, of Wichita Falls and the sister of Martin Rice of Boyd, was Tuesday in Wichita Falls. The Rev. Larry Brownfield officiated. Burial was in Crestview Memorial Park. Ross died Saturday, March 23, 2002 in Oklahoma City. She was born Sept. 14, 1915, in the Lake Valley community near Sunset. She married Noah Brazos Ross Oct. 4, 1942, in Lawton, Okla. She was a member of Faith Baptist Church in Wichita Falls. She was preceded in death by her husband and two brothers. She is survived by two sons, Kenneth R. Ross and wife Pam of Oklahoma City, and Robert Jerry Ross of Wichita Falls; a sister, Melissa Arby Lowe of Electra; a brother, Martin Rice and his wife Nora of Boyd; and two grandchildren, Lindsey Ross Harris and husband Ryan of Fairfax, Va., and Channing Ross of Norman, Okla. Wise County Messenger, March 28, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carol Ann Faith Jennings 1943-2002 Memorial service for Carol Ann Faith Jennings, 58, of Decatur will be Friday, March 29 at 2 p.m. at Coker Funeral Home Chapel. Jerry Stout will officiate. Burial will follow at Bethel Cemetery. Jennings died Saturday, March 23, 2002, in Decatur. Born July 10, 1943, in Decatur, she was a homemaker and a member of the First United Methodist Church in Decatur. She married the late Tex Jennings in Oklahoma in 1988. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Faith Ann Range. She is survived by two daughters, Melissa Williams of Decatur and Terry Crowley of Leo; a brother, David Brent Faith of Fort Worth; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Wise County Messenger, March 28, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nannie Pearl Coffey Hopkins 1909-2002 Service for Nannie Pearl Coffey Hopkins, 92, a native of Slidell will be Thursday at the Harrell Funeral Home in Austin. Burial will follow Friday at 2 p.m. at Slidell Cemetery. Hopkins died Monday, March 25, 2002, in Austin. She was born July 30, 1909, in Slidell, one of 14 children of Aurelius Coffey and Jesse Edna Bryant. She married Jesse Allman Hopkins June 7, 1930. She grew up on a farm where she not only worked around the house but also worked in the fields driving a team of horses or mules to plow, plant, cultivate and harvest field crops. She was a noted baker. She moved to Austin in 1980 where she was "Grandmother" to her family, as well as some 10 other children she cared for at various times. She was a member of the Southwest Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1975 and a daughter, Patricia. She is survived by one son, Joe R. Hopkins and wife Emma Williams Hopkins; three grandchildren, David Joe Hopkins and wife Elaine, Jerry Nix Hopkins and wife Debra and Robin Gay Vogel and husband Paul; six great-grandchildren, Wesley David, Wendy Diane, Jess Allen, Justin Andrew, Russell Kneel and Paula Kay, all of Austin; one sister, Lonell Garrett of Rosebud, Ark.; and many nieces and nephews. Wise County Messenger, March 28, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ronald Pierce Eakle 1931-2002 Graveside service for Ronald Pierce Eakle, 70, of Chico, was to be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Mount Family Cemetery in Chico. The Rev. Charles Cox officiated. Eakle died Sunday, March 24, 2002 in Chico. He was born Nov. 3, 1931, in Vernon. He was a U.S. Army veteran and also served in the National Guard. He was a retired engineer design craftsman for Otis Engineering. Survivors include a brother, Donald Eakle and his wife Deanna; a niece and a great-nephew. Wise County Messenger, March 28, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, March 31, 2002 Jerry Marvin Pettengill 1931-2002 Service for Jerry Marvin Pettengill, 71, of Boyd was to be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church of Boyd with the Rev. Dale Rider officiating. A private burial will be at 1 p.m. Monday in the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Pettengill died Tuesday, March 26, 2002, in Boyd. He was born Feb. 17, 1931, in Coin, Iowa. He married Jana Green on Nov. 17, 1994, at Southlake. A Navy veteran, he served in the Korean War. He owned Flow Tronex PSI Inc. until he retired. He was a member of the Methodist Church, the American Legion and the Moose Lodge. He owned Salt Creek Arena. He is survived by his wife; children, Richard Krieger, Sandra Schafluetzel, Terry Dorothy, Sue Gregory, Rebecca Hawkins and David Pettengill; and stepchildren, Kelle Foster and Flynn Coon. Wise County Messenger, March 31, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas Burton Hays Jr. 1914-2002 Service for Thomas Burton Hays, Jr., 87, of Bridgeport was Friday at the First Baptist Church in Bridgeport with the Rev. Bo Blakey and the Rev. Joe Motsenbocker officiating. Burial was in the Thomas Cemetery. Hays died Wednesday, March 27, 2002, in Decatur. He was born July 20, 1914, in Bridgeport, the son of Thomas Sr. and Mary Bertie (Hartsell) Hays. He married Latrell Denton on June 19, 1978, in Decatur. He worked as a funeral director for Hawkins and Christian-Hawkins Funeral Home for 50 years. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Bridgeport, the Shriners and Scottish Rite for 50 years and was active in the Masonic Lodge 53 years. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Melvina "Strawberry" Greagston Hays, three brothers, four sisters and a stepson and stepdaughter. He is survived by his wife; two stepsons, Lee Roy Reasoner and his wife Yvonne, and Dennis Reasoner; seven step-grandchildren and eight step-great grandchildren. Pallbearers were Troy Hays, Fred Hays, Carl Hays, Hermann Hays, Russell Combs, Nolan Combs and Buddy Combs. Wise County Messenger, March 31, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- James Bowden 1923-2002 Service for James Bowden, 78, of Denison was Friday, March 29, at Hawkins Funeral Chapel in Bridgeport. Bowden died March 26, 2002, in Denison. Garry and David Mahan officiated. Burial was at East Bridgeport Cemetery. He was born Nov. 3, 1923, in Bridgeport. A resident of Denison for the past 17 years, he was a retired sales supervisor for Mrs. Baird’s Bakery. He also had been owner/operator of the Snowcone Supply Company in North Texas. He married Billye Howard McCain on October 27, 1944. He is survived by his wife; two sons, Jackie Bowden and his wife Ginger of Fort Worth and Dickie Bowden and his wife Angie of Arlington; and three grandchildren, Brook Bowden, Kevin Bowden and Ginny Freeman. Wise County Messenger, March 31, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elizabeth Jones Blackstock 1915-2002 Service for Elizabeth Jones Blackstock, 86, of Chico was Friday at the Morris Memorial Methodist Church in Chico with the Rev. Charles Cox officiating. Burial was in Chico Cemetery. Blackstock died Wednesday, March 27, 2002, in Decatur. She was born Dec. 25, 1915, in Alvarado. A homemaker, she was a member of the Morris Memorial Methodist Church and the Chico Friendship Club. She had been a resident of Chico 47 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, T.C. Blackstock in 1983, and by a grandson, Rusty Fuller. She is survived by a son, Tommy Blackstock of Fort Worth; two daughters, Clara Sue McCafferty of Fort Worth and Jo Alice Upchurch of Saginaw; a brother, Dalton Jones of Pauls Valley, Okla.; a sister-in-law, Rosie Jones of Blue Mound; nine grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and nine great-great grandchildren. Pallbearers were Barry McCafferty, Michael McCafferty, Mark McCafferty, Brian Epperson, Timothy Blackstock and Tommy Chad Blackstock. Wise County Messenger, March 31, 2002 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------