Peb Richards went to be with the Lord on August 29, 2024, while in his home, surrounded by his loved ones in Barry, Texas. He was born to William Jennings "Skeeter" Richards and Pink Marie Hopkins Richards in Pinkston, Texas on April 21, 1938. They named him Wendell Lee Richards, but he was better known as Stickhorse, Peb, Daddy, Raymond and Bibby. Peb grew up in Blooming Grove, Texas with a whole town of friends he played with every day. The closest friends he had were called the Squash Town Gang, they lived on the north side of Blooming Grove. Peb was all about creating fun with his friends. The family never grew tired of hearing about his childhood days that were full of stick horse riding, building his own toys, going barefoot year round, having a clubhouse, taking bicycles apart and piecing them back together to make a super duper bike. They loved playing marbles and swimming in their secret swimming hole. When he was in high school, he enjoyed loud cars and playing silly pranks. Peb was a 1956 graduate of Blooming Grove High School where he was a star athlete all four years of high school. Peb picked cotton, hauled hay and worked at the local gas station. He worked on the pipeline with his Daddy. After he married, he worked at Welex and Carnation Milk in Ft. Worth, TX. Peb was then drafted and served in the United States Army and was stationed in Korea. He received the top marksman medal while serving his country. He returned home and worked at Tom's Food Ltd. for 39 years as a supervisor until retirement. Peb loved to play on his softball team and bowling league. He was a member of New Beginnings Family Fellowship, he helped construct the church building and served as an elder. Peb had a servant's heart and was always willing to help others in need. Peb is survived by his wife, Diane Hinkle Richards whom he married on June 20, 1958. Other survivors include, daughter Amanda Jane "Mandy" Grounds, husband Donnie. Two sons who were waiting to welcome their Daddy to heaven, Eric Wendell Richards and Kyle Wayne Richards. Later in life God blessed them with a bonus son, Jason Wayne Richards, wife Valerie. Six grandsons, Lee Eric Grounds, wife Brittany. Noah Kyle Grounds, wife Katlyn. Tristen Luke Richards, Braeden Alec Richards, Luke Braeden Andrews, wife Iris and Logan Wayne Andrews. Twin great granddaughters Leighton Jane Grounds and Langston Ann Grounds. One great grandson, Nash Kyle Grounds. Also many, many nieces and nephews whom he loved. Peb and Diane were high school sweethearts, and it was a true love story. The union before God was lived out for 66 years and withstood the test of every trial imaginable. Peb always thought she was beautiful and always wanted to be near her but loved to pick on her. Diane thought he was the most handsome, dreamy man ever. Peb loved his family something fierce. He made sure there was fun, laughter, adventures and a little mischief. Peb loved to fish, mow, drive the tractor, ride his four wheeler, raise cattle, watch bull riding and just sitting down to talk so he could do a lot of storytelling and teasing. Peb was a Daddy who loved his children unconditionally, kept laughter in their mouths and giggles on their lips even at the most inappropriate times. He was always there when they needed him. He was not just a grandfather, he was a best friend and the most fun playmate to his grandsons. He made them his number one priority and he was their biggest fan. Peb was an uncle that always showed up to support and help. The Richards house was a home away from home to all of them. It was the most fun place to hang out. Peb was a true friend you could depend on to make you laugh, help you out and always listen. He was definitely not short on friends. Peb loved meeting new people, he didn't mind peppering them with questions so when he walked away he had a new friend. While he was a supervisor, he went above and beyond to help his co-workers who had become his dear friends. Peb walked faithfully with the Lord. His faith is defined by perseverance and a will to live; even in the midst of the pain and suffering he endured throughout his life. Peb's faith in Jesus Christ is what allowed him to bring joy to all whom crossed his path. Peb's faith can be summarized by James 1:2-4 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Peb was preceded in death by his father, William Richards, mother, Pink Richards, brother, Wayne Richards, sons, Eric and Kyle Richards. At Peb's request, his body will be donated to UT Southwestern Medical Center for the advancement of science. A celebration of life will be held at First Baptist Church, Blooming Grove, Texas on September 3, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Rose Hill Cemetery PO Box 413, Blooming Grove, TX, 76626. The family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to New Century Hospice for their loving care of Peb, with a special thank you to McKeylee Taylor, Connie Moriatis, and Holly Molina.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Fri., Aug. 30, 2024
• Submitted by Karen Rost
• w/o Ruthie Diane (Hinkle) Richards, married June 20, 1958; s/o William Jennings "Skeeter" Richards & Pink Marie "Pinkie" (Hopkins) Richards
• Marker at Rose Hill Cemetery, Blooming Grove, Navarro Co., TX

James Albert "Jim" Banks
Oct 14, 1946 - Sep 2, 2024

James Albert Banks, also known as Jim, or Mr. Banks, or Bub, or Brother to many who knew him, peacefully passed away at home on Monday, September 2, 2024, at age 77. Visitation will be held in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday, September 5, 2024, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 6, 2024, at Cobb Cemetery, with Reverend Ben Huebner of the First Methodist Church officiating. Pallbearers will be Stephen Reeder, Paul Beene, Brian Banks, Steven Banks, Jason Banks, and Tim Banks. Jim was born October 14, 1946, in Corsicana, TX. to H. C. and Ruby Faye (Ellis) Banks. He grew up there and graduated from Corsicana High School in 1965 and attended Navarro College. Jim was united in marriage with his high school sweetheart, Cathy Mims in August 1966 in Corsicana. He enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1967 and served in Germany. After his honorable discharge, he resumed his college education at Navarro College and then at the University of Texas at Austin, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree. Jim was a vocational teacher in Baytown for a couple of years, and after he and Cathy had three daughters, he decided to change careers to the computer industry. The family made their home in Houston, and he worked for HL&P/Center Point Energy during the last 19 years of his career. While his daughters were growing up, he was the certified referee at their swim meets, and did not show them partiality over the other swimmers. Jim retired from his career at Center Point in 2004. He had also enjoyed being an adjunct faculty teacher at North Harris County Community College, teaching data processing. Jim was a member of the Old Town Spring Masonic Lodge. Jim and Cathy were long time owners of property at Oak Point at Lake Limestone, and in 2006 made their permanent home at the lake. He had been an active Mason and transferred his membership to the Thornton Masonic Lodge. He had a strong Christian faith, and was active in his hobby of woodworking, enjoyed reading U.S. and Texas history and the Lee Child-Jack Reacher novels, and especially remained a loyal Longhorn football fan since his days at Austin. He was a loving husband, father, and brother throughout his life. Jim was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ivan and Dona Banks; parents, H.C. and Ruby Banks, and a brother, John Ellis Banks. He is survived by his wife, Cathy Banks of Thornton; three daughters and sons-in-law, Lisa Anne and Charles Williams of Kerrville, Lesley Diane and Stephen Reeder of Kingwood, and Lisbeth Ellen and Steve Brown of Florence, Arizona, and his four grandchildren and their spouses, Caitlyn and Kevin Drewry, Abigail and Brad Batsell, Ashtin Brown, and Madison Brown. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Robert Earl and Debbie Banks of Corsicana; sisters-in-law, Deborah Drum and Barbara Banks, and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to AccentCare Hospice of Groesbeck at 314 S. Dr. JB Riggs Drive, Groesbeck, TX 76642. Groesbeck Funeral Home

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Tues., Sep 3, 2024
• Submitted by Karen Rost
• Corsicana High School Class of 1965

William Todd "Todd" Wills
Nov 30, 1966 - Jul 29, 2024

William Todd Wills was born on November 30, 1966 in Dallas to Will and Lugay Wills. He was the oldest of four siblings - Robert, Jeff and Tracy. Robert, Todd and Jeff were each two years apart and Tracy came along when Todd was 13. Todd attended Hyer Elementary School, McCulloch Middle School, Highland Park High School and Westlake High School, where he graduated in 1985. Growing up and into his adulthood, he enjoyed playing football, baseball, basketball, track, soccer and golf. As children, Todd's parents would send him and his two brothers to Austin or Stephenville in the summer to spend with their grandparents. Robert said: "Looking back, those trips were the highlight of my summers. Our grandparents would drop us off at the golf course first thing in the morning and pick us up at sundown. I could write a book filled with stories of our summers on the golf course, but those days will always be my fondest memories of my brothers. Todd, as the oldest, was always the leader of the pack and was very much behind the games and contests we would create during those long summer days on the golf course." On March 1, 1979, Todd's baby sister, Tracy, passed away from complications from pneumonia. Tracy was an all-state cross country runner at Highland Park High School. Her running successes were a great source of pride for the entire family. Tracy's death had a tremendous impact on Todd as having a successful athlete as a sibling perfectly aligned with his love of sports and sports writing. In the fall of 1985, he attended the University of Texas at Austin to study history. While in college, he was a member of Chi Phi Fraternity, and played and officiated in multiple intramural sports at UT Austin. He competed in almost every intramural contest in hopes of winning the coveted 'Intramural Champion' t-shirt. Throughout college, Todd worked as a stringer, covering high school football games for the Austin American-Statesman and the Dallas Morning News. He formally started his journalism career as a sports writer for the Corsicana Daily Sun in 1993 and would go on to be the sports editor. In 1996, he moved to the Arlington Morning News as sports editor and oversaw the first ever publication of the paper. He was thrilled to cover sports teams he grew up a fan of such as the Texas Rangers. He would eventually become a staff writer at the Dallas Morning News. Todd had two daughters - Abby in 1996 and Paige in 1999 - through his first marriage. Throughout the girls' lives Todd served as coach to their soccer and basketball teams. Abby recalls how "he always cherished coaching my '01 soccer team and a photo of me, him and Paige with me in my soccer jersey was one of his favorites." Todd had two sons - Brady in 2008 and Ben in 2009 - through his second marriage. Todd regularly cheered on Brady's soccer games and Ben's recent interest in golf. It's no surprise he cultivated his children's interest in sports. He attended multiple TX/OU football games with Brady and Ben, including the remarkable 49-0 shutout in 2022. According to Ben, "the Longhorns were [their] pride and joy last season." Although Paige has never had much interest in golf, she still "fondly remembers a time she and her dad dined at Matt's El Rancho in Austin and ran into Ben Crenshaw - the first Longhorn Masters' champion and his favorite all-time golfer. He was elated." Despite Todd's interest in nearly every sport, Abby managed to put Todd onto Formula 1 racing, resulting in the pair rooting for the same team - Ferrari. Throughout Todd's life, he managed to see all of his favorite teams win championships - the Cowboys (1971, 1977, 1992, 1993, 1995), Mavericks (2011), Stars (1999), Rangers (2023) and Longhorns (1969, 1970, 2005). Todd started his second career at Stewart Toyota in Corsicana, using his likeability and charm to match customers with the car for them. His ties to journalism never stopped though: he also appeared on KAND Radio to cover and discuss high school sports. He continued his passion for writing in recent years with his Substack - Chillin' With Wills - and through lengthy social media posts his kids would poke fun at him about. Brady says, "In his old home you could see posters of his articles along the walls, truly depicting how proud he was of his work." In the fall of 2022, Todd was diagnosed with kidney cancer. Despite the fear and uncertainty of the diagnosis, he found solace in country music and connecting with friends, oftentimes ensuring he tied both together. He even put together a George Strait bracket where friends voted for their favorite songs, all culminating in a night at The Rustic during TX/OU weekend. Todd is preceded in death by his mother and father, Lugay and Will, and his sister, Tracy. He is survived by his two brothers, Robert and his fianc�e Louise, and Jeff, and his four children, Abby, Paige, Brady and Ben. A celebration of Todd's life will be held on September 7 from 11 am to 3 pm for family and friends at the Inwood Tavern during the Texas-Michigan game. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Do It For Durrett.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Tues., Sep 6, 2024
• Submitted by Karen Rost

Harry Ervin Bruton
Aug 17, 1909 - Sep 13, 1977

Harry Bruton

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Corley Funeral Home Chapel for Harry Bruton, 68, resident of Corsicana, who died Tuesday at Memorial Hospital.

The Rev. Eugene Wood will officiate, with burial following at Resthaven Memorial Park.

He was a native of Clarksville, lived in Corsicana 46 years, and was the owner of Bruton's Gulf Service Station.

Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Kathryn Bruton of Corsicana; a son, Jerry Bruton of Corsicana; a daughter, Mrs. Judy Hogue of Dallas, seven grandchildren, one great-grandchild; two sisters, Mrs. Herbert Varley of Corsicana and Mrs. Eloise Stewart of Corpus Christi, and a number of nieces and nephews.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Wed., Sep 14, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• h/o Kathryn (Archer) Bruton; s/o John Harris Bruton & Jennie Pearl (DuPreast) Bruton

Bessie Lee (Strange) Ficklin
Aug 6, 1898 - Nov 15, 1977

Mrs. Ficklin

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Griffin Funeral Home Chapel in Corsicana for Mrs. Bessie Ficklin, 79, resident of Powell, who died last night at Memorial Hospital.

The Rev. Harold Lansford will officiate, with burial following at Resthaven Memorial Park.

Survivors include her husband, Thomas E. Ficklin of Powell; three daughters, Mrs. Emma Chewning, and Mrs. Thelma Aven, both of Powell and Mrs. Mildred Mitcham of Corsicana, five grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, a brother, Grady Strange of Mabank; and a sister, Mrs. Blanche Ficklin of Trinidad.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Tues., Nov. 15, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• w/o Thomas Eugene Ficklin, Jr. married Jul. 23, 1916; d/o David C. "Dave" Strange & Sarah Jane (Walker) Strange

Curtis Paul Jones
Apr 21, 1929 - Nov 4, 1977



Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Fri., Nov. 4, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• State Home HS graduate 1947
• h/o Ina Mae (Balentine) Jones

Ina M. (Balentine) Jones is: also the death date is wrong.

Ina Mae (Balentine) Jones
Apr 21, 1929 - Sep 30, 2020

Ina Balentine Jones, 91, passed away on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at Twilight Nursing Home. Ina was born on April 21, 1929 to Lorena & Ralph Balentine in Corsicana, TX. At the young age of fifteen, Ina met the love of her life, Curtis Jones at the Corsicana State Home, where her parents worked. The two were together and raised three children until his death in 1977. Ina graduated with her B.S. in Education from North Texas State University in 1947. She would later go on to obtain her Master's Degree from East Texas State University in Library Science. Ina began her 48 year career in education as a teacher for Corsicana ISD. She eventually went on to become the District Librarian where she worked until retirement. Ina was a member of the Association of Texas Professional Educators and Delta Kappa Gamma. As a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church of Corsicana, Ina belonged to the Friendship Sunday School Class and served on many church committees including United Methodist Women. She enjoyed volunteering in her community and participated in several service organizations. Kinsloe, House, March of Dimes, and the American Cancer Society are just a few of the many organizations she enjoyed volunteering for. Ina was outgoing and a friend to all she met. In her free time she loved to read, travel, walk, and create jewelry. If asked, Ina would have told anyone that life's greatest treasure was her family. Above all else she loved spending time with them and carrying on family traditions. Ina was preceded in death by her beloved husband Curtis, parents Lorena & Ralph Balentine, brother Ralph Balentine, and son in law, Steve Erwin. She is survived by her son Don Jones (Lucy), daughter Cindi Horton (Bill), son Jeff Jones (Mandi), her sister JoAnn McCrory, sister in law Verlene Balentine, grandchildren Curt Jones, Hillary Rohe (Kenneth), Stan Jones (Brandy), Summer Jones, Hunter Jones, great grandchildren Addie, Brooke, & Harrison Jones and Rob, Blaire, & Kendall Rohe, along with numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the staff of Twilight Nursing Home. Memorial can be made in Ina's name to the American Cancer Society - Navarro County Unit Celebration of Life for Ina Jones will be Wednesday, October 7, 2020 at 1:00pm in the Chapel at Griffin - Roughton Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 12noon till service time. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park.

Notes:

• Griffin Roughton Funeral Home
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• w/o Curtis Paul Jones

Ray Elmer Whitener
Jan. 15, 1946 - Sept. 16, 2024

"The reason my wife was chosen is that she has experience dealing with fools and children. I fit in either group." We were blessed to learn many valuable lessons from Ray Elmer Whitener (or Homer as his grandkids call him) during his 78 years, among them: I have been a car nut for 70+ years. I used to be a drag racer (retired), son drag races, Grandson #1 drag races, Grandson #2 will drag race (smart kid). ENOUGH SAID. Ray Elmer Whitener was born in Blooming Grove Texas on January 15, 1946, and he drag raced off into the sunset on September 16, 2024, in Corsicana, Texas. This was the second time he died. The first time, he managed to slip back in. His spirit was released from his worn-out shell of a body and now he is drag racing in Heaven. He has reconnected with his mother, Ruth Moore, father, Ralph E. Whitener, his other dad Sidney Moore, his sister, Linda Ruth Mershawn, and his brother, Don Whitener, and many other long-gone family and friends. He left behind his wife, Nita (Hot Stuff as he called her) of 56 years, children Amanda Carver and husband, Zack, Chris Whitener and wife, Jerri, grandsons, Mikey and Matthew Carver, nephew/son, Jon Mershawn, nieces Haley Whitener and Hillary Hutto, and great grandkids. He also left behind many adored friends and family. Ray served in the US Army in the Vietnam War. He began his career in the 70's with Lone Star Gas (Atmos Energy) and retired in 2016. He loved fast cars, westerns, reading on his Kindle, dishing out jobs to his kids and grandkids and paying them for their services, giving to others, tinkering with everything, old music, whispering smart ass comments under his breath, and his biggest regret, his 1969 AMX. A celebration of life will be announced later. Cremation will take place, and his ashes will be spread by his family after they get tired of having him around. Everyone who remembers Ray knows what a kindred spirit he is. He will be missed by all who knew him. Instead of flowers, Ray would hope you will donate to the Navarro County Child Advocacy Center in his name. With that Ray leaves you with this, "Life is not measured by how many breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away (Nita and a 4-2peed 390 cu in a 69 AMX are two of mine)." and "If I had known I was going to live this long I would have taken life slower."

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Tues., Sept. 17, 2024
• Submitted by Karen Rost

William Lee "Bill" Dry III
Jun 9, 1951 - Jun 4, 2024

William (Bill) Lee Dry III, 72 of Purdon, passed away Tuesday, June 4, 2024. He was born June 9, 1951, in Dallas to William Lee Dry Jr and Johnnie Watts Dry. Bill was a Mason and a proud member of the Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) since the age of 19. His adventurous spirit shone brightly through his love for riding broncs and bull riding. Bill also found joy in playing golf and riding around on his golf cart. His love for animals, especially his dogs, was well known, and he cherished every moment spent with his family. He is preceded in death by his parents and sister Deborah Thomas. Bill leaves behind his wife, Kim Dry; children, Chad and Alanna Dry, Heather and Chris Oldenburg. Grandchildren, Alyssa and Kylie Dry, Curtis and Cole Oldenburg. Father-in-law and mother-in-law, Jerry and Katie Jordan; sister-in-law and brother-in-law D'awn and Alan Dailey. Also, nieces, nephews and extended family. Memorial Graveside service will be 11:00 am Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at Dawson Cemetery with Steve Bishop officiating from their previous church Ridin High Cowboy Church of Union Valley, Tx. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to SPCA or St Jude's Children's Hospital.

Notes:

• Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home
• h/o Kim Dry; s/o William Lee Dry Jr and Johnnie Watts Dry
• Submitted by Karen Rost

Chester Ray Jones, Jr.
Jan 8, 1941 - Aug 31, 2024

Chester Ray Jones, Jr., age 83, transitioned from his earthly life on Saturday, August 31, 2024, at Baylor Scott & White Hospital with his Loving Family by his side. Chester was born January 8, 1941, to the Parentage of Chester Jones, Sr., and Willie Mae Anderson Jones. In his early years he attended school in the Dawson Independent School District. After graduating from G. W. Carver High School in Dawson, Texas, Chester briefly lived and worked in Houston, Texas. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1961. He knew exactly what he wanted to do in the Armed Forces. He wanted to be a Paratrooper, and that is exactly what he did. Chester's courageous passion as a Paratrooper exemplified his Faith in God, that he could do "All things in Christ." He was proud to be Sergeant First Class of the 82nd Airborne Signal Battalion Division of the U. S. Army. He lived and breathed it wholeheartedly. He wore his Maroon Beret and embodied its true meaning. He was immensely proud, optimistic, fearless, and most definitely a True Warrior. During his Service to our Country, he received several Commendations and Letters of Appreciation. His Military Promotions awarded him to become a Master Sergeant E-7. This is a testament to his commitment, mastery of duties and skills, and his leadership capabilities. He met every challenge with a smile and always knew the correct way to do anything. He never met a stranger, and he would go above and beyond to help anyone. He was Blessed and he always was very deliberate to be a "Blessing" to others. He met and married Ms. Bessie Mae Williams and to their union they were Blessed with three Children, Chester III, Dwight and a Precious Baby Girl, Tracy. After Chester's retirement from the Armed Forces, he and his family moved to Corsicana in 1985. He was employed with the Corsicana ISD until he retired. He and his Wife, Sis. Bessie united with the Second Mission Baptist Church under the Pastoral Leadership of the late Pastor Emeritus Paul Curry. He was ordained as a Deacon and faithfully served as a Sunday Church School Instructor, Treasurer, Brotherhood Ministry President, and other positions throughout his lifetime. Under the Pastoral Leadership of Pastor Larry L. Polk and Pastor Orlando Williams, he consistently and dutifully served in many capacities until his health failed. He was a Devout Christian who was totally committed to serving The Lord, his Family and Mankind. He reminded us to study God's Word and to instruct our Children, "what thus says The Lord." He also served in many positions in the Harmony Baptist District Association. For years, he would purchase and deliver the refreshments for our Annual Youth Picnic during our Hot Summers in July. He was always there to greet our Youth when they arrived at Jester's Park. He willingly offered and served in so many ways that are innumerable. He served The Lord, his Family, his Country, and his Community extremely well. His impressionable manner and presence as a Staple influence in the Body of Christ at the Second Mission Baptist Church and our Community will truly be missed. Chester was preceded in death by his Parents, Chester, Sr. & Willie Mae Jones; Brother, William Henry Jones; Sister, Naomi Steward, and Josephine Thomas; Son, Chester Jones, III; Daughter, Rita Cole; Nephews, William Jones, Rufus Steward & Calvin Steward; Niece, Dreeka Duson and a Host of Aunts, Uncles, and other Family Members. He leaves to Cherish his Memory, the "Love of his Life" & Devoted Wife of 59 years, Mrs. Bessie Mae Jones; Son, Dwight Jones; Daughter, Tracy L. (Vernon) Edom; Sisters-In-Law, Hattie Jones, Verma (Burt) Fortenberry and Helen (Ricky) Williams; Special & Only Grandson, Christopher Jones; Granddaughters, Ajah, Saniyah & Iynia; Great Grandsons, Zayden & Caius Bailey and Zy'ire McCowan; and many Nieces, Nephews, Cousins, other Relatives and the SMBC Family. A Celebration of Life Services will be held on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at 11:00am at the Second Mission Baptist Church located at 909 South 5th Street in Corsicana where Orlando Williams serves as Pastor. His body will Lye-in-State at SMBC from 10:00am until 11:00am prior to the Services. The public may pay their respects during that time. The Jones Family has entrusted the care of their Loved One with M. R. Smith Parlor for Funerals. Full Military Honors will follow the Celebration of Life Services at the Interment at Woodland Memorial Park located at 501 North Bunert Road, Corsicana, Texas.

Notes:

• Published on Sep 13, 2024
• Graduate of G. W. Carver High School, Dawson, TX
• US Army Veteran
• h/o Bessie Mae (Williams) Jones; s/o Chester Jones, Sr., and Willie Mae Anderson Jones
• Submitted by Karen Rost

Harry Ervin Bruton
Aug. 17, 1909 - Sep. 13, 1977

Harry Bruton

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Corley Funeral Home Chapel for Harry Bruton, 68, resident of Corsicana, who died Tuesday at Memorial Hospital.

The Rev. Eugene Wood will officiate, with burial following at Resthaven Memorial Park.

He was a native of Clarksville, lived in Corsicana 46 years, and was the owner of Bruton's Gulf Service Station.

Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Kathryn Bruton of Corsicana; a son, Jerry Bruton of Corsicana; a daughter, Mrs. Judy Hogue of Dallas, seven grandchildren, one great-grandchild; two sisters, Mrs. Herbert Varley of Corsicana and Mrs. Eloise Stewart of Corpus Christi, and a number of nieces and nephews.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Wed., Sep 14, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• h/o Kathryn (Archer) Bruton; s/o John Harris Bruton & Jennie Pearl (DuPreast) Bruton

Bessie Lee (Strange) Ficklin
Apr 6, 1898 - Nov 15, 1977

Mrs. Ficklin

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Griffin Funeral Home Chapel in Corsicana for Mrs. Bessie Ficklin, 79, resident of Powell, who died last night at Memorial Hospital.

The Rev. Harold Lansford will officiate, with burial following at Resthaven Memorial Park.

Survivors include her husband, Thomas E. Ficklin of Powell; three daughters, Mrs. Emma Chewning, and Mrs. Thelma Aven, both of Powell and Mrs. Mildred Mitcham of Corsicana, five grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, a brother, Grady Strange of Mabank; and a sister, Mrs. Blanche Ficklin of Trinidad.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Tues., Nov. 15, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• w/o Thomas Eugene Ficklin, Jr. married Jul. 23, 1916; d/o David C. "Dave" Strange & Sarah Jane (Walker) Strange

Curtis Paul Jones
Apr 21, 1929 - Nov 4, 1977

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Fri., Nov. 4, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• State Home High School Class of 1947
• Resthaven Memorial Park
• h/o Ina Mae (Balentine) Jones

Ina Mae (Balentine) Jones
Apr 21, 1929 - Sep 30, 2020

Ina Balentine Jones, 91, passed away on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at Twilight Nursing Home. Ina was born on April 21, 1929 to Lorena & Ralph Balentine in Corsicana, TX. At the young age of fifteen, Ina met the love of her life, Curtis Jones at the Corsicana State Home, where her parents worked. The two were together and raised three children until his death in 1977. Ina graduated with her B.S. in Education from North Texas State University in 1947. She would later go on to obtain her Master's Degree from East Texas State University in Library Science. Ina began her 48 year career in education as a teacher for Corsicana ISD. She eventually went on to become the District Librarian where she worked until retirement. Ina was a member of the Association of Texas Professional Educators and Delta Kappa Gamma. As a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church of Corsicana, Ina belonged to the Friendship Sunday School Class and served on many church committees including United Methodist Women. She enjoyed volunteering in her community and participated in several service organizations. Kinsloe, House, March of Dimes, and the American Cancer Society are just a few of the many organizations she enjoyed volunteering for. Ina was outgoing and a friend to all she met. In her free time she loved to read, travel, walk, and create jewelry. If asked, Ina would have told anyone that life's greatest treasure was her family. Above all else she loved spending time with them and carrying on family traditions. Ina was preceded in death by her beloved husband Curtis, parents Lorena & Ralph Balentine, brother Ralph Balentine, and son in law, Steve Erwin. She is survived by her son Don Jones (Lucy), daughter Cindi Horton (Bill), son Jeff Jones (Mandi), her sister JoAnn McCrory, sister in law Verlene Balentine, grandchildren Curt Jones, Hillary Rohe (Kenneth), Stan Jones (Brandy), Summer Jones, Hunter Jones, great grandchildren Addie, Brooke, & Harrison Jones and Rob, Blaire, & Kendall Rohe, along with numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the staff of Twilight Nursing Home. Memorial can be made in Ina's name to the American Cancer Society - Navarro County Unit Celebration of Life for Ina Jones will be Wednesday, October 7, 2020 at 1:00pm in the Chapel at Griffin - Roughton Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 12noon till service time. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park.

Notes:

• Griffin Roughton Funeral Home
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• w/o Curtis Paul Jones; d/o Ralph Balentine & Lorena Balentine

Edgar Lee "Ed" Edwards
Sep 5, 1908 - May 16, 1977

E. L. Edwards

Services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Corley Funeral Chapel for E. L. (Ed) Edwards, 68, of Corsicana, who died Monday at Memorial Hospital. Rev. David Hale will officiate with burial at Resthaven Memorial Park.

He was a native of Terrell and had lived in Corsicana for the past three years. He was employed by Lone Star Gas Co. for 44 years and served as district manager in Cameron prior to his retirement.

He was a member of the Northside Baptist Church.

Survivors include his widow, Mrs. E. L. Edwards of Corsicana, two sisters, both of Corsicana, Mrs. John Braxmier and Mrs. Lottie Paschal, and a number of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be R. Paul Goolsby, Bruce Wayne Baumgardner, Bobby Paschal, Walter Braxmier, J. B. Freeman and Freeman Grizzard.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Tues., May 17, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• h/o Imogene (Freeman) Edwards married Jan. 22, 1932; s/o Thomas Walter Edwards & Beulah Beatrice (Meador) Edwards

Margaret Ann (Webb) Gill
Dec 22, 1925 - Jun 19, 1977

Mrs. Gill

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Resthaven Memorial Park for Mrs. Margaret Ann Gill, 51, former resident of Navarro County who died Monday in Kingsville. Corley Funeral Home will direct the services.

Survivors include her husband Lloyd G. Gill of Kingsville; one daughter, Mrs. Florence Gilliam of Maryland; four sisters, Mrs. Nancy Sewell of Lancaster; Mrs. Mary Shaffer of Lakeside, Calif., and Mrs. Sue Whitehead and Mrs. Elenor Williams both of Biggs, Calif. and three grandchildren.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Mon., Jun 20, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• w/o Lloyd George Gill; d/o Walter Collin Webb & Louella (Floyd) Webb

Floyd Jeff "Bud" Iker
Feb 1, 1914 - Jul 14, 1977

F. J. Iker

CLEBURNE - Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Pitts-Dillion Funeral Home in Cleburne for F. J. (Bud) Iker, 63, resident of Cleburne and former resident of Corsicana, who died Thursday morning in a Cleburne hospital.

The Rev. Robert Granham will officiate at the 5 p.m. graveside services at Resthaven Cemetery in Corsicana.

He was a retired serviceman for Sears & Roebuck and a member of the Field Street Baptist Church in Cleburne.

He moved to Cleburne from Corsicana 26 years ago and was a native of Grayson County.

Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Faye Adams Iker of Cleburne; a son, Billy G. Iker of Dallas; and two brothers, Pat Iker of Miami, Fla. and Glen Iker of Myrtle Beach, S. C.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Fri., Jul 15, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• h/o Willie Fay (Adams) Iker married Oct 26, 1935; s/o Jeff Davis Iker & Maggie May (Phillips) Iker

Linda Adaline (unk) Swift
Mar 18, 1891 - Jan 7, 1977

Mrs. Swift

Services for Mrs. Donald M. Swift, resident of Corsicana, who died Friday will be at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Corley Funerall Home Chapel.

Rev. David Hale will officiate, with burial following at Resthaven Memorial Park.

Survivors include two nieces, Mrs. Troy C. Whitener of Dawson and Mrs. J. J. Slater of Frost.

Pallbearers will be Marvin White, William Bolen, Joe Nelson, Joe Sabo, Neil Holloway and T. N. Bond.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Sun., Jan 9, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• w/o Donald M. Swift

Crissie Stuard
1884 - Sep 29, 1977

Mrs. Stuard

KERENS - Funeral services were to be Saturday at the Paschal Funeral Home for Mrs. Crissie Stuard, 93, who died Friday in Malakoff.

The Rev. Van Houser will officiate with burial to be in Resthaven Memorial Park.

She is survived by one son, Jack Stuard of Malakoff; two daughters, Mrs. Amy Carlislie of California and Mrs. Grace Woolsey of Malakoff; and a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were C. E. Blissett, R. H. Hilliard, Curtis Moore, Clay Norwood, John Seal, and Don Pate.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Sun., Oct 1, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards

William Leslie White
Mar 29, 1904 - Mar 16, 1977

Leslie White

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Corley Funeral Home Chapel for Leslie White, 72, resident of Corsicana, who died Wednesday at Memorial Hospital.

The Rev. Eugene Wood will officiate with burial following at Resthaven Memorial Park.

He was a native of Navarro County, lifelong resident of Corsicana employed by Presley-McClure for 38 years, a member of Corsicana Lodge No. 174 AF & AM, Corsicana Chapter No. 41 R.A.M., Corsicana Council No. 32 R.S.M., Bertrand du Guesclin Commandery No. 14 R.T., and Karem Temple, Waco.

Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Alice Marie White of Corsicana; three brothers, Fred White of Sweeny, Frank White of Winnsboro, and Felix White of Longview; a sister, Mrs. Katy Lee Weaver of Baytown and a number of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Hermon Boyd, C. G. Winn, Ed Phinney, J. D. Dowd, Embry Ferguson and Bill Cain.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Wed., Mar 16, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• h/o Alice Marie (Haggard) White; s/o Fred Saigor White & Edna (Mayo) White

Melvin Floyd Rich
Nov 13, 1919 - Mar 6, 1977

M. F. Rich

Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Corley Funeral Home Chapel for Melvin F. Rich, 57, resident of Rt. 1 Corsicana, who died Sunday in the Dallas V.A. Hospital.

The Rev. Harold Lansford will officiate, with burial following at Resthaven Memorial Park.

He was a native of Emhouse, and lifelong resident of Navarro County, a farmer, member of First Baptist Church and a veteran of World War II.

Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Madell Rich; a son, Capt. Danny F. Rich of Wichita, Kans; a grandson, Allen D. Rich of Wichita, Kans., two brothers, Calvin Rich of Seagoville and Alvin Rich of Mesquite; four sisters, Mrs. Harney Farmer of Azle, Mrs. Ernest Cook, Mrs. Clovis Stover, and Miss Laverne Rich, all of Fort Worth.

Pallbearers are Curtis Williams, Newton Roman, Robert Bittner, Charlie DeRusha, Joe Sims, Wilson Warner, Barney Galaway and Virgil Scrimshire.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Mon., Mar 7, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• WWII Veteran;
• WWII Biography
• h/o Pearline Madell (Burnett) Rich married Sep. 21, 1940; s/o Oscar Cicero "Sisro" Rich & Mary Lena (Ray) Rich buried at Black Hills Cemetery

Ray Stanley Lambert
Apr 15, 1927 - Aug 19, 1977

Ray Lambert

Services are pending at Corley Funeral Home for Ray S. Lambert 50, resident of Corsicana, who died Friday at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Dallas. He was an employe of the Chattanooga Glass Co.

Survivors include his widow of Corsicana, a son, Benny Ray Lambert of Corsicana; two brothers, Vernon Lambert and Lee Lambert both of Corsicana and a sister, Mrs. Marion Gowan of Corsicana.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Fri., Aug 19, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• Resthaven Memorial Park
• h/o Rama Lee (Hembree) Lambert; s/o Bennie Lee Lambert & Willie Elizabeth (Wilson) Lambert

------

Ray Lambert

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Corley Funeral Home Chapel for Ray Lambert, 50, resident of Corsicana, who died at Dallas Veterans Administration Hospital Friday.

The Revs. Gene Tone and Mickey Loftis will officiate, with burial following at Resthaven Cemetery.

Survivors include his widow, a son, two brothers, a sister, and his mother, Mrs. Willie Lambert of Corsicana.

Pallbearers are Dale Farmer, Jimmy L. Hawkins, Woodrow Sandlin, Gene Grimes, Jessie Richards and Less Richards.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Sun., Aug 21, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards

Earl Randolph Murray
Nov 25, 1894 - Jan 13, 1977

Services were at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Corley Funeral Chapel for Earl R. Murray, 79, resident of Corsicana, who died Thursday at Memorial Hospital. The Rev. Harold Lansford and the Rev. Elvis Egge officiated, with burial following at Resthaven Memorial Park.

He was a member of First Baptist Church, lived in Corsicana 52 years and was a former employe of the Mobile Oil Company.

Survivors include his widow of Corsicana and a sister, Miss Mary Murray of Dallas.

Pallbearers are Loyd Averitt, Jimmie Lorimer, Floyd Knotts, Lewis Foster, T. E. McGraw, and L. C. Cook.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Fri., Jan 14, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• Assumed h/o Sue Marilou (unk) Murray; s/o George Murray & Catherine (Cline) Murray

Johnnie Colson
Jun 3, 1906 - Oct 24, 1977

Johnnie Colson

Services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Richland Methodist Church for former Richland resident Johnnie Colson, 79, who died Monday in Dallas.

Burial will follow at Richland Cemetery under the direction of Griffin Funeral Home.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Ethel Colson of Dallas; one son, James Colson of Mesquite; two daughters, Mrs. Shirley Libhart of Wortham and Mrs. Doris Cantrell of Dallas, seven grandchildren, three brothers, Jimmie Colson of Tomball, Joe Colson of Ennis and Ray Colson of Conroe and two sisters, Mrs. Edith Dunn of Andrews and Mrs. Amy Barnhart of Conroe.

Pallbearers will be Earl McDaniel, Rube Griffin, A. Neal Brown, Vernon York, James Glass and Starlie Chism.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Tues., Oct 25, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards

-----

Johnnie Colson

Services were to be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Richland Methodist Church for former Richland resident Johnnie Colson, 79, who died Monday in Dallas.

The Rev. Dial Cool was to officiate with burial to be in the Richland Cemetery under the direction of Griffin's Funeral Home.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Wed., Oct 26, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards

Coleman Daniel Sawyer
Oct 6, 1921 - Jan 5, 1977

Coleman Sawyer

WORTHAM - Services will be at 3 p.m. Friday at the Walker Funeral Home Chapel in Wortham for Colman Sawyer, 55, resident of Wortham, who died Wednesday in the Wortham Hospital. Burial will be at Richland Cemetery in Richland.

He was a rancher and a member of the Baptist Church.

Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Joyce Sawyer of Wortham; a son, Delmer Lee Sawyer of Athens; a sister, Mrs. Mildred Paul of Wortham; a half-brother, Carlie Sawyer of Henderson; a stepbrother, and two step sisters.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Thurs., Jan 6, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• h/o Delma Joyce (Burress) Sawyer; s/o Simon Sawyer & Era Idella (Smith) Sawyer

-----

Coleman Sawyer

WORTHAM - The Rev. Johnny Wright will officiate at the 3 p.m. Friday services at Walker Funeral Home for Coleman Sawyer, 55, Wortham resident, who died Wednesday.

Pallbearers will be Kent McGilvary, Lloyd Robinson, J. W. Robinson, Jane Allen Lack, Donald Calame, Elgin McLelland, Ben McKinley, and Bobby Wilson.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Fri., Jan 7, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• Richland Cemetery

Delmer Lee Sawyer
Jan 25, 1948 - Jun 5, 1977

Wortham man drowns

FAIRFIELD - the body of a drowning victim was recovered from the Trinity River near here early today by emergency rescue workers who had been searching for the body of the Wortham resident since Sunday afternoon.

Sheriff Sonny Sessions said that Delmer Sawyer, believed to be about 30 years old was attempting to rescue his nephew from the river Sunday afternoon and was apparently caught in the swift currents, unable to swim back to safety.

Sessions said that the nephew was helped to safety by others at the scene, but Sawyer, who had been standing on the river bank was not seen again.

Rescue workers searched until dark last night, and resumed their search early this morning.

Sessions said the incident happened near where the river intersects with Hwy. 287.

Funeral services for Sawyer are pending with Walker Funeral Home in Wortha.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Mon., Jun 6, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• Richland Cemetery
• 1st wife Dorothy A. (Carter) Sawyer marred Nov 28, 1969 2nd wife Brenda Jean (Bearden) Sawyer married Aug 6, 1973 3rd wife Becky (unk) Sawyer; s/o Coleman Daniel Sawyer & Delma Joyce (Burress) Sawyer

-----

D. L. Sawyer

WORTHAM - Funeral services for Delmer Lee Sawyer, 29, of Athens, who drowned Sunday, was to be at 4 p.m. today in the Walker Funeral Home here. The Rev. Johnny Wright and the Rev. Glen Latimer were to officiate. Burial was to be in Richland Cemetery.

Sawyer, a selsmograph driller for Selsmograph Service Corp. of Athens, was a lifelong resident of Wortham until moving to Athens three years ago. He was preceded in death by his father, Coleman Sawyer on Jan. 5, 1977.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Becky Sawyer of Athens; his mother, Mrs. Joyce Sawyer of Mexia; and by several aunts uncles and cousins.

Pallbearers were to be Jerry Rogers, Charles Stanbury, James Rogers, Owen Lee Morgan, John Stubbs, Donald Calame, James Gregg and Arvil McCarley.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Tues., Jun 7, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards

Cyle Wayne Johnson
Jun 14, 1975 - Apr 15, 1977

Cyle Johnson

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Griffin Funeral Chapel for Cyle Johnson of Corsicana, one-and-a-half years old, who died Friday in Dallas. Rev. Mickey Loftis will officiate, and burial will be in Richland Cemetery.

Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Don Johnson of Corsicana; and a grandmother, Mrs. Foy Johnson of Corsicana.

Pallbearers are to be Wilson Warner, Johnny Craig, Lloyd James and Larry Green.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Sun., Apr 17, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• s/o Don Alvin Johnson & Mary Jane (Tye) Johnson

Sam Wallace Johnson
Oct  11, 1921 - Mar 6, 2021

Sam Wallace Johnson passed way Saturday, March 6, 2021 in Marble Falls, Texas at the age of 99. He was born October 11, 1921 in Dawson, Texas to Charlie Wesley Johnson and Foy Wallace Johnson. Sam attended Union High in Navarro County and graduated in 1938. He then went on to work for Kelly Air Force Base in Civil Service. In his 29 year Federal career most of it was supervising overhaul and repairing Air Force reciprocating engines. He started as a mechanic learner in 1942 and finished as a Material Management Equipment Specialist. Sam married Patsy Lewis Johnson, September 13, 1941 and they celebrated 68 years of marriage together. Sam lived in San Antonio, Texas for 30 years until moving to the Highland Lakes area in 1972. He was the deacon at the First Baptist Church in Kingsland, Texas, and was presently serving as the deacon at the Highland Lakes Baptist Church. Sam loved woodworking, church work and most of all his family, he was a quiet man but was always ready to help in any way that he could. Sam is preceded in death by his parents, Charlie Wesley Johnson and Foy Wallace Johnson; wife, Patsy Lewis Johnson; brother, Charles Vernon Johnson; sister, Francis Johnson Mills; son, Wesley Johnson. He is survived by daughter, Patricia Johnson Roberts and husband Russell of Round Mountain; brother, Don Alvin Johnson; 6 grandchildren, and numerous great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. Visitation will be held Friday, March 12, 2021 from 8:30 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. at Highland Lakes Baptist Church. A graveside service will follow at 11:30 A.M. at Lakeland Hills Memorial Park Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held that afternoon at 2:00 P.M. at the Highland Lakes Baptist Church with Pastor Karl Wallace and Pastor Dwight Reagan officiating.

-----

Sam Wallace Johnson, 99, of Marble Falls passed away March 6, 2021
Sam Wallace Johnson passed way Saturday, March 6, 2021, in Marble Falls, Texas, at the age of 99. He was born October 11, 1921, in Dawson, Texas, to Charlie Wesley Johnson and Foy Wallace Johnson.

Sam attended Union High in Navarro County and graduated in 1938. He then went on to work for Kelly Air Force Base in Civil Service. In his 29-year federal career, most of it was supervising overhaul and repairing Air Force reciprocating engines. He started as a mechanic learner in 1942 and finished as a Material Management Equipment Specialist.

Sam married Patsy Lewis Johnson on September 13, 1941, and they celebrated 68 years of marriage together. Sam lived in San Antonio for 30 years until moving to the Highland Lakes in 1972. He was the deacon at First Baptist Church in Kingsland and was presently serving as the deacon at Highland Lakes Baptist Church.

Sam loved woodworking, church work, and, most of all, his family. He was a quiet man but was always ready to help in any way that he could.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie Wesley Johnson and Foy Wallace Johnson; wife, Patsy Lewis Johnson; brother Charles Vernon Johnson; sister, Francis Johnson Mills; and son, Wesley Johnson.

He is survived by daughter, Patricia Johnson Roberts and husband Russell of Round Mountain; brother Don Alvin Johnson; six grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation is 8:30-10:20 a.m. Friday, March 12, at Highland Lakes Baptist Church. A graveside service will follow at 11:30 a.m. at Lakeland Hills Memorial Park Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held that afternoon at 2 p.m. at Highland Lakes Baptist Church with Pastor Karl Wallace and Pastor Dwight Reagan officiating.

Funeral arrangements made under the direction of Waldrope-Hatfield-Hawthorne Funeral Homes Inc. of Kingsland

Lewis Palmer, Sr.
Sep 10, 1923 - Jul 20, 1977

Louis Palmer

Services are pending at the Ross and Johnson Mortuary for Louis Palmer, 53, resident of Corsicana, and who died Wednesday at Mel-Haven Convalescent Home.

Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Carrie Palmer; a son, Louis Plamer Jr. of Leveland; two daughters, Miss Ivory Louis Palmer and Miss Helen Palmer both of Levelland; his mother, Mrs. Ivory Manning of Corsicana; two sisters, Miss Larethia Palmer of Corsicana and Mrs. Doris Langley of Philadelphia, Pa.; a brother, Hubert Palmer of California and other relatives.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun � Fri., Jul 22, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• h/o Carrie Frances (Garrett) Palmer; s/o Boyner Sydney Palmer & Ivory J. (Harris) Palmer

----

Lewis Palmer

Funeral services will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Ross and Johnson Funeral Chapel for Lewis Palmer, 53, resident of Corsicana who died July 20.

Burial will be in the Woodland Cemetery.

Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Carrie Palmer of Corsicana; one son, Lewis Palmer Jr. of Corsicana; two daughters, Ivory Louise Palmer and Helen Maxine Palmer, both of Levelland; two sisters, Loretta Palmer of Corsicana and Mrs. Doris Langley of Philadelphia, Penn.; and one brother, Hubert Palmer of California.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Tues., Jul 26, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards

Joyce Louise (Eldridge) Scott
Jul 2, 1949 - Sep 24, 1977

Mrs. Scott

Wake services will be at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Ross and Johnson Mortuary for Mrs. Joyce Eldridge Scott, 28, resident of Corsicana, who died Saturday evening at Memorial Hospital.

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the 13th Avenue Christian Church with the Rev. W. D. Hines officiating. Burial will follow at Woodland Cemetery.

Mrs. Scott was a 1967 graduate of G. W. Jackson High School.

Survivors include her husband Walter G. Scott; a son, Calvin Scott; a daughter, Karen Scott; her mother Mrs. Lazinia Eldridge of Corsicana; her father, Sam Eldridge Jr. of Dallas; two brothers, nine sisters, a grandmother, a grandfather, a great-grandfather and other relatives.

Pallbearers will be Bobby R. Hudson, Jonas D. Eldridge, James Gooden, Jerry Wilson, Harry King and James Polk.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Wed., Sep. 28, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• GW Jackson graduate 1967
• w/o Walter Gene Scott; d/o Sam Eldridge, Jr. & Lazinia Louise (McGriff) Eldridge

Neal Brown
Oct 2, 1907 - Oct 2, 1977

Neal Brown

Wake services will be at 7 p.m. Friday at the Ross and Johnson Mortuary for Neal Brown, 70, resident of Corsicana, who died Sunday evening at Memorial Hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Eastside Church of Christ with Willie Wilmore, minister, officiating. Burial will follow at Woodland Cemetery.

Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Nettie Mae Brown of Corsicana; a brother, Wilmer Brown of Dallas; a sister, Mrs. Bertha Dixon of Corsicana; and other relatives.

Nephews will be pallbearers.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Thurs., Oct 6, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• h/o Nettie Mae (Davis) Brown married Sep 20, 1939

Virgil Hudson
Nov 17, 1889 - Apr 5, 1977

Virgil Hudson

Services will be at 2 p.m. at Second Mission Baptist Church for Virgil Hudson, 66, resident of Corsicana, who was pronounced dead on arrival to Memorial Hospital Tuesday morning.

The Rev. Paul Curry, pastor will officiate, with burial following at Woodland Cemetery. Arrangements are with Scott Funeral Home.

He was retired from the Cotton Belt Railroad and a life member of St. Andrews Lodge No. 112.

Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Jossie Hudson of Corsicana; two daughters, Mrs. Clara Randle of Richmond, Calif. and Mrs. Annell J. Castillo of Corsicana; four sisters, Mrs. Otto L. Thomas, Mrs. Arthur White and Mrs. Clayton Washington, all of Springhill, La. and Mrs. George W. Jones of Dallas; two brothers, Leroy Hudson of Springhill and Bill Hudson of Tyler; 13 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and other relatives.

Pallbearers will be members of St. Andrews Lodge No. 112.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Wed., Apr 6, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• h/o Josie (Copeland) Hudson married Jun 21, 1941

Lula (Thompson) Todd
Apr 19, 1901 - Jul 8, 1977

Mrs. Todd

Wake services will be Sunday at 8 p.m. in the Ross and Johnson Mortuary for Mrs. Lula Todd, 76, resident of Corsicana, who was dead on arrival at Memorial Hospital Friday.

Funeral services will be Monday at 1:30 p.m. in the 6th Avenue Baptist Church. Rev. James Chaney will officiate and burial will be in Woodland Cemetery.

Survivors include her husband, Dewey Todd of Corsicana and several nieces and nephews and other relatives.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Sun., Jul 10, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• w/o George Dewey Todd married Jun 22, 1933

Eric Demond White
Feb 20, 1974 - Jul 16, 1977

Eric White

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Ross and Johnson Mortuary Chapel for Eric White, 3, of Corsicana, who died Wednesday. burial will be at Woodland Cemetery.

Survivors include his father, Jackie Ray Fowler; his mother, Emily Marie White; a sister and other relatives.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Sun., Jul 10, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• s/o Jackie Ray Fowler & Emily Marie White

Jewel Dean (Rooks) Threadgill
Jul 16, 1926 - Nov 27, 1977

Stabbing is fatal, husband charged

BY PETER THADDEUS
Sun Staff Writer

A 51-year-0ld Corsicana man is in county jail today under $10,000 bond charged with the Sunday stabbing of his 51-year-old wife.

Dead is Jewel Dean Rooks Threadgill, 805 E 12th, with a stab wound under her left arm. Peace Justice Aubrey Smith pronounced the woman dead after Memorial Hospital Emergency Room personnel worked to save her life for about an hour.

Smith arraigned Wilbert Terry Threadgill, 605 E. 12th, Monday morning on a charge of voluntary manslaughter.

Police received the report at 5:40 p.m. from a neighbor and upon arrival found Mrs. Threadgill unconscious in the front yard of a neighbor. Inside police found Threadgill in a chair in the house with minor cuts on his back.

According to police reports, the incident began over a domestic argument. Neighbors first learned of the fight when Mrs. Threadgill ran out of her house and across the street asking for help.

Services are pending at the Ross and Johnson Mortuary.

Survivors include her husband, her parents, Gus Rooks and Mrs. Alberta Rooks, both of Corsicana; a sister, Mrs. Cleo Lockett of Fort Worth; two brothers, Ralph Rooks and George Rooks, both of Corsicana and other relatives.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Mon., Nov 28, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• Woodland Memorial Park, Corsicana, Navarro Co., TX
• w/o Wilbert Threadgill; d/o Gus Rooks & Alberta (Cornelius) Rooks

---

Mrs. Threadgill

Wake services will be at 7 p.m. Friday at the Ross and Johnson Mortuary for Mrs. Jewel Dean Rooks Threadgill, 51, resident of Corsicana, who died of stab wounds Sunday.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Harmony Baptist Church with the Rev. Clem Jones officiating. Burial will follow at Woodland Cemetery.

Survivors include her husband, Wilbert Threadgill; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gus Rooks of Corsicana; two brothers, George Rooks and Ralph Rooks, both of Corsicana; a sister, Mrs. Cleo Lockett of Fort Worth, and other relatives.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Thurs., Dec 1, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards

Wilmer Cooksey, Jr.
Feb 28, 1914 - Apr 14, 1977

Wilmer Cooksey

Wake services will be Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Ross and Johnson Mortuary for Wilmer Cooksey, Sr., 63, who died April 14 at Memorial Hospital.

Funeral services will be Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at the Ross and Johnson Mortuary.

The Rev. Vernon Jesse will officiate with burial to follow in the Woodland Cemetery.

He is survived by one son, Wilmer Cooksey, Jr. of St. Louis, Mo.; two daughters, Mrs. Vinna Bell and Mrs. Dorothy Pine, both of Los Angeles, Calif.; two grandchildren; three brothers, C. B. Cooksey and James Cooksey both of Dallas, Leon Cooksey of Calif.; three sisters, Mrs. Alleen Waits of Corsicana, Mrs. Gladys Johnson of Dallas, Mrs. Dorothy Proctor of Los Angeles, Calif.; and other relatives.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Tues., Apr 19, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• s/o Wilmer Cooksey, Sr. & Jessie (Melton) Cooksey (obits says Sr. but he is Jr.)

Simon Jack Alford, Jr.
Jan 28, 1922 - Apr 7, 1977

S. J. Alford

Services will be Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. at the Mount Olive Baptist Church for Simon Jack Alford, 55, who died Thursday in Chicago, Ill. Alford was a native of Corsicana.

The Rev. A. L. Patrick will officiate with burial to be in the Woodland Cemetery.

Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Gurtie Alford of Corsicana; one daughter, Mrs. Janice Morgan of Corsicana; one grandson, Daniel Morgan of Corsicana; his father, Simon Alford, Sr. of Corsicana; five sisters,
Lois Kelly, Georgia M. Alford, Addie Johnson, Sallie Jones, all of Corsicana, Doris Louis of Lawton, Okla., Ida B. Ivory of Dallas; two aunts, five uncles and five nephews.

Alford was preceded in death by his mother, Ida Alford.

Calhoun Funeral Home will direct.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Sun., Apr 10, 1977
  Submitted by Diane Richards
• h/o Gertie (unk) Alford; s/o Simon Jack Alford, Sr. & Ida (Weatherhead) Alford

-------

Simon Alford, Jr.

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Mt. Olive Baptist Church for Simon (Jack) Alford Jr., native of Corsicana, who died Thursday in Chicago, Ill.

The Rev. A. L. Patrick will officiate, with burial following at Woodland Cemetery. Arrangements are with Scott Funeral Home.

His mother, Mrs. Ida Alford preceded him in death.

Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Gertie Alford of Chicago, Ill.; a daughter, Mrs. Janice Morgan of Dallas; a grandson; his father, Simon Alford Sr. of Corsicana; six sisters, Mrs. Lois Kelley, Miss Georgia Mae Alford, Mrs. Addie Johnson and Mrs. Sallie Jones, all of Corsicana, Mrs. Doris Lewis of Lawton, Okla. and Mrs. Ida B. Ivery of Dallas; a niece; five nephews; and other relatives.

Pallbearers are Bennie Thomas, Bobbie Sparks, Tommie Kelley, Marchel Ivery, Chester Johnson, Marshall Williams, and S. A. Austin.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Mon., Apr 11, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards

Mattie Lou (Tarbutton) Johnson
Oct 8, 1923 - Jul 30, 1977

Mrs. Payne

Services are pending at Ross & Johnson Mortuary for Mrs. Mattie Lou Payne of Los Angeles, who died at a Los Angeles hospital Saturday.

Mrs. Payne is survived by one brother, Joe Tarbutton of Corsicana; and by one sister, Mrs. Brandon Bonner of Corsicana.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Sun., Jul 31, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards

--------

Mrs. Johnson

Services were at 1:20 p.m. Monday at Ross and Johnson Mortuary Chapel for Mrs. Mattie Lou Johnson, 53, resident of Los Angeles and native of Corsicana.

The Rev. Mack Walker officiated and burial was at Woodland Cemetery.

Survivors include her husband, Edward Johnson of Los Angeles; a brother, Joe Tarbutton of Corsicana a sister, Mrs. Brandon Bonner of Corsicana; and other relatives.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Mon., Aug 15, 1977
  Submitted by Diane Richards
• ( I think Mattie Lou Payne and Mattie Lou Johnson are the same person, just listed wrong as Payne) w/o Edward Johnson d/o Henry Tarbutton and Willie Julia/John (McConley) Tarbutton-Evans

Charlottie (unk) Thomas
Jan 5, 1882 - Jun 5, 1977

Mrs. Thomas

Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Second Mission Baptist Church for Mrs. Charlottie (Nannie) Thomas, resident of Corsicana for 50 years and native of Freestone County, who died Sunday at Mel-Haven Convalescent Home.

The Rev. Paul Curry, pastor of Second Mission Baptist Church, will officiate and burial will follow at Woodland Cemetery. Arrangements are with Scott Funeral Home.

She was a member of Heroine of Jericho, Dorothy Court No. 106. Survivors include a sister, Mrs. Mary McGee of Fairfield; four grandchildren including Mrs. Aline Marshall and Mrs. Velma Cephus, both of Corsicana; 14 great-grandchildren, seven great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Grandsons will be pallbearers.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Wed., Jun 8, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards

Clayetta Riles, Miss
Sep 10, 1928 - Feb 5, 1977

Clayetta Riles

Wake services will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Ross & Johnson Mortuary for Miss Clayetta Riles, 43, a Corsicana native who lived in Fort Worth. She died Saturday at a Dallas hospital.

Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the First Independent Baptist Church. The Rev. R. W. West will officiate, with burial following in Woodland Cemetery.

Survivors include her parents, Mr. Claude and Willie Mae Riles of Corsicana; seven sisters, Mrs. Jorene Taylor of Corpus Christi, Mrs. Joyce Weaver of Corsicana, Mrs. Ruby Nathan, Mrs. Linda Conley, and Mrs. Roslyn Sutton all of Dallas, Mrs. LaVerne Tippens of Fort Worth, and Mrs. Marsha Williams of Austin; six brothers, Larry Riles of Corsicana, Frederick Riles of Houston, Claude Riles Jr. and Montriville Riles of Dallas, and Leroy Riles and Jerry Riles of Fort Worth; maternal grandmother, Mrs. Lizzie Jackson of Streetman; and other relatives.

Nephews will serve as pallbearers.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Tues., Feb 8, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• d/o Claude Bernard Riles, Sr. & Willie Mae (Payne) Riles

Ollie West, Sr.
Jul 1, 1889 - Oct 20, 1977

Ollie West Sr.

Services for Ollie West Sr., who died Thursday in Fort Worth, will be 2 p.m. Monday in the Bethlehem Baptist Church. The Rev. R. L. Jones will officiate, with burial in Woodland Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of Scott Funeral Home.

West is survived by two daughters, Irene West of Fort Worth and Mrs. Mabel Westerfield of Chicago; one son, Ollie West Jr. of Baltimore; eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and three sisters.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Sun., Oct 23, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• 1st wife Liller (Warren) West 2nd wife Hannah (Loggen) West married Feb 11, 1933

Exie Irene (Curtis) Ross
Oct 13, 1896 - Sep 24, 1977

Mrs. Ross

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church for Mrs. Exia I. Ross, who died Saturday. The Rev. James Chaney, pastor will officiate, with burial following at Woodland Cemetery. Arrangements are with Scott Funeral Home.

She addended Rockdale Public Schools, received her B. A. Degree and M. A. Degree from Prairie View A&M College and worked as a teacher and administrator for more than 50 years.

She was former principal of Crockett School in Corsicana.

Survivors include a sister, Mrs. Gussie L. Thompson of San Antonio; a brother, J. N. Curtis of Oklahoma City, Okla., a number of nieces and nephews and other relatives.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Tues., Sep 27, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• w/o Samuel J. Ross married Sep 11, 1924; d/o Henry V. Curtis & Winne (Martin) Curtis buried at Oak Lawn Cemetery, Rockdale, TX

Lizzie (unk) Wallace-Peterson
Aug 15, 1890 - Jul 7, 1977

Mrs. Peterson

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Mt. Olive Baptist Church for Mrs. Lizzie Peterson, 84, of Corsicana. the Rev. A. L. Patrick will officiate with burial at Woodland Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Calhoun Funeral Home.

Survivors include one son, Freddie Wallace of Corsicana; one sister, Mrs. Sally Solomon of Corsicana; and other relatives.

Pallbearers will be nephews - Tommy Kelley, Chester Johnson, Robert Reynolds, Freddie Watson, Clyde Jones and Brooks Johnson.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Fri., Jul 8, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards

Tiffany Joe Gibson
Nov 21, 1976 - Mar 29, 1977

Tiffany Gibson

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Second Mission Baptist Church for Tiffany J. Gibson, four month old daughter of Mrs. Beverly Gibson of Frost and the late Billy Gibson.

She was pronounced dead on arrival to Memorial Hospital Tuesday.

The Rev. Paul Curry will officiate, with burial following at Woodland Cemetery in Corsicana. arrangements are with Calhoun Funeral Home in Corsicana.

Survivors include her mother, a brother, a sister, grandparents, Mr. and Mr. Mack Williams and Clarice Gibson all of Frost and other relatives.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Thurs., Mar 31, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• d/o Billy Joe Gibson & Beverly Sue (Williams) Gibson

Verdie Lee (Titus) Price-Blair-Hayes
Jan 1, 1919 - Apr 7, 1977

Mrs. Hayes

Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Scott Funeral Home Chapel for Mrs. Verdie Lee Hayes, 58, resident of Corsicana, who died Thursday at Memorial Hospital.

The Rev. Paul Curry, Second Mission Baptist Church pastor, will officiate with burial following at Woodland Cemetery.

Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Zadie Mae Price Blair of Dallas; her mother, Mrs. Hanna Thomas of Corsicana; her father, Albert Titus of San Angelo; six grandchildren, and several sisters and brothers of San Angelo.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Fri., Apr 8, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• 1st husband Robert Price 2nd husband Ezra Price Blair 3rd husband unknown Hayes; d/o Albert Titus & Hanna (unk) Titus-Thomas

Melinda (Speed) Jackson
Sep 22, 1902 - Apr 20, 1977

Mrs. Jackson

Wake services will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Ross and Johnson Mortuary for Mrs. Melinda Jackson, 75, resident of Dallas and formerly of Corsicana, who died Wednesday at Cliff Tower Nursing Home in Dallas.

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Second Mission Baptist Church with the Reve. Paul Curry officiating. Burial will be a Woodland Cemetery.

Survivors include a son, Joe Alvin Jackson of Dallas; a daughter, Mrs. Mary Carter of Ennis; 10 grandchildren, a sister, Mrs. Mary Speed of Dallas; a brother, Harry Speed of Dallas, and other relatives.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Fri., Apr 22, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards

Lillie Mae (Harris) Farris
Oct 13, 1922 - Oct 13, 1977

Mrs. Farris

Services are pending at the Ross and Johnson Mortuary for Mrs. Lillie Mae Farris, 55, resident of Corsicana, who died Thursday morning at Memorial Hospital.

Survivors include three sons, Curtis Farris Sr. of Corsicana, Ivory Joe Farris of Fort Worth, and Lee Farris of Dallas; three daughters, Mrs. Jessie Adams, Miss Jerreland Farris and Miss Phyllis Farris, all of Corsicana; eight grandchildren and other relatives.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Thurs., Oct. 13, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• Woodland Cemetery, Corsicana, Navarro Co., TX
• w/o Roy Lee Farris; d/o Elbert Harris & Mary (unk) Harris

---------

Mrs. Farris

Services were to be at 2:30 p.m. Monday at the St. John Baptist Church for Mrs. Lillie Mae Farris, 56, resident of Corsicana, who died Thursday at Memorial Hospital after a lengthy illness.

The Rev. C. A. Miller was to officiate, with burial following at Woodland Cemetery.

She was a member of the Community Gospel Chorus for 31 years and served for several years as its secretary.

Survivors include three sons, three daughters, eight grandchildren, and other relatives.

Arrangements were with Ross and Johnson Mortuary.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Mon., Oct 17, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards

Booker T. Alexander
Jun 19, 1910 - Oct 15, 1977

B. T. Alexander

Wake services will be at 7 p.m. tonight at the Ross and Johnson Mortuary for Booker T. Alexander, 87, resident of Corsicana, who died Saturday at Veterans Administration Hospital in Marlin.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Ross and Johnson Mortuary Chapel.

The Rev. D. L. Renfro will officiate, with burial following at Woodland Cemetery.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Loraine Alexander of Corsicana; four sons, Booker T. Alexander, Jr., Jackie Lee Alexander, Johnny Ray Alexander, and W. L. Alexander, all of Corsicana; four daughters, Mrs. Loretta Austin, Corine Alexander, Betty Alexander, and Verna Mae Alexander, all of Corsicana; five brothers, Willie Wafer, and Johnny Joe Wafer both of Wortham, Sealy Wafer of Plainview, J. W. Wafer of Los Angeles, Calif., and Walter Wafer of Corsicana; two sisters, Miss Minnie Wafer of Plainview, and Mrs. Katie Parish of Dallas and other relatives.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Mon., Oct 17, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• US Army Veteran
• (He is listed as Booker T. Wafer on his children's birth records); h/o Lorene (Roberson) Wafer

Jim Billy Robinson
Aug 29, 1933 - Oct 8, 1977

J. B. Robinson

Wake services will be at 8 p.m. Friday in the Ross and Johnson Mortuary for Jim Billy Robinson, 44, resident of Fresno, Calif. who died last Saturday of a gunshot wound.

Services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Taylor Memorial Church of God in Christ. Elder F. G. Taylor will officiate and burial will follow at Woodland Cemetery.

Survivors include two children; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Robinson of Corsicana; grandfather, Lawrence Robinson, Sr. of Corsicana; three sisters, Mrs. Lorene Dubose, Mrs. Vernon Mae Pickens and Mrs. Mary Jones, all of Dallas; 12 brothers, O. C., Willie, Eddie, Lawrence, Leon, Bobby, Wendell, and Melvin Robinson all of Dallas, Billy Robinson of Corsicana, Joe Robinson of Fort Worth, and Marvin and David Robinson of Houston; and other relatives.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Thurs., Oct 13, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• s/o Vernon Robinson & Piccola (Evans) Robinson

Lillie (Wiley) Wadley
Mar 1. 1891 - Dec 19, 1977

Mrs. Wadley

Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Roane Chapel Baptist Church for Mrs. Lillie Wadley, 86, resident of Corsicana, who died Monday at Leisure Lodge Nursing Home.

The Rev. Louis Collins, pastor, will officiate, with burial following at Woodland Cemetery.

Arrangements are with Calhoun Funeral Home.

Survivors include a sister, Mrs. Hester Hurd of Corsicana; a step-daughter, Mrs. Mattie Brousard of Dallas; two step-sons, Charlie Wadley of Dallas and C. B. Wadley of California, and a number of nieces and nephews.

Step-grandsons will be pallbearers.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Tues., Dec 20, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• w/o Ned Wadley married Nov 22, 1919

Nannie V. (Rogers) Wilder
Dec 31, 1893 - Apr 25, 1977

Mrs. Wilder

Wake services will be at 7 p.m. tonight for Mrs. Nannie Rogers Wilder at 712 East Fourth Avenue. Mrs. Wilder, 81, died Monday in Terrell.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Bethel A.M.E. Church. The Rev. W. M. Vaughn will officiate, with burial following at Woodland Cemetery.

Arrangements are with Ross and Johnson Mortuary.

Survivors include her step-mother, Mrs. Susie Rogers of Corsicana; and several cousins, including Mrs. F. B. Lee of Corsicana.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sunn - Fri., Apr 29, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards

Henry Jimmerson
abt 1909 - Jun. 24, 1977

Herman Jimmerson

Wake services will be at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Ross and Johnson Mortuary Chapel for Herman Jimmerson, 68, resident of Corsicana, who died Friday at Mel-Haven Convalescent Home.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Ross and Johnson Mortuary Chapel.

The Rev. Mack Walker will officiate, with burial following at Woodland Cemetery.

Survivors include two cousins, Mrs. Martha Reed and Willie Reed, both of Ennis.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Jan 27, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards

Retta (Davis?) Dunbar
abt 1900 - Sep. 29, 1977

Mrs. Dunbar

Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at the Grace Temple A.M.E. Church for Mrs. Retta Dunbar, 77, resident of Corsicana, who died at Dallas Parkland Hospital Thursday following injuries sustained in a fire which destroyed her home at 123 West 18th in August.

The Rev. O. S. Spears will officiate, and burial will follow at Woodland Cemetery in Corsicana.

Arrangements are with Calhoun Funeral Home.

Survivors include her daughter, Mrs. Lovella Mars of Los Angeles, Calif.; two granddaughters, Mrs. Carryl Baker of Los Angeles and Miss Debra Mars of Los Angeles and two brothers, Will Davis of Dallas and Pack Davis of Corsicana.

Pallbearers are Vernett Hicks, N. Q. Green, B. J. Deeds, George Allen, L. P. Phillips, and Arthur Lee Carroll.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Sun., Oct 1, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards

Tom Johnson
Aug 10, 1892 - Nov 11, 1977

Tom Johnson

Wake services will be at 7 p.m. tonight at Ross and Johnson Mortuary for Tom Johnson, 72, resident of Dallas and formerly of Corsicana, who died Friday at Parkland Hospital.

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Ross and Johnson Mortuary Chapel.

The Rev. Mack Walker will officiate, with burial following at Woodland Cemetery.

Survivors include a son, Ossie Johnson of Ferris; and other relatives.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Mon., Nov 14, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards

Lillie (Mosley) Ingram
1913 - Feb 15, 1977

Mrs. Ingram

Wake services will be at 7 p.m. tonight at the Ross and Johnson Mortuary Chapel for Mrs. Lillie Ingram, 64, resident of 313 East 13th Ave., who died Tuesday at Memorial Hospital.

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. at the Harmony Baptist Church, with the Rev. Clem Jones officiating. Burial will follow at Woodland Cemetery.

Survivors include her husband, Booker T. Ingram of Corsicana; two sisters, Mrs. Irene Smith of Fort Worth and Mrs. Martha Smith of Palm Springs, Calif.; three brothers, William Mosley of Fort Worth and Ray Mosley of Spring Lake and Wilbert Mosley, and other relatives.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Thurs., Feb 17, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• w/o Booker T. Ingram; d/o William Mosley & Minnie (Thomas) Mosley

William Walters
Feb 6, 1894 - Dec 16, 1977

William Walters

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Eastside Church of Christ for William Walters, 83, native of Corsicana, who died in Fort Worth Friday.

Willie Wilmore, Church of Christ minister, will officiate with burial following at Woodland Cemetery.

Arrangements are with Calhoun Funeral Home.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Cleo Walters of Fort Worth; a daughter, Mrs. Bernice Hillary of Leesville, La., four grandchildren and other relatives.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Mon., Dec 19, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards

Booker T. Ingram
Jun 15, 1911 - Mar 23, 1981

Booker T. Ingram, 69, of Corsicana, died Monday at Veterans Administration Hospital in Dallas.

Service was Saturday, 1 p.m., Harmony Baptist Church. Burial followed at Woodland Cemetery.

He was a veteran of World War II and a member of Jerusalem Lodge No. 63.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Ruby Ingram, of Corsicana; five sisters, Mrs. Rosetta Smith, or Corsicana, Mrs. Mary Carter, Mrs. Minnie Menkins and Mrs. Celestine Favors, all of Fort Worth, and Mrs. Johnny Adams, of Detroit, Mich.; two brothers, Lee Ingram of Corsicana, and James Ingram, Jr., of Los Angeles, Calif.

Notes:

• 1st wife Lillie (Mosley) Ingram married Sep. 3, 1938 2nd wife Ruby L. (Jackson) Ingram married Jun. 18, 1977; s/o James "Jim" Ingram & Belle (Granville) Ingram
• Corsicana Weekly Light (Corsicana, TX); 2 Apr 1981, p. 6
• PVT US Army

Emma (Jones) Cokes
Mar 14, 1916 - Sep 2004

COKES, MRS. EMMA COKES was born on March 14, 1916 to the Rev. Nash Jones and Adaline Ingram Jones in Corsicana, Texas. Emma was married to Nathaniel Cokes, Sr. for 48 years until his death in 1978. She was a faithful member of St. James A.M.E. Temple until her health failed. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and two sons; Charles E. Cokes, and Nathaniel Cokes, Jr. Survived by (5) sons: Curtis Cokes, Sr., Jake Donald Cokes, Robert E. Cokes and wife Viola, Earnest M. Cokes and wife Naomi, Joseph R. Cokes and wife Bernice, (1)

daughter: Mary H. Cokes - Thomas and husband Fred, (2) sisters: Mary E. Lowe, Edna Jones Herron, (1) brother: James W. Jones, Sr. and wife Jo Ann, 23 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren, 9 great-great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 7, 2004. Visitation will be 10 AM - 6 PM Monday, September 6, 2004 and 1 hr prior to the service on Tuesday. Dallas Laurel Land

Notes:

• Published in Dallas Morning News on Sep 6, 2004.

Robert Winket "Rob" Tramel
Jul 13, 1897 - Dec 24, 1977

Robert Tramel

KERENS - Services were to be at 2 p.m. today for Robert Winket Tramel, 80, resident of Kerens, who died Saturday at his residence. Burial will be in Prairie Point Cemetery under the direction of Paschal Funeral Home.

He was a lifelong resident of Kerens and a retired grocer.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Eunice Tramel of Kerens; four sons, Robert Tramel of Athens, Ray Tramel of Kerens, Hobson Tramel of Bossier City, La., and Joe Tramel of Jourdanton; four brothers, Tom Tramel of Kerens, John Tramel of Corsicana, Pros Tramel of Malakoff and Luster Tramel of Waco; two sisters, Mrs. Delia Albritton of Kerens and Mrs. Tennessee Pike of Dallas; six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Mon., Dec 26, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• h/o Eunice Justina (Albritton) Tramel

Stephen L. Flynn
Jan 13, 1920 - Jul 19, 1977

Steven Flynn

Services are pending at Corley Funeral Home for Steven L. Flynn, 57, native of Corsicana and resident of Wilmer who died yesterday in Dallas.

He was a pipefitter for an air conditioning construction company and a member of the Assembly of God Church.

Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Lillie Flynn of Wilmer; a daughter, Mrs. Pat Parrott of Lancaster; a son, Ricky Flynn of Wilmer; two grandchildren, two brothers, Robert Flynn of Balch Springs and Charlie Flynn of Corsicana; two sisters, Mrs. Ruby Brown of Corsicana and Mrs. Ruth Robinson of Fairfield and a number of nieces and nephews.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Wed., Jul 20, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• h/o Lillie Iola (Keele) Flynn; s/o Robert Steve Flynn & Annie Margaret (Henderson) Flynn-Terry
• Prairie Point Cemetery

----

Steven Flynn

Services will be at 4:30 p.m. Friday at the Corley Funeral Home Chapel for Steven L. Flynn, 57, resident of Wilmer and native of Corsicana, who died Tuesday in Wilmer.

The Rev. Peter Koch will officiate, with burial following at Prairie Point.

Survivors include his widow, a daughter, and a son.

Pallbearers are Marvin Hanks, Charlie Hope, Earl Littion, Carl Coats, Weldon McBrannon, Tommy Howard, Dewitt McDaniel and Wallace Parrott.

Notes:

• Thurs., Jul 21, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards

Barbara Kay (Fields) Henderson-Cook
Mar 24, 1945 - Dec 6, 1977

Mrs. Cook

ATHENS - Services will be Wednesday at the First Baptist Church here for Mrs. Kay Cook, 32, a Kerens native who died at Athens Memorial Hospital Tuesday morning.

A lab technician at the hospital Tuesday morning.

The Revs. Curtis Mathis and Glenn Jones will officiate with burial following at Prairie Point Cemetery.

Survivors include one son, Chris Henderson of Kerens; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Fields Kerens; one brother, Keith Fields of Kerens; a grandmother, Mrs. J. A. Fields of Kerens and a number of other relatives.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Tues., Dec 6, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• 1st husband Bobby Lewis Henderson married May 27, 1966 2nd husband John B. Cook III married Mar 12, 1975

Eunice Mae (Strange) Stone
Aug 23, 1914 - Nov 4, 1977

Mrs. Stone

KERENS - Funeral services will be Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the Paschal Funeral Home for Mrs. Eunice Stone, 63, native of Kerens and resident of Kemp, who died Friday in Memorial Hospital in Athens.

The Rev. Lester Simmons will officiate with burial to be in the Prairie Point Cemetery.

She is survived by her husband, Herman Stone of Kemp.

Cousins will be pallbearers.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Fri., Nov 4, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• w/o Clifford Herman Stone married Dec. 7, 1969; d/o John William "Willie" Strange & Sarah Lydia (Horn) Strange

Benji Ann Freeman, Miss
Mar 27, 1959 - Sep 17, 1977

Miss Freeman

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the First Baptist Church in Rockwall, for Miss Benji Ann Freeman, 18, formerly of Corsicana, who died Friday in Lubbock.

Graveside services will be at 5 p.m. at Oakwood Cemetery in Corsicana. The Rev. David Hale will officiate.

Survivors include her parents, Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Freeman of Rockwall; two sisters, Mrs. Vicki Freeman of Dallas and Mrs. Nancy Archer of Duncanville; her grandmother, Mrs. Willie Freeman of DeSoto and her grandfather, Scott Harvard of Navarro.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Sun., Sep 18, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• d/o Benjamin Franklin Freeman III & Virginia (Harvard) Freeman

Viva Mae (Hollingsworth) Jones
1916 - May 21, 1977

Mrs. Jones

Graveside services will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Oakwood Cemetery for Mrs. Viva Mae Jones, 62, resident of Corsicana, who died Saturday at Corsicana Nursing Home.

She is survived by her widower, James R. Jones of Corsicana and one brother, Everett Hollingsworth of Corsicana.

Griffin Funeral Home will direct.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Sun., May 22, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• w/o James R. Jones; d/o William Hollingsworth & Rebecca Jane (Holliefield) Hollingsworth buried at Dresden Cemetery

Mary Jewel (Lowe) Keele
May 25, 1928 - Jan 25, 1977

Mrs. Keele

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Griffin Funeral Home Chapel for Mrs. Mary Jewel Keele, 48, resident of Corsicana, who died last night in Memorial Hospital.

The Revs. Peter Koch, B. W. Johnson and D. L. Cox will officiate with burial following at Oakwood Cemetery.

Survivors include her husband, Jessie Keele of Corsicana; two sons, Terry Keele of Omaha, Neb. And Ronald Keele of Corsicana; a daughter, Mrs. Jewel Rodnikoff of Burleson; two grandchildren, a brother, Rufus Lowe of Massachusetts and a sister, Mrs. Birda Nichols of Retreat.

Nephews will be pallbearers.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Wed., Jan 26, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• w/o Jessie Louis Keele, Rev. married Mar. 13, 1947 buried at Hamilton Beeman Cemetery; d/o Rufus L. Lowe & Deola (Boyte) Lowe

Charles Robert Dockum
Feb 7, 1904 - Jun 11, 1977

C. R. Dockum

ALTADENA - CALIF. - Services were held for C. R. Dockum, 73, native of Corsicana who died Saturday.

His remains will be cremated and placed in the family vault in Oakwood cemetery in Corsicana. no services will be held at the cemetery.

Survivors include his widow, Gretchen Dockum of Altadena; one daughter, Greta Jean Dockum of Altadena; two brothers, O. L. Dockum of Corsicana, and R. S. Dockum of Lordsburg, New Mexico.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun- Tues., Jun 14, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• h/o Gretchen Mae (Evans) Dockum married Mar 10, 1946; s/o James Leonard Dockum & Mary Myrtle (Swanson) Dockum

Stephen Mark Ford
Jul 24, 1964 - Dec 17, 1977

Youth on mini-bike killed here Saturday

Stephen Mark Ford, 13-year-old Corsicana resident, died at Memorial Hospital Saturday night from injuries he received in a mini-bike-automobile accident at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

A second boy on the mini-bike and the driver were not injured.

According to police reports, the boys were westbound on 11th Ave., and the car, driven by Eleanor Jacobs Greer, 1815 W. 10th were southbound on 29th when they collided at the intersection.

The second boy on the mini-bike, believed to be 14-years-old was not identified on police reports, bur was apparently uninjured.

A fund drive has been started to help defray the funeral expenses for the Ford youth, and persons wishing to donate to the fund should contact Diane Bell at 874-5482.

Funeral services for the Ford Youth were to be at 2 p.m. today at the Corley Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Richard Moody officiating. Burial was in Oakwood Cemetery.

Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Claxton Sr. of Corsicana; a sister, Mrs. Bettie Diane Gibson of Corsicana; three brothers, Jeffrey Paul Claxton and Bruce Craig Burks, both of Corsicana and Benjamin Andrew Ford of Waxahachie; and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Claxton of Ennis and Mrs. Lucille Knotts of Burleson.

Pallbearers were Cary Williams, Larry Villareal, Tommy Spence, Billy Spence, Patrick Burns and Andy Fort.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Dec 19, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• s/o Clayton Barrett Ford, Jr. & Betty Jane (Knotts) Ford-Burkes-Claxton

Betty Jane (Knotts) Ford-Burkes-Claxton
Jul 3, 1935 - Jul 3, 2012

Betty Jane Claxton

Betty Jane Claxton, 77, passed away on Tuesday, July 3, 2012 at her home celebrating her birthday.

Betty was born to Marlin Alexander and Lucille (Johnson) Knotts on July 3, 1935. She grew up in Italy, Texas. On June 4, 1976 she married Jesse Claxton, Jr. and they made their home in Corsicana before moving to Milford in 1990.

She worked as a nurse's aide for thirty years in various health facilities, she also worked as a surgical assistance at Corsicana Memorial Hospital for over five years. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Milford and raised her children in Tabernacle Baptist Church of Ennis. She enjoyed crocheting, knitting and quilting.

She is survived by three sons, Jeff Claxton and wife Pat, Craig Burkes and Andrew Ford; two daughters: Anna Boone and Diane Hunt; fourteen grandchildren: thirty great-grandchildren: one brother, Lonnie Earl Knotts and four sisters: Mary Faye Perkins, Dorothy Perkins, Carolyn Claxton and Joanne Aldridge. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Jesse Claxton, son, Stephen Mark Ford, daughter, Nancy Gail Ford and brother, James Roy Knotts.

Visitation will be on Sunday, July 8, 2012 from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. in the J.E. Keever Mortuary of Ennis, Texas. Graveside services will be held on Monday, July 9, 2012 at 1 p.m. in the Oakwood Cemetery of Corsicana, Texas under the direction of J.E. Keever Mortuary, Inc.

Notes:

• J. E. Keever Mortuary, Ennis, TX
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• 1st husband Clayton Barrett Ford, Jr. married Oct. 20, 1951 2nd husband Jerry Eli Burkes 3rd husband Jesse Willis Claxton, Jr. married Jun. 4, 1976; d/o Martin Alexander Knotts & Thelma Lucille (Johnson) Knotts

Jesse Willis Claxton, Jr.
Jan 26, 1934 - Oct 29, 2011

Jesse Willis Claxton, Jr. Jesse W. Claxton, Jr., 77, passed away at his home in Milford on Saturday, October 29, 2011. Jesse was born in Waco, Texas, to Jesse Willis Claxton, Sr. and Lillie Estelle (Ewing) Claxton on January 26, 1934. He grew up in Ennis and graduated from Ennis High School he went on to receive his Associates degree. On June 4, 1976 he married Betty Jane Knotts and they made their home in Corsicana. He served his country proudly in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict where he received a good conduct metal along with other metals and served as a Private First Class. Jesse worked his way through school at a grocery store in order to get his certification as a respiratory therapist. He worked for Arlington Memorial Hospital and Baylor Medical Center of Ellis County. He was a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church of Ennis and the American Legion. He was a generous man that was good with his children and his grandchildren. He loved his wife and treated her like a queen. He was always willing to help people and at Christmas time he made sure everyone got a present. He is survived by his wife: Betty Jane Claxton; three sons: Jeff, Craig and Andrew; two daughters: Anna and Diane; fourteen grandchildren: eight great-grandchildren: several great-great-grandchildren: four brothers and one sister. He is preceded in death by his parents, one son, Tony and one brother, George. Visitation will be on Thursday, November 3, 2011 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the J.E. Keever Mortuary of Ennis. Graveside services will be held on Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 2 p.m. in the Oakwood Cemetery of Corsicana under the direction of J.E. Keever Mortuary, Inc. Pallbearers will be Jeff Claxton, Craig Burkes, William Macomb, Billy Dorety, Jackie Higgs and David Claxton.

Notes:

• J. E. Keever Mortuary, Ennis, TX
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• US Army -Korea
• h/o Betty Jane (Knotts) Ford-Burkes-Claxton married Jun 4, 1976; s/o Jesse Willis Claxton, Sr. & Lillie Estelle (Ewing) Claxton

Gertrude Carol (Rainwater) Moore
Mar 7, 1885 - Dec 13, 1977

Mrs. Moore

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Oakwood Cemetery for Mrs. Gertrude Moore, 89, of Dallas. The Rev. Eugene Wood will officiate. Services are under the direction of Corley Funeral Home.

She was a native of Corsicana and a member of the Presbyterian church.

She is survived by two nieces, Mrs. Loys Jones of Dallas; Mrs. Gladys Black of (not legible) ; by three nephews, Hiram Rainwater and Bennett Averyt, both of Austin; Frank Rainwater of Corvalla, Oregon; and by a sister-in-law, Mrs. Frank Rainwater Sr. of Dallas.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Tues., Dec 13, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• w/o John T. Moore married Feb 21, 1916; d/o James Monroe Rainwater & Ella M. (Sampson) Rainwater

Elva Ellis (Baird) DeArman
Dec 31, 1903 - Jan 9, 1977

Mrs. DeArman

Services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Corley Funeral Home Chapel for Mrs. Elva DeArman, 73, resident of Corsicana, who died Sunday at Memorial Hospital.

The Rev. Frank Shirley will officiate, with burial following at Oakwood Cemetery.

She was a native of Coryell County, Tex., and had lived in Corsicana since 1936.

She was a member of the Baptist Church.

Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Eunice Burns of Corsicana, Mrs. Claudia Fowler of Irving, Mrs. Welma Dove of Mesquite; six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren; two brothers, Archie Baird of Leander and Lennon Baird of Andrews; five sisters, Mrs. Meda Horn of Granbury, Mrs. Ruth Strockbein of Odessa, Mrs. Jewel Thompson of Cisco, Mrs. Odle Price of Houston and Mrs. Neola Cockrell of Corpus Christi, and a number of nieces and nephews.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Mon., Jan 10. 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• w/o John Samuel DeArman buried at Prairie Valley Cemetery, Prairie Valley, TX; d/o Charles Wesley Baird & Sarah Dillie Beulah (Melton) Baird

Samuel Jamison Norman
May 22, 1958 - Mar 5, 1977

S. J. Norman

Services will be at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Corley Funeral Home Chapel for Samuel Jamison Norman, 18, resident of Richardson, who died of a gunshot wound to the head.

He was the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Jamison of Corsicana.

The Richardson Police Department is continuing an investigation into the death of the man who was found at 2:10 A.M. Saturday at his residence, 1214 Spruce, Richardson, with a Winchester 30-30 rifle near the body.

The Rev. Clayton Smith will officiate, with burial following at Oakwood Cemetery.

Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. T. N. Norman Jr. of Richardson; two brothers, T. N. Norman III and Joe Gabriel Norman both of Richardson and other relatives.

Pallbearers are Steve Tomlin, Darvis Gary, Joe Carnforth, Biff Johnson, Richard Clower, Rod Allen Hays, Mark Gober, and Gary Milligan.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Sun., Mar 6, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• s/o Trammel N. Norman, Jr. & Bobbie Jean (Jamison) Norman

Tom James Sharp
May 14, 1917 - Nov 16, 1977

|


Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Thurs., Nov 17, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• Oakwood Cemetery, Corsicana, Navarro Co., TX
• Corsicana High School Class of 1936 (Class Treasurer and captain of quarterback and Capt. of Football Team)
• US Navy WWII
• WWII Biography
• s/o Thomas J. "Tom" Sharp & Frances Elizabeth (Palmer) Sharp

Monette (Eubank) Dubiski
Jun 29, 1914 - Jan 21, 1977

Mrs. Dubiski

Services for Mrs. Monette Dubiski will be 2 p.m. Sunday in the Griffin Funeral Home Chapel. She died Friday in Dallas.

Joe Sloan and Terry Hodge will minister. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery.

Survivors include one son, John A. Dubiski of Dallas; two daughters, Mrs. Jean Sloan and Mrs. Janie Stoval, both of Houston; one sister, Mrs. Howell D. Murphey of Corsicana; and four grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Milton L. Barnwell, Bill Kelley, Gene Scott, Freddie Ubank, Eugene Terry, Leonard Limmer, Howell G. Murphey and Perry Murphey.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Sun., Jan 23, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• w/o Albert Charles Dubiski; d/o John T. Eubank & Dora (Easterling) Eubank

Jeffrey J. Haines
Jan 15, 1962 - Jul 19, 1977

Mishap fatal to youth here

A 15 year old Corsicana boy was killed Wednesday around 7 p.m. in a car-pedestrian mishap in the 600 block of W. Oaklawn.

Jeffrey Haines, 1523 Beverly, died of injuries he sustained after being run over by a car driven by James Floyd Smith, 1302 Oaklawn.

According to police reports Smith lost control of his car when he was attempting to negotiate a curve near the baseball field on Oaklawn. Smith's car struck a curb at the entrance to the parking lot at the baseball field and hit Haines. Haines was walking toward the Oaklawn entrance when he was struck. Smith was not injured in the accident.

Services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Corley Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Eugene Wood will officiate, with burial following at Oakwood Cemetery.

Haines was born in Germany and was a member of the Westminister Presbyterian Church.

Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Turner; his father, James J. Haines of St. Paul, Minn.; a brother, Timothy R. Haines of Ennis; a sister, Katherine Lynn Haines of Corsicana and his grandmother, Mrs. Irene Fox of Richardson.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Thurs., Jan 20, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• s/o James J. Haines & Mrs. Paul Turner

Dick Brown
Jan 25, 1923 - Nov 6, 1977

Dick Brown

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Oakwood Cemetery for Dick Brown, 54, resident of Corsicana, who died Sunday in Waco.

The Rev. B. W. Johnson will officiate. Arrangements are with Corley Funeral Home.

He was activity director at Paulyne Convalescent Home. Survivors include one son, Richard W. Brown of Spokane, Wash.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Tues., Nov 8, 1977
• Submitted by Diane Richards

Darline (Rawson) Whatley
Nov 22, 1931 - Jul 28, 2024

Darline Whatley, daughter of Henderson (Jack) and Eunice (Ruth) Rawson, was born in Blooming Grove, Texas on November 22, 1931. Mid-way through the Great Depression, her family moved to Corsicana, Texas, where she attended grade school and high school, graduating in the top 10 percent of her class. In 1950, she graduated from Tyler Commercial College, where she met her soon-to-be husband, Madren Boyce (Buddy) Whatley. They were married in 1951, and remained so until his death, in 2017. They were married for over 65 years. She worked for General Electric, The Dr. Pepper Company, Bell Aircraft, Inspiration Industries, Tally and Paige, and Honeywell. But her greatest and most rewarding work was raising 4 children. She was a proud mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Darline lived in Texas, California and Arizona; and had lifelong friends in each state. Her abiding Christian faith played a major role in Darline's life. She was a member of Royal Palms Baptist Church for over 45 years. After a short stint in the hospital for an infection, she was released to go home, proclaiming, "I'm going home, but not to my earthly home." Less than a week later, on July 28, 2024, Darline went to her new heavenly home. Darline was preceded in death by her husband. Her eldest son, (Boyce Whatley of Midlothian Texas), followed 7 weeks later. She is survived by her brother; (Jack Rawson of Austin, Texas); daughter, (Rhonda Reznick of Pico Rivera, California); sons, (Jim Nast of Cottonwood, Arizona and Kyle Stuart of Prescott, Arizona); grandchildren, (Jordan Reznick of Grinnell, Iowa; Kelsie Merrell of Rockwall, Texas; and Hayden Whatley of Fort Worth, Texas); 4 great grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nephews, nieces and their spouses. Celebration of Life will be at the First Methodist Church in Midlothian, Texas, at 11:00 a.m., on 10/19/2024.

Notes:

• Published in The Arizona Republic
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• Rose Hill Cemetery, Blooming Grove, Navarro Co., TX
• Corsicana High School Class of 1949
• w/o Madren Boyce Whatley; d/o George Henderson "Jack" Rawson & Eunice Ruth (Swafford) Rawson

Mary Edith (George) Archer-George
May 5, 1935 - Sep 30, 2024

IN THE CARE OF Lloyd James Funeral Home & Cathedral In The Pines Memorial Garden Mary Edith, known by her friends as Edy, and by her daughter and grandchildren as Dede, passed away peacefully on September 30th at the age of 89. As a lifelong Texan and devoted community member she lived a life full of love, kindness, and dedication to her family and passions. Edy was a proud alumna of Southern Methodist University where she was a member of the Chi Omega sorority and enjoyed her role as a lady-in-waiting in the Rose Festival in Tyler. After graduation she became actively involved in her community as a member of the Junior League and the Garden Club. Mary's compassion extended beyond people to animal rescues which she adored. She is survived by her daughter, Julie Archer, her grandchildren Colin, Maura, and Caroline, and her great-grandson Jet Weaver. Edy will be remembered for her warm heart, strong spirit, and unwavering devotion to her family and the causes she held dear. Her family will hold a small service to celebrate her life. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her name to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. A visitation for Mary will be held Monday, October 7, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Lloyd James Funeral Home, 1011 E 1st St, Tyler, Texas 75701. A "celebration of life" service will occur Monday, October 7, 2024 at 11:00 AM, 1011 E 1st St, Tyler, Texas 75701. A graveside service will occur Monday, October 7, 2024 at 2:30 PM at Blooming Grove Cemetery, Blooming Grove, TX.

Notes:

• d/o Dudley Watson George, Sr. & Julia Ellen (Shaw) George
• Submitted by Diane Richards

Lois Marie (Toone) West
Oct 12, 1920 - Aug 11, 1992

Lois Marie Toone West, 71, of Corsicana died August 11, 1992 at her residence.
Services will be at 2 p.mn. Thursday at St. Johns Episcopal Church with Revs. Dennis Smart and Sally Fleming officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.
Survivors include her husband, James West of Corsicana; two daughters, Diane Short of Corsicana and Joane West and Bonnie West both of Dallas; four grandchildren, West Short, Matthew West, Will Short and Thomas Toone of Temple.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Aug 13, 1992
• Submitted by Karen Rost

Martin VanBuren "Mart" Harris
Apr 29, 1908 - Aug 12, 1992

Mr. Martin V. Harris of Corsicana died Aug. 12, 1992, in Corsicana.
Services will be 2 p.m. Friday withRevs. Horace Crowder and Harold Scott under direction of Corley Funeral Home. Buriwl will be in Oakwood.
He was born in Freestone County. He was the director of water and utilities in Corsicana for 28 years. He was a member of the Westside Baptist Church and of Masonic Lodge #174.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Berta D. Harris of Corsicana; two brothers, Arvel Harris of Palestine and Oscar (Boots) Harris of Palestine; one sister, Maxine Watson of Cayuga; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In leiu of flowers the family requests memoriaols be made to the American Heart Foundation, 1616 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75207.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Aug. 13, 1992
• Submitted by Karen Rost
• h/o Berta Dell (Russell) Harris; s/o Oscar Alonzo Harris & Donna Idella "Donie" (Sherrod) Harris

Frank Hervey Roberson
Sep 19, 1902 - Dec 13, 1991

Frank Hervey Roberson, 89, of Corsicana, died Dec. 13, 1991, at Navarro Regional Hospital.
Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Corley Funeral Cjhapel, with the Rev. Kenneth Bass officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.
He was born Sept. 19, 1902, in Tupelo, and had lived in Corsicana for 67 years. He was a carpenter.
Survivors include his wife, Dora Roberson of Corsicana; one daughter and son-in-law, Petty and Neal Crawford of Corsicana; one son and daughter-in-law, Claude and Mary Roberson of Garland; three step-sons, Pierce Callaway and Jerry Callaway, both of Corsicana; and L.G. Callaway of Houston; three step-daughters, Mrs. Theodus Adams of Memphis, Tenn., Jane Rice of Riverside, Calif., and Zoe Ann Mitchell of Corsicana; 19 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Steve Roberson, Gregg Roberson, Richard Pringle, Pierce Callaway, Tom Wheeler and John Norwood.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Sun., Dec. 15, 1991
• Submitted by Karen Rost

Grace (Green) "Munga" Lowry
Nov 12, 1904 - Dec 19, 1987

Grace Green Lowry, a Corsicana native, died Saturday in Edgewood.
Services will be 2 p.m. Monday at First Baptist Church of Edgewood. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.
She is survived by a daughter Jane Mattingly, of Edgewood; six grandchildren; two sisters, Opal Paul of Corsicana and Ruby Metzke of Beaumont; nieces and nephews.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Mon.., Dec 21, 1987
• Submitted by Karen Rost

Susie May Bell (Ross) Lee
Dec 25, 1895 - Dec 20, 1987

Susie M. Lee, 92, of Corsicana died Sunday at Mel-Haven Nursing Home. Services will be 2 p.m. today at Corley Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Bill Herron will officiate with burial in Oakwood Cemetery.
She is survived by two sons, Baker Lee of Corsicana and Mack Lee of Grand Prairie; three daughters, Faye Jayroe of Houston, Margaret Atkinson of Goree and Maye McCraw of Pinehurst; seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, two sisters; Ethel Weaver of Corsicana and Virginia Wilson of Oklahoma City, Okla.
Pallbearers are James Mack Jayroe, Buster Jayroe, Brian Jayroe, Larry Muston, Patrick Lee and David Morgan,.
E.H. McCraw will serve as honorary pallbearer.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Mon., Dec 21, 1987
• Submitted by Karen Rost

Faye (Ayers) Roberson
Sep 1, 1906 - Jan 4, 1971

Roberson Rites Set Wednesday
Funeral services for Mrs. Faye Roberson, 64, will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. in Wesley Methodist Church with the Rev. Roy Davis and the Rev. James L. Peppers officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery under the direction of Griffin Funeral Home.
Mrs. Roberson died Monday at Memorial Hospital.
She is survived by her husband, Frank H. Roberson of Corsicana; one daughter, mrs. Neal Crawford of Corsicana; one son, Claude Ray Roberson of Garland; five grandchildren; two brothers, Hugh Aye rs of Greenville and Clayton Ayers of Dallas; one sister, Leona Ayers of Dallas; and several nieces and nephews.

Notes:

• Submitted by Edward Lynn Williams
• View Obituary Clipping

Laura Bess (Garnett) Carter-Evans
Feb. 14, 1915 - Sep. 18, 1972

Mrs. Evans

Funeral services are scheduled at 2 p.m. Saturday at Macedonia Baptist Church in Streetman for Mrs. Laura Bess Evans, 57, of Houston who died Monday at the Ben Taub Hospital in Houston. Rev. L. L. Sherffield will officiate, and burial will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery in Streetman.

Mrs. Evans was a native of Streetman and a member of the Macedonia Baptist Church.

Survivors include a son, Eddie Lee Carter of Houston; a daughter, Mrs. Annie Jewel Solomon of Corsicana and Mrs. Edna Marie Keaton of Dallas; an aunt, Mrs. Sally Matthews of Lubbock; three grandchildren; a number of nephews and nieces and other relatives.

Pallbearers will be Willie James Solomon Jr., Mack Clint Solomon, Billy Coy Solomon, Lee Arther Holt, Alvern Eafem and Tommy Lee Rebuell.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Wed., Sep 20, 1972
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• d/o Eddie Garnett & Ollie (Johnson) Garnett

James J. Ward
Feb 17, 1934 - June 5, 2016

Ret. Major James J. Ward, 82, of Corsicana passed away on Sunday, June 5, 2016 at Twilight Home. He was born on Feb. 17, 1934 in Pueblo, Colorado to Jared and Bertha Ward. He was preceded in death by his wife, Susan Ward; his parents, Jared and Bertha Ward and a great-grandsons Tristan Womack. He is survived by his son, Steven Ward and wife Desiree of Denver, Colorado; daughters, Linda McGaugh and husband Mark of Corsicana, Lisa Cox and husband Gary of Phoenix, Arizona; granddaughters, Susan Womack of Corsicana, Karin Hall and husband Chris of Corsicana, Kelli Harrell and husband Clay of Waxahachie and Shelby Ward of Denver, Colorado; grandsons, James Hemsworth and wife Necole of Mineola, John McGaugh of Corsicana and Timothy Ward and wife Grace Ann of Denver, Colorado; great-grandchildren, Skyy, Jacob, Kaylee, and Brooklyn; his brother, Larry Ward and wife Mercy of Pueblo, Colorado as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. A Memorial Service is planned for a future date in Sierra Vista, Arizona.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Tuesday, Jun 7, 2016
• Submitted by Karen Rost

Everett Electious "Leck" Musick
Dec 25, 1921 - June 2, 2016

Everett Electious "Leck" Musick, 94, passed away on Thursday, June 2, 2016 in Corsicana. He was born on Dec. 25, 1921 in Gilbert, West Virgina to Dr. Rufus Maurice and Frances Coy (Ellis) Musick, the second of nine children. After graduating from Gilbert High School in 1939, he went to work in the shipyards in Norfolk, Virgina. Even though this critical World War II job exempted him from military service, he joined the Army in 1943. After transferring to the Army Air Corp, he was stationed in Wichita Falls; Roswell, New Mexico; Amarillo and Champagne, Illinois. In 1945 he married Lyda "Sue" Thompson, whom he met while stationed in Amarillo. Together they had four children. He was honorably discharged in January 1946 from the 1040th Army Air Force Base Unit with the rank of Sergeant. Upon leaving the Army Air Corps, he and his family moved back to West Virgina where he taught English at Gilbert High School. He studied at Marshall College in Huntington, West Virginia before transferring to the University of Kentucky in Lexington, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1949. Upon graduation from college he worked for General Motors Acceptance Corporation in West Virgina. He moved west in 1956 to work for Southwestern Investment Company in Texas and New Mexico as a loan officer and then as a branch manager. In 1961 he moved to Texas to be a branch manager and then a regional manager for Ford Motor Company. In 1962 he started his banking career at First National Bank of Roswell, New Mexico in the loan department. In 1964 he moved to Clovis, New Mexico to become president of the First National Bank of Curry County. In 1966 he became the president of the State National Bank in Corsicana and in 1970 the President of the Westside National Bank in San Angelo. Upon retiring from the banking industry, he opened up Everett Musick Jewelers in San Angelo. He received a degree in Gemology during this time. He combined his love of travel with his interest in photography. One of his pictures of a fawn made it on to a postcard sold at Yellowstone National Park. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Frances Ann Musick and brothers Joe Elwood Musick and Rufus Maurice Musick. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Doris (Krueger) Musick; children Janice McLauchlin of Corsicana, Larry and wife Betsy Musick of Dallas, Paul and wife Jenifer Musick of Madison, Mississippi and Jeff Musick of McKinney; step-children Valerie Cobb and husband Tom McGinnis of Robson Ranch and Jeff Cobb of White Wright; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brother Ron Ellis of New Braunsfel; sisters Ruth Browning of Roswell, New Mexico, Virginia Williams of Richardson, Bobbie Lester of Bristol,Virginia and Sue Rhodes of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Everett donated his body to Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 11, 2016 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Corsicana. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that Memorials be sent to either Westminster Presbyterian Church Choir, 312 N. 13th St. Corsicana, Texas 75110 or Special Olympics Texas, with Hill Country stars noted in the check memo line, 1804 Rutherford Ln, Austin, Texas 78754.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Tuesday, June 7, 2016
• Submitted by Karen Rost

Joan (Leach) Kolasta-Jones
Aug 23, 1937 - Jun 6, 2016

Joan Kolosta Jones, 78, passed away in Houston of complications from Alzheimers disease. Joan was born in Toronto, Canada to Albert and Cora Leach. After her mothers death she was raised by her grandparents, Jessie and Mabel Dart. There she met her first husband, George Kolosta. They moved to Red Wing, MN and eventually settled in Corsicana, TX where they raised their six children. After divorce, Joan made a life with and married Elton Jones until his death in 2015. She is preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Jimmie Leach and grandson, Alex Kolosta. She leaves behind a sister, Gloria OShell (Canada); her children , David Kolosta (Langley, WA), Nancy Kolosta Myers and her husband Ken(Garland, TX), Darrell Kolosta and wife Edith (Oakland, CA), Danny Kolosta and wife Judy, (Corsicana, TX), Susan Kolosta Allen and husband Joshua (Phoenix, AZ), Michelle Kolosta Booth and husband Rob (Houston,TX); eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. The family would like to express their gratitude to the following for their loving care provided to Joan in the last few years: Twilight Home (Corsicana, TX), Grace Care Center (Katy, TX), and Amazing Grace Hospice Care (Katy,TX). We all will miss Joans feisty spirit, her creative talents for all things crafty, and her sense of humor. A visitation will be held on Thursday, June 9, 2016 from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm at Distinctive Life Funeral Home, 5455 Dashwood Street Bellaire, TX 77401. In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association at M.alz.org.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Tuesday, Jun 7, 2016
• Submitted by Karen Rost

Minnie (Ingram) Ramsey
Dec 10, 1891 - Mar 3, 1972

Mrs. Ramsey
Mrs. Minnie Ramsey, a native of Navarro County 81, died March 10 at Dallas Osteopathic Hospital after a lengthy illness.
Service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Calhoun's Funeral Home Chael with Elder Elijah Baptist officiating. Burial will be at Walker Cemetery near Kerens.
Mrs. Ramsey was born in Navarro County and left the county while in her early 30's. She was a resident of Denison.
She was the daughter of the late Vincent and Matilda Ingram. Her husband, Thomas Ramsey, died March 3, 1971
Survivors include several nephews and nieces including Mrs. Viola Granville, Tucson, Ariz.; Mrs. Charlotte Brown, Los Angeles, Calif.; and Gurthie Davis, Allen, Tex. and A.B. Page of Dallas.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Fri., Mar. 17, 1972
• Submitted by Karen Rost
• w/o Thomas Ramsey; d/o Vincent Ingram & Matilda (Hawthorne) Ingram

Ennis Adren Austell
Jan 26, 1914 - Jan 24, 1960

Man Dead, Woman Shot, Youth Jailed

One man is dead, his wife is in a hospital suffering four rifle wounds and the step-son of the man is in custody as the result of a shooting scrape at 714 South Fourteenth street shortly after midnight Sunday morning.

Ennis A. Austell, 45, was dead on arrival at the Navarro Clinic in a Griffin ambulance, suffering a .22 rifle wound in the chest and another through the temple.

His wife, Mrs. Nala Austell, 41, received four .22 calibre rifle wounds. Following treatment in the clinic, she was transferred to Memorial hospital Sunday at 9 1.m.

Lynn Hill, 18, step-son of Austell, son of Mrs. Austell by a previous marriage, was charged at noon Monday with murder in complaint signed by Sheriff Rufus Pevehouse and filed before Judge Walter Hayes following a conference with County Attorney Jimmy Morris. Morris stated he had ordered an autopsy performed on Austell's body.

"I'm not a bit sorry I shot him," Lynn Hill, a tall, 18-year-old with thick blonde hair, said calmly at county jail Monday morning, following the death of his stepfather, and the shooting of the wife of the dead man, and mother of Hill, early Sunday.

Obviously more composed Monday morning than he was Sunday, when his emotional condition prevented his subjection to a lie detector's test. Hill related how his stepfather shot Mrs. Austell while she was in the bathtub and then ran into the yard to fire one bullet into his own brain; and how he, Hill, in a moment of hysterics, fired one more bullet into the chest of the fallen stepfather.

Gives Statement
Hill, in a statement to The Daily Sun, said he and his wife, Loretta Louise Hill, 16, had returned to the residence at 714 South Fourteenth street (where both couples resided) after attending a movie about 9:45 p.m. Saturday. He said they had both gone to bed when his mother and stepfather returned from a dance about 10:30 p.m.

An argument between Mr. and Mrs. Austell became more violent at the residence, Hill said, prompting him to get out of bed. He said that when he entered another room in the house he saw that Austell was holding the rifle and going toward the bathroom where his mother was then taking a bath. He said Austell pointed the rifle at him and said, "Don't come out or I'll shoot you," and that he (Hill) jumped behind the door facing and then ran to the kitchen where he grabbed a butcher knife. In the meantime he heard shots in the bathroom, he said.

As he re-entered he saw Austell going out the front door, he said. He related Austell pointed the rifle at him again but that he jumped behind a refrigerator. He said Austell walked out the door and that seconds later he heard a shot coming from the yard.

He ran into the bathroom to find his mother in the bathtub with blood coming from wounds in the mouth, elbow, chest and leg, he said.

He stated that he then ran into the yard, hysterical and found the step-father lying on the ground on his back with a bullet wound in his head an with the rifle lying beside the victim. Hill said he grabbed the rifle and fired one shot into the chest of his step-father.

"I didn't know if he was dead or not," Hill said.

Wife Gets Gun
He stated that his wife then ran up and wrested the rifle from him and threw it onto the ground, then he and his wife placed his mother in a car and took her to the Navarro clinic. He said he and Mrs. Hill remained with Mrs. Austell until about 4:30 a.m. and then went home and went to bed.

"But I couldn't sleep," Hill said.

He said officers came to the residence and arrested him about 8 a.m. and that early in the afternoon took him and his wife to Waco for lie detector tests. He said he was too upset to take the test but that his wife took it.

Hill said his wife jumped out of bed during the incident, crawled out the window, and told him that she was coming around the side of the house as Austell was falling to the ground from the initial bullet.

Hill, who said he was unemployed, stated his mother and his stepfather had been married about four months and that there had been marital difficulties. He sad his mother had agreed to marry Austell because he, Austell, had threatened her life one night by placing a gun at her head and saying, "If you don't marry me I'll blow your brains out."

Hill said that on one occasion before the marriage, he ran the stepfather away by displaying a knife when Austell came in the house and caused a disturbance.

Hill said he and Mrs. Hill had been married since last August. His father Leonard S. Hill, lives in Houston.

The automatic rifle was owned by Austell and was practically new. Hill said it was loaded with 16 long-rifle bullets.

Austell was formerly employed with the cotton mill and with Southland Ice Company, it was reported.

Austell was shot through the right temporal area near the top of the ear and the bullet made its exit about the same area on the life side of the head. It is believed this was the fatal shot. A second shot entered the left chest about 2 1-2 inches from and slightly below the left nipple. No exit was noted.

Mrs. Austell's wounds are described as follows:
One bullet entered the neck at an angle and penetrated into the right jaw, fracturing the jaw and emerging near the right nostril and midway of the lip.

A second pellet entered the chest near the collarbone and no exit was reported.

The third and fourth entries were described as flesh wounds. One was two inches above the right elbow and made its exit just above the elbow and the other was in the right thigh, five inches from the knee and made its exit on the other side of the limb.

Mrs. Austell's condition was reported as "fairly good" Monday morning at the hospital.

The rifle in the case was taken to the police department.

The first report of the trouble came to the police headquarters at 12:31 a.m. from an anonymous woman who informed police the woman was at the Clinic and her husband was lying shot in the yard.

Capt. Frank Chapman, Sgt. Melvin Byrd and Officer Arthur Wells went to the Austell residence, summoned an ambulance which carried him to the clinic where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

C. W. Blackmon, deputy sheriff, and Captain Chapman arrested Hill Sunday morning and later carried him and his wife to Waco, Mrs. Hill is not in custody.

Walter Hayes, Justice of the peace, conducted an investigation Sunday morning at the clinic and later questioned witnesses, but is withholding a coroner's verdict pending completion of the investigation.

Count Attorney Morris was called into the case Sunday morning and was continuing investigations Monday.

Austell is survived by his wife of Corsicana, mother, Mrs. Elzadie Wallace, Mabank; four brothers, Jesse Austell, Mabank; Horace Austell, New York, Texas; Clyde Austell, Dallas, and Alvin Wallace, Mabank; three sisters, Mrs. Frances Lewis, Athens; Mrs. Ann Scott, Dallas, and Mrs. Lorene Bertrand, South Dakota; and other relatives.

Funeral services will be held from the Griffin Funeral Chapel Tuesday at 3 p.m. with burial in Hamilton cemetery.

The rites will be conducted by Rev. James Loggans, pastor of the Shady Grove Baptist church near Union High.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Mon., Jan 25, 1960
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• US Army WWII
• 1st wife Jackie Syble (Hendricks) Austell married Nov 18, 1950 2nd wife Nola (Metz) Hill-Austell s/o George William Austell & Elzadie (Lane) Austell-Wallace

----

Ennis Austell Funeral Rites Held Tuesday

Funeral services for Ennis A. Austell, 45, fatally shot early Sunday at his residence, 714 South Fourteenth street, were held Tuesday at 3 p.m. from the Griffin Chapel.

The rites were conducted by Rev. James Loggans, pastor of the Shady Grove Baptist church near Union High. Burial was in the Hamilton cemetery.

Surviving are his wife, who was shot four times with a .22 calibre rifle while taking a bath in a bathtub, a patient in Memorial hospital; mother, Mrs. Elzadie Wallace, Mabank; four brothers, Jesse Austell, Mabank; Horace Austell, New York, Texas; Clyde Austell, Dallas, and Alvin Wallace, Mabank; three sisters, Mrs. Frances Lewis, Athens; Mrs. Ann Scott, Dallas, and Mrs. Lorene Bertrand, South Dakota.

Pallbearers were Edward Tanner, Elmer Tanner, Jr.; Frank Dunn, Harvey Wallace, Thomas Allen Compton and Dorman Wallace.

Lynn Hill, 18, step-son of the slain man and son of Mrs. Austell by a former marriage said his step-father shot his (Hill's) mother four times, threatened him twice, then went out in the yard and shot himself with the same rifle in the temple. Hill added that in a hysterical condition, he (Hill) picked up the rifle and shot his step-father once in the chest.

An autopsy was performed on Austell's body Monday afternoon on orders of Jimmy Morris, county attorney.

Hill was named in a murder charge signed by Rufus Pevehouse, sheriff, Monday and filed before Walter Hayes, justice of the peace. Hill made the $500 bond set by Judge Hayes Monday afternoon and was released.

City officers investigating the case included W. A. Massey, Chief; Capt. Frank Chapman, Sgt. Melvin Byrd, and officer Arthur Wells, and Deputy Sheriff C. W. Blackmon.

A bullet removed in an autopsy Monday from Austell's body along with the rifle, shirt and unfired ammunition was sent to Austin Tuesday for examination, Sheriff Rufus Pevehouse said. A highway patrolman took the articles to Austin.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Tues., Jan. 26, 1960
• Submitted by Diane Richards

Myra Wanita (Garland) Wooten
Feb 1, 1941 - Jan 7, 2024

Myra Wanita Wooten, 82 of Bazette, Texas, was called to her Heavenly home by her Lord and Savior on Sunday, January 7, 2024. She was born on Saturday, February 1, 1941 in Corpus Christi, Texas to John and Avis Garling Garland. She married Monroe Barton Wooten, Jr. on Saturday the 5th of September 1959 T in Harris County, Texas. They had 3 children, Sherry, Gary and Terrie. Myra has always been a hard worker, working many years as a school custodian, on the assembly lines with Leggatt and Plate, many years at Bancroft Pecan House and ended her years of work at Russell Stover's. She always had a hug for anyone and everyone. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her son, Gary Wooten; brother, Doug Garland; 2 sisters, Sheila Karm & Jean Capps and great grandson, Colt Wolfe. Myra is survived by her two daughters, Terrie Cheshire, Sherry Trull and husband Ricky; sister-in-law Dot Garland; 12 grand kids; 30 great grand kids, 1 great great grandson and a number of nieces & nephews. A Celebration of Life is scheduled for 2 PM Saturday, January 13, 2024 at the Kerens Cowboy Church with Bro. Craig Hines officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Kerens Cowboy Church 13009 E. State Hwy 31 Kerens, Texas 75144

Notes;

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Tues., Jan 9, 2024
• Submitted by Karen Rost

Mary Ella (Tramel) Horvath
June 12, 1934 - Jan. 12, 2024

Our beloved sister and aunt, Mary Ella Tramel Horvath passed from this life to be with her Lord on Friday, January 12, 2024 after a lengthy illness. Mary was born June 12, 1934 to Prosper & Zeldia Hardaway Tramel in Bazette, Texas. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Horvath, her parents, 3 sisters, Jean Howard, June Howard and Jesse Colbert, niece, Joan Musgrove and nephew, James Mills. She is survived by sisters, Wanda Hayes and Peggy Horvath, 3 nephews, Michael "Pretty Boy" Duvall and wife Rose, David Colbert, Kevin Mills; 3 nieces, Linda Williams, Elizabeth Howard, Denise Crandall & husband Scott; 2 brothers-in-law, Johnny Horvath and Sam Horvath; number of nieces and nephews. Mary loved her Lord and often retreated to her prayer closet to pray. She was the heart of our family, always there to listen and help. She lived in several states from Pennsylvania to Washington State due to her husband's work. After returning to Texas, she worked at Suzanne's Dress Shop and Burlington Coat Factory in the DFW area. Visitation will be Wednesday, January 17, 2024 from 1 PM to 2 PM at Paschal Funeral Home with funeral service following at 2 PM. Rev. Frank Upchurch will officiate.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Wed., Jan 17, 2024
• Submitted by Karen Rost

Shirelene (Rasco) Seiber
Nov 16, 1949 - May 7, 2024

Shirelene Ruth Seiber, a beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away at her residence in Frost, Texas, on May 7, 2024, at the age of 74. Shirelene was born on November 16, 1949, in Corsicana, Texas, to Odie Gay Rasco and Olivia Ruth Rasco. Shirelene's life was a testament to her boundless love for her family and her vibrant spirit. She is survived by her loving daughter, Zonia Rogers, and husband Justin, who brought her immense joy and pride. Shirelene's legacy continues through her grandchildren: Harley and Cooper Shackelford, Haley Holloway, and Wesley Holloway, as well as her great-grandchildren: Kayden Dillon, Amzie Dillon, Zaylee Worley, Stetson Shackelford, and Swade Shackelford. She also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, and friends, all of whom held a special place in her heart. Shirelene was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James Seiber, her parents, Odie Gay Rasco and Olivia Ruth Rasco, her sister Sharon Ann Davis, and her brother Earcell Rasco. Throughout her life, Shirelene was known for her love of people and her infectious joy for life. She looked forward to hosting Memorial Day parties every year since 1988, where friends and family would gather to celebrate and create cherished memories. Shirelene adored her grandchildren, and even her great-grandchildren, finding immense happiness in their laughter and love. Shirelene found joy in many hobbies and activities, including her work at Blooming Grove ISD, boating, and fishing. But above all, dancing held a special place in her heart, and she could often be found on the dance floor with a smile on her face. She also had a deep affinity for angels, finding comfort and solace in their presence. Funeral services to celebrate Shirelene's life will be held at Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home with Kenneth Hutchison officiating at 4:00pm. Shirelene will be deeply missed by all who knew her, but her memory will continue to bring comfort and joy to those whose lives she touched. Her legacy of love and laughter will live on forever.

Notes:

• Dresden Cemetery, Dresden, Navarro Co., TX
• w/o James Seiber; d/o Odie Gay Rasco and Olivia Ruth Rasco

Linda Kay (Dawson) Freeman
Nov 16, 1947 - Jan 6, 2024

Linda Kay Dawson Freeman was born November 16, 1947, in McKinney, Texas to Clarence and Neoma Dawson. She graduated from McKinney High School and the very next day her family moved to Paris, Texas for her father's job. After a few years the family was relocated to Corsicana, Texas where she began her career with Liberty Mutual Insurance as a property supervisor and ended her 30 years with them as a manual rating supervisor. In 1972, Linda met the love of her life, Henry Freeman. They were married just shy of 50 years. During Linda's retirement, she enjoyed traveling, shopping, and visiting with family and friends. She loved watching her children and grandchildren in all their activities. She is preceded in death by her husband Henry Freeman, parents Clarence and Neoma Dawson, brothers-in-law Ed Cunningham, Alton Gene Holt and Billy Stubbs. She is survived by her daughter Stacy Orta and son Brent Freeman and wife Beth. Sister-in-laws Doris Ann Holt, Mary Ruth Cunningham, Glenda Stubbs, Jackie Gunn and husband Buddy. Grandchildren Larissa Orta, Keaton Orta and Kate Freeman and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, a love donation may be made to Anthony Drive Baptist Church P.O. Box 9 Ennis, Texas 75120 or you can text "GIVE" to 972-440-2270. Funeral Service will be held at 10:30am Saturday, January 13, 2024, at Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home Chapel Arrangements By Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Mon., Jan 8, 2024
• Submitted by Karen Rost
• Burial: Hamilton-Beeman Cem., Retreat, Navarro Co., TX
• w/o Henry Freeman; Clarence Sylvester Dawson & Elsie Neoma (Housewright) Dawson

Lois (Derden) McGaugh
Jan 2, 1934 - Jan 5, 2024
 

Lois Derden McGaugh, 90, went to be with the Lord on Friday, January 5, 2024. Graveside service: Thursday, 2:30 pm at Hamilton-Beeman Cemetery, Retreat, Texas. Visitation: Wednesday, 6:00 pm-8:00 pm in The Magnolia Chapel at Corley Funeral Home. Lois was born on January 2, 1934, to James Archie and Willie Lee Derden in Corsicana, Texas. She was a life-long resident of Corsicana. She is survived by her three children, Kimberly Jones and husband, Doug, son, Mark McGaugh and wife, Linda and daughter, Donna Baumgartner and husband, Greg; ten grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to her caregivers at New Century Hospice, Country Meadows, and a Special thank you to LaTasha Thompson who lovingly referred to Lois as "Miss Lady Bug." Arrangements under the direction of Corley Funeral Home 418 N. 13th Street Corsicana, Texas 75110. 903-874-3755. www.corleyfuneralhome.com

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Mon., Jan. 8, 2024
• Submitted by Karen Rost
• d/o James Archie Derden & Willie Lee (Couch) Derden

Mary Ann Greer
Jun 8, 1951 - Jan 13, 2024

Surrounded by her family, Mary Ann Greer, 72, went to be with her Lord and Savior on January 13, 2024 in Corsicana, Tx. Funeral services will be held at 2 pm on January 26, 2024 at Corley's Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Hamilton-Beeman Cemetery.Mary Ann Greer was born on June 8, 1951 in Ennis, Tx to Johnny Franklin "Frank" Greer and Eleanor Irene Jacobs-Greer of Corsicana, Tx. Growing up in the beautiful farm lands around Corsicana, Mary Ann enjoyed nature and the "farming way of life." As a child visiting her grandmother's farm, her mother and grandmother taught her how to sew and quilt, skills she appreciated as an adult because they reminded her of "home." Throughout her life, she enjoyed gardening, farming, pets, and livestock, all things she experienced as a child. Later in life she had her own little farm where she enjoyed the sunrises and coffee on the porch.Mary Ann retired from CISD Transportation as a bus aid for special needs children. In addition to enjoying nature and taking care of others, she knew how to have a great time. She sprinkled everyone's life with glitter! Literally!Mary Ann is proceeded in death by her father, Johnny "Frank" Greer of Corsicana. She is survived by her mother, Eleanor Greer of Corsicana; siblings, Terry "Dan" and Lisa Greer of Oak Valley and Kary "Nan" Greer-Lewis of Forney,Tx. She is also survived by her children: Ronnie "Joe" Bonner of Retreat, TX; Jackie Bonner-Stanbery of Mildred, TX; Anthony and Elisha Bray of Springville, UT and Jamie and Stephen Reagan of Lone Oak, TX. Surviving grandchildren are Stephanie and Brady Young; Brittany Bray; Cheyenne and Rusty Lewellen; Alexis Bonner; Stephen Ingham; Bradlee Strickland; Sydney Reagan; Michelle Strickland; Ashley and Jeremiah Kneifl; and Logan Reagan. Her surviving great-grandchildren include Kaytlyn Young, Eleina Short-Strickland, Kyley Young, Karder Delgado, Jaxon Young, Lucy Kneifl, Tanner Strickland, Josey Kneifl, and Caidence Delgado. In the last few months, she was ecstatic about being a Granny to another great-granddaughter Delgado coming this March. Pallbearers will be Adam Robinson, Jarrett Greer, Alvin Mullican, Jeremiah Kneifl, Bradlee Strickland, and Stephen Reagan. Memorial donations and flower may be given to Corley's Funeral Home.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Fri., Jan. 19, 2024
• Submitted by Karen Rost
• d/o Johnny Franklin "Frank" Greer & Eleanor Irene (Jacobs) Greer

Nobel Nathaniel Tomerlin
May 3, 1875 - Dec 24, 1960

Minister Is Buried Monday

Funeral services were held Monday at 10 a.m. at Teague for Noble N. Tomerlin, 85, retired Assembly of God minister, who died Saturday night in a Teague hospital. Burial was in the Hamilton cemetery near Corsicana.

Surviving are his wife of Teague; five daughters, and a son.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Tues., Dec 27, 1960
• Submitted by Diane Richards
• s/o Thomas Edward Tomerlin & Martha A. (Sanderson) Tomerlin

Ilah May (Jackson) Caffy
Oct 25, 1882 - Dec 15, 1960

Mrs. J. L. Caffy Rites Saturday

Funeral services for Mrs. J. L. Caffy, 78, who died Thursday at her residence here, were held Saturday at 3 p.m. from the Corley Chapel. Interment was in Hamilton cemetery.

C. B. Holcomb, minister of the Fifth Avenue Church of Christ, officiated.

A long-time resident of Navarro county, Mrs. Caffy lived at Angus for 50 years before moving to Corsicana several months ago, following the May death of her husband.

She was a member of the Fifth Avenue Church of Christ.

Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. J. O. Youngblood, Fort Worth, and Mrs. Alvin Martin, Corsicana; a grandson, John L. Youngblood, Fort Worth; a granddaughter, Kay Martin, Corsicana; two brothers, J. F. Jackson, Brownsboro, and W. N. Jackson, Fort Worth; four sisters, Mrs. Janie Ligon, Chester, S. C.; Mrs. Mary Gullatt, Waco; Mrs. Agnes Walker, Murchison, and Mrs. Alma Kuykendall, Abilene; and other relatives.

Pallbearers were Walter Stewart, Hubet Joyner, John S. Sims, L. P. Tilton, Paul Sloan, Jim Cobb, O. L. Pitts, and J. R. English, Jr.

Notes:

• The Corsicana Daily Sun - Sat., Dec 17, 1960
• Submitted by Diane Richards

Gene Martin
Oct 30, 1936 - Mar 14, 2015

Gene Martin, 78, of Eureka, Texas, passed away Saturday, March 14, 2015, at Heritage Oaks West Retirement Village. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday. March 17, 2015, at Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday, March 18, 2015, at Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Eureka Cemetery

He enjoyed fishing and hunting.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Judy Martin; brothers: Harold Walters, Woody Walters, and Bobby Martin; and sisters, Betty Schoen and Margaret Spillers.

Survivors include his daughters, Gina McDonald and husband, Brandon, of Blooming Grove, and Sherri Montfort and husband, Matt, of Corsicana; sons, Jesse O'Bryan and wife, Diana, of Euless, and Gene O'Bryan and wife, Donna, of Hewitt; grandchildren: Drew McDonald, Dalton McDonald, Dylan McDonald, Mason Montfort, Mark Montfort, Cole Stallings, and Logan Stallings; sister, Mary Anne Lammers; and numerous nieces and nephews.