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Jonathan Andrew Loftin, 19
A memorial service will be held for Jonathan Andrew Loftin of Greenville Tuesday, Nov. 23, 1999 at 10 a.m. at Grace Presbyterian Church under the direction of Peters Funeral Home. Rev. Bill McNatt will officiate. Loftin, a student, was born in Toledo, Ohio on May 6, 1980, the son of Roger Loftin and Sally Caldwell Blatz. Survivors include his father and his wife, Roger and Kay Loftin of Greenville; his mother and her husband, Sally and Charles Blatz of Grand Rapids, Ohio; brother, Roger Loftin, Jr. of Toledo, Ohio; sisters, Elizabeth Loftin Jeffrey and husband Lance of Toledo, Ohio, and Sarah Loftin of Grand Rapids, Ohio; stepsisters, Bethany Grant and Kylah Bates, both of Greenville.
Mary Tarrant, 78
Funeral services for Mary Tarrant of Cumby were held yesterday in the First Baptist Church of Cumby. Rev. Wes Dean officiated, with interment in the Cumby Cemetery. Pallbearers were Gil Pier, Jim Chapman, Mark Garner, Greg Pilotte, Bobby McClure, Ron Anderson, Dane Petty, Jack Scroggins and Chuck Tuggle. Tarrant was born on Sept. 4, 1921, in Winnsboro to Charlie and Stella Williams Hood. She married Morris Tarrant on Oct. 22, 1938 in Greenville. He preceded her in death in 1962. A member of the First Baptist Church of Cumby, Tarrant was retired from the Cumby Independent School District and Piggly Wiggly Food Stores. She passed away Nov. 18 in the Sulphur Springs Health and Rehabilitation Center. Tarrant is survived by son, Charley Tarrant of Greenville; daughters, Sarah Middleton of Brashear and Sue Recer of Melissa, Texas; sisters, Montene Smith of Tyler, Jimmie Ruth Prather of Arizona and Lessie Mae Powell of Winnsboro; grandchildren, Denise Mason, Morris Recer and Shelly Adams and one great-grandchild. Tarrant was preceded in death by four brothers, three sisters and one grandchild. Cumby Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Cheryl Ann Thomas, 43
November 17, 1999
Funeral services for Cheryl Ann Thomas of Commerce are today at 10:30 a.m. at Pemberton Funeral Chapel. Rev. Charles Strictland will officiate at the service arranged by Pemberton Funeral Home. Interment is at Cedar Lawn Memorial Park in Sherman at 2 p.m. Pallbearers are Jimmy Green, Don Drewry, Mathew Green, Jack Chesser, David Hatten, Landis Mobley, Jay O'Neal and Don Pryor. Born in Norman, Okla., on Nov. 28, 1955, Thomas was the daughter of Tom Dwayne Ables and Anna Hudgens Ables, both of Tyler. On Dec. 26, 1975, she married Donny Earl Thomas in Sherman. Thomas has lived in the Commerce area since 1984, having moved from Sherman. She was a graduate of Sherman High School and attended Grayson County Junior College where she received her registered nursing license. She was formerly employed at Wilson N. Jones Hospital in Sherman and Hopkins County Memorial Hospital in Sulphur Springs. Thomas was a member of the Ridgecrest Baptist Church where she taught children's Sunday School and was the director of the children's choir. Thomas is survived by her husband, Donny Earl Thomas of Commerce; daughters, April Denise Thomas and Jennifer Deann Thomas of Commerce; sisters, Elizabeth Ables of Tyler and Deborah Greene of Longview. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ridgecrest Baptist Church Building Fund.
James L. Cherrington, 60
November 14, 1999
Funeral services were held Friday for James L. Cherrington of Klondike, formerly of Galesburg, Ill. Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements for the service which took place at Watson Funeral Home. Military rites by the American Legion Post #285 were held with burial in Oaklawn Cemetery in Galesburg, Ill. Cherrington, a machine operator at Butler Manufacturing Co. and Army veteran, was born Feb. 23, 1939 in Galesburg, Ill. to Garden Glenn and Alfreda Margauritte Underwood Cherrington. Survivors include sisters, Joan Sadler of Klondike, Sandra Marsolek of LaPort, Minn.; brother, Robert Cherrington of Galesburg, Ill.
Don J. Short, 85
Don J. Short of Commerce will be remembered by family and friends tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church. Rev. Mike House will officiate at the service arranged by Pemberton Funeral Home. Interment will be at Rosemound Cemetery. Visitation is from 6-7 p.m. today at Pemberton Funeral Home. Born in McAlister, Okla., on April 3, 1914, Short was the son of Joseph Calvin and Pearl Pace Short. He married Jessie Gulley in Monroe, La., on Feb. 6, 1939. Short moved from Abilene to Commerce in 1968. He was a graduate of McAlister High School. He attended North East Louisiana Junior College for two years and East Texas State Teachers College, majoring in education for two years then received his master's degree. A veteran of the United States Army Infantry, Short served during World War II. He was a football and basketball coach and teacher for Burkburnett, Throckmorton, Lamesa, Galveston, Abilene and Commerce High Schools until his retirement in 1978. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Commerce. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and one sister. Survivors include his wife, Jessie Short of Commerce; daughter, Charlene Crocker of Nacogdoches; sons, Don Paul Short of Austin and Joey Short of Commerce; sister, Florence Noyd of San Angelo; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Mary Jernigin, 105
November 10, 1999
Mary Jernigin was remembered by friends and family yesterday at a funeral service at Pemberton Funeral Chapel. Rev. Mike House officiated at the service arranged by Pemberton Funeral Home. Interment followed at Rosemound Cemetery. Pallbearers were Harry Icenhower, Bill Stone, Harold Murphy, Frank Barchard, Otha Spencer and Joe Fred Cox. Jernigin was born in Commerce on Aug. 24, 1894, to Jefferson Davis and Zona Carr Jernigin. She was a descendant of William Jefferson Jernigin, one of the founders of Cowhill, which later became Commerce. She attended Ward Belmont Finishing School in Nashville, Tenn. and Kidd Key College, which is now Sherman High School. She also attended Chicago Art Institute. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees from East Texas Teachers College in 1921. Jernigin worked as a fashion illustrator for Neiman Marcus in Dallas and Sanger Harris in Ft. Worth. She taught elementary school art in Corsicana, mechanical drawing in Wichita Falls and Tyler High Schools, as well as an engineering class at Tyler Junior College. She retired in 1962. Jernigin was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the Coterie Club. She was preceded in death by one sister, Janice Jernigin Kiker; three brothers, Dudley C. Jernigin, Russell C. Jernigin and J.D. Jernigin, Jr. Survivors include nieces and their husbands, Nell Reeder of Ft. Worth; Jean and Howard Rector of Ft. Worth; Rowland and Emmett Lee of Tampa, Fla.; and Mary Kay and Buddie Langford of Grand Prairie; several great nieces and nephews; several great-great nieces and nephews; special and loving friend Shirley Erb; special and loving friend Harold Murphy; and a host of other friends.
Helen Brown Lowe, 92
Helen Brown Lowe was born in Fairlie, Texas, May 15, 1907 to Ruben Brown and Princess Luke Brown. She died Tuesday in a private Commerce nursing home after a lengthy illness. Services are tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the Pemberton Funeral Home, followed by interment at Sonora Cemetery in the Fairlie Community with Rev. Bobby Tollison officiating. Pallbearers are Joe Fred Cox, Herman Bennett, Jr., Herman Bennett III, Warren Dunham, Wayne Burt and Randy Manning. Honorary pallbearers are Harold Wayne Burt, Otis Horton and members of the Senior Adult I Sunday School Department. Visitation is tonight from 6-7:30 p.m. at Pemberton Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the First Baptist Church Library. Lowe was married to Hiram M. Lowe of Mt. Vernon in 1926. He preceded her in death, as did two brothers, Weldon Brown of Fairlie and Luther Brown of Texarkana. She received a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Education degree from East Texas State University in Commerce. She taught for 26 years in the public schools of Texas, most of that time in Richardson. She retired in 1976 to Commerce and became an active member in the Rebekah Class of the First Baptist Church until illness prevented her from attending. While an active member, Helen reviewed books for the church library, played piano for her Sunday School Department, did volunteer work and served on several church committees. Survivors include two children, H.M. (Kin) Lowe, Jr. and his wife, Dianne, of Commerce and Ann Adams of Richardson; three grandsons, Kyle Lowe of Commerce, the Rev. Dr. Mark Adams of Edinburg, Texas, and Paul Adams of San Francisco, Calif.
Walter Lynn Rowe, 71
Walter Lynn Rowe of Sumner died Monday morning at McCuistion Regional Medical Center in Paris. Services are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. today at Bright-Holland Funeral Home with Rev. Bill Sanders officiating. Masonic graveside rites will follow at Sonora Cemetery in Fairlie. Rowe was born Aug. 4, 1928, in Ladonia to Walter Perry and Mae Watson Rowe. He was raised in the Fairlie Community of Hunt County. Retiring from Dallas Transit, Rowe was also active with many organizations, such as Southside Baptist Church, Paris Masonic Lodge #27, Tannehill Masonic Lodge #52, Cedar Lake Masonic Lodge #1431, 32nd Degree member of the Dallas Scottish Rite Bodies, Lamar County Scottish Rite Club, Hella Temple of the Shrine, Red River Shrine Club and the Red River Valley Honkers Antique Car Club. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. Walter and Betty Winn were married on June 17, 1962 in Paris, Texas. Rowe is survived by his wife; sister, Norma Jean Osika of Salt Lake City, Utah; several nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends; father-in-law, James Winn of Sumner; brother and sister-in-law, Doug and Donna Winn of Sumner. He was preceded in death by brother, James Rowe; two sisters, Pat Barker and Louise Finney and his parents. Melvin Webb, Scott Roach, Larry Stahl, Dave McKinney, Glynn Penn and Carroll Prichard will serve as pallbearers.
Alpha Killebrew Thomas, 89
Alpha Killebrew Thomas of Cooper passed away Sunday afternoon at the Birchwood Manor Nursing Home in Cooper. Funeral services were yesterday at the Delta Funeral Home Chapel with Terry Bryan officiating and interment was in Oaklawn Cemetery. Thomas was born in Hopkins County, Sept. 6, 1910. She was the daughter of Arthur and Lillie Kirby Killebrew. She was a homemaker. March 17, 1937, she married J.D. Thomas and he preceded her in death, Oct. 14, 1976. Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law, Bobbye and Danny Humphries of Yowell and Dannie and David Phillips of Cooper; sisters, Ruby Harlow of Stockton, Calif., Ivy Strong of Paris and Addie Bell Owen of Orange; sisters-in-law, Gladys Carrell and Marge Eppers of Cooper; grandchildren and their spouses, Jake and Marie Humphries, Brad and Lyn Phillips, Kelli and John Jones, Chuck and Amy Phillips, Tory and Daidre Humphries and Jennifer and D.J. Robertson; Great-grandchildren, Chad Jones, Justin Shelby, Jonathan Jones, Brittney Humphries, Jacie Phillips, Trace Robertson, Lauren Humphries, Luke Phillips, Brazos Phillips and Ryan Humphries. She was preceded in death by one great-grandchild, Cade Humphries.
Nell Robertshaw Blakely, 80
Nell Robertshaw Blakely, 80, died of cancer on October 31, 1999 at Presbyterian Hospital Commerce. A memorial service will be held at the chapel of the First Methodist Church Chapel on Saturday, November 6, 10:00 a.m. Ms. Blakely was born April 18, 1919 in Greenville, MS to Frank N. and Mary Aldridge Robertshaw. She moved to Commerce in 1965 and taught photography at ETSU (Texas A&M University-Commerce) until her retirement in 1984, after which she continued to serve on the Department of Journalism and Graphic Arts Advisory Board. Her photography illustrated TEXAS, A Literary Portrait, published in 1985, which highlighted novels set in Texas. The exhibit of her photographs is still on tour in the East Texas region. She was a volunteer for the Public Library Literacy Program and Meals on Wheels, as well as a faithful member of Thursday Morning Mah Jongg. She is survived by four daughters: Jan Uhler Truby, Anthony, KS; Melanie Johnson, Carrollton, TX; Mary Catherine Blakely, Carrollton, TX; Hannah Barton, Cumby, TX; plus three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by daughter Ellen Uhler Erwin and granddaughter Mary Beth Erwin; sister Mary Robertshaw Wilson, Mechanicsville, PA; and brother James Robertshaw, Greenville, MS. The family requests donations to the Commerce Humane Association (c/o Lauragene Parker, 604 Pine Street, Commerce TX 75428); the Commerce Public Library (1210 Park Street, Commerce, TX 75428) or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101) in lieu of flowers.
Jerry Wayne Finch, 57
Funeral services were held yesterday for Jerry Wayne Finch of Ferris at Jones Memorial Chapel. Interment followed at City Cemetery of Sulphur Springs with his grandsons and nephews serving as pallbearers. Finch, self-employed in the freight business, was born at Cuthand, Red River County, Texas, on July 22, 1942, to James Lee and Mary Mae Gibson Finch. On Dec. 20, 1958, he married Sue Ragland in Durant, Okla. Survivors include his wife, Sue Ragland Finch of Ferris; son and daughter-in-law, David Wayne and Laura Finch of Hubbard; son, Ernest Michael Finch of Ferris; daughter and son-in-law, Edward and Gwendolyn Finch Watts of Commerce; brother and sister-in-law, James V. and Nell Finch of Kaufman; 14 grandchildren; four great-granddaughters; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and one sister. Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Billy Joe Lewis, 67
Family and friends gathered Friday, Nov. 5, to lay to rest their beloved Billy Joe Lewis, of Commerce, in Oklahoma City, Okla., where he had been born 67 years earlier. Lewis was memorialized at Temple Funeral Home Chapel, then buried
in Trice Hill Cemetery. Visitation in Commerce had been at Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home. Lewis, born Aug. 22, 1932 to Andy and Eva Bryant Lewis, married Ella Mae Kendrick in Oklahoma City, Okla., July 22, 1977. An Air Force veteran, Lewis worked as an engineer at The Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas, as well as working in Commerce part-time at the Commerce Independent School District Fieldhouse. Survivors include his wife, Ella Mae Lewis of Commerce; children, Jim Mahdi of Commerce, Larry Mahdi of Dallas, Johnny Mixon, Billy Joe Lewis, Jr., Andy Lewis and Eva Lewis, all of Oklahoma City, Okla.; brothers, George Lewis and Clarence Lewis of Oklahoma City, Okla.; and sister, Evelyn Birch of Oklahoma City, Okla. Lewis was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Peggy.
Deborah Ellen Singer, 52
Deborah Ellen Singer of Hurst died Friday, Oct. 15. She was a homemaker. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23 at Brown, Owens-Brumley Funeral Home in Fort Worth, Texas. Singer was born in the Needmore Community on July 18, 1947. Survivors include a son, Robert Visitacion and wife, Laticia, their children Megan and Justin of Arlington; a son Josh; a daughter Micah; her mother, Hazel Boren Singer; a brother, Mickey Singer and wife, Vickie, and their son Aaron, all of Shreveport, La.; two aunts, Glenda Boren Stringfellow and Edith Boren Lesley, both of Abilene, Texas. Burial was in Rosemound Cemetery in Commerce, with arrangements made by Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home.
Ruby Mae Wilson Norris, 83
Services were held Tuesday, Nov. 2, 1999, at 10 a.m. at Curry-Welborn Chapel for Ruby Mae Wilson Norris, of Mt. Pleasant. Norris died Saturday, Oct. 30 at Titus Regional Medical Center. Burial was at Emblem Cemetery, in Emblem, Hopkins County. Rev. Jerry Ford and Rev. Ricky Logan officiated.
Norris was born Oct. 28, 1916 in Ridgeway (Hopkins County) to James W. Wilson and Vianna Savannah Rhoda Tanner. She was the wife of William Dalton Norris.
She was retired from Six Flags Over Texas. She designed and created the flags and animated costumes for the Park.
She was a member of the Gladewater Baptist Church, Mt. Pleasant.
Norris was preceded in death by her father, mother, husband William Dalton Norris, son Jerry Dalton Norris, and two brothers and two sisters.
Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law Wayne and Dianne Norris of Mt. Pleasant, and D. J. and Joyce Norris of Mt. Pleasant. Also, grandchildren Jerry Dewayne Norris of Grand Prairie, Tina Norris Vincent of New Hampshire, Krisan Norris Sears of Mt. Vernon, Wade Norris of Mt. Pleasant, and James Norris of Naples; 7 great-grandchildren and a host of nephews and nieces, and friends.
R.C. Cletus Follis, 76
October 31, 1999
Funeral services were held yesterday for R.C. Cletus Follis of Cumby. Rev. Wes Dean officiated at the service, arranged by Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home, at First Baptist Church in Cumby. Interment followed at Cumby Cemetery. Follis had received his master's degree from East Texas State Teachers College. He taught for 25 years in the Port Neches School District before retiring. He was born Aug. 17, 1923, to J.D. Regan and Ora Mae Carpenter Follis in Cumby. On Dec. 26, 1942, he married Josie Mae Hall in Greenville. Follis was a veteran of World War II, a member of Masonic Lodge #180, a member of Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity and a member of First Baptist Church of Cumby. Survivors include his wife, Josie Mae Follis of Cumby; sister, Evelyn Willis of Garland; brother, Brazeal Smith Follis of Baytown; and several nieces and nephews.
Frances Grimes, 60
October 27, 1999
Funeral services for Frances Grimes of Cumby were held yesterday in the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Cumby. Interment followed in the Cumby Cemetery. Grimes, a member of the Assemblies of God, passed away Sunday, Oct. 24 in the Presbyterian Hospital in Commerce. She was born on July 30, 1939, in Troy, Okla. to James Houston and Samantha Inez Hammonds Wigington. She married Donald Ray Grimes on Oct. 5, 1957, in Rockwall. He survives. Other survivors include two sons, Ernie Grimes of Pryor, Okla., and Danny Glenn Grimes of Cumby; daughter, Connie Sue McKibben of Wylie; sister, Linnie Mae Roland of Sachse; brother, Jackie Allan Wigington of Merit; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by two brothers. Cumby Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Delores Smith, 49
October 27, 1999
Graveside services were held for Delores Smith of McKinney yesterday at Memoryland Memorial Park in Greenville. Rev. Joel Arnold officiated at the service arranged by Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home of Commerce. Smith was born in Jacksboro on Oct. 11, 1950, to Arnold L. and Novella Parker Hudson. She was of the Baptist Faith and had graduated from Greenville High School. Smith worked as a medical transcriptionist at John Peter Smith Hospital in Ft. Worth. She was preceded in death by her mother in 1984; sister, Sandra Kay Waters in 1991; and brother, Arnold Dell Hudson in 1998. Survivors include her son, William Preston Smith of South Lake; daughter, April Smith of South Lake; former husband, Ronnie Smith of South Lake; father and step-mother, Arnold L. and Fama Babb Hudson of Campbell; sisters, Patricia Sampson of College Station and Doris Bradford of Hurst; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Clifford Ray Evans, 70
October 24, 1999
Funeral services for Clifford Ray Evans of Cumby are today at 2 p.m. at the Church of Christ of Commerce. David Gibson will officiate there and at the 3 p.m. graveside interment with full military honors at Sunny Point Cemetery in Cumby. Pallbearers are Don Fausnight, Eric Williams, Dane Petty, Phil Evans, Dewayne Evans, Dave Evans, Jimmy Evans and Rick Teer. Evans, who had retired from the United States Airforce after 23 years, was born in Cumby on Aug. 23, 1929 to Robert Linton and Vera Mae Preston Evans. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Charles Evans. Survivors include his sons, Linton Evans of Greenville and Michael Evans of Wichita Falls; daughters, Diana McGrath of Australia and Peggy Anderson of Cumby; six grandchildren; brothers, Robert Evans of Mabank and Howard Evans of Cumby; special friend, Pat Price of Garland; and several nieces and nephews. Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home of Commerce is in charge of arrangements.
Tommy Ray Finch, 28
October 24, 1999
Services for Tommy Ray Finch of Mesquite were held Friday at Jones Memorial Chapel. A private burial will be held at a later date. Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Finch was born Aug. 9, 1971, in Escandido, Calif. to Tommy R. Finch, Sr. and Jenoice Robertson Finch. Finch, an army veteran, worked as a sheet metal mechanic trainee with Trinity Contractors in Grand Prairie. Survivors include his son, Daniel W. Finch of Hubbard; father, Tommy R. Finch, Sr. of Dallas; mother, Jenoice Robertson Finch of Midlothian; sisters and brothers-in-law, Shawnne and Gary Vineyard of Midlothian and Becky and Bill Guadino; fiancee, Jackie Gawne of Mesquite; two nephews, several aunts, uncles and cousins.
