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Jo Lynne Kizer, 55
March 4, 2001
Services for Jo Lynne "Jody" Kizer of Commerce are at 2 p.m.today at the First United Methodist Church of Commerce. Dr. Mike House will officiate at the service arranged by Pemberton Funeral Home. Burial is in Sunset Hill Cemetery in Herington, Kan. She died Thursday at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas following a battle with cancer.
Kizer was born Sept. 16, 1945, in Junction City, Kan., the daughter of Harvey J. and Ruth Elizabeth Schmidt Riffel. She grew up in Kansas and later owned and operated the J Bar P Western Store in Herington, Kan.
She moved to Commerce in August, 1985, and on April 28, 1990, she was married to Roger Kizer.
Kizer began her employment at East Texas State University (now Texas A&M University-Commerce) as a graduation advisor in the Registrar's Office in January, 1986. She transferred to the President's Office as an administrative assistant in January, 1989. She retired from the university in 2000 because of health reasons.
Surviving are her husband, Roger Kizer of Commerce; children, Cary Eugene Bryant and wife, Beth, and Mitchell James Bryant and wife, Jennifer, all of Hope, Kan., Michelle Kizer, Theresa Kizer, Vernon Kizer and wife, Mendy, all of Commerce; grandchildren, Kristy Kay Bryant, Ty Eugene Bryant, Cole Augustus Bryant, Chelsea Kay Bryant, Shelby Lynn Bryant, Brody James Bryant, Morgan Michelle Turner, Chase Dylan Kizer and Sarah Megan Kizer; father and stepmother, Harvey and Dorothy Riffel of Salina, Kan.; sister and brother-in-law, Jan and Ed Farry of Colorado Springs, Colo.; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Vernon and Maggilen Kizer of Commerce; sister-in-law and husband, Beulah and Truitt Gilbreath of Corsicana; nieces and nephews, Christopher Farry, Caitlin Farry, Jeff McMullen, Joel McMullen, Heather McMullen Baldwin and Teri Gilbreath.
Kizer was preceded in death by her mother and a sister, Karen Riffel McMullin.
Pallbearers are Conner John, William Haddock, Ronny Anderson, Buddy Farrell, Gene Lockhart and Larry Williams. Honorary pallbearers are Glenda Anderson, Sharon Crump, Betty Davidson, Linda King, Loretta Shaffer, Lisa Blackwell and Dr. Jerry Morris.
Memorials may be made to the Polyeystic Kidney Disease Foundation, 4901 Main Street, Suite 200, Kansas City, Mo. 64112, or to the Jody Kizer Memorial Scholarship Fund, Texas A&M University-Commerce, P.O. Box 3425, Commerce 75429.
Gerald Cranford, 65
March 4, 2001
Gerald Bryan Cranford of Rogers, Ark., formerly of Commerce, died Wednesday. Funeral services were yesterday at Pemberton Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Mike House officiating. Burial was in Rosemound Cemetery.
Born June 26, 1935, in Kemp, he was the son of Albert Bryan Cranford and Helen Pippen. He graduated from Commerce High School in 1951 and received his bachelor's and master's degrees from East Texas State University.
Cranford was commissioned through the ROTC program and served at Ellington Air Force Base in San Antonio. He represented Texas in the American Pavilion in 1958 at the World's Fair in Brussels, Belgium. Cranford lived and worked overseas for more than 40 years; the last 35 years were with the University of Maryland Overseas Campus Program on military bases.
Surviving are two brothers, Bill Cranford and Skip McHam, both of Houston; sisters and brother-in-law, Judy Summers Burns of Rogers, Ark. and Jean and Duaine Appleton of Plano; two nephews and wives, Dee and Sue Appleton of Allen and Brian and Gina Summers of Coral Springs, Fla.; niece and husband, Julie and Craig Campbell of Austin; and five great nieces and nephews, Alex and Kristy Appleton of Allen, Duncan Campbell of Austin and Tye and Sierra Summers of Coral Springs, Fla. His parents preceded him in death.
Memorials may be made to the Circle of Life Hospice, 610 East Emma, Springdale, Ark. 72764.
Robert Fell, 48
March 4, 2001
Robert F. Fell of Greenville died Wednesday at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas. A memorial service was held at Park Street Baptist Church in Greenville with Rev. Tommy Weems officiating.
The son of Tom Fell and LaVerne Jordan Fell, he was born Aug. 13, 1952, in Anchorage, Alaska. Fell was a self-employed press operator. He was a member of Park Street Baptist Church, Greenville.
He is survived by his father of Dallas; his mother, LaVerne Hogue of Dallas; daughters Delaina Knorr of Dallas and Kristy M. Fell of Greenville; mother of his children, Linda S. James of Greenville and a sister, Ann Fell of Dallas.
Memorials may be made to Robert F. Fell Estate Trust Account, American National Bank of Texas, P.O. Box 822, Greenville, 75402.
Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home of Commerce was in charge of arrangements.
Elmer Ragland, 60
March 4, 2001
Elmer E. Ragland of Campbell died Wednesday morning at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler. There was a graveside service at 2 p.m. yesterday at Simmons Cemetery with Tommy Weems officiating. Coker-Mathews Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
A produce truck driver, Ragland was born May 30, 1940, in Bedford, son of Powell B. Ragland and Margaret Rhodes.
He is survived by his mother, Margaret Lowhon of Campbell; a son and daughter-in-law, Elmer Ray and Brenda Ragland of Campbell; a daughter, Teresa Mask of Cumby; brother Robert Edward Ragland of Campbell and four grandchildren. His father preceded him in death.
Pallbearers were Robert Mask, Darrell Ragsdale and John Graham.
Phillip Massey, 36
March 4, 2001
Phillip Kell Massey of Commerce died Feb. 25 at Presbyterian Hospital of Commerce. Funeral services were Wednesday at Mount Moriah Temple Baptist Church of Commerce with Rev. Larry Dixon officiating. Burial was in Labonon Cemetery. Cozine & Tarver Funeral Home of Greenville were in charge of arrangements.
The son of Donald Ray Massey and Mary Francis Neal Massey, he was born Dec. 24, 1964, in Greenville. Massey was employed as a cook.
Surviving are his father of Washington; grandmother Levester Neal of Commerce; two sons, Diangelo Massey of Greenville and D'Quaylon Massey of Commerce; two daughters, Courtney Massey and Tiara Bailey, both of Greenville; two stepchildren, Sheteisha and Jontya Marshall, both of Commerce; sisters Candy Walker of Shirley and Sununda Burrell of Dallas; a brother, Vincent Massey of Commerce and special friend Rauteccia Allen of Commerce. His mother and grandmother preceded him in death.
Pallbearers were Dale Sampson, Marcus Savage, Garrick Sampson, Donnie Williamson, Joey Waters, Sammy Sampson and Bennie Relford.
Ruby J. Miller, 97
March 4, 2001
Ruby J. Miller, born Sept. 26, 1903 in Hunt County passed away March 2. Miller was a graduate of East Texas State Teachers College in Commerce, earning a bachelor's degree in 1932 and a master's degree in 1952. She was an educator in Dallas, Delta, Hopkins and Van Zandt counties. She was a supervisor of the School Hot Lunch Program in Delta County from 1941 to 1943. Through her church, teaching and community, she formed many lifetime friendships and was revered by all who knew her. She will be remembered and greatly missed by those whose lives she touched throughout the years. She was a devout Christian lady and in her declining years, the comforting power of the Holy Spirit was very evident in her life.
She was predeceased by her husband, J.R. Miller and is survived by her daughter, Dora K. Owens, several nieces and nephews and a host of loving friends.
Funeral services are Monday, March 5 at 10 a.m. in the Sparkman/Crane Funeral Home in Dallas, with Rev. Bob Longshore officiating, with a tribute to Ruby by Huberty Owens. Burial will follow at 1 p.m. in Rosemound Cemetery in Commerce. The family will receive friends at the funeral home at 10501 Garland Road Sunday afternoon from 3-5 p.m.
Memorials may be made to the Texas Baptist Children's Home, P.O. Box 7, Round Rock, Texas 78680.
Emma Jon Williams, 75
March 4, 2001
Funeral services for Emma Jon Williams of Mesquite were held March 1 at Jones Memorial Chapel in Commerce. Rev. B.E. Stanley officiated with interment at Rosemound Cemetery. Arrangements were made by Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home. She died Feb. 27 at Mesquite Medical Center. Pallbearers were Donnie Wooten, David Wooten, Mark Shivery, Jimmy Lee Conner, James Nichols and Lynn Patts.
A seamstress, Williams was born in Dallas on Oct. 27, 1925, the daughter of Johnny and Lucille Ford Cox. She was a member of the New Life Tabernacle in Dallas.
Survivors include sons, Ronnie Wooten and Donnie Wooten, both of Commerce, and Arthur Wooten and Michael Harris, both of Balch Springs; stepson, Donnie Williams of Dallas; daughters, Lois Nichols of Mesquite, Billie Shivery of Irving; step-daughter, Dorothy Eldridge of Dallas; 29 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; sister, Edna Sweitzer of Lewisville; brothers, Floyd Cox of Quinlan, Charlie Cox and Cecil Cox, both of Dallas; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Olin Williams; brother, O.B. Cox; and sister, Sallie Harris.
Dr. Ernestine Marie Linck
February 28, 2001
Family and friends will honor the memory of their beloved Dr. Ernestine Marie Linck of Commerce with a Rosary tomorrow from 7-8 p.m. at Pemberton Funeral Home and a funeral service on Friday, March 2 at 2 p.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Visitation precedes the Rosary from 6-7 p.m. Father Robert Johnson and Father D. Stanley Corcoran will officiate at the services. Linck died Feb. 27 in Paris.
Linck was born in Texarkana, Ark., the daughter of Ernest Waldo Porcher and Nellie Greenross, both deceased. She graduated from Texarkana High School and received her bachelor's degree in teaching from Henderson State Teachers College in Arkadelphia, Ark., in 1938. She started her teaching job in 1939 at the Altheimer Arkansas Public Schools. She taught English from 1946-1955 for the Texarkana High School and from 1955-1960 for the Houston Public School District. In 1955, Linck received her master's degree followed by her doctorate in 1968 in English from East Texas State University. In August 1970, she married Charles Linck in Oklahoma. From 1963 until her retirement in 1983, she was a professor of English for the University of Texas at Arlington.
Linck worked on the Wycliffe Bible Translation, she taught English at the Texas College and she was a member of the Texas College English Association. Other memberships included the South Central Modern Language Association, Texas Folklore Society, Southwestern Literacy Association and the Western Writers of America. She wrote "EATS" Folklore of Texas Foods in 1988, and she received outstanding non-fiction book of the year award. She wrote, "Confronting Crisis: How the Cimeron River Got Its Name & Other Tales About Coffee." She also wrote numerous articles and presentations on linguistics, education, folklore and popular culture.
In Commerce, Linck was on the committee for the Literacy Program and volunteered teaching English as a second language. She was a director of the Presbyterian Hospital Volunteers and volunteered countless hours at the Bargain Box. She was a member and an organist at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. In 1999, the Commerce Chamber of Commerce voted her "Volunteer of the Year." She was in the "Who's Who in the Southwest" and also in America. The Rotary Club presented her with the Paul Harris Award in 2000.
The literary lady known for her hats is survived by her husband, Dr. Charles Linck of Commerce; daughter and son-in-law, Emily and Sid Greenross of Little Rock, Ark.; son and daughter-in-law, Samuel A. and Leeann Sewell III of Richardson; brother, Calvin Porcher of Ft. Worth; sisters, Denise Anderson of Austin and Helene Curry of Denton; three grandchildren, Emily Diane Gregory of Little Rock, Ark., Amanda Lee and Callie Marie Sewell of Richardson; two great-grandchildren, Abigail and Margaret Gregory; nieces and nephews, Danny and Glenn Curry, Debra Ishee, Jane Streitwieser and Leigh Anne Gordon.
Pallbearers are Otha Spencer, Art Hendrix, Fred Klaus, Richard Tuerk, Jon Jonz and Otis Horton. Honorary pallbearers are Keith Linck, Leroy Linck, Jim Leitch, Randy Linck, Steve Young, Leo Linck and Glenn Linck.
Memorials may be made to the Commerce Literacy Group.
