Shelby County Today

06/17/2019

Joy Lynn (Eldredge) Parks, 78, of Timpson, Texas entered into eternal life on June 14, 2019 in Timpson, Shelby County, Texas.  Born February 20, 1941, in Oklahoma, Joy is the daughter of the late Howard and Myrtle Eldredge. Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 18, 2019 from 12PM – 1:30PM at Taylor Funeral Home, 511 Ross Graves Dr., Timpson, Texas. Graveside service will be held Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at 2PM at Mt. Olive Cemetery, Timpson, Texas with Pastor Charleston Johnson officiating.

Joy Lynn Parks was a house-wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother. She loved using her time to work outside keeping her yard spotless and beautiful, as well as helping raise her grandchildren.  

She leaves to cherish her memories: 
A son: Curtis Parks

Grandchildren: 
Michelle Parks Cartwright (Christopher)
Johnny Parks Jr. (Nicole)
Shannon Parks
Shane Parks (Amber)
Portia Young
Allen Parks
Priscilla Sparks (Johnny)

16 great-grandchildren

2 great-great-grandchildren. 

Also leaving to cherish her memories are:
Sisters: 
Dorthy Dorsey
Margel Pounders

Brother: Lee Eldredge.

She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Allen Curtis Parks; daughter, Donna Parks Bailey; and son, Johnie Parks.

Pallbearers serving are Terry Eaden, Abel Rodriguez, Kemani Stewart, Marquies Bussey, Tommy Braxton, and James Tutt Jr..

To send condolences and sign the online guest book you may go to www.taylorfh.net.

Taylor Funeral Home, Timpson, is in charge of arrangements.

06/12/2019

Funeral services for Mr. Newton Tomlin, 71, of Liberty City will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. in the Rader Funeral Home Chapel in Kilgore with Reverend Dudley Plaisance and Mrs. Debby Brown officiating. Burial will follow at the Danville Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday, June 14, 2019 from 6:00 P.M. until 7:30 P.M. Mr. Tomlin passed away on Tuesday, June 11, at his home in Liberty City.

Newton was born on September 5, 1947 in Center, Texas. He was the son of the late Dewey and Edna Tomlin. Newton was a member of the Pirtle Methodist Church. He retired from The Made-Rite Company, where he worked for 35 years. Newton enjoyed the outdoors, loved camping, fishing and bowling. He had been a very active supporter of the Sabine Schools and especially enjoyed working with the Band Boosters. Newton will be remembered for his great work ethic, always ready and willing to help everyone. 

Mr. Tomlin is survived by:

Wife of 50 years, Judy Tomlin of Liberty City

Son, Scott Tomlin and his fiancée Haylea Dunn of San Antonio

Nephews:
Tim Craven of the Philippines
Jay Bruner of Longview

Nieces:
Angela Tomlin of Abilene
Suzanne Mackowiak of Austin
Farrar Ellis of Royce City
Jessica Main of Longview

Cousin, Melvin Tomlin and wife Margie of Center

Sister-in-law, Ann Tomlin

Fur baby, Max and other family members and many friends.

Newton was preceded in death by his parents Dewey and Edna; sister, Betty Craven; brothers, Jarrell and John Tomlin.

The family ask that memorials be made to Pirtle Methodist Church, 11278 CR 173, Overton, Texas 75684

Please leave online condolences at www.raderfuneralhome.com

06/10/2019

Joyce “Nanny” Norton, 64, of Shelbyville, passed away Sunday, June 9, 2019, in Fort Worth.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 12, 2019, at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center.  Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, June 13, 2019, at Dunnigan Missionary Baptist Church with Bro. Chris Collins and Bro. Wes Hall officiating. Interment will follow at Dunnigan Cemetery in Shelby County.

Mrs. Norton was born September 9, 1954, in Denver, Colorado, to Calvin Barton and Jo Evelyn Franklin Barton.  She was a beauty shop operator for many years. In her free time, she enjoyed reading.  Her favorite moments were those spent with her family, especially her grandchildren.  Mrs. Norton was a member of Dunnigan Missionary Baptist Church.

She is survived by:
Her husband of forty-seven years: Lamar Norton of Shelbyville

Sons and daughters-in-law: 
Clint and Jennifer Norton of Shelbyville
Chad and Angie Norton of Shelbyville 

Grandchildren: 
Colton Norton
Caleb Norton
Chet Norton
Audrey Norton
Tyler Windham
Dawson Windham

Brother: Larry Barton

Sister: Sue Battles

Special friends: 
Marla Denby
Dusty and Nicole Robinson
Amos and Gus

Numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives  

She is preceded in death by her parents, Calvin Barton and Jo Evelyn Franklin Barton; in-laws, A.P. and Bessie Norton; brother, Steve Barton; brothers-in-law, Larry Norton and Spencer Battles.

Pallbearers will be Colton Norton, Caleb Norton, Chet Norton, Tyler Windham, and Dawson Windham.  Honorary pallbearers will be Audrey Norton, Dusty Robinson, Andrew Norton, Kevin Moore, and J.T. Thompson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Dunnigan Cemetery Fund, c/o Lamar Smith, 1936 FM 2261, Shelbyville, Texas 75973.

Online condolences & tributes can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfuneralhome.com

06/09/2019

Peacefully, Joan Spradley Rhodes left this earthly life for a better and more beautiful one with her Heavenly Father. Mrs. Rhodes was born in Logansport, Louisiana, on November 1, 1939 to Joe Marvin Spradley and Frankie Bea Powell. She departed this life on Saturday morning, June 8, 2019 in Nacogdoches, Texas.

She attended Logansport and Carthage schools, graduating with the class of 1957. Mrs. Rhodes was a graduate of Panola College, where she was elected Miss PJC in 1958-59. She then graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a degree in Elementary Education. Mrs. Rhodes taught fourth grade in Angleton ISD, before moving back to East Texas, where she taught in the Timpson ISD for thirty-seven years, retiring in 2000. In 1960, she married James Earl Rhodes and together they had one daughter, Anita Joyce “Joy” Rhodes. 
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and grandparents. 

Mrs. Rhodes is survived by: 
Daughter: Joy Rhodes, of Nacogdoches

Brother: Bob Spradley and sister-in-law, Barbara of Whitehouse

Sister-in-law: Sara Nell Rhodes Raines and brother-in-law, John Henry Raines, Jr., of Timpson

Mrs. Rhodes leaves many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great nieces and great-great nephews. She is also survived by the many students who came through her classroom and her fur baby and companion, Roxi. 

Her greatest love was family. Memorial donations may be made to Timpson Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery or Timpson Volunteer Ambulance or Fire. 

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, June 10, 2019 at Taylor Funeral Home in Timpson with Bro. Dee Daniel officiating. Interment will follow in the Timpson Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 1:00 to 2:00 PM prior to the service on Monday.

The family is being served by Taylor Funeral Home in Timpson. To send condolences or to sign an online register, please visit www.taylorfh.net.

06/07/2019

Minnie Sudie Lovejoy, 103, of Center, passed away Friday, June 7, 2019, in Nacogdoches.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday, June 8, 2019, at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center.  Graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, June 9, 2019, at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center.

Mrs. Lovejoy was born February 13, 1916, in San Augustine, to Robert Stephenson and Maude Richards Stephenson.  

She is survived by her sons, Alan Lovejoy of Center, Paul Lovejoy of Center, and Mike Lovejoy and wife Gerrie of Fairfield; five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren; sisters, Blanche Haley of Center and Faye Elder of Shreveport, Louisiana.

Preceded in death by her husband, Franklin Maurice Lovejoy; parents, Robert Stephenson and Maude Richards Stephenson, and ten brothers and sisters.

Online condolences & tributes can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfuneralhome.com

06/06/2019

Verlon Ray Hooper, 85, of Center, Texas passed away on June 4, 2019 in Center. He was born on January 5, 1934 in Shelby County to Carter G. Hooper and Vernice L. Gipson Hooper.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, June 7, 2019 at Mangum Funeral Home Chapel. A visitation will be held prior to the service from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Mangum Funeral Home Chapel. A private interment will follow due to possible inclement weather.

Verlon grew up in the Aiken Community in Shelby County. He married Thelma Andrews Hooper in 1953 and spent a love filled 65 years together. Later, he was drafted into the United States Army and served in the 34th Armor/ 4th Infantry Division from 1957 to 1959. No stranger to hard work, Verlon owned and operated his own wrecker service in Shelby County for almost 35 years serving the community with pride and dedication. When he wasn’t working, he enjoyed spending time fishing, gardening, visiting with friends and relatives and attending church at Old Salem Missionary Baptist where he was a member. Most of all, he loved spending time with his wife and children.

Verlon is survived by:

Wife, Thelma Hooper

Daughter, Jana Hooper of Shreveport, LA

Sons:
David Hooper of Center, TX
Jerald “Jerry” Hooper and his wife, Beth Mazer of Greensboro, NC

Sister, Vivian Luman

Grandchildren: Kayden, Katie and Gracie Hooper of Greensboro, NC

As well as many well-loved nephews, nieces and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Carter and Vernice Hooper; brother, Travis O. Hooper; and sisters, Essie Lee Soape and Dessie Knight.

The family is being served by Mangum Funeral Home in Center, Texas. To send condolences or to sign an online register, please visit www.mangumfh.net.

06/05/2019

Mr. Timothy Dennis Heffernan, age 71, died Sunday, June 2, 2019, at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston following a lengthy illness.

Known to family and friends as Tim, he is survived by his beloved wife of 22 years, Margaret “Meg” Ihlo Heffernan and four adult children: Jennifer Blackburn (Andy); Carrie Lamb (Scott); Catherine Mallory; and Howell Mallory (Becky).

Lovingly known as PawPaw, Tim is survived by:
Twelve grandchildren:
Clinton Blackburn (Alexandria)
Derek Blackburn
Jacob Roberts
Logan Zahn
Olivia Zahn
Alexandra Zahn
Aidan Lamb
Conlan Lamb
Skyler Lamb
David Vazquez
Parker Mallory
Levi Mallory

One great-grandchild: Emery Blackburn

One godchild: Abigail Slate

He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Surviving siblings include:
Susan Carol Prather (William – deceased)
Mary Turner (Wendell)
Kevin Hale (Beth)
Katherine Nancy Eckhardt (Gene)
Theodore Guy Meng

He was predeceased by his son Timothy Dennis Heffernan, Jr.; siblings Margaret Ann Balshaw, David Patrick Heffernan, Stephen Thomas Heffernan; nephew Michael Edward Balshaw;and parents Arthur Hydron Meng and Nancy Ann Ent Heffernan Meng.

Tim served with pride for three years in the United States Marine Corps from 1966 to 1969. Family and friends attest that the discipline and patriotism that he learned as a Marine never left him.

Tim was born at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia, and grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. He attended Our Lady of Lourdes Grade School and Howe High School and maintained a lifelong friendship with classmate Ronnie McCord of Indianapolis.

After military service, Tim followed the career path of his beloved father and became an expert sprinkler fitter in fire protection. The last twenty years of his career he was employed at Western States Fire Protection in Houston, serving initially as a foreman, then advancing to area manager.

Tim retired in 2005, enjoying travel, golf, fishing, grilling, John Wayne movies, and season tickets as an enthusiastic fan of the Oilers and the Texans. He also loved his puppies over the years, most recently his special Yorkie, Tuffy.

Above all, Tim is universally described by family, friends, and neighbors as generous, giving, and caring. He was best known for his love and devotion to family, taking great pleasure in making reunions, holidays, vacations, and spontaneous gatherings a series of opportunities to celebrate and nurture the special love that binds family over the years.

Funeral arrangements are being managed by Brookside Funeral Home-Cypress Creek at 9149 Highway 6 North, Houston, Texas, 77095, where the viewing is scheduled for Friday evening, June 7th, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. The funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, June 8th, at 10:00 am at The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, 9600 S. Gessner Road, Houston, Texas, 77071. Burial will take place at 4:00 pm that day at the Oaklawn Memorial Cemetery in Center, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation via their website at PKDCure.org.

06/03/2019

R. Wayne Wood passed away Monday, May 27, 2019, at the age of 94.

Wayne was born in Shelbyville, Texas on January 8, 1925 to Jessie Floyd Wood and Berneice Marie Harkness Wood. He grew up in Shelbyville and at the age of 16 was a 1941 graduate of Shelbyville High School, where he was a member of the first Dragon football team.

After graduation, Wayne worked with his father at Livingston Shipyards in Orange, TX. When he turned 18, Wayne joined the U. S. Army Air Corp to serve his country during World War II. As a member of the Air Corp, he earned the rank of Sargent and flew as part of a B-29 bomber crew. Following completion of his military service, Wayne received his bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin University. After graduation he worked as a math teacher in Orange, Texas before returning to the Livingston Shipyards to pursue a career as an accountant. He continued his accounting career at Schlumberger in Houston, TX. He also worked for Aetna Insurance Company and then as an independent insurance agent.

Wayne is survived by:

Wife of 67 ½ years, Anneice Chisum Wood

Sons:
Dr. David Wood of Houston, TX
Daniel Wood (Diane) of Spring, TX
Douglas Wood (Debbie) of Shelbyville, TX
Donald Wood (Lisa) of The Woodlands, TX
Darrell Wood (Marva) of Ft. Worth, TX

Grandchildren: Christopher Wood, Allen Wood, Michael Wood, David Wood, Justin Wood, Nissa Wood, Stephanie Wood, Benjamin Wood, Whitney Wood, Sydney Wood

Great-Grandchildren: Julian Wood, Ethan Wood, Katelyn Wood, Kathryn Wood, Logan Wood

Sister-in-Law, Kathy Chisum McGuire (Roger)

Nephews, John Mobley, James Mobley

Preceded in Death By:
Parents – Jesse Floyd and Berneice Harkness Wood
Sister and Brother-in-Law – Marilyn Wood Mobley and John Mobley
Grandson – Jeffrey Wood
Nephew – Jesse Mobley

A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, June 8, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at the Coldspring Methodist Church in Coldspring, Texas.

06/02/2019

Howard Lee Spruiell Born October 3, 1940 to Fred and Pauline Spruiell. 

Survivors include: 
Wife: Mary Spruiell

Sons: 
Howard Allan and wife Francis
Rodney and wife Christi
Greg and wife Stacy

Survivors also include grandchildren: 
Sydnee Lea and husband Eric Eldridge
Sam and wife Courtney
Jacob
Jesse
Shelby
Alex
Elizabeth

Step-grandson: Josh Cooper and wife Chelsea

He is also survived by his great-grandchildren: 
Finn Cooper
Kayden Cooper
Avery Cooper

He is preceded in death by his mother and father, brothers J.C., Bill, and Bob, and sisters Linda, Trudy, and Shelley.

Visitation will be held Monday, June 3, 2019 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at Watson & Sons Funeral Home, 1554 SH 7 East, Center, TX 75935. A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes for loved ones to send donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or White Rock Baptist Church.