Death, Burial, Cemetery & Obituaries
Bentley Moses Jones
CLEBURNE - Funeral services for Bentley Moses Jones, 82, of Cleburne, Texas will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 14, 2006 at St. Mark United Methodist Church. The Rev. Sally Fleming and the Rev. Dan Burt will officiate. Burial will follow in Cleburne Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive visitors from 6 – 8 p.m. Friday, October 13, 2006 at Rosser Funeral Home.
Bentley Moses Jones was born in Cleburne, Texas on February 11, 1924. He was the twelfth child to bless the home of George Albert and Rena Butler Jones. Bentley attended Cleburne High School from 1938-1942 where he lettered in football, basketball and track. Honors he received in high school included All-State Guard in 1941; All District Football 1940, 1941; All-District Basketball 1941; Junior Class President, Senior Class President; and he was voted Best All-Around Boy in 1942. Bentley was awarded dual scholarships in football and basketball to Baylor University. He played three games at Baylor as a freshman, then enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served three years in the Pacific during War World II. Bentley rejoined the Baylor Bears from 1946-1948 for three memorable seasons. As a 5’9", 165 pound senior co-captain, he became the smallest All-Southwest Conference lineman in the history of the SWC and led his Baylor Bears to their first bowl appearance when they defeated Wake Forest in the Dixie Bowl in January 1949.
While at Baylor, Bentley met and marriage Dorothy Dagley Jones on August 31, 1947. They had one son, Bentley Eugene "Bubba" Jones and three daughters, Jacqueline Sue, Cynthia Ann and Sherry Lou. He was awarded his Bachelors of Business Administration Degree from Baylor in 1949 and he received his Masters of Science Degree in Education from Baylor in 1951. Bentley’s high school teaching and coaching career started at Temple High School in 1949, then at Cleburne High School, Thomas Jefferson High School in Port Arthur, Waco High School, a return to Thomas Jefferson High School in Port Arthur before moving to San Angelo Central High School. Bentley coached at Killeen High School and finally at Alvin High School where he retired from teaching and coaching in 1984.
Content to be an assistant coach for 36 years, Bentley was recognized as one of the top line coaches in the state. He was a member of the Texas High School Coaches Association for all those years, coaching the THSCA football All-Stars in 1960. In 1999, the THSCA honored Bentley by inducting him into their Hall of Honor.
Bentley was a Christian and a devoted father and husband. As a child, he was a member of East Henderson Baptist Church in Cleburne. For forty years, he raised his children as Southern Baptist. He was an ordained deacon at Proctor Street Baptist Church in Port Arthur and at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church in Waco. After the death of his wife, Dorothy, in 1987, Bentley returned to his hometown of Cleburne and marriage Mary Hague Morrow. He joined St. Mark United Methodist Church in Cleburne.
Bentley was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Dagley Jones, on June 27, 1987 and daughter, Sherry Lou Jones who was an inspiration to many as they watched her courageous battle with bone cancer. Sherry died at the age of 18 on May 25, 1971.
Bentley is survived by his wife, Mary Morrow Jones, of Cleburne; her daughters and sons-in-law, Cathy and Jim Campbell of Cleburne and Sylvia and Joe Potter, of Cedar Hill. He is also survived by his children, son and daughter-in-law, Carolyn and Bentley Jones of Houston; daughters, and sons-in- law, Jacqueline and David Jones of Longview and Cynthia and Ray Rucksdashel of Houston; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to St. Mark United Methodist Church, 1111 W. Chambers, Cleburne, TX. 76033; Baylor Letterwinners Association, P. O. Box 8120, Waco, TX 76714-8120; or to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Rosser Funeral Home
1664 W. Henderson Street
Cleburne, Texas 76033
Larry L. Drake
NEDERLAND - Larry L. Drake, 73, of Nederland, passed away Monday, October 9, 2006 at Cypress Glen East. He was born on January 10, 1933 in Port Arthur, Texas to Willis and Ruby Drake. He was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church in Nederland, Texas. He served as a deacon at Central Baptist Church and Lakeview Baptist Church of Port Arthur. He was a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School in 1951. He attended Texas A & M for one year before entering the army where he served in France during the Korean Conflict. Upon his return home he attended Lamar and graduate in 1957. He served on the Board of Trustees of Texaco Chemical Credit Union now known as Neches Huntsman Credit Union. He served as treasurer and investment officer and retired after 30 years of service. Country and Western music was one of his passions, and he played the Mandolin. On Saturday mornings he played on KPAC Radio with Gordon Baxter as M.C. They also did some traveling around the area. Another passion of his was golf. He also did a lot of traveling with his wife Joyce. They traveled worldwide, but his favorite was cruises.
A gathering of family and friends will be Thursday, October 12, 2006 from 5-8 pm at Clayton - Thompson Funeral Home. Funeral service will be Friday, October 13, 2006 at 2 pm at Clayton - Thompson chapel. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Anne. He is survived by his wife Joyce Drake daughter, Vicki Beard; two step-daughters, Wendy Wright and Tracie Hernandez. He also has three grandsons, Matthew Beard, Jacob and Jaron Hernandez and one granddaughter, Kindra Wright. Two brothers, Jerry Drake and wife, Dot of Fort Worth and Pete Drake and wife, Lil of Houston, Texas.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be sent to Cypress Glen East at 4225 Lake Arthur Drive, Port Arthur, Texas 77642 or Alzheimer’s Association at 440 N. 18th Street, Beaumont, Texas 77707.
George Thomas Garland
George Thomas Garland, the sixth child of Patrick and Gertrude Garland, was born on June 22, 1922 in Galveston, Texas. Mr. Garland attended Sacred Heart School and was a parish member there, and later at St. Peter’s. He graduated from Kirwin High School, where he was an all-state center on the football team. Mr. Garland served in the United States Coast Guard during World War II. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in History, his Master’s degree in Economics, and his teaching license from Sam Houston State Teacher’s College, and did further graduate work at Texas A&M; in the field of education. Mr. Garland taught at Stephen F. Austin Jr. High School and at Ball High School. He then worked for the Texas Education Agency as a consultant, and was the director of the Arthur Stillwell Technical Center in Port Arthur. After completing his career in education, Mr. Garland held positions at M.D. Anderson and UTMB Galveston in the facility maintenance departments. George was a lifelong sports enthusiast. In his youth, he won many city and state championships in football and baseball as part of the Rattlesnake Athletic Association, later serving as president of the organization. Mr. Garland loved playing golf and going dancing. He also enjoyed following the Houston Astros and was a lifelong fan of all the Houston sports teams.
Mr. Garland was preceded in death by his wives, Alex Broussard Garland and Lorraine Panfilli Garland; his three brothers: Patrick, James, and Terrance Garland; and his sisters, Alice Holland, Sister Patricia (Catherine) Garland, and Mickey (Gertrude) Andreason.
He is survived by his four children, George Thomas Garland, Jr., Penny Garland Griffith, Marian Garland Kimbrough, and Anna Garland Maino. He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Marian Garland Ganter and Charles Ganter, six grandchildren: Kirk, Shaun, and Kevin Griffith, Milissa Dobrzynski, and Rachel and Reann Maino; and eight great-grandchildren: Allison, Austin, Abigail, Andrew, Audrey, and Jackson Griffith, and Patryk and Zakari Dobrzynski.
Mr. Garland’s family will receive visitors after 5:30 pm, Thursday, October 12, 2006, at Malloy & Son Funeral Home. A vigil service will be held at 7:30 pm, led by Father Niall Nolan. A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 am, Friday, October 13th, at Sacred Heart Church. Mr. Garland will be interred at Galveston Memorial Park Cemetery in a private family service. In lieu of flowers, Mr. Garland’s family requests that memorials be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Texas Gulf Coast Chapter, 5005 Mitchelldale, Suite 115, Houston, Texas 77092-7230, or M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, Texas 77031.
Duc Nguyen
PORT ARTHUR - Duc Nguyen, 65, of Port Arthur, Texas passed away Thursday, October 5, 2006 at DePaul Hospital in St. Louis. She was born in Ha Tinh, V.N. on December 20, 1941 to Hai Thi Vo and Hanh Nguyen. Duc lives in South of Viet Nam. She left V.N. with Ngoc Pham (her husband) and four of her children. She came to the United States to unite with her daughters in 1991. Mrs. Nguyen lived in Port Arthur the last part of her life. She was a member of Queen of Viet Nam Church.
A gathering for family, friends and church member will be Tuesday and Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Hannah Funeral Home in Port Arthur, Texas. A mass service will be held Thursday at 10:30 AM at Queen of Viet Nam Church in Port Arthur. Burial will be follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Groves.
Mrs. Nguyen was preceded in death by her parents, Hanh Nguyen and Hai Vo.
Mrs. Nguyen is survived by her husband, Ngoc Pham; children, Thanh Pham and her husband Cong Dao of Houston, Thu Pham and her husband Tu Doan of Fort Worth, Khoi Pham and wife Trieu of St. Louis, MO, Tinh Pham and wife Loan of Austin, Thao Pham and husband Tu Nguyen of Beaumont, Thi Pham and wife Ngoc of Houston; 11 grandchildren, 4 brothers, 1 sister and a host of relatives and friends.
Hannah Funeral Home
3727 Lewis Drive
Port Arthur, Texas 77640
Jason Galassi
NEDERLAND - Jason Galassi, 24, of Nederland died at his residence in Port Neches on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 . Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 21, 2006 in the Charles S. Kelley Memorial Chapel at Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home with Reverend Kevin Otto of Wesley United Methodist Church of Nederland officiating. Burial will follow at Claybar Haven of Rest Cemetery.
His family will receive guests from 5 - 9:00 p.m. Friday, October 20, 2006 at the funeral home. Jason was born October 27, 1981 in Huntsville, Texas to Frank and Ann (Spell) Galassi. He is a Nederland High School year of 2000 graduate who was active in basketball and football and is a member of Wesley United Methodist Church. Jason worked as a construction worker in the Southeast Texas area. He was always full of life and really enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. Preceded in death by his grandfathers, Perry Galassi and Dwight Spell, Jason is survived by his parents, Frank and Ann Galassi of Nederland; grandmothers, Bettie Galassi of Beaumont and Flossie Spell of Sweeney; daughter, Brooklyn Shae Galassi and her mother, Jessica Broussard, both of Nederland; sister, Jinni Galassi of Huntsville and brother, Todd Galassi also of Nederland. Serving as pallbearers will be Bret Kuehmstedt, Sid Jennusa, Jarrod Crawford, Jason Graham, Trey Jackson, John Bryan, Perry Whitaker and Scott Gibson.
Those who wish may make Memorial Contributions in Jason’s name to: American Cancer Society 755 South 11th St. Suite 212, Beaumont, Texas 77701. 1155 N. 11th Street Beaumont, TX 77702
Bridget Lilie Gaspard
PORT NECHES - Bridget Lilie Gaspard, 75, of Port Neches left us on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 She was preceded in death by her husband, Aubrey J. Gaspard. Bridget was affectionately known to her family and friends as "Fi-Fi" and to her grandchildren as "MaMa Fi".
Funeral services will be held in the chapel of Broussard's Mortuary in Nederland at 2:00 P.M. Sunday with interment to follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park in Groves. A celebration of Bridget’s life will be from 5 to 8:30 P.M. Saturday, October 21, 2006 in the mortuary. Born Bridget Lilie Richard in Nederland, TX, January 25, 1931 of "bon" Cajun heritage, she leaves behind her sons, Bob Gaspard, and Perry Gaspard; daughter, Stephanie Blankenship - Daley and husband Mike; grandchildren, Keegan Blankenship, Brixey Blankenship, Caroline Catlin, and a great-grandchild, Isaiah McCarty Blankenship. Bridget was the youngest of 9 Richard children; she was preceded in death by Eddie, Johnny, Mildred, Walter "Lu", Doran, and is survived by her sisters, Edna Cappadonna, Dorothy Zampini, Darlene Knight, and many loving family and friends.
Stone Croft Christian Ministries, TOPS and The Red Hats were all fortunate to count her as a member. Fi-Fi was an excellent Cajun cook and in her day a jitter - bug queen. She found joy spending time with her family and helping others. Two of her favorite past-times included shopping with Stephanie and decorating her home while Perry constantly rearranged the furniture to "lets see how it looks over there".
Mom, we miss you!’
Bro. Dalton Ned
PORT ARTHUR - Bro. Dalton Ned, 75, of Port Arthur died Tuesday at St. Mary Hospital. A native of Ville Platte, LA also a resident of Port Arthur for 42 years until his death. He served in the U.S. Army for 9 years and was a U.S. Veteran. Bro. Ned was an active member of the East Mount Olive Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Elwiner Ned of Port Arthur, and 10 surviving children. A visitation is scheduled from 9 to 11 am Saturday, October 14, 2006 at East Mount Olive Baptist Church. Funeral services is scheduled for 11 am. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial under the direction of Gabriel Funeral Home.
Ryan David Self
Ryan David Self, 19, of Nederland, Texas passed away on October 10, 2006 in Perryville, Arkansas. He was born October 28, 1986 in Port Arthur, Texas to Glenda Warren Self and David E. Self, Jr. He is survived by his mother, Glenda Warren Self of Nederland, Texas; father, David E. Self, Jr. of Perryville, Arkansas; brother, Brandon Self of Nederland; 3 sisters, Chantae Self of Beaumont, Brittny Self of Nederland, and Christy Der rick of Little Rock, Arkansas; Grandparents, Floyd E. and Jane Hammick of Nederland; niece, Jensen Self of Beaumont; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Barbara Hammick, Joe Self, Dollie Warren Jones, and Turner Jones. Visitation will be Tuesday, October 17th from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home in Nederland. Services will be Wednesday, October 18th at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Nederland, Dr. David Higgs officiating. Pallbearers are Brandon Self, Rick Hill, Casey DeVore, Chris McKeller, Chase Gordy, and Roman Wiedenfield. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Boys Haven Beaumont, Texas.
Rebecca Winzey Morris
PORT ARTHUR - Mrs. Rebecca Winzey Morris, of Port Arthur died Thursday at Cypress Glen Nursing Home. She was a resident of Port Arthur for 87 years and a homemaker. She was a member of the Thomas Blvd. Church of Christ. She is survived by a daughter, Faye Etta Jackson; 2 brother-in-laws, Wilson Roy and Charles T. Baker; and a host of grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Curtis Morris, a son, Clarence Bennett, 3 sisters, Beatrice Roy, Mary Jo Baker, and Eddie Mae Preadom; 7 brothers, Isaac, Curtis, Patrick, Prince, James and Fred Winzey. A visitation is scheduled from 9 am - 11 am Wednesday, October 18, 2006 with funeral services following at 11:00 am at Thomas Blvd. Church of Christ. Bro. Cory Shaw will be officiating. Burial will follow at Live Oak Cemetery under the direction of Gabriel Funeral Home.
