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Mary Elizabeth Emerson
Mary Elizabeth Emerson, 73, of Paris died Monday, June 7, 2004, in Paris Regional Medical Center.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 10, in Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church with the Rev. Father Anthony Alphonse as celebrant and the Rev. Father Stanley Corcoran as cocelebrant and Deacon Richard Chamberlain assisting. Interment will follow in Hickory Grove cemetery under the direction of Gene Roden’s Sons Funeral Home.
Rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday with visitation following at 7 p.m. at Gene Roden’s Sons Funeral Home chapel.
She was born Mary Elizabeth Emerson on Nov. 9, 1930, in Paris, the daughter of M.D. and Willie Ima “Susie” Lankford Emerson. She was a member of the Sisters of Charity of Incarnate Word for over 20 years. She then attended nursing school and worked in U.S. Public Health Service on Indian reservations in South Dakota, Oklahoma and Arizona. In 1986, she moved home to Paris where she spent 14 years as the secretary for Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church. She was, until her last breath, concerned with others more than herself.
She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Charles, Joe, Day and Kenneth.
Survivors include her two sisters, Theresa Emerson of Blossom and Joan Usrey of Fort Worth; many nieces and nephews; and her friends and family of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Paris and St. Joseph Catholic Church in Commerce.
If desired, the family suggests memorials to Cry for Justice, P.O. Box 6721, Paris, Texas 75461.
Ronnie Dale Tidwell
WOLFE CITY — Ronnie Dale Tidwell, 61, passed away Monday, June 7, 2004.
A memorial service is scheduled at 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 9, at Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home Chapel in Paris. Burial services will take place at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 10, with interment at Webb Hill cemetery under the direction of Coker-Matthews Funeral Home in Greenville.
Friends are invited to visit with the family from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Coker-Matthews Funeral Home in Greenville.
An only child, he was born on Dec. 1, 1942, to C.A. and Alyne Tidwell. From a very early age, he participated in the family business of farming and ranching. This participation provided many lessons and ultimately helped shape him into what he was to become.
Along with the life lessons he learned on the farm, he attended and graduated from Wolfe City High School. After graduation, he attended East Texas State University where he received an undergraduate and graduate degree in agricultural sciences. Upon graduation, he began a long and rewarding career with the Soil Conservation Service. His final career move involved him coming to Paris in February 1976 as District Conservationist.
Besides work, he was involved in several organizations with two entities standing out for him in terms of importance. First, he loved being a part of Gideons. The Sunday morning breakfasts, the speaking engagements and, above all, the distributions of Bibles gave him great joy. Along with Gideons, he gave immeasurable time and effort to the Breakfast Optimist Club and its baseball programs. Even before as well as after his sons participated in their program, he became a tireless supporter. There were other activities that occupied his time, including teaching Sunday school at First United Methodist Church in Paris, where he worshiped for many years.
In terms of family, he married
Carolyn Wall on May 30, 1964. Born to him and his wife were three children. She passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 18, 2002. Shortly after her death, he moved back to the family farm to be near his parents and the land he loved. While there, he married
Charlsey Nichols on Sept. 5, 2003. At the time of his death, he resided with his wife in the White Rock community in Hunt County.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Carolyn.
His love, devotion and guidance will be greatly missed by those he left behind, which include his parents, Alyne and Cecil Tidwell of Wolfe City; daughter, Robin Halcomb and her husband, Barry, of Paris; sons, Wes Tidwell and wife, Julie, of Paris, and Chris Tidwell and wife, Kerri, of Gainesville. His grandchildren include Matt, Jessica and Josh Halcomb, Sutten Tidwell and Alex Tidwell. He now leaves behind his second wife Charlsey; her son, Brad Nichols; his wife, Barbi; and her two sons, Zach and Zane.
Rhoda Elizabeh Griffin-Lay
COPPERAS COVE — Rhoda Elizabeh Griffin-Lay, 96, of Paris, died at Metroplex Hospital in Killeen on Saturday, June 5, 2004.
Graveside funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, June 7, at Hopewell cemetery in Paris with Dr. Randall Perry of First Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow in Hopewell cemetery under the direction of Sheppard Funeral Home of Copperas Cove.
She was born in DeQueen, Ark., on Jan. 27, 1908, to Laura Alice Murrey-Griffin and Charlie Melvin Griffin. She came to Lamar County with her family at the age of three in 1911. Traveling by covered wagon, her first memory was crossing the Mountain Fork River in Oklahoma near Broken Bow. The fish swimming around the wagon wheels fascinated her. She was a long time member of First Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Arthur Lay; and a son, John William Lay.
She is survived by four daughters and three sons, Valera Fay O’Neal of Copperas Cove, Dixie Helen Weeks of Lone Oak, Va., Lois Justice of Deport, Shirley Elizabeth Hernandez of Mesquite, Arthur Melvin Lay of Paris, Gerry Dewight Lay of Paris and Douglas Farrell Lay of Bonham. She is also survived by 20 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Alma Faye Miller
Alma Faye Miller, 68, of Paris died Sunday, June 6, 2004, at her home.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 9, at Paris Church of God with the Rev. Doug Holt and the Rev. Othoe Stegall officiating. Burial will follow in Evergreen cemetery under the direction of Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
She was born Sept. 6, 1935, in Bonham, a daughter of Lawrence E. and Bertha Mae Johnston Montgomery. She married
Sterling “Steve” Miller in New Boston on June 23, 1987. She was a homemaker and a member of Paris Church of God.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a son, Michael Joe Shackelford and three brothers, Elvin Montgomery, Charles Montgomery and Paul Montgomery.
Survivors include her husband, Sterling “Steve” Miller; two children, Randy Wayne Shackelford and wife, Pam, and Larry Don Shackelford; daughter-in-law, Carla Shackelford; four grandchildren, Chad Eric Shackelford, Corey James Shackelford, April Marjorie Shackelford and Kayla Faye Shackelford; three brothers, Norman Montgomery, James Montgomery and David Montgomery; and a sister, Isabel Henry.
Pallbearers will be Billy Porter, Curtis Mills, Robby Walker, Delvin Hoskins, Rick Hodges Sr. and Rick Hodges Jr.
Jack Warren Grant
Jack Warren Grant, 85, of Boxelder passed away, Sunday, June 6, 2004, at his residence.
Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 8, in Lindeman Chapel of Clarksville Funeral Home with the Rev. Don Benton officiating. Interment will follow in Boxelder cemetery under the direction of Clarksville Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
He was born in Ravia, Okla., on Dec. 17, 1918, to William Capers and Mary Alice Reynolds Grant. He was retired from the Department of Agriculture. He served in the Army during World War II and was a member of First Christian Church in Waxahachie.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters and one brother.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Catherine Humpheries Grant of Boxelder whom he married
Dec. 31, 1948, in Boxelder; two sons, Gary H. Grant and wife, Judy, of Waxahachie and Mike Grant and wife, Pam, of Waxahachie; two grandchildren, Eric West and wife, Jamie, and Miles Warren Grant of Waxahachie; and several nieces and nephews.
Vicki Diane Williamson
Vicki Diane Williamson, 46, of Blossom passed away Thursday, June 3, 2004, at which time Bright-Holland received her into their care.
Private family services will be held at a later date.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the home of June Doyal Landers on Sunset Drive in Blossom.
She was born Nov. 11, 1957, in Vernon, the daughter of Billy Wayne and June Doyal Landers.
She was preceded in death by her father, Billy Wayne Landers and her grandparents, Pete and Ruth Landers and Travis and Dora Doyal.
Survivors include her mother, June Landers; two daughters, Jeannie Gray and Morgan Landers; one son, Billy Gray; and one grandson, Sutton, who was the joy of her life.
She was greatly loved and will be missed by her family and friends.
Mary Oneata Hicks
Mary Oneata Hicks, 87, of Plainview died Friday, June 4, 2004, at her residence in Plainview.
Funeral services are set for 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 8, in Fry & Gibbs Funeral Home Chapel. Norman Jones, pastor of Open Door Evangelism in Plainview will officiate, assisted by grandson Shawn Jones. Interment will follow in Pyles cemetery in Direct under the direction of Fry & Gibbs Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Bartley Funeral Home in Plainview, and from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at Fry & Gibbs Funeral Home. All music and singing will be by family members.
She was born on Feb. 23, 1917, in Lamar County. She married
Luther Hicks on June 27, 1936, in Paris. She was a certified nurse’s assistant and worked at Pleasant Grove Nursing Home and Cherry Street Manor Nursing Home in Paris from 1974 to 1979. She moved to Denver City and resided there from 1979 to 1984. From 1984 to 1995, she worked at Senior Companion in Levelland and Denver City. She also worked in the cafeteria for Levelland Independent School District from 1964 to 1971.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie Luther Hicks, on Aug. 15, 1984; a daughter, Mildred Lorene Fullbright, on April 25, 1984; and a son, Jimmy Ray Hicks, on Sept. 7, 2000.
Survivors include three daughters, Mary “Charlene” Jones and husband, Norman, of Plainview, Martha Ann Sellers and husband, Dan, of Denver City and Carolyn “Sue” Carr and husband, Rex, of Levelland; four sons, O’Neal Hicks and wife, Margie, of Seminole, Robert Hicks of Denver City, Wayne Hicks and wife, Ann, of Pittsburg and Billy Joe Hicks of Greenville; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Her grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
If desired, the family requests all flowers be sent to Fry & Gibbs Funeral Home.
