System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Laveta "Tepa" Pickel, 60
Services will be held tomorrow at 3 p.m. for Laveta "Tepa" Pickel of Commerce. Pickel died at Presbyterian Hospital of Commerce on April 10. Rev. Rick Flynn will officiate at the service in Pemberton Funeral Chapel, with intermenty at Rosemound Cemetery. Pickel was born in Peoria, Ill., on Sept. 19, 1939, to Paul and Christine Edwards Bryant. She moved to Commerce seven years ago from California. She had attended public schools in Peotone, Ill. In Texas, she graduated from Mountain View College in Dallas with a degree in philosophy. She had recently obtained her commercial driver's license and was employed with the Commerce Independent School District as a school bus driver. She was also employed by The Ivy House. Pickel was a member of the Word of Life Church in Commerce. Survivors include her mother, Christine Bryant of Commerce; sons, Kevin Pickel and Keith Pickel, both of Belleview, Neb.; sister, Marty Araki of Marion, Ill.; brother, Paul Bryant of Columbus, Ohio; and four granddaughters, Jessica, Kelly, Jamie and Katie Pickel. She was preceded in death by her father.
Sarah Kay Drake, 59
Graveside services for Sarah Kay Drake of Sherman will be held tomorrow at 2 p.m. at Rosemound Cemetery in Commerce. A memorial service will be held at Sherman Bible Church at 5 p.m., 2617 Hwy. 1417, Sherman. Pastor Gary Roe will officiate in Sherman. Pallbearers are sons, Chris, Cliff and Stephen Drake, Kim Johns, Craig Sommerfeldt and John Carroll. Drake was born in Longview on Jan. 24, 1941, to Welcome Ernest and Linnia Mai Press Wright. On June 8, 1963, she married William Sloan Drake in Commerce. She had lived in Sherman for 32 years. She graduated from Commerce High School in 1959. She then received her bachelor of science degree from East Texas State University in 1963, where she was a member of Gamma Phi Beta. Drake worked as a career specialist at Workforce Texoma for 10 years and retired in 1999. She was a member of the Sherman Bible Church in Sherman, Texas. Survivors include her husband, William Sloan Drake of Sherman; sons, Chris Drake of Plano, Cliff Drake of Sherman and Stephen Drake of Plano; daughter-in-law, Linda Drake of Sherman; granddaughter, Lauren Taylor Drake of Sherman; sister, Welynda Wright of Athens, Ga.; and special friend, Kim Johns of Jefferson, Colo. She was preceded in death by her parents. Memorials may be made to the M.D. Anderson Breast Cancer Center in Houston or the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in Dallas.
Bernice Carleton Boze, 89
Funeral services for Bernice Carleton Boze of Commerce were held Wednesday, March 29 at First United Methodist Church in Bells, Texas. Rev. Joan Humphries officiated at the service arranged by Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home. Interment was in Sunnyside Cemetery in Savoy, Texas. Friends served as pallbearers. Boze taught elementary school for over 40 years in Quannah and Andrews, Texas. She grew up in Commerce but was born in Ector, Texas, on Jan. 13, 1911. Her parents were William Franklin and Eliza Scott Boze. She was a longtime Commerce resident and member of the First United Methodist Church. She died in Mullican Care Center in Savoy on March 27. Survivors include sisters, Mattie Reed of Wichita Falls, Silva Brown of Commerce and Billie Cargile of Evans, Ga.; brothers, Lloyd E. Boze of Irving, Floyd D. Boze of League City, Texas, and Scott Boze of Dallas; and several nieces and nephews. Boze was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Vera Bomar.
Linda Lee Brown, 40
Funeral services for Linda Lee Brown of Canton were held yesterday after her sudden death following surgery March 24. Rev. Charles Richardson officiated at the service at Eubank Funeral Chapel in Canton. Burial followed at Haven of Memories Cemetery In Canton. Pallbearers were David Barber, Glenn McNeil, "Bubba" Downey, Ron Carroll, Hoss Williams, Billy Jack Peace, Jr., Dr. Dan Hilliard, Terry Britt, Joe Collins, Bill Dean, Larry Davis, Bryant Cummings and Lawrence Greer. Brown was born in Modesto, Calif., on Dec. 22, 1959, to Everett Lloyd and Elizabeth Helen McGowan Brown. She was the managing editor of The Canton Herald, Wills Point Chronicle and The Van Zandt News. Brown had been an employee of The Canton Herald for 16 years and managing editor since 1994. She took over the other newspapers a few years ago. Brown died unexpectedly in a Tyler hospital following complications from surgery last Thursday. She had a master's degree from East Texas State University. Brown was extensively involved in community affairs and worked tirelessly in fundraisers, whether it was for blood donors, organ donors, monetary help for people or whatever the need at the time. During the years she had worked with the Van Zandt County Childrens Shelter, MHMR, County Fair Association, The Kid's Club and collected and distributed toys and food for Christmas to needy families. She was currently serving as president of the Canton Chamber of Commerce. She was named Woman of the Year in 1997 and had been recipient of the Van Zandt County Citizen of the Year, and had many writing awards from the Texas Press Association and other organizations. Survivors include her parents, Everett and Betty Brown of Cumby; brother Ray Brown of Commerce and Everett Brown, Jr., of Cumby; sisters, Karen Narvaez of Arlington and Sharon Bekker of Flint, Texas; grandmother, Temperance Malak of Sulphur Springs; nine nieces and nephews. Donations may be made to the Van Zandt County Childrens Shelter, P.O. Box 205, Fruitvale, Texas 75127.
Kenneth Ray Smith, 60
Services to honor the life of Kenneth Ray Smith of Greenville were held yesterday at Pemberton Funeral Chapel in Commerce. Dr. Bobby Tollison officiated at the service with intermenty at Shiloh Cemetery in Klondike. Pallbearers were Steve Smith, Kenny Smith, Tracy Smith, Robert Lee Speight, Bob Hockett and Danny Keene. Honorary pallbearers were Truitt Gossett, his grandson from Commerce, and Mike Smith. Smith was born in Commerce on Sept. 5, 1939, to William Burton and Mildred Marie Alley Smith. Smith was a longtime resident of Commerce. He attended Commerce public schools and graduated Commerce High School in 1958. He moved to West Texas, where he ginned and farmed then returned to Commerce in 1972. He was employed with E Systems and worked on the assembly line from 1989 to 1997. He was a Baptist by faith. He is preceded in death by his parents and one uncle. Survivors include his daughter, Talisha Gray of Denton and her husband, Tom; son, Randy Smith of Greenville and his wife, Kelli; granddaughters, Taylor Gossett of Commerce and Sommer Smith of Greenville; grandsons, Truitt Gossett of Commerce and Hunter Smith of Greenville; brothers, Richard Smith of Mesquite and Charles Smith of Sulphur Springs; aunts, Gladys Brown of Greenville and Rita Lightfoot of Ft. Worth.
John S. Coffey, Jr., 88
Funeral services for John S. Coffey, Jr. of Commerce were held Friday in Ft. Worth, with a graveside service in Commerce. Rev. Gene Thompson officiated at the service in Ft. Worth in the Drawing Room of Thompson's Harveson & Cole Funeral Home. The graveside service and intermenty were at Rosemound Cemetery in Commerce, with visitation at Pemberton Funeral Home on Saturday. Coffey, who retired in 1976 after 46 years as a manager with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, was born on July 16, 1911, in Sulphur Springs and had been a resident of Ft. Worth for 50 years and, for the past 22 years, of Commerce. During World War II, he was a 1st Lt. in the U.S. Army in the Counter Intelligence Corps serving in Okinawa. In Commerce, he was a member of the First Baptist Church, Commerce Masonic Lodge, a member of Golden Kiwanis Club, being honored by the Golden Trowel Award and recently named Honor Citizen of the Year. In Ft. Worth, Coffey was a 51-year member of Moslah Temple Shrine and Worth Commandery No. 19 Knights Templar of Fort Worth and a member of the Fort Worth Telephone Pioneers Club of America. Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Kathryn Coffey; children, Carolyn Benton Waund of Manassas, Va., Jim Benton and his wife, Carolyn, of Ft. Worth, Mary Ann Levy and her husband, David, of Washington, D.C. and John Dan Coffey and his wife, Michelle, of Ft. Worth; grandchildren, Steven Benton and his wife, Maria Jose Ruiz Blanco, of Chicago, Lisa Benton and her husband, Don Sanders, of Eudora, Kan., Brian Benton and his wife, Lyndsae, of Ft. Worth, Lee Miller of Washington, D.C., Laura Coffey and John S. Coffey, both of Ft. Worth; great-granddaughter, Olivia Benton of Ft. Worth; brothers, Henry Coffey and his wife, Margaret, of Ft. Worth and William Coffey and his wife, Eloise, of Ft. Worth; sister, Agnes Jenness and her husband, Tom, of Ft. Worth; and several nieces and nephews.
N. L. Myers, 89
Funeral services for N. L. Myers of Cumby, formerly of Burton and LaWard, will be held at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, March 19 at the First Baptist Church of Cumby with Rev. Walter Sensat officiating. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, March 20 at the Mt. Zion Cemetery in Burton. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time Sunday, at the First Baptist Church of Cumby. He was a member of the Baptist Church, a 32nd Degree Mason, and served in the Special Services during WWII. He was a retired Alcoa Millwright with the Point Comfort Operations near Port Lavaca, Texas. Myers passed away at 5:30 a.m. Friday, March 17, at the Oak Manor Nursing Home in Commerce. He was born on June 12, 1909 in Purvis, Texas to R. L. "Lon" and Lillie Stuart Myers. He married Lizzie Teal on Dec. 23, 1995 in Cumby. Survivors include his wife; son Lonnie Myers of Burton; son Norman Early Myers of Guinea, Africa; daughter Nelva Ruth Newman of Victoria, Texas; 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Myers was preceded in death by two daughters and one grandson. Cumby Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Glen Denton, 88
Funeral Services for Glen Denton of Cumby will be held at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, March 19 at the First Baptist Church of Cumby with Rev. Robert Renfro and Rev. Wes Dean officiating. Interment will follow at the Cumby Cemetery with nephews serving as pallbearers. Denton passed away at 2:46 p.m., Friday, March 17 in the Presbyterian Hospital of Greenville. Denton was a member of First Baptist Church of Cumby and retired from the Garland ISD. He was born on Aug. 30, 1911 in Cumby to William and Samathie Taylor Denton. He married Ellen Strickland on July 13, 1930 in Cumby. Survivors include his wife, one sister Muriel Bagwell of Sulphur Springs, and one brother Bill Denton of Longview. He was preceded in death by four brothers and one sister. Cumby Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Merle Jackson "Slick" Williamson, 85
Funeral services for Merle Jackson Williamson of Commerce were held Monday, March 13, at Jones Memorial Chapel. David Gibson officiated at the service, with committal which followed at 2 p.m. at Restland Cemetery. Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home made the arrangements. Williamson had moved from Dallas in 1992. Born in Fate, Texas, on May 29, 1914, to Fred and Maude Marshall Williamson, he was retired from Chance Vault Company in Grand Prairie, Texas. He also worked from Union Railroad Terminal for 15 years. He and his wife, Ruby Henrick Williamson, had celebrated 65 years of marriage on Feb. 3. They had married in 1935 in Roxton, Texas. Survivors include his wife, Ruby Williamson; daughters and sons-in-law, Ruth and Bill James of Huntsville, Ark., and Joyce and Ray Robertson of Commerce; sister, Lynn Johns of Elmendorf, Texas; grandsons, John Kenneth Hughes and Murray Dean James; granddaughters, Jona Leigh James and Melissa Skog; great-grandson, Dylan Skog; and great-granddaughter, Tara Johnston. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and one sister.
Bryan Lee Talley, 26
Family and friends gathered Friday afternoon to fondly remember and celebrate the life of Bryan Lee Talley of Commerce who died unexpectedly Tuesday. Rev. Mike House officiated at the service at the First United Methodist Church, arranged by Pemberton Funeral Home. Burial followed at Rosemound Cemetery. Pallbearers were Shane Kubacek, Chad Chaney, Allen Roundtree, Cleon Flannigan, Aaron Zander and Sam Owens. Honorary pallbearers were Robert Narrimore, Nita Prapan, Jennifer James, Jerry Thomas, Kevin Fox and George Brigham. Talley, the son of Pat and Don Talley of Commerce, was born in Greenville on Oct. 1, 1973 and was a lifelong resident of Commerce. He graduated with honors from Commerce High School in 1992. There he was in the CHS Honor Society, played football for four years and was voted All-District Defensive Tackle and All-Area Defensive Tackle his senior year. He was a state finalist for three years in golf. He participated in many American Junior Golf Association National Tournaments. Consequently, he was awarded a full golf scholarship to the University of California at Berkeley in 1992, where he was pursuing a law degree. There he was a member of Phi Gamma Fraternity, the honor fraternity, the golf team and the boxing team. He was also on the honors program. Talley was a member of the First United Methodist Church, where he was a youth representative for Texas. Survivors include his parents, Don and Pat Talley of Commerce; grandmothers, Thelma Talley Erwin of Bonham and Pauline Gist of Dallas; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Leon Bryan Talley and Charles Gist. Memorials may be made to the youth ministry at the First United Methodist Church of Commerce.
Lillian Matthews Nowlin, 86
Funeral services will be held today in honor of Lillian Nowlin of Commerce. She died Friday at Oak Manor Nursing Home. Rev. James Hall will officiate at the service arranged by Pemberton Funeral Home today at 2 p.m. in the Pemberton Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow at Rosemound Cemetery. Pallbearers are Dr. Kenneth White, Elmer Hall, William Hall, Tommy Hall, Jimmy Sullivan and Terry Scaggs. Born on Aug. 17, 1913, in Hunt County, she was the daughter of Sam and Minerva Hamilton Matthews. She married Floyd Treat Nowlin in Commerce on Nov. 7, 1931. A lifelong resident of Commerce, she attended Commerce public schools. She also attended the Hearne Nursing School in Hearne, Texas, in 1956, and became a nurse's aide. She was employed by Oak Manor Nursing Home and as a private nurse in many homes in Commerce until her retirement in 1984. She was a member of the Abundant Life Church in Commerce. Survivors include sons, Leroy Nowlin of Mesquite, James Nowlin of Houston and Jerry W. Nowlin of Greenville; daughter, Arvella Parker of Klonkide; brother, Pete Matthews of Commerce; 18 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 1977; two sons, Carlos Nowlin and Elliott Nowlin; two grandchildren, Staci Nowlin and Timmy Nowlin; three brothers and two sisters.
Emma D. Holley, 87
Funeral services for Emma D. Holley of Commerce were held yesterday at 11 a.m. at Jones Memorial Chapel. She died in St. Joseph's Hospital on March 1. Rev. Wesley McCasland, Rev. Don Shovan and great-grandson Brandon Newman officiated at the services arranged by Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home. Interment followed at Rosemound Cemetery. Pallbearers were Tommie Joe Dodd, Lloyd Dean Newman, Jace English, Brandon Newman, Jon Duckworth and Johnathen Tribble. Holley was born in Rains County on April 13, 1912 to Warren Ferrel and Willie Weatherbee Thomas. On Sept. 29, 1928, she married W.E. (Bob) Holley in Commerce. She was a Charter Member of Congregational Methodist Church and the Commerce Rebekah Lodge. Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Nelma and Gaston Dodd of Klondike; grandchildren, Tommie Joe Dodd of Ft. Worth, Joette and Jace English of Canton, Colette and Lloyd Dean Newman of Campbell; great-grandchildren, Jessica Newman of Campbell, Brandon Newman of Campbell and Johnathen Tribble of Canton. Holley was preceded in death by her parents, her husband on Jan. 17, 1992, two brothers and a great-granddaughter, Christina Tribble.
Viola E. Soehnlein, 82
Services to honor the life of Viola E. Soehnlein of Commerce were held Friday, March 3, at a 10 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Rev. D. Stanley Corcoran officiated there and at the burial in Rosemound Cemetery. Pallbearers were members of the Commerce Lions Club. Soehnlein, a homemaker, was born in Port Washington, Wis., on Aug. 18, 1917, to Frank and Clara Hamkins Biever. She married Fred C. Soehnlein on June 14, 1941 in Port Washington, Wis. Survivors include here husband, Fred C. Soehnlein of Commerce; daughter, Joan Soehnlein of Commerce; daughter-in-law, Dianne Soehnlein of Houston; grandchildren, Kelly Koepp of Alpine, Ana Garza of Houston, Karen Capps of The Woodlands, Amy Hicks of Houston and Andy Soehnlein of Houston; eight great-grandchildren; and sister, Sally Theilig of Milwaukee, Wis. Soehnlein was preceded in death by her son, Donald Soehnlein.
Rosa Belle Rutherford, 92
Funeral services were held yesterday for Rosa Belle Rutherford of Commerce in the Pemberton Funeral Home Chapel. David Gibson of the Church of Christ officiated with intermenty following at Rosemound Cemetery. Pallbearers were Tom Dillinger, Harold Lands, Leon Walden, Bill Webb, Howard Lambert and Delton Gibson. Rutherford was born in Hunt County on March 27, 1907, to William Thomas Venus and Artie Missie Hopkins. On Dec. 6, 1924, she married Charlie B. Rutherford in Hunt County. She was a lifelong resident of Commerce. She attended Theda School. She retired in 1978 from working as a dietitian for Commerce Presbyterian Hospital and for the Commerce Independent School District. She was a member of the Church of Christ. Survivors include here son, Charles Ray Rutherford, Sr. of Canon Lake; daughter, Mary Frances Wood of Commerce; nine grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband in 1981, and by one brother and five sisters.
Blanche Brewer, 81
Funeral services for Blanche Brewer of Temple, Texas, formerly of Commerce and Sulphur Springs, were held Saturday at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home in Temple. Rev. Mike Harkrider officiated at the service in Temple and Rev. Danny Buster officiated at the burial which followed at Chandler Cemetery in Chandler, Texas. A mother and housewife, Brewer had been born in Dallas on July 20, 1918, to William Albert and Meda Ledbetter Meley. On Jan. 2, 1935, she married Marvin C. Brewer in Dallas. She was a member of First Chandler First Baptist Church. Survivors include son, Tim Brewer of Temple; daughters, Tami Neatherlin of Temple, Tina Aten and Dottie Freeman of Sulphur Springs; sister Dottie Almon of Dallas; 16 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband on Oct. 28, 1976, as well as son, William Albert Brewer and great-grandson, Zachary Austin Brewer. Memorials may be sent to Vistacare Family Hospice, 819 S. 5th Street, Temple, Texas 76504.
Nannie Bell Duncan, 87
Funeral services for Nannie Bell Duncan of Wolfe City were held yesterday at the Golden Avenue Baptist Church of Bay City, Texas. Rev. Kenny James officiated at the services arranged by Pemberton Funeral Home and at the intermenty which followed at Cedarvale Cemetery. Duncan was born on April 5, 1912, in East Bernard County, Texas, to John H. and Fannie Elizabeth Smith Roe, both deceased. On July 13, 1936, she married John M. Duncan, Sr. in Angleton, Texas. Duncan moved from Norfolk, Neb., to the Hunt County area five years ago, to be near relatives. She was a member of the Bay City Baptist Church, where she worked with older adults and children. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John M. Duncan, Sr., on Aug. 6, 1976; her son, John Marvin Duncan, Jr. in 1999; and her brother, J.D. Roe. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, George and Linda Duncan of Campbell; son, James Duncan of Concord, Calif.; brother, Johnny Roe of Bay City; sister, Mattie Johnson of Springdale, Ark; seven grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Grace Robinson Sanders, 81
Funeral services for Grace Robinson Sanders of Commerce, and formerly a longtime Sulphur Springs resident, will be held Monday, Feb. 28 at 11 a.m. in West Oaks Funeral Chapel in Sulphur Springs. Rev. Alton Patton will officiate there and at the intermenty in Restlawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 3-5 p.m. today at West Oaks Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Charles, Gilbreath, Charles Sellers, Hank Harrington, Troy Gay, Don Deaton and David Stinson. Sanders died Friday in Presbyterian Hospital Commerce following a brief illness. She was born in Winnsboro, Texas, on Oct. 4, 1918, the daughter of Sidney Jefferson and Pearl Adell Harris Gilbreath. She graduated from Winnsboro High School. Sanders was retired from being a longtime employee of Corner Drug Store in Sulphur Springs. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Sulphur Springs and was a member of and formerly served as an officer in Sulphur Springs Chapter 718 Order of the Easter Star. She married Y.C. (Bill) Robinson in Durant, Okla., on Feb. 14, 1937. He preceded her in death in 1971. She was married to Waggoner E. Sanders in Wood County, Texas, on April 1, 1978. He preceded her in death in 1990. She had resided in Commerce since 1990. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Joe Bill and Delores Robinson of Commerce; granddaughter, Cindy Derrick of Pecan Gap; two great-grandchildren, Courtney and Drew Thomas. She was preceded in death by her parents and four brothers, Fern, Carl, Horace and Ralph Gilbreath.
