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C.W. Teel, 84
March 21, 2001
C.W. Teel, longtime resident of Mexia and local drugstore owner, died March 14, at his home. Born March 13, 1917, to Chester Windfield and Vera Johnson Teel in Commerce, Teel moved to Mexia when he was three. A 1934 graduate of Mexia High School, he played football for a year and earned all-district honors. His football ability brought him a scholarship to Kilgore Junior College. He also attended Westminster Junior College in Tehuacana.
In October 1942, Teel entered the Army Air Corps. He married Barbara Louis Douglass in March of 1943 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in May of the same year. He served for 15 months in the European Theater of Operations, receiving a bronze star and a victory medal. He returned to the U.S. and was discharged in May of 1946 as a 1st Lieutenant.
After the war, Teel returned to college at the University of Texas at Austin. He graduated in January 1949 with a B.S. in Pharmacy. He began his drugstore career in Mexia at Cox and Forrest Drug Store where he worked for three years. He was also employed at Tidwell's Drug Store. Upon graduating from UT, Teel worked at Kendrick & Horn Drug Co. in Mexia. After 17 years as an employee, Teel purchased Kendrick & Horn where he worked until his semi-retirement in 1975.
Teel served on the Mexia ISD School Board for 10 years. He served as president during the land purchase and construction of the current Mexia High School. He served as president of the Mexia Jaycees, and was named the "1952 Outstanding Young Man of Mexia" for his distinguished service to the community, his leadership of the Jaycee organization, and for his personal participation in all phases of Jaycee activities. During this time Teel was instrumental in starting the downtown Christmas decorations, as well as a Pee Wee football team.
In 1957, Teel received the V.F.W. No. 4694 Outstanding Citizenship award. He was also honored by the FFA. Teel was a 60-year member of the Springfield Masonic Lodge No. 74 and a one-time Boy Scout leader. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church.
Teel is survived by his wife of 58 years, Barbara, of Mexia; five sons, Lain Teel and wife, Joanie, of Waco, Randy Teel and wife, Joan, of Mexia, David Teel and wife, Frankie, of Austin, and Joe Teel and Mike Teel, both of Mexia; three daughters, Marsha Smith of Mexia, Toni Douglass of Mexia and Mary Castillo and husband, Felipe, of League City; a sister, Pauline Himmel of El Paso; 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Services were held March 17 at Calvary Baptist Church. Officiating was Rev. Rick Gray, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, and the Rev. Lowell Skaggs, former pastor of Calvary.
Pallbearers were Bob Himmel, Ed Himmel, Walter Van De Weghe, Paul Wayne Barger, the Rev. Lewis Peoples, Steven Lain Teel, Jason Teel and Bobby Teel. Honorary pallbearers were Bob McQueen, Rudolph Erickson, A.B. McBay, Bill Wind, Fred Culpepper, Randall Culpepper and the members of the Springfield Masonic Lodge No. 74. Burial was in Mexia Cemetery under the direction of Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home.
Dr. Lee Dacus, 80
March 18, 2001
Funeral services for Dr. Lee Dacus of Commerce are today at 2 p.m. at the Church of Christ on Culver Street. David Gibson will officiate at the service arranged by Pemberton Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Rosemound Cemetery. Pallbearers are Stuart Anderson, Harry Fullwood, Jon Jonz, Richard Tuerk, Ed Garrett and Bill Kennedy. Honorary pallbearers are Dacus' nieces and nephews and the Nickle Coffee Club members and their wives. Dacus died in Commerce March 15.
Born in Gilmer, Texas, May 31, 1920, he was the son of John S. and Myrtie Leora Burnett Dacus. On Feb. 8, 1945, he married Arma T. Thornton in Pensacola, Fla. Dacus had lived in Commerce since 1962, having moved from Fayetteville, Ark. He graduated from Grice High School in Upshur County in 1937. He then received his bachelor's degree from the University of Denver in 1949 and his master's degree from the University of Arkansas in 1962, majoring in arts. He received his PhD from East Texas State University in 1970, majoring in English literature.
After receiving his doctorate, Dacus was notified by Cambridge University that his dissertation had been placed in 30 libraries worldwide, and his name had been added to "International Who's Who of Intellectuals." He taught public schools at Mt. Pleasant and Fayetteville, Ark. He was a professor of literature at ETSU for 25 years, until his retirement in 1987. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the United States Marine Corps and attained the rank of corporal. He received two purple hearts, a silver star, bronze star and unit citations. He was a member of the Church of Christ.
Survivors include his wife, Arma T. Dacus of Commerce; son, John C. Dacus and his wife, Reesa Parker Dacus, of Dallas; granddaughter, Elizabeth Faires Dacus of Dallas; grandson, Ryan Austin Parker of Dallas; brother, Milton O. Dacus of Gilmer; sister, Carolyn Ellis of Gilmer; and several nieces and nephews. His parents preceded him in death.
Memorials may be sent to the Boles Home for Children.
Mamie Lois Davis, 89
March 18, 2001
Mamie Lois Davis, a homemaker from Commerce, died March 14 in Oak Manor Nursing Home. Funeral services were held March 16 at Jones Memorial Chapel. Rev. Mike House officiated at the service arranged by Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home with interment in Rosemound Cemetery.
Davis was born in Tyler, Texas, Aug. 16, 1911, the daughter of Henry and Elsie Elliott Bickley. She married Louis H. Davis in Tyler, July 5, 1930. A member of the First United Methodist Church, Davis taught Sunday School Classes for 25 years.
Survivors include her son, Ray Davis of Commerce; daughter, Mildred Davis of Commerce; and several nieces and nephews. Her husband preceded her in death in 1964, as well as two sisters.
Nita Ann Pitcock, 42
March 18, 2001
Funeral services for Nita Ann Pitcock of Ft. Worth, formerly of Commerce, will be held tomorrow, March 19 at 1 p.m. in the Murray-Orwosky Funeral Chapel in Sulphur Springs with the Rev. Bill Simmons officiating. Interment will follow in the Horton Cemetery with Paul Guiterrez, Randy Thomas, Michael Potts, Jason Williams and Justin Taylor serving as pallbearers. Pitcock died March 16 at Harris Methodist Hospital in Ft. Worth. Visitation is from 6-8 p.m. tonight at the funeral home.
Pitcock was born on Dec. 13, 1958, in Denver City, Texas, to J.F. and Vivian Clark Potts. She married Ronnie Pitcock on Sept. 29, 1991, in Ft. Worth. He survives. Other survivors include her mother of Melissa, Texas; two brothers, Tommy Potts of Mt. Pleasant and Sammy Potts of Melissa; sister, Debra Williams of Sulphur Springs; and a host of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father in 1968 and one brother, Johnny Potts in 1997.
Dorothy Love "Scott" Johnson, 95
March 14, 2001
Funeral services for Dorothy Love "Scott" Johnson of Cooper are today at 11 a.m. at Pemberton Funeral Chapel. Pastor Natalie will officiate at the service arranged by Pemberton. Interment will follow at Rosemound Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons and one nephew, John Rodger Wagner.
Born in Yowell, Texas, April 17, 1905, Johnson was the daughter of George Dudley and Annie Love Scott. She married Samuel Pierce Johnson at the First Christian Church in Paris, Texas, Nov. 25, 1925. Johnson was a longtime resident of Dallas, having moved to Cooper in 1996. She graduated from Ardmore High School and Art School. She moved to Commerce and taught art in Cooper and Commerce public schools. Johnson retired and moved to Dallas to be near her sisters. She was an active member of the Highlands First Christian Church of Dallas.
Johnson is survived by son, Finnell Johnson and wife, Gladys, of Cooper; son, Fain Johnson and wife, Jean, of Waco; grandsons, Jeff Johnson and wife, Laurie, of Rowlett; March Isaac of Dallas; Pierce Johnson III and wife, Cynthia, of Mobile, Ala.; Dean Johnson and wife, Beth, of Culman, Ala.; Leslie Johnson and wife, Jeanette, of Garland; granddaughters, Debra Weddington and husband, Scott, of Garland; Dorothy Lou Dungan and husband, Gary, of Mesquite; 12 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Samuel Pierce Johnson on Oct. 5, 1960; two daughters, Betty Ann Weddington and Virginia Lou Issac; three sisters, Annye Lou Long, Frances Wagner and Nina Scott; two half-sisters, Ruby Fain and Ossie Scott; and six half-brothers, Max Scott, Ralph Scott, Silas Scott, Rodger Scott, Orville Scott and Shelly Scott.
James P. Darwin, 91
March 14, 2001
Graveside services for James P. Darwin of McKinney will be held tomorrow, March 15 at 1 p.m. at Ladonia Cemetery. Dr. Mike House will officiate at the service arranged by Pemberton Funeral Home. Visitation is prior to the service from 11 a.m. to noon at Pemberton Funeral Home.
Darwin was born in the Muddig Community in Hunt County, April 8, 1909, the son of James P. and Etta Johnson Darwin. He married Willie Douglas, August 1931, in Hugo, Okla. Darwin was a longtime resident of and farmer in Ladonia. He was Methodist by faith. He was married for 55 years until his wife's death in 1987.
Survivors include his brother-in-law, Leroy Byers of Commerce; nieces, Christie Raynes Armentrout of McKinney, Betty Byers McDonald of Ladonia and Freda Hand Musgrove of Houston; and nephews, George Douglas Raynes of Sherman and James Marvin Douglas of Commerce. He was preceded in death by his wife and his sister, Elizabeth Hand.
Memorials may be made to the National Foundation for Facial Reconstruction, 317 East 34th Street, New York, NY 10016.
Leona Germany, 87
March 11, 2001
Leona F. Germany of Commerce died Tuesday in Greenville. Funeral services were held yesterday at First Presbyterian Church in Commerce, with Rev. A. William Benner officiating at the service arranged by Pemberton Funeral Home. Burial followed in Friendship Cemetery in Cumby.
The daughter of Perry A. Copeland and N. Pearl Caskey Copeland, Germany was born Nov. 28, 1913, in Smiley. She graduated from Breckenridge High School in San Antonio. Living in Houston, she was an executive secretary for Texas Service Division of Manned Space Craft Center, NASA, for 25 years. Germany moved to Commerce in 1985. She was a member of the Delphian Club and the Book Discussion Group. She was also an avid stamp collector and artist. She was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church, most recently the Presbyterian Church of Commerce, where she was an elder and composer of the church newsletter for 10 years.
Germany is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Bart Green of Cumby; son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Kathy Germany of Austin; a sister, Merle Wallis of Fort Worth; a sister-in-law, Adelaide Copeland of San Antonio; two grandchildren, Ryan Green of Commerce and Carson Green, a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point; a great-grandchild, Timothy Ryan Green of Commerce; a niece and three nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Neely Germany and a brother, William Copeland.
Pallbearers were Jeff Helton, Dick Latson, Gerald Bruton, Robert Sanders and Harold Murphy.
Memorials may be sent to the Cystic Fibrosis Fund or the First Presbyterian Church.
Barry Lynn Arnold, 30
March 7, 2001
Funeral services were held yesterday for Barry Lynn Arnold of Commerce at First Baptist Church of Commerce. Rev. Kerry Meador officiated at the service arranged by Pemberton Funeral Home. Interment followed at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Wolfe City. He died Feb. 28 in Honobia, Okla.
Arnold was born Feb. 8, 1971, in Greenville, the son of Jackie and Anna Beth McKay Arnold. He was a lifetime resident of Commerce. He graduated from Commerce High School in 1989. Arnold was in his senior year at Texas A&M University-Commerce, majoring in business. He was a past member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He was a member of the Aberfoyle Baptist Church.
Survivors include his daughter, Jacie Brianna Arnold of Lone Oak; parents, Jackie and Anna Beth Arnold of Commerce; maternal grandparents, Gerald Dean and Laverne Smith McKay of Commerce; grandmother, Jaye Arnold of Beaverton, Ore.; great-grandmother, Mable Shepherd of Greenville; several aunts and uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his fraternal grandmother, Helen Arnold White and his fraternal grandfather, Jack Louis Arnold.
Pallbearers were Rowdy Poteet, Kurt Arnold, Ryan Evans, Dave Arnold, Kalvin McKay and Jimmy Johnson. Honorary pallbearers were Pat Weatherford, Kenny Cooper, Roy Henley, Randy Milam, Kelly McKay, Kortney McKay, Mardi Poteet Johnson, Shana Arnold Cohen, Misty Arnold Moon, Amber Jane Arnold, Shea Edwin Arnold, Brandon Arnold and Lindsey Arnold.
Leona Germany, 87
March 7, 2001
Services are pending with Pemberton Funeral Home for Leona Germany of Commerce who died yesterday in Greenville.
