Ira Leen Alexander Coker
LIVINGSTON - Funeral services for Ira Leen Alexander Coker, 99, were held Sunday, April 6, 2003, from the Cochran Fu-neral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Lee Poe officiating. Burial followed in Alexander Cemetery in Leggett. Mrs. Coker died Friday, April 4, in Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital. She was born Nov. 14, 1903 in New Willard, the daughter of Jack and Amanda Catherine Mills Alexander. Mrs. Coker was a member of the First Baptist Church in Livingston. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clinton; her parents; sister, Ealer Alexander; brother, Eunis Alexander; sister-in-law, Christine Alexander and nephews, E.E. "Stiney" Alexander and Jack Alex-ander. Survivors include her nieces, Jenarie Alexander of Nacogdoches and Christina and husband Mike Center of Nacogdoches; nephew, Jonathan M. Alexander of Leggett; great-nephews, Stephen Center, Patrick Center, Christopher Center, Matthew Cen-ter, Clinton Alexander and Jonathan M. Alexander Jr.; great-great-great nephews, Jackson Alexander and Ashton Center and great-great-great nieces, Ciara Pastague and Brittany Pastague. Pallbearers were Stephen Center, Patrick Center, Christopher Center, Matthew Center, Clinton Alexander and Jonathan M. Alexander Jr.

Vincent H. Stevenson
CORRIGAN - Graveside services for Vincent H. Stevenson, 67, of Moscow were held Saturday, April 5, 2003, from Union Springs Cemetery, with the Rev. Jeff Devine officiating. Mr. Stevenson was born Dec. 8, 1935 in Oklahoma City, Okla. and died Thursday, April 4, at his residence in Moscow. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1953 to 1964 and then served in the U.S. Army from 1965 until his retirement in 1975. He was a Baptist by faith. Survivors include his wife of 43 years, JoAnn Coons Stevenson of Moscow; sons, Joseph Stevenson of Key Largo, Fla. and Matthew Eades of Key Largo, Fla.; daughters, Sheila Ferguson of Morganton, N.C. and Rene Burley and Cherissa Smith, both of Moscow; 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Corrigan Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Gary Wayne Childree
LIVINGSTON - Gary Wayne Childree, 51, of Summerville, S.C. died Friday, April 4, 2003, at his residence. Graveside services were held Monday, April 7, at Bluff Creek Cemetery. Mr. Childree was born on Nov. 19, 1951 in Houston to parents John Henry and Gloria Childree. He was an automobile salesman with Hoover Chrysler-Dodge in South Carolina. He was preceded in death by his father and a brother, Terry Glenn Childree. Survivors include his wife, Tina Henderson Childree of Summerville, S.C.; his mother, Gloria Childree of Livingston; daughter, Sofia Rae Childree Mazell of Goose Creek, S.C.; stepsons, Justin H. Chessher and Aaron M. Chessher, both of Charleston, S.C.; brother, John Aaron Childree of Goodrich; grandson, Pierceton Michael Mazell and several nieces and neph-ews of Goodrich and Houston. Memorials may be made to the family of Gary Childree, 103 Bromwich, Goose Creek, S.C. Pace Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Johnnye Pearl Gerlach
LIVINGSTON - Funeral services for Johnnye Pearl Gerlach were held Monday, April 7, 2003, from the First United Meth-odist Church in Livingston, with Dr. Mark Lewis officiating. Burial followed in Magnolia Cemetery in Woodville. Mrs. Gerlach died Friday, April 4, in Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital in Houston. She was born the daughter of William Edgar Hagler and Mary Nettie Moore Hagler, both of whom preceded her in death. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Dianne Fain Garrett and Dr. Fred Garrett of Houston; granddaughter, Kim-berly Moore Garrett of Houston; and grandson, Frank Fain Garrett and wife Kristen of Dallas. Pallbearers were Gary Walker, Burrell Rowe, Jimmy Owen, Bubba Watson, Isaac Alexander and John Gardner. Honorary pallbearers were B.A. Glover, Joe Dabney, Jerome Thomason, Joe Pedigo, B.C. Lively, Allen Peebles, William Brown, Carney White, Sidney Smith, F.M. Archer, Gene Bush, R.C. Williams, Judson Pritchard, Jimmy Windham, Jerry Marsh, Ben Royden Ogletree and Bob Cook. Cochran Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Lee Metzger
LIVINGSTON - Funeral services for Lee Metzger, 59, were held Tuesday, April 8, 2003, from the Cochran Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Woody Alexander officiating. Mrs. Metzger died Saturday, April 5, in Memorial Medical Center - Livingston. She was born July 23, 1943 in Elgin, the daughter of Norman and Ida Marie Carnline Lewis, both of whom preceded her in death. Survivors include her husband, Jim Metzger of Livingston; daughters and sons-in-law, Diane and Gary Reno of Pasadena and Shannon and Brad Ser of Clermont, Fla.; son, Roger Smith of Houston; granddaughter, Ashley Cheatham of Houston; grandsons, Aaron Cheatham of Houston and Adam Cheatham of Houston and numerous cousins.

Jean Bass
LIVINGSTON - Graveside services for Jean Bass, 77, were held Monday, April 7, 2003, from Old Big Creek Cemetery in Shepherd, with the Rev. Charles Sutton officiating. Mrs. Bass died Friday, April 4, in Woodland Park Nursing Home in Shepherd. She was born June 16, 1925 in Holdenville, Okla., the daughter of John Henry Weatherford and Floy Jones Weatherford. She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters. Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara and Edward Thompson of Conroe, Kathryn and Robert Thompson of Livingston and Gloria and J.D. Pate of Shepherd; sons and daughters-in-law, Luther and Vicki Lilley of New Caney, and John and Janet Lilley of Big Springs; brothers, Allen Weatherford of San Augustine and Michael Dizmang of Marion, N.C.; sister, Shirley Johnson of Shepherd; 11 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. Cochran Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Marlin Ray Blackburn
LIVINGSTON - Funeral services for Marlin Ray Blackburn of Livingston were held Tuesday, April 8, 2003, from Pace Fu-neral Home, with Pastor Mike Hammonds officiating. Interment followed in Bold Springs Cemetery. Mr. Blackburn was born Aug. 17, 1962 and died on April 4. He was a certified Ford technician for seven years and enjoyed watching NASCAR racing. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Alvin and Lola Lane of Lufkin and a great-nephew, Dylan Wayne Scott of Livingston. He is survived by his wife of 16 years, Mary Ann Thacker Blackburn; mother, Norma Selby and husband Todd of Livingston; father, Tim Blackburn of Bay City; sister, Cheryl Scott and husband Robby of Livingston; brother, Michael Black-burn and wife Patricia of Lake Jackson and nieces, Robin and Tessa Scott of Livingston and Shelby, Courtney and Jourden Blackburn of Lake Jackson.

Herman Waldrep
LIVINGSTON - Herman Waldrep, 67, of Goodrich died Saturday, April 5, 2003, in a Lufkin hospital. Services were held Tuesday, April 8, from Pace Funeral Home, with the Rev. Larry Byrd officiating. Mr. Waldrep, a retired painter, was born on Sept. 9, 1935 in Hortense to parents Gus and Bessie Warren Waldrep. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. In addition to his parents, four brothers preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife, Novie Waldrep of Goodrich; two sons, Herman Waldrep Jr. and wife Linda of Livingston and Stephen Waldrep and wife Debbie of Splendora; brother, Collis Waldrep; two sisters, Gladys Waldrep and Ester Plante; four grandchildren, Christy Folsom and husband Kevin of Goodrich, Leslie Biddle and husband Gary of Kentucky, Chuck Warner and wife Patty of Livingston and Tricia Powell and husband Adam of Livingston and five great-grandchildren, Shelby Waldrep, Holly Hunt, Kristina Warner, Paige Warner and McKensie Powell. The family requests memorials to the American Heart Association.

Gloria Jean Mays Collins
DIBOLL - Funeral services for Gloria Jean Mays Collins, 58, were held Saturday, April 12, 2003, from Providence No. 1 Baptist Church in Leggett, with Bishop James Manuel officiating. Burial followed in New Wensley Cemetery in Leggett. Mrs. Collins died Sunday, April 6, in Doctor's Hospital in Houston. She was born July 31, 1944 in Leggett, the daughter of Roy and Bessie Mays. She was a member of God's Way Miracle and Deliverance Church in Houston and a former member of Providence No. 1 Baptist Church in Leggett. She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Bessie Mays. Survivors include her husband, Will Collins of Houston; daughters, Brenda Cooper of Corrigan, and Debria Black and De'Monica Jefferson, both of Houston; sons, Ervin Jefferson of Huntsville, Curtis Jefferson of Leggett, and Elroy Jefferson, Leroy Jefferson, Eric Jefferson and La'Martin Collins, all of Houston; aunts, Josephine Dewalt, Willie Mae Mays, Roxie Mays and Vernice Mays, all of Leggett; uncles, Morris Mays Sr. and Milton Mays, both of Leggett; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends. Peaceful Rest Mortuary in Diboll was in charge of arrangements.

Betty Jo Ragan
LIVINGSTON - Funeral services for Betty Jo Ragan, 67, were held Wednesday, April 9, 2003, from the Cochran Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Melvin Green officiating. Burial followed in Oakdale Cemetery in Polk County. Mrs. Ragan died Monday, April 7, at her residence in Alvin. She was born Aug. 14, 1935 in Palestine, the daughter of Roy Lee Hogg and Florence Elizabeth Chism Hogg. She married Rudolph Ragan on Dec. 31, 1968 in Indian Rocks Beach, Fla. Mrs. Ragan was a member of Riverside Methodist Church in Jacksonville, Fla. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Edward Hogg and sister, Gladys Dehart. Survivors include her husband, Rudolph Ragan of Alvin; son and daughter-in-law, Bruce and Lori Ragan of Pleasanton, Calif.; daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth and Tommy Doler of Wadley, Ala.; brothers and sisters-in-law, Billy and Jo Ann Hogg of Livingston and Johnny and Kathrine Hogg of Livingston; sister and brother-in-law, Margie and Truett Sorley of Alief; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; three nieces and four nephews. Pallbearers were Calvin Hogg, Wayne Hogg, Wayne Hogg Jr., Donald Sorley and Phillip McKenna.

Harold E. Rutledge
LIVINGSTON - Harold E. Rutledge, formerly of Jackson, Mich., died April 6, 2003 in Livingston. A retired deputy chief of the Jackson Police Department in Michigan, he was born Oct. 11, 1928 in Jackson, the son of Loren and Bertha Rutledge. Survivors include his wife, Alma of Livingston, whom he married on April 30, 1958 in Celina, Tenn.; two sons, Alan of Michigan and Kurt of Arkansas; three daughters, Susan Rutledge of Texas, Gloria Loring of California and Lisa Kyes of Ten-nessee; eight grandchildren and two great-grandsons. Deer Park Funeral Directors was in charge of arrangements.