Denton Fluker
Thursday, December 05, 2002
Rev. Denton Fluker, 47, former pastor of First Baptist Church of Briar, died Nov. 24, 2002 in a Beaumont hospital from complications of diabetes. Services were held at 2 p.m., Nov. 27, at Central Baptist Church in Kirbyville. The love and respect he received was demonstrated by the attendance of over 35 pastors at his service. Rev. Fluker was born Sept. 7, 1954, the youngest child of Terry E. and Jane Bonner Fluker. He enjoyed a happy childhood growing up in Lake Jackson with his sisters, Ann and Linda. He became a Christian at the age of 15 through the youth ministry of his home church, First Baptist Church Lake Jackson. He graduated from Brazoswood High School in 1973. While pursuing an engineering degree at Texas A&M, he met Julianne King and they were married July 2, 1977. They were both actively involved in full-time ministry. He graduated in August 1978 with a BS in engineering technology. They moved to Fort Worth where he attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and worked part-time as a draftsman at North Texas Steel. Their son, Russell Lee Fluker, was born on Mr. Fluker’s birthday in 1982. Three months later Mr. Fluker graduated from Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree. He went on staff at Southcliff Baptist Church in Fort Worth as minister of Evangelism and Outreach. Nathan Hayes Fluker was born on their anniversary in 1985. Rev. Fluker served as pastor of Ryanwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth and First Baptist Church of Briar in Azle. Shelby Jane Fluker was born March 13, 1992, while they lived in Azle. Rev. Fluker pastored at Roganville Baptist Church in August of 1993. He was active in many community activities includeing volunteering at Kirbyville schools and working on the annual Kirbyville Passion Play. Survivors include his wife Julianne; sons, Russell, a sophomore at A&M and Nathan, a junior at Roganville High School; and daughter, Shelby, a fifth grader. A memorial fund has been established for his family at First Bank in Azle. To make a deposit use the account #1254879 and include your name on the deposit slip.

Nettie Bell
Thursday, December 05, 2002
Nettie Maude Jones Bell, 78, died Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2002, in Azle. Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday in Damascus Cemetery under the direction of Curry Welborn Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant. Mrs. Bell was born in 1924 in Mount Pleasant. She married Dennis Bell on Feb. 18, 1946. He was in the U.S. Army. Mrs. Bell was widowed on June 11, 1949. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis; her mother, Una Shara Rhea; her father, Paul Jones; sister, Patsy Owens; and brothers, Wayne Owens and Billy Rex Owens. Survivors include her sons, Darrell Jess Bell of Springtown, Dennis Paul Bell of Azle; sisters, Evelyn Martin and Donna Sue Mebanks, both of Mt. Pleasant, Nan Lloyd and Jan Larsen, both of Billevee, Washington; brothers, Donnie Owens and Dane Owens, both of Mt. Vernon; daughters-in-law, Carolyn Bell and Beverly Bell; grandsons, Gary and Ryan Bell; and great-grandson, Henry Bell; four sisters-in-law; and five brothers-in-law.

Herschel Montgomery
Thursday, December 05, 2002
Herschel Arthur Montgomery, 90, one of Benbrook’s founding fathers, died Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2002, at a Benbrook nursing facility. Services were held at 2 p.m. Monday in Mid-Cities Funeral Home Chapel in Haltom City, under the direction of longtime friends Floyd, Nell and Kate Moore. Entombment was in Greenwood Mauseleum. Mr. Montgomery was born Nov. 17, 1912, and moved to Benbrook in 1929. He was a manager for Quik Sack grocery in Benbrook for many years and was Benbrook’s favorite Santa Claus until he hung up his Santa hat in 1983. Many children, shut-ins and seniors enjoyed “Santa Herschel” throughout the holidays. He was one of the original members of Lakeside Church of Christ. He volunteered to drive to Millsap in his Model T pick-up to haul the rocks to construct the first church in 1933 on land donated by Mr. Z. Boaz and is still used today as the American Legion. Herschel was a member of the Benbrook Lions Club and served as a former city councilman. He owned several rent houses in Benbrook and worked for many years as a security guard for the Corps of Engineers greeting visitors at Holiday Park. After retirement, he volunteered as a school crossing guard at Benbrook Elementary School. Longtime Benbrook residents will always remember Herschel’s log cabin, which he pulled on a trailer in the Benbrook parades for many, many years. Mr. Montgomery was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, in 1985 and their only child, Hershel Douglas, in 1991. Survivors include his sister, Dorothy Montgomery and husband, L.T., of Weatherford; nephew, Royce Montgomery of Weatherford; and a host of friends.

Ray Young
Thursday, December 05, 2002
Ray “Hat” Young, 60, a retired farmer, died Thursday, Nov. 28, 2002. Services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Lawson Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Morgan Cemetery. Mr. Young was born July 29, 1942, in Marble Falls. Survivors include his son, Billy Ray Young of Valley Mills; daughters, Cheryl Young of Valley Mills, Teresa Young of Austin and Rayleen Evans of Hewitt; brothers, Alton Young of Buffalo, Gene Young of Springtown and Bill Young of Meridian; sisters, Flonnie Payne of Morgan and Marie Patrick of Cranfills Gap; and four grandchildren.

Betty Tatum
Thursday, December 05, 2002
Betty Jo Dotson Tatum, 72, died after a short bout with cancer Friday, Nov. 29, 2002, in Fort. Worth. Graveside services were held at 10 a.m. Monday at Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of White’s Azle Funeral Home. Mrs. Tatum was born Feb. 12, 1930, in Hawley to Dolf and Lela Dotson. She was a former resident of Abilene, Big Spring and Snyder and was retired from the Azle ISD. She married Jimmie John Tatum of Baird on April 19, 1946.s Mrs. Tatum was preceded in death by an infant son, Terry; parents; grandson, Todd Steven Tatum; husband, Jim; and brothers, Wayne, Aubrey, Horace and Walter Dotson. Survivors include her sons, Jerry Tatum and wife, Darlene and Larry Tatum and wife, Linda, all of Azle; granddaughters, Kim Gestring and husband, Nathan, of Azle, Michele Nelson and husband, Robert, of White Settlement, Melissa, Tara and Brandi Tatum, all of Azle; great-grandchildren, Colton, Jackson, Emily, Reese and Bailey; brother, Chancel Dotson and wife, Mary; sisters, Essie Russell, Beth Vincent, Gladys Van Cleave, Neva Stanley and Glennie Baxter; sisters-in-law, Tina Dotson and Rosemary Martin; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

John Waters
Thursday, December 05, 2002
John F. Waters, Sr., 81, a retired building inspector for the city of Dallas, died Friday, Nov. 29, 2002, in Fort Worth. Services were held at 11 a.m. Monday at Lakeside Baptist Church. Mr. Waters was born Nov. 25, 1921, in Cisco to David and Nancy Bartlett Waters. He was an U.S. Army Air Corps veteran. Survivors include his wife, June M. Waters of Granbury; sons, John F. Waters, Jr. of Fort Worth, James B. Waters of Irving and William A. Waters of Arlington; daughters, Barbara L. Scott of Midlothian, Betsy N. Mineo of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Marianna LePori of Hurst and Theresa Woodson of Dallas; 14 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and sister, Nell Lovett of Odessa.

Oneida Oxford
Thursday, December 05, 2002
Oneida Oxford, 77, died Thursday, Nov. 28, 2002, at her home in Springtown. Services were held at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2, at First United Methodist Church. Burial was in Springtown Cemetery under the direction of White’s Funeral Home. Mrs. Oxford was a resident of Springtown since 1944. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Springtown and the Quilting Club. She was a loving mother and grandmother and loved to visit with her grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Hollis Oxford, and grandson, Brandon Oxford. Survivors include her sons, Kenny Oxford and wife, Pam, of Jacksboro, Danny Oxford and wife, Peggy, of Mesquite, Tommy Oxford and wife, Judy, of Springtown, and Joey Oxford and wife, Kathy, of Fort Worth; sister, Winona Hanning of Fort Worth; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Sam Montgomery
Thursday, December 05, 2002
Sam Montgomery, 77, died Sunday, Nov. 24, 2002 in Fort Worth. Services were held Tuesday, Nov. 26, in the chapel of Hampton-Vaughan Crestview with Bro. Richard Moore, Faith Tabernacle officiating. Arrangements were made by Hampton-Vaughan Crestview. Mr. Montgomery was born May 24, 1925 in Quanah to the late Robert and Ollie (Reid) Montgomery. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy dury World War II. On Jun 8, 1946 he married Lillian Ruth Hobbs. He was a popular local musician and drove a truck for Grozier & Mann Company. Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Lillian of Springtown; sons, Sammy Burt Montgomery of Wichita Falls and Troy Montgomery and wife, Dana of Azle; daughter, Sharon Johnson of Iowa Park; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Joanna Gardner
Thursday, December 05, 2002
Joanna G. Gardner, 74, a retired poet, died Friday, Nov. 22, 2002, at her Azle residence. Services were held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Biggers Funeral Chapel. Burial was in Moore Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Gardner was born Sept. 4, 1938, in Washington, D.C., and had been a Tarrant County resident since 1948. She was a former real estate agent and enjoyed writing poems, a number of which were published. She was a loving mother and grandmother, who was always a true lady. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Jacqueline M. Cotton, and by her husband, Robert D. Gardner. Survivors include his daughters, Gilda Brawley and Kandie Colleen Hillin, both of Azle; son, Tommy O. Pearson of National City, California; seven grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Jimmy Walton
Thursday, December 05, 2002
Jimmy Ray Walton, 76, an auto salesman, died Monday, Nov. 25, 2002, at a Fort Worth care center. No services will be held at this time. Mr. Walton was born Nov. 18, 1926, in Fort Worth. Survivors include his son, Martin Walton of Azle; brothers, Leon Walton of Haltom City and Bob Walton of Fort Worth. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.

Lisa Grubbs
Thursday, December 05, 2002
Lisa Wadley Grubbs, 40, died Saturday, Nov. 30, 2002, at a local hospital. Services were held at noon Monday at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Lake Worth. Mrs. Grubbs was the daughter of Ken and Carol Wadley of Amarillo. She was born April 16, 1962, in Amarillo. Lisa loved God and family. Her family was the purpose of her life. She will be missed by many. She was preceded in death by her grandfather John Timicisko, Fred and Juanita Wadley. Survivors include her husband, Billy Grubbs; daughter, April DelaCruz and husband, Michael; grandchildren, Jacob and Julia DelaCruz, Amanda Grubbs and Tabitha Grubbs; parents, Ken and Ashley Wadley; grandmother, Jean Timicisko; great-grandmother, Maude Prudin; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Mabel Parker
Thursday, December 05, 2002
Mabel Parker, 75, of Wichita Falls, died Sunday, Dec. 1, 2002. Services were held at 2 p.m., Dec. 4 in the chapel of Owens & Brumley Funeral Home of Wichita Falls with the Rev. Bob Christmas officiating. Burial was in Burkburnett Cemetery. Pallbearers were Chris Parker, Terry Lee Parker, Bradley George, Scott Parker, Nathan Parker and Tom Robison. Mrs. Parker was born on July 16, 1927 to the late Joseph Francis and Rebecca Frances Dollar Dawson in Caney, Oklahoma. She married L. Coolidge Parker in Sherman, Texas on Feb. 16, 1948. They moved to Wichita Falls in 1961 and became members of the Jefferson Street Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Homer and Bus Dawson. Survivors include her husband of 54 years, L. Coolidge Parker of Wichita Falls; children, Dan Parker and wife, Sammye of Lancaster, Terry Parker and wife, Vickie of Wichita Falls, Linda George and husband, Bill of Azle and Keith Parker and wife, Angie of Iowa Park; sisters, Gladys Davis of Wichita Falls, Marie Carroll and husband, Berley of Denison and Ruby Case of Atoka, Oklahoma; brother, Earl Dawson and wife, Annie of Atoka Oklahoma; 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Arthritis Foundation.