W.L. Touchstone
Funeral services for W.L. Touchstone, 79, of Farmersville, were held March 26, 2004, at the First Baptist Church Draper Chapel in Wylie. Interment
followed in the Wylie Cemetery.
Dr. A.L. Draper, the Rev. Billy Joe Harris and the Rev. Thomas Maynard officiated.
Mr. Touchstone died on March 22 at his home.
He was born April 14, 1924 in Dallas County to William L. and Mamie Bell (Casteel) Touchstone. He served in the U.S. Marines during World War II and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Wylie.
Survivors include his wife, Syble (Spruill) Touchstone of Farmersville; daughter, Marion Bird of Joshua; son, Ricky J. Touchstone of Farmersville; brother, Harold Touchstone of Commerce, and four grandchildren.
Arrangements were under the direction of Allen Funeral Home.
Thomas Rayford Smith
Funeral services for Thomas Rayford Smith, 52, of Royse City, were held March 26, 2004 at the First Baptist Church Draper Chapel in Wylie. Interment
followed in the Blue Ridge Cemetery.
Mr. Smith died March 23 in Rowlett.
He was born Nov. 17, 1951 in Peacock to Thomas Alexander and Margaret Jolene (Webb) Smith. He attended First Baptist Church of Wylie and worked for Millineum Circuits.
Survivors include his wife, Gloria J. (Juarez) of Royse City; daughter and son-in-law, Monica and Ben Sullivan of Royse City; sons and daughter-in-law, Chad Alexander Smith of Royse City and Jason John and LaShenna Valdez of Lubbock; parents, Thomas Alexander and Margaret Jolene Smith of Jayton; sisters, Teresa Ann Gregory of Jayton and Deborah Sue Townsend of Fritch; and four grandchildren.
Rachelle O’Neil Tolleson
Funeral services for Rachelle Lynne O’Neil Tolleson, 20, of Farmers-ville, were held March 27, 2004, at the First Baptist Church in Farmersville.
Interment
followed in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery.
Mrs. Tolleson died March 23 in Farmersville.
She was born Jan. 20, 1984, in Garland to Mark and Pamela Muller O’Neil. She was married to Andrew Tolleson on May 18, 2003, in Farmersville.
She was a homemaker and of the Catholic faith.
Survivors include her husband, Andrew Tolleson of Farmersville; daughter, Avery Tolleson of Farmersville; brother, Austin O’Neil of Farmersville; parents, Mark and Pam O’Neil of Farmersville; and grandparents, Victor and Rosemary Muller of Royse City and Jim and Vivian O’Neil of Farmersville.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Rachelle O’Neil Family Trust at the Community Credit Union or Avery Tolleson Trust at First Bank, Farmersville.
Arrangements were under the direction of Hurst’s Fielder-Baker Funeral Home in Farmersville.
Wanda Day-Issitt
Funeral services for Wanda Day-Issitt, 57, were held March 27, 2004, at Allen Funeral Home in Wylie.
Interment
followed at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas.
Mrs. Day-Issitt died March 23.
She graduated from Wylie High School and then received her degree in nursing at Texas Women’s University in Denton.
After years of nursing, she soon realized she had a real compassion to help others in need and went on to receive her master’s in Counseling at Amber University in Dallas. She served her community as a therapist for seven years and extended those same supportive characteristics to her family and friends.
Her hobbies included jewelry making and spoiling her two step-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her son William “Buddy” McLaughlin.
Survivors include her mother, Clara Rains; her husband, Keith Issitt; her daughter, Brandi McFadden; her sister, Clara Riley; her brothers Kenneth, Calvin and Billy Rains; many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great- nephews and a host of loving friends and family.
Pamelia Gail Gracy
Funeral services for Pamelia Gail Gracy, 50, of Royse City, were held March 30, 2004, at Rest Haven Funeral Home-Rockwall Chapel.
Interment
followed in Rest Haven Cemetery.
Ms. Gracy died March 27.
She was born Dec. 7, 1953, in Fort Worth to Billy Floyd and Floriene Ray (Bralley) Gracy.
Survivors include her parents, Billy F. and Floriene Gracy of Royse City; brothers, Stephen Gracy and his wife, Rita, of Nevada and Emmit Shawn Gracy and wife, Michelle, of Royse City; grandparents, Ava Lou Bralley of Wylie and Nora Gracy of Royse City; eight nieces and nephews; and five great nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations made be made to the American Cancer Society, P. O. Box 560089, Dallas, TX 75356-0089 or the Downs Syndrome Foundation, P. O. Box 4542, Oak Brook, IL 60522.
According to family members, “she will be greatly missed by all whose lives she touched.”
Arrangements were under the direction of Rest Haven Funeral Home.
Betty Ruth Williams
Funeral services for Betty Ruth Williams, 69, of Wylie, were held March 29, 2004, at Allen Funeral Home Chapel. Interment
followed in Cottonwood Cemetery. Minister Alvis Nichols officiated.
Mrs. Williams died March 27 at her home.
She was born Dec. 27, 1934, in Liberty Grove to Homer Newton and Minnie Ola (Wells) Foster. She was a member of the Cottonwood Church of Christ.
Survivors include daughters, Teresa L. Phillips of Arlington, Betsy R. Patterson of Wylie and Becka Patterson Nickles of Rowlett; sister, Alline Spence of Nevada; brother, Homer Foster of Rowlett; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Austin Campbell York
Funeral services for Austin Campbell York, 18, of McKinney were held March 17, 2004 at the First Christian Church of McKinney.
Interment
followed at Ridgeview West Memorial Park in Frisco.
Dr. Neill Grimes officiated.
Austin died March 12, in McKinney.
He was born on Feb. 23, 1986, in Oklahoma City, Okla. to Charles and Laurie (Campbell) York. He was a junior at McKinney North High School where he played for the Bulldog football team and competed in track. He also served as the Junior Class secretary in the Student Council and was part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He was employed by Market Street Grocery and was a junior deacon at the First Christian Church in McKinney.
Survivors include his mother, Laurie Wilson and her husband, Steve of McKinney; father, Charles York and his wife, Penny, of San Antonio; siblings, Sydney and Olivia Wilson, both of McKinney, and Sarah and Tyler York, both of San Antonio; grandparents, Howard and Edith York of Granbury and Bobby and Carole Wilson of Okemah, Okla.; and numerous cousins, aunts and uncles.
His grandparents, Marjorie and Bob Campbell of Muskogee, Okla., preceded him in death.
Memorials may be made to the McKinney North Football Booster Club and to the First Christian Church of McKinney.
Matthew Self
Funeral services for Matthew “Matt” Self, 17, of Melissa, were held March 17, 2004, at the First Baptist Church of McKinney. Interment
followed at Ridgeview Memorial Park.
Matthew died March 13, in Dallas.
He was born on Sept. 28, 1986, in McKinney to Keith Wayne and Nancy Lynn (Ringo) Self. He was a junior at McKinney North High School where he was a linebacker for the Bulldog football team. He was also in the Student Council and a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He was a member of Dunn Memorial Baptist Church and attended First Baptist Church in Melissa.
Survivors include his parents, Keith and Nancy Self of Melissa; brother, Jacob Self of Melissa; grandparents, Gerald and Bonnie Self of Melissa and Bill and Pat Vest of Celina; aunts, Kimberly Alexander of Richardson and Candy Martin of Gunter; uncles, Danny Ringo of Weston and Billy Vest of Celina; seven cousins and a number of other relatives.
Memorials may be made to the Matt Self Scholarship Fund and sent to McKinney North High School.
Jessie Woodrow Stone
Funeral services for Jessie Woodrow Stone, of Rowlett, were held March 23, 2004, at Restland Wildwood Chapel in Dallas.
Mrs. Woodrow died on March 19 at her home.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Fred Maurice Stone.
Survivors include her four daughters and three sons-in-law Peggy Knox, Bobbie and Gary Dean, Billie and Jerry Frederick and Jackie and Gary Wilcoxson; 24 grandchildren; 41 great grandchildren; four nephews; and two nieces.
Arrangements were under the direction of Restland Funeral Home.
Joel Thomas Donegan
Graveside services for Joel Thomas Donegan, 22, of Garland, were held March 16, 2004, at the Wylie Cemetery in Wylie.
Pastor Dan Eden officiated.
Mr. Donegan died March 13 in Garland.
He was born Oct. 22, 1981, in Augusta, Ga., to Thomas and Saundra (Wilson) Donegan. He was a welder and worked with his father in the family business.
Survivors include his parents, Thomas and Saundra Donegan of Garland; sisters, Stephanie York of Rowlett, Melissa Ashman of McKinney and Kristi Donegan of Garland; grandmothers, Mrs. Fred Wilson of Macon, Ga., and Mrs. Charles Donegan of Indianapolis, Ind.; and niece, Taylor Marie York of Rowlett.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Joel’s name to Dr. James Dobson Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO 80995.
Arrangements were under the direction of Allen Funeral Home of Wylie.
Leota Hobbs Compton
Funeral services for Leota Hobbs Compton, 91, of Wylie, were held March 15, 2004, at the First Baptist Church of Wylie. Interment
followed at the Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Wolfe City.
Dr. A.L. Draper officiated.
Mrs. Compton died March 11 in Terrell.
She was born July 23, 1912, in Wolfe City to Herman and Arlene (Alexander) Harris. She worked for many years as a children’s dress designer at Johnston’s Clothing in Wylie, and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Wylie.
Survivors include her son, Dr. Edward H. Hobbs of Heath;and two sisters, Naomi Maples of Quitman and Mabel Drum of Commerce.
Arrangements were under the direction of Allen Funeral Home of Wylie.
Waymon Falls
Funeral Services for Waymon Falls will be held at 1:30 p.m., today, Wednesday, March 17, 2004 at Restland Wildwood Chapel in Dallas. Interment
will follow in Restland Memorial Park.
Mr. Falls was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served four years, and a programmer for Texas Instruments.
Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Cora Falls; daughter, Gwendolyn Falls; son, Eric Falls; grandson, Jimmie Koonce; brother, Carroll Falls and his wife, Lynn; and nieces and nephews, Travis, Shannon, Nathan and Sharrie Perry.
He was preceded in death by parents, L.W. and Mary Louise Falls.
Arrangements were under the direction of Restland Funeral Home.
Gloria Swanson Ellis
Funeral services for Gloria Swanson Ellis, 81, of Wylie, were held March 8, 2004, at the First Assembly of God Church in Wylie.
Interment
followed in Mills Cemetery in Garland.
The Rev. Jerry North officiated.
Mrs. Ellis died March 5 in Rowlett after a lengthy illness.
She was born Oct. 29, 1922, in Garland to Chester Olen and Rosa Lee (Willeford) Pelton. She married Robert Eldin Ellis June 14, 1941 in Rockwall. She was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Wylie.
Survivors include her husband, Robert Ellis of Wylie; son, Robert Glen Ellis of Wylie; daughters, Sharon Rose Taylor and Janet Gail Magee, both of Wylie; brothers, Gail Pelton of Wylie and Tom Pelton of Garland; sisters, Lantha Ree Brumit, Nina Green and Wanda Smith, all of Garland, Kate Coe of Forney and Nelda Brand, of Riverside, Calif.; 14 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were under the direction of Allen Funeral Home in Wylie.
Dorletta Mae Ryan
Funeral services for Dorletta Mae Ryan, 66, of Farmersville, were held March 8, 2004, at the Hurst’s Fielder-Baker Funeral Home Chapel in Farmersville. Interment
followed in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Farmersville.
Father Loyd Morris officiated.
Mrs. Ryan died March 3 in Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.
She was born Oct. 4, 1937. in Dickinson, N.D. to Joseph and Ann Grimm Vadniss. She was married Aug. 27, 1955, to John Ryan in Mile City, Mont. She was a seamstress and of the Catholic faith.
Survivors include her husband, John Ryan of Farmersville; daughters, Cathey Collard and her husband Gery of Killeen, Teresa Ryan of Farmersville and Donna McIntyre and her husband Dave of Nevada; son, John Ryan and his wife Jonice of Allen; sisters, Pat Lacy of Farmersville and Susan Walker of Corpus Christi; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Lori Sorrels.
Arrangements were under direction of Hurst’s Fielder-Baker Funeral Home of Farmersville.
Claude G. Housewright
Memorial services for Claude G. Housewright, 86, Dallas, were held March 8, 2004, at the Allen Funeral Home Chapel in Wylie.
Mr. Housewright died March 4 in Dallas.
He was born March 24, 1917, in Murphy to Claude G. Housewright, Sr. and Dessie Elizabeth (Sinclair) Housewright. He married Clara B. (Canada) Housewright April 15, 1942, in Rockwall. He served in the U.S. Navy and was retired from LTV Aerospace.
Survivors include his wife, Clara B. Housewright; son, Ronald J. Housewright; brother, Billy Joe Housewright; and grandchildren, Christopher Housewright and Zachary Housewright.
Arrangements were under the direction of Allen Funeral Home.
William Newton Woods
A memorial service for William “Bill” Newton Woods, 81, of Rockport, was held March 3, 2004, at the Charlie Marshall Funeral Home Chapel in Rockport.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. today, March 10, in the First Baptist Church Wylie, Draper Chapel.
Mr. Woods died Feb. 29 in Corpus Christi.
He was born Nov. 30, 1922, in Lewis, Ind,. to Perry and Madge Woods. He lived in Wylie for many years and was a building foreman for St. John Custom Homes. He was the retired owner and operator of Rockwall Auto Parts in Rockwall.
He and his wife, Mary, traveled extensively for about six years before moving to the Rockport, Fulton area. According to family members, the loves of his life were his wife and fishing
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Mary Woods of Rockport; his son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Sheree Woods of Kaufman; his daughter and son-in-law, Janice and John Enloe of Royse City; his twin sister, Wilma Woodrich of Fort Worth; six grandchildren, Angela, Whitney, Kate, Perry, Shannon and Jon; three great-grandchildren, Austin, Hannah and Amanda; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, William J. Woods; and his brother, Walter Woods.
The family requests no flowers but donations may be made to the American Lung Association, 61 Broadway, New York, NY 10006.
Arrangements were under the direction of Charlie Marshall Funeral Home in Rockport.
William Leroy Bangs
Funeral services for William Leroy Bangs, 61, of Garland, will be held today, March 10, at the Allen Funeral Home Chapel in Wylie. Interment
followed in Sachse Cemetery.
Mr. Bangs died March 7, 2004, in Dallas.
He was born July 5, 1942, in Bonham to E.B. and Vilet Jurhee (Griffin) Bangs. He married the former Josephine Richardson April 13, 1963, in Rockwall. He was retired from the City of Garland where he worked for the street department.
Survivors include his wife, Josephine Bangs of Garland; daughters and sons-in-law, Donna and Lewis Krause of Arlington, Teresa and Danny Yoerg of Garland, and Connie and Dean Smith of Grand Prairie; and six grandchildren.
Arrangements were under the direction of Allen Funeral Home of Wylie.
Mavis Jeanette Hensley
Funeral services for Mavis Jeanette Hensley, 73, of Wylie, were held March 9, 2004, at the First Baptist Church of Wylie. Interment
followed in Wylie Cemetery.
The Rev. Thomas Maynard officiated.
Mrs. Hensley died March 6 in Plano.
She was born Nov. 8, 1931, in Culleoka to Mark C. and Maggie Mae (Welborn) Chandler. She married Ernest S. Hensley June 30, 1951, in Wylie. She was retired from the Resitol Hat Factory in Garland where she made hats.
Survivors include her husband, Ernest Hensley of Wylie; daughters, Dorothy J. Hale of Orange Park, Fla., and Debra S. Hensley of Wylie; son, Darrell V. Hensley of Nevada; sisters, Dorothy Rauh and Geneva Schultz, both of Wylie, and Nadine Knowles of McKinney; brothers, Nathan Chandler of Greenville, Hulen Chandler of Sherman and Hubert Chandler of Gordonville; and five grandchildren..
Gilbert Callaway
A memorial service for Dr. Gilbert Callaway, 78, was held March 8, 2004, at the First Baptist Church of McKinney.
Dr. Callaway died March 6.
He was born Jan. 25, 1926.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Nora Brooks Callaway; three daughters, Connie Atkins, Carla Falkner and Kelly Callaway; three sons-in-law, Donald Atkins, Pat Falkner and Matt Malcolm; four grandchildren, Andy Atkins and his wife, Jennifer, Mark Atkins, Rebekah Falkner and Anna Falkner; one great-grandchild; brother and sister-in-law, Melvin and Geraldine Callaway; and, two sisters, Dorothy Boen and Vera Bell Anderson.
According to family members, when Dr. Callaway was born, his mother was told not to expect him to survive his first year due to a serious heart defect. He lived, and at age 19, began his first pastorate. He went on to pastor several Texas churches, including First Baptist Church in Wylie and First Baptist Church in Lewisville.
In 1963 he earned a doctorate of theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In 1979 he became director of missions for the Collin Baptist Association, a position he held until retirement in 1993. Since then, he has continued to serve in many ways, including as Sunday School teachers, Bible class instructor for the Collin County jail and a Meals-on-Wheels volunteer. In 2001, Dr. Callaway was honored by Texas Gov. Rick Perry and the State of Texas with the Paul and Silas Award for his volunteer work at the jail.
In 2003, Collin Baptist Association honored him for his 60 years of Christian service and the example he has set in his ministry and family life by establishing the annual Gilbert Callaway Love Offering to benefit new and existing Baptist ministries.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts be made to the Gilbert Callaway Collin Baptist Associational Mission Offering, marked “Gilbert Callaway Mission Offering,” 970 S. Hwy 5, McKinney, TX 75069.
According to family, “Perhaps even more important than his formal Christian service is the example Dr. Callaway set in his life as a thoughtful, educated and loving Christian. To family and friends, colleagues, other community leaders, and even strangers, Dr. Callaway has been and will continue to be an inspiration.”
