Obituaries — July 1, 2008

July 01, 2008 11:51 am

— BILL BESS
Services for Bill Bess, 96, of Saint Richards Villa in Muenster (formerly of Saint Jo) are scheduled for 10 a.m., Wednesday at the McCoy Funeral Chapel in Saint Jo. Burial will follow in Dye Mound Cemetery, with C.E. Cole officiating, under the direction of McCoy Funeral Home.
Mr. Bess was born Aug. 4, 1911, in Dye Mound. He married Hazel Lumley on May 8, 1930.
He grew up in the Dye Mound area and attended school there through the eighth grade. He was raised primarily by his grandmother Leona Bess because his mother Jenny had died when he was very young.
Bess worked primarily as a ranch hand for the Flying B Ranch. He liked fishing, quail hunting with his dogs and was a domino player. Bill also had worked as a farmer where he raised different crops working as a sharecropper for the Summers family.
He and his wife lived together in Saint Jo until about 2003 when they became room mates at Saint Richards Villa. They recently celebrated their 78th wedding anniversary.. Attending the celebration was their daughter, grandchildren, great, and great-great grandchildren, and all of Hazel’s nieces, nephews and cousins, totaling more than 100 people. This was held at Lake Texoma in conjunction with the Lumley-Cook family reunion.
Survivors include his wife Hazel Lumley Bess of Muenster, daughter Bessie Johnson of Wichita Falls, six grandsons, five great grandchildren, seven great-great grandchildren and a sister, Ruth (Pat) Baker of Saint Jo.
He was preceded in death by his parents Clyde and Jenny Oldham Bess, daughter Lorene Bess Steadham Paul, son L.B. Bess, two grandsons, a great-grandson and his brother, Happy Bess.
Pallbearers will be Wayne Moore, David Kucinski, Kenneth Duke, George Baker, Lloyd Thomas, and Marshall Thomas.
Honorary bearers will be Billy Johnson, Robert Johnson, Rodger Johnson, Michael Johnson, Jimmy Don Steadham and Danny Steadham.
A visitation is set for 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday at the funeral home.

MINNIE HOLLIMAN
Services for Minnie Holliman, 85, of Gainesville are set for 4 p.m. Thursday at Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at 3 p.m. Saturday at PineCrest Memorial Park in Little Rock, Ark.
Mrs. Holliman died Saturday, June 28, 2008, at North Texas Medical Center in Gainesville.
She was born March 6, 1925, to Yerger and Minnie Mae Gardner Garvin.
She was a member of Temple Baptist Church and was employed as a bookkeeper during her working life.
Holliman is survived by two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William B. Holliman, on Nov. 11, 2000, and by a daughter and son-in-law, Doris and Giles Katz.
A visitation is set from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Temple Baptist Church building fund.
An online registry may be signed at www.geojcarroll.com.

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OTIS LEE JAMES JR.
Otis Lee James, Jr. passed away in Dallas, Texas on June 23, 2008 at the age of 81. Born on July 18, 1926 in Forth Worth, Texas, he is pre-deceased by his father Otis Lee James, Sr. and mother Isabella Storrie James.
Survived by his wife Gretchen Hall James; stepchildren Heidi H. Bass, Audrey Hall, Robert A. Hall, Jr. and 3 step-grandchildren; sister Mary Beth and her husband Jack Williamson; John Williamson, nephew; Julie Whitcomb, niece.
He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and was a Merchant Marine.
He graduated from Rice University and then received his Masters from the University of Texas at Austin. He was an independent oil producer and a member of the Texas Alliance of Energy.
Otis was an avid tennis player, world traveler, and Dallas Cowboys fan. He could often be found barbequing with friends and family and could always be relied upon to update you about the weather. Otis loved to laugh, and never failed to bring a smile to everyoneís face.
Whether reminiscing about his rollicking times in San Francisco before shipping out during World War II, or recounting his flight aboard the DH-106 Comet, the first commercial jet airliner to reach production, he always had a story to tell and was a font of information.
He will be forever loved and greatly missed. You are in our hearts forever and we thank you for blessing us with your love.
Services to be held at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home and Memorial Park on Tuesday July 1, 2008 at 2:00 PM.
Memorials may be made to the SPCA 362 S. Industrial Ave, Dallas, TX 75207 PH: 214-651-9611 or the charity of your choice.
Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home 7405 West Northwest Highway Dallas, TX 75225 PH: (214) 363-5401
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ROBERT ‘BOB’ HILL
SHERWOOD SHORES — Services for Robert “Bob” Gene Hill, 80, are set for 10 a.m., Wednesday at Meador Funeral Home Chapel of Whitesboro, with Jeremy Parham of Victory Hospice officiating. Burial will follow at Liberty Cemetery in Grayson County, Texas.
Mr. Hill died at his home in Sherwood Shores on Sunday, June 29, 2008.
He was born on Jan. 10, 1928 in Leonard to Carl and Mable May (Knowles) Hill. He was in the United States Army from 1954 to 1956. Hill enjoyed fishing from sunup to sundown every day that he was able to fish. He was a handy man and he loved to go dancing with his sweetheart, Dee Delarosa. Hill never missed a Texas Rangers ballgame on television and he was also a big fan of the Dallas Cowboys.
He is survived by his children, Rebecca Sparks of Arlington and Jimmy Gene Hill of Saginaw; grandchildren, Matt Sparks of Norman, Okla., Kelly Hill of Tempe, Ariz., and Daniel Sparks of Austin; a sister, Dorothy Jaynes, and husband, William, of Sherwood Shores; niece, Margaret Story, of Eustace; nephew, Carl Garmon of Rowlett; and great-niece, Angela Dooley of Eustace.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Roy Joe “Jack” Hill and a baby sister.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
An online registry may be signed at www.meadorfuneralhome.com.

PAULINE SHIRLEY HARDWICK
GORDONVILLE — Services for Pauline Shirley (Walthall) Hardwick, 85, are set for 1 p.m. Tuesday at Faith Baptist Church in Gordonville with the Rev. Jim Hardwick officiating. Burial will follow at Wear Cemetery in Collin County, under the direction of Meador Funeral Home of Whitesboro.
Mrs. Hardwick died Sunday, June 29, 2008, in Arlington.
She was born on June 25, 1923, in McKinney to Ruel Ivan and Agnes Corinne (Shurley) Walthall. She married Elmer M. Hardwick on July 16, 1949, in McKinney, and was a homemaker.
Survivors include: two sons, M.D. Hardwick and wife Sharon of Garland and Jim Hardwick and wife Jackie of Gordonville; a daughter, Paula Hatley and husband Larry of Burleson; a sister, Jean Cook of Wichita Falls; 14 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
A visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
An online registry may be signed at www.meadorfuneralhome.com.

HELEN LOUISE CHAMES
Services for Helen Louise Chames, 90, of Gunter are set for 7 p.m. Tuesday at College Hill Church of Christ at Hilltop Haven, with Allen Luker of the church officiating. Burial will follow at Restland Funeral Home 10 a.m. Wednesday with the Rev. R. Jerry Mahle of Tioga United Methodist Church officiating. Dannel Funeral Home of Sherman is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Chames passed away Saturday, June 28, 2008, at Hilltop Haven in Gunter.
Helen was born in Chicago, Ill., on Nov. 25, 1917, to Evan and Elva Springer. Her mother died during the influenza epidemic of 1918, leaving four little ones; Helen, Leland, Marjorie and Margaret. Helen and Leland were adopted by Joe and Ella Daniels and raised in Greenville, Ill. Helen attended high school in Greenville and Greenville College. In 1943, the married professor Sam Ford of Windom and moved to Conroe, where he was teaching. Their daughter Mary was born in Conroe. Later Professor Ford taught at Texas A&M in College Station, where their daughter Martha was born.
In 1954, Helen married George Chames and welcomed his children, Victoria and Thomas into the fold. They lived on Royal Lane in Dallas. She worked as a switchboard receptionist for State Farm in Dallas for 20 years. In 1970 George and Helen retired and built a home at Lake Kiowa. For the next 10 years they owned and operated the Chames Interior and Decorating Shop in Gainesville. They were active members of Whaley United Methodist Church. Helen organized the Lake Kiowa Volunteer Fire Auxilliary and was a charter member of the Kiowa Women’s Club, Gourmet Club, Garden Club, Golf Club and Sunday Morning Worship Service.
After her husband George passed away in 1992, Helen moved to Gainesville and later to Wesley Village in Denison. In 2003, she went to live with her daughter, Mary, in Tioga, where she was an active member of the Tioga United Methodist Church. In 2006 she moved to Hilltop Haven in Gunter.
Helen was a loving wife, mother and grandmother who stayed busy helping her church and community. She always said her wealth was not in money, but in a host of friends who came her way. Her final wish is that people will say “With God’s help, she tried.”
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her adopted parents, her husbands Sam Ford and George Chames, brother Leland and sister Margaret. Survivors include her children: Martha and George Epp of Van Alstyne, Mary and Robert Parrott of Tioga, Victoria Chames of Oakland, Calif., and Dr. Thomas Chames of Pilot Point. Also surviving are her sister Marjorie Fehsel of Crestwood, Ill., five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, as well as a host of nieces and nephews and many friends.
Memorials may be made to the Tioga United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 205, Tioga, Texas, 76271 or to College Hill Church of Christ, P.O. Box 7, Gunter, Texas.
You may sign the online guestbook at www.dannelfuneralhome.com
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JOHN G. BONNER
FORT BELVOIR, Va. — Services for John G. Bonner, 83, of Fort Belvoir, Va, formerly of Gainesville, are set for 10 a.m. July 9 at Arlington National Cemetery.
Mr. Bonner died May 25, 2008, at The Fairfax retirement community in Fort Belvoir.
He was born in Gainesville Jan. 8, 1925. He is the son of the late John Giliam Bonner and Rowena Dauritay Bonner of Gainesville.
He later attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas before serving in the U.S. Navy from 1943-47. He graduated from SMU in 1948 and attended the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif., until 1951.
He then worked for the Central Intelligence Agency, retiring in 1971.
His commercial work was exhibited in the Art Director’s Show in Washington. Hi memberships included the Torpedo Factory Art Group.
He lived in Alexandria, Va., from 1954 until moving to Fort Belvoir in December.
Survivors include his wife, Eleanor Ladd Bonner, of Fort Belvoir, and a son, Walter G. Bonner of Gulf Shores, Ala.
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ONITA FAYE (EVANS) HEWLETT
WHITESBORO — Funeral services for Onita Faye (Evans) Hewlett, 77, are set for 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at Meador Funeral Home Chapel in Whitesboro with Kingsley “Duke” Dowling officiating.
Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Whitesboro.
Mrs. Hewlett died Monday, June 30, 2008 at Denton Regional Medical Center in Denton.
She was born on October 1, 1930 to Rube and Effie Mae (Rogers) Evans in Throckmorton County, Texas. She married John C. Hewlett and was a homemaker.
She is survived by four sons, Dennis Hewlett and wife Carol of Sanger, Randy Hewlett and wife Jerri of Valley View, Barry Hewlett of Dallas and Scott Hewlett and wife Micki of Prosper; two brothers, W.C. Evans of Sherman and Harrell D. Evans of Whitesboro; 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Rube and Effie Evans and husband, John C. Hewlett.
Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
There is no scheduled visitation.
To sign the online registry, go to www.meadorfuneralhome.com

EARL W. HUGHES
GORDONVILLE — Funeral services for Earl W. Hughes, 100, are set for held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at Gordonville Baptist Church in Gordonville with Rev. Rusty Waller officiating. Services are under the direction of Meador Funeral Home of Whitesboro. Interment will follow services at Gordonville Cemetery in Gordonville.
Mr. Hughes died Monday, June 30, 2008 at the Whitesboro Nursing Center.
He was born on April 23, 1908 in Liberty, Texas to Gus and Mollie (McCarley) Hughes. He married Cordia Mae Cecil on February 7, 1934 at Cedar Mills. Earl was a trucker and a cattleman. He was a member of Gordonville Baptist Church and Gordonville Masonic Lodge #536 AF&AM.
He is survived by a son, Keith Hughes and wife Karol of Gordonville; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Cordia Hughes; a daughter, Shirley Yvonne Hughes and his parents, Gus and Mollie Hughes.
Pallbearers are Art LaBoon, Brandon Hughes, Roy Holmes, Charles Winchester, Frankie Lee Denton and Gene Herron.
Visitation is set for 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 1 at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Gordonville Baptist Church, P.O. Box 608, Gordonville, Texas 76245

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JOYCE MARTIN
ADA — Services for Joyce Sue Martin, 82, Ada, are 10 a.m. Thursday at the Criswell Funeral Home Chapel with Bud Ross officiating. A committal service is set for 3 p.m. Thursday at the Era Cemetery in Era.
Mrs. Martin died Monday, June 30, 2008 at a Stonewall nursing home. She was born October 1, 1925 at Era to John O. and Pearl McKinney Waggoner. She attended Hayes school in Texas and graduated from Gainesville High School in 1943. She also attended St. Mary’s Business School in Gainesville, Texas, and Odessa Junior College in Odessa, Texas.
She married Gene Martin on June 29, 1946 in GainesvilleHe preceded her in death. Mrs. Martin was an educational secretary until her retirement. She was a member of the Central Church of Christ.
Survivors include a son, Steve Martin, Midland, Texas; a daughter, Paula Willett and husband Bill, Ada; four grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; sisters, Roxie Schoppaul, Springfield, Missouri, Reba Beall, Azel, Texas, and Billie Morrow, Austin,Texas; and a sister-in-law, Zelma Snow, Chandler, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a son, David Martin, 7 brothers, and 2 sisters.
Bearers will be Hugh Brashier, Bennie Cope, Bill Adams, Todd Crabtree, Tom Stephens, and Bill Nelson. Honorary bearers will be Dr. Troy Norred, Charles Barrick, and Dr. Patrick O’Neill.
The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Wednesday at Criswell Funeral Home.

MELVIN DORIS BAILEY
Melvin Doris Bailey, 61, of Gainesville, passed away on Saturday, June 28, 2008, in Denton, Texas.
He was born on May 26, 1947 in Denison, Texas to William Doc and Rosa Lee (Carlile) Bailey. On January 25, 1972, he married Cordellia McDaniel in Gainesville, Texas. He was owner and operator of his own painting company.
Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, July 2, 2008, at New Hope Cemetery.
Survivors include two daughters, Brenda Finch of Gainesville and Elizabeth Turner of Valley View; son, Harold Harwell of Gainesville; four sisters, Nancy Bailey of Valley View, Louise Barron of Gainesville, Lillian Gatlin of Denton, and Rosa Lee Ruby of Fort Worth, brother, Walter Bailey of Whitesboro; five grandchildren and one great grandchild. His parents, wife, one sister, and one brother precede him in death.
Visitation is set for 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Coker Funeral Home, 403 Pecan Street, Sanger.

“YIPPIE” AVICE MAYE COLLINS
“Yippie” Avice Maye Collins, 94, of Argyle, passed away Saturday, June 28, 2008, at Rambling Oaks Courtyard Extensive Care Community in Highland Village. She was born September 5, 1913 , in Cook County, Texas, to Claude L. Hollandsworth and Mary Naomi Bell Hollandsworth. She graduated from Gainesville High School and Gainesville Junior College. She married Louis R. Gross on October 15, 1934 who preceded her in death in 1969. She then married James H. Collins in 1973 who also preceded her in death in 1978.
She was the former director of the Lake Cities State Bank, former secretary of Kiowa Homeowners Water Supply Corp., former President of the Lake Kiowa Fire Auxiliary, and the former owner of the Lake Dallas Telephone Company. She was an active member of the Argyle United Methodist Church.
She is survived by her daughter, Kitna Armstrong and husband, Reese, of Grapevine; her son, Greg A. Gross and wife, Barbara, of Argyle; her grandchildren, Kelly Holcombe, Camron Gross, Nathan Way, James Cue and Jenifer Alyazdi; great-grandchildren, Ben Holcombe, Sarah and Zach Alyazdi. She is preceded in death by her parents and 3 sisters, Ruby Howard, Grace Riley, Jewel Cochran and 2 brothers, C.L. Hollandsworth, James Hollandsworth.
Visitation will be Tuesday, July 1, 2008, from 6-8 PM at the DeBerry Funeral Directors in Denton. Funeral Service will be Wednesday, July 2, 2008, at 10:00 AM at Argyle United Methodist Church with Revs. Cory Knott, Daniel Humbert and Millard Thomas officiating. Burial will follow at Swisher Cemetery in Lake Dallas, Texas.
Memorials may be made to the Cal Farley Boys Ranch, P. O. Box 1890, Amarillo, Texas, 79174-0001.