Published: October 06, 2006 11:14 am      

Obituaries — Oct. 6, 2006

BRENDA KAY MAGES

Brenda Kay Mages, 54, passed away on October 2, 2006, just two weeks before her 55th birthday and after a long battle with melanoma. Preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Elsie Graham, Brenda leaves her sisters, Sheila Hussein, Charlene Shasteen, Rita Greer and Annie Capps, along with her brothers, Weldon Ray Graham, Ronnie Graham and Gary Graham.

Brenda was married from 1973-1975 to Frank Mages, who preceded her in death in January 1996.

Brenda lived a unique life in that she had an extraordinary amount of knowledge gained through her vast work experience, experience that spanned from occupations in the aerospace industry to real estate. A lover of the outdoors, especially the ocean, she treasured the time she spent in the sun and outside, from just walking her beloved dogs to gardening.

She lived a vibrant life that mirrored her own vitality. She leaves a library of memories that her family and friends will forever treasure as we lovingly remember her, knowing that now she is in a better place, surrounded by God, as well as those she loved who also preceded her in death.

The memorial mass for Brenda will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, October 9 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Gainesville, Texas, with a memorial to be held directly afterwards at St. Mary’s Parish Hall.

Death is nothing at all,

I have only slipped away into the next room,

Whatever we were to each other, That we still are.

Call me by my old familiar name,

Put no difference in your tone,

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?

All is well.

Henry Scott Holland, Canon of St. Paul’s Cathedral

ADV.



MARK RICHARD PENNER

Services for Mark Richard Penner, 48, of Gainesville are pending with the Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home of Gainesville.



DELBERT RAY REECE

Graveside services for Delbert Ray Reece, 73, of Saint Jo were conducted at 4 p.m. Oct. 5, 2006, in the Mt. Park Cemetery in Saint Jo with Rev. Sam Campbell officiating. Services were directed by McCoy Funeral Home.

Mr. Penner died Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2006, at a Bowie nursing home.

He was born April 1, 1933, in Bellmire to Roy and Tina Mae (Stone) Reece. He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving in the US Army. He was a retired welder.

Survivors include his daughter, Ella McInally of Roy, Utah; sons, Dale Reece of Iowa Park and Jerry Reece of Sunset, Utah; sister, Helen Dunnagan of Los Animas, Colo., and several grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Tina Mae Reece; an infant son; sisters, Wilma Harvey and Marcell Lewis; brothers, Valfred and Mark Reece .



VIVA LEE BRANNAN

WHITESBORO — Funeral services for Viva Lee Brannan, 80, are set for 10 a.m. Monday at Meador Funeral Home Chapel in Whitesboro. Officiating ministers include Rev. Mike Flanagan, Dr. Eddie Johnson, and Dr. Paul Duckett. Interment will follow Monday afternoon at a private family gathering at the Sand Flat Cemetery in Viva Lee’s hometown of Grand Saline.

Mrs. Brannan died Oct. 4, 2006.

She was born on Oct. 22, 1925, in Grand Saline to Velma and Elsie Box. While a student at Van High School, she won the Texas State Doubles Tennis Championship. She married Boyce D. Brannan on July 8, 1943. While Boyce served in the Seabees, Viva Lee spent the war years serving stateside as one of the original “Rosie the Riveters” building B-29 bombers. She earned her LVN degree and served as a nurse at the Denton State School. She also served as a pastor’s wife and church pianist. She was a member of the Mary and Martha Sunday School class of the First Baptist Church of Whitesboro.

Viva Lee is survived by her husband, Rev. Boyce D. Brannan; sons and daughters-in-law, Sid and Jane Brannan of Whitesboro, Steve and Linda Brannan of Aubrey, and Ted and Karen Brannan of Whitesboro; eight grandchildren; and ten great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her son, Tim.

To sign the online registry, go to www.meadorfuneralhome.com.



MILLIE JEAN RUSSELL

WHITESBORO — Services for Millie Jean Russell, 73, of Whitesboro are set for 2 p.m. today with Rev. Harold Watson, pastor emeritus of First Baptist Church in Whitesboro, officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Wood Cemetery in Whitesboro under the direction of the Clement-Keel Funeral Home of Gainesville.

Mrs. Russell died Oct. 3, 2006, in Whitesboro.

She was born June 2, 1933, in Marysville to Clarence and Thelma (Morris) Sutton. On July 10, 1949, she married V.L. “Burt” Russell in Saint Jo. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Whitesboro and the Whitesboro History Club. She was an honorary Club Mother of the Contemporary Woman’s Club in Whitesboro.

Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law, Judy and Norman Aston of Sherman and Jane and Brian Parish of Whitesboro; six grandsons; one granddaughter; two great-grandsons; and brother and sister-in-law, C.L. and Mary Sutton of Gainesville.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, V.L. “Burt” Russell on Sept. 30, 1987; daughter, Janis Johnson; and sister, Betty Jo Sutton.

Pallbearers are Mike Case, Jackie Mitchell, Randy Sanders, Harvey Clark, Stanley Welch and Lewis Cavin.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grayson County Home Hospice; P.O. Box 2306; Sherman, TX 75091 or First Baptist Church; 129 Center; Whitesboro, TX 76273.

ADV.



ROBERTA J. CUNDIFF

COLLINSVILLLE — Memorial service for Roberta J. Cundiff, 61, of Collinsville is set for 4 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church in Collinsville with Rev. Jerry Davis officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of the Huff Funeral Home of Pilot Point.

Ms. Cundiff died Monday, Sept. 25, 2006, at Wilson N. Jones Hopsital in Sherman.

She was born July 14, 1945 in Elmhurst, Ill., to Robert Franklin Cundiff and Dorothy McGlynn Drew. She was retired from United Airlines where she worked more than 40 years as a customer service representative and worked at Wal-Mart as a cake decorator. She was a Methodist.

Survivors include her daughter, Angela Betancourt of Hawthorne, Calif., and Collinsville; mother, Dorothy Drew of Collinsville; two grandchildren; brothers and sisters-in-law, Bill and Ina Cundiff of Collinsville and Audie and Linda Sue Cundiff of Collinsville; sisters and brothers-in-law, Melinda Wiseman of Collinsville, Shelly and Hank Bailey of Madill, Okla., Tina Vandervort of Ontario, N.Y., Annette and Rusty Schleiser of Collinsville and Beth and Dean Bowling of Sherman.

No visitation is planned.



MILDRED L. (HALL) NEFF

A memorial service in celebration of the life of Mildred “Millie” Neff, 73, is set for 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, 2006, at the Slidell Baptist Church in Slidell.

Mrs. Neff died Sept. 12, 2006, at the home of her sister and brother-in-law, Sharon and Jim Brixey in Buffalo, Mo.

She was born March 8, 1933, in Bolivar.

Survivors included her daughter and son-in-law, Gay Lynn and Bob Burks of Dallas; two granddaughters; one great-grandson; one sister and brother-in-law, Sharon and Jim Brixey of Buffalo, Mo.; one brother, Frank N. Hall of Reno, Nev.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, W.T. and May Hall; and five brothers.

Memorials may be made to the Ozark Mountain Community Church in Blue Eye, Mo., where she was an active member.



LENA MAUDE LINN

DALLAS — Graveside service for Lena Maude Linn, 95, of Dallas, formerly of Gainesville, is set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Fairview Cemetery Pavilion with Rev. Herman Plott of Whaley United Methodist Church officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of the Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home of Gainesville.

Mrs. Linn died Oct. 2, 2006, at her residence.

She was born Sept. 6, 1911, in Garland to M.A. and Mattie Campbell Stout. She was a teacher in the Gainesville Independent School District for more than 40 years. She was a graduate of North Texas State University, earning a master’s degree. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma organization in Gainesville and the Whaley United Methodist Church.

Survivors include her daughter, Marion Beth Renz of Dallas; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Linn; and two brothers.

No visitation is planned.