— STEVEN (JOEY) GILBREATH

8/23/54 - 11/15/12

Funeral services for Steven (Joey) Gilbreath will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, at First Baptist Church Gainesville, conducted by the Rev. Roslyn Eugster.

Visitation is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, at Meador-Clement-Keel Funeral Home.

Joey was born on Aug. 23, 1954, to Amos J. and Elizabeth (Piper) Gilbreath.  

Joey attended Gainesville schools.  He married Sissie Mitchell on May 18, 1973, in Gainesville. Joey worked extensively in the oilfields.  His career began working for Barnes Bros. Wells. In 1975, he went to work for Dowell, an oilfield division of Dowell Chemical.  After five years Joey went to work for his brother Murriel as a driver/sales person for Gilbreath Tank Trucks.  He later worked for Marion Hunger as an oilfield consultant in the early 1980s.  As the oil industry began to decline, Joey returned to Barnes Bros Wells where he remained and worked in many capacities until 1999, when he became the yard manager of Mercer Well Service.  He continued to work there until his health began to decline.

In spring of 2010, Joey's health forced him to retire. His health was sporadic — great some days, and some not. He learned to play BUNCO with great friends and learned to travel some.  He learned to take one day at a time, enjoy it and move on.  He was inspired to keep going from friends and family who refused to let his disability keep him down.  He was a family man who wanted his kids, grandkids and their friends to come to the house and just hangout, play games, build a fire or go swimming.  He just wanted to be around them.

He loved it when they would come to church because he knew the importance of church and a relationship with God. He was also very proud to have them with him.

He loved his family and most importantly his wife. His wife was there through the good and not so good. Sometimes it seemed hard to keep on but she did what needed to be done.

Joey is survived by his wife of 39 years, Sissie; a son, Greg and fiancé Maureen; a daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Robert DeBord and a daughter and son-in-law, Brandi and Michael DeBord; seven grandchildren, Jaycee and Topher Gilbreath, Trevor and Tanner DeBord, Michael Tyler and Marissa and Mason DeBord.  He is also survived by one sister and brother-in-law, Judy and Frank Doss, brother and sister-in-law, Murriel and Carolyn Gilbreath, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Doug and Julie Mitchell and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jackie and Darla Mitchell; mother-in-law, Adene Mitchell; and many nieces and nephews.  

He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Cody and Donnie Gilbreath.

Services are under the direction of Meador-Clement-Keel Funeral Home.  

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

ADV.



DALE SHELDON MOCK

LAKE KIOWA — A memorial service for Dale Sheldon Mock, 72, of Lake Kiowa, is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012, at Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Chapel with J. Ray Smith officiating.

Mr. Mock was born Jan. 11, 1940, in Johnstown, Pa., to Sheldon Earl and Barbara Francis Mock.  

He passed away Nov. 15, 2012, in Denison.

Mr. Mock married the love of his life, Barbara Ann Adams, on May 12, 1962, in Harrisburg, Pa. He was very proud of his hometown, Johnstown, Pa.  Mr. Mock played and excelled at basketball and baseball while attending Albright College in Reading, Pa. Following school, Mr. Mock enjoyed a long career with U.S. Steel, retiring after 38 years.

Survivors include: wife, Barbara Mock of Lake Kiowa; son, Gregory Mock of Winter Park, Colo.; son, Brian Mock and wife, Maria of Southlake; son, Brett Mock and wife, Jennifer of Mebane, N.C.; son, Kerry Mock and wife, Kristin of Cumming, Ga.; and grandchildren Cameron, Rebecca, Trevor, Nathan, Peyton, Sarah, Ashlee, Anna Kate, Lilia and Jenna.

Mr. Mock was preceded in death by his parents; and granddaughter, Megan.

You may sign the online registry at www.geojcarroll.com.

ADV.

LORA RUTH HILL

CALLISBURG — Funeral services for Lora Ruth Hill, 63, of Callisburg, will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012, at Grand Avenue Baptist Church with Rev. Bill Black, church pastor, officiating.  

Interment will follow in Sharrock Cemetery. Ralph Hill, Stacy Leach, Leslie Leach, Randall Leach, Sam Morrison and Jason Holder will serve as pallbearers.

Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19, 2012, at Meador-Clement-Keel Funeral Home.

Mrs. Hill went to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012, at Integrity Transitional Hospital in Denton.

Lora was born April 20, 1949, in Gainesville to Lebert “Tater” and Gladys (Mozingo) Morrison.  

She was a 1967 graduate of Callisburg High School.  She was a 26-year employee of Weber Aircraft and had also worked as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell and a dispatcher for the Whitesboro Police Department.  Lora was known as a very caring, giving person.  She had a big heart and was dearly loved by her family.  Mrs. Hill was a member of Grand Avenue Baptist Church.

Survivors of Lora Ruth Hill include her husband, Ralph Hill of Callisburg; sons and daughters-in-law, Stacy and Camryn Leach of Gainesville, Leslie and Rebecca Leach of El Paso and Randall and Brandy Leach of Sadler; stepdaughters and son-in-law, Charlotte and Jeff Person of Gainesville and Robin Dickerson of Denton; grandchildren, Kalina Morgan of Denver, Colo., Kierra Morgan and Nicavin Leach of Gainesville, Timothy, Lorena and Josiah Leach of El Paso, Devin, Dakota, Carolyn and Cassandra Dickerson of Myra and a grandson due in February; great-grandchildren, Draven and Patti Oldenburg of Kansas City; brothers and sister-in-law, Vernon and Gloria Morrison of Gordonville and Richard Morrison of Gainesville; sisters and brothers-in-law, Virginia and Rick McNarin of Whitesboro, Alice and Richard LeFlemme of Callisburg and Linda and Boyce Morgan of Gainesville; several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews.  

She was preceded in death by a grandson, Thomas James Phillips Leach; and her parents, Tater and Gladys Morrison.

Services are under the direction of Meador-Clement-Keel Funeral Home.  

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

ADV.



SAMUEL ARTHUR SPARKMAN

MUENSTER — Muenster resident Samuel Arthur Sparkman, 91, died Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, at Gainesville Health and Rehab Center.  

Services for Mr. Sparkman will be 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 19, 2012, at Muenster First Baptist Church with Rev. Eddie Ramsey officiating.  

Interment will follow in Morrow Cemetery.

Visitation will be 6 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Meador-Clement-Keel Funeral Home.

Sam was born Sept. 2, 1921, in Valley View, the son of John Buck and Melissa (Roberson) Sparkman.  

He served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II.  Sam married Pearl Inez Ramsey on Sept. 21, 1941, in Gainesville.  He worked for Trumpter Petroleum for 40-plus years before retiring.  Mr. Sparkman was a member of Fish Creek Masonic Lodge #344.

Mr. Sparkman is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Larry and Retha Sparkman of Myra and Sam and Peggy Sparkman of Lindsay; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by a daughter, Linda Gayle Sparkman; his wife; parents; two brothers; three sisters; and two grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Muenster First Baptist Church or Morrow Family Cemetery.

Services are under the direction of Meador-Clement-Keel Funeral Home.  

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

ADV.



AUDRIA EVELYN MARTIN WILHITE

Audria Evelyn Martin Wilhite joined her Jesus in Heaven on Nov. 15, 2012.

Services will be held Tuesday, Nov. 20, at 2 p.m. at Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home Chapel in Gainesville with Jerryd Wallace, Cooke County Home Hospice chaplain, officiating.  

Visitation is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19, at Geo. J. Carroll and Son Funeral Home.

Audria Evelyn Martin Wilhite, known with love as “Tot” or “Tottie”, was born to V.W. “Virgil” Martin Sr. and Velma Caraway Martin, Sept. 4, 1931, in southern Cooke County, near Valley View.  

She graduated from Valley View High School in 1948.  She worked as a store clerk at Duke & Ayres in Gainesville where she was known as the “Duke & Ayres Cutie.”  Not only did this experience spark what would be a long and successful career in retail, but it also provided an introduction to the gentleman who would be her “life love” — Henry Hugh Wilhite.  The couple wed Feb. 19, 1950.

Evelyn stayed at home to raise two sons and a daughter before returning to retail in the late 1960s, when she was named manager of a busy little North Dixon Street store called Thrift Town. When the chain dissolved in the mid-70s, they allowed Evelyn to maintain the name and some of the fixtures to continue as Thrift Town 2, with a tiny storefront on South Rusk Street.

After a couple of years as owner/manager of Thrift Town 2, Evelyn was approached by Francis Wiese of Kinne’s Jewelers with an offer she couldn’t resist and she closed her tiny business and joined the Wiese family as part of the staff at Kinne’s Jewelers, a position she held with beauty and grace for 25 years, retiring in September 2001.

Evelyn was involved in a number of organizations during her lifetime, including Soroptimist Club of Gainesville, the Gainesville Memorial Hospital / NTMC Auxiliary and many activities through the years at her church home, Grand Avenue Baptist.

The legacy of Audria Evelyn Martin Wilhite lives on through her family and longtime friends who loved her, including her son, Gary Wilhite of Gainesville; son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Sharon Wilhite of Lone Oak; her daughter and son-in-law, Gayla and Dee Blanton of Gainesville; two daughters-in-law, Debbie Wilhite of Marietta, Okla., and Dee Ann Estep of Orange Grove; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two brothers, Royce D. Martin of Valley View and Kenneth Martin of Montague; one sister, Reva Martin Beaver of Allen; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Hugh Wilhite; brothers, Weldon Martin and V.W. Martin, Jr; and her parents.

Pallbearers are her grandsons, Kyle Wilhite, Chris Wilhite, Andrew Wilhite and Kenny Blanton and special friends Jack Wiese and Denny Huggins.

Memorial contributions may be made to the North Texas Medical Center Foundation, 1900 Hospital Boulevard, Gainesville, or Home Hospice of Cooke County, P.O. Box 936, Gainesville, TX 76241.

You may sign the online registry at www.geojcarroll.com.



MODESTO FRAGA

Funeral services for Modesto Fraga, 50, of Gainesville, are pending with Meador-Klement-Keel Funeral Home.

Mr. Fraga died Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, in Denton.