Published: January 31, 2008 05:45 pm            

Obituaries for Jan. 31, 2008

Dr. Billy Webb

Dr. Billy Ray Webb, 78, of Campbell died Jan. 17, 2008, at his home. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m., Jan. 19, at the Church of Christ in Commerce with Brother David Gibson officiating. Burial was in Delight Cemetery in Delight, Ark.

Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home in Commerce was in charge of arrangements.

Son of G. Claude and Pinkie Mae Barker Webb, he was born Aug. 12, 1929, in Billstowne, Ark. He married Jane McCorkle in April 1955 in Nashville, Ark. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He received his BSA and MS from the University of Arkansas and earned his PhD at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb. He retired as a professor from Texas A&M University-Commerce, earning professor emeritus status.

Dr. Webb enjoyed mission work. An elder of the Church of Christ, he did mission work in India for more than 14 years which involved 10 trips to India.

He was owner and operator of the snow cone stand in Commerce on the corner of Park and Maple and was known to many children as the snow cone man.

He was a past president of the Chamber of Commerce, a past president of Lions Club, held membership in many professional organizations and was a member of the Nickel Coffee Club. Dr. Webb was head of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Texas A&M-Commerce for 16 years and was instrumental in developing social work and criminal justice programs.

Surviving are his wife of Campbell; two children, Kelly Ray Webb and wife Lisa of Prairie Grove, Ark., and Ava Sheree Turner and husband Gary of Wylie; grandchildren Zach Turner and Marindia Turner, both of Wylie, and Kelsey Webb, Makayla Webb, Makenzie Webb and Jakob Webb, all of Prairie Grove, Ark.; a sister-in-law, Helen Webb of Benton, Ark.; nieces; nephews and a host of friends.

His parents; a brother, G. Kelly Webb; and a sister, Lois Vale, preceded him in death.

Pallbearers were Mike Anderson, Roy Childs, Leon Summerlin, Joe Davis, Howard Lambert, Phil Nichols and Todd Martin. Members of the Lions Club and Nickel Coffee Club were honorary pallbearers.

Memorials may be made to Commerce Church of Christ Indian Mission.

Visit and sign the guest book at www.heraldbanner.com.



Carolyn Mahon

PARIS — Carolyn Elaine Mahon, 59, of Paris died Jan. 14, 2008, at her residence.

Carolyn was born Feb. 16, 1949, in Commerce, daughter of William Leslie and Willie Ethel Lawson Stroud. She was a health care provider.

She is survived by two sons, Ricky Canup and Michael Canup; grandchildren Chad, Brandi Canup, Krissy Pate, Shandi Bannister and Rebecca Tanner; great grandchild Isabella; and a sister, Regina Kay Stooksberry.

Graveside services were conducted at 2 p.m., Jan. 17, in the Dodd City Cemetery in Dodd City with Rev. Terry Holley officiating.

Pallbearers were Ed Handley, Johnny Ballard, Kendall Atwood, Derrell Atwood, and Marty Hicks.

Services were under the direction of Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home. Online condolences maybe sent to the Mahon family by visiting www.fry-gibbs.com.



Myrtie Roberts

SULPHUR SPRINGS — Myrtie Lou Roberts died Jan. 23, 2008, at Legend Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Paris, Texas.

She was born May 28, 1915, in Sulphur Springs, daughter of Ury and Myrtie Robinson Millsap. She was married to Homer Roberts on March 23, 1932, in Hugo, Okla. Mrs. Roberts was a business major and worked for the Civil Service for several years before retiring, and she continued to help her husband in their farming operation at Yowell and Fairlie. They had no children and he preceded her in death on March 30, 2002. Mrs. Roberts was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Commerce.

Surviving are nephews Harold Roberts, Don Roberts and Mike Roberts and their spouses, a niece, Deloris Roberts O’Connor and her spouse and their children and grandchildren; and two cousins, Don Daniel and Patty Daniel.

A funeral service was held at 3 p.m., Jan. 26, at the First United Methodist Church in Commerce with Lisa Wolcott and Rev. Ann Barton officiating. Interment followed in the Sulphur Springs City Cemetery under the direction of West Oaks Funeral Home.

Pallbearers were Kreg Roberts, Stan Moore, Toney Lowery, Bobby Motley, Chris Kane and Chase Hickman. Honorary pallbearers were Don Daniel, Doug Hickman, Mike Anderson and Gary Anderson.



Millie Pratt

JACKSONVILLE, Ark. — Millie Sue Pratt, 93, of the Horton Community in Commerce departed this life Jan, 24, 2008, while a resident of Spring Creek Living Center in Cabot, Ark.

She was a retired teacher, a member of Ridgecrest Baptist Church and a member of Rebekah Lodge.

Mrs. Pratt is survived by one son, Jackie Lee Pope Sr.; a brother, Hardy Miller; six grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and 12 great-great-grandchildren.

A graveside service was held at 10 a.m., Jan. 29, at Rosemound Cemetery in Commerce under the direction of Wood Funeral Home of Jacksonville, Ark.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Louie Pratt; her parents; four brothers and a sister.



Billy Horton

Billy Jack Horton, 60, of Klondike died Jan. 25, 2008, at his home surrounded by his family. A graveside service was held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the New Klondike Cemetery with Rev. Terry Bryan officiating.

Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Born Nov. 27, 1947, in Fairfield, he was the son of William Henry and Mildred Stricklin Horton. Mr. Horton was a machinist for Sulphur Springs Hydraulic and Machine Shop.

Survivors are his father; his wife, Patty Horton; children Ann Bishop, Patty Haney, Bessie Brown, Floyd Young and Jackie Hartman; two brothers, Dickie Horton and John Horton; 11 grandchildren and a niece, Dana Byrd.

His mother preceded him in death.

Visit and sign the guest book at www.heraldbanner.com.



Dr. Charles Blanton

Dr. Charles “Charlie” Wesley Blanton went to be with his Lord on Jan. 20, 2008.

He was born May 24, 1939, in Leonard. Charlie graduated from Commerce High School in 1957 and from East Texas State University with a BS, MS and EdD. He lettered in football at both institutions and while in college competed in two Tangerine Bowl games. The love of sports led him to be an excellent coach and servant in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Devoting 45 years of his professional life to learning and teaching, he served as a teacher, coach, and principal in several Dallas Independent School District and as a principal at Newman Smith High School in the Carrollton ISD. At the university level Charlie was a professor of educational leadership at Texas Woman’s University, Dallas Baptist University, and Texas A&M University-Commerce. (He refused to call it that. To him it was still ETSU). His organization, Partners In Profound Knowledge, developed resources for the educator the same way W. Edwards Deming rebuilt Japan. Charlie was an old East Texas country boy who came to the big city to get people to see the real possibilities in an opportunity. He had a constant thirst for knowledge.

Charlie was involved in numerous organizations including: Association of Secondary School Principals and Council of Professors of Educational Administration Leadership, both statewide and nationally. He was president of Association of Texas Educators, Dallas School Administrators Association and executive director Emeritus of Texas Council of Professions of Education Administration.

He professed his faith in Jesus Christ at a young age and was a longtime member, deacon and teacher at First Baptist Church of Dallas. An avid collector of all things having to do with Texas and Southwest History, he had a love for the Texas Rangers and anything western. Charlie’s collections included paintings and first edition historical documents and books. This hobby led Charlie to be an active member and leader of the Texas Historical Foundation.

Charlie was a big man with a big heart to match. He loved many things, but his main love was for people. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and mentor to his scores of eclectic friends. Charlie is missed terribly, but his memory is secure in the hearts of those who knew him, sat under his tutelage, or simply called him friend.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Gailya Blanton; his parents, J.O. and Ruby Blanton; and a sister, Juadeen Dolph.

Survivors include his wife, Judith Bobbitt Blanton; a son and daughter-in-law, Dan Blanton and Maura Nolan; daughter and son-in-law Jennifer and Michael Burks; grandchildren Ruby and Preston; a sister, SuLaine Dekkers and family; mother-in-law Uralee Farell; a brother-in-law, Dan Farell and family; and many loving nephews, nieces, aunts, cousins, colleagues and friends.

Services were held Jan. 24 at First Baptist Church in Dallas with burial at Sonora Cemetery in Fairlie.

Memorial donations may be made to the Charles Blanton Scholarship Fund at Texas A&M-Commerce or the Dallas chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

        

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