Obituaries for March 27, 2008

March 27, 2008 03:28 pm

— George Robinson
George Hubbard Robinson, 95, of Commerce, died March 17, 2008, at Oak Manor Nursing Home. Funeral services were at 11 a.m., March 21, at First United Methodist Church in Commerce with Rev. Lisa Greenwood-Wolcott officiating. Burial followed in Rosemound Cemetery under the direction of Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home.
Born Sept. 9, 1912, in Golden, he was the son of King David and Harriet Long Robinson. He married Lovena “Pete” Barker in 1937 in Commerce. He began his career with the Cotton Belt Railroad in 1937, retiring in 1975 with 39 years’ service. He graduated from Commerce High School in 1933 and in 1934 joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, serving in Gillette, Wyo., and Tucson, Ariz. Mr. Robinson served on the Commerce City Council and numerous positions in the First United Methodist Church. He was a 32nd Degree Mason, receiving a 60-year membership award in 2002. He was also the first recipient of the Golden Trowel Award in 1990. He was a member of Commerce Masonic Lodge, York Rite, Scottish Rite, Shriners and was a 50=year member of the Odd Fellows Lodge 234. Mr. Robinson had been a member of First United Methodist Church in Commerce for 76 years.
Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Betsy Robinson Chapman of Corpus Christi; two grandsons, Bill Chapman and wife Deanna of Conroe and Bob Chapman and wife Sarah of Corpus Christi; great-grandsons Brannon Chapman and Kyle Norwood; a sister, Lula Moore of Emory; and several nieces and nephews, including Harriet and Wyman Williams of Commerce, Jacque and Glenn Shackelford of Tyler, Sharon and Joe Hall of Arlington, Steve and Fay Moore of Emory, Kay and Jerry Hall of Klein, Mary LeBus of Ore City and Mary Barker of Tyler.
His parents and a sister, Linnie Robinson Atchley, preceded him in death.
Pallbearers were Dennis Anderson, Dick Walker, Jerry Davies, Jim Bob Latham, John Shannon and Pat Skauge. Members of Old Men’s and Oneida Coffee Group, Masonic Lodge 439 and FUMC Dough Rollins Sunday school class served as honorary pallbearers.
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Rosemary Pemberton
Rosemary Pemberton, 83, of Greenville died the afternoon of March 18, 2008, at Presbyterian Hospital of Greenville. Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Coker-Mathews Funeral Home chapel with Rev. Kevin Herbert officiating. Burial followed in Memoryland Memorial Park
Born Sept. 12, 1924, in Commerce, she was the daughter of Vernon Bert Sr. and Alma Susan Thurman Heath. She was married to Bill Pemberton July 4, 1945, in Rockwall. Mrs. Pemberton was a homemaker. She was a charter member of Ridgecrest Baptist Church. Rosie and her beloved Bill were both avid fishermen and spent many fun-filled days with their children, grandchildren, friends and canine “babies” at their lake cottage.
Surviving are daughters Dorothy Sue Pemberton and Marylea Moore of Greenville and Sharon George and husband Mike of Brunswick, Ga.; a sister and husband, Athalea and Guyle Akridge of Lufkin; grandchildren Christopher Moore, Merideth Moore, Zach George and Clay George and wife Jenn; a great-grandchild, Lane Elizabeth George; nephew and wife Mike and Tonya Akridge of Lufkin; and great-nieces Lindsey and Leah Akridge of Lufkin.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1995, her parents, and brothers Jerry Heath and Vernon B. Heath.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.
Pallbearers were Mike George, Sterling Newcomb, Larry Green, Joe Weis, Clay George, Zach George, Christopher Moore and John Gotcher.
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James Riddle Jr.
KERENS — James Richard Riddle, Jr., 51, of Commerce, died March 20, 2008, at his residence following a short illness.
He was born Dec. 10, 1956, in Houston to James and Leila Riddle. He graduated from Lakeview High School in San Angelo in 1975 and served in the U.S. Air Force for 10 years. Until recently, he was a driver for Texas Star Express Trucking.
Family visitation was from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Monday at Paschal Funeral Home, 120 SW Third, in Kerens. Graveside service followed at 3 p.m. in the Kerens Cemetery.
He is survived by a daughter, Jamie Dawn Riddle of Greenwood, Mo.; son, James Randal Riddle and wife Ursula of Springtown.; mother, Leila (Lee) Riddle of Commerce.; sister, Lynette Gill of Commerce; grandchildren, Jeremy Brock, Heather Brock and Cameron Olson of Sringtown; great-grandson Leighton Baccus of Springtown.; nephews Richard Young and wife Heather of Red Oak, Thomas Gill of Commerce; a niece, Courtney Blaske and husband Ryan of Commerce; friend Tina Tucker of Plano; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father in 2001 and his grandparents, Clyde and Emma Duncan who were originally from the Rural Shade Community near Kerens.

Carlton Henslee
WOLFE CITY — Carlton Henslee, 87, of Wolfe City died March 23, 2008, at Presbyterian Hospital of Greenville. Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church in Wolfe City with Dr. Ed Lee and Brother Lee Birdsong officiating. Burial followed in Mount Carmel Cemetery under the direction of R. W. Owens & Son Funeral Home of Wolfe City.
Son of Carl L. and Leta Jones Henslee, he was born Sept. 29, 1920, in Wolfe City. In November 1964 he married Delmer Faye Swindell. He was owner of Henslee Trucking Company. Mr. Henslee was a member of First United Methodist Church in Wolfe City.
Survivors include his wife of Wolfe City; two daughters, Barbara Woodruff of Wolfe City and Lisa Marlow of the Metroplex; stepdaughter and husband Mary and Elwood Jones of Greenville; granddaughters and husbands Brenda and Coby Mills of Plano and Glenda and Calvin Langston of Rockwall, Amy Hillen and Kelli Speight; great-grandchildren Dwight and Amanda Mills; stepgrandchildren Murray Myers, Victor Myers and Abra Kent; 11 stepgreat-grandchildren; two brothers, Bethel Henslee of Wolfe City and Jimmie Henslee of Grand Prairie; and special friends Calvin and Dee Stanley of Wolfe City.
His parents; a sister, Veda; and son-in-law James Don Woodruff preceded him in death.
Pallbearers are Bill Morgan, David Tiffee, Richard Crockett, Gordon Payne, Ray Clark, Jackie Hamm and Alan Malone. Honorary pallbearers are Sidney Wasson, Ron Wensel and Leon Brady.

Berle McKay
GAINESVILLE — Berle McKay, 66, of Gainesville died March 24, 2008, at his residence. Funeral services are at 2 p.m. today in the Clement-Keel Funeral Home chapel in Gainesville with David Gibson of the Culver Street Church of Christ in Commerce officiating. Burial follows in New Hope Cemetery.
Born Jan. 26, 1942, in Littlefield, he was the son of Walter and Era Hoover McKay. He married Ayne Quisenberry on March 7, 1979, in Greenville. He was a member of First Street Church of Christ in Dumas. He was a retired police officer with Texas A&M University-Commerce.
Survivors include his wife of Gainesville; two daughters and sons-in-law, Angela and Steve San Miguel of Crawfordville, Fla., and Starla and Bret San Miguel of Dumas; a son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Tina Brown of Garland; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Bill and Leslie McKay of Dumas, Jack and Mary Lou McKay of Spur and Merle and Mary Nell McKay of Gainesville.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Don McKay and Joe McKay.
Family members will serve as pallbearers.
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Claude Diehl
Claude Patrick Diehl, 68, of Commerce died March 11, 2008, at Presbyterian Hospital of Commerce. A memorial service will be planned at a later date.
Son of Nick and Anna Heintz Diehl, he was born Nov. 29, 1939, in Houston. Mr. Diehl was a retired butcher.
Survivors are a daughter, Janie Diehl of Royse City; a son, Allen Diehl of Florida; sister Catherine White of Houston; and a brother, Bill Diehl of Onalaska.
Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home of Commerce is in charge of arrangements.

JImmy D. Tucker
Jimmy D. Tucker, 59, of Commerce died March 23, 2008, in Greenville. A graveside service was held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Sonora Cemetery under the direction of Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home. Brother Gary Sanders officiated.
Born Nov. 3, 1948, in Fairlie, he was the son of Doyce Charlie and Juanita Brumley Tucker. Member of a motorcycle club, he enjoyed drinking coffee with his friends, traveling, riding his motorcycle and pursuing genealogy. He was a member of Fairlie Baptist Church.
Survivors include children Janet Powers and husband Dan of Greenville and Jackie Tucker of Point; an adopted daughter, Sherry Keim and husband Paul of Commerce; grandchildren Tiffany Tucker and Bryan Nyman, both of Point, Caleb Powers and Alex Powers of Greenville and Michael Garcia of Commerce; two sisters, Susan Jarosz and husband Ken of Wichita Falls and Cheryl Tucker of Commerce; a sister-in-law, Sarah Tucker of Commerce; and other family members.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Kenneth Tucker; and a grandson, John Powers; and his wife, Ann Tucker.
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