Obituaries

Doyle Branum
Graveside services for Doyle Hurk Branum, 73, Mabank, were held Dec. 31, 2010, at the Cedar Creek Memorial Park in Mabank, with Art Harkins officiating under the direction of Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home in Mabank.
Branum was born Feb. 26, 1937, in Roxton to Lessie McKeever and Theodore Branum and died Dec. 24, 2010, in Kaufman.
He was outgoing, friendly and always ready to lend a helping hand.
He loved horse trading, fishing and socializing and he loved his family, friends and people in general.
He was a union ironworker with Elwin Smith and P.P.G.
He was involved in community activities and participated in the Golden Oak Property Owner’s Association. He was of the Protestant faith.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Emily Branum, Mabank; daughters Janice Watkins and husband Mike, Nacogdoches; Judy McClara and husband Robert, Wills Point; and Rozanne Garza, Wills Point; grandchildren Merci, Cherysh, Lonni, Casey and Richard; great-grandchildren Lance, Kaeley, Briggs, Rylie, Hunter and Degan; sisters Anne Carcopa, Georgia; Charlotte Castello and husband Dean, El Paso; and Betty Jump, California; many nieces, nephews and loving friends, far and wide, who will miss him.

Robert Downing
A memorial service for Robert “Bob” David Downing, 62, Athens, was held Dec. 31, 2010, at the Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home Chapel in Mabank with the Rev. Todd Peavy officiating.
Downing was born Nov. 9, 1948, in Dallas to Margery May McKee and A.J. Downing and died Dec. 26, 2010, in Athens.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Gary Downing.
He graduated from Mabank High School and most of his employment was in the Dallas area.
He loved family and teaching and was a driving instructor in public education as well as private practice.
He never met a stranger and had a “gift for gab.”
Survivors include his son, Daniel Downing, Canton; brother jack Downing and wife Teri, Lucas; sister Kelly Embry, Gun Barrel City; seven nieces, nephews, other family members and many loving friends.
Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20004.

Ruby Corn
Services for Ruby Ruth Stovall Corn, 78, Kemp, were held Dec. 28, 2010, at First Baptist Church of Seven Points with the Revs. Dr. David Yunker and Nancy DeStefano officiating. Interment followed in the Baker Cemetery.
Corn was born June 30, 1932, in Scurry to the proud parents Lucy Cullins and Leonard Stovall of Kaufman, and died Dec. 25, 2010, after an extended illness at her home in the presence of loved ones.
She was preceded in death by her parents, sons Stephen and Daniel Paul Corn, sisters Eunice Sparks, Blanche Jones, Susie Maxwell and Lois Cates and brothers Horace, C.C. “Buddy” and Harry Stovall.
A graduate of Henderson County Junior College, she was a registered nurse and retired from Rusk State Hospital.
She spent a lifetime taking care of the sick, mentally ill and homeless children.
Her special talent was showing love and tenderness to others.
She was known as a prayer warrior for anyone in need of God’s grace.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Kemp.
She will be missed by all, but forever in their hearts.
Survivors include her husband, Billie Oscar Corn; Kemp; daughters, Pamela Corn Hassell and husband Larry, Kemp; Teresa Corn Howard, Buffalo; Ronda Corn-Kidd and husband Jeff, Grand Prairie; Cathy Corn Wright and husband Bill, Kemp; and Janie Corn, Kemp; grandchildren, Ray and Timothy Lambert, Kim Holloman, Todd and Charles Manning, Alisha Hall Bridges, Noah and Jordan Ford, Jacob and Raymond Kidd, Bryan and Anthony Wright and Marc Maxey; great-grandchildren Gatlin, Tanner, Carlie and Cody Lambert, Cale and Pierson Holloman, Jarred, Brennan, Connor and Ava Manning, Bailee and Trenton Bridges, Cailen Carr, Payden, Carleigh, Lauryn and Madelyn Wright, Jacob Holly and Aaron, Noah and Jeremy Maxey; sisters Reba Mae Rivers and Alma Sue King, both of Arp; Herman Stovall, Kemp and Jewell Faulkner, Garland.
Pallbearers were Ray Lambert, Timothy Lambert, Todd Manning, Charles Manning, Jordan Ford and Anthony Wright.
Honorary pallbearers were Bryan Wright, Noah Ford, Jacob Kidd, Raymond Kidd and Marc Maxey.

Shaun Kelsay
Shaun Lee “Sean” Kelsay was born March 31, 1967, in Irving to Eunice Edelstein and George Lee Kelsay and died Dec. 24, 2010.
“Sean” joined the Payne Springs Fire Rescue Dec. 12, 1996, and became the training officer in 2000.
He dedicated his life to saving others.
He gave 110 percent at every fire and rescue training he was a part of, and never gave halfway.
He was a full-speed-ahead person, and was the one we had to pull back and say “take a rest, man.”
Survivors include his children Kellie and Tyler Kelsay, mother Eunice, and his lifelong friend and love, Kimberly.

Edmund Belmonte
Memorial services for Edmund Belmonte, 68, Mabank, will be held at 1 p.m., Monday, Jan. 3, at the First Assembly of God Church in Mabank with the Rev. Royce Barker officiating under the direction of Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home and Crematory in Mabank.
Belmonte was born Feb. 24, 1942, in Chelsea, Mass. to Catherine Grundy and Nunzio Belmonte and died Dec. 26, 2010, in Mabank.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Robert.
Known as “Ed,” he had a good soul, was a brother in the Lord to his wife and everyone, and was his wife’s prayer warrior.
He enjoyed people and making good friends, as well as watching “good ole” cartoons.
He sang gospel music at many of the area nursing homes.
He was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Mabank and was a singer, an usher in the church and did other work required in the church.
Survivors include his wife, Nellie Belmonte, Mabank; sons Derek E. and Curtis Belmonte, both of California; Andy Skelton Jr. and wife Jan, Chandler; and Carl Suter and wife Susan, Red Oak; daughters Donna Klitzsch and husband Dave, Illinois; Catherine Coffey and husband Ken, California; Anne Marie Belmonte, California; and Kathleen Belmonte; grandchildren Dameian, Nicole, Antonio, Christian, Steven, Ruben, Brandon, Bubba, Brad, Joe, Cathrine, Dawna, Boyd, Wyatt, Andeleain and Crystal; great-grandchildren Mason, Emily, Stylie and Siren; sisters Kathleen Parham and husband Jim, Las Vegas, Nev.; and Mary Lou Bennet and husband Gary, Indiana; and brother, Frank Belmonte, Garland.

Jody Miller
Funeral services for Jody Miller, 42, of Athens are scheduled for 10 a.m., Friday, Dec. 31, 2010 at the First Baptist Church of Athens, Bro. John Green and Bro. Danny Cope officiating, under the direction of Hannigan Smith Funeral Hom in Athens.
Interment to follow at Carroll Springs Cemetery in Athens.
Miller was born Aug. 21, 1968 in Houston to Jerry and Sue Thomas Miller and died Dec. 28, 2010 in Tyler.
He lived in Athens all of his life, and attended Cross Roads schools. He married Valerie Genemore on Dec. 16, 2000 in Athens.
Miller began his law enforcement career as a reserve Deputy Constable, and was then employed in the Sheriff’s office for 14 years. He was most recently employed as an investigator for the District Attorney’s office, and was named vice president of the Henderson County Peace Officers Association. He was also a Master Mason of the Athens Masonic Lodge.
He was preceded in death by his father.
Miller is survived by his wife, Valerie Miller of Athens; children Amanda, Brynt, and his angel on earth, Chloe Miller, all of Athens; and one grandson. He is also survived by his mother, Sue Bennett, Athens; brother Tim Tyler of Waskom; sisters Vickie Tyler Womack of Waskom, Tracy Tyler Underwood of Alton, La., Debbie Tyler Ramsey and Kim Tyler Cole, both of Waskom.
Pallbearers were Doug Perkins, Damon Boswell, Kay Langford, Milton Adams, Don Yarbrough, Scott McKee, Ronny Halbert and Kenneth Arnold. Honorary pallbearers are the Henderson County Sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney’s Office and former Precinct 6 Constable Robert Neff.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Henderson County Peace Officers Association at any First State Bank location.