Obituaries

Jimmy McWhorter
Services for Jimmy “Red” McWhorter, 46, Mabank, were held Jan. 2, 2010, at the First Baptist Church of Mabank with James A. McWhorter Sr. and Brian McWhorter officiating.
Jimmy McWhorter was born July 13, 1963, in Dallas to Gladys and James McWhorter and died Dec. 29, 2009, in Athens.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents James Anthony “JA” McWhorter, Maudie McWhorter-Adams, Don Adams and Edith and George Hardin.
He was passionate about soccer, having coached teams for more than 20 years in the Tri-County Soccer Association.
He also played on many teams during the years and was founder of the “Thunderdawgs,” a local adult soccer team.
He served as referee for recreational, high school and college soccer leagues.
He was a charter member of the Wildwood Independent Baptist Church of Mabank, where he had attended for the past 36 years.
He graduated from Mabank High School in 1981, and had resided in Mabank since 1973.
Survivors include his wife of 26 years Karylene McWhorter, Mabank; son James Allen “J.A.” McWhorter and wife Misty, Mabank; daughter Stephanie Nicole “Nikki” McWhorter, Mabank; the light of his life granddaughter Jaylyn Alexis McWhorter; parents Gladys and James Arlen McWhorter, Mabank; brother Brian McWhorter and wife Stacey, Mabank; sisters Teresa Moore and husband Mark, Mabank; Penny LaPlant and husband Dan, Athens; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.
In lieu of a memorial, donations may be made to the Wildwood Baptist Church Charity Fund, P.O. Box 988, Mabank, TX 75147.
Pallbearers were J.A. McWhorter, Jared Autrey, Juston Richardson, Jason Boyd, Bryan Miller, Michael Balderas and Chris Butts.
Honorary pallbearers were the many soccer players he had coached.

Margarette Bewley
Services for Margarette Ann Bewley, 41, Corsicana, were held Jan. 3, 2010, at Moorhead Memorial Chapel in Gun Barrel City with the Rev. Raymong Neal officiating. Burial was in the Hamilton Beeman Cemetery in Corsicana.
Bewley was born Feb. 22, 1968, to Minnie Lee Reynolds and Willard Sampson Long and died Dec. 31, 2009, in Corsicana with her family by her side.
She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Minnie Virginia Jones, and brother David Sampson Long.
Survivors include her husband Duane; sons Samuel Duane Bewley and Kalen Lee Bewley, all of Corsicana; brothers Willard Long, Whitehouse; and Jerry Long, Athens; sisters Sarah Clayburn, Mabank; Mary Hillhouse, Athens; and Kay Whittington, Canton.

Warren Randall Penwell
Warren Randall Penwell, a much-loved husband, father, grandfather and brother died Dec. 30, 2009, in Longview at the age of 89, due to complications of heart disease.
Born July 8, 1920, in Holyoke, Col., the first of three children to Sarah Jones and Clark Moses Penwell, he was preceded in death by parents and his wife, Evaleen, after 65 years of marriage.
He was a member of the Mabank Church of Christ.
His family moved to Mabank in 1928. He and his brother played on the first Panther football team.
After graduation in 1938, he moved to Dallas and married his high school sweetheart, Evaleen Teel in 1942.
He played on a semi-pro baseball team and in later life was never happy if there was not a game to watch on television.
Penwell served in the U.S. Navy for three and a half years in the South Pacific as a, aviation gunner.
He survived a downed plane and some 20 hours in the water before being picked up by a U.S. destroyer.
After discharge he moved to Grand Prairie and started a family, having sons Randy Clark and Donny Glynn Penwell.
He was a welding supervisor at Texas Instruments for 27 years and retired to Cedar Creek Lake area in 1984.
He enjoyed visits from family, fishing, hunting and skeet shooting was his passion.
In 1984 he was inducted into the Texas Skeet Shooters Association Hall of Fame. “Mr. Penny,” as his fellow shooters fondly called him, was a true sportsman. He was on many All American Skeet teams.
He was a crack shot since he started shooting in 1958 and helped establish the Arlington Sportsman Club and the Grand Prairie Gun Club.
At age 80, as a veteran shooter, he held three World Records.
He loved the sport and was always available to teach new shooters.
He is survived by sons Randy Penwell and wife Mary of Longview; Donny Penwell and wife Nancy of Colleyville; brother JC Penwell and wife Jerri of Weatherford,Okla.; and sister Lorena Lamb of Dallas;
Also grandchildren Josh and JK Penwell, Lonny Penwell and fiance Kari Wellborn, Melissa Pearce, and Misty Penwell; great-grandchildren Taylor, Tara, Rylie and Molly; and many more relatives.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association National Center, 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75231, or charity of your choice.

Catherine Nelson
Services for Catherine “Kay” Nelson, 92, of Don’s Port were held Jan. 2, 2010, at the Faith Bible Church in Desoto. Burial followed in Laurel Land Memorial Park in Dallas.
Nelson was born March 5, 1917 to Mary Ellen and Joseph Phillips and died Dec. 24, 2009, along with her daughter and son-in-law Patricia and R. Alan Wilbourn of Cedar Hill in a tragic car accident in Frisco.
She was a longtime member of the Good Sam’s Camping Club, the Red Hat Society and various community service organizations and book clubs.
Survivors include her grandchildren Malea and Trey King, Kelly King and Tiffeny and Devin Wilbourn; great-grandchildren Heather and Tyree Waldrep, Harli, Luke, Jaxon and Beckett King.

‘Mimi’ Turner
Services for “Mimi” Turner, 56, Mabank, were held Jan. 2, 2010, at the Gun Barrel City Masonic Lodge under the direction of Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home in Mabank.
Turner was born Feb. 4, 1953, in Hot Springs, Ark., and died Dec. 25, 2009, in Athens.
She was preceded in death by her son Geoffrey Allen Turner.
She was a lifelong member of the Eastern Star and worked hard to serve in her community.
Survivors include her daughter Haley Turner, Mabank; stepchildren Jessica, Kimmie and Justin Collier, Mabank, and Brittany and Shayla Collier, Arkansas; mother Marjorie Schilling, Oklahoma; sister Tina Perkins, Eustace; and grandson Geoffrey Allen Turner III.

Thomas Harris
Services for Thomas E. Harris, 86, were held Jan. 5, 2010, at the First Baptist Church of Gun Barrel City. Interment was in Laurel Land Memorial Park in Dallas.
Harris was born Dec. 29, 1924, and died Jan. 1, 2010.
He loved music and sang in choirs and quartets, performing in nursing home ministries, organizations and civic meetings.
He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
He retired from Core Lab after 43 years of service.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Gun Barrel City.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years Lois Harris, Mabank; son Michael Harris and wife Vikki, Atlanta, Ga.; daughters Nanette Sherwood and husband James, Las Vegas, Nev.; and Janice Goodson, Irving; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and a host of family and friends.

Cecil McRight
Services for Cecil McRight, 82, Payne Springs, were held Jan. 2, 2010, at the Lake Fork Baptist Church with the Rev. Chris Horton officiating under the direction of Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home in Mabank.
McRight was born Sept. 12, 1927, in Grand Saline and died Dec. 31, 2009, in Athens.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Deanna Holder.
Previously of Midlothian, he had resided in Payne Springs for 25 years. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and retired from Mobil Oil Co. in 1988.
He was married Dec. 31, 1968, for 41 years.
Survivors include his wife Peggy Ann McRight, Payne Springs; sons Cecil Wesley McRight III and wife Gail, Kemp; and Doy Noblitt and wife Jan, Washington; daughters Joann Carter and husband Ricky, Prairieville, La.; Terry Pettycard and husband Rusty, Russelville, Ark.; and Georgia Thill and husband Vince, Ennis; granny Mary Hammonds, Payne Springs; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other family members.

Betty Holland
Services for Betty J. Holland, 75, Alvarado, were held Jan. 2, 2010, in the Eubank Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Don Teague officiating. Burial was in Oaklawn Cemetery under the direction of Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home in Mabank.
Holland was born Feb. 6, 1934, in Dallas and died Dec. 29, 2009, in Fort Worth.
She was preceded in death by her husband Bud Holland and daughter Terry Holland.
She had resided in Mabank for 22 years and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Mabank.
Survivors include her son Alex Holland, Alvarado; daughters Tina Holland, Hurst; and Andrea Holland Parker, Dallas; mother Mamie Finney, Alvarado; and grandchild Tara Goodman.

James Flowers
James David Flowers, 66, our beloved husband, father, brother and friend, died unexpectedly Thursday Dec. 31, 2009.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sat., Jan. 9, 2010, at Aley United Methodist Church, 1215 W. Cedar Creek Pkwy (State Highway 85), Seven Points, TX  75143 conducted by the the Rev. Eston Williams.
Flowers was born Jan. 14, 1943, in Hopkins County to the late Ada and John Flowers.
He graduated from Sulphur Springs High School in 1961, where he played golf and basketball.
At North Texas State University he received a bachelor’s degree in banking and finance and was also a stellar golfer.
There he met his wife of 43 years, Marian Hedden of Dallas.
He served in the Army National Guard and had a long career in retail management for JC Penney, Bealls and Sears.  
Most recently, he worked in sales for Southwest Stitches in Gun Barrel City, and was a member of the Cedar Creek Country Club.
One of his great passions was his dedication to the non-profit humanitarian service group M.E.D.I.C.O, of which he and his wife are co-founders.
The organization focuses on providing healthcare to remote areas of Central America.
As a member of the board of directors, he organized fund-raising and led at least 20 medical mission trips to Central America.
Additionally, he served on the board of the Van Zandt Children’s Shelter. 
He spent many days working on improvements to Richland Cemetery in Brinker Community, where he grew up.  
He is survived by his wife, Marian of Canton; daughter Melanie and fiancé Dirk Brockmann of Germany; son Timothy of Kenedy; brothers, John and his wife, Pat, of Dallas; Larry and wife Jan of Mabank; Andy and wife Sherry of Canton; and Gene and wife Mary of Garland; sister Nancy and husband John Rooney of Beaumont; many nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
He lived a life committed to service and helping others.  He was devoted to family and friends, exuding optimism and a contagious love of life.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to M.E.D.I.C.O. in his memory: 2955 Dawn Drive, Suite D; Georgetown, TX 78628 or www.medico.org.

Dorothy Pablo
Services for Dorothy Marie McCoy Pablo, 82, Eustace, were held Jan. 6, 2010, at the Laurel Land Memorial Chapel in Dallas.
Pablo was born Nov. 22, 1927, in Eldorado, Schleicher County to Eva Mae Logan and Robert V. Jenkins and died Jan. 1, 2010.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Claude “Buster” Jenkins of Eldorado, and Robert “Vertis” Jenkins Sr. of Sonora; sister Madeline Lee, also of Sonora; and brother-in-law Elton Liebrock of Oakley, Mich.
She graduated from Duncanville High School in 1944, and married William L. “Bill” McCoy Sept. 14, 1946.
After his retirement they moved to the Cedar Creek Lake Area in the early ’70s until his untimely death March 11, 1991.
She married Gene E. Pablo April 17, 1994, at the historic Four Mile Lutheran Church in Prairieville where she was a faithful member since 1987. They resided in Eustace.
All who knew her loved her sweet loving spirit and will miss her smile, hugs and laughter.
Survivors include her husband Gene Pablo, Eustace; daughters Debbie Tanner Lively, Gun Barrel City; and Brenda Murphy, Plano; brother Thomas “Tommy” Jenkins and wife Kay, Grand Prairie; sister Patsy Liebrock, Oakley, Mich.; sisters-in-law Jessie Jenkins, Eldorado; and Katy Jenkins, Sonora; numerous nieces and nephews.

Cynthia Diann Rice
Cynthia Diann Rice died unexpectedly Dec. 12, 2009, at the age of 48.
She was born in McKinney May 2, 1961, and was a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas in 1979.
She was employed by Tom Thumb Groceries as a baker for 15 years and then by Minyard’s for 16 years.
She is survived by her husband of 25 years Patrick Anderson; son Carl Rice; daughter Angela Anderson; granddaughter Katherine Paige Rice; daughter-in-law Jenifer Rice; father John Simmons; brothers John and Wayne Simmons; sister Sandra Korner; many nieces, nephews, cousins and other beloved family members.
“Cindi” was a truly good person and had a generous soul that will be deeply missed. We love you “Cin.”

Duane Davis
Services for Duane Davis, 68, Payne Springs, were held Jan. 5, 2010, at the Eubank Memorial Chapel with interment in Cedar Creek Memorial Park under the direction of Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home in Mabank.
Davis was born Aug. 27, 1941, in Dallas and died Dec. 31, 2009, in Payne Springs.
He had resided in Payne Springs for the last 30 years and was employed with the First City Bank of Dallas for 25 years. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and Baptist by faith.
Survivors include his wife Juanita Davis, Payne Springs; sons Duane Davis Jr., Crandall; Christopher Boyd, Quinlan; and Jerry Hensley, California; daughter Debbie Floyd and husband Steve, Kemp; stepsons Ricky Moore and Darrell Haynes, both of North Carolina; stepdaughter JoNell Moore, Waco; brothers Dwight Davis, Gun Barrel City; and Gary Davis, Payne Springs; sisters Sondra Holtman, Dallas; and Judy Palacios, Scurry.
Pallbearers were Duane Davis Jr., Christopher Boyd, Steven Floyd, Duane Davis III, Boyd Davis and Jeffrey Davis.

Hilda Box
Services for Hilda Box, 93, Mabank, were held Jan. 3, 2010, at the Eubank Memorial Chapel with Jerrell Gleaves officiating. Burial was in Oaklawn Cemetery under the direction of Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home in Mabank.
Box was born Nov. 25, 1916, in Mabank to Helen and Ben Lacy and died Jan. 1, 2010, in Mabank.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Fred Box, sisters Jackie Killian and Marjorie Storey and brother Pat Lacy.
She and her husband enjoyed life in the country on Box Road not far from where she was born. She loved animals and had many pets including all of their cattle. She never met an animal she didn’t like.
She enjoyed working in her yard and looked forward to having a vegetable garden each year. Many people were the recipients of the good produce.
Survivors include her brothers Ralph Lacy and wife Helen, Kemp; and Billy Lacy and wife Pearl, Payne Springs; nieces, nephews and other family members.

Mary Guinn
Services for Mary Guinn, 81, Eustace, were held Jan. 2, 2010, at the Beacon Church of Christ with Ken Maddox officiating. Burial was in Elm Grove Cemetery under the direction of Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home in Mabank.
Guinn was born Dec. 7, 1928, in Arcadia and died Dec. 30, 2009, in Gun Barrel City.
Previously of Dallas, she had resided in Eustace since 1984, and was a member of Beacon Church of Christ in Mabank. She had a servant’s heart and served God and others all her days.
Survivors include her husband Eddie Guinn, Eustace; son Douglas Guinn and wife Bobbi, Garland; daughters Wanda Franklin and husband Gerald, Gilmer; and Kathy Brown and husband Gary, Ovilla; grandchildren Angela Bellinger, Jennifer Paden, Carrie Gosslee, Angela Ward, Jerald Franklin, Andy Brown, Adam Brown and Kara Sheets; 14 great-grandchildren; brothers John, Loyd, Herbert and James Atherton; sisters Oleta, Cornelia, Betty, Margaret and Elsie Atherton.