Obituaries

Fannie Sewell
Services for Fannie Elizabeth Sewell, were held at the Rylie Christian Church in Rylie. Interment was in the Rylie Cemetery in Dallas.
Sewell was born Jan. 23, 1911, in Oklahoma City, Okla., and died Feb. 9, 2008, in Kemp. She was preceded in death by her husband Ben Sewell, sons Robert L. Sims and Jack Sims, grandson Tracy Sims and parents Ollie Vestal and Ben Jenkins.
She was a homemaker and lived in Gun Barrel City for 17 years.
Survivors include her son Johnny and wife Wanda Sewell; daughter-in-laws Laquita and Burlene Sims; grandchildren Rickey Sims, Nicky Sims and wife Janice, Terri Reaves and husband Walter, Vicki Shelton and husband Larry, Lance Sewell and wife Jennifer and Jenny Sewell; great-grandchildren Stephanie and husband Eddie, Natalie and Kellie Reaves, Danielle and Matthew Shelton, and Jordan and Joshua Sewell; and great-great-grandchild Justin Crow.

Benny Hyde
Services for Benny Sutton Hyde, 74, Mesquite, were held Feb. 14, 2008, at the Central Baptist Church of Mabank with the Revs. Kenneth Hensley and Phillip Dunn officiating. Interment was in Elm Grove Cemetery under the direction of Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home in Mabank.
Hyde was born Feb. 18, 1933, in Van Zandt County and died Feb. 11, 2008, in Dallas.
He was a welder and had resided in Mesquite most of his life. He was of the Baptist faith and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
Survivors include his wife Wynelle Hyde, Mesquite; daughters Karen Pease and husband Ron, Carrollton; and Ella Lawrence and husband Randall, Mesquite; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Glenn Hyde, Tim Hyde, Jim Hyde, Wayland Ayers, Jerry Becker and Sam Panter.
Honorary pallbearers were Kenneth Box, Billy Gene Ayers, Jerry Panter, Kenneth Hyde, Robert Hyde, Mike Roberson, Kenneth Roberson, Jeff Hamrick, Cozell McAfee, Charles Easley, LST 715 Navy reunion buddies, J.D. Brashear, Shorty Harris and Bobby Doss.

Geneva DeShazo
Services for Geneva Louise Littlefield Brown DeShazo, 63, Mabank, were held Feb. 14, 2008, in the Eubank Chapel in Canton with the Rev. Steve Glosup officiating. Interment was in the Oakland Memorial Park in Terrell under the direction of Eubank Funeral Home in Canton.
DeShazo was born Oct. 12, 1944, in Portland, Maine, to Beatrice Stickney and Floyd Littlefield and died Feb. 11, 2008, in Athens.
She was preceded in death by husbands Raymond Fredrick Brown and George DeShazo, infant grandson Donny Ray, and sister Lorena Marie “Lori” McManus.
She was a member of Clearview Baptist Church and worked for Heritage manor Nursing Home for 26 years. She loved her residents and never met a stranger. She liked to watch Joyce Meyers on television and other Christian programs like Joey Olsteen.
She loved her family dearly and her little dog DeeDee. She liked to drink Pepsi Cola and was a very sweet lady.
Survivors include her sons Tim R. Brown Sr., Beaver Falls, Penn.; and Drew Brown and wife Kimberly, Chandler; daughters Tammy DeShazo and husband Mike, Mabank; April Rodriguez and husband Raul, Corpus Christi; and Veronica Tillery and husband Alva, Mabank; and adopted daughter Kandy Hill, Corpus Christi; 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
Pallbearers were sons and grandsons.

Jack Hardesty
A celebration of life for Jack W. Hardesty, 88, will be held at his home on Cedar Creek Lake from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008.
Hardesty died Jan. 30, 2008, at the place he loved.
He was preceded in death by his wife Betty; brothers Clair, Richard and Robert; and parents Olive and Ralph.
Survivors include his children Lee, Jack and Lynne; and grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, give your loved ones a hug and tell them you care.

Eugenia Gabelsberger
Services for Eugenia Amelia Grimes “Jean” Gabelsberger, Malakoff, were held Feb. 15, 2008, in Faith Community Baptist Church, Malakoff, with her pastor Dale Norris officiating. A graveside service followed at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Fort Worth, where she will join her beloved Al.
Gabelsberger was born Dec. 27, 1918, in Fort Worth to Omega and John Grimes and died Feb. 12, 2008, in her Cedar Creek Lake home near Malakoff.
She married Albert “Al” Gabelsberger April 2, 1948, and fondly remembered living in the Presidio while working in San Francisco and camping in the wilds of Yosemite National Park.
They returned to Texas and lived in Grand Prairie where he worked with the U.S. Post Office and she was a longtime bookkeeper with Grand Prairie Laundry and Dry Cleaning.
They purchased lots in the Cedar Creek Lake area in the 1970s. He built the garage, outbuildings, boat dock and supervised the building of their home when they retired in 1979.
He proved to be a prolific gardener and she the begrudging cook. They enjoyed fishing and entertaining friends. They enjoyed traveling until his illness and death Oct. 19, 1993.
She was a devoted member of the Faith Community Baptist Church of Mabank as well as the Fidelis Sunday School class.
She was a volunteer in the Prayer Chain Ministry and was a driver for the Meals on Wheels in Malakoff for many years.
She loved to paint and won many awards at area art shows.
She loved music, whether listening to it daily or playing her organ. Neighbors enjoyed the onset of spring when they opened their doors and windows to enjoy her organ concerts.
She loved traveling with friends to Canada, New York, Hawaii, the Caribbean and the U.S. But she was probably best known as the hot-footed 80-plus driver of her beloved red Mustang convertible with the top down, black leather jacket and beret and her favorite CD.
Survivors include her cousins Linda Miller and husband James, San Angelo; Jean Morris and husband Lee, Dallas; Jim McNeal, Hurst; nephew James Rathbone and wife Debbie, Lees Summit, Mo.; other relatives and many friends.
Memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels, Faith Community Baptist Church or your favorite charity.