Obituaries

Michael Freeman
Graveside services for Michael Cole Freeman, 33, were held March 8, 2011, at the Goshen Cemetery in Eustace, under the direction of Moorhead Epps Funeral Home in Gun Barrel City.
Freeman was born Dec. 30, 1977, in Dallas and died March 4, 2011, in Henderson County.
He lived most his life in Eustace.
He was employed as a welder and heavy equipment operator.
Survivors include parents Janet and Dennis Emerson; grandparents Sue and Steve Floyd; great-grandmother Margaret Orrick; sisters Jessica Emerson, Holeigh Emerson and Shelby Freeman; cousins David Floyd, Ashley Opperman and husband Kevin; Alexis and Aiden; nephew Avery Machovoe; treasured pets Josie, Special and Milo; numerous family members and many friends.

Martha Townley
Graveside services for Martha Ann Townley, 76, Malakoff, were held March 25, 2011, at the Malakoff Cemetery, under the direction of Tomlinson Funeral Home in Malakoff.
Townley was born April 14, 1934, in Crandall to Margaret and Raymond Venable and died March 22, 2011, in Malakoff after a courageous battle with cancer.
She spent most of her life in Malakoff.
Townley retired from East Texas Medical Center in Athens after more than 30 years of service.
She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter Nanci Gaye Townley; and brother Glynn F. Venable.
Survivors include sons Bryan Townley and wife Barbara, Saginaw, Mo.; William Townley, Malakoff; James Townley and wife Lesia, Malakoff; daughters Yvette Buchanan and husband James, Athens; Sandra Tarpley and husband Tommy, Kemp; stepfather Alfred Williams, Malakoff; sisters Nancy Cavanaugh and husband Bill, Rowlett; and Kay Bonner, Garland.
Townley was called “Memaw” to her 12 loving grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Brian Bauer, Brandon Townley, James Blake Townley, Clint Venable, Robert Scott Hernandez and Gideon Cord Buchanan.
Honorary pallbearers were Michael Cook, Robert Cook and David Cook.
In lieu of gifts; the family asks that a donation be made to the American Cancer Society in Martha Townley’s honor.

Audrey Shelton
Services for Audrey Lucille Shelton, 91, Tolosa, were held March 24, 2011, at the Anderson Clayton Brothers Funeral Home in Kemp. Interment followed in the Kemp Cemetery with Bro. Ed Brennan of the First Baptist Church of Tool officiating.
She was born March 1, 1920, in the Stubbs Community to Mary and James Caldwell and died March 21, 2011.
Shelton graduated from Stubbs High School in 1938, and married Melton Shelton May 6, 1939.
Together, they provided a loving and secure home for their family and worked side by side in the fields and farm. She did everything that needed to be done on the farm and at home. Lucille enjoyed being in her garden and baking wonderful dishes with ingredients grown from their garden.
In 1958, the couple opened Tolosa Grocery and Feed.
In the mid 1970s, they sold the grocery store, but kept the feed store, which became a daily gathering place for members of the community to visit, reconnect and share stories of yesterday.
After working together and serving their community for 32 years, the Sheltons retired in 1990.
The retired couple enjoyed spending time at their farm, working in their garden and playing with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Lucille was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church, Aley Baptist Church, Tolosa Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Tool.
She taught Sunday School, sang in the choir and supported the Women’s Missionary Union.
Known as “Nanny” to her family, she was an extremely outgoing person with a quick wit and great sense of humor. She loved life and those around her.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 58 years, Melton; brother James Boyce Caldwell; and grandson Brent Shelton.
Survivors include sons James Donald Shelton and wife Shirley, Derrell Shelton and wife Carmen, daughter Mary Haynie and husband Donald; grandsons Jeff Haynie and wife Tammy, Duane Haynie, Dale Haynie, Melton Shelton; granddaughters, Sammie Morales and husband Jose, Jan Browning and husband Wes, Audrey Richards and her husband; 21 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; numerous nieces and nephews; a host of friends and neighbors.

Daniel Hollis
Memorial services for Daniel Jason Hollis, 52, Irving, will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 2, 2011, at Legendary Baptist Church at 263 Legendary Lane in Gun Barrel City with the Rev. Mike Adalian officiating.
He was born Oct. 24, 1958, in Dallas to Margaret Grimaldi and Fred Hollis Jr. and died March 19, 2011.
Hollis was a much loved husband, son, brother, uncle and friend.
He attended Eastfield College where he studied anthropology.
Hollis loved books, music and history, was a world-traveller and shared his experiences through magazines and television appearances.
While on a trip to Kenya, Hollis met the love of his life – Vera.
He has the kindest, warmest heart and was selfless to a fault. He will be dearly missed by all those who loved and knew him.
He was preceded in death by his father; grandparents Mabel Curry and Fred Hollis Sr.; and Bessie Wilhelm Curry and Frank Grimaldi.
Survivors include his wife, Vera Ongoro Hollis; parents Margaret and Henry Howard and Margo McCarter; grandmother Helen Grimaldi; sister Margie Crawford; and niece Kelly Crawford.

Harold Adams
Graveside services with military honors for Harold Lavern Adams, 76, were held March 21, 2011, at the Dallas/Fort Worth Cemetery, under the direction of Moorhead Epps Funeral Home in Gun Barrel City.
He was born Dec. 12, 1934, in Shelby, Ill., to Fern and Claude Adams and died March 14, 2011, in Tyler.
Adams was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He proudly served during the Korean War and was a member of the Texas National Cemetery Foundation Honor Guard.
Survivors include children Mary Elizabeth Adams, Samuel David Adams, Mark Timothy Adams and wife Georgia; grandchildren Joshua, Jennifer and Adam; other family members and many friends.

Doris Guess
Services for Doris Mae Guess, 75, Gun Barrel City, were held March 23, 2011, in Davis Cemetery with Dr. Jack Shoultz officiating, under the direction of Bailey and Foster.
She was born Jan. 6, 1936, in Van Zandt County to Eula Mae Brown and Doyle Thompson and died March 18, 2011, at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler.
Guess worked as a clerk for A.J. Bart Printing Company.
She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter Debbie Stroud; and brother James Thompson.
Survivors include her husband, Eugene Spruill, Gun Barrel City; daughters Janet Reeves and husband Bill, Howe; Janet Spruill, Dallas; sons Kerry Russell and wife Linda, Fort Worth; Eugene Spruill Jr. and James Olan Spruill, both of Dallas; sister Patricia Chaney, Athens; brothers Bobby Thompson, Edgewood; Jerry Thompson, Edgewood; Kenny Thompson, Wills Point; David Thompson, Edgewood; numerous grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were John Wayne Thompson, Terry Chaney, Jerry Chaney, Scott Traffanstedt and Kris Traffanstedt.

Darrell Drennan
Services for Darrell Edgar Drennan, 91, Mabank, will be at 10 a.m. Monday, March 28, 2011, at First United Methodist Church in Mabank with the Rev. Chris Schoolcraft officiating, under the direction of Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home in Mabank. Father Jimmy Drennan will preside at the graveside closing service.
Drennan was born Nov. 14, 1919, in Mabank to Eula Griffin and Dave Drennan and died March 22, 2011.
He attended Mabank schools and graduated in 1937.
After high school, he proudly served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years, when he retired Nov. 22, 1957.
Drennan served on submarines USS Black Fin, USS Bass and USS Besugo.
Afterwards, he was employed by the Texas Employment Commission, serving 22 years in the Grand Prairie, Dallas, and Tyler offices.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Mabank, a member of the Roddy Masonic Lodge and Mabank Chapter of the Eastern Star.
He took great pleasure in being a member of the Submarine Veterans WWII Association and delighted in attending their conventions and meetings with fellow submarine vets.
Drennan loved to tell stories about the World War II era, the submarines’ role and incidents occurring during his term of service.
He also held membership in the Fleet Reserve Association and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Always dedicated to the task at hand, he was conscientious of work ethics and loyalty to his employers and remained a member of the Texas Employee’s Association.
Being an avid bird hunter, he was a member of National Rifle Association and said one of his greatest pleasures was “being in the woods behind a bird dog”.
He could walk and hunt all day, often tiring many younger hunters.
He had great affection for his dogs and honored them by giving them a relative’s names such as “Dot” and “Sue.”
Fly fishing in Colorado was another sport he enjoyed.
More recently, Drennan is best remembered by his response a question from his neighbors, friends and acquaintances. “How are you?” They would ask, to which he would answer, “Not worth a darn, but thank you for asking.”
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Fern Snowden Drennan; sisters Billie Drennan Regan Cantrell and husband William; Jo Nell Drennan Wheelis and husband James; brother Jerry Drennan and stepson James Thomas Snowden III.
Survivors include brother Jack Drennan and wife Vivian, Atlanta, Ga; sister-in-law Louise Drennan, Houston; nephews Kevin Drennan and wife Ceclia, Boerne; Jerry Drennan and wife Caron, Fall City; Father Jimmie Drennan, San Antonio; Troy Drennan, Salt Lake City, Utah; Leslie (Bill) Regan and wife Dean, Keller; nieces Debra Drennan Sommers and husband Guy, Atlanta, Ga; Patty Gillentine and husband Terry, Grand Prairie; step-granddaughters Stephanie Snowden Garner and husband Steve; Samantha Snowden Green and husband Tim, godchild Rebecca Regan McNamara, four step-great-grandchildren; several step-nieces and nephews; great nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.
Pallbearers are Ross Hamilton, Tim Johnson, John Mayo Chapel and nephews Kevin, James, Jimmy and Troy Drennan, Doug Windell and Tyson Johnson.
Honorary pallbearers are submarine World War II Veterans Association, Unit East Texas Chapter of Sub Vets of World War II, and Roddy Masonic Lodge No. 734, Bill Reagan and Tom Bynum.