Obituaries

Allegra Barnes
Sunday, March 29, 2009, a beautiful spring morning, Allegra Gibbs Barnes, 89, slipped into Heaven.
Funeral services were held April 2, 2009, at the First United Methodist Church in Temple with the Revs. Tom Robbins and Hubert Austin officiating.
A graveside service was held April 3, 2009 at Elm Grove Cemetery near Mabank.
Barnes was born Aug. 10, 1919, to Ella Higginbotham and John Cullen Gibbs in Van Zandt County.
She graduated from Canton High School as salutatorian and from the Texas Women’s University with a bachelor of science in home economics education, as well as from Sam Houston State University with a master of arts in education.
She married her childhood friend and sweetheart, John Oliver Barnes, who was stationed in Quantico, Va. in the U.S.Marine Corps in 1945.
Into a loving home, they brought three daughters.
Barnes was a Christian and lifelong Methodist, active in First United Methodist Church, Temple.
She was the first female chairperson of the administrative board and chairperson of the staff parish relations.
She served three terms as president of United Methodist Women.
A regular visitor at a nursing home, she prayed faithfully for the sick and hospitalized members of her church, as well as the military families and back pack buddies.
Gardening held a special place in her heart! She felt closest to God out among the trees and flowers. She was a national flower show judge and participated in local, district, state, regional and national levels.
Her garden related honors included Certificate of Merit, Presidential Citation, World Class Garden Club Woman, Golden Gardener Award, Crown Jewel, Texas Garden Clubs, Inc.
Landscaping projects included City Federation of Women’s Clubs and Bell County Landscape and Garden Committee.
Allegra is wife, mother, and grandmother to a large, loving family; her husband of 63 years, John, and daughters Carol McDonald, Judy Johnson and husband Stuart, of Temple, Kay Allen and husband Ki of Austin.
Her prize possessions were her grandchildren, Justin and Sharmila McDonald, Shelton McDonald, SC Johnson, Jamie Johnson, Judith Allegra Allen, Tres Allen and of course, great-grandson Braeden McDonald.
Memorials may be made to the Building Fund, First United Methodist Church, 102 North Second St., Temple, TX 76501.

Glenda Breshears
Services for Glenda Louise Breshears, 64, Mabank, were held April 3, 2009, at the Roselawn Cemetery in Seagoville with Brother Mickey Loftis officiating under the direction of Tomlinson Funeral Home in Malakoff.
Breshears was born Oct. 12, 1944, in Stoddard County, Mo. and died March 31, 2009, in Athens.
She was preceded in death by her parents Nellie and Joseph Breshears.
She was a press operator at Dal Tile.
Survivors include her sisters Melba Majewski, Mabank; and Juanita Preston; nieces Belinda and husband Robbie Belknap, Mabank; and Ann and husband Troy Parker, North Carolina; nephew Bruno Majewski, Mabank; great-nieces Marissa Roland, North Carolina, Kimberly Rivera, Mabank; and Tanya Belknap, Mabank; great-nephew Russell Roland; and eight great-great-nieces and nephews.

Jerry King
Memorial services for Jerry Dean King, 72, longtime resident of Athens, were held April 3, 2009, at the First United Methodist Church, Lovers Lane, Athens with Frank Upchurch and Joe Warren officiating under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home in Athens.
King passed away with the joy and love of his life, grandson Jerrod William Rachel.They were doing what they both loved, fishing on Richland Chambers Reservoir in Navarro County and being with each other.
Beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, King was born in Gresham in Smith County Nov. 5, 1936.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Edna Louise Saunders and George Smith King.
Survivors include his wife of 26 years, Jeanna Kay Garner King, Athens; daughter Deborah (Debbie) Davis Reaves and husband Gary, Athens; son Joe Dean (Jody) King, Athens; son Randy Paroline and wife Renate, Opelika; daughter Lori Paroline Rachel and husband Mike, Cross Roads; niece Cathlene Prescott Smith and husband Mike, Friendswood; brothers, George Stanley King and wife Linda, Cross Roads and John Allen King and wife Teresa; sisters Barbara Beggs and Delores Neidermeyer, Terrell; grandchildren: Alicia Nichole King, Jonathan Andrew Davis, Ryan Bruce Davis, and Zachary Mason King; and great-granddaughter Charlsey Feagins; numerous nieces and nephews.
King moved to the Athens area from Canton and began his journey as a hard-working businessman, good father and adventurous friend to many.
With his wife Mary Corry King, he was blessed with Debbie and Jody. He worked as a brick mason, home builder and rancher in the Athens area and operated the King Masonry business for 25 years.
He established King Ready Mix Concrete in the late 1970s with concrete plants in Athens and Corsicana.
King Sand and Gravel was operated in Cross Roads by Jerry and Kay for many years until it moved to the present location in the community of Samaria, east of Kerens.
King built a new plant there which was featured in the Pit and Quarry Magazine, issue August, 2006.
King enjoyed playing the guitar, singing, traveling, hunting and most especially fishing.
He leaves his legacy as an avid, energetic and unrivaled hunter, fishermen, family man and friend to many.
He loved life and woke with a smile and a song and faced each day with a determination to do his best. He loved his wife, family, friends and his employees and was always there to lend a willing hand to anyone in need.
Honorary pallbearers were Dale Huggins, Ronnie Bell, Joey Bell, Larry Wade, Larry Sexton, Lawrence Heard, Ray Harvey, Adron Neill, Tim Norman, Bobby Joe Curry, Parker Majors, Glen Majors, John Taggart, Leman Hargrove, Bobby Cooper, Tommy Barnett, Drew Douglas, Royce Bane, Randy Whatley, J.C. Hart, Leo Kinabrew, Martin Perez, Jerry Jordan and all King Sand and Gravel employees.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to one of the following organizations: American Red Cross, Corsicana Chapter D.A.T., 701 West Second Ave, Corsicana, TX 75110, United Response Search and Rescue Team, P.O. Box 1463, Midlothian, TX 76065 or the Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Warden Division.