Obituaries

Bennie Auldridge
Services for Bennie Mae Auldridge, 65, Kemp, were held May 2, 2007, at Anderson Clayton Bros. Funeral Home in Kemp with R.J. Stevens officiating. Interment followed in the King Cemetery near Kemp in the Aley Community.
Auldridge was born Feb. 21, 1942, in Cooper, the daughter of James Otis and Edith Etaw (Roland) Hooten and died April 28, 2007, in Irving. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother Shelby Hooten.
She married Archie Auldridge Oct. 16, 1959, in Cooper and they lived in Kaufman County since 1982. She worked at Mesquite schools for 10 years and was Church of Christ by faith.
Survivors include her husband of more than 47 years Archie Auldridge, Kemp; son Rickey Auldridge, Mesquite; daughter Tammie Rhoades and husband Phil, Garland; grandchildren Johnathan Myers, Jeffery Myers, Jimmy Auldridge, Matthew Auldridge and Miccah Auldridge; brother James Alvin Hooten, Commerce; sister Elma Lois Boyd and husband James, Charleston; numerous other relatives and friends.
Pallbearers were Ricky Auldridge, Johnathan Myers, Jeffery Myers, Jimmy Auldridge, James Hooten, Phil Rhoades, Matthew Auldridge and Miccah Auldridge.

Etta May Tapley
Services for Etta May Tapley, 68, Mabank, were held April 22, 2007, at the First Assembly of God Church in Malakoff, with Bro. Ken Jones officiating. Interment followed in the Malakoff Cemetery under the direction of Tomlinson Funeral Home in Seven Points.
Tapley was born April 20, 1938, in Blooming Grove to the late Lenard Carl and Lovie D. Murdock and died April 18, 2007, in Tyler. She was preceded in death by her parents, and husband James Ellis Tapley Sr.
She worked as a supervisor in the hotel industry and loved her family and sports. She was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Malakoff.
Survivors include daughters Pam and Cliff Hinds, Kemp; Kim and Gene Smith, Eureka; sons James and Sherry Tapley, Ben Wheeler; and Carl and Paula Tapley, Frankston; grandchildren Haylea Hinds, Kemp; J.D., Heather and Faith Tapley, Ben Wheeler; Wes, Wade and Jesse Smith, Eureka; Russ Tapley, Frankston; dear friends of Pecan Grove Apartments in Mabank; and her beloved companion Toots, Mabank.

Aaron Morgan
Graveside services for Aaron Ernest Morgan were held April 30, 2007, in the Athens Cemetery under the direction of Gordon-Foster-Brown Funeral Home.
Morgan was born Jan. 12, 2007, and died April 26, 2007.

Les Smith
A memorial service for Les Smith, 56, Eustace, was held April 28, 2007, at Grace Fellowship Outreach Church in Eustace under the direction of Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home in Mabank.
Smith was born Sept. 23, 1950, in Dallas and died April 25, 2007, in Eustace.
He had lived most of his life in Eustace and was of the Pentecostal faith. He was kind, loving and courteous and was one-of-a-kind. He was a great musician.
Survivors include his daughters Monica Smith Williams, Eustace; Christie Perkins, Seagoville; and Alisha Drohn, Eustace; sons Leslie Laster Smith III, Gun Barrel City; and Timothy Smith, Eustace; one grandchild; brothers Gene Smith and Jimmie Smith, both of Dallas; other family members and many friends.

Harvella Trout
Services for Harvella “Harvey” Trout, 88, Athens, were held April 28, 2007, in Post. Burial was in Terrace Cemetery in Post under the direction of Gordon-Foster-Brown Funeral Home.
Trout was born Aug. 12, 1918, in Post to Elgie Stewart and Cordelia Wilburn and died April 26, 2007, in Athens.
She was a florist and was a member of Graham Chapel Church of Christ.
Survivors include her daughter Annette Trout and husband Jack, Athens; sister Nell Adams, Athens; and a host of other relatives.
Pallbearers were Richard Trout, Johnny Mac Brown, Cody Cook, Sidney Frymire, Mike McKinney, Nicholas Veach and Cody Crow.

Jack Morrison
Jack Andrew Morrison, 74, Mabank, was born Jan. 29, 1933, in San Francisco, Calif. and died April 28, 2007, in Dallas. Arrangements are under the direction of Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home in Mabank.
Morrison was a house painter and had lived in Mabank since 1976. He was a loving man and good father. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served during the Korean War.
Survivors include his sons Timothy Morrison and wife Vivian, Mabank; and Troy Morrison, Mabank; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild; brother Harold Morrison and wife Patricia, Mabank; nieces, nephews, other family members and many friends.

Billy Ray Bruner
Services for Billy Ray Bruner, 80, Mabank, were held May 1, 2007, at Anderson Clayton Bros. Funeral Home Chapel in Kemp with the Rev. Todd Peavy officiating. Interment followed in Baker Cemetery, Tolosa Community near Kemp.
Bruner was born Sept. 30, 1926, in Dallas to Lloyd and Etta (Ernest) Bruner and died April 28, 2007, in Dallas. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Cathy Farrald, son Pete Bruner, grandson James, daughter-in-law Vicky René Bruner and sister Geneva Miller.
He was a proud veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in DeSoto for a number of years.
He was an automobile mechanic and a part-time Baptist minister, affiliated with the Lighthouse Baptist Church of Mabank.
Survivors include his wife Tissie (Beall) Bruner, Mabank; sons David Bruner and fiancé Linda, Scurry; Terry Bruner and wife Sheila, Rice; Weldon Ashton, Fort Stocton; and David Ashton and wife Daina, Irving; daughters Patricia Bruner Dennis and husband Ernie, Abilene; Donna Vaughan, Crandall; and Lois Bruner, Mabank; 18 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; half brothers Junior Bruner, Scurry; Roger Dale Bruner, Lively; Billy Jack Bruner, Lively; and Mark Lynn Bruner, Kemp; half sisters Connie Bruner, Kemp; and Bonnie Bruer, Kemp; stepmother Ester Bruner, Kemp; numerous relatives and many friends.
Pallbearers were Jesse Moles, Josh Vaughan, Chris Vaughan, Tony Vaughan, Marcus Farrall and Boomer Bruner.

Jimmy Norris
Graveside services for Jimmy “Jimbo” Lamar Norris were held April 29, 2007 at Tool Cemetery under the direction of Tomlinson Funeral Home in Seven Points.
Norris was born Jan. 27, 1961, in Long Beach, Calif., to James and Melba Joyce Norris and died April 25, 2007, at his home in Trinidad with family members who loved him deeply.
He was preceded in death by his mother Melba Joyce, grandparents C.C. “Son” and Lilllian Collins and Clark and Hazel Norris, and the mother of his sons Tammy Norris.
He had fought a long and courageous battle with cancer and amazed all who knew him with his incredible will and strength to face each day.
He had great devotion to his children and endured sacrifices for them. He desired for them to be happy and to prosper. They were the love of his life.
Friends he met late in his life through Hospice of Cedar Lake include Beverly Linton, Debbie and Mike Ferguson and Patsy McSpadden.
Survivors include his children Tyler and Miles Norris, Trinidad; and Brianna Norris, Ennis; father James Norris, Trinidad; sister and brothers-law Leslie and John Cayce, Longview; brother and sister-in-law Vincent and Tanya Norris, Trinidad; niece Maci Estes; and nephews Jason Monroe and wife Tamara, Aaron Reimer, Dusty Norris, Dakota Norris, Nicolas Estes and Cameron Norris; great-nephew Cole Monroe; aunts, uncles, cousins and special friends.
Pallbearers were his devoted friends Ernest Jenkins and Howard Monroe and family members Michael Collins, Mark Hardin, Jason Monroe, Mickey Garcia, Aaron Reimer and Dusty Norris.
Honorary pallbearers were the 2006 Trinidad Trojan football team and coaches.
Blue and gold or Trojan attire were acceptable. Jimmy wouldn’t have it any other way.

Cristal Anay Miranda
Services for Cristal Anay Miranda, infant, Athens, were held April 27, 2007, in Athens under the direction of Gordon-Foster-Brown Funeral Home.
Cristal Anay Miranda was born April 23, 2007, in Athens to Gladis and Francisco Miranda and died April 26, 2007, in Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.
Survivors include her parents and brother Cristian Joel Rodales, of Athens; and her grandparents Juon Moreno and Maura Almendares.

W.D. Williams
Funeral services for W.D. Williams, 71, Kemp, were held April 28, 2007, at Eubank Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Dee Daniels officiating. Burial was in Cedar Creek Memorial Park under the direction of Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home in Mabank.
Williams was born Nov. 11, 1936, in England, Ark. and died April 26, 2007, in Kemp. He was preceded in death by his parents Dean and Kathy Williams.
Previously of Garland, he had lived in Kemp for the past 24 years and worshipped with the Church of Christ.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Seven Points.
Survivors include his wife Minnie Williams, Kemp; daughters Melba Slack, Kemp; Juanita Gipson, Kemp; Judy Mize, Seven Points; Vickie Foley, Merit; and Mary Farrar, Farmersville; son Walter Williams, Greenville; 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

James High
A memorial service for James “Al” High, 86, Payne Springs, was held May 1, 2007, at Caney Creek Baptist Church in Malakoff with Dr. Bob Henley and the Rev. Alan Hobgood officiating under the direction of Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home in Mabank.
High was born Nov. 23, 1920, in Charleston, W.V. and died April 28, 2007, in Kemp.
Previously of St. Albans, W.V., he had lived in Payne Springs since 1983, and was a member of the Caney Creek Baptist Church. He was a weight master at Union Carbide and retired Dec. 31, 1981, after 40 years service.
Survivors include his wife Jane High, Payne Springs; sons James Allen High II and wife Debra, Eustace; Chuck Rodgers and wife Sharon, Tool; and Mike Rodgers and wife Kathy, Proctorville, Ohio; sister Helen Myers, Payne Springs; 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Joe McClung Sr.
Services for Joe David McClung Sr. were held May 2, 2007, at Parker-Ashworth Funeral Home in Kaufman with Pastor Joe Watson officiating. Interment followed in Morrow Chapel Cemetery in the Ola Community.
McClung was born Feb. 15, 1942, in Dallas to Lonnie and Sallie Cox McClung and died April 28, 2007, in a Tyler hospital.
He was raised in the Rylie Community and lived most of his life in the Dallas area.
He entered the U.S. Army and served in the Vietnam War. He was in the 1st Infantry Division from 1966 to 1969, and was known as Charlie Ranger in Vietnam.
He received the Purple Heart along with many other medals.
Oct. 25, 1980, he married Margaret Whipple in Mississippi.
Survivors include his wife Margaret, Eustace; son Joe David McClung Jr., Canton; mother of his son Dorothy McClung; mother Sallie McClung, Balch Springs; stepsons Terry Morris, Robert Morris and Mike Morris, all of Flint, Mich.; stepdaughter Roberta Kopko, Franklin, Tenn.; brothers L.J. McClung, Balch Springs, Darrell McClung, Forney; Lyndon McClung, Ben Wheeler; and Bryon McClung, Forney; six grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.