Obituaries

Billie Jo Thornton
Graveside services for Billie Jo Thornton, 80, Kemp, were held May 4, 2007, at King Cemetery with Jerry Mullins officiating under the direction of Tomlinson Funeral Home in Seven Points.
Thornton was born April 19, 1927, in Aley to the late Warren and Jodie Greenhaw Colvin and died May 2, 2007, in Kemp. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband James Thornton, three sisters and three brothers.
She was raised in the Flag Lake and Aley communities with 12 siblings. She moved from the area for 24 years but later returned with her family.
She was a dedicated worker in the surrounding areas and worked as an aide for the Kemp Independent School District.
Survivors include her son Wesley and Jan Hendrix, Alba; daughter April and Joe Pass, Kemp; brothers Dewain Colvin, Haltom City; Harold and Nadine Colvin, Trinidad; Richard and Rosalee Colvin, Trinidad; sisters Nelda Hendrix, Forney; Rachel and Leroy Voight, Garland; and Gail and Cecil Brown, Kemp; grandson Clayton Pass, Kemp; granddaughter Sarah Pass, Kemp.
Contributions may be made to the Kemp Elementary School library.

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; 11 grandchildren; brothers Gene Smith and Jimmie Smith, both of Dallas; other family members and many friends.

Charles Kenkman Jr.
A memorial service for Charles Kenkman Jr., 85, was held May 5, 2007, at Tomlinson Funeral Home in Seven Points with Brother Loven officiating.
Kenkman was born April 19, 1922, in Brooklyn, N.Y. to Iva and Charles Kenkman Sr., and died May 1, 2007, in Tyler after a lengthy illness. He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years Wilna, daughter Nancy Massingill and granddaughter Deborah Willmouth.
He was a baker along with his brothers and father. He was in the Navy during World War II. He retired from Pollock Paper Co. as a package engineer.
During his more than 40 years on Cedar Creek Lake, he, along with his wife and daughter Nancy, cofounded and helped build the Cedar Creek Animal Shelter. He attended the Lakeside Baptist Church.
Survivors include his daughters Sharon and husband G.W. Hooper, Caddo Mills; and Leslee and husband Gene Johnston, Ovila; grandchildren Shawn, Danyel, Tonya and Christopher; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; brothers Bobby and wife Doreen Kenkman and Donny and wife Shirley Kenkman of Washington state; nieces, nephews, loving cousins and many friends.

Gerald Marrs
Services for Gerald Ray Marrs, 76, Malakoff, were held May 5, 2007, at the Eubank Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Dale Norris officiating. Interment was in Laurel Land Memorial Park in Dallas under the direction of Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home in Mabank.
Marrs was born Sept. 10, 1930, in Dallas and died May 2, 2007, in Malakoff.
Previously of Duncanville, he had lived in Malakoff since 1995, and was a member of the Faith Community Baptist Church. He was a master stonemason and a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and will be missed.
Survivors include his wife Merion Marrs, Malakoff; son Sid Marrs and wife Roxanne, Forney; daughters Jeanette Harris, Oklahoma; Barbara Marrs, Garland; and Jerry Washburn and husband Larry, Wylie; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; other family member and many friends.

LaWanda Dyer
Services for LaWanda Dyer, 68, Mabank, were held May 7, 2007, at Beacon Church of Christ with Brethren Ken Maddox and Timothy Sparks officiating. Burial was in Cedar Creek Memorial Park under the direction of Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home in Mabank.
Dyer was born Oct. 27, 1938, in Ninnekah, Okla., and died May 4, 2007, in Houston.
She was a homemaker and lived in Mabank all her life. She was a member of the Beacon Church of Christ in Gun Barrel City.
Survivors include her husband Jack Dyer, Mabank; sons John Dyer and wife Betty, Mabank; Mark Dyer and wife Tina, Mabank; and James Dyer and wife Brandi, Canton; daughters Athena Taylor and husband Jim, Rusk; and Jackie Martin and husband Don, Eustace; brother Keenan Boehme and wife Marzette, Mabank; 15 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were John, Mark, James and Caleb Dyer, Don Martin and Keenan Boehme.
Honorary pallbearers were Jacob and Daniel Dyer, Tommy Byrd and Joshua Bradford.

Linda D. Weaver
Services for Linda D. Weaver, 58, Trinidad, were held May 6, 2007, at Tomlinson Funeral Home in Seven Points with Brother Ned Mullins officiating. Interment followed in Mankin Cemetery in Trinidad.
Weaver was born April 6, 1949, in Dallas to the late Frank H. and Opal Speake and died May 1, 2007, in Dallas.
She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother.
Survivors include her husband Vernon Weaver, Trinidad; sons Randall and wife Donya Weaver, Trinidad; and Dennis and wife Jane Weaver, Trinidad; sister Nadine Wood, Dallas; grandsons Justin and Patrick Weaver, granddaughters Ashlee, Brandalyn, Tiffney and Brittney Weaver.