Obituaries

Thelma Kennedy
Services for Thelma “Tim” Leigh Brumfield Kennedy, 90, were held June 18, 2010, at the Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home in Mabank with Dr. Allan Lane officiating. Interment followed in the veterans Memorial Gardens at Laurel Land Cemetery in Fort Worth, with full military rites.
Kennedy was born March 1, 1920, in Longworth in Fisher County, to Myrtle Montgomery and Harmon E. Brumfield and died June 16, 2010, at East Texas Medical Center in Athens after losing her battle with colon and bone cancer.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ruben Kennedy, July 24, 1989, brother Vernon Brumfield and nephew Freddie Hale.
She married Reuben Odell “Ken” Kennedy Oct. 14, 1945, in Carlsbad, New Mexico.
Their career military life provided worldwide travel and many wonderful experiences.
Kennedy graduated from the Hendricks Memorial Hospital Nursing program and became a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Force, working as a surgical nurse.
She was a born caregiver and continued her nursing career well into her 70s.
She was a gourmet cook. She loved golf and one of her prized possessions was her Hole-in-One trophy.
The couple moved to Dixie Isle on Cedar Creek Lake in 1981, where she became an avid fisherman.
Survivors include her sisters Viola Benson, Wills Point; and Geneva Perkins, Roby; nieces VJ Benson Derrington and husband Michael, Panorama Village; Beth Turner and husband George, Roby; Sue Schleuter and husband Dwayne, Trent; nephew Danny Brumfield and wife Jody, Trent; extended family; special friends Carroll J. “Red” Wallace, Eddie Wallace, Linda Wallace Culpepper and husband Winston, Ann Culpepper Flores and husband Louie and George Culpepper.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent in Kennedy’s name to the American Cancer Society’s Tyler office, 1301 S. Broadway, Tyler, TX 75701, (903) 597-1348.

LaVerne Hancock
LaVerne Hancock, 87, Gun Barrel City, was born April 21, 1923, in Dallas and died June 17, 2010, in Gun Barrel City.
Arrangements are under the direction of Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home in Mabank.
She was preceded in death by her husband John Hancock, and sons David and George Hancock.
Previously of Duncanville, she had resided in Gun Barrel City for 30-plus years and was Lutheran by faith.
She was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
Survivors include her son Thomas Hancock, Durango, Colo.; grandchildren Jennifer Hancock, Durango, Colo., Kimberly Hancock, Austin and Paul Hancock, Fort Worth; one great-grandchild; other family members and many loving friends.

Florence Struck
Services for Florence Hazel Struck, 87, Scurry, were held June 20, 2010, at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Scurry. Interment followed in Mount Olive Cemetery under the direction of Parker-Ashworth Funeral Home of Kaufman.
Struck was born July 26, 1922, in Louisiana to Lena V. Hall and Samuel M. Lagow and died June 17, 2010, in a Dallas hospital.
She was preceded in death by her husband Fred Struck Nov. 28, 1999.
She lived all her life in Scurry and worked for the Scurry-Rosser ISD as the superintendent’s secretary for 21 years before retiring in 1987.
She was a member of the Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Scurry for more than 60 years. She led the singing for 30 years.
She married Fred Struck May 24, 1946, in Kaufman County.
It was said meeting her was like a breath of spring air. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She was known to many as “Mema.”
She lived a life full of love for the Lord and devotion for her family.
Survivors include her daughter Betty Joyce Taliaferro and husband Wiley, Scurry; grandchildren John Alan Babovec and wife April, Michael Babovec and wife Chandra, Steven Babovec and wife Tami, Sheri York and husband Doug and Chris Taliaferro and wife Sloan; great-grandchildren Hayden, Bailey, Avery, Austin, Seth and Loryn Babovec, Laikyn York, Ty Taliaferro, Wesley and Kourtney Smith; and many other relatives.

Johnnie Whitt
Services for Johnnie Irene Whitt, 88, were held June 9, 2010, at Restland Memorial Chapel with interment to follow at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas under the direction of Anderson-Clayton Bros. Funeral Home.
Whitt was born March 19, 1922, in Denison to Betty Lee and James Myers and died June 6, 2010.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bobby Lee Whitt, daughter Betty Louise Morrison and three sisters.
She married Bobby Lee Whitt Oct. 11, 1942. She was a member of Payne Springs Baptist Church.
Survivors include her children Bobbie Jean Dennis; James Robert Whitt and wife Pam; Louella Burns; Linda Dollison and husband Dewey; and Rick Lowery; 15 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; 13 great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews who loved her and will miss her dearly.

Christy Burks
A memorial service for Christy Ann Burks, 36, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 26, 2010, at the Moorhead-Epps Memorial Chapel in Gun Barrel City with the Rev. Buddy Hazel officiating.
Burks was born May 15, 1974, in Mesquite to Carolyn Kay and Jimmy Don Perkins and died June 19, 2010, in Tyler.
Survivors include her parents; children Brett Lee Burks, Miranda Leeann Burks, Madison Cheyenne Sain and Kevin Liggit; brothers Robert Lawrence and wife Karen; James Lawrence and wife Windy; Dwayne McGlocklin and wife Jennifer; sisters Holly Perkins, Alica Hill and husband Jeff; great-grandmother Bertha Bishop; special friend Don Littrell; numerous other family members and many friends.

Anthony Hartline
Services for Anthony Wayne Hartline, 17, Kemp, were held June 21, 2010, at the Roselawn Chapel. Interment followed in the Roselawn Memorial Park in Seagoville.
Hartline was born Aug. 25, 1992, in Dallas and died June 17, 2010, in Kemp.
He was preceded in death by his father Kipper Hartline.
He was a student at Mabank High School and loved football, guitar and fishing.
He attended Faith Baptist Church in Dallas.
Survivors include his mother Leann Hartline and Mike Haney; sister Amber Hartline; brothers Haden Ward and Austin Ward; grandmother Barbara Lowry; grandfather Kippy Hartline; grandparents Sherry and David Moore; and a host of other family and friends.

Corey Kirkpatrick
Services for Corey Rhys Kirkpatrick, 10, Seven Points, are set for 10 a.m. Thursday (today), June 24, 2010, at the Church of Christ in Seven Points with Robin Wright officiating. Interment will follow in Johnson Station Cemetery in Arlington under the direction of Tomlinson Funeral Home in Seven Points.
Kirkpatrick was born July 22, 1999, in Biloxi, Miss. and died June 20, 2010, in Seven Points.
Survivors include his parents Gwen and Dennis Kirkpatrick, Seven Points; sister Nicole Leal and husband T.J., Arlington; brothers Cody Kirkpatrick, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; and Taylor Kirkpatrick, Seven Points; grandmothers Doris Young and Joyce Kirkpatrick.