Obituaries

Hilah Gibbs
Hilah Gibbs passed away July 7, 2009, and will be buried in the Elm Grove Cemetery beside her husband, Donald Gibbs, who preceded her in death Aug. 29, 1995.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 8. Services will be at Mabank Church of Christ at 2 p.m. Thursday (today), July 9, 2009, under the direction of Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home.
Hilah Gibbs, the second child of Frank and Clara Blankenship, was born July 21, 1920, in the Watkins Community in Van Zandt County.
After graduating from high school in Wills Point, she attended North Texas State Teacher’s College in Denton, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree and teacher’s certification. Her teaching career lasted 32 years.
She was appointed to the Association of Outstanding Secondary Educators of America, chosen as Teacher of the Year by the Mabank Chamber of Commerce, and initiated as a member of Alpha Tau Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma. There were many other achievements that she was proud of, but these meant the most to her.
Since her retirement from teaching in 1982, she was active in the National Federation of Grandmother Clubs of America, which would later change to the Friendship Club, the Mabank Garden Club (a charter member since 1953), the Delta Kappa Gamma, United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Terrell Book Review Club.
She served on the board of directors for Kaufman County Senior Citizen Services, and was a member of Retired Teachers, as well as a Meals on Wheels volunteer.
Her children and grandchildren always teased her that they had to make an appointment to visit her.
Hilah married Donald Gibbs March 6, 1944, in Pennsylvania, where Donald was stationed during World War II.
Hilah and Donald moved to Mabank in 1950, and joined in their community and church. They raised three children here.
Hilah’s philosophy has always been not to worry a lot. If there is anything you can do to help a situation, do it and move on to something else. She liked people and was happiest when she could do something to help someone. She loved her family, church and friends.
Surviving are son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Louise Gibbs; son Phil Gibbs; daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Mike Mengel; sister, Ola Stuart of Garland; nine grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, one niece and numerous other family members.

John Peterson
Memorial services for John Allen Peterson, 69, Dallas, were held July 6, 2009, at teh First Baptist Church in Tool with Bro. Ed Brennan officiating under the direction of Tomlinson Funeral Home in Seven Points.
Peterson was born Oct. 16, 1939, in Minco, Okla., to the late Erma L. Beatty and Luther John Peterson and died June 30, 2009, in Dallas.
He worked as a salesman.
He is survived by his brother Paul Peterson, Elgin.

Pernice Maxfield
Memorial services for Pernice Bell Maxfield, 86, Mabank, will be held at 11 a.m. July 11, 2009, at the Liberty Baptist Church with Dennis Woods officiating under the direction of Tomlinson Funeral Home in Seven Points.
Maxfield was born July 23, 1922, in Pruitt, to the late Aeizonia and Milas Ogles and died June 29, 2009, in Tyler.
She was preceded in death by her husband Jessie A. Maxfield, parents, son Richard Maxfield and brothers Edward and Jim Ogles.
She was a member of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church and lifetime member of the P.T.A. She retired as a cafeteria manager for the Dallas Independent School District.
Survivors include her sons Larry and wife Ruth Maxfield, Prairieville; Donald and wife Pat Maxfield, Garland; Terry and wife Patricia Maxfield and Bruce and wife Diane Maxfield, all of Sachse; daughters Suzie Maxfield and Paula Gilbert, both of Prairieville; 20 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Teddy Barnes
Services for Teddy Mack Barnes, 65, Seven Points, will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 12, 2009, at Victorious Praise and Worship, 6390 State Highway North 19, Athens.
He passed on to God’s Kingdom early Wednesday morning, July 1, 2009, at ETMC, Tyler, having suffered from complications due to his kidney failure, heart and lung diseases.
The Revs. Ernest Reyes, Steve Adams and Richard Womble will officiate.
At his bedside were his wife, Joy Delle; their daughter Tammy Dee Byrd of Crittenden, Ky.; her youngest of five daughters Patricia Carol Xayavong and Patricia’s son, Jordan, who were fortunate to have visited during June. Daughter Donna Kay Wilcox of Arlington also visited with her daddy often and was able to be with him during Tuesday evening.
Barnes was proud to have Donna (a C.N.A. for eleven years) “spoil” him during her frequent visits.
Granddaughter Jennifer L. Mooney and daughter Baylee kept him happy and entertained with balloons, cards, pictures and posters, which decorated both home and hospital rooms.
Grandson Christopher D. Wilcox, currently of San Diego, spent five months “spoiling” his grandfather just prior to his return to California in April.
Barnes was fortunate to have the care and compassion of the entire staff at Fresenius Medical of Athens during his year and a half on dialysis.
He was also blessed with having Jonathan Edwards, M.D, and his staff as primary care since the mid-90s.
A native of Pineville, Mo., Barnes joined the U.S. Navy in 1960.
During his eight years of active duty, he served in Guam aboard several ships patroling the western Pacific.
He met and married his wife while stationed in San Diego, attending radio school.
Shortly after their marriage in February, 1964, he was transferred to Moffitt Naval Air Station in Mountain View, Calif., back to San Diego to ships, then to the Philippines.
While stationed at San Miguel Naval Air Station, he was often deployed to Vietnam to set up communications stations.
Sadly, the stress of this separation caused Barnes and his wife to divorce upon his return to the states in May, 1968, leaving Joy with their two infant daughters, Tammy Dee and Donna Kay.
Barnes left California for Texas and Missouri, where he attended business college for a couple of years.
Not feeling that an “office life” was for him, he chose to follow his natural talents and went to work in construction.
The majority of his years were spent in Houston as well as other Texas towns, including Mesquite, during which time he worked at the Antitole Hotel in Dallas.
After a short move to Kentucky, he returned to Texas, settling in Athens in 1995, where he resided until re-connecting with his two daughters in May, 1999, and later that year with Joy Delle.
Upon reuniting, he and Joy settled in Seven Points, where he enjoyed keeping the five acres of Mercedes Mobile Home Park ship-shape for owners Jim and Josey Ling.
Barnes used his knowledge, skills and good nature on many construction projects in Athens and Seven Points.
In addition to his wife and daughters, surviving family includes six granddaughters, two grandsons and 10 great-grandchildren; mother Laura I. Nixon and brother Larry W. Barnes, both of Athens; brother Charles H. Barnes, of Joplin, Mo.; and stepson Bruce L. Wm. Discher of San Diego, Calif.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home, P.O. Box 303, Mabank, TX 78147-0303.

Raymond Ingram
Services for Raymond Ingram, 86, Tool, were held July 6, 2009, at the Tomlinson Funeral Home in Seven Points with Bro. Ed Brennan officiating. Burial was in Tool Cemetery under the direction of Tomlinson Funeral Home in Seven Points.
Ingram was born Dec. 26, 1922, in Mabank to the late Rose Bradley and John Ingram and died July 4, 2009, in Malakoff.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Claudia Gayle Ingram, brother Ray Ingram, sisters Helen Galles, Mildred Brown, Velda Miller and Mary Barnett.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Tool where he was a deacon for 42 years.
He was a farmer and also worked in the machine shop for Storm Valcan.
Survivors include his wife Wanza Ingram, Tool; son Russell Scott Ingram, Tool; niece Angie; and two nephews Danny and Nickie.

Earl McCain
Services for Earl McCain, 67, Gun Barrel City, were held July 6, 2009, at the Eubank Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Dale Norris officiating. Burial was in Pyle Prairie Cemetery under the direction of Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home in Mabank.
McCain was born Feb. 16, 1942, in Bivins and died July 1, 2009, in Tyler.
He was preceded in death by his first wife Joy Pyle McCain.
Previously of Seagoville, he had resided in Mabank for 30 years and was Baptist by faith. He worked for the City of Dallas Sanitation Department for 30 years.
Survivors include his wife of 15 years Carol McCain, Mabank; son Earl Wayne McCain, Odessa; daughter Gwenda Ussery and husband Gail, Georgetown; grandchildren Tosha, Cody, Lucas, Lindsey, Elizabeth, Kathy and Yancy; stepson Billy Pete Vallery and wife Becky, Fisher, La.; brothers Jackie McCain and wife Billie, Odessa; and Jerry McCain and wife Carol, Dallas.