Obituaries

David Cason
Services for David Cason, 81, are set for 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011, at the First Baptist Church in Mabank under the direction of Moorhead Epps Funeral Home in Gun Barrel City.
A longtime Mabank resident, Cason was born in Dallas to Marguerite and Lonnie Cason on Nov. 22, 1929 and died Aug. 24, 2011 after suffering a massive stroke.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Together, David and his wife of 44 years, Grace, reared 11 children.
He followed his father’s trade, working with newspapers, first as a printer’s devil and progressing to linotype operator and typesetter and lastly as The Monitor religion page editor, where he worked for the past 15 years. He retired just eight months before his death. His years as a tramp printer had him working for The Boston Globe, Washington Post, Washington Star, Indianapolis Star, St. Louis Post Dispatch, the Dallas Times Herald and The Dallas Morning News.
David Cason served in the U.S. Army for two years during the Korean War, as part of the first NATO troops and served with the engineers to create topographical maps.
After his discharge from military service, he attended the New England Conservatory of Music for five years and lived his dream of playing the violin with an orchestra – The Mesquite Symphony.
Cason was an active member with the Athens chapter of the Sons of the Revolution.
He is survived by his wife, children Brian Cason, Danny Cline, Cindy Cline, Jeff Cline, Becky Morgan, Bruce Cline, Mary Teague, Tim Cline, Carol Sherwood, Anne Cason Witkop, Catherine Cason and their spouses, numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Robert Cason, and wife Nancy.

John Thomason
Services for John William “Bill” Thomason, 67, of Gun Barrel City, will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30, at the River of Life Church in Kemp.
Thomason was born July 1, 1944, in Houston and died Aug. 20, 2011, at ETMC Gun Barrel City.
He was a member of the River of Life Church in Kemp.
Thomason was an avid fisherman, a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and uncle.
He was a joker and he was always right on what he said and always won!
Thomason will be missed by all.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife of 11 years, Grace Collins Thomason; daughters Nina Thomason, Gina Phillips and Kim Thomason; stepdaughter Rebecca Mabry and husband Scott; sons Tony Thomason, John William Thomason Jr., Aurthor Thomason; stepsons Jim Collins, John Collins, Timothy Collins, David Collins and wife Crystal; 16 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; brother Joe Thomason and wife Lupe; sister Nancy Farmers; numerous other family and a host of friends.

Sherri Sinkule
Services for Sherri Sinkule, 48, of Kaufman, were held Aug. 24, 2011, at Marshall and Marshall Funeral Directors Chapel in Hillsboro with Pastor Mike McReynolds of Church on the Hill in Hillsboro officiating.
Sinkule was born March 3, 1963, in Abbott to Margie Morgan and Barney Smith and died Aug. 21, 2011, at her residence in Kaufman.
She grew up in Abbott and Hillsboro.
Sinkule graduated from Hillsboro High School and Hill College.
For a number of years during the 1980s, she worked for Wal-Mart in Hillsboro.
She married David Sinkule in Abbott Oct. 28, 1989. After their marriage, she worked for Dr. David Skelton for several years.
In September 1992, the couple moved to Peeltown in the Kemp School District. She was very active with the parent-student organization – working on many projects, including the installation of the school marquee.
Sinkule was a devoted mom, who always attended and supported her children in their activities.
For the past five years, she operated her own accounting business in Kaufman.
She was preceded in death by her father.
Survivors include her husband, David Sinkule, Kaufman; children Kayla Sinkule, Amber Williams Barber and husband William; all of Dallas; Jennifer Watson and husband Ferris, Kaufman; and Daryl Sinkule, Houston; mother Margie Smith, Hillsboro; brothers David Smith and wife Carolyn, Angleton; Mike Smith and wife Linda; Lake Jackson; Tommy Smith and wife Terry, Whitney; Ricky Smith, Hillsboro; sisters Carolyn Long and husband Trent, Plano; Cathye Miller and husband Steve, Carl’s Corner; Terri Kelm and husband Gary, Malone; grandchildren Emma and Brooks Watson; soon-to-be-grandson Max Barber; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Juanita Tidwell
Services for Juanita Tidwell, 88, was held Aug. 26, 2011, at the Anderson-Clayton Chapel in Kemp. Interment followed in the Kemp Cemetery, under the direction of Anderson-Clayton Bros. Funeral Home in Kemp.
Tidwell was born Sept. 2, 1922, in Water Hill to Clara and Virgil Easterly and died Aug. 23, 2011.
She grew up in the Kemp Community and was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church, where she enjoyed cooking for the congregation and singing in the choir.
Tidwell was known for her sewing abilities and her heart and soul went into every stitch.
She loved to travel with friends and family, as well.
Tidwell also attended Lone Oak Schools and worked at the Doss-McDougald General Store, where she often considered it enjoyment instead of employment.
She was a member of the Progresso Club, as well as a board member for the Kemp Cemetery.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Jim Tidwell; brother Herbert Easterly and sister Clara Bell Honeycutt.
Survivors include daughters Carol Swaim and late husband Hoyt, Linda Mullins and husband Tommie; son James Tidwell and wife Linda; brother Oscar Dalton Easterly; numerous grandchildren great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The First United Methodist Church of Kemp.