Obituaries

Della DeClue
Services for Della Jean DeClue, 61, Tool, were held Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011, at the Anderson-Clayton Bros. Chapel with Pastor Paul Hurley of Tool Praise and Worship officiating. Interment following in Laurel Land Cemetery in Dallas with Bro. Frank Reyna officiating.
DeClue was born Jan. 29, 1950, to Marguerite Nelson Whiteley and R.L. Nelson and died Friday, Sept. 23, 2011.
She was a member of the Tool Praise and Worship Church and her faith was stronger at home where she was the “centerpiece.”
DeClue was a country singer and proud member of the Hayseed Opry that performs in Seven Points.
She was preceded in death by her father.
Survivors include her husband, Robert DeClue, Tool; mother Marguerite Nelson Whiteley; children Sheila Freeman and husband, Keith; William Walker and wife Amy, and Shawn DeClue and wife Kim; brothers Ronnie Nelson and wife Judy, James Nelson and wife Sherry and Eddie Nelson; sisters Laverne Nelson, Janell Featherston and Joycelyn Nelson; 11 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, aunts, one uncle, many cousins, nieces and nephews, neighbors and friends.
She was a very special woman who loved and cherished everyone in her life.

Shirley Roper
A private service will be held for Shirley Mae Roper, 81, of Mabank.
She was born June 27, 1930 to Velman Earl and Claudia Clestine Counts in San Antonio as the eldest of three children, and died Sept. 22, 2011, in Athens.
She lived in Henderson County for more than 30 years after her retirement from a grocery store in Arlington.
She loved the lake and to fish with her husband of 35 years, Robert J. Roper, Jr. They lived a blessed and joyful life and were members of the Payne Springs Baptist Church.
Shirley was a French horn soloist, a Bible school teacher, a singer, a stock show queen, real estate manager, an artist, a farmer, a traveler, a wife, a sister, a dedicated daughter and friend to many.
However, Shirley’s most important role was that of mother.
Shirley will be remembered by her loving husband, and their five children, Connie Kerr, Kenith Kerr, Karen Kerr, Rusty Sumrow and Dennis Sumrow. She is also survived by two brothers, Richard Counts and John Robert Counts.
Donations of flowering plants or trees in her memory may be made for the grounds of the Payne Springs Baptist Church, located at 9720 State Highway 198, Pastor Danny Denny (903) 451-2443.
Shirley’s heart was always filled with the love of God. She always left you with more love than you had, and wanted nothing else than to know that you received God’s love.
Remember Shirley for her faith, courage, grace, and for her pretty smile.
Condolences may be offered online at www.eubankcedarcreek.com.

Glenn Cross
Glenn Franklin Cross, 68, died Sept. 23, 2011. He was born April 10, 1943 in Kaufman County to Ammon and Johnnie Cross.
Cross served in the U.S. Army followed by 30 years at General Motors, Michigan as a Union Welder and a United Auto Workers Teamster. He returned to area as a retiree.
He was an avid fisherman, hunte and he loved to play his guitar. His greatest enjoyment was riding motorcycles with friends and being a member of the Black Sheep Motorcycle Club, where he was known as, “Old Timer.”
He was preceded in death by his parents and baby sister Phoebe Cross.
Survivors include his sons, Robert Andrew Cross and James Thomas Cross and wife, Denise; grandchildren Tyberius Jaymz Jonathan Cross, Andrew Cross, Regina Leedy, Christian Cross, Ashlyn Cross and Loghan Cross, one great-grandchild Geneva Cross; three siblings Rita Hamilton, Douglas Cross and wife Anna, Johnny Cross and wife, Linda; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Carl Allen
Services for  Carl Allen, 70, Caddo Lake, La., were held Sept. 28, 2011, at First Baptist Church in Bloomburg with Bro. Wayne Shew, Pastor of Gray Baptist Church, officiating. Interment followed at Salem Cemetery.
Allen died Sept. 25, 2011, with his family by his side. Preceding him in death were his parents, Evelyn and Jamie Allen, and sister Rosebud Carolyn of Bloomburg.
He is survived by his wife, Alice; children Mark Allen, Mabank and Carolyn Allen of Arlington, and grandchildren Jordan, Makenna and Jaret as well as many family relatives.
Finishing up a Texas high school coaching career, he realized his 50-year-old dream of retiring on Caddo Lake, La., where he established his successful Allen’s Tour and Guide Service. He also enjoyed helping his son, Mark, with his success in Pro Bass Fishing and spending time with his grandchildren.
  For the past 16 years, he’s helped Mabank High School to establish a successful basketball program, where his grandson, Jordan, is a pre-season All-State player. Being involved in all activities with the family kept him busy, even pinning badges on his daughter Carolyn during promotional ceremonies in the Arlington Police Department.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gray Baptist Church Building Fund, 150 FM 727, Jefferson, TX  75657.

Damon Bragg Jr
Services for Damon “Heath” Bragg Jr., 13, were held 3 p.m. Wednesday Sept. 21, 2011, at First Baptist Church in Eustace. Interment followed at Moorehead Melton Cemetery.
Bragg was born Sept. 19, 1998 to Mandi (England) Ratley and Damon Bragg Sr. in Dallas.
He was an avid reader, played the trumpet in the band, and enjoyed baseball, football, deer hunting and fishing.
Bragg attended Bob Stoops football camp for the past five years and ran in the Susan B. Komen 5K race.
Last year he killed an 11-point deer, and renamed the ranch “Nachoday Ranch.”
Heath was bright and ambitious and in Gifted and Talented from kindergarten through fourth grade.
He was a top AR reader for fourth and fifth grades, receiving a perfect score in reading in TAKS in 2008. In 2009 and 2010 he made it to the finals in Mind Set Competition.
Heath wanted to help people and loved making people laugh. He was never one to start trouble and let things roll off his sleeve.
Heath was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother Marcella Bragg.
Survivors include his mother Mandi Ratley, Eustace; father Damon Bragg Sr., Eustace; sister Krista Bragg; brother Matthew Ratley; grandparents Chris and Cindy England and grandfather David Bragg; great-grandparents Jan and Richard Diana, Gun Barrel City and Nancy England, Austin.
A personal tribute can be made online at www.eubankcedarcreek.com.

Finis Burk
Services for Finis Burk, 83, of Mabank, will be held at 2 p.m. (today) Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011, at Eubank Cedar Creek Memorial Chapel in Mabank. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery.
Burk was born Aug. 20, 1928, in Mabank to Gertrude (Brooks) and Andy Burk.
Burk served in the USMC during the Korean War and helped found the First Presbyterian Church in Mabank as well as the Lions Club and the Good Samaritans Food Pantry. He was a tool buyer for Sears & Roebuck for 44 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother A.T. Burk, first wife Allie Ruth and sister Mary Helen Myrick.
He is survived by his wife, Lena Burk, Mabank; sons Buddy Burk, Mabank; and Ben Carr and wife Lisa, Prairieville; daughter Judy Junell, Church Road, Va.; sister Ernestine Monore and husband Charles, Athens; 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
A personal tribute can be made online at www.eubankcedarcreek.com.

Joyce Henry
Joyce Henry, 76, Gun Barrel City, died Sept. 24, 2011, at ETMC Tyler. She was born Dec. 9, 1934, in Lincoln Park, Mich., to Elizabeth and Mentor David.
She married Donald Henry in Ayer, Mich., July 9, 1954, and they had five children.
She graduated Lincoln Park High School in 1953. She was a resident of Gun Barrel City for 15 years and employed by VA Medical Center in Dallas and retired as a patient funds and telephone operator.
Henry was a member of First Baptist Church, Gun Barrel City, where she loved her church family and its activities.
She is survived by her husband and children David, Dennis, Denise, Donald Jr, and Della.

Robert Asay
Services for Robert Clayton Asay, 66, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011, at Eubank Cedar Creek Memorial Chapel in Mabank.
Asay was born Dec. 14, 1944 in Batesville, Ark. to Kay (Whitlock) and Robert Woodrow Asay.
He was dedicated to his family and loved classic cars. He was an eight-time winner of the mid-American car show and a world champion ISCA with a truck called ‘Wild Fire.’
Asay enjoyed building custom cars and trucks, motorcycling, sky diving, bull riding in rodeos, metal detecting and received his third degree black belt in karate.
He served in the United Sates Marine Corp. and Dallas Police Department for many years. Then started a mechanical career in 1960 opening Roberts Exhaust Systems in 1970 which he moved to Seven Points in 1998 as M&R Muffler and Automotive. He retired in 2005.
Asay was a Baptist by faith and will be missed by his family, friends and church members at The Cowboy Church in Canton.
He was preceded in death by his parents and the mother of his children Rose.
Survivors include his sons, Robert Asay Jr., Dallas, Robert Wayne Asay and wife Victoria, Tulsa, Okla., and Jason D. Asay and wife, Ruthie, Keithville, La., Michael S. Asay and wife April, Gun Barrel City; daughters Robin Michelle Fowler, Dallas; Sherry Jones, Jefferson; and children Mandy and Doyle, sister Chakita Venee Asay Heard, Naples; niece Tracy Arbanas, nephew Pete Heard; 12 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and other family and friends.
To make a personal tribute go online to www.eubankcedarcreek.com.

Royce Wyatt
Royce Wayne Wyatt, 64, Seven Points, died Sept. 21, 2011, and was born in Winnsboro, April 26, 1947, to Mary (Duty) and Elvin Wyatt Sr.
He enjoyed traveling, watching movies, driving his 18- wheeler, meeting new people and his dog, “Shorty.”
He was a truck driver by profession and received recognition for his safe driving. He also proudly served in the U.S. Army.
Wyatt was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his sons, Robert Michael Wyatt and Carl Ray Wyatt, brother Elvin Wyatt Jr. and wife Laverne, Fruitvale; sister Carolyn Norrid and husband Glen, Conroe; and one grandchild, as well as many other family and loving friends.
Condolences may be offered online at www.eubankcedarcreek.com.