Obituaries

Nellie Belcher
Nellie Margret Jackson Belcher, 80, Mabank, died Dec. 19, 2010, at home with her family in Northlake.
Belcher was born Feb. 12, 1930, in Richlands, Va., to Sarah Totten and Charles B. Jackson.
She was preceded in death by her parents, stepmother Catherine Adkins Jackson, husband J.O. Belcher, and brothers Howard, Bob, Charles and Eddie Jackson.
She loved to shop flea markets and yard sales.
She was always there when you needed her.
She was a true friend and all will miss her.
Survivors include her brothers, R.L. Jackson, Northlake; and Steve Jackson, Pound, Va.; sisters Sue Brooks, Lois Spangler, Liz Childress, all of Richlands, Va.; Shirley Short, Richmond, Va.; and Margaret Billings, Princeton, W.V.; and many family and friends throughout the United States.

Leon Dearmond
Services for Leon Alfred Dearmond, 70, Gun Barrel City, were held Dec. 17, 2010, at the Moorhead Epps Funeral Home in Gun Barrel City.
Dearmond was born July 28, 1940, in Laurel, Miss., to Jane Overstreet and Adrian Dearmond and died Dec. 12, 2010, in Gun Barrel City.
He served seven years in the U.S. Navy and worked for G.T.E., which later became Version in California and Texas for 32 years.
Survivors include his wife of 25 years, Carrie Dearmond; children Vince Dearmond, Vaughn Dearmond and wife Sam, Victor Dearmond and wife Angie; grandchildren Winston, Colleen, Adrian, Derrick, Jordan and Emily; other family members and many friends.

Eleanor Cassidy
Services for Eleanor Marsha Cassidy, 86, were held Dec. 22, 2010, at the Moorhead Epps Memorial Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial followed in Schenectady, N.Y., Dec. 30, 2010 (today).
Interment was in Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery in Schenectady, N.Y. under the direction of Moorhead Epps Funeral Home in Gun Barrel City and Gleason Funeral Home in Schenectady, N.Y.
Cassidy was born Dec. 30, 1923, to Rose Gryczka and Peter Symeon and died Dec. 17, 2010, in Mabank.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Cassidy, brothers Hank and Teddy and sisters Jean and Jessie.
Survivors include her daughters, Donna Miglucci and husband Anthony, Denise York and husband George; grandchildren Danielle Pusatere and husband San, Corey Miglucci and wife Deserae, Nathan Miglucci, Amanda Johnston and husband Jason, Shaun York, Elizabeth Mullins and husband Michael; great-grandchildren Ariana Else, Connor Johnston and Joshua Mullins.

Don Hudgins
Graveside services for Don D. Hudgins, 74, will be held at the Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery at a later date under the direction of Moorhead Epps Funeral Home in Gun Barrel City.
Hudgins was born Sept. 9,1934, in Dallas to Allie Mae Holcomb and Marion Hudgins and died Dec. 19, 2010.
Survivors include his wife, Vera Faye Hudgins; children Debra Hudgins, John Spencer and wife Bridget, Billy Gene Spencer and wife Michelle, Roger Spencer and wife Kitty, Tammy Moore and husband James; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; other family members and many friends.

Martin Sledge
Service arrangements for Martin Sledge, 74, Seven Points, were with Moorhead Epps Funeral Home in Gun Barrel City.
Sledge was born Oct. 13, 1936, in Hagensport, Miss., and died Dec. 16, 1936, in Seven Points.

Larry Coffman
A Mass of Christian Burial for Larry W. Coffman, 71, was held Dec. 16, 2010, at St. Jude Catholic Church in Gun Barrel City, under direction of Moorehead Epps Funeral home in Gun Barrel City.
Coffman was born Jan. 21, 1939, to Elizabeth Baldus and Henry P. Coffman and died Dec. 13, 2010, in Athens.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Eugene, Paul, Dwight and Bill, and sister Camilla.
Survivors include his wife of five years Marthalyn Coffman; children Sandra Anna Coffman Nehl and husband Fred, Eric John Coffman and wife Isabell Larry Patrick Coffman, Ryan Newman Coffman, Shanna Carrizales and husband Pete, and Jason Louis Smith; brothers Gerald “Jerry” Coffman and wife Edna, Dwayne Daniel Coffman, Maynard Coffman and wife Dody; sisters Collette Collins, Lucrertia Thompson and husband Bill; 12 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; family members and many friends.
Memorial donations may be mace to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or the American Cancer Society.

Myrtle Dickens
Services for Myrtle E. Dickens, 82, were held Dec. 21, 2010, at the Moorhead Epps Memorial Chapel in Gun Barrel City.
Dickens was born Jan. 19, 1928, in Eustace to Creecy Hampton and George D. White and died Dec. 19, 2010, at her home in Gun Barrel City.
She was preceded in death by her son, George D. Hammonds and five sisters.
Survivors include her brother, Lonnie White, nieces, nephews and other family members.

Mildred Taylor
Services for Mildred Chitty Taylor, 93, Gun Barrel City (formerly of Van Zandt County), were held Dec. 23, 2010, at the Eubank Chapel with the Rev. Steve Glosup officiating under the direction of Eubank Funeral Home in Canton.
Burial was in Haven of Memories in Canton.
Taylor was born Dec. 6, 1917, in Myrtle Springs to Mary Magalene Choate and Ocie Chitty and died Dec. 20, 2010, in Grand Saline.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Rondeau Taylor, and brothers Roy, Lloyd and Odie Chitty.
Survivors include her daughter, Pat Gilbreath, Gun Barrel City; son Mike Taylor and wife Darlene, Allen; granddaughter Andrea Blackburn and husband Aaron, Waxahachie; grandsons Larry Gilbreath and wife Linda, Waxahachie; Ronnie Gilbreath and wife Eugenia, Eustace; and David Gilbreath and wife Brenda, Mabank; great-granddaughters Christy Adair and husband Andy, Texarkana; Stacey Gilbreath, Mabank; Courtney Morris, Eustace; Britany Allen, Seven Points; and Kimberly Bennett, Grand Prairie; great-grandsons Nathaniel Gilbreath, Payne Springs; Shawn Gilbreath, Payne Springs; Timothy Gilbreath, Waxahachie; David Allen Gilbreath, Payne Springs; Kevin Morris, Eustace; and Nick Austin, Payne Springs; and five great-great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Larry Gilbreath, Ronnie Gilbreath, David Gilbreath, Nathaniel Gilbreath, Shawn Gilbreath and Timothy Gilbreath.

Ersie Stanphill
Graveside services for Ersie Launa Stanphill, 91, will be held at the Ridge Cemetery in Belmont, Miss., under the direction of Moorhead Epps Funeral Home in Gun Barrel City.
Stanphill was born Nov. 27, 1919, in Red Bay, Ala., the eighth of 12 children to Emma Alice Bolton and Robert Nelson and died Dec. 17, 2010, in Athens.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clyne Nov. 6, 1982, brothers Edgar, Chester, Claude, Foy, Odas, Clovis and Kelly, and sister Audrey.
Survivors include brothers Robert, and Wilbert and wife June; sister Fraulein; sister-in-law Beauton; children Ann and husband Ray, Jack and wife Ruth; grandchildren Ron, David and wife Rose, Elaine, Denise and husband Joe, Jill and husband Todd, Jim and wife Kathi; great-grandchildren Chris and wife Sarah, Jaime, Max, Alex, Spencer, Shania, Haleigh, Jade, Julia, James and Erin with another great-grandson due in March.

Audrey Way
Services for Audrey Lee Way, 44, Garland, were held Dec. 29, 2010, at Anderson Clayton Bros. Chapel in Kemp.
Way was born May 24, 1966, in Dallas to Sue Dobiyanski and Marvin Wilson and died Dec. 23, 2010.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents Betty and Morris Dobiyanski and Geneva and Marvin Wilson and a brother, Robert Wilson.
She enjoyed dancing, golf, reading and loved to solve crossword puzzles.
She was a graduate of Mountainview College and was pursuing a career in insurance as an implementation director.
Ten years of her service was dedicated to Holmes Murphy.
She gave selflessly to Habitat for Humanity and volunteered in whatever capacity she was able.
She enjoyed participating in fund-raisers for Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 59’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation, in support of military quality of life programs.
Survivors include her loving husband Ritchie Way; sons Christopher Clopton, Casey and Samuel Click, all of Garland; sister Leslie Champignay and husband John, Dallas; and parents Sue and Marvin Wilson, Seven Points; extended family and dear friends.