Obituaries

Mary Hickman
A memorial service to celebrate the life of Tool native and long-time Plano resident Mary Coleen Mullins Hickman, 74, will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 6, 2009 at at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church ( www.christtheservant.com ), 821 S. Greenville Ave., in Allen, with Pastor Gordon Illausky officiating.
A sandwich, salad and dessert luncheon will follow at the church, with interment at 3 p.m. at the Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery.
Hickman was born in Tool, May 3, 1935, and passed away in Plano, June 26, 2009. 
Members of her family were some of the original settlers of Tool, coming to the area in 1895.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Donna and Leland Pitts of Tool, and many beloved cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 38 years, Robert Allen (“Bob”) Hickman Jr., her mother Gwendola Mullins Collins, stepfather Kirtus Ray Collins, aunt Ethel Mullins Summerall, grandmother Mary Ellen Mullins, and grandfather Elijah Mullins.
Although she had no brothers and sisters, she was a very family-oriented person and loved attending family reunions and catching up with her extended family.
Hickman was an insurance underwriter for several major insurance companies, beginning her career in the late 1950s. 
After retiring from corporate work, she and her husband were co-owners of Hickman Insurance Agency in Plano for many years.
However, she often talked about her favorite job as a movie theater usher in the early 1950s, a much sought-after position in those days.
She was a huge fan of the Houston Astros baseball team during her years of residence in Houston in the 1960s and tried to attend or listen to every game. 
She was extremely talented and turned out impressive porcelain, ceramic, needlepoint, and cross-stitch pieces in the 1980s-90s, as well as being a movie/entertainment trivia buff her entire life, with knowledge of movies and actors from the present time all the way back to silent films.  
She was an avid duplicate bridge player, music and movie collector, mystery reader and animal lover.
During the last several months, she learned to play Mahjong and enjoyed playing with the group at Sunrise.  
Most importantly, she loved the Lord and enjoyed the Bible studies, services, luncheons and fellowship at Christ the Servant.
To honor her love of animals, in lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the animal shelter with the greatest need at this time – the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake in Tool.
Checks may be made payable to the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake can be sent to her son-in-law as follows: Leland Pitts, vice president, Citizens State Bank, P.O. Box 43733, Seven Points, TX 75143.
The family would like to thank her pastor and church family, her friends Marian, Mona, Betty, and Kathy, Jamye Perelli Photography, Chubby’s Restaurant, and everyone who visited her or prayed for her recovery.      

Rena McMillan
Services for Rena Christine Swarzwalder McMillan, 85, Payne Springs, were held June 28, 2009, at the Payne Springs United Methodist Church with the Rev. David Diller officiating. Burial was in Payne Springs Cemetery under the direction of Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home in Mabank.
McMillan was born Oct. 17, 1923, in Springfield, Ohio, and died June 26, 2009, in Gun Barrel City.
She was preceded in death by her husbands Richard I. Swartzwalder and James Willie McMillan, father Christos Fassos, mother Mary Maude Hock, and sister Diamondo Alice Fanello.
She was employed in sales and was a member of the Payne Springs United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her daughters Thelma Joyce Smith and husband Charlie, Athens; Judy Lynn Feemster and husband Joe, Bedford; and Patty Gay Pope, Mabank; grandchildren Shanna Burnett, Curtis Smith, Kellie Alford, Amy Free, Casey West, Shelly Schwestka and Ashley Feemster; great-grandchildren Harlie Burnett, Brady Burnett, Payton Smith, Katelyn Smith, Meagan Smith, Gracie Alford, Emmerson Alford, Hannah McCallum, Kristin Nance, Adrian Nance West, Gus West, Kyle Feemster, Reagan Schwestka and Keaton Schwestka.
Pallbearers were Chad Schwestka, Kyle Feemster, Payton Smith, Lance West, Daren Alford and Curtis Smith.

George Perkins
Services for George Perkins, 81, were held June 29, 2009, at the Laurel Land Memorial Park with the Rev. Jerry Morriss officiating.
Perkins was born Sept. 30, 1927, in Dallas and died June 26, 2009, in Frisco.
He retired from the United States Postal Service. He lived in Mesquite for many years and has resided in the Cedar Creek Lake area since 1997.
Survivors include his wife Eunice Perkins, Mabank; daughter Sharon Perkins, Allen; brother Rex Perkins, Dallas; stepson the Rev. Jerry Morriss and wife Carroll, Mabank; other family members and many friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. James Episcopal Memorial Fund, 10707 CR 4022, Kemp, TX 75143.

Edward Ogles
Memorial services for Edward “Bill” Ogles, 82, Mabank, were held July 2, 2009, in the Hillcrest Baptist Church with the Rev. Stan Britton officiating under the direction of Anderson Clayton Bros. Funeral Home in Kemp.
Ogles was born Feb. 4, 1927, in Clarksville to the late Arizona Coker and Miles S. Ogles and died June 27, 2009, in Mabank.
He was preceded in death by his brother Everett “Jim” Ogles and sister Pernice Maxfield, who died later the next morning.
He was a kind, loving man who loved his family and enjoyed people and will be missed by many who loved him.
He graduated from Van High School and was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during World War II.
Survivors include his wife Betty Ogles, Mabank; children Phillip Ogles and wife Virginia, Denver, Colo.; Barby Baxter and husband Tim, Seven Points; Maggie Simpson and husband Danny, Mabank; John P. Ogles, Mabank; Mary Munn and husband Brad, Arlington; and Matthew Ogles, Mabank; grandchildren Melissa Caswell and husband Jason, Tarrington, Wyo.; Taylor Ogles, Dallas; Sarah Garten, McKinney; Dan Prescott and wife Mallory, Coppell; Jeremy Prescott, Mabank, Zachary Ogles, Mesquite; Daniel and Michael Ogles, Denver, Colo.; great-grandchildren Falynn and Cash Caswell, Tarrington, Wyo.; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Paul Williams
Paul Dale Williams passed away June 8, 2009, at Baylor Specialty Hospital in Dallas, following a protracted illness.
A memorial service will be held at Cedar Creek Lake United Methodist Church, 100 S. Old Indian Trail in Tool, at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday July 7, 2009.
Paul was born April 16, 1919, in Gainesville to Myrtle and Edward Williams of Ardmore, Oklahoma, where Paul was then raised.
Drafted during World War II in December 1943, he served with distinction in the U.S. Army for 30 years, rising through the ranks to become a Warrant Officer First Class.
After earlier postwar service postings in Naples, Italy, Frankfurt, Germany and Washington, D.C., his administrative expertise led to staff assignments with generals commanding the atomic bomb testing task force in Albquerque, N.M.; NATO forces in Izmir, Turkey; Orleans, France; Seoul, South Korea; the Pacific Army headquarters in San Francisco, Calif. as well as Airborne commands in Atlanta, Ga. and Fayetteville, N.C.
He finished his career on the general staff of the Pacific Theater Command in Honolulu, Hawaii.
After retiring from active duty in August, 1974, Williams and his wife Lois settled in the Cedar Creek Lake area and bought a home in Tool.
An enthusiastic sportsman, he indulged his love of hunting, skeet shooting and fishing in the ensuing years.
He was active with the Tradewinds Property Owners Association and served the City of Tool as a city councilman and mayor pro tem.
He was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Retired Officers Association, The National Rifle Association and the Texas State Rifle Association.
Williams is survived by two sons, Gordon Curtis Williams of Houston and Jeffrey Allan Williams of Dallas; as well as a grandson, Jon-Paul Williams of Grand Canyon, Ariz.;
He was preceeded in death by one brother, Richard, one step-brother, John, and three sisters Rebecca, Jeanne and Elizabeth; his wife, Lois Thompson Williams of Tool; as well as his subsequent long term companion Jewell Fitch of Mabank; granddaughter Angela Gaddis and her husband John.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his name to The Seniors’ Place, 2714 Joanel Street, Houston, TX 77027 (713) 555-0420, www.seniorsplace.org  or to the Alzheimer’s Association on-line at www.alz.org/join_the_cause_donate.asp  (214) 827-0062.

Bill Rassbach
Services for Bill Rassbach, 64, Mabank, were held June 30, 2009, at the Eubank Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Buddy Duke officiating. Burial was in Goshen Cemetery under the direction of Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home in Mabank.
Rassbach was born Oct. 9, 1944, in Menomonie, Wisc., and died June 25, 2009, in Dallas.
He was preceded in death by his father Frederick Augusta Rassbach and brother Michael Rassbach.
Previously of Georgia, he was retired from the U.S. Air Force and had resided in Mabank for the last 11 years and was Baptist by faith.
He dedicated his life to his family and country.
Survivors include his wife of 21 years Darlene Rassbach, Mabank; daughter Gail Andrus and husband David, Mabank; son Jay E. Ludke, Minnesota; grandchildren David Wayne Andrus, William Travis Andrus and Elizabeth Faye Hightower; sister Joan Phillips, Pueblo, Colo.; brother Larry Rassbach, Menomonie, Wisc.; sister Doris Sanasac, Knapp, Wisc.; and mother Lois Ione Rassbach, Menomonie, Wisc.

Opal Ward
Services for Opal Ward, 90, Tool, were held June 29, 2009, at Anderson Clayton Bros. Chapel in Kemp with interment in Tool Cemetery.
Ward was born Oct. 16, 1918, in McLennan County to the late Jeanette Bankston and Callie Lee Marcrum and died June 24, 2009, in Gun Barrel City.
She was preceded in death by her husband A.C. Ward.
Survivors include her son Ed Ward and wife Ginger, Tool; grandchildren Jodi Ward-House and her husband John, Austin; Jana Lowry and husband Jeff, Needville; and Jeff Ward, Austin; great-grandchildren Will Brandt, Baker Ward and Blake Ward; brother R.W. Marcrum, Gun Barrel City; extended family and a host of friends.

Larry Purkey
Services for Larry L. Purkey, 72, Gun Barrel City, were held July 2, 2009, at the Tomlinson Funeral Home Chapel in Seven Points with Bro. Dennis Wood officiating. Interment followed in the Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery.
Purkey was born March 11, 1937, in Romona, Okla. to the late Romona and Zelima Purkey and died June 28, 2009, in Gun Barrel City.
He was preceded in death by his wife Sharon Purkey, brothers Robert W. Purkey and Donald R. Purkey and great-grandchild Nohah Cruz.
He worked as a customer service representative for Dalfort Aviation.
Survivors include his daughters Beth Ann Fry, Keller; Sheila Gay Purkey, Michelle Mathes, Corsicana; and Jeanine Daugharty, Tool; son Kevin Wallace, Seven Points; sister Juanita Polge; 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.