Obituaries

Cody Strickland, 34, passed away peacefully July 28, 2024 at his home in Forestburg. Cody was born July 5, 1990 in Dallas and was raised in Malakoff. 
He attended Malakoff High School and graduated in 2009. 
Cody loved to play card games, he loved to listen to a vast assortment of music he collected on his I-Tunes and watch horror and action-packed movies.  
He loved to color and he loved to share all his thoughts and activities he had or was doing. Really, he loved to talk to everyone. 

Cathy Noble, 73, of Eustace, passed away Aug. 1, 2024. Born June 4, 1951, in Athens, Cathy was the daughter of I.L. (Dude) Powers and Catharine (Bebe) Powers. 
Cathy grew up in Eustace beginning on her parent’s farm before moving to “the pink house” off Highway 175 in Eustace, two doors down from her cousin Johnny Jones, whom she knew and loved her whole life. 
She loved horses and some of her happiest memories were on horseback with her childhood friends Pam and Elaine, who became her lifelong friends. 

Jackie, 89, was born Oct. 29, 1934, in Dallas to James and Leona Prince and passed peaceably in her sleep in Dallas, July 31, 2024.  Jackie’s career spanned many years in the jewelry sales business in Dallas.
Jackie was preceded in death by her parents, eight sisters, one brother and many nieces and nephews.

Patricia Ruth Ballew Vernon, born May 1, 1937, in Irene, Hill County and passed away July 27, 2024 in Red Oak.  
Patricia, Pat or Aunt Pat to those who knew her, grew up in tiny little Red Oak and enjoyed playing basketball at Red Oak High School where she graduated as the Valedictorian of her class.  
Growing up she also loved to visit her grandparents on their farm.  

The family of Mark Chandler of Scurry is saddened to announce Mark's passing July 24, 1962. 
Mark was 61. He fought a hard battle against cancer but is in Heaven now with Jesus. 
Mark enjoyed his life with his wife Ruth, dogs Cleopatra and Hercules. 
Mark also loved his gardens. He was a licensed journeyman working on his masters. 
Mark was proceeded in death by his father LC Chandler and mother Sharon Shelton and brother Rick Chandler. 

Barbara Ann Ford lovingly known as Ann or Nanny, passed away at the age of 79 July 25, 2024, surrounded by her family in the comfort of her home in Lumberton. 
Born Aug. 12, 1944, she volunteered at DISD for at least one decade, then went on to serve another two decades at Walmart before retiring. Throughout the years in between, she dedicated her time to Toys for Tots in Gun Barrel City.

Dorothy Fay Hensley, born Oct. 22, 1932, in La Feria, Cameron County, to Harry and Mary Bell, passed away July 22, 2024 in Mabank.
Dorothy married Rev. Kenneth C. Hensley June 2, 1951 and together they raised five children. Her husband served as the Reverend of Central Baptist Church, where Dorothy dedicated over 50 years of her life to teaching and praying for hundreds of children in Sunday school classes.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband, daughter Anita Hensley Schwartz, brother Bill Bell and wife Betty and sister Ann Costello and husband Pat.

Celebration of life services for James “Butch” Howard Foster, Sr., 78, of Mabank will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 27, 2024, at Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home in Mabank with Bro. Steve Glosup officiating. Visitation with the family will be held Friday evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.  
James passed from this life July 17, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. He was born July 17, 1946, in Sulphur Springs, to Howard H. and Fannie Kate (Hill) Hogan. 

John W. Benson, 93, passed away July 3, 2024, in Gun Barrel City. He was born Sept. 11, 1930, in Brooklyn, N.Y. to parents Horace and Louisa Benson. John’s life was full of many adventures. He was husband, father, salesman, co-owner of Metroplex Sales Co. with wife Wanda and an Air Force pilot trainer. 
Having grown up living by a lake it was a dream of his to live on a lake again with his family. John, Wanda and kids moved from Irving to Cedar Creek Lake.