Obituaries

Evelyn (Hopson) Layfield, 79, of Grays Prairie passed away Nov. 22, 2022. Her family will be holding a celebration of life at 3 p.m. Dec. 3, 2022, at at the Rockin’ Country Church in Kemp.
Evelyn was born in Orange Jan. 16, 1943. She was second of ten children of Wilburn and Doris (Hosea) Hopson. She grew up in Huntington. She moved to Dallas where she met her husband David and they got married Nov. 21, 1964.
In 1968 they moved to Lancaster where they raised their three children. In 1987, they moved to Gray Prairie where she enjoyed the rest of her days.

Bobby Whitley, 80, beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother was called to his eternal resting place Nov. 21, 2022.
Bobby was born Dec. 28, 1941 in Dallas to Cecil and Catherine Whitley.
Bobby loved the Lord and serving as deacon at Wildwood Baptist Church. He was very involved in Bearing Precious Seed and worked making John Roman Bibles.
Bobby was preceded in death by his parents and brother Dan Whitley.

Christine Wilson, 93, of Kemp, passed away peacefully in her home Nov. 3, 2022, surrounded by her family and pastor. She was born Aug. 26, 1929, to Melvin and Gazell Hataway in Jacksonville.
Christine grew up in a large family that included six siblings. She graduated from high school in Dallas. 
Christine had a life-long love for learning and adventure and at the age of 53, enrolled in Texas A&M University where she attended classes for two years before returning to her hometown of Kemp.

Betty Nell Felty Tutt was born Aug. 2, 1931 to Isom Melvin “Hoot” Felty and Ray Marie Griffin and passed away Nov. 17, 2022. 
She was the second born of seven children including William James “Bud” Felty, Bennie Dee, twins Dixie Jean and Nadene, JoAnn, Shirley Ray and Janet Claudine. She grew up outside of Wichita Falls in the small town of Petrolia and went to school there.

Rick Chandler, 64, joined his mom Sharon Shelton in Heaven Nov. 9, 2022 after a sudden illness.
Rick was a wonderful friend and mentor to many. He loved playing guitar, writing songs and poetry, storytelling, sketching, fishing, hunting and digging for artifacts.
Rick had an immense adventurous spirit. We will miss you here on Earth but we will see you again when we meet at our heavenly home.
He is survived by brothers Danny and Mark, sister Debbie, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins that he dearly loved and who loved him.

Jessie Mae Jeffrey Ballard was born in McMahan to Abe Robert Jeffrey and Viola McGinnis Jeffrey and passed away Sept. 26, 2022 in Dallas. 
Jessie graduated from Lockhart High School and went on to attend Southwest Texas Teachers College (currently Texas State University) where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education. She later earned her Master of Education from The University of Houston. 

Gurley Moett Turner Mitchell was born Sept. 30, 1913 in Ben Wheeler and passed away peacefully in her sleep Nov. 2, 2022 in Eustace at the age of 109.
Gurley was a kind and giving person who was loved by all who met her. She is best known for her unequaled sense of humor, endless collection of jokes and her contagious laugh. 
She enjoyed working at Southwestern Bell with her friends Ina Chaffin, Ruby Davis and Lois Ward, retiring after 30 years of service. 

On the evening of Nov. 5, 2022, Evelyn Laverne Ford passed quietly away while watching her beloved Texas Longhorns with her son Mike Ford. 
Evelyn and her giving heart were a blessing to all she encountered. After retiring from her career as a claims representative with the Social Security Administration, she moved to Seven Points with her late husband Earl Ford. 

Larry Don Estes, 80, passed away peacefully at his home in Trinidad Nov. 9, 2022.
He was born Oct. 23, 1942, to George “Pete” and Dorothy Merle Estes in Ft. Worth. 
Larry attended Trinidad ISD for 12 years and was extremely proud to be a 1961 graduate of Trinidad High School.
When Larry was 16 years old and Mary Frances “Fran” Warren was 13 years old, he walked up to her in the hallway at school and surprised her with a kiss. That kiss was the beginning of their enviable, long-lasting love story. 

Jonathan Michael Boyd, 33, of Kemp, passed away at his home Nov. 4, 2022. Jonathan was born Jan. 16, 1989, in Terrell to Greg and Linda (Day) Boyd.
Jonathan was a faithful member of Calvary Baptist Church in Cap City, where he was baptized and became a loyal follower of Christ. He loved hunting, fishing, mowing his lawn and really loved hanging out in his shop but most of all, he loved spending time with his little man Brooksy B.