Obituaries

Nellie Marie Chandler Thomas was born Oct. 26, 1933 in Prairieville to Leslie Carmon and Augusta Amelia (Gunderson) Chandler and left this life May 10, 2023 at her home in Van Zandt County with her family by her side.
She began school at Wise and graduated from Mabank High School in 1952. After high school, she graduated from Tyler Commercial College with a diploma in Secretarial Science. 
After graduation she worked in Dallas for Swift's Ice Cream, Temco (later known as Ling Temco Vought- LTV) and was secretary for the resident engineer at McDonald Douglas Aircraft. 

Betty Sue Mosley Bolt was born to Frank Ray and Ola Mae Mosley in the Ash Switch community May 7, 1938. She went to “see her Jesus” May 8, 2023, just hours after celebrating her 85th birthday surrounded by her family and friends. 
Betty graduated from Athens High School in 1956. She met the love of her life, Marvin Lee Bolt on the Athens square, where she was cruising in her 1957 Chevrolet. They married on July 3, 1959 in Zip City. 

A celebration of the life of Ruthie Foss, 77, of Mabank will be held at 10 a.m. April 29, 2023 at Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home.
Ruthie passed away surrounded by family April 15, 2023 in Mabank. She was born April 11, 1946 in Rice Lake, Wis., to Garritt Van Beek and Sophie Stoik Van Beek.
Ruthie grew up around Spooner, Wis. and graduated from Spooner High School.  
On June 27, 1964 she married her one true love, Harold Foss. The couple had over 58 wonderful years together. The couple moved around for Harold’s job and finally settled in Mabank.  

Marshall Milton Butler, 90, was born Feb. 16, 1933, to the home of Charlie and Nellie Butler in Bennington, Okla. and was called home April 6, 2023.  
Marshall began working at the Ford Motor Company in Dallas, after high school.  
After a year he moved to the Atlantic Richfield Oil Company in Dallas as a Map Draftsman. He became the ARCO Independent Union Representative and retired from ARCO after 23 years to open a dairy in Mabank.  
He later retired from the dairy business but continued to raise cattle on his farm in Mabank.

William Lee Smith, 85, of Gun Barrel City, passed at his home surrounded by his family, March 27, 2023. He was born Sept. 1, 1937 in Kaufman County to his late parents Ransom S. Smith and Oneita Parsons Smith. 
William was named after his grandfather and always preferred to be called William. He joined the National Guard after graduating Kemp High School in 1958 and while serving he was called to active service in October 1961 where he started as a tanker but moved to cooking.  

Richard Franklin Moore, 73, of Eustace, passed away April 2, 2023 at his home. He was born Oct. 12, 1949 in Dallas to Roger Franklin and Mary Maxine Bennett Moore. 
Richard was a jokester and loved to make people laugh. He was voted Most Friendly in high school and held that trait the rest of his life as he never met a stranger. He often knew someone everywhere he went.  
Richard proudly served in the U.S. Army and then went on to a career with the Dallas Police Department. He loved going to the State Fair of Texas and was proud to have attended every year of his life.  

Jeanne Sutton was born Feb. 3, 1965 and passed away March 17, 2023. Jeanne was the first born child to Gene and Mary Brown of Athens.
Jeanne attended elementary and middle school in Malakoff and attended high school in Mabank.
She lived and worked in Mabank until she started attending college at East Texas State University in 1991. Jeanne graduated with her Bachelors degree in Elementary Education, specializing in reading. She went on to receive her Master’s in Education in 2005 from Texas A&M Commerce. 

Jo Wilson, 68, loved by family and friends, was called to her eternal resting place March 18, 2023.
She entered this world Aug. 3, 1954 in Corsicana born to Charles and JoAnn Cantrell.
She loved and was very involved with her family. She loved to talk and would stop and have a conversation with anyone who would take the time to talk with her. Jo liked fishing and camping and any activities with her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. She worked the concession stand at events where these young people were involved.

Ann Lee Sutton, 86, passed away peacefully March 20, 2023, at her home in Mabank surrounded by her family. She was born Jan. 8, 1937, in Athens to parents Roy and Levata (Brewer) Bracey.
Ann was a graduate of Mabank High School, where she met Ray Sutton. They were married Nov. 6, 1954, in Mabank. Ann was a secretary for the City of Desoto, a position she held for 16 years.