Category: Obituaries

Funeral services for L. C. Smith will be Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013 at 11 a.m. at the Antioch Baptist Church in Malakoff.

Viewing for friends and family will be at Johnson Chapel AME Church from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013.

The Smith family wish thank each of you for your prayers, calls, words of encouragement, etc., during this trying time. May God Bless you. (If you wish to make donations in the name of L. C. Smith, please donate to his church, Johnson Chapel AME Church, P. O. Box 542, Malakoff, Texas 75148)

L.C. Smith was the second son of Larkin Smith, Sr., and Carrie Barron Smith. He was born Oct. 31, 1914 in Henderson County.

He attended school in Malakoff for the first year and started the second grade at Lockland Community School. He graduated the eighth grade.

He accepted Christ at an early age as a member of Johnson Chapel AME Church in Malakoff. With over 60-plus years of service to Johnson Chapel, Bro. Smith was faithful to his duties as Sunday School Supt., Sunday School Teacher, Steward Pro-Tem, Class Leader, District Steward, District Trustee, etc.

For a few years, he was a farmer. In the year 1945, he was employed with the Malakoff Truck and Body Builders. This company built truck beds and customized trailers. In 1972, the new owner Frank Lunceford stated to the local press, “L. C. Smith was the sole employee, having worked for the company since 1945 and probably holds a world record for building cattle racks.”

Bro. Smith was a member of the Henderson County Feeder Pig Association and City of Malakoff Planning & Zoning Commission.

He was married to Roberta Trimble Smith for 58 years. To this union three children were born. His wife passed away Jan. 11, 1994.

He was the Worshipful Master for the Star Light Lodge #179; U. M. W. Scottish Rite Grand Lodge, AF & AM of Texas, Inc., in Malakoff.

He is preceded in death by his parents, wife, daughter, granddaughter, son-in-law, seven brothers, and two sisters.

He leaves to cherish his memories his son, Elcril (Ollie) Smith; daughter, Evangelist Alma Jewel Berry; son-in-law, Robert S. Mitchell; grandchildren, Delanda (Ronald) Johnson, Anthony (Sharryl) Mitchell, Rev. Kalvin (Doris) Townsend; adopted granddaughter Cydnei Wells; great-grandchildren, Anthony Quinn Mitchell, II; Shelbi Mitchell, Ivan Mitchell, and Kevin Townsend.

Services for Carrie Elaine Smith, 31 of Murchison are scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013 at First Baptist of Murchison with Bro. Curtis Chandler officiating. Interment will follow at Red Hill Cemetery in Murchison.

Ms. Smith passed away on Friday, Oct. 25, 2013 in LaRue.

Carrie Elaine Smith was born Aug. 28 1982 in Radford, Virginia the daughter of Kevin Taylor Dewalt and Teresa Veirs Dewalt. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Murchison and was a loving, caring and energetic person; full of life. Carrie would do anything for anyone, especially her children and their dog Buster. She always had something funny to say and always had a smile on her face. Carrie was a loving mother, daughter, sister and friend and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Carrie was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather; Maurice Dewalt and her maternal grandfather; Robert Viers.

She is survived by her children, Madison Briane Smith and Presten Joe Smith of Athens; her parents, Kevin Dewalt and Teresa Viers Dewalt of Murchison; one brother, Robert Wesley Viers and wife Megan Viers of Verona, Virginia and paternal grandmother, Dan Royce Dewalt of Murchison; maternal grandmother Doris Viers of Radford, Virginia; three aunts, Pam Ballow and husband Leon of Murchison; Linda Waites and husband Roddy, of Athens, Diana Booth and husband Kensley of Sparta, North Carolina; three nephews, Gavin, Ware and Kip Viers, numerous cousins and her boyfriend Brandon James.

Visitation will be Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home in Athens.

Serving as pallbearers will be Walt Ottaberry, Harold Holyfield, Israel Castaneda, Robert Holy Field, Jeff Jordan, and Jeremy Perez. Honorary pallbearers will be Thomas Toney, Brandon James and Wesley Viers

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her memory to a fund set up for her children. For more information you may call (903) 675-2275.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home of Athens.

You may light a candle or write condolences to the family at: www.hannigansmith.com.

Funeral services for Taylor Nicole “Booda” Nix, 19 of Murchison are scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013 at the First Baptist Church of Murchison. Burial will follow at Red Hill Cemetery.

Taylor passed away on Friday, Oct. 25, 2013 in LaRue, Texas.

Taylor Nicole Nix was born Nov. 4, 1993 in Athens, the daughter of Tracy Glenn Nix and Nicole Wynette Ballow Nix. She attended First Baptist Church of Murchison. Taylor enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, riding around and hanging out with friends. She was a loving daughter, granddaughter and friend who will be missed by all she knew and loved.

She is survived by her parents, Tracy and Nicole Nix of Murchison; one sister, Tiffany Nix of Murchison; one brother, Tyler Nix; paternal grandparents, Sherrie Whisenhunt of Caney City; Billie and Carmella Nix of Longview; maternal grandparents, Leon and Pam Ballow of Murchison; great-grandmother, Dan Dewalt of Murchison; one nephew, Bentley Smith of Murchison,  and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Visitation will be Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home in Athens.

Serving as pallbearers will be Micheal Walker, Garrett Lawler, David Walker, Joe Spradley II, Chris Nemeth, and Adam Jistel. Honorary pallbearers will be Grace Sutton, Ashlee Cantwell, Whitlee Spradley, Brittany Nemeth, and Courtney Westbrook.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home of Athens.

You may light a candle or write condolences to the family at: www.hannigansmith.com.

Memorial service for Arlton Hale DeVaney was held Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013 at the First Presbyterian Church in Athens.

Mr. Devaney passed away on Oct. 23, 2013 at age 75. He was born in Coahoma, Texas to Charles Houston DeVaney and Bama Theo DeVaney on Feb. 25, 1938. He was raised in West Texas on a cotton farm.

Arlton graduated from Coahoma High School and served in the US Army.

During his younger years he worked in the oil fields. Later he worked in other fields such as insurance adjusting and DeVaney Construction Company as general contractor and lawn service. He was a member of the Parents Without Partners Club in Houston.

He found a passion for golf late in life, and loved people, boats, hunting and playing solitaire. He was a very meek, sweet, and giving person never making anyone angry. He would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need. He loved cooking and you could expect him to always be the life of the party.

He is survived by his daughters Cassie Ruth Franks, Carmen B. DeVaney, grandchildren, Valerie Justine French, Devin Michael French, Halton Hale Franks, Sister Rosalie and husband Myron Babler, and mother, Bama Theo DeVaney.

He is preceded in death by his father Charles Houston DeVaney.

Ivy Dean Lovelady, 75, of Chandler passed away Oct. 15 in Tyler.

Ivy Dean was born Feb. 18, 1938, in Dangerfield, Texas to Ivy and Mary Kersey Lovelady.

He was a farmer by trade and a strong man. Hands so strong he could lift an irrigation motor and a riding lawn mower by himself. Hand so big it seemed as if I were shaking a loaf of bread. His posture demanded respect wherever he went without need to speak a single word. He was a farmer, father, brother, uncle and a grandpa. But most of all, he was a strong man. He didn’t change who he was to please others. If you didn’t “like it,” it didn’t bother him – although you didn’t want to be the one to bother this mountain of a man. He gave his children the backbone they needed. Very rarely did you see his soft heart, but if you did, you would be se it crystal clear.

Mr. Lovelady is survived by his children, David Lovelady, Tonda Lovelady, Joy Neal; brothers and sister, Faye Lindsey, Decatur, Texas, Billy Lovelady, Rusk, Texas, and Roy Lovelady, Farwell, Texas. His legacy continues with six grandchildren, Bobby Lovelady, Dwayne Lovelady, Jimmy Lovelady, Gary Wilson, Misty Rangel, Christian Fitzgerald and nine great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Ivy and Mary Lovelady; brothers and sisters, Dorothy Crump, Eugene Strawn, Inez Foley, Ola Mae Isaacs, Charles Lovelady, and Troy Lovelady.

Visitation for Mr. Lovelady will be Thursday, Oct. 17, from 6-8 p.m. at the United Pentecostal Church in Athens. Service will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 18, at the church with Bro. Grissom officiating. Service is under the direction of Huckabee-Tomlinson Funeral Home.

Interment will be in the Trinidad Cemetery, Trinidad.

Online condolences can be made at www.tomlinsonfuneral.com.