Category: Obituaries

Services for Lydia Gunstanson, 84, Murchison are scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at Opelika Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Donald Thomas officiating. Burial will follow in Red Hill Cemetery.

Lydia died July 23, 2013 in Athens.

She was born June 21, 1929 in Athens to Jessie Eugene and Minnie Ruth Peterson Malone. Lydia was a devoted nurse and served many organizations in the Athens area for many years. She had lived in Murchison the past 50 years and was a member of Opelika Baptist Church. She loved to paint, quilt and work in her garden. Lydia was a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

She was preceded in death by a son, David Gunstanson, in 1951.

Survivors include daughter Diann Touchon, Murchison; sons W. O. Gunstanson and wife Dana, Dallas, Jesse Gunstanson and wife Michelle, Athens, Gene Gunstanson and wife Vicki, Athens, Jere Gunstanson and wife Debra, Athens, 14 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation for family and friends will be 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home.

You may leave a message of condolence or light a memorial candle for the family at www.carroll-lehr.com.

Funeral services for Fayrene R. Miller, 81 of Larue are scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, July 27, 2013 at the Chapel of the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home of Athens with Bro. John Green and Bro. Mike Curry officiating. Burial will follow at Davis Cemetery in Athens.

She loved and served the Lord until her final breath on Wednesday, July 24, 2013 in Athens. She was an active member of Lake Athens Baptist Church.

Fayrene was born Feb. 9, 1932 in Baxter, Texas to Claud Richardson and Artie Mae Baker Richardson. She lived her life in the Baxter Community where she met and married her lifelong love and best friend, Floyd Miller. During their 65 years together, Floyd and Fayrene were blessed with three children. Fayrene spent most of her days caring for younger siblings, raising her children and loving her grandchildren. When she did work outside the home, it was doing what she loved: baking for others. She spent several years as the head baker for New York Texas Cheesecake and often found herself in front of television cameras filming for Food Network and local news stations. Although the spotlight was not her comfort zone, she handled it with the grace of a true, southern lady.

Nannie’s favorite moments were those when she was surrounded by her family laughing and recalling stories about the “olden days.” Nannie’s kitchen Continue reading “Obituary: Fayrene R. Miller”

Services with military honors for Chad Conaway, 40, of Athens are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Thursday, July 25, 2013 at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.
Mr. Conaway died July 21, 2013 in Palestine.

He was born Aug. 10, 1972 in Athens. Chad was a 1991 graduate of Athens High School where he played football for the Hornets. He then attended Trinity Valley Community College. Chad served in the United States Marine Corp five years. He worked eight years for Texas Department of Corrections in Palestine and eight years for Seagoville Federal Corrections Institution. He was an avid outdoor sportsman enjoying deer hunting, dove hunting and fishing. Most of all watching football was his number one past time.

Survivors include daughter Courtney Leeann Conaway, Athens; father J. Alton Conaway, Winona; mother Glenda Conaway, Eustace; sister Melanie Conaway, McKinney; maternal grandmother Charlene Lusk, Jacksonville; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Visitation for family and friends will be 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home.

Services for Lou Hays, 99, Athens are scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at First Baptist Church with Dr. Kyle Henderson officiating.

Burial will follow in Crandall Cemetery under the direction of Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home.
Mrs. Hays died July 17, 2013 in Round Rock in the home of her daughter.

She was born Feb. 3, 1914 in Crandall to the late Thomas Oscar and Frances Lawson Carter Henderson. Lou was a graduate of Texas State Teachers College. She taught many years in Athens Independent School District and had resided in Athens 51 years. She was a loyal and faithful member of First Baptist Church. From the age of 19 until 98 Continue reading “Obituary: Lou Hays”