Obituary: Jimmie Lynn Featherston

Services for Jimmie Lynn Featherston, 60, of Athens, are scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday, April 25, 2013 at Carroll-Lehr Funeral Chapel with Rev. Lynn Solomon officiating.

Jimmie was born Feb. 12, 1953 to the late Willie Albert and Minnie Lee Jordan Minchew.

Jimmie has been a resident of Athens most of her life. She is a graduate of Athens High School. She worked for Curtis Mathes a number of years as a cabinet builder.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and several brothers and sisters.

Survivors include her son, Ryan Minchew, Athens; sisters, Janice Smith, Chandler, Jenny Rector, Quinlan; brothers, Frank Minchew, Brownsboro, Ernest Minchew, Maydelle, Bobby Minchew, Jacksonville; numerous nieces and nephews.

Obituary: Si Holt

Si Holt
Si Holt

Funeral services for Si Holt, 62, of Malakoff have been scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday, April 25, 2013 at Garden of Memories Memorial Park Chapel, 5205 S. First Street, Lufkin, Texas under the direction of Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home, Athens.

Private burial will follow in Garden of Memories Memorial Park.

Si passed away Monday in Athens.

He was born in Lufkin, Texas July 23, 1950 to Silas Wayne Holt Sr. and Emma Ruth Law. Si spent his early years in Lufkin but grew up in Dallas. He attended Hillcrest High School and later earned his GED. While in Dallas he was a bar manager and bookkeeper before moving to Malakoff in the late 1990’s. Si had worked for Argon Medical Devices for the past 13 years as a distribution clerk in the international shipping department where he was responsible for ensuring safe shipment of medical devices to countries around the world. Si had a wonderful sense of humor. He was a sweet, warm man with a generous spirit. He loved all kinds of music, particularly gospel and a cappella choirs. He was a devoted fan of NASCAR and the Dallas Cowboys.

Si was preceded in death by his father Silas Wayne Holt, Sr.

Survivors include his mother, Emma Holt, of Round Rock; sister, Linda Holt, Silver Spring, Md.; and his long-time partner, Kevin Folsom, Malakoff.

He will be greatly missed by a host of loving friends, neighbors, family members, and valued co-workers who were dear to his heart. Visitation for family and friends was held Tuesday evening.

In lieu of flowers memorial may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1301 S. Broadway, Tyler, Texas 75701.

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

Obituary: Sidney Ballard Jr.

Sidney Ballard Jr.
Sidney Ballard Jr.

Memorial services for Sidney Ballard Jr., 56, of Athens are scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday, April 25, 2013 at the Living for the Brand Cowboy Church of Athens with Bro. Perry Smith officiating.

Mr. Ballard went to be with the Lord on Saturday, April 20, 2013 in Athens.

Sidney Paul Ballard Jr. was born Oct. 7, 1956 in Dallas, the son of Sidney Paul Ballard Sr. and Patsy Jean Hatcher Ballard. He was a member of the Living for the Brand Cowboy Church of Athens. He was an outdoorsman who loved farming and growing flowers. Sidney was an avid hunter and fisherman and was well known for his meat processing and cooking. He had a special place in his heart for his side kick “Colby” a black lab/healer mix dog that never left his side. “Papa Sid” was a loving husband, father and grandfather and proud foster parent. He was a family man and will be missed by all he knew and loved.

Sidney was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his loving wife Alice Burnett Ballard; two daughters, Brandy Boswell of Athens, Candace Ballard of Bradford; two sons, Forrest Attaway of Kansas City, Travis Attaway and wife Carrie of Uniontown, Pa.; one brother, Glenn Ballard of Ohio; five grandchildren, Kitty Boswell, Katlyn Mitchell, Alia Attaway, Bella Attaway, Lilly Attaway; and special friends, Charlie and Dawson Turner.

In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made to The Living for the Brand Cowboy Church Building Fund in Sidney’s honor.

Obituary: Annie Taylor

Mass of Christian Burial 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 20, 2013 at St. Jude Catholic Church in Gun Barrel City. A rosary will be said 7 p.m. Friday, April 19, at Moorehead Epps Chapel.

Annie Taylor was born on Feb. 20, 1920 in the Czech farming community of Louise, Texas to Frank Kovar and Frances Zurek Kovar. She married Robert Taylor on Nov. 4, 1941. Together they lived in the communities of Iago, Whatron, Beaumont, Sour Lake, Lumberton, Granbury, Rice, and Seven Points.

Annie was a member of St. Judes Catholic Church, Our Lake of the Lake Guild, and KJZT.

She was preceded in death by parents Frank and Frances Kovar; brothers Fred, John, Jerome and Sylvester Kovar; and sister Lydia Polasek.

She is survived by husband Robert Taylor; sister Olga Popp; son Robert Taylor Jr. and wife Wanda; daughters Roberta Hafbaurer and Diane Podhrasky and husband Bob; grandchildren Kim Honea of Flower Mound, Kyle Taylor of Austin, Jana Reynolds of Temple, and Julie Podhrasky of Albuquerque, NM; great-grandchildren Brendan, Brian and Braden Honea of Flower Mound, Kaylee and Garrett Taylor of Austin, and Ace Reynolds of Temple, TX.

Annie, the youngest of seven, grew up on the farm in south central Texas. As a young child she learned to cook sew, garden and pick cotton. She enjoyed school and was an ace speller and softball player. School ended at the eighth grade when she no longer had someone to accompany on her walk to school. Her social life included singing and dancing to the music of her brothers’ polka band. Her personal pleasures were fishing, sewing and cooking. She stood by her husband’s side as he went to war in Burma; then followed the southern Texas sulphur production from Wharton to Beaumont. A loving wife and mother and grandmother, she had a special bond with all of her grandchildren. Throughout her life Annie remained true to her Catholic Faith and the comfort of eternal life.

Obituary: Carolyn Bentley

Carolyn BentleyServices for Carolyn Bentley, 76, of Athens are scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, April 21, 2013 at the Church of Christ in Eustace with Kerry Clark officiating. Burial will follow at Athens Cemetery in Athens.

She passed away Wednesday April 17, 2013 in Athens.

Carolyn Blanche Bentley was born Aug. 29, 1936 in Lander, Wyoming the daughter of Dante Pricco and Nina Holsclaw Pricco. She married Don R. Bentley on May 10, 1966 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Carolyn served with her husband in Prison Fellowship Ministry for 20 years and was a member of the Eustace Church of Christ where they were currently serving as ministers for the past nine years. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother who will be greatly missed.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Don R. Bentley of Athens; son and daughter-in-law Sam and Lisa Kelly; daughter Tina Haraughty; grandson Joshua Taylor; granddaughters Meagan Kelly and Heather Milligan; and one sister, Vicki Jackson.

Pallbearers will be Randy Milligan, Matthew Finch, Joshua Taylor, Brandon Jones, James Harrell, and Al Harrell.

Visitation will be Saturday, April 20, 2013 from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home.

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

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