Obituary: Shirley Dean Sanders

Shirley Sanders
Shirley Sanders

Graveside services for Shirley Dean Sanders will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 11, 2013 at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Athens, with Pastor Woody Meredith and Bill McNatt officiating.

Mrs. Sanders was born in Georgetown, Ill. on March 3, 1933 to Charles Everett and Nelda Jones. She was a graduate of Danville High School, Lakeview School of Nursing, and University of Texas at Tyler. Shirley married Charles Sanders on Feb. 13, 1955 in Danville, Ill.. She was employed for 26 years at Athens ISD as a school nurse. She was an avid reader of good books.

Shirley passed away on Monday evening, April 8, 2013 in Athens.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Shirley is survived by her husband, Charles Sanders of Athens; daughters, Diane Bergmann and husband Kenny of College Station, Cynthia Sanders of Athens, Sally Sanders Cribbs and husband Ricky of Ovilla, Texas; and granddaughter, Katy Bergmann of Dallas.

Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at Hannigan Smith Funeral Home of Athens.

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

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

Obituary: Ada Laverne Batt

Ada Laverne Batt, 87, Athens passed away April 7, 2013 in Athens.

She was born July 16, 1925 in Henderson County near New Walton to the late Ollie and Eula Mae Weaver McClelen. After graduation from Athens High School in 1942, Ada worked at Parkland Hospital in Dallas for a short time which instilled a nursing career that would later have a 25-year tenure. Following her brief period in Dallas, Ada moved to Sausalito, Calif. and was actively employed in the war effort as a “Rosie The Riveter” in the ship yards. She met and married Eugene George Batt in 1945. They moved to Milwaukee, Wis. in 1947 where she served 25 years as a nurse’s aide at Milwaukee Psychiatric Hospital, retiring in 1991. Upon retiring Ada moved to Athens to be near her native Texas ancestry. Mrs. Batt was a member of the United Methodist Church as was an avid gardener.

In addition to her husband she was preceded in death by an infant son Kevin George Batt; brothers Robert Junior McClelen, Howard Gene McClelen; sisters Glorris Oleta Dixon, Lena Rue McClelen, Juanita Ruth McClelen, Jesse Leota Walker and Elizabeth Wynell Gunnels.

Survivors include sons Michael Eugene Batt, Plano, David Batt and wife Debra, Kewaskum, Wis.; daughters Regina Fluker and husband Glenn, Athens, Patricia Kay Batt, Tyler; grandchildren Glenn Earl Fluker, III and wife Alice, San Antonio, Edward Alexander Fluker, West New York, New Jersey, Anton Michael Batt, Princeton, Roger Lee Batt, Plano, Angela Laverne Veal and husband Wesley, Princeton, Cyndi Sonnenburg, Appleton, Wisconsin, Kristin Marie Meharry and husband Gerald, Flint, Jamie Lynn Terry, Manitowac, Wis.; 17 great-grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren, sisters-in-law Mary Batt and June Lenz, both of Wisconsin.

A memorial service in celebration of her life will be scheduled and announced at a later date.
You may leave a message of condolence or light a memorial candle at www.carroll-lehr.com.

Obituary: Roberta Smallwood

Services for Roberta Smallwood, 77, of Athens are scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, April 7, 2013 at Lake Athens Baptist Church with Dr. Bill Pemberton officiating. Burial will follow in Oaklawn Memorial Park.

Mrs. Smallwood died April 4, 2013 in Tyler.

She was born Dec. 18, 1935 in Gresham, Ore. to the late Robert Lawrence and Mary Elizabeth Bennett Summers and had been a resident of Athens since 1959. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from UT Tyler and taught third grade at Athens South Elementary School 21 years. Roberta was a member of Lake Athens Baptist Church and was active in Women’s Missionary Union . She served as summer Camp Director for Girl’s Auxiliary at Dogwood Trails Baptist Encampment.

Survivors include husband of 57 years, Wayne Smallwood; daughters, Mary Anne Matlock, Athens, Rebecca Sue “Becky” Smith, Chapel Hill; son, Thomas Edwin Smallwood, Seguin; brother, Johnny Summers, Spokane, Washington; sister, Rosele Church, Sunnyside, Washington; eleven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Visitation for family and friends will be 6-7:30 p.m. Saturday 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.

Obituary: Arthur Ray ‘Herky’ Herrington

Arthur Ray ‘Herky’ Herrington
Arthur Ray ‘Herky’ Herrington

Funeral services for Arthur Ray “Herky” Herrington, 83, of Athens are scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, April 6, 2013 at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Woody Meredith officiating. Burial will follow at Athens Cemetery.

Mr. Herrington passed away in the company of his two favorite girls, his wife and daughter, on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 in Tyler.

Arthur Ray Herrington was born June 29, 1929 in Jonesboro, Texas the son of B. Herrington and Anna Mae Ester Herrington. He was raised in an orphanage in his early youth due to his mother’s untimely death and family hardships during the depression. “Herky” joined the Navy in 1948. Shortly after his time served he married the love of his life, Dorothy Kathleen Young, in Fort Worth on Dec. 16, 1952. He graduated from North Texas University in 1956 as the first college graduate in his family. He soon began working for Texaco Corporation, eventually retiring as a sales manager after 34 years of service. Arthur was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Athens and a staunch Republican. He was an expert gardener and took great pride in growing the best tomatoes. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved fishing, hunting and playing cards with his buddies. He was an animal lover and his faithful companion Katy, a Sheltie, stayed by his side day and night. Mr. Herrington had a special hobby in his life that he spent many hours working at. He was an avid player on the stock market and truly enjoyed making financial moves on a daily basis. He was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle and grandfather. He was a family man and will be missed by all he knew and loved.

Arthur was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and four brothers.

He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years Dorothy Kathleen Herrington; one daughter, Cheryl Kathleen Herrington of Sugar Land; one son, Arthur Ray Herrington Jr. and wife Linda of Sapulpa, Okla.; one sister, Ruby Daniels of Houston; one niece, Deborah Kay Swafford of Amarillo; one nephew, John Daniels of Houston; one great-niece, Whitney Wells of Amarillo; two step-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Friday, April 5, 2013 from 6-8 p.m. at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home in Athens.

Serving as Pallbearers will be Bill Bohanan, Dr. David Barrett, Dr. Douglas Curran, Bobby Kelly, Clyve McDaniel, Adam Piper, Tom Patterson and Jim Schatzell. Serving as honorary pallbearer will be Floyd Cheatham.

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

You may light a candle or write condolences to Mr. Herrington’s family at: www.hannigansmith.com

Obituary: Cody Ray Walker

Cody Ray Walker, 23, of Gun Barrel City was born in Dallas on Sept. 10, 1989 to the home of Mark Walker and Belinda Agnew and passed away on March 31, 2013.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents parents Garland Agnew and Claudia Agnew and son Kamryn Ray Walker.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife Sarah Sterling Walker; son Kylar Ray Walker; parents Mark and Belinda Walker; sister Lucrecia Agnew; niece Breanna Goodson; grandparents Phil and Patsy Walker; and numerous other family and friends.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, April 6, 2013 at Moorhead Epps Funeral Chapel officiated by Rev. Larry Walker with burial following at Oaklawn Cemetery in Mabank under the direction of Moorhead Epps Funeral Home.