Obituary: Frank Ray Mallory Deason, Jr.

Frank Ray Mallory Deason, Jr. passed away on Jan. 22, 2013 in Athens.

Frank was born on Jan. 22, 2013 in Athens to Frank Ray Mallory Deason and LaTonya Comer.

He is survived by his grandparents, Doyle and wife Beverly Deason, Neal and wife Cheryl Baker; great-grandparents Catherine Mallory, Richard and wife Mary Ansley, Ray and wife Shirley Brown; aunts Sarah Osborne McManus and Joy Dial; uncles Beau Osborne, Timmy Pope and Mark Deason; numerous cousins.

Visitation will be 6:30-8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013 at Huckabee/Tomlinson funeral home, Malakoff.

Service will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013 at Huckabee/Tomlinson funeral home, Malakoff with Wayne Pitchford officiating.

Obituary: Mary Lee Husketh

Mary Lee Husketh
Mary Lee Husketh

Services for Mary Lee Husketh, 84, of Tool, Texas are set for Friday, Jan. 25, 2013 at First Baptist Church of Tool with Bro Ed Brennan officiating and under the direction of Huckabee/Tomlinson Funeral Home in Seven Points.

Mary was born Nov. 7, 1928 in Fort Worth, Texas to Earnest Stickles and Anna Lee Green Stickles. She went to be with her Heavenly Father Jan. 22, 2013 in Corsicana, Texas.

Mary loved the Lord and her church. She called Jesus her “friend.” She enjoyed having her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren come to her lake house. Mary gave special attention to all of her family and she will be greatly missed. We know Mary is in heaven with her beloved husband Art.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister Glenda Ann Stickles, brother William Sterling Stickles.

She is survived by daughter Mary Fickle and husband Mike of Tool; daughter Vera Beheler and husband Fred of Tool; daughter Teresa Winterringer and husband Bill of Austin; brother Billy Joe Stickles; sister Doris Laverne Baldwin; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Condolences may be posted at www.tomlinsonfuneral.com.

Obituary: C.D. Smith

C.D. Smith
C.D. Smith

Memorial services for C.D. Smith are set for 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013 at Cedar Creek Bible Church with Ken Emerson officiating and under the direction of Huckabee/Tomlinson Funeral Home Seven Points.

C D was born in Minneapolis, Minn. Jan. 7, 1938 to Wesley Smith and Marian Stuart Smith. He died in Galveston Jan. 21, 2013.

C.D. built the Main Place Cinema and the Lake Shore RV and Resort, he was a board member of West Cedar Creek Mud and East Texas Medical, and secretary of the Seven Points EDC. He was instrumental in the building of the Library at Cedar Creek Lake in Seven Points.

He is preceded in death by his parents, daughter Amy Smith, and son Eric Smith.

He is survived by his wife, Lucy; children Charles, Leah, Marian, Jay Scott, Joni, Fred; sisters Sandy and Artie; seven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren.

Personal condolences may be posted at www.tomlinsonfuneral.com.

Obituary: Tony Douglas

Tony Douglas
Tony Douglas

Funeral services for Tony Douglas, 83, of Athens will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013 at the First Baptist Church of Athens with Larry Fondren officiating. Eulogies will be given by Tom Perryman and Tracy Pitcox. Burial will follow with military honors at the Athens Cemetery. Tony went to be with his Lord and Savior on Jan. 22, 2013.

Tony Douglas was born April 12, 1929 outside Martins Mill, Texas to Hubert Gideon Douglas and Artie Marie Jones Douglas. At the age of 10, he trusted Christ as his savior while attending Hobbs Missionary Baptist Church. He grew up on a farm and went to school in Martins Mill and enjoyed hunting and fishing along Kickapoo Creek. He married Margaret “Mim” Reaves on March 5, 1949. He was drafted into the Army in 1952 and served with the 45th Anti-Aircraft Battalion in Kaiserslautern, Germany. During his overseas duty he was invited to sing at the NCO club with a small band. The GI’s enjoyed Tony’s style of music and he became a part of the band until he returned to the states.

Following an honorable discharge in 1954, Tony took employment with Lone Star Gas Company in Athens and continued to pursue a music career on weekends. In 1956 he recorded his first record and was invited to appear as a guest on the Louisiana Hayride. After his second appearance he signed a three-year contract. In 1961 he gained national attention with his song “Shrimpin’” and his band became known as “Tony Douglas and the Shrimpers.” Another great single, “Thank You For Touching My Life” was released in 1972. For over three decades, Tony Douglas and The Shrimpers crisscrossed the nation bringing enjoyment to multitudes of people.

His country disciplined up-bringing made a big impact on his life. He was tagged Mr. Nice Guy of country music and he desired to be remembered as “a man who kept his shows clean, where you could always take the family and not be afraid of what might be said or done.” He was a lifetime member of the Country Music Association. In 1995 he was inducted into the Country Music Association of Texas Hall of Fame.

Tony was a longtime member of Central Baptist Church of Athens and was most recently a member of Landmark Missionary Baptist Church. For the past several years he enjoyed operating “Papa T’s” in Athens with his wife Mim. Here he enjoyed meeting people, making new friends and sharing his love of country music. Tony was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Sarita Stegall.

Tony is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mim Douglas of Athens; sons, Hank Douglas of Jacksonville, Jason Douglas and wife Kim of Heath; daughter, Tonya Mowery and husband Randy of San Antonio; sisters, Wathena Douglas Rubin of Martins Mill, Kay Etheridge of Kemp; brother, Pecos Douglas and wife Nancy of Houston; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers include members of the Shrimpers’ band including Chuck Jennings, Terry Castle, Jerry Metheny, James Smith, Robin Hood Brians, John Kirby and Junior Knight.

The Douglas family would like to express heartfelt appreciation to the doctors and nursing staff of ETMC Athens for their compassionate concern and care.

Visitation will be from 6 – 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 25 at Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home in Athens.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Landmark Baptist Church, 1313 Palestine Highway, Athens, Texas 75751 or an organization of choice.

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

Obituary: Maxine Wood Darby

Maxine Wood Darby
Maxine Wood Darby

A memorial service for Maxine Wood Darby, 84, Athens is scheduled for
10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 25, 2013 at Eastern Hills Church of Christ with Danny Davis officiating.

Mrs. Darby died Jan. 21, 2013 in Athens.

She was born Oct. 13, 1928 in San Juan to Archie Leonard and Monie Foster Wood. Maxine grew up in Pharr and spent some time in Nashville before settling in Athens. She was a wonderful cook, devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and Christian woman.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Dan Wood; and sisters, LaRue Pfotenhauer and Bonnie Edwards.

Survivors include her husband of 65 years, Eugene Darby, Athens; sons Brian Darby and wife Jennifer, Denver, Colo., Ken Darby and wife Kathleen, Nashville, Tenn.; daughters Tere Lawyer and husband Don, Athens; grandchildren Peyton Williford, Nashville, Tenn., Whitney-Williford Morris, Dallas, Amber Budronis, Nashville, Tenn., Rosemary Darby, Nashville, Tenn., Chris Darby, Denver, Colo. and Ashton Dziedzic and eight great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Cain Center, 915 S Palestine, Athens Texas 75751 or the East Texas Arboretum, P O Box 2231, Athens, Texas 75751.

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