Category: Obituaries

Funeral services for Billy Boyce, 38, of Athens are scheduled for 2 p.m., Monday, September 17, 2018 at the Athens Church of God. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Athens.

Billy Boyce passed away on September 11, 2018 in Athens.

Billy Boyce Jr. was born November 5, 1979 in Athens, Texas the son of Billy Boyce Sr. and Tracy Louise Baker Boyce. He attended the Athens Church of God and one of the things he greatly enjoyed doing was preaching. There was never a time when Billy wasn’t trying to make people smile and he was known as a hard worker. He loved his family dearly, especially his little brother Michael and his nieces and nephews.

Billy is preceded by his maternal grandparents, Ernest and Betty Baker and his paternal grandfather Franklin Boyce.

He is survived by his parents Billy and Tracy Boyce of Athens; one brother Michael Boyce and wife Savannah of Athens; two nieces and two nephews, Logan Boyce, Jasmin Boyce, Cash Boyce, Graceland Boyce all of Athens and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. Friday, September 14, 2018 until Monday, September 17, 2018 at the Athens Church of God.

Serving as pallbearers: John Young, Clifton Acker, Andy Bourland, Johnny Cooper, James Curry, Freddie Baker and Randy Davis.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home family.

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

Walter Jerry Stephenson, 87, passed away on September 3, 2018. Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. September 16, 2018 at Oaklawn Memorial Park, Athens under the direction of Autry’s Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home.

He will lie next to his beloved wife of 51 years, Nancy Morgan Stephenson, who preceded him. They were both loved and will be truly missed.

Jerry is survived by his sons Lane and Jay and their respective wives Debbie and Nancy, along with his four grandchildren, Taylor, Morgan, Chandler and Jake, all of whom he was able to watch grow into fine young adults.

He touched countless lives through his work as a hospital administrator and a restaurant owner, as well as during his service in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, his time on the Shreveport Fire Department and as a Scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts. Jerry’s passions were woodworking, charcoal grilling, John Wayne movies and a good Hank Williams song. When he proposed to his college sweetheart Nancy told Jerry that she did not believe in long engagements, and he said he did not believe in short marriages. Now they are finally together again- and this time it’s forever.

Funeral services for Timothy Scott Gilbert of Mabank are scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday, September 8, 2018 at Hannigan Smith Funeral Home in Athens with Bro. Frank Upchurch officiating.

“Scotty” passed away September 5, 2018 in Longview, Texas.

Timothy Scott Gilbert was born October 24, 1967 in Dallas, Texas the son of Margaret Ann Moran Drummond. He was always a hard worker and for 20 plus years he worked as a foreman for the Gulf Shore TeleCom. In 2015 he left to become the owner and operator of Voltage Construction. He enjoyed traveling or taking cruises, hunting and cooking; especially for Chili cook-offs. He loved dancing and entertaining and was always the life of the party. “Papa” treasured spending time with his grandkids. He was a loving son, husband, father, a brother, uncle and grandfather that will be missed by all those who knew him.

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James Vernon Waggoner made his last and final journey Saturday, September 1, 2018. James was 86 years old, born December 8, 1931, in Collinsville, TX, to Cecil Gervace Waggoner and Myrtle Priscilla Booher Waggoner. At age 10, he and his parents moved to Ft. Worth, TX, where he grew up, attended Birdville High School, graduating with honors, and Texas Wesleyan College, graduating cum laude. After college, he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served two years during the end of the Korean Conflict, stationed in Indianapolis, IN. After completing his military obligation he went to work for Amoco Production Co., working for 36 years as an auditor/investigator. He traveled extensively, both domestically and internationally. He was affectionately known as “Big Jim.”

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Betty Louise Scott, 72, of Athens passed away on August 31, 2018. She was born on November 6, 1945 to Grady Lee Holt and Lillian Margie Holt.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Kenneth E. Scott; her brothers and sisters, Billy Jo, Sunny, Ann and Lorene.

Betty was a very creative person. She loved coloring in adult coloring books. She enjoyed camping and fishing. She was known by her family and friends to have an ornery personality and made those around her laugh and have a good time. She would let you know really fast that she was NOT a Dallas Cowboys fan! Being a brave lady, she was a breast cancer survivor. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren that she adored.

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