Category: Obituaries

Haneva Simmons, 78, of Malakoff was born on Sept. 4, 1934 in Three Rivers, Texas to the home of Hughey Robinson and Evie Loraine Mowles; and passed away on Feb. 21, 2013 in Malakoff.

Most of us will remember Mrs. Simmons as “the Tamale Lady.” She made delicious handmade tamales and sold them around the lake for years.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Homer T. Simmons; brothers, J.D. Robinson Sr., Bud Robinson; brothers, Johnny Hawthorn, Garland Andrew Hawthorn, and Fred Hawthorn; sister, Verdie Allen; children, Fred Wayne Berry and Mary Ann Hays.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Ruby Lee Hays Insell and husband Huey, John Wayne Hays Sr. and wife Felicia, Billy Hays and wife, Angie, Elizabeth Ann Hays Fagan; brothers, Charlie Paul Hawthorn, Joe Everitt Hawthorn, and Oscar Jim Hawthorn; sisters, Mary Pearl Powell, Louise Harris, Lois Ann Green, Bessie Lee Follet; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held noon–2 p.m. before the funeral.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 1, 2013 at Moorhead Epps Memorial Chapel under the direction of Moorhead Epps Funeral Home.

Memorial services for Rafael Rangel Pizana, 71, will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013 at the Kiwanis Park Pavilion in Athens.

Mr. Pizana died Feb. 23, 2013 in Athens. He was born Feb. 15, 1942 in Bend, Texas to the late Julian and Delfina Rangel Pizana.

Rafael formerly resided in Corpus Christi three years, Woodburn, Oregon six years, Sinton, Texas six years and moved to Tyler in 2011 from Portland, Oregon where he had lived since 1985. He was a retired Aviation Mechanic. A well decorated U.S. Army Veteran , Rafael served three tours of duty with the 82nd Airbourne in Vietnam and was a prisoner of war for three months.

Survivors include his wife Maureen Mary Pizana; sons, Ralph Pizana, Madisonville, Daniel Pizana, Shannon Pizana, both of Portland, Oregon; daughter, Caprice Christopher and husband John, Tyler; brother, Pete Pizana, Victoria; sisters, Norma Lucio, Gloria Ciarese, Tina Aguillar, all of Corpus Christi, Rosil Gonzales, Salem, Oregon; 12 grandchildren.

Michael Aaron Magrill, 32, of Murchison, was born in Eustace on Aug. 8, 1980 to the home of Michael Galen Magrill and Mary Belle Tow. He passed away on Feb. 13, 2013.

He is preceded in death by his bother, Bryan Holman and grandparents, Ike and Robbie Tow and Ed Peeler.

Left to cherish his memories are his wife, Alisha Magrill; sons, Ryan and Hunter Magrill; parents, Mike Magrill and Mary Hancock and husband Royal; brother, Chano Preciado; sisters, Robbie Preciado, Lisa Rojos, Leighann Pena and husband Joey, Kathryn Holman; grandmother, Ruth Peeler; cousins, Sherri and Toni Oaks; aunt and uncle, Karen and Tom Helzer, and uncle Johnny Magrill, and many other family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at Zion Hill Church, officiated by Pastor Don Herring and Pastor John Kling.

Maycie Lavelle and Maggie Marie Alexander, of Kemp, were born on Feb. 15, 2013 to the home of Damian Alexander and Ashley Easterly, and passed away that same day of Feb. 15, 2013.

They are preceded in death by their grandparents, Lavelle and John Easterly, Diane Alexander, and Teresa Hank.

Left to cherish their memory are their parents; grandparents, Charles and Lori Easterly, Ralph and Sandi Johnson; great-grandparents, Geneva Martin, Dale Cox and Thomas Alexander; uncles, Christopher Easterly, Clay Easterly and Jarred Johnson; aunts, Kellie Easterly, Mercedes Alexander, and Brooklyn Johnson.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, 2013 at Moorhead Epps Memorial Chapel under the direction of Moorhead Epps Funeral Home in Gun Barrel City. To leave an online condolence go to moorheadepps.com.