Category: Obituaries

Graveside services for Ruby Jack Morris 87, Athens have been scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday October 13, 2017 at Oaklawn Memorial Park, Athens with Dr. Joe Warren officiating. Services are under the direction of Autry’s Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home.

Ruby passed away on October 8, 2017 in Athens.

She was born September 7, 1930 to the late Jack and Beatrice Ramsey. Ruby attended school in Athens. Ruby worked for a jewelry company and lived in California for several years. After returning to Texas, she worked many years at Mr. Fine Clothing Company. Ruby was a member of First Baptist Church of Athens and well known as a keen business woman, who started her own business, The Apron Shop. As a sole proprietor, she worked endless hours and enjoyed every minute of it. She had an adventurous nature and was an avid traveler, taking her daughter and granddaughter with her on many of her trips. She will be remembered as headstrong, loving, and a fierce protector of her friends and family.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years Sherman Morris.

Survivors include her daughter, Priscillia Morris of Athens, granddaughter; Akram Smith and husband Tom of Arlington, great-grandchildren; Kate, Jack and Lily.

Visitation for family and friends will be held Thursday evening from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Funeral Services for Bobby Joe Rogers, 67, of Athens are scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday, October 12, 2017 at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home with Pastor Karen Belknap officiating. Interment will follow at Rome Cemetery near Athens.

Mr. Rogers passed away on October 6, 2017 in Tyler.

Bobby Joe Rogers was born April 2, 1950 in Athens, Texas the son of Mr. E.C. Rogers and Jottie Lee Ward Rogers. He joined the United States Army in 1967 and later re-enlisting to serve our country before being Honorably discharged. He was a self-employed steel building contractor and spent his career working hard for his family. Known as a family man, PaPa spent his extra time with his kids and grandkids who were the love of his life. “Doughboy” also enjoyed riding motorcycles when he had a chance. He will be missed greatly by all he knew.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Mary Fisk, Jackie Wilhelm and three brothers, Jimmy Rogers, Ray Rogers and Hilda Rogers.
He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Carolyn Rogers of Athens; three children, Tina Rogers of Athens, David Hodges and wife Jackie of Kaufman, Bobby James Rogers of Athens; four siblings, Elizabeth Boyd and husband LC of Athens, Dana Bryant and husband Joe of Malakoff, Marie Weisinger and husband Jerry of Athens, Roy Acuff Rogers of Athens; seven grandchildren, Zachery Hallmark and wife Kimberly, Courtney Rogers, Brennan Rogers, Maci Hodges, Baileigh Rogers, Zoe Rogers, Sadi Hodges and three great-grandchildren, Braxtyn Hallmark, Aubrey Hallmark and Owen Hallmark.

Pallbearers will be David Hodges, Bobby James Rogers, Tina Rogers, Brennan Rogers, Zachery Hallmark, Robby Weisinger, Hank Rogers and Darrell Kutcherousky.

Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home in Athens.

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

Bobby F. Abernathy died Saturday, September 30, 2017 at age 84. He was born in Athens, Texas on June 25, 1933.

Bob attended Henderson County Junior College and received an award in 1980 for outstanding Ex-Student. He graduated from the University of Texas in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering, and was a loyal Longhorn. He spent his entire working career in the oil business, beginning in Brownfield, Texas with Stanolind, working at Amoco Petroleum for 17 years, five of those in Calgary, Can. He also worked at Quasar Petroleum and Champlin Petroleum before forming his own company with his brother, Dan. He was a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and a past president of the Petroleum club.

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Erma “Jackie Jo” Snowden passed away on September 30, 2017. She was 88 years old. She was born on September 28, 1929 to Jobe Edward and Addie May Jackson Crabtree.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jessie A. Snowden; brothers, Elmer Crabtree, Lloyd Crabtree, Tony Crabtree and Bennie Crabtree; Sisters, Lillian McGregor, Addie Wood and Lena Pearl Davis; two great-grandchildren, Mark and Matthew Snowden.

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Funeral services for Ted Layton, 84, Grapevine formerly of Athens have been scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday September 28, 2017 at Autry’s Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home with Rev. Bill Newman officiating.

Burial will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park, Athens.

Ted was born October 15, 1932 in Laneville, Texas to the late John. L. and Alice Irene Hobbs Layton. Ted was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He loved to fish, play dominoes, chess, checkers and play his harmonica. He was a barber in Morton and Athens for many years and then a District Manager for the Dallas Morning News for 20 years. He loved God and his family with all his heart. He was a member of the Calvary Temple Assembly of God Church for many years.

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