Category: Obituaries

Graveside services for Linda Cotten, 73, formerly of Athens are scheduled for 10 a.m., Thursday, August 17, 2017 at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Athens. Services will be under the direction of Hannigan Smith Funeral Home.

Mrs. Cotten passed away on Saturday, August 12, 2017 in Conroe, Texas.

Linda Nell Pool Cotten was born July 19, 1944 the daughter of Dinky Bill Pool and Wilma LaDean Bailey Pool. She was a graduate of Athens High School and retired from the Texas Department of Human Services after 22 years of service. Linda enjoyed photography and making greeting cards, which she was very talented at. She was a loving wife, mother, sister and aunt who will be missed by all she knew and loved.

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Funeral services for Rex Browning, 84, of Athens are scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, August 18, 2017 at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home with Rev. John Michael Cash officiating.

Mr. Browning went to be with his Lord and Savior on August 11, 2017 in Athens.

Carroll Rex Browning was born March 3, 1933 in Henderson County, Texas the son of Verge Wyatt Browning and Vada Clanton Browning. He earned a Masters degree in College at Drake University and spent his career as a high school counselor in Arizona for over 35 years before retiring from the Phoenix Union High School District. As a collegiate basketball player, he earned the title of All-American. Rex was a member of the Athens Church of the Nazarene and was active in the ministry; serving in nursing homes all over Henderson County where he loved playing his guitar and singing. He was a happy man who always had a smile on his face and would tell everyone he encountered that “He had never been better.” He was a loving husband, father and grandfather who will be missed by all he knew and loved.

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Long-time Athens surgeon, Dr. Joe Ed Smith, died on August 7, 2017 at his home in Athens at the age of 84 years. Dr. Smith was the first medical specialist to open a practice in Henderson County in 1965.

During his 36 years in private practice in Athens, Dr. Smith was instrumental in helping Athens become a first-class medical center in East Texas. He was heavily involved in the recruitment of many physicians to Henderson County and integral in bringing East Texas Medical Center as well as the construction of the new hospital to Athens in the 1980s. He previously served on the Henderson County Memorial Hospital Board of Managers and the Lakeland Hospital Board, as prior president and member of the Henderson County Medical Society, and at the time of his death, was the current president of the Henderson County Hospital Authority. He also served on multiple occasions as Chief of Staff and Chief of Surgery for both Henderson County Memorial Hospital and Lakeland Medical Center. Dr. Smith was named the 1998 Citizen of the Year by the Athens Chamber of Commerce. He was extensively involved in the community as past president of the Athens Industrial Foundation, past president and member of the Athens Rotary Club, past president and a founding board member of the Disciples Clinic of Athens, and as an elder and long- time member of the First Presbyterian Church of Athens. He also served as board member of the First National Bank of Athens, First State Bank of Eustace, school board president of the Athens Independent School District, member of the East Texas Medical Center Foundation Board, and advisory board for the Circle Ten Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

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Shane Everett Trammell passed away after a brief stay in the hospital on August 6, 2017 in Tyler, Texas. He was a husband, a son, a father, an avid musician, a fisherman, a businessman, and a great friend.

Shane was born to Bruce Everett Trammell and Josie Marie Estell on October 17, 1963 in Navarro County, Texas. He lived in Henderson County as a small child then returned to Henderson County at aged 11. He attended Cross Roads and Athens schools and finished his schooling at Cross Roads.

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A memorial visitation and Masonic Service’s for Richard “Mike” Harris, 69, Athens will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, August 5, 2017 at Sand Springs Baptist Church with Erick Graham officiating.

Inurnment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park, Athens under the direction of Autry’s Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home, Athens.

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