Category: Obituaries

Funeral services for Rebecca Jane Gartrell will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 3 p.m. at Payne Springs United Methodist Church with Rev Gary Hayes and Rev. David Diller officiating. Burial will follow at Payne Springs Cemetery.

Mrs. Gartrell went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, May 10, 2016.

Rebecca Jane Gartrell was born on March 9, 1941 in Malakoff, Texas, daughter of Walter Reynolds and Julia Pelham Reynolds. Family was number one to Rebecca. She was a loving foster parent, second mom and beloved teacher to many. Rebecca loved the outdoors and enjoyed gardening, sewing but reading was her favorite pastime. She always stepped in and helped wherever she could which involved taking youth trips and doing projects with her students. She loved to host the kids by making cookies and providing many pizzas on Friday afternoons between school and football games. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother who will be greatly missed by all she knew and loved.

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Graveside services for John David Myers will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, May 13, 2016 at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Athens, Texas. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. – noon on Friday, May 13, 2016 at Hannigan Smith Funeral Home of Athens. Services are under the direction of Hannigan Smith Funeral Home of Athens.

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

A Celebration of the Life of Rickey Loftis, 59, of Athens, Texas is scheduled for 1 p.m., Saturday, April 30, 2016 at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Athens.

Mr. Loftis passed away on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 in Athens.

Rickey was born December 21, 1956 in Waco, Texas the son of Artie Miller Loftis and Barbara Louise Johnson Loftis. He was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church in Athens and also a member of the N.R.A. Rickey was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing and all kinds of guns and knives. He enjoyed anything that went fast; motorcycles and boats especially. PaPa, a.k.a. “Longknife” loved spending time with his grandkids riding around in his Ranger. He was an amazing family man who will be missed by everyone he knew and loved.

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A Funeral Mass for the repose of the soul of Rick Hirsch has been scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, April 28, 2016 at First Baptist Church, Athens with Father Nolan Lowry Celebrant.

Burial will follow at Mary Queen of Heavens Cemetery, Malakoff under the direction of Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home, Athens.

Rick Hirsch of Athens, Texas was born November 11, 1964 in Shiner, Texas to Otto Sr. and Martha Senter Hirsch. He passed away on April 24, 2016 at the age of 51. Rick was a loving husband , proud father, and a beloved member of his community.

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Funeral services for Vera “Johnnie” Manning are Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at 11 a.m. at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Athens with Luke King officiating. There will be a private family graveside held at a later time.

Mrs. Manning went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, April 23, 2016.

Vera John Arthus Manning was born on May 7, 1932 in Cross Roads, Texas the daughter of John Reagan Arthus and Leona Elizabeth Simmons Arthus. She was a homemaker and a Pastors wife for nearly 60 years; last serving with her husband at the Aley Family Worship Center. “Johnnie” spent her life serving her Lord and Savior and was truly a Proverbs 31 woman. She loved her family and friends but loved God the most. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother who will be greatly missed by all she knew and loved.

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