Published: December 07, 2007 08:08 am      

OBITUARIES: Dec. 7, 2007

James G. Lewis

Funeral services for James G. Lewis, 57, of Brownsboro are scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday in the chapel of the Cooper Funeral Home of Athens with James Golden and Tommy Weems officiating.

Burial will follow in New Hope Cemetery near Brownsboro.

He passed away Tuesday in Athens.

James Lewis was born June 23, 1950, in Athens and lived most of his life in Henderson County. He was raised in the New Hope Community and attended schools in Brownsboro and was a member of the Brownsboro graduating class of 1968. He was very active in football and was a member of the State Champion Basketball Team of 1967. After school he served in the U.S. Army National Guard from 1971-1976.

On June 6, 1975, he married Patricia Ann Blakeney. He was employed with Trane in air conditioning manufacturing in Tyler where he had worked for over 35 years.

James was an active rancher and was owner/operator of B & L Farms and was the owner of Lewis Sand & Gravel. He was an outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing and especially deer hunting with friends and family. He was a member of the New Hope Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Richard Carl Lewis; and his parents-in-law, Jim and Ann Blakeney, who he affectionately called Mr. Jim and Miss Ann.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia Ann Blakeney Lewis of Brownsboro; parents, E.C. and Marvene Lewis of Brownsboro; brothers and sister-in-law, Glynn Lewis of Tyler, Marcus and Gail Lewis of Brownsboro and Junior Lewis of Brownsboro; sister and brother-in-law, Kay and Don Forester of the New York Community; nieces and nephews, Amanda Bethea, Katherine Kugle, Amy and Ricky Daily, Adam Lewis and Daniel Reeves.

Pallbearers include Randall Chitty, Larry Lawrence, Jerry Alexander, Felix Vasquez, Jeffrey Hopson and Ricky Daily.

Honorary pallbearers include Randy Parker, Bobby Hopson, Randall Browning, Adam Lewis, Michael Hopson, Lawrence Dunn, Scott Brumfield and Co-workers of PaintDept. No. 641 of Trane.

The James G. Lewis Scholarship Fund has been established at the Brownsboro High School in honor of Mr. Lewis to assist in agricultural education of students.

The Cooper Funeral Home visitation hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The family will receive condolences at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.



Richard Antioco ‘Benny’ Benavides Jr.

Richard Antioco “Benny” Benavides Jr., Master Gunnery Sergeant, USMC Retired, left us on Nov. 30 to report for duty standing guard at the gates of Heaven.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m.. Saturday, Dec. 8, at Autry Funeral Home Chapel, Frankston.

Burial will follow at Garden Oaks Memorial Cemetery, Berryville.

Born Sept. 26, 1930, in Dallas, Texas, to Richard Antioco Benavides Sr. and Mary Rose Ortega. Benny joined the U.S. Marine Corps in March of 1950; retiring 30 years later in June of 1980. After leaving the Marine Corps, Benny worked in the Civil Service industry until retiring in 1993 and moving to Berryville, Texas.

Since his retirement he has been an active member of the V.F.W. post 5073 in Frankston, Texas, and American Veterans Chapter 125 Berryville, Texas. He was a lifetime member of the Marine league “Piney Woods Detachment” and has been an active member of the Hilltop Baptist Church in Berryville.

Richard is survived by his beloved wife, Betty, formerly of Fairfield; sisters, Vi, and Debra Franklin of Santa Maria, Calif., MaryAnn Jordan, Berryville; and sons; Richard D. Benavides Sr. and wife Mim of Arlington, Michael and wife Angie of Florida; step-daughters, Vanessa Smith and husband Bryan of Fairfield, Stephanie Hillman and husband Gene of Montalba; niece, Dana Large and husband Monte of Berryville; nephew, Albert Benavides and wife Rhonda; and children; granddaughters, Michelle Bottoms and Lisa Neptune of Fairfield, Anita of California and Andrea of North Dakota; grandsons, Phillip Aiken of Dallas, Aaron Neptune and wife Amy of Fairfield; and great-grandson, Adam Neptune.

He was preceded in death by wives Lois and Lucille; and grandson, Richard D. Benavides Jr.

The family will receive visitors on Friday, Dec. 7, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Autry Funeral Home, Frankston.



Vetma O’Neil Crain

The passing of a loving husband, father and grand-father at the age of 85 on Dec. 5, 2007.

Services for Vetma O’Neil Crain will be held Sunday, Dec. 9, at 3 p.m. at the Carroway-Claybar Funeral Home in Lufkin with burial in Whitehouse Cemetery. Bro. Lamone Wiggins is officiating.

Visitation for family and friends will precede the service beginning at 2 p.m.

He was born to Ezra and Sallie Kirkland Crain in Huntington on Nov. 3, 1922. He spent most of his life in Huntington and Lufkin and was partnership owner and operator of a radiator shop in Lufkin for years. He was a World War II veteran, serving in Germany and other European countries for the U.S. Army.

Vetma spent his last seven years in Athens after marrying his second wife, Joye Cleveland, and was an active member of First Baptist Church there and had 50 years membership with the Masonic Lodge, attending in Athens.

He was proceeded in death by his wife of 56 years, Lucille; and sisters Geneva Smith and Nelda.

Survivors include wife of seven years, Joye; daughters, Diane Simmons and husband Norman and Donna Purvis; grandchildren, Curt Simmons and wife Dawn, Angie Riley and husband Rodney, Justin Hill and Jennifer Jay Purvis, Leslie Burns and Bryce; great-grandchildren, Katelyn, Collin, Hanna and Mattie; sisters, Winona Perry, Lavetta Gupton and Linda Durham.



Andy Jones

Andy Jones, 77, of Mabank died Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2007, in Tyler. Family will accept friends Friday, Dec. 7, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Eubank Cedar Creek.

Services are Saturday, Dec. 8, at 2 p.m. at Eubank Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Kenneth Hensley officiating.

Jones was born Feb. 15, 1930, in Kaufman County.



Kenneth Thomas

Services for Kenneth Thomas, 46, are pending with Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home of Mabank.

Thomas died on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007.