Obituaries

Dennis O. Gaines

Dennis Oliver Gaines, age 42, of Jacksonville, TX passed from this life on Monday December 1, 2025.

Dennis was born August 12, 1983 in Buffalo, TX to mother Patrecia Ward and father Henry A. Gaines Sr. He grew up and attended schools in Lake Dallas, Palestine, and graduated in Jacksonville in...

Lea Powell, 89, passed away peacefully at her home in Jacksonville, Texas on Thursday, November 6, 2025. She was born on May 25, 1936, in Marietta, Ohio, to Edward and Ethel (Cunningham) Abicht.

Lea was a devoted caregiver in the healthcare industry and spent many years tending to others with compassion, patience,...

Russell Patrick Kennedy of Jacksonville, TX, was born Aug. 3, 1954, in Woodruff, WI, and passed away peacefully on Oct. 22, 2025, after his second battle with cancer.
Russell, the fourth-born child of Doreen and Warren Kennedy, was raised in Victoria, TX, where he graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1973. It...

Shane Wayne Lackey went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, surrounded by the people he loved most, his wife, Brandi, and their children, Jacob and Sarah.
Born on May 13, 1974, to Clifford and Tina Lackey in Jacksonville, Shane grew up with a heart full of adventure and a mind set on...

Lewis N Shaffer lll, passed away on September 13,2025, in San Antonio,Texas . Born on January 31, 1949, in Fukuoka, Japan.
Lewis was the son of retired Army Lt. Col. Lewis N Shaffer Jr and Lola Norene Shaffer . As a child of military family, he experienced life across several continents during his formative years...

Tammy Denette Moore, 61, of Jacksonville, went to be with her Lord on Saturday morning, September 20, 2025. A Funeral Ceremony will be held on Thursday morning, September 25, 2025, at Boren-Conner Funeral Home in Jacksonville, to begin at 10:00am. Interment will be at Old City Cemetery in Jacksonville following the...

Hazel Frank Stinnett Thornton was born on October 21, 1933 in Athens Texas to Evie Gurnsey and Jessie Frank Stinnett. She passed into eternity on September 16, 2025.
She was preceded in death by her parents and three sisters, Wanda Buford, Dorothy Keller and Virginia Ware; her husband, Gerald; her children, Vicki...

Shelly Clayton Hudnall, Jr., age 97, passed peacefully on Sunday afternoon, September 14, 2025, in Jacksonville, Texas.
Visitation will be Sunday, September 21, 2025, and family will receive friends from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville.
Graveside Celebration Service is scheduled for 11:30...

James "Clinton" McElyea, 70, of Jacksonville, Texas, entered the loving presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Friday, August 22, 2025, in Tyler, Texas.
Fufilling Clinton's wish, loved ones gathered for a private graveside service on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at Tecula Cemetery.
Born on December 26,...

A memorial service for Linda S. (Williscraft) Harkins, 78, is scheduled for 3 p.m., Sunday, August 31, 2025, at First Christian Church in Jacksonville with Barbara Morgan officiating.
Linda was born on August 18, 1947, in Dallas, to Lennox William and Margaret Earl (Ferguson) Williscraft and went to be with the Lord...

John Paul Hauk, longtime Jacksonville resident and downtown shopkeeper, passed away peacefully at Hospice of East Texas on August 15 after a battle with cancer.
John Paul was born at Jacksonville's Newburn Sanitarium on June 1, 1941, to Willis Carlyle Hauk and Gladys Carrell Hauk. After growing up with his large,...

A celebration of life service for Douglas "Dewayne" Womack, 77, of Jacksonville, Texas will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, August 2, 2025 at Autry Funeral Home, 1025 SE Loop 456, Jacksonville, Texas. The visitation will also be held at Autry Funeral Home on Friday, August 1, 2025 from 5:00-7:00pm.
Dewayne graduated...

Melba Scoggins Pugh, long-time resident of Jacksonville, Texas, passed away at home surrounded by her loving family on Friday, July 11, 2025. She was 98 years old.
Melba was born in Tecula on October 21, 1926, to Howard Wallace Scoggins and Ethel Frances (Blake) Scoggins. She was an excellent seamstress who worked...

A funeral service for Carolyn Sue Work Whiteley, 80, is scheduled for 10 a.m., Monday, July 14, 2025, at Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville. Pastor Bennie Boles and Pastor Jim Slocumb with Marcella Yarbrough officiating. She will be laid to rest at Rocky Springs Cemetery.
Visitation will begin Sunday, July 13, 2025,...

Kenneth V. Jones, Sr. departed this life on June 22, 2025, age 79. Born and raised in Jacksonville, Texas, he is the son of the late Mr. & Mrs. Henry V. Jones. A proud 1963 graduate of the historic Frederick Douglass High School where his father served as principal for 26 years. Upon graduation, he left...

Carla Roberts, age 84, of Jacksonville, went to be with the Lord on June 21, 2025.
A funeral service for is scheduled for 10 a.m., Monday, June 30, 2025, at First Methodist Church in Jacksonville with Rev. Patrick Evans, David Roberts and Taylor Darr will officiate. She will be laid to rest at Resthaven Cemetery in...

Jackie Gruber, 78, of Jacksonville, passed away on Saturday, May 31, 2025.
A funeral service is scheduled for 10 a.m., Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville with Patrick Evans officiating. She will be laid to rest at Still Waters Memorial Gardens.
Visitation will begin Tuesday, June 3, 2025...

A graveside service for Jim "Ed" Perry, 82, is scheduled for 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at New Emmaus Cemetery in Troup with Bro. Sonny McFarland officiating.
Jim was born on October 13, 1942, to Jim and Myrtle Perry and went to be with the Lord on May 23, 2025.
Ed had a passion for the outdoors, and...

We are taught as young children, to grieve for those we have lost, but by far the most meaningful part of this journey is celebrating lives that are long and bountiful!
Our Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, and (most of all!) Mimi, Evelyn Marie Carden, passed away peacefully, on 5/12/2025 in Houston, Texas at...

Rob leaves behind a legacy of laughter, stories, close family, and unforgettable friendships.
Rob graduated from Jacksonville High School, went on to attend Tyler Junior College and earned his degree from Texas A&M University, 1995. While at A&M, he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and remained a proud...

Robin LaQuita Goodson, affectionately known as Quita, passed away March 24, 2025, in Waco.
A memorial service to honor Quita's life will be held Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 2:00 PM, at Gallatin Missionary Baptist Church, 252 Melton St., Gallatin, Texas. Reception in the Fellowship Hall to follow.
Quita's family...

Frank Edward Waites, 84, passed away on March 28, 2025, in Jacksonville, Texas. A lifelong resident of Jacksonville, Frank was born here on January 5, 1941 and was a member of Afton Grove Baptist Church.

Frank proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army from 1963 to 1965, stationed in Germany...

Tony Max Cleaver, Sr. passed away on February 25, 2025, in Temple, Texas. He was born on December 8, 1943, in Jacksonville, Texas, to Maurice B. (Curley) and Sleetie (Sissie) Allen Cleaver. He married Jerrie Sue Kellar August 29, 1965. Cleaver was a staunch believer in and follower of Jesus Christ from age 12, and a...

Henry "PeeWee" Wright, born in 1956 to A.C. Wright and Lynette Underwood Wright in Jacksonville, Texas, passed away March 9 2025 at the age of 69. He now joins his beloved mother, Lynette; his brother, Dennis Wright; and his wife, Vickey Houser Wright, in eternal rest.

At the age of 18, he answered the call to...

Ila Prafka Mathis Catanach, 85, passed away in the morning hours of February 26, 2025, at her home at Country Place Memory Care in Jacksonville.

Ila was born on March 3, 1939, in Port Arthur, Texas, to Earl Prafka and Annie Laura Johnson Prafka. She attended Thomas Jefferson High School and went on to Lamar...

Jo Ann Enlow Blaylock died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, on Monday, March 3, 2025. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Autry Funeral Home, Jacksonville, Texas, Bro. Nolan Richey and Pastor Eric Johnson officiating. Burial will follow at Jarrett Cemetery. Visitation...

A graveside service for DeWald (Gus) Lake Jr. is scheduled for 2 p.m., Monday, March 3, 2025, at Resthaven Memorial Park, in Jacksonville, with Pastor Daniel Smith officiating.
Gus was born November 28, 1955, in Dallas, to DeWald Lafayette Lake and Phyllis (Keller) Lake and passed away in Lufkin on Monday,...

Billie Jean Sockwell Evans, 94, passed away February 14, 2025 in Tomball, TX. She was born March 2, 1930 to the late John Thomas Sockwell and Sally Ida Moss Sockwell.
She was predeceased by her husband, James Daryl Evans-known to his family and close friends as Bill, both her parents, her brothers, J.T. Sockwell and...

A graveside service for Linda Lou (Pierce Barbier) Rogers, 88, is scheduled for 3 p.m., Monday, February 17, 2025, at Resthaven Memorial Park in Jacksonville with Pastor Mark Wilke officiating. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m., Sunday, February 16, 2025, at Autry Funeral Home.
Linda was born on June 8, 1936, to...

Billy Lacy, of Jacksonville, passed away February 1, 2025 at the age of 91.
A visitation will be held from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. on Thursday, February 6, 2025 at Autry Funeral Home, Jacksonville with a graveside service to follow at Jarratt Cemetery at 2 p.m. Bro. Dale Harris and Bro. Jon Nesbitt will officiate.
Billy...

Barbara Lindner Graves Murphy passed peacefully into the waiting arms of her Lord and Savior on January 13, 2025, following a lengthy battle with dementia and interstitial lung disease. She was born on September 28,1940 in Jacksonville, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry Hunt Lindner, Sr. and...

A funeral service for Kevin Wayne Sessions, 53, is scheduled for 2 p.m., January 27, 2025, at Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville with Andy Cox officiating. He will be laid to rest at Earle's Chapel Cemetery in Jacksonville. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.
Kevin was born on November 15, 1971, to...

Jimmy "Piddler" Hemby, age 89, of Troup Texas passed away January 15,2025. He was born to Robert J. Hemby and Essie Gee Hemby on March 12, 1935. Piddler graduated from Troup High School in 1954 and was a lifelong Troup Tiger Fan! He loved nothing better than cheering or cussin' from the stands on Friday...

On January 13, 2025, our beloved Ava Lily Ray entered eternal life and reunited with her husband, Max Ray.
A funeral service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, January 17, 2025, at Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville with Rev. Mike Townsend and Randy Allen officiating. She will be laid to rest at Earle's Chapel...

Doris Ann Cook Stadler died January 9, 2025, in Temple, TX. Doris was born at Emmaus, in Cherokee County, TX, on September 25, 1933, to Huey Franklin Cook and Myrtle Worley Cook. The family later moved to the Enterprise community where they attended the Mount Hope Church of the Nazarene. Doris graduated from...

A graveside service for Dustin Aldwin Lambright, 33 of Jacksonville, is scheduled for 10 a.m., Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at Jarratt Cemetery under the direction of Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Monday, January 6, 2024, at Autry Funeral Home in...

Mary Anne Burgi Tessaro passed peacefully on December 29, 2024, at the age of 84.
She is survived by her husband of 51 years John J. Tessaro, five children: Michael Tessaro and wife Pat, Michelle Tessaro, Toni Tessaro Keith and husband Larry, Don Broseman and wife Robin, and Lynne Mary Tessaro Thompson and husband...

A funeral service for Sandra Odom Crank, 84, is scheduled for 2 p.m., Friday, December 27, 2024, at Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville with Rev. Grady Higgs officiating. She will be laid to rest at Still Waters Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.
Sandra was born on September 25,...

A graveside service for Jackie Ray Gibson, 73, formerly of Jacksonville, is scheduled for 10 a.m., Saturday, December 21, 2024, at Earle's Chapel Cemetery in Jacksonville with Bro. Steve Edwards officiating.
Visitation will be held on Friday, December 20, 2024, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Autry Funeral Home in...

A memorial service for Virginia (McCarter) Bush, 87, is scheduled for 10 a.m., December 6, 2024, at Central Baptist Church in Jacksonville with Steve Edwards officiating. Visitation will be prior to the service in the church chapel.
Virginia was born on December 7, 1936, in Anderson County to John Ira and Georgia...

A memorial service for Karen Dorothy Markasky, 63, of Jacksonville, is scheduled for 10 a.m., Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville, with Dr. Mike Miller officiating. She will be laid to rest at Still Waters Memorial Gardens.

Karen was born to Richard and Jean Hunt on April 17, 1961, in...

James Donald "Bubba" Bingham, passed away November 10, 2024. Visitation services will be held on Friday, November 15, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Autry Funeral Home. A funeral service will follow at Autry Funeral Home, Jacksonville Saturday, November 16th at 10 a.m.

Funeral services for Mildred Ward Hataway, 85, of Gallatin, are scheduled for 2 p.m., Saturday, November 16, 2024, at Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville with Bro. Cobey May officiating. She will be laid to rest at Henry Cemetery in Gallatin.
Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, November 15, 2024, at...

Harry Wyndel Cummins, longtime resident of Jacksonville, passed away on October 31, 2024, at the age of 91.
A Celebration of Life for Harry Wyndel Cummins will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at Central Baptist Church in Jacksonville. Pastor Mike Miller and Pastor Steve Edwards will be...

A graveside service for Eula Mae Northen, 90, of Gallatin, is scheduled for 3 p.m., Saturday, October 26, 2024, at Jarratt Cemetery.
Visitation will begin on Saturday and family will receive friends from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville.
Eula was born on April 6, 1934, to Richard Franklin...

Bobbie J. Shafer of Troup, TX, went to be with our Heavenly Father on September 23, 2024. She was born Bobbie Jane Traweek in Palestine, TX and adopted by Terrell and Celestine Traweek. Bobbie graduated Palestine High School, attended Junior College and later joined the U.S. Air Force where she met and married Lynn...

A funeral service for Jr. Whitely, age 83, is scheduled for 10 a.m., Saturday, September 21, 2024, at Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville. Bro. Benni Boles and Jim Slocumb will officiate. He will be laid to rest in Rocky Springs Cemetery in Dialville.
Visitation will begin Friday, September 20, 2024, and family will...

A funeral service for James Andrew Ingram, 83, of Jacksonville, is scheduled for 10 a.m., Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville with Danny Carter officiating. He will be laid to rest at Still Waters Memorial Gardens in Jacksonville.
Visitation will begin Monday, September 16, 2024, and...

Sharon Lybrand Dement, known affectionately as Sherrie, passed away peacefully at home on September 9, 2024, at the age of 80, with her devoted husband of 64 years by her side.
Born on September 26, 1943, in Lakeview, Oregon to Barbara Rentle and John Lybrand. She was the eldest of 4 girls. Raised in Bly, Oregon,...

Martha Carolyn Thompson Hudnall was born Feb. 22, 1938 in Cherokee County to J.W. "Winkie" and Nona L Norwood Thompson and passed away Aug. 26, 2024.

She was a proud graduate of Rusk High School class of 1955. She went on to graduate from Angelina College in Lufkin and Henderson County Junior College in Athens. ...

A funeral service for Bobby Stiefer, 72, is scheduled for 2 p.m., Friday, August 30, 2024, at Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville with Bro. Clint Bass officiating. He will be laid to rest at Meador Cemetery.
Visitation will begin Thursday, August 29. 2024 and family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at Autry...

It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Sue Lynn Lowery (née Jones), who went to be with her Lord and Savior on August 14, 2024.

Sue was born to Robert and Clora Jones on November 17, 1947, in Jacksonville, TX. She is preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband Tommy, her...

Carol Pearman Rainey, 77, of Jacksonville, passed away on August 1, 2024.
A memorial service will be held to honor her memory at 2 p.m. Saturday, August 10, 2024, at Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville.
Carol was a lifetime member of Central Baptist Church of Jacksonville. She was an employee of Stage Stores, Inc.,...

Eva Sandoval James was born on July 9, 1938, to Joe and Mamie (Rodriguez) Sandoval in Brookshire, Texas went to her heavenly home Monday, July 29, 2024. She was 86 years young.
Visitation will begin Friday, August 2, 2024, and family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Autry Funeral Home in...

Cynthia Lynn (Welch) Pope of El Campo passed from this life to her eternal home with her Savior and loved ones on July 20, 2024. Cynthia was born on May 7, 1933, in O'Donnell, Texas to Paul Welch and Veva (Nichols) Welch. The family moved to Jacksonville, Texas, where she attended all twelve years of school,...

A graveside service for Thomas Rondo Crim, 77, is scheduled for 10 a.m., Saturday, July 27, 2024, at Jacksonville City Cemetery where he will be laid to rest.
Rondo was born on July 31, 1946, in Beaumont, Texas to his parents, Earle R. & Floydie L. Crim. He passed away on July 13, 2024, in his hometown of...

Sue (Oreta Faye) Sessions, 80 passed away July 1, 2024 in Jacksonville, Texas. Sue was born August 23, 1943 in Fort Worth, Texas to Tom and Atma Cook. Sue loved living in Ponta with her husband of 45 years, Lee Roy Sessions. Although Sue was a long-time Real Estate Closing Agent with Cherokee Title and other...