Lawrence R. Myers

Lawrence R. Myers, 82, of Denton, died Friday, Oct. 6, 2006, at his residence.

Arrangements are pending with Mulkey-Mason, Jack Schmitz and Son Funeral Home.

Elizabeth Meek

Elizabeth Meek, 36, of Denton died Thursday, Oct. 5, 2006, at Presbyterian Hospital of Denton. Arrangements are pending with Goen-Hudgens Funeral Home.

Jessie B. Smith

Jessie B. Smith, 49, of Denton died Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2006.

He was born Dec. 24, 1956, in Ratio, Ark., to Turlee Smith and Leomia Green. On April 17, 1980, he married Roberta Lipscomb in Santa Ana, Calif.

He served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

He was a member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church.

A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, 1111 Wilson St. The Rev. L.E. Lawson will officiate. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, at Peoples Funeral Home, 1122 E. Mulberry St.

Survivors include his wife of Denton; two daughters, Jessica Paulette Smith and Kimberly Anise Smith, both of Denton; three brothers, James Smith and Bobby Smith, both of Denton, and Herbert Green of Bryan; and four sisters, Gracy Buckhanon of Den­ton, Freddie Mae Rogers of Hele­na, Ark., Shary Taylor of Euless and Barbara Taylor of Bryan.

Thomas Mervyn Whisenant

THOMAS MERVYN WHISENANT passed from this life on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2006, in Decatur, Texas. He was born in Etowah County, Ala., on Dec. 5, 1934, to Dewey H. and Velma Naylor Whisenant, both deceased, one of six children – brothers, Arnold and W.C. Whisenant, also deceased, and three sisters who survive him – Vera Stephens, Betty Malone and Dean White. He was their beloved "Brother." He was "Uncle Brother" to many nieces and nephews of his Alabama family – Larry Whisenant, Joyce Bigelow, Janis Hinds (deceased), Barbara Scott and Gail McCormick, Bobby Whisenant, Nan House, Tommy and Steve Malone, Lee Ann Wallace and Frieda Brooks. He attended Auburn University and served in the Naval Air with Patrol Squadron 22 from 1954 to 1956, flying surveillance missions over the China Coast, for which he received a National Defense Citation and Air Medal. His career included many years in the construction industry as on-site superintendent for projects in Kentucky, Alabama, Florida and Texas. At his death, he was a long-haul owner/operator and traveled Texas to the Northwest. He loved flying and building and expressed his thoughts and beliefs both verbally and in writing whenever the opportunity presented itself. He was larger than life, excessive in all things, including his love for family and friends. He leaves behind his wife of 27 years, Mary Schleigh Holtz Whisenant; son and daughter-in-law, Todd and Angela Holtz and grandson Will Thomas Holtz of Denton, son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Nora Whisenant and grandson Aaron Whisenant of Marietta, Ga., son, Michael Morris of Lexington, Ky.; daughter, Meaghan Morris of Chicago, Ill.; grandson, Taylor Morris-Dempsey; and granddaughter, Rachel Morris-Dempsey of Killeen. He was "Big Daddy" to his grandchildren and the many friends and relatives who knew him well for his generosity and happy spirit. There was a special place in Tom's heart for his "Texas Family," Jervis and Carmen Underwood, L.W. and Pat Mann, Frank and Sue Maxwell and Michael and Laura Hensley, and many nieces and nephews who were his "special kids." He never met a stranger and leaves behind countless friends from Florida to Washington. We will miss you, Thomas. Family and friends will gather for a memorial service on Sunday, Oct. 8, at 2 p.m. at the DeBerry Funeral Chapel in Denton. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts to The Salvation Army or American Red Cross. A graveside service is planned for a later date at Kyuka Cemetery in the community of Duck Springs, Ala.

DeBerry Funeral Directors are in charge of the arrangements.

Paid obituary

Elizabeth Weiss

PONDER – Elizabeth Weiss, 87, of Ponder died Friday, Oct. 6, 2006 at Senior Care Center in Denton. She was born Jan. 28, 1919, in Tokio, Texas to Eugene and Harriet McMorrough Sparks. She married Martin Weiss in 1943 in Dallas. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, Ponder, WMU and the Ladies Auxiliary of Hendrix Memorial Hospital in Abilene.

Visitation will be Saturday, Oct. 7, from 5 to 6 p.m. at DeBerry Funeral Directors, 2025 W. University Dr., Denton. Graveside service will be Sunday, Oct. 8, at 3 p.m. at Eakins Cemetery in Ponder with Rev. Kim Broadstreet officiating.

She is survived by her husband, Martin Weiss of Ponder; daughters, Susan and husband Hank Quigg of Ponder and Jeanne and husband Bill Fulls of Dallas; sister, Harriet Parker of Waco; brother, Yandall Sparks of Tokio; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. She is preceded in death by her parents; sister, Dorothy Vickers; and brother, Jack Sparks.

Memorials may be made to SBC International Mission Board, P.O. Box 216, Ponder, TX 76259.

DeBerry Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.

Paid obituary

Doris Pauline Thomas Wagenseller

CASTROVILLE – Doris Pauline Thomas Wagenseller, age 79, of Castroville, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2006. Doris was born June 16, 1927, in Ponder to the late Paul and Lydia Rippy Thomas. In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by her sister, Maurice Deussen. Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law, Connie and David Teuscher of Beaumont, DeLinda and Scott Stephens of Castroville; son and daughter-in-law, Cliff and Judith Wagenseller of Edmond, Okla.; grandchildren, Brandon Fehrenkamp and his wife Collette, Melody Black and her husband Jason, Hattie Wagenseller and Ali Stephens and Derek Teuscher. A graveside service will be held Sunday, Oct. 8, at 2 p.m. at the Castroville Community Cemetery in Castroville. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be given to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, 2391 N.E. Loop 410 Suite #313, San Antonio, TX 78217.

Visit www.tondre-guinn.com.

Paid obituary

Viva Lee Brannan

WHITESBORO — Viva Lee Brannan left the loving embrace of her sweetheart of 63 years and was then ushered by God’s holy angels into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2006, at the age of 80 years, 11 months and four days. Viva Lee was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and dear friend to many. Her presence here on earth will be dearly missed. Our loss is Heaven’s gain!

She was born on Oct. 22, 1925, in Grand Saline, Texas, to Velma and Elsie Box. While a student at Van High School, she won the Texas State Doubles Tennis Championship.

Viva Lee married Boyce D. Brannan on July 8, 1943. While Boyce served in the Seabees, Viva Lee spent the war years serving stateside as one of the original “Rosie the Riveters” building B-29 bombers. God blessed them with four sons: Sid, Steve, Ted and Tim. Tim preceded her in death.

Her lifelong favorite pastime was to “Go shopping!” Another area of enjoyment for Viva Lee was gospel music. For her own enjoyment, she loved to receive and collect porcelain dolls and stuffed teddy bears.

She earned her LVN degree and served as a nurse at the Denton State School. She also served as a pastor’s wife and church pianist. Her main mission in life was her family. She served them both sacrificially and as an example of what it means to be a Godly Christian woman. This was her primary love and calling. She has, no doubt, already received the “Well-Done Award” from the Lord upon her arrival in Heaven. We echo His words here on earth. “Well Done Viva Lee, Well Done!”

She was a member of the Mary and Martha Sunday School class of the First Baptist Church of Whitesboro.

Viva Lee is survived by her sweetheart of 63 years, the Rev. Boyce D. Brannan; her sons and their wives, Sid and Jane Brannan of Whitesboro, Steve and Linda Brannan of Aubrey, Texas, and Ted and Karen Brannan of Whitesboro; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services for Viva Lee will be observed at Meador Funeral Home Chapel in Whitesboro, Texas, on Monday morning, Oct. 9, at 10 a.m. Officiating ministers include the Rev. Mike Flanagan, Dr. Eddie Johnson and Dr. Paul Duckett.

Interment will be held at a private family gathering at the Sand Flat Cemetery in Viva Lee’s hometown of Grand Saline, Texas, on Monday afternoon. Your continuing prayers and thoughts are appreciated by the entire family.

To sign the online registry, go to www.meadorfuneralhome.com.

Paid Obituary

Adonna Sheryce Stuckey

MILLSAP — Adonna Sheryce Stuckey, 52, of Millsap, died on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2006, at her residence. She was born on Oct. 4, 1953, in Mineral Wells to Jackie and Florene Davis Alexander. She had lived in Denton prior to moving to Millsap this past April and was a member of the Denton Bible Church. She was a security guard.

Memorial services will be held at noon Monday, Oct. 9, at the Denton Bible Church in Denton.

Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Rafe and Laurie Stuckey of Jacksonville, N.C.; daughter and son-in-law, Ashley and Zack Lassen of Denton; grandchildren, Amelia Stuckey, Molly and Colton Lassen; sisters, Sherlene Wright of Denton and Patricia George of Plano; and brother, Rocky Alexander of Sanger. She was preceded in death by her parents.

The family requests that donations be made to a charity or church in lieu of flowers.

GOD SAW YOU

God saw you getting tired,

And a cure was not to be

So he put his arms around you

And whispered come to me.

With tearful eyes we watched you

And saw you pass away

And though we love you dearly

We could not make you stay.

A golden heart stopped beating

Hard working hands at rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us

He only takes the best.

Paid Obituary