Vernon "Bo" Ashley

Vernon "Bo" Ashley passed away at home on Saturday, May 10, 2008.  He was born in Douglass, Texas, March 8, 1915 to Lucy and George Ashley.  His love of the east Texas Piney Woods and outdoor adventure lasted throughout his lifetime.  During the 1930's he served in the Civilian Conservation Corp in Maydell, Texas after following his older brother to Arizona by freight train.  He moved to Houston in the early 1940's.  He worked at Portland Cement during the war years and then joined Sears in 1947.  He was a division manager with Sears until he retired in 1978 to enjoy travel and the outdoors and his favorite role of grandparenting.  In 1999 he and his wife moved to Denton. 

He was preceded in death in 2000 by his wife of 54 years, Martha McCrory Ashley.  He is survived by his children and their spouses, Vernon and Bengy Ashley; Connie and Karl Akers and Richard Ashley and Marianne Bardy.  He will live always as a wonderful, generous Pawpaw in the memories of his grandchildren and their spouses, Ashley Akers and Frank Cervantez, Joshua and Brenda Hammitt, Elliott Akers and Jeremiah Ashley.  He is also leaves behind his brother, Lamar Ashley; sister, Nathalee Nesbitt, of Houston; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

The family will be at visitation Wednesday, May 14, 2008 from 6 - 8 p.m. at Funeral del Angel, 6330 Gulf Frwy, Houston, Texas.  Funeral Service will be at the Chapel of Angels, Forest Park Lawndale, Houston, Texas at 2:30 p.m., Thursday, May 15, 2008. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please consider memorials to Habitat for Humanity, Heifer Project International, or other church or charity of your choice. 

Betty Alford Degan

Betty Alford Degan, 81, passed away peacefully on May 10, 2008 after a brief battle with pneumonia.  She was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, on January 25, 1927, the daughter of Helen Newman Alford and Frank S. Alford who preceded her in death. 

Having lost her father at age 6 and her mother at age 11, she was raised in Denton, Texas by her aunt Anna Alford.  Betty was a graduate of North Texas State University in Denton, Texas holding a degree in Foods and Nutrition.  After graduation from North Texas, she worked as a dietitian at a campus dormitory.  Betty married Daniel Carl Degan, Jr. in July 1949 and soon thereafter they moved to Lewisville, Texas.  They enjoyed 56 happy years together until Carl’s death in July 2005. 

Betty had a love of art and theater.  She was an avid bird watcher and loved to travel and photograph wildlife.  Betty was a talented hand weaver and delighted her family and friends each year with hand-woven Christmas cards.

Betty was a quiet, elegant, and caring woman who loved her family dearly and always put them first.  She volunteered her time extensively for many organizations including the PTA, the Denton Weaver’s Guild, the March of Dimes and the American Red Cross.  She volunteered for the American Cancer Society, driving cancer patients to and from their doctor’s appointments and treatments.

She is survived by her daughter Karen Hammond and son-in-law George Hammond, son Daniel Carl Degan, III and daughter-in-law Cheryl Degan, grandsons Jason Hammond and Alex Degan, granddaughter Whitney Degan, and granddaughter-in-law Stacy Hammond, and great-grandson Chase Hammond.

Funeral Services will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at the Mulkey-Mason Funeral Home, 148 W. Church St., Lewisville, TX, 75057. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the North Texas Exes Alumni Association, P.O. Box 311250, Denton, TX 76203.

For online condolences please go to www.mulkeymason.com.

Neva Henderson Donald

Neva Henderson Donald passed away May 9, 2008, in a Las Cruces, NM, assisted living facility at age 97.

Neva Jewell Isom was born to Sumner Edward Isom and Della Mae Ratliff Isom on a farm in the Shiloh community near Lewisville, Texas on December 19, 1910.  She attended rural schools through the 10th grade, then moved to Denton, Texas and graduated from Teachers College High School in 1928.  She then entered North Texas State Teachers College and completed two semesters.

Neva began her teaching career shortly thereafter in a small country school near Hebron, Texas, in the days before teaching credentials were mandatory for public schools.  The job encouraged her to pursue a college education.

Neva married H. R. Van Zandt in 1934.  She and H.R. had a son, Homer.

Neva and H.R. were divorced in 1935.

Neva received a B.A. degree from Texas State College for Women in 1937

and following graduation, taught school for a short time before joining the Texas Extension Service.  She served as County Home Demonstration Agent in Knox, Jack and Ellis Counties in Texas before leaving the Extension Service.

Neva married R.L. (Leroy) Henderson of Jacksboro, Texas, in 1946, and resumed teaching school, in Jacksboro, in 1947.  During the next few years, she taught in the Jacksboro elementary and high schools while continuing her college work, earning a MA degree and eventually a PhD from TSCW, now known as Texas Woman's University.  After receiving her PhD, she became Director of the Department of Household Arts and Sciences (Home Economics) at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.  She held that position from 1954 until 1964.  After retiring from SHSU, Neva returned to Jacksboro and she and Leroy raised cattle along with operating

the family air conditioning business until Leroy's death in 1982.  Neva was a member of the First Baptist Church of Jacksboro, and was active in church and community activities throughout all her years in Jacksboro.

In 1989, Neva married R. L. Donald, Jr., a long-time family friend, whom

she had known and dated in high school.  They lived together at R.L.'s home in Lewisville until his death in 1995 and Neva again returned to Jacksboro.  After a short stay, she moved to Denton, where she resided for two years.  In late 2002, because of failing health, she moved to Las Cruces, NM, to be near her son and daughter-in-law.  She resided in Las Cruces until her death.

She is survived by her son, Homer R. Van Zandt (MariLynn) of Las Cruces,

NM; a stepson, Charles Wayne Henderson (Greta) of Weatherford, TX; two grandchildren, Kenneth A. Van Zandt (Monica) of Charlottesville, VA and Cynthia J. Van Zandt (James Rollins) of Portsmouth, NH; a sister, Johnnie Corbin of Denton, TX; and three great-grandchildren.

Services will be held on Thursday May 15, 2008 at the Coker Funeral Home Chapel in Jacksboro, Texas at 2 p.m. and burial to follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Jacksboro, Texas.  Coker Funeral Home in Jacksboro, Texas is handling arrangements.

Online Tributes may be made at www.cokerfuneral.com.

Allen Carl Cox McLane

Allen Carl Cox McLane entered into God’s care on Saturday, May 10, 2008 at Denton Regional Medical Center. His parents are Steven Cox, Jr. and Chandi Lynn McLane.

Funeral service will be Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 10 a.m. in the chapel of DeBerry Funeral Directors. Burial will follow at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas.

He is survived by his parents, Chandi Lynn McLane and Steven Cox, Jr. of Denton; brother, Xzander McLane of Denton; grandparents, Cheri McLane of Euless, Joe and Paula McLane of Denton, Steve and Christine Cox of Valley View and Freda Cox of Krum; great grandparents, Virginia Williams of Euless, Grady and Mary Cox of Collinsville and Mary Hellums of Sanger.