Dr. Norma Gilbert, Ph.D.

Dr. Norma Gilbert, Ph.D. passed away of natural causes on May 9, 2008 at her home in Denton. She was born in 1919.

She is survived by her son, Jan Sultan; six grandchildren; and three siblings.

Her career took her from her early training as a nurse to receiving a Doctorate degree from Claremont Graduate School. While teaching at Texas Woman’s University in the early 70’s she opened the “Help House” which was a community-organized crisis center. After a hiatus of several years teaching at University of Washington DC she returned to Denton to retire from teaching and start a new business, offering psychological evaluation testing to potential surgical patients to determine risk factors. She worked at that in to her mid eighties.

Norman generosity affected many people and she will be remembered in our hearts all of our lives.

On line condolences www.mulkeymason.com.

Ana Sofia Morales

Ana Sofia Morales entered into God’s care on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at Denton Regional Medical Center.  Her parents are Don and Amy Sauceda Morales.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Chapel with Father James Flynn officiating.  Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park.

She is survived by her parents, Don and Amy Morales of Denton; brothers, Tevin Morales and Ruben Morales, both of Denton; grandparents, Severiano Sauceda and Coriha Sauceda of Ballinger, Asencion Morales, Jr. and Ramona Morales of Andrews; and great-grandmother, Ofelia Gutierrez of Levelland.

Charles Floyd Bullard Sr.,

Charles Floyd Bullard Sr., of Sanger, formerly of Odessa, passed away, Tuesday, May 13, 2008 in Denton at the age of 62. He was July 3, 1945 in Brownwood to George & Carrie (Read) Bullard. Mr. Bullard lived most of his life in Odessa before moving to Sanger in 2002. Charles spent many years working in the West Texas oilfields and spent ten years with the Ector County Independent School District.

He is preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Bea Basham; and one brother, Earl Bullard.

Mr. Bullard is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Tammy and William Burton of Sanger and Susan and Leslie Winegeart of Corpus Christi; one son, Chuck Bullard of Odessa; one sister, Theta Thomas of Claremore, OK; grandchildren, William Burton II and Ashley of Miles, Brodie Burton and Kelsey Armor of Sanger, Sam Bullard of Georgetown, Cody Bullard of Georgetown, Elizabeth Winegeart and Richard Leal of Corpus Christi and Ashley Winegeart of Corpus Christi; and one great-grandchild, Hondo Burton of Miles.

The family will receive friends Thursday, May 15, 2008 10 – 12 p.m. Noon at Heartland Funeral Home, 1508 N. Austin; Comanche, TX 76442. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. in the Indian Creek Cemetery with Matthew Wilson officiating.

Services are under the direction of Coker Funeral Home 403 Pecan, Sanger, TX 76266.

Karen Sue Martin

Karen Sue Martin, 66, passed on to be with her Savior and Lord on Tuesday, May 13, 2008.  She was born in Port Huron, Michigan to Fred and Goldie Cook on June 1, 1941.  Her parents preceded her in death.

Karen is the wife of Rev. Richard Martin and together they have served the Lord in ministry since 1967, pastoring churches in Michigan and Texas. They reside in Krugerville.

Karen is survived by her husband, Richard, and they have been joyfully married for 49 years.  Together, they have had four wonderful children, Scott Richard and wife, Lona of Collinsville, Leslie Faith and husband, Brian of Denton, Michael David and wife, Darla of Denton, and a daughter, Teri Lynn, who went to be with Jesus at the age of 10, in 1971.  Their children have given them eight grandchildren, Dana, Christopher, Melissa, Jennifer, Blake, Luke, Micah, Miles and Mac; and nine great-grandchildren.

Karen leaves behind two wonderful sisters, Gloria McCue of Port Huron, Michigan and Jacquelyn Manchester of Houghten, Michigan; three sisters-in-law; and a mother-in-law, Claudia Louise Martin, age 94, who has been the best ever.  Karen loved her dearly.

There will be no family visitation but a memorial service will be held Friday, May 16, 2008 at 11 a.m. at Crossroads Covenant Church, Hwy. 377, Aubrey, Texas.   With Karen’s caring and loving heart, her wish was that her body be donated to Southwestern Medical Center for Scientific Study.

Special thanks to everyone who has stood by us in prayer and bringing provisions into the home during Karen's illness.  A heartfelt thanks to Southern Care Hospice for all the love, help and support.  You have ministered to us more than words can express.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Peace of the Rock Ministries, P.O. Box 51, Aubrey, Texas 76227.

Betty Lee Boswell Roden was born March 17, 1928 at home in Ft. Worth and her family soon moved to Denton, Texas. She was converted at Highland Baptist Church in Denton and baptized by her future father-in-law, Johnny Luther Roden in 1942. She married John Rivers Roden on August 3, 1946. They traveled extensively, RV'ing to each of the 48 contiguous states & also vacationing in Hawaii. She enjoyed amateur (ham) radio under the call sign of W(B)5DMR & loved to crochet afghans for other people.

Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Chapel.

Survivors include her husband, John Rivers Roden; son, James Michael "Mike" Roden and wife, Kim; daughter, Deborah Lee Powley and husband, Jerry and son, Michael; granddaughter, Darcie Lee Kilgore and husband, Brian; and great-granddaughters, Kasey Lee and Brittaney Cash Kilgore.

Preceded in death by mother, Ruby Lee Masten Boswell; father; Edward Baily Boswell, Sr.; her brothers, Edward Bailey "June" Boswell, Jr., Donald Ray Boswell and William "Billy" Jess Boswell; and grandson, Daniel Lee Penry.

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 1930s 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 1940s. 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 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 to 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 .

Kathy L’Jon Slimp

A memorial service for Kathy L’Jon Slimp, 47 of Saint Jo is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday May 14, 2008 at the First Baptist Church in Saint Jo. Visitation will be Tuesday evening from 5-7 at McCoy Funeral Home in Saint Jo.

McCoy Funeral Home

P.O. Box 299

200 N. Hwy 82

Saint Jo, TX 76265

(940) 995-2288