Jai Di Barton

Jai Di Barton, 19, of Justin, TX passed away Thursday, May 15, 2008 in Ponder. Services are pending with Denton Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

Everett Lee Riley

Everett Lee Riley, 92, of Aubrey, went to join our Lord Thursday, May 15, 2008 at Presbyterian Hospital of Denton. 

Services are pending with DeBerry Funeral Directors.

George Jordan Cunningham, Sr

George Jordan Cunningham, Sr., 86, of Corinth, passed away Thursday, May 15, 2008 at Denton Regional Medical Center.  He was born February 24, 1922 in Hillsboro to Earl Rush Cunningham and Lucy C. Jourdin Cunningham.  He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as an instructor during WW II.  He married Pluma Kuykendall in Abbott, Texas.  He had retired as a Technical Writer for Civil Service.  He graduated from Baylor University, was a member of Lake Dallas Church of Christ, volunteered for Meals on Wheels and was a published author.

Funeral service will be Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at Lake Dallas Church of Christ with Andy Warren officiating. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park in Denton.  Pallbearers will be Bill Allen, Earl Tate, J.W. Lively, Markus Watson, Clint McLeroy and Mike Hall.

He is survived by his wife, Pluma Cunningham of Corinth; daughter, Monette Rice of Corinth; sons, Chuck Cunningham of San Antonio, George Cunningham, Jr. of Ft. Worth and Tommy Cunningham of Valley Jo, CA; and 7 grandchildren.

Bruce Nelson Spencer, Jr.

Bruce Nelson Spencer, Jr., born January 23, 1916, passed away Wednesday, May 14, 2008. 

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, Bruce and Anabel Spencer; and sister and brother-in-law, Frances and Gordon Nichols.  He is survived by daughter, Shelley and her husband, John Alexander of Corinth; his daughter, Sydnee Spencer Alenier and her husband, Howard Alenier of Maryland; son, Bruce N. (Chip) Spencer III of Dallas; and many grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

He graduated from Highland Park High School in 1933 and went on to graduate from Texas A&M, where he worked as a mess steward to help pay his way, as a Company Commander, a Ross volunteer and member of a championship rifle team. 

Called to active duty in 1940, he served throughout World War II, was promoted to Major and commanded an artillery battalion.  Discharged in 1946, Bruce founded an irrigation pipe manufacturing company known as Gifford-Hill Western.  Over the next thirty years, the company expanded with to over 400 employees and converted hundreds of thousands of acres of arid high plains to productive agricultural land.

In his retirement, Bruce continued his lifelong love of the outdoors, hunting, fishing and gardening.  His trophy room is a virtual museum of natural history.  The vegetable garden in his backyard was a miracle of urban agriculture. 

Bruce was a fine representative of the greatest generation: a loyal Aggie, a patriot and a consummate gentleman. He will be missed by many. 

Suggested memorials to include the charity of your choice, or to The National Wildlife Federation at http://www.nwf.org/ (click on Donate Now).

J. D. “Jake” McNeely

J. D. “Jake” McNeely, age 94, of Richardson, Texas, formerly of Denton, Texas, passed away Wednesday, May 14, 2008, in Richardson. He was born October 9, 1913, in Eastland County, Texas, the son of Joseph A. and Rosa (Noell) McNeely. He attended Eastland High School and he married Trula Roberta Pounds on January 21, 1934. After Roberta passed away, he married Roxie Pippin. Mr. McNeely was a manager at Douglas Aircraft – Aerospace Division, where he retired at Vandenburg Air Force Base Douglas Facility in the early 1970s. He was a member and deacon of Creekside Baptist Church in Richardson, Texas.

He is survived by his daughter, Colleen Romero and her husband, Fred of McKinney; son, Ron McNeely and his wife, Carolyn of Layton, Utah; thirteen grandchildren; twenty-six great-grandchildren; five great-great-granddaughters; stepdaughter, Ann Willingham; and many nieces, nephews and other loving relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Roberta; second wife, Roxie; son, Larry McNeely; sister, Ola Rollins; and stepson, Duane Pippin.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 16, 2008, at Creekside Baptist Church in Richardson with Rev. Beryle Lovelace officiating. Interment will follow at Justin Cemetery in Justin, Texas. The family received friends at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home during a visitation on Thursday evening, May 15, 2008 beginning at 7 p.m.

To convey condolences or to sign an online registry, please visit www.tjmfuneral.com .

Matilda D. Sotelo

Matilda D. Sotelo, 84, of Denton passed away Tuesday, May 14, 2008 in Denton. She was born March 14, 1924 in Floresville, TX to Frank and Ramona (Martinez) Davila.

She married Jesus Sotelo on December 7, 1940 in Brownsfield, TX. Matilda received her GED in 1958. She was a graduate of Haskell County Nursing School class of 1959. She worked at Haskell County Hospital for 12 years, Flow Memorial Hospital in Denton for 3 years, Arlington Memorial Hospital, Westgate Hospital, and the Denton State School for 12 years. She was also instrumental in starting the first Mexican Baptist Church in Denton. A Mission Church in Arlington, and several other Mission Churches in the DFW area.

A funeral service will be held Friday, May 16, 2008 at 11 a.m. at Gateway Baptist Church in Denton. Brother Buddy Owens will officiate.

Matilda is survived by son, Gavino and wife, Isabel Sotelo; daughters, Mary and husband, Lupe Martinez and Anita and husband, Joe Mata; brother, Alexander Davila; sister, Julia Galindo; nine grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and three great great-grandchildren.

Her parents; husband, Jesus; five brothers; three sisters; and one grandson preceded her in death.

Services are under the direction of Denton Funeral Home and Cremation Services.