Dorothy Durst McWilliams

Dorothy Durst McWilliams went home to be with the Lord on July 13, 2008. Dorothy was born to parents Margaret and George Durst on May 1, 1932 in Mason, Texas. Dorothy was a testimony to her faith, a loving mother, wife and friend to those who knew her. The impact she made while on this earth is immeasurable and she will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Sing on, Dorothy, until we see you again!

Her children, Ann Margaret Smith of Midlothian, Texas, Greg McWilliams of Denton, Texas, Colleen McWilliams of Amman, Jordan, and Eric McWilliams of Farmers Branch, Texas, 5 grandchildren and sister Elaine Kruse of Uvalde, Texas survive her. In lieu of flowers, Dorothy has requested that a memorial fund be set up for Colleen McWilliams’ missionary efforts in Amman, Jordan. Gifts should be sent to Hillcrest Baptist Church, 265 W. Pleasant Run Road, in Cedar Hill, Texas 75104.

Funeral Service is 10 AM, Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Cedar Hill, Texas. Burial follows at 2:30 at Roselawn Memorial Park, 3801 Roselawn Drive, Denton, Texas. The family will receive friends from 7-9 PM, Tuesday at Jaynes Memorial Chapel in Duncanville, Texas.

“To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under Heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Jula Marie Miranda

Jula Marie Miranda, 38, of Denton, passed away Saturday, July 12, 2008 at Denton Regional Medical Center.  She was born March 21, 1970 in Napa, California to Larry and Cheryl (Atkinson) Schultz.   She was a Licensed Vocational Nurse, graduate of the LVN program of NCTC.  She was a member of the Pentecostal Church. 

A memorial service will be held at 6 pm Wednesday, July 16, 2008 in the chapel at Mulkey-Mason Funeral Home, 705 Locust, Denton.  Rev. Mark Bondreaux will officiate.

Burial will follow in the Cypress Lawn Cemetery in Colma, California.

Mrs. Miranda is survived by her husband, Steven Miranda, two sons, Deavon James Schlueter and William Alexander Miranda all of Denton, her father Larry Schultz of San Jose, CA, her mother Cheryl Atkinson of Sacramento, CA, and two sisters, Lisa Plock of Walnut Creek, CA and Nichole Anderson of Lehi, Utah.

Memorials may be made to Jula Miranda Memorial Fund, DATCU, PO Box 827, Denton, TX 76202.

On line condolences may be left at www.mulkeymason.com.   

Jewell “Jay” Parsons

Jewell “Jay” Parsons, 85, of Denton, passed away Saturday,

July 12, 2008 at his home.  He was born on November 17, 1922 in Hatfield, AR to Evan and Ophelia (Carter) Parsons.  He was the youngest of 11 children.  He served in the U S Army during WWII from January 13, 1943 to Aug. 29, 1945. From there Jay went to work as a trimmer at an upholstery shop in Corpus Christi, TX   In 1946-1947 he started his own upholstery business.  He moved his family to Concord, California where he continued his business.  The family returned to Texas in 1967, settling in Denton where in 1968 he opened Jay’s Upholstery.  His son Audie started learning from his father at the age of 8 and continues to run Jay’s Upholstery.

A funeral service will be held at 9 A.M. on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 in the chapel of Mulkey-Mason, Jack Schmitz and Son Funeral Home, 705 N. Locust, Denton, with James Vinzant, officiating.  Burial will follow in the Oakwood Cemetery.  The family will be at the Funeral Home for visitation from 6 P.M. until 8 P.M. on Tuesday, July 15, 2008.  Pallbearers will be Lamar Parsons, Adam Parsons, Joshua Parsons, Jeremy Burton, John Wigiert, and Jason Good. Memorials may be made to Ann’s Haven Hospice, VNA, 501 S. Carroll Ste. 201, Denton, TX 76201.

Mr. Parsons is survived by his wife of 24 years, Kathleen Parsons of Denton; his children Jerry Parsons of Rockport, TX, Lamar Parsons of Suisun City, CA, Janell Parsons of Denton, and Audie Parsons of Denton; a brother Lloyd Parsons of San Diego, CA;

thirteen grandchildren, twenty-four great-grandchildren and three great great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son Jimmy Parsons of San Antonio, TX.

Leave on-line condolences at www.mulkeymason.com.

Billy Frank Hansen

Billy Frank Hansen, 57, a longtime resident of Lake Dallas, Texas, passed away Friday, July 11, 2008 after a long illness. Mr. Hansen was born in Denton on February 6, 1951 to the parentage of Edward and Dorothy Hansen.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife of 19 years, Carol; and a stepson, David Wagoner.

Mr. Hansen graduated from Lake Dallas High School in 1969 and attended Tarrant County Junior College. He was a member of the Lake Dallas Methodist Church for many years. He was employed by Best Locks of Dallas for almost 30 years.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at the chapel of Denton Funeral Home and Cremation Services at 2:00 pm. Vitas Hospice Chaplain Joel Watson will officiate.

Mr. Hansen leaves the following behind to cherish his memory, a sister, Beckie Lairson of Lake Dallas; a niece, Laura Craft of Lake Dallas; a step-daughter, Shirley Wooten of Mesquite, Texas; six grandchildren, David, Christopher, Kimberly and Nathan Wagoner and Thomas and Nicholas Wooten; one grand niece, Alyssa Lairson; four grand nephews; Joseph, Tyler, Rowdy and Brandon Wright, and many friends.

The family expresses their sincere thanks for the many prayers, kind deeds, and expressions of sympathy.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Give the Gift of Sight Foundation, 4000 Luxottica Place, Mason, OH 45040-8114 or www.givethegiftoflife.org. Services are under the direction of Denton Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

“Odie” Marion Russell Phelps

“Odie” Marion Russell Phelps, 79, of Lawton, OK (formerly of Denton), passed away Saturday, July 12 at the Southwestern Medical Center in Lawton. He was born June 28, 1929, in Denton to Otis and Pearl Mayden Phelps. He attended Denton High School and North Texas State University. He was retired from Lawton Poultry.

Viewing and visitation will be Tuesday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at DeBerry Funeral Directors.

Funeral service will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the Chapel of DeBerry Funeral Directors with Rev. Wayne Morrow officiating. Burial will be at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Denton.

He is survived by his daughter, Grace Verkler and husband Edward of Arlington, sons, Rusty Phelps and wife Diana, Odie Phelps and Perry “Joe” Phelps, all of Lawton, six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Otis and Pearl Phelps, son, John Winston Phelps, and sister, Billie Griffith, and former wife, Wanda Beth Rattliff Phelps.

DeBerry Funeral Directors are in charge of the arrangements.

Brenda L. Ellis

Brenda L. Ellis, 55, of Little Elm passed away on Saturday, July 12, 2008, at her residence. She was born to Milton and Barbara Williams Wood on April 19, 1953, in Houston, TX. She married Roger Ellis on October 25, 1968.

Brenda and her husband were business owners in the Cross Roads area for many years, opening their latest business, Cross Roads Trailers, in 1998. She was active in the community, serving as Director on the Aubrey Area Chamber of Commerce 2001-2002, and participated in the Economic Development Committee for the town of Cross Roads.

She was known for her “sunshine” — always bringing laughter and joy as a wife, mother, grandmother, community leader, and friend. She always saw the good in people, and was always willing to lend a hand to those in need. She had volunteered with both hospice services and United Way.

Brenda had a big heart and a passion for life. She loved horses, and would ride with anyone, anywhere, anytime. In 1993 she and her husband were instrumental in forming the North Texas Team Penning Association, a family oriented program for horse enthusiasts young and old. She volunteered her time with the Spirit Horse program in Corinth, which offers therapeutic horseback riding to those with disabilities and special needs. She provided a home for many stray dogs that came her way. She loved the outdoors and camping, especially with her grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 15, 2008, at 10 a.m. at Slay Memorial Funeral Center in Aubrey. Graveside services will follow at 1 p.m. in Irving at Oak Grove cemetery. Visitation will be held on Monday, July 14, 2008, from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Brenda is survived by her husband Roger, son Shannon Ellis of Little Elm, grandchildren Macie, Morgan and Aaron Ellis all of Little Elm. She is also survived by her brothers Doug Wood of Houston, and Butch Wood of Mineola, her mother-in-law Georgia Ellis of Arlington and sister-in-law Gale Hudson of Arlington.

Services are under the direction of Slay Memorial Funeral Center. To light a candle in memory of Brenda please visit www.familyowned.net .

Jason Aaron Powell

Jason Aaron Powell, age 25, of Flower Mound, passed away suddenly in an automobile accident on Friday, July 11, 2008, in Fort Worth. He was a loving husband, father and son who will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Jason was born July 13, 1982, in Texarkana, Texas, to Randall Lee Powell and Anita Jean Sparks Powell. He married Christi Lynn Roche on July 19, 2003, in Lewisville. Jason was a member of First Baptist Church in Coppell. His love for flight was evident through his profession as a pilot for a private company, and as co-owner of Impression Aircraft Sales, Inc.

He is survived by his wife, Christi; five-month-old son, Jack Thomas Powell; parents, Randy and Anita Powell of Corinth; sisters, Jennifer Powell of Dallas and Laura Powell of Corinth; brother, Joshua Powell of Corinth; grandparents, Aaron and Joyce Powell of Walcott, Arkansas, Richard and Melva Dite of Moun­tain Home, Arkansas, and Thelma Lee Sparks of Paragould, Arkansas; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Tom and Tana Roche of Flower Mound; sister-in-law, Amy Roche of Flower Mound; and grandparents of Christi, Jack and Dorothy Larsen.

A service to celebrate Jason’s life will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2008, at First Baptist Church in Coppell. A private graveside service will be held at another time. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday evening at Mulkey-Mason Funeral Home in Lewisville. The family requests memorial contributions be made to the Jason Powell Memorial Fund, C/O Chase Bank (effective Tuesday, July 15, 2008). For online condolences please go to www.mulkeymason.com .