Obituaries

Dr. Gene Wesley Hightower, 81 of Van went to be with his Heavenly Father, Feb. 6, 2018. He was born in Edom on Feb. 18, 1936 to Paul and Geneva Hightower.

In 1988, he married Lana Green and they have been inseparable since. He attended Baylor University on a basketball scholarship and went on to receive his Doctor of Dental Surgery, specializing in orthodontics. After practicing in Pasadena for four years, he moved back to Van and served patients in Athens, Van, and Mabank for 33 years.

Services for David Scott Ricketts, 46, of Canton were held Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018 at Eubank Funeral Home in Canton. He passed away on Feb. 3, 2018 in Jacksonville.

He was born on Jan. 7, 1972 in Alton, Ill to William Howard Ricketts and Mary Jacquelyn Davidson.

He loved to live life to the fullest. He enjoyed to karaoke, riding four-wheelers and mudding, riding Harley motorcycles, and playing pool.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

Services for Clarence Henry "C.H." Doty, Jr., 98, of Canton were held Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018, at St. Therese Catholic Church with Father Selvaraj Sinnappan officiating, under the direction of Eubank Funeral Home. Entombment was in Haven of Memories.

He passed away Feb. 7, 2018 in Canton. He was born Aug. 23, 1919 in Patterson, La. to Clarence Henry Doty, Sr. and Jessie Bazilie Knight Doty.

He grew up in Patterson, La. He met his future wife, Billie, at Fort Bragg while serving in the US Army during World War II. He was a gentleman's gentleman. His life revolved around his family.

Shirley Jean Mewborn Brown was born Sept. 4, 1951 in Myrtle Springs. She had been a resident of Van Zandt County all of her life and was a member of Highland Baptist Church.

She passed away at the age of 66 on Jan. 28, 2018 at her home. She was preceded in death by her parents, Sanford Griffin Mewborn and Ida Ruth Knox Mewborn.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018 at Turner Baptist Church with Rev. Dan Tarno and Rev. Fred Cooper officiating.

Services for Orval Gibson Wooley, 96, of Canton were held Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018, at Eubank Funeral Home in Canton. Interment was at Haven of Memories Memorial Park in Canton.

He passed away on Jan. 26, 2018, in Canton.

He was born on Sept. 29, 1921, in Meridian to Henry Monroe and Ora Edith Lane Wooley.

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge #141 in Canton. He was a Texas Department of Public Safety officer for 35 years and also served in World War II. He loved to travel with his RV Club in his later years.

Services for Doris Jane Dickerson, 86, of Grand Saline, were held Thursday, Feb.1, 2018, at Bartley Funeral Home with Don Kirkpatrick and Eric Teague officiating. Interment followed in Creagleville Cemetery.

She passed away Jan. 30, 2018 in Grand Saline. She was born Nov. 30, 1931, in Grand Saline to Foster and Ida Branson Land. She was a lifelong resident of Grand Saline where she graduated from GSHS, Class of 1947.

Over the years, she worked at Cozby-Germany Hospital, Steve's Pharmacy, Nardis Sewing Factory, and the Smart Shop. 

Services for Cephas Adair (C.A.) Norrell were held Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018 at Hilliard Funeral Home

with Pastor Shane Ogdie officiating and Bro. Wayne Bare assisting.

He will be laid to rest in Union Chapel Cemetery, Smith County. A memorial service will be held March 15, 2018 at Woodland Hills Baptist Church in Tyler.

He was born Sept. 6, 1924 in West Texas, where he was born and raised. He had been a resident of Ben Wheeler for 25 years, formerly living in Indiana and Illinois.

Services for Dennis Clayton Gandy were held Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018 at Hilliard Funeral Home with Pastor David Martin and Pastor Scott Miles officiating. A graveside service followed at Fairway Garden of Memories Cemetery in Van. He was born Aug. 14, 1949 in Tyler. He had been a resident of Ben Wheeler all of his life. He graduated from Van High School in 1967 and received his bachelor's degree from University of Texas at Austin in 1970. He started Gandy's Nursery in 1972, where he has worked alongside his family for many years. He belonged to Texas Nursery and Landscape Association and Northeast Texas Nursery Growers Association. He  was also a member of Pine Brook Baptist Church.

Services for Eugene "Pat" Patrick Ryer, 84, of Canton were held Tuesday, January 30, 2018 at Eubank Funeral Home in Canton. He passed away Jan. 26, 2018 in Kaufman.

He was born Feb. 15, 1933 in Dallas to Richard Robert Ryer and Augustus Sylvania Kolaczkowski.

He grew up in the Riley Community and graduated from Pleasant Grove High School.

He joined the Army during the Korean War and was stationed in Germany. Upon returning home, he married Peggy LaNelle Hoops on March 23, 1956.

The couple lived in Dallas for 10 years before moving to Canton in 1966. He was a farmer who enjoyed fishing, hunting, and spending time with his family. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Canton for over 50 years.