Obituaries

Clarence Tawater

1921-2016

Services for Orval Clarence Tawater, 95, of Canton, were held Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, at Eubank Funeral Home in Canton, with Bro. Altus Womble and Bro. Jonathan Smith officiating.

He passed away October 1, 2016, in Canton.

He was born June 21, 1921, in Big Sandy to Noah Frank Tawater and Helen Mae Morse.

He grew up in Canton where he attended school. He joined the Navy and served in the South Pacific during World War II. After the war, he enlisted in the Army where he served during the Korean Conflict and Vietnam. He retired in 1963 after serving 20 years.

He married Frances Wages on Nov. 6, 1954, and they spent the next 62 years together. They raised two children moving around the country and settled in Canton after his service. He went to work for Tyler Pipe and retired after 20 years. He enjoyed fishing every Saturday with his son and brother.

Jimmy Taylor

1940-2016

Services for Jimmy Ray Taylor were held Sept. 21, 2016, at Eubank Funeral Chapel in Canton with Bro. Randy Crudgington officiating.

Interment will be at Old Bethel Cemetery in Canton.

Mr. Taylor passed away Sept. 18, 2016, in Tyler

He was born Sept. 21, 1940, in Pauls Valley, Okla. to John Fletcher and Ruth Ozell Taylor.

Christy Ray

1974-2016

Services for Christy Deann Ray, 41, of Martins Mill, were held on Thursday, Sept. 22, at the Eubank Funeral Chapel.  Interment will be in Haven of Memories Memorial Park. 

Ms. Ray passed away Saturday, Sept. 17, in Tyler.  She was born Oct. 24, 1974, in Dallas to Robert Earl and Gayle Sue Hargrove Carpenter. 

Christy was a Baptist by faith.  She graduated North Mesquite High School in 1993.  She had lived in Martins Mill for the past 20 years.  Christy loved volunteering at the Martins Mill School, listening to music and shopping.  She was always interested in the medical field.

Ms. Ray is preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Gayle Carpenter, and her daughter, Katherine Marie Ray.

Joy Biggs

1927-2016

Services for Joy Biggs, 89, of Ben Wheeler were held Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, at Eubank Funeral Home in Canton with Bro. Jerry Truett, Bro. Carolton Young, and Bro. Billy Parks officiating.

Graveside services were held at Haven of Memories Memorial Park in Canton.

Mrs. Biggs died Sept. 2, 2016, in North Richland Hills.

She was born on July 14, 1927, in Wheeler to Andy and Oda Wilson Wood.

She was an active member and Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church in Ben Wheeler as well as the Van Zandt County Choir. She was also an active contributor of the Van Zandt County Veterans Memorial. She was the original Uber for her family and significant others.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, J.D. Biggs; one brother; and four sisters.

Veda Hayes

1956-2016

Funeral services for Veda Glen Hayes, 60, of Mesquite, formerly of Wills Point, were held Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016, at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Wills Point.  Interment followed at Greenwood Cemetery in Wills Point under the direction of Allan Fuller Funeral Home in Wills Point.

Ms. Hayes died Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, in Mesquite.

She was born Aug. 20, 1956.

Allan Fuller Funeral Home www.allanfullerfuneralhome.com.

Janice Payne

1932-2016

Memorial services for Janice Virginia Payne, 84, of Tyler, were held on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, at Meadow Lakes in Tyler with the Rev. Bob Green officiating, under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home.            

 Mrs. Payne passed away Sunday, Sept. 11,2016, in Tyler.

 She was born Jan. 12, 1932, in Dallas to Clifford and Rena Tull.

 She spent her early years in Edgewood then attended Arlington Junior College, Texas State Women’s  College and Long Beach City College, majoring in art and merchandising.

Harold Scott

1949-2016

Harold Milton Scott went to be with the Lord on Sept. 8, 2016.  He had fought a long battle with cancer.  He was born Aug. 16, 1949 to Lester and Ruth Scott in Dallas.  He was a retired cement mason and had moved to Van Zandt County upon retirement.  He became a member of the Whitton Volunteer Fire Department, which he dearly loved. 

He is survived by his wife, Susie Scott of the Whitton Community; brother, Mike Scott and Janie, Duncanville; son, Dwayne Scott, Log Cabin; daughter, Melinda Evans and Billy of Log Cabin; stepsons, Mitch Utsey and Bailey, Santa Rosa, Calif. and Jesse Martinez and Nina, Cedar Hill; step daughter, Heather Witt, Midlothian; 17 grandchildren; three great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins. His youngest son, Alan of Rio Vista, passed away three days after his death. 

George Turner

1926-2016

Services for George “Dick” Turner were held Sept. 14, 2016, at Holly Springs Cemetery in Martins Mill. Bro. Ronnie Daniell officiated under the direction of Eubank Funeral Home. 

Interment was at Holly Springs Cemetery in Martins Mill.

Mr. Turner died peacefully at his home in Canton Sept. 10, 2016.

He was born July 2, 1926, in Clayton, Okla., to Elijah “Jack” Turner and Lula Mae Nash.

He grew up in Van and was a proud graduate of Van High School class of 1945.

He worked as a mechanic and a brick tender for a short time after high school before going to work for Texas Power and Light as a meter reader. He spent 32 years for TP&L, working his way up to become a service tech before retiring.

George Medley IV

1944-2016

George Edward Medley IV, 71, died Sept. 16, 2015, at East Texas Medical Center in Athens. 

He was born Dec, 7, 1944, in Owensboro, Ky., the fifth child of Edwin Wathen Medley and Louva Ford Medley. 

He grew up in Owensboro attending Blessed Mother and St. Stephens Catholic elementary schools and graduated from Owensboro Catholic High School in 1962.  He played football at Murray State University in Murray, Ky. and finished his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Brescia College (now University) in Owensboro while working part time at Medley Distilling Company. 

Dorothy Barker

1929-2016

Services for Dorothy Joy Barker (Shields) 87, of Canton, were held Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, at Bartley Funeral Home.

She was born Sept. 13, 1929, in the Oakland Community in Van Zandt County. Interment will be in the Oakland Cemetery.