Obituaries

Katherine Seekings

1938-2016

Services for Katherine Seekings, 78, of Canton, were held May 13, 2016, at the St. Therese Catholic Church in Canton with Father Selvaraj Sinnappan officiating, under the direction of Eubank Funeral Home in Canton. 

Interment was in Haven of Memories.

Mrs. Seekings died May 11, 2016, in Canton. 

She was born April 30, 1938, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Michael and Ella Bailey Beniak. 

She married Ronald Seekings on Feb. 7, 1959.  They moved to Lancaster in 1968 where she worked for Brasscraft Western for 15 years.  She relocated to Canton in 1992. 

Mrs. Seekings enjoyed reading, crocheting, gardening and water aerobics where she met many friends. She also enjoyed her pets throughout the years.

She is preceded in death by her parents and a brother, James Beniak.

Johnnie Harris

1954-2016

Services for Johnnie Ray Harris, 62, of Canton, are scheduled for 11:30 a.m., Friday, May 20, at the Grace Family Church in Canton with Pastor Jonathan Ray Smith officiating. 

Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery.

Mr. Harris died May 11, 2016, at his home. 

He was born Jan. 13, 1954, in Houston to John Neal and Sarah Lee Lemons Harris. 

He graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler. He then served in the 82^nd Airborne as a paratrooper.  

Until his health failed, he was a faithful member of the Grace Family Church where he served as the head usher. 

Christmas was his favorite holiday and he enjoyed decorating lights on wrought iron. 

His hobbies included gardening, yard work and playing dominoes.  His nickname was “Mr. Domino.”

Edward Hutchins

1920-2016

Funeral service for Mr. Edward Denton Hutchins, age 96, of Emory, was held May 8, 2016, at Emory Church of Christ.  Jerome Savage and Paul Foley officiated. 

Mr. Hutchins died May 3, 2016, at Senior Suite Care and Rehab. 

He was born April 18, 1920, in Runnels County.

Dorothy Gardner
1921-2016

Memorial services for Dorothy Gardner, 94, Ben Wheeler, were held May 15 at Union Chapel Methodist Church with the Rev. Larry Haun officiating.

Her life was celebrated with “coffee and dessert” following the service.
Mrs. Gardner died May 6, 2016, in Tyler.
She was born Oct. 24, 1921 in Westhope, N.D., to the late James A. Livesay and Elsie Christine Randall Livesay.

She was an original “one room” school teacher and all of her students sent her Christmas cards throughout her whole life.

She loved to read and enjoyed all kinds of music, favoring “Polka.”

She enjoyed gardening, growing beautiful flowers and sewing. She also made jeweled 'ming' trees and homemade dolls.

She was known to have coffee at 2 p.m. in the afternoon and she ate a small dinner with a 'big' dessert.

Donna Morris

1947-2016

Memorial services for Donna Hardin Morris, 68, of Eustace, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, May 21, 2016, at China Grove Baptist Church in Eustace.

Mrs. Morris died on May 8, 2016, in Eustace.

She was born on June 14, 1947, in Kerrville, to John Claiborne and Lettie Russom Hardin.

She was a very active swimmer and participant in track in her early years. She was an accomplished pianist staying active through her high school days with many competitions. During one piano competition, she rewrote her music unbeknownst to her instructor. She received a standing ovation.

She married Bert Morris on Dec. 23, 1966.

She is preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Tara Michelle Morris; and brother, John Hardin.

Audie Mae Shiflet

1918-2016

Audie Mae Shiflet, age 97, of Emory, died Mother’s Day Sunday, May 8, 2016 at Sulphur Springs Health and Rehabilitation Center. 

She was born Oct. 25, 1918, in Hogansville, near Emory.  

Albert Coleman

1924-2016

Albert Morris (Tootie) Coleman was born on Aug. 10, 1924, in Charleston, Miss., to Edward Hawes and Lela Belle (Thompson) Coleman and passed April 18, 2016, in Allen.

He was raised in Kerrville and graduated from Tivy High School in 1942. He served our country in World War II as a member of the U.S Coast Guard. After the war he studied at Schreiner Preparatory in Kerrville and then at the University of Texas in Austin, with a major in business.

In 1946 he met and married his wife, Margie, and the following year their daughter Beverly was born.

He received his BBA in 1949 from UT. He spent the next 33 years working for Sears in management which allowed him and his family to make lifelong friends in Amarillo, Omaha, Nebraska and Dallas. While living in Amarillo, daughters Susan, Mary and Cindy were born.

Luna McCully

1945-2016

Services for Luna “Susie” McCully, 71, of Canton, were held Monday, May 9, 2016 at Eubank Funeral Home in Canton. Interment was in Locust Grove Cemetery.

Mrs. McCully died May 5, 2016 at her home in Canton.

She was born March 18, 1945, in Grapeland to Wornie and Flora Green Hamb.

She grew up in Grapeland and graduated from Letexo High School. She married her late husband, Wesley McCully, on Dec. 15, 1965. They moved to Canton in 2001 after her husband retired from the military. Watching sports was her favorite pasttime. She was a devoted wife and mother and loved spending time with her grandchildren.

Kerry Dan Bourne

1956-2016

Kerry Bourne died Friday, April 29, 2016, at his home in Lonoke, Ark. at the age of 59.  He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 35 years, Judy Lynn Bourne.  

They were high school sweethearts at Canton High School in Canton, and married soon after.  They moved to Louisiana and eventually Arkansas, where they lived together and raised their children Shelby and Schafer.  

Mr. Bourne was born July 7, 1956, in San Benito to “T.A.” and Amelia Bourne.  He followed in his father’s footsteps, working for Amoco for 16 years.  He then became a successful business owner and entrepreneur and eventually retired in Lonoke, Ark., where Mrs. Bourne worked as a school guidance counselor. 

C.B. Wiley

1936-2016

On the 6 of May 2016, C.B. Wiley (Claude Berdine Wiley) went to be with our Lord and Savior at the age of 79.

He was born on Aug. 16, 1936, in Seguin. He was the son of Jewel and Earl Wiley. He was the fourth of six children.

He entered the military and served as a paratrooper in Germany from 1955 to 1958.

On May 24, 1962, he married Mary Ann Hammac. He and Mary owned and operated a grocery store and a gun store in Dallas. He also served in the Dallas Police Department. I

n March of 1972 the couple moved to Canton and opened Wiley and Son's Gun Store.  He also pursued his interest in exotic animals.

He entered law enforcement in Van Zandt County in 1974. He served as justice of the peace and then constable. He served in law enforcement for more than 50 years.