Obituaries

Grady Lancaster

1919-2015

Grady Lancaster’s long life ended peacefully  Friday afternoon, Aug. 28, 2015.  He was 95 years old.

Clarence Grady Lancaster was born Oct. 21, 1919, to Horace Grady and Addie Levada Boyd Lancaster in Martins Mill.  He graduated from high school in Martins Mill, and then moved to Dallas to attend Draughon Business College.

Mr. Lancaster served in the United States Army during World War II.  He was assigned first to medical supply duty in England, and was later transferred to SHAFE Headquarters in London, where he worked at the Press Message Center.  For injuries sustained during bombing in July 1944, he was awarded the Purple Heart.

Following the war, Mr. Lancaster enjoyed a long and satisfying career in banking, working in Dallas at First National Bank, Exchange Bank, and eventually, as Vice President at North Dallas Bank. 

Debra Gill

1957-2015

Services for Debra Renea Gill, 58, of Canton, were held Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, at the Eubank Funeral Home with David Fretwell officiating.  Interment was at the Four Mile Lutheran Cemetery.

Mrs. Gill passed away Friday, Aug. 28, 2015, in Gun Barrel City.  She was born July 9, 1957, in Grapevine to Gene T. and Avery Lorraine Steel McGuire.

Debra was a member of the Whitton Church of Christ.  She loved helping with church work.  She was a Godly woman who enjoyed helping others get back on track.  Debra loved the beach, sewing and garage sales.  She lived for her children and was very proud of her husband.  She was always thankful to have him in her life.

Dana Marshall

1963-2015

Memorial services for Dana Erin Marshall, 51, of Wills Point were held Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015, at Eubank Funeral Home in Canton under the direction of Eubank Funeral Home in Canton.

She passed away Monday, Aug. 24, 2015, in Sunnyvale.

Dana was born, Sept. 25, 1963, in San Jose, Calif. to Olin and Carolyn Royer Hayes.

She was a member of Stonepoint Church in Wills Point. Dana enjoyed the outdoor activities of fishing, hunting, swimming, water sports and motorcycle riding. She also enjoyed scrapbooking, and her love for reading was incredible. She loved animals and one of her greatest passions was rescuing greyhounds.

Bobby Clifton

1939-2015

Bobby Noel Clifton, 75, of Emory, passed away Monday morning, Aug. 31, 2015, at the Senior Suite Care and Rehab in Emory.  Family will hold a memorial service on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, at Green’s Lake out of Emory.  He was born Dec. 12, 1939, in Bruce. Miss.

Austin Phillips

2002-2015

Services for Shawn Austin Phillips, 12, of Edgewood were held Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015, at Eubank Funeral Home in Canton.

Austin passed away Friday, Aug. 28, 2015, in Canton.

He was born Dec. 18, 2002, in Athens, to Victor Shawn and Kimberly Brown Phillips.

Interment was at Highland Cemetery in Edgewood.

Austin was a student at Edgewood Middle School and previously attended Fruitvale Elementary. He enjoyed history, playing basketball, baseball, and he was a passionate golfer. 

Austin was a happy, athletic, confident and very competitive young man. He also enjoyed working on tractors and cars.

Patsy Kearney

Services for Patsy Ruth Kearney, of Tool, were held Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015, at Eubank Cedar Creek Memorial Chapel in Mabank with the Rev. Teddy King officiating.

Interment followed the service at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas. Patsy loved her family, especially her grandchildren.

She worked at Curtis Mathis in Athens and later worked as a CNA at West Place Nursing Center, also in Athens. She was Baptist by faith. Patsy was a very loving and caring lady who will be tremendously missed by all those who knew and loved her.

Patsy was preceded in death by her parents; husband, E.J. Kearney; son, William Griggers; sister, Katherine Teel; and brother Walter Clements.

Luther Roden

1945–2015

Luther Neal Roden Sr., 70, of Canton passed away Aug. 23, 2015, in Athens.

Mr. Roden was born on Aug. 7, 1945, in Deports to Luther Edgar Roden and Eddie May Cline.

He grew up in the Dallas area and later moved to Grand Saline, after marriage, to raise his family.

He loved his family and was always willing to help. In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, wood working, hot rods and being outdoors.

Survivors include his son, Luther Neal Jr. and Neva Roden of Canton; daughter, Sherry Crocker and Jeffery Cox of Edgewood; daughter, Amber and Shawn Mintz of Canton; daughter, Julie and Shane Mintz of Canton; 11 grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; best friend, Jimmy Elliott; first wife, Linda Webb; and sister, Gale and Joe Allison of Quinlan.

Jackie Barker

1944-2015

Funeral service for Jackie Royce Barker, age 71, of Point, was held Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, in Emory, at First Assembly of God Church.  Bro. Montie Parker officiated. 

Interment followed in Dunbar Cemetery. 

Mr. Barker died at his residence on Monday, Aug. 17, 2015.  He was born in Dallas  June 26, 1944.

Gary Hobbs

1959-2015

Funeral services for Gary Russell Hobbs, 55, of Canton, are scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. at Allan Fuller Funeral Home Chapel in Wills Point.  Interment will follow at Creagleville Cemetery near Grand Saline.

Mr. Hobbs died Aug. 22, 2015, in Enid, Okla., due to a work-related accident.

He was born Sept. 24, 1959, in Grand Saline, the son of Harlin Hobbs and Annie Loree McCarty Hobbs.  He was raised in Canton and graduated from Canton High School in 1978.  On Sept. 7, 1979, he married Melinda Maxwell in Canton. 

He was a farmer/dairyman for 25 years. He was also a welder and was currently employed by Anchor Industrial in Longview.  He enjoyed smoking meat and watching TCU and Canton High School football.

He was a member of Cana Baptist Church.

Betty Gilliam

1933-2015

Services for Betty Imogene Gilliam, 81, of Fruitvale, were held Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, at Eubank Funeral Home in Canton, with Bro. Michael Shiflet officiating.

Mrs. Gilliam passed away Sunday, Aug. 16, 2015, in Canton.  Interment was at Haven of Memories in Canton.

Imogene was born Aug. 28, 1933, to Drebon and Doris Shiflet.  Imogene was Methodist by faith and married to her husband, Billy Guy Gilliam, for 55 years before his passing in 2009. She loved being a homemaker and caring for her family.

She is survived by her son, Danny and Rebecca Gilliam; granddaughter, Danielle and Craig Wallace; granddaughter, Krystal Westbrook; granddaughter, Mary and Blake Harter; grandson, Daniel Gilliam; and sister, Loise and Robert Koenaman.