Susan Spriggs-Delephimne , lovingly known as “GaGa”, went home to be with the Lord on April 5th, 2018. She was born on October 18th, 1966 in California. Susan lived by the motto “others before self”. She was the first to volunteer for any good cause and strived to bring laughter and light to the lives of those around her. The things she loved the most were her family and travel. She loved the sun, sand, and would call the water “her happy place”.
Carol A. Payne, lovingly known as “Nana”, went to be with her Lord on February 9, 2018. She was born in the state of Wisconsin on January 23, 1943.
Ann Westbrook, age 75, of Italy passed away Monday, January 29, 2018 at Baylor Scott & White, Waxahachie. She was born March 8, 1942 in Lubbock, Texas to Lendon Truman and Wanda Frances (Blagg) Irwin.
James Helms, age 84, passed away on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at the Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Waxahachie. He was born on March 3, 1933 in Avalon, Texas.
Richard Edwards “Ted” Beason, Jr. was brought into this world on November 26, 1967 in Nashville, Tennessee to Richard E. and Sherry A. (Clark) Beason. As a child, Ted was a typical boy…rambunctious, curious, liked to bug his sister, Deborah, and loved to be outside with friends. He loved to read, camp and fish and ride horses.
Kenneth Burbank, 86, died on 25 December 2017 at Christian Care Center of Mesquite, Texas after a long illness.
Mrs. Kate Droll died Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at home in Italy with family at her side.
Earlene Janes, 101, of Levelland and formally of Sundown passed away on December 4, 2017.
On November 15, 2017 Charles Herman Adams passed away at the Trinity Mission and Rehabilitation Center in Italy, Texas. Charles was born to Elfa (Carter) & Herman Adams in Ike, Texas on November 22, 1928. Charles married Dorothy Fay Allen on January 8, 1949 in Waxahachie, Texas and celebrated 68 years of marriage as of this year. Charles served in the United State Marine Corp.
Earlyne (Hyles) Stephens, 99, of Garland, Texas, passed away surrounded by family, Oct. 24, 2017, at Mesquite Specialty Hospital in Mesquite, Texas. Born October 23, 1918, in Italy, Texas, she was the daughter of the late Willis Athey and Coystal Mattie (Frasure) Hyles.
Marcia Ellen Maxwell, 82, passed away Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017.
Harold Lee Ward, son of Jim and Edna Ward, born January 11, 1931 in Italy, Texas. He experienced Permanent Change of Station from this life into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior on October 20, 2017. (2 Cor. 5:8)
Dorothy (Wallace) Lowden, age 93, passed away peacefully on Sunday October 15, 2017 surrounded by family, due to complications from pneumonia.
Jerry Cockerham, age 79, went to be with our Lord and Savior on October 15, 2017. Jerry was born November 18, 1937 in Italy, Texas, and was preceded in death by his father, William Morgan Cockerham, and his mother, Emily Irene Cockerham.
Denny Joe Littlejohn, age 82, of Italy, passed away Friday, October 13, 2017 at Trinity Mission Health and Rehab. He was born March 2, 1935 in Italy, Texas to Edgar and Luella C. (Denny) Littlejohn.
Gail Wilsford, age 70, of Italy, passed away Thursday, October 5, 2017 at her home. She was born January 20, 1947 in Waxahachie to Robert and Dolly (Culver) DeFoore.
Irma Lee Childers was born in Italy, Texas, on July 24, 1926 to Edna Dazelle (Windham) Harris and William Jack Harris. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Willis Harris, and her husband, Richard Robin Childers, Sr.
Thomas H. (Tom) Little was born on June 20, 1925 to William A. and Katie P. Little in Breckenridge, Texas. He passed away peacefully at his home in Waxahachie on September 5, 2017 surrounded by his loving family.
W.O. Harris, born William Ollan, went peacefully to be with the Lord August 31, 2017, while holding Janette’s hand, the love of his life for nearly 33 years. Nothing brought W.O. more joy than his family who surrounded him with so much love. He was a true testament to being a faithful servant of the Lord praying daily for his family and illustrating how a husband, father and Christian should live their life.
Martha Clarice Irvin, known by all of her family and friends as “Clarice”; from Italy, Texas, passed away Saturday, August 5, 2017 at her residence. Clarice was born October 24, 1941 in Haralson County, Georgia to the late Otis Sterling King and Nolly Mildred Price King.
Thelma F. Moore, 95, of Waco, passed away Monday, April 24, 2017 at St. Catherine’s Center. Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, April 26, at OakCrest Funeral Home with Chaplain Merry Wilburn officiating. A committal service will follow at 2 pm at Italy Cemetery with Pat Malone officiating.
Nelson “Sage” German, 78, of Frost, died Wednesday, April 20th at 3:55 p.m. at Town Hall Estates in Hillsboro. He was born July 22nd, 1938 to A.G and Bessie German in Aquilla.
Arval David Gowin was born in Shamrock, Texas in 1960 and went to be with the Lord Friday, April 14, 2017 at his home.
Lee E. Hamilton, age 53, of Italy, passed away early Monday morning, March 27, 2017 at his home.
Darlyene Wright Daniel Billings, 70, of Fairfield passed away Wednesday, March 15, 2017. She was born December 28, 1946 in Italy, Texas to Wilbur Wright and Johnnie Lois Chambers Wright. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church.
When someone passes away, the loss is felt by their family and friends. Other times when a person dies, because they are well known and loved throughout Ellis County, the loss is magnified.
Doris Jane Holley Mitchell, age 77, went to be with the Lord March 1, 2017 after an almost one year courageous battle with cancer. She left this world with nothing but peace and love for everyone that she knew.
Tommie Fikes, age 76, of Italy, passed away Monday morning February 27, 2017 at Hill Regional Medical Center in Hillsboro. He was born July 19, 1940 in Italy, Texas to Cecil and Claudine (Embrey) Fikes. He had worked for Owens Corning for 35 years and had been employed at Vineyards Auto Supply for 16 years. He loved to fish and play golf. Tommie was a member of the First Baptist Church in Blooming Grove. He worked hard all of his life and always took care of his family.
Pastor Duane Chambers, 70, of Italy received his heavenly reward and went home to Glory on Sunday, February 19, 2017. A celebration service of his life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 22, 2017, at Smithfield United Methodist Church in North Richland Hills. Burial will follow at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park in Colleyville. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 21, at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro.
Billy Ray Compton, age 80, of Granbury, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Saturday, January 21, 2017 at his home. He was born March 4, 1936 in Italy, Texas to James Estelle Compton and Mary Lou Wilkins Compton. Billy Ray married June Katherine Drennan on December 16, 2003 in Dublin, Texas.
Lewis Westel Holt, age 92, of Italy, went home to be with the Lord January 6, 2017 in Waxahachie surrounded by his family. He was born July 7, 1924 in Italy, to Samuel Tilden Holt and Mattie May Bell Holt. L.W. was a longtime resident of the Italy Community and a member of the Church of Christ for many years.
Margaret Horton, age 98, of Milford, passed away Thursday, December 15, 2016 in Waxahachie. She was born March 5, 1918 in Milford, Texas to William Patrick and Clara Elizabeth (Hall) Moore. She was baptized when she was 12 years old and was a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church in Milford. She was a talented seamstress and had worked at many of the clothing manufacturing establishments in the area. She was a devout Christian woman, a wonderful mother and friend.
This Friday evening, October 28, 2016, there will be a BBQ dinner to benefit the Norwood family. This will help the family with final costs. If you would like to help in any way, please contact Misty Escamilla 972-345-0666. Any help would be greatly appreciated by the family.
Parents and Community we lost a very dear friend this week. Please be in prayer for the Norwood family as they go through this difficult time.
Carla Yvette Lambert was born on October 22, 1968 to Mr. Eddie and Mrs. Edna Struggs in Ennis, Texas. She excelled academically at Ennis High School, where she exceled in track and field. She graduated in 1987. Carla attended Navarro College in Corsicana where she graduated with her Associate’s Degree in 1989.
Barry Wilsford, age 55, of Italy, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on Thursday, October 6, 2016.
Onita B. “Billie” Chambers, age 90, a lifelong resident of Italy, passed away at Red Oak Health and Rehabilitation, on Tuesday, August 30, 2016. She was born on December 13, 1925 in Peoria, Texas. Billie married Aubra Chambers on December 29, 1946. Some of her favorite times were watching the sun set with Aubra at their home in the country.
Helen Fielder, 81, passed away on July 27, 2016 in Waxahachie. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 30, 2016 at 2:00 PM in the Pat Boze Memorial Chapel of Wayne Boze Funeral Home in Waxahachie. Interment will directly follow at Italy Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held on Friday, July 29, 2016 from 6-8 PM at the funeral home.
Freddie Thomas Ivy was born September 15, 1938 in Milford, Texas to Fred and Margie Ivy and passed away Wednesday, July 6, 2016 at Methodist Mansfield Hospital. Freddie was a member of the Italy Masonic Lodge # 647 and a longtime member of the Central Baptist Church in Italy.
Avalon resident H. L. “Sonny” Southard, 89, went to be with his Lord and Savior and his loving wife, Joy on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 surrounded by his loving family in Avalon. He was born to Emmett and Lola Dixon Southard on May 14, 1927 in Avalon.
Irris Dean Meskimen, age 89, of Italy, passed gracefully in her sleep on Monday, May 30, 2016. She was born in May, Texas on November 21, 1926.
Judith Ann Davis, age 71, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Monday, February 29, 2016 at the Renfro Healthcare Center. She was born on April 2, 1945 in Dallas to Pete and Gladys Merle (Hector) Davis.
Ivy Ruth Sevier Moore, age 86, went to be with her Lord on Wednesday, February 18, 2016 at the Trinity Mission Nursing Home in Italy. Ivy Ruth was born May 22, 1929 in Milford to Rogers and Evie Sevier. She is the youngest of 2 girls. She grew up in the country side of Milford and went to Iverson School as a young girl and graduated from Milford High School in 1946.
Alice Dora (Morgan) Riddle passed away January 4, 2016. She was born August 19, 1922 to Will and Abbie (Russell) Morgan in Bosque, Texas near Iredell. She departed this life at the young age of 93 leaving son Bill Tarpley of Waco and daughter Joy Moneyhon of Italy. She is survived by her loving “little” brother Corky Morgan and his wife Margaret of Italy. She is preceded in death by brothers G.P., Thomas and Roy, and by sisters Geneva Patterson, Wilma “Bill” McClelland and Paula Harris.
Patrick Alan “Pat” Porterfield, age 62, of Mansfield, passed away December 11, 2015 at his home. He was born October 15, 1953 in San Antonio, Texas to Thomas Franklin and Mary Rose (Wilson) Porterfield. He was a Veteran of the U. S. Air Force. He had worked in the oil fields of west Texas and Elk Manufacturing in Ennis. Pat loved the Cowboys and Rangers, barbequing and being outdoors.
William Cecil Windham, age 91, of May, Texas and formerly of Italy, Texas, passed away Thursday, December 10, 2015 at the Comanche County Medical Center. He was born February 24, 1924 in Italy, Texas to William Hardy and Katie Irene (Hogan) Windham. He married Mary Beth Hutchins on April 28, 1950 and she preceded him in death on September 18, 2012. William served in the U. S. Army. He was employed with USDA as a soil conservation inspector.
Donnie E. Weaver, age 85, of Italy, passed away Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at Trinity Mission Health & Rehab. He was born December 5, 1929 in Boz, Texas to Jim and Lottie (Wade) Weaver. Donnie married Virginia Tole on August 26, 1949.
Johnnie was born in Reagor Springs, Texas on April 12, 1923 and passed away in Waxahachie, Texas on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2015 at the age of 92. He was a hard working, fair and honest man, and was proud to be a farmer and rancher. He loved his family, the land, the US Marines where he served on Guam during World War II, and his many friends.
Allen left this life on November 17, 2015, he was born in Athens to Carl and Lola Ballard. He spent his growing years in Athens and Forreston. He retired from Owens Corning Fiberglass in which he dedicated 35 years. He was preceded in death by his father, Carl Ballard.
Francis Charles Hoopes, age 75, of Italy, passed away Saturday, November 7, 2015 in Waxahachie. He was born October 22, 1940 in Miami, FL to Charles Joseph and Bernice (Wilson) Hoopes.
