Published: March 04, 2008 02:17 am         

Obituaries for March 4, 2008

Death Notice

Clara Collins Hanna, 69, of Farmersville died March 1, 2008, in her home. A graveside service is scheduled at 2 p.m. Thursday in Merit Cemetery under the direction of Lynch Funeral Service in Greenville.

Kelsey Patterson of Houston died Feb. 29, 2008, at his residence. A funeral service is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. today in the Coker-Mathews Funeral Home chapel, Greenville. Burial follows in Memoryland Memorial Park.

Patricia “Pat” Ponder, 72, of Nevada died March 2, 2008. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Rest Haven Funeral Home-Royse City chapel. Interment will be in Nevada Cemetery. Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.



Leona Lunsford



Leona Arlene Smith Lunsford, 89, of Rowlett, formerly of Greenville died the night of March 1, 2008, at Lake Pointe Medical Center in Rowlett. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Coker-Mathews Funeral Home chapel with Rev. Royce Litchfield officiating. Burial will be in Mount Carmel Cemetery, Wolfe City.

Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Daughter of Lon Isaac and Minnie Wilson Smith, she was born July 29, 1918, in Cumby. She was married to Bud Thomas Lunsford on Sept. 11, 1936, in Greenville. Mrs. Lunsford was a master pattern maker and seamstress. She was a member of Highland Terrace Baptist Church and was a member of Order of Eastern Star.

Surviving are a daughter, SuLaine Callaway and husband Wendell of Rockwall; a brother, Lonny Smith of Cumby; sisters Doris Canaan and Frances Freeman of Dallas and Margaret Rhodes of Celina; grandchildren Heath Tow and wife Sarah of St. Charles, Ill., Colby Tow and fiancé Jeanette Bowes of Houston and Kristin Walker and husband Charles of Ennis; and great-grandchildren Delilah and Everleigh Tow of St. Charles, Ill., and Ruby Laine Walker of Ennis.

Her husband preceded her in death on Feb. 20, 2002.

Pallbearers will be Wendell Callaway, Rod Allen, Heath Tow, Colby Tow, Charles Walker and Joe Tow. Honorary pallbearer is Gary Allen.

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Delanor Nichols Sr.



Delanor (Del) W. Nichols Sr., of Sun City died Feb. 29, 2008, following an 8 1/2-year battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). He was 73 years old.

Born June 2, 1934, in Clay County, W.Va., Nichols led a rich and varied life. A patriotic U.S. citizen, he served his country honorably in both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force, in a career extending from 1953 through 1961. While stationed at Harman AFB, Newfoundland, he met Mary Alexander, and they married in 1959 and moved to Dallas in 1962.

Nichols worked for many nationally known corporations during his long business life — including Braniff Airlines, Collins Radio, and Redman Industries. Nichols also spent time as an entrepreneur, having owned two businesses and a small farm for many years. Nichols retired from full-time employment in 2000 while working for Chelsea Building Products (Pittsburg, Pa.) as a consulting engineer to enjoy life on a small hobby farm outside Greenville. He and Mary recently moved to Sun City.

He is succeeded by his wife; his son, Del Jr. of Austin; his daughter, Holly of Gainesville, Ga.; five grandsons; one granddaughter; and one great-granddaughter.

He will be buried in the Nichols Family Cemetery in Clay County, W.Va. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Arrangements are under the direction of Beck Funeral Home, 15709 Ranch Road 620 in Round Rock.

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Bennie Owens



Bennie Delean Pickens Owens of Rockwall went to be with the Lord March 2, 2008, at her home following a battle with lung cancer. She was born March 17, 1929, in Greenville, daughter of Ben and Ruby Newman Pickens.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Coker-Mathews Funeral Home chapel with Dr. James Ralson officiating. Burial will be in Merit Cemetery in Merit.

Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mrs. Owens is survived by her husband, Ernest J. Owens of Rockwall; daughters Brenda Smith and husband Danny of Terrell, Deborah Gutierrez and husband Carlos of Sadler, Nancy Enos and husband Ricky of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Cindy Platt and husband Bobby of Sadler; sisters Sherrell Scism of Phoenix, Ariz., and Nancy McCoy of Haltom City; a sister-in-law, Marie Byrd of Georgetown; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Ruby Newman Pickens Stanford; her father; sons Earnest G. Owens and Benjamin S. Owens; a grandson, Andrew C. Latimer; brothers Edwin Byrd, Quincy Byrd and J.W. Stanford; and a sister, Dorothy Stanford Belcher.

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Betty Owens



Betty Sue Owens, 80, of Greenville died the night of March 2, 2008, at Presbyterian Hospital of Greenville. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Park Street Baptist Church with Rev. Johnny Hailes and Rev. Bill Shaddox officiating. Burial will be in Memoryland Memorial Park.

Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home.

Daughter of Herbert Henry and Esta Mae Bolling Fletcher, she was born Oct. 31, 1927, in Corpus Christi. On June 23, 1946, she was married to Howard T. Owens in Celeste. Mrs. Owens retired from Phil Prather’s Insurance in 1990. She was a member of Park Street Baptist Church and was a member of Beta Kappa Master, a chapter of Beta Sigma Phi.

Surviving are two sons, Terry Owens and wife Lana of Merit and Jerry Owens and wife Kelley of Royse City; sisters-in-law Annie Stephens of Grand Prairie, Lillian Jenkins, Dorothy Owens and Maurace Fletcher, all of Greenville, Charlene Owens of Sherman, and Dixie Fletcher of Longview; grandchildren Barrett and Paige Owens of Fairview and Britni Owens of McKinney and great-grandchildren Jade and Cooper Owens of Fairview.

She was preceded in death by her husband on Oct. 26, 1990; her father on Feb. 22, 1960, her mother on Aug. 31, 1966; brothers Harold Fletcher on Feb. 18, 1966, Jack Fletcher on Oct. 15, 1983, William “Bill” Fletcher on March 15, 2002, and James Fletcher on Feb. 5, 2004; two sisters, Wilma Ray Whitley on May 12, 1996, and Francis Erwin on March 28, 2002; two nieces, Sandy White on April 21, 2003 and Debbie Lindermanes; and a nephew, Kenneth Fletcher on April 9,1996.

Pallbearers will be Mike Owens, Harry Owens, Charles Pittman, Marvin Combs, Joe Fletcher, Hugh Howell, Bobby Erwin and Mack Hurst. Honorary pallbearers will be Daryl Whitley, Steve Fletcher, Larry Hart and Billy Hart.

Memorials may be made to Park Street Baptist Church.

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Laura Parent



Laura Marie Parent, 44, of Campbell died March 3, 2008, in Greenville.

She was born May 19, 1963, in Fairfield, Calif.

Survivors are her daughter, Maya Elizabeth Smith of Clawson, Mich., and her father, Michael G. Parent of Hendersonville, N.C.

A brother, John M. Parent, preceded her in death.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

Lynch Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.