Shelby County Today

07/29/2020

Kenneth Lavon Kimbro, 69, passed away July 25, 2020. Ken Kimbro was born January 5, 1951 to Seburn and Avis Kimbro in Shelby, Texas. He was 1 of 5 children.

Ken had several passions including mudding, team roping, racing, and music. He had many hobbies and things he loved, being outdoors and spending time with friends was a common factor. Ken retired with Valero as a Safety Engineer after over 20 years of service.

Ken had a passion for team roping and watching others pursue their careers in the sport of rodeo. His personal favorite event to compete in was Team Roping. He loved getting to travel and ride horses and having a rope in his hand.

Diamond "K" Racing which campaigned "The Hulk" and "Crazy Horse" Mud Trucks, was one of Ken’s passions. Ken was a special guy and a born to be a winner kinda guy. He was always at the peak of his game and stayed in deep concentration of winning as a team. He spent many hours creating a winner with his determination. His determination was proven at tracks all over the Southwest. Ken was the kinda guy that wanted answers and those answers were then put to the winning combination that he and his team built together. Ken and his team set records in both trucks. He was most proud of his biggest trophy he and his team won October 5, 2019 at the Matagorda County Mug Races, 540 Outlaw Shoot Out. Ken cherished this win because it was against all the top trucks. He felt it solidified that he had the best trucks and teamed it with the best driver! Ken always wanted to know more about everything involved, the thoughts of a true winner!

It was no secret that Ken loved music. From playing instruments and DJing to having the loudest speakers around no matter where he was. His lifelong favorite instrument was the steel guitar. It’s one of the most challenging instruments to learn, and Ken played it so beautifully! He was a talented musician who had a passion for learning and sharing his talent with others. 

Ken loved gospel hymns. Some of his favorites were Amazing Grace, Where We’ll Never Grow Old and In The Garden. He was most recently working on What a Friend We Have in Jesus.

We take peace in knowing Ken accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior and is now spending eternity in Heaven. Ken’s greatest wish is that he would one day see his friends and family he loved so dearly in Heaven.

Ken is preceded in death by his parents: Seburn and Avis Kimbro, his siblings: Shirley, Wilma, Allen, Alton and Hoyt Kimbro.

He is survived by:

Children:
Kenneth Paul Kimbro
Tammy Miller and husband Bubba Miller
Kevin Kimbro
Tamara Kimbro
Kenzie Kimbro

Ken has a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews who will miss Him greatly.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, July 30, 2020 from 10:00am to 12:00pm at Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home in Huntsville, Texas and a funeral service will follow immediately after. Kenneth will be laid to rest at Falba Cemetery in Huntsville, Texas. 

Memorial condolences to the family may be made at www.shmfh.com.

07/28/2020

Sean Patrick Casse “Pay”, 42, of Timpson, passed away Sunday, July 26, 2020, in Center.

Funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, August 1, 2020, at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center with Bro. Josh Crawford officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior. Interment will follow at Pleasant Grove Cemetery.

Born September 10, 1977, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Sean is the son of Sam Casse and Judy Hardy. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and riding his new side by side. Sean loved spending time with his family and friends and spoiling his grandkids.

He is survived by:

Wife, DeLinda Casse of Timpson

Mother, Judy Hardy of Mellville, Louisiana

Children: 
Devin Casse and fiancé Caitlyn of Opelousas, Louisiana
Parker Casse of Opelousas, Louisiana
Corey Sigler and wife Angie of Timpson
Kaitlyn Anthony and husband Cody of Snyder, Oklahoma
Emily McDonald and fiancé Zedrick of Henderson
Kylie Sigler of Timpson
Emma Breaux of Krotz Springs, Louisiana
Claire Breaux of Krotz Springs, Louisiana

Grandchildren: 
Amie-Katherine Casse
Kasen and Korbyn Sigler
Canyon Anthony
Kaizley Anthony
Harlyn Anthony
Kaiden Lister
Fallon Womack
Maliyah Brown

Siblings: 
Cynthia and Craig Hall
Ray Casse
David and Polly Casse
Dennis and Darlene Casse
Carl Casse
Pamela and Mark Gauthier
Brian Bertrand
Scotty and Ramona Casse
Sam Allen and Chandra Casse
Michael Casse

A host of family friends

He is preceded in death by his wife, Amie Roy Casse; dad, Sam Casse; and siblings, Robbie Lynn Bertrand, Lisa Casse Davenport, and Melinda Casse Zuniga.

Pallbearers will be Cody Anthony, Jason Adams, Sammy Casse, Stetson Chriswell, Isaid “Jose” Gonzalez, and Robert Hairgrove.  Honorary pallbearers will be Devin Casse, Parker Casse, and Corey Sigler.

Online condolences & tributes can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfuneralhome.com

07/28/2020

Virginia Baker, 84, of Center, passed away Tuesday, July 28, 2020, in Center.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 29, 2020, at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center. Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, July 30, 2020, at Watson & Sons Chapel.

Born May 30, 1936, Virginia is the daughter of the late Pat Ford Westbrook and Euna Adell Seago Westbrook. She was a member of Center Missionary Baptist Church, where she served as pianist and organist.

She is survived by:

Children:
Rhonda Gregston of Center
Barry Baker and wife Stella of Tenaha
Mitzi Matthews and husband Jimmy of Shreveport

Grandchildren:
April Prince and husband Derrick of Shelbyville
Josh Baker of College Station
Taylor Kennedy of Shreveport
Justin Kennedy and wife Taylor of Shreveport

Great-grandchildren:
Joshua Ryan Baker Jr. of College Station
Haisley Baker of College Station
Camryn Prince of Shelbyville
Jaxon Kennedy of Shreveport

Brother, Hugh Daw of Joaquin

Sister-in-law, Judy Agnew and husband Robert of Tenaha

Niece:
Joel Bumback of Joaquin
Dawn Hutchins of Joaquin

Preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Kenneth Baker; sister, Patty Kupnicki; brother, Maurice Westbrook; mother, Euna Daw; father, Pat Westbrook; niece, Shelly Swint; and nephew, Michael Agnew.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to a charity of your choice. 

Online condolences and tributes can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfuneralhome.com

07/26/2020

John Emmett Burns, 67, of Houston, Texas passed away on July 23, 2020 in Kingwood, Texas.  Born December 23, 1952, in Normangee, Texas, John is the son of the late John Wilson Burns and Mae (Parrish) Burns.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date.

John graduated from high school and attended the University of Texas and the University of Houston. Beginning life as an adult, he entered the workforce and worked diligently until he was impaired by schizophrenia. John enjoyed being around people. His kind, caring, generous, sociable personality made him the person he was. After a brave battle with a long illness, John passed away due to complications relating to COVID-19.

He is survived by:

Sister, Margie Burns

Nephew, Edmund Burns Townsend

Beloved cousins:
Robert “Bob” Burns
Barry Burns and wife Lisa
Mary Cantrell and husband John
Janet Neel
Klaas Tadema and wife Dorothy
Patsy Smith and husband Larry
Karen Burns Meriwether and Tom Snow
Karan Schaefer
Penny Casteel and husband Dan
Larry Miller and wife Edie
Jason Miller and wife Donnette
Kevin Miller and wife Mary Ana

Aunt, Jeanne Parrish Miller

A host of family and friends that will miss him dearly.

John is preceded in death by his parents, John Wilson Burns and Mae Parrish Burns.

To send condolences and sign the online guest book you may go to www.mangumfh.net. Mangum Funeral Home, Center, is in charge of arrangements.

07/24/2020

Funeral services celebrating the life of Helon Elizabeth Foshee, age 100 and six months, will be held at 3:00 PM, Saturday, July 25, 2020 at Rose-Neath Funeral Homes’ Logansport Chapel, with Bro. Hall officiating. Interment will follow in Cool Springs Cemetery near Logansport. A visitation with the family will be held from 2:00 PM until service time at the funeral home Saturday. 

Helon was born on January 17, 1920 in Logansport, LA to Marvin Miller Sutton and Lilian Fletcher Sutton. She passed away July 23, 2020 in Shreveport, LA. Helon is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Van Foshee, her brother Williard Sutton, and her grandson Zachary Jacques.

Left to cherish her memory are:
Her sons:
Jerry Foshee
Robert Foshee
Donald Foshee
Edwin Foshee

Her daughter, Juanita Ballard

Nine grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren

Honoring Helon as pallbearers will be Colby Van Henigan, Cassidy Henigan, Duncan Foshee, Dodge Foshee, Dustin Foshee, and Charles Van Foshee. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Logansport, and to the Cool Spring Cemetery Fund.

Services are under the direction of Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Mansfield, Louisiana

07/24/2020

Oren Eugene McSwain, age 97, of North Little Rock, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 7, 2020.

He was born on February 20, 1923 in east Texas near the town of Center to Lonnie and Della Anthony McSwain. At age 19, he joined the Merchant Marines which supplied the military during WWII. And during the Korean War he served until it ended. He was a Razorback fan, an avid fisherman and deer hunter. He was retired from AP and L which is now called Entergy where he worked as a storeroom clerk.

He was a husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was a member of Somers Avenue Church of Christ in North Little Rock and as long as his health permitted, he was there everytime the church doors were open.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Betty Jean Dickey McSwain and their son, Phillip E. McSwain. He outlived all of his siblings- Pauline Howard, Lorene Kirtley, Lester McSwain, Lois Kaufman, Avis Lee and Ray McSwain.

He is survived by:

Wife of 8 years, Nettie Jo McSwain

Daughters:
Sharon Moran (James)
Beverly McSwain

Daughter-in-law, Karen Wrobleski McSwain

Step-daughter, Debbie Owens

8 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren

Numerous other friends, relatives and acquaintances.

His family wishes to acknowledge the large number of caregivers who helped take care of him in the last few years of his life from Seniors Helping Seniors and Superior Senior Care. They also want to thank Ann Cross, Ruby Scott, Darlene Robinson, Thiva Sykes, Rachel Wrobleski, and especially Tiffany White. Their loving care and devotion to his comfort and to his family went beyond their job parameters. We are eternally grateful.

A graveside service was held on Friday, July 10, 2020 and can be viewed online on Facebook page of Griffen Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home. Interment is at Rest Hills Memorial Park, North Little Rock, Arkansas.

Services are under the direction of Roller-Owens Funeral Home, North Little Rock, AR 72116. Online condolences can be made at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com

07/23/2020

Lynn Burke Cogswell, age 84, died on July 22, 2020, in Garrison, Texas. He was born March 14, 1936, in Center, Texas to Ed Cogswell and Lena Bridges Cogswell.

The service will be graveside at 10:00 AM on Saturday, July 25, 2020 at Antioch Cemetery in Center, Texas. 

Lynn honorably retired from the United States Air Force, where he served as a flight engineer with the 84th MA’s Air Lift Command. He loved his country very much. Lynn thoroughly enjoyed the outdoors and could be found gardening and working in the yard. He also loved spending time on the farm which included working cows and riding horses. 

Lynn was involved with Antioch Baptist Church where he served his God whole heartedly and with sincere love. He loved time with family and friends and will be greatly missed. 

Lynn is survived by:

Daughter, Stephanie and husband Justin Tatom

Sons:
Michael Cogswell
Ricky Cogswell

Step-daughter: Nicole Gatlin

Granddaughters:
Presley and Henley Tatom
Nicole Hammer and husband Matthew

Great-grandchildren: Tassie, Tatum, Troy and Talene

Sister, Linda Lawler

Sisters-in-law:
Joyce Cogswell
Nelda Shillings
Bobbie Cogswell

Special niece, Keela Johnson

Lynn is preceded in death by his son Randy Burke Cogswell; parents, Ed and Lena Mae Cogswell; brothers, Alton Cogswell, Barney Cogswell, Benton Cogswell, Julius Ray Cogswell, Billy Cogswell, Harold Cogswell, and Leon Shillings; sisters Elna Lout, Claudia Martin, and Hazel Metz.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Antioch Cemetery Fund.

To send condolences and sign the online guest book you may go to www.mangumfh.net. Mangum Funeral Home, Center, is in charge of arrangements.

07/21/2020

Cecil Alton Dean Jr., 54, died on July 18, 2020, in Center, Texas. He was born June 6, 1966, in Houston, Texas to Cecil Alton Dean Sr. and Shirley Marie Goldman Dean.

Visitation will be at Mangum Funeral Home Thursday, July 23, at 11:00 am. The service will start at 1:00 pm on Thursday, July 23, at Mangum Funeral Home.

Cecil enjoyed spending time outdoors fishing and soaking up the fresh air. He was a bit of a cowboy, loving horse back riding, rodeos, and watching bull riding. Cecil also loved to travel, which made his job extra special due to being able to visit all kinds of different places and sceneries. 

Cecil was an active member of the 100 Club. He had a strong faith as a Pentecostal, was an avid reader, and took on a huge role in exchange student programs. He housed many students over the years and took them in as his own. 

Cecil is survived by:

Special friend, Romney Sample and husband Derek of San Augustine

Exchange students:
Camilla Dahl of Denmark
Cille Roth of Denmark
Stephanie Scholnick of Germany
Nina Klingeman of Germany
Sarah VanLoo of Belgum
Stine Eliki of Norway

Step-mother, Jeri Dean of Timpson

Nephew, Rustyn Sample and wife Kristina of Sherman

Great-nephew, Tristan Sample of Sherman

Great-nieces, Kylenn and Audrey Sample of Sherman

Aunt, Lanell Edge of Clute

Aunt, Merlyon Chandler and husband Larry of Shelbyville

Numerous family and a host of friends who will miss him greatly.

To send condolences and sign the online guest book you may go to www.mangumfh.net. Mangum Funeral Home, Center, is in charge of arrangements.

07/20/2020

Alice Beasley, 88, of Nacogdoches, passed away Saturday, July 18, 2020, in Nacogdoches.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday, July 20, 2020, at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center. Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 21, 2020, at Watson & Sons Chapel in Center with Bro. Paul Sevar and Dr. Jack Smith officiating.  Interment will follow at Mt. Olive Cemetery in Silas.

Alice Ann Bishop was born March 22, 1932 to Aaron Van and Maggie Baker Bishop in the Arcadia Community, Shelby County Texas. Her father told her six year old sister, Nina Lee, that the Easter Bunny had brought her a baby bunny. Nina cried when she saw she had a baby sister and not a baby rabbit.

Alice spent most of her young life in Arcadia, attending a one-room school, Cooper, near her home. They later moved to Timpson, Texas where Alice attended junior high and high school.

At 13 years old, while attending First Baptist Church Timpson, Alice was saved.

At 15 years old, while on a date with another boy, Alice met Bill Beasley, who she immediately thought was very handsome. She found out he worked at a furniture store in Timpson so a few days later, she went to town, lingering on the sidewalk outside the store. Sure enough, Bill saw her and came out and asked her on a date. And the rest, as they say, is history.

At 16 years old on July 17, 1948, Bill and Alice were married in the parsonage of First Baptist Church by the pastor, Bro. W.A. Dollahite. Not long after their marriage, Bill began working road and bridge construction, taking them all over the state of Texas moving more than 50 times over the course of Bill's career. Alice always attended church wherever they moved.

Many of those moves were very short in duration. One pastor told, her she should wait to move her letter as it was still two churches behind! For a brief time early in their marriage, Bill worked in Carthage, Texas and Alice worked in a dress shop. Eight years after their marriage, Bill and Alice welcomed what would be an only child, a daughter, Becky Kay.

Over the next 69 years of marriage, Alice worked tirelessly as wife, mother, and grandmother. She was an excellent cook and all of the family enjoyed many wonderful meals at her table. When Becky was in high school in Angleton, Texas, Alice and her best buddy Dorothy decided they wanted to go to cosmetology school. They attended for several weeks and were fiercely competitive in their grades. At the end of one long day of being on their feet without a break, Dorothy quipped, "Alice, it would be easier to be a prostitute. At least we could work lying down!" Dorothy was, and continues to be, quite a character and they decided their lives at home were fulfilling enough. They continued to be close friends and spent many hours visiting each other.

In 1979, Bill and Alice made a permanent move to Garrison, Texas although Bill continued to travel doing construction work. They continued to live there until Bill's heart bypass surgery forced him to retire in 2006 at age 82. In 2008, they moved to Nacogdoches, Texas where Alice and Bill lived until 2016 when Alice fell and fractured her hip, shoulder, and arm. She went to Garrison Nursing Home for rehab and of course, Bill went with her. Bill's health declined and he passed away March 24, 2017. Alice's mobility had declined and she decided to stay in Garrison.

While there, she came to love games, especially BINGO, which she often won. She enjoyed attending Sunday school and listening to the many churches who came there to sing and play. She was also a member of the handbell choir which she absolutely loved. They played for Garrison as well as neighboring nursing facilities. She also continued her long friendship with Dorothy and they spent many hours on the phone.

She was in her usual state of good health and had tested negative for coronavirus four times. She had just lost a close friend in the facility to the virus and was depressed because no family could come to visit. Becky and her husband took her on a trip to visit her grandson and his family in North Richland Hills, who she had not seen for months, and also to visit her niece and her family in Big Spring, who she had not seen for years. While there, we were notified her last test came back positive. She seemed fine at that time, but in the next 48 hours, she developed symptoms and was hospitalized where she quickly declined. She lost her battle here July 18, 2020, but won the victory re-uniting with the love of her life one day after what would have been their 72nd wedding anniversary.

She is survived by:

Daughter, Becky Smith and husband Dr. Jack Smith of Nacogdoches

Grandchildren:
Brandy Rowland and husband Michael of Center
Devin Rieger and wife Monica of North Richland Hills

Great grandchildren:
Victoria Gilchrist of Nacogdoches
Austin Gilchrist of Center

Special long-time friend, Dorothy Hunt of Henderson

A number of nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

Preceded in death by husband, Willard “Bill” Beasley; parents, Aaron Van and Maggie Baker Bishop; brother, Johnny Bishop; and sister, Nina Tyer.

Pallbearers will be Devin Rieger, Austin Gilchrist, Lark Gilchrist, Jeff Renick, and Eric Renick. Honorary pallbearers will be Michael Rowland and The Renewal Sunday School Class at Calvary Baptist Church Nacogdoches, Texas.

Online condolences & tributes can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfuneralhome.com