Obituaries - Issue of August 16, 2007 - Ruby J. Beasley Funeral Services Held August 11 Ruby J. Beasley, 80, of Mexia, passed away on Sunday, August 5, 2007 in Denton, Texas. Funeral services were held on Saturday, August 11 at First United Methodist Church in Mexia. Officiating was Rev. Cleo High, Pastor, Antioch Baptist Church of Mexia Officiant and Rev. Dr. Sherryl A. Matlock, Pastor, St. James AME Church, Denton, Eulogist. Interment was in Mexia Memorial Cemetery. Ruby was born in Mexia and was a retired teacher from the Mexia ISD and Mexia State School. She attended Mexia public schools, and held a B.S. in Secondary Education, Houston-Tillotson University, Austin; graduate work at Bishop College and Prairie View A&M University. She lived in Mexia, Pfulggerville and Denton. She was a member of Antioch Baptist Church of Mexia and was an Affiliate Member of St. James AME Church in Denton. She was on the Mexia City-Wide Usher board, Missionary Society. Ms. Beasley was active in such community and civic organizations as a Charter Member Mexia League of Involved Women, Limestone County Branch NAACP, Dunbar-Douglas Alumni Association, Dunbar High School Band Boosters, Girl Scout Troop Leader; Dunbar-Douglas Teacher Hall of Fame; Limestone County Retired Teachers Association, Vacation Bible School Coordinator. She is survived by daughters: Sharon Burleson of Pflugerville and Valda Morgan and Milton, Jr., of Denton; grandchildren: Lisa Morgan of Irving and Quentin Morgan of Denton. Pallbearers were Tommy Dawkins,, Milton Morgan, Jr., David Echols, Jr., Rev. Randell Forge, Lynn Harper and Min. Ricky Washington. Professional services by Moore's Angelic Funeral Home of Teague. Sibyl Odie Rodgers Funeral Services Held August 8 Sibyl Odie (Pate) Rodgers, 90, of Groesbeck passed away Monday, August 6, 2007 at Windsor Healthcare. Funeral services were conducted on Wednesday, August 8 at the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Richard Williams officiating. Burial followed in Fort Parker Memorial Park. Mrs. Rodgers was born July 11, 1917 in Groesbeck to Jim R. and Carrie (Todd) Pate. She worked as a store clerk in J.C. Penney store. Survivors include her daughter Brenda C. (Sue) Nettles and husband Morris of Groesbeck; two sons: Darwin D. Jarvis and wife Betty of Lampasas and Melvin N. Jarvis and wife Sandra of Groesbeck; seven grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; fourteen great-great-grandchildren; two special friends, Mary Frances Kinsala and June Parker; several step children including Sam and Linda Rodgers of Richardson and Don and Gwen Rodgers of Dallas. Mrs. Rodgers was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, James Odell Jarvis and Kneely Barton Rodgers who passed away March 6, 2005; grandchildren, Carla Gilbert and Todd Jarvis. Pallbearers were Carl (Skeeter) Davis, Danny Jarvis, Andy Jarvis, Eric Jarvis, Rand Bates, Chris Jarvis. To leave a memorial message for the family or to sign the guest book please visit www.groesbeckfuneralhome.com Services Pending for Mary Jo Bircher Mary Jo Pool Bircher, age 74, formerly of the Simsborough Community, passed away Wednesday, August 8, 2007 in Ft. Worth. Services are pending at Moore's Angelic Funeral Home, Teague. Services Pending for Kim C. Hicks Kim Cox Hicks of Teague passed away Thursday, August 9, 2007 at her residence. Services are pending at Moore's Angelic Funeral Home, Teague. Graveside Services Held August 14 for Sunlock M. Burleson Sunlock M. Burleson, 93, a retiree of Exxon after 40 plus years of service, passed away August 11, 2007. Sunlock was born August 12, 1913 in Limestone County. He and his wife, Doris were married on April 28, 1934. They moved to Baytown in 1937. Joe Glenn, was his pride and joy. He loved his Burleson and Laningham families and was dearly loved by them. He was a member of Trinity Tabernacle Assembly of God in Baytown. Sunlock will be missed and warmly remembered by those who knew and loved him. He was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Doris Burleson; son, Joe Glenn Burleson; parents, Joseph A. and Agrippa Burleson; brothers, Joseph Grafton Burleson and John Parker Burleson; brother-in-law, Cliff Shugart; sisters, Eugie Grimes, Arva Grimes, Vera Shugart, and Nellie Hawkins. He is survived by his brother, Tee M. Burleson and wife Francis of Fairfield; sister-in-law, Margie Burleson of Baytown; nieces, Shirley Burleson LaVergne, Jean Burleson Creekmore, Carolyn Rains, Barbara Shugart, Joyce L. Race, June R. Smith, Beverly R. Farris; nephews: Don Hawkins, David Burleson, Frank Burleson, John Burleson, Roy Hawkins, Bob Grimes, Weldon Chandler, Haskell S. Roberts, Dennis L. Roberts, Kenneth Roberts; many great-nieces and nephews; special caregivers, Mary Moore, Zulene Kempt, Carolyn Elmore, JoAnn Chapman, Bernita Pace, and Eva Villanueva; also surviving him is special friend Sandy Carus. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be given to Trinity Tabernacle, 1008 E. Lobit, Baytown, TX. Graveside services were held on Tuesday, August 14 at Lost Prairie Cemetery in Groesbeck. Arrangements are under the direction of Earthman Funeral Directors of Baytown. To view an obituary and to place a tribute, go to: www.earthmanfunerals.com. Memorial Services Held Aug. 15 for John R. Carter John R. Carter, 48, of Groesbeck passed away August 12, 2007 at Limestone Medical Center. Memorial services were conducted at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 15, in the Old Union Church of Christ 5922 FM 937, Groesbeck with Bro. Glenn Easterly officiating. Mr. Carter was born October 12, 1958 in Houston to Otis Jack and Aline (Osborn) Carter. He served in the U.S. Army. He married Elizabeth Andrews on September 30, 1977 in Kerr County, Texas. He was a school bus driver for Groesbeck Independent School District. Survivors include his wife Liz Carter of Groesbeck; two daughters: Tiffany Frieze and husband Jesse of Victoria, Jennifer Sherwood and husband Robert of Killeen; son Michael Carter of Austin; four grandchildren: Caleb and Trevor Frieze of Victoria and Kegan Sherwood and Peanut of Killeen; brother, Ken Carter and wife Kathy of Gulf Shores, AL. Mr. Carter was preceded in death by his parents, Otis and Aline Carter. To sign the guest book or leave a memorial message visit www.groesbeckfuneralhome.com. Memorial Services Held Aug. 15 for Zita Smith Maden Mrs. Zita Smith Maden, 83 of Mexia passed away Sunday, August 12, 2007 at her residence. Mrs. Maden was born June 18, 1923 in Oletha to James and Opal Moore Smith. Mrs. Maden was a devoted wife, mother and friend. She and her husband were in the jewelry industry for some 48 years having owned and operated their own business in Dallas and later in Mexia. She was an active and faithful member of the Northcrest Church of Christ in Mexia. Mrs. Maden was preceded in death by her parents and by her husband, Vic Maden. She is survived by her daughter, Vicki Maden of Keller; granddaughter, Merrianne Briggs, also of Keller and one great-grandchild, Victor Dylan Briggs. She is also survived by her sister, Jimmie Snider Wilcox of Nashville, Tennessee. Memorial services for Mrs. Maden were held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, August 15, at the Northcrest Church of Christ in Mexia with Minister Robin Wright officiating. Please visit www.blair-stubbs.com to sign the guest book or to leave a memorial message for her family. This is an on-line publication of Groesbeck Journal P.O. Box 440 Groesbeck, TX 76642-0440 254-729-5103 For comments or questions, email Publisher: Thomas Hawkins thawkins@groesbeckjournal.com The Web Site contains material which is protected by international copyright and trademark laws. 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