Obituaries - Issue of August 2, 2007 - Margaret Stanke Funeral Services Held July 25 Funeral services for Mrs. Margaret Stanke, 76, were held on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at First Baptist Church in Marquez with Bro. Billy Bob Evans officiating. Interment followed at Seale-Round Prairie Cemetery in Limestone County. Mrs. Stanke passed away on Monday, July 23, 2007 at Palestine Regional Hospital. Margaret was born in Teague to Elmo and Eula Petty on May 19, 1931. She was an avid seamstress and florist. She owned and operated Petals & Patches Florist in Jewett for at least twenty years. She also owned and operated dry good stores in Centerville and Normangee for many years. Margaret loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren very much. She enjoyed watching her grandchildren play ball and enjoyed her yard and flowers. She is survived by three daughters: Avis Faison and husband Travis of Marquez, Johnnie Person and husband David of Germany, Anne Ware and husband Robert of Jewett; eight grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; three sisters: Frankie Sanders and husband Lee of Marquez, Shirley Hartley of Pasadena, and Nita Ruth Woodson and husband James of Point; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. To sign the guest book or leave a memorial message for the family please visit www.bowersfuneralhome.net. Henza Owens, Sr. Funeral Services Held July 28 Closed casket services for Ilenza Owens, Sr., 56, were held on Saturday, July 28, 2007 in the Andrew Chapel Missionary Baptist Church of Oakwood with Rev. Nathan Dawson and Rev. R.C. Emanuel officiating. Burial followed in the Oakwood Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of Moore's Angelic Funeral Home of Teague. Mr. Owens died Tuesday, July 17, 2007 at a residence in Oakwood. He was born on January 29, 1951 in Oakwood to William and Dorothy Lean Anzel Owens. He was a handy-man. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Dorothy Marie and Annie Pearl Owens. Mr. Owens is survived by his only child, Ilenza Owens, Jr. of Teague; brothers: Tollie Williams, of Palestine, Tyree Woodard and Louise of Ft. Worth, William Owens, Jr., Roosevelt Owens and Frank James Owens, all of Oakwood; sisters: Irene Owens, Rosie Owens, Ada Motoen and Dan, Ida Marie Smith and Gerry, Pecola Owens and Demond Owens, all of Oakwood; uncles: Dave Daniels, Rev. Lonnell Daniels and Dorothy, Willie Simmons and Shavana, L.J. Simmons, Charles Simmons and Emma, all of Oakwood, Joe Fred Simmons and Geneva of Elkhart, General Simmons of Houston; aunts: Mae Nell Jones, Etra Benson and Arthur, Bonza Simmons and Ruby Watkins and Raymond all of Oakwood. Micheal Earl Ross Funeral Services Held July 28 Micheal Earl Ross, age 12, of Fairfield passed away on Monday, July 23, 2007 at St. Joseph Regional Health Center, in Bryan, Texas. Micheal was born September 7, 1994 in Palestine, Texas to Robert Earl and Rose Ross. He lived in Palestine and Fairfield. He was a student at Fairfield Junior High School and was active in the Maverics 'Lil Dribblers Basketball, Pee Wee Baseball and Football. He was a member of the Fairfield Baptist Church. At age three he organized "The Spiritual Three" Gospel Singers Group; he was a Junior Deacon at Fairfield Baptist Church and was on the Church Drill Team and in the Youth Choir. Funeral services were held on Saturday, July 28 at First Baptist Church in Fairfield with Rev. A.L. Thibodeaux, Pastor, officiating. Interment followed at Fairfield Baptist Cemetery in Fairfield. Professional services were by Moore's Angelic Funeral Home in Teague. Joy Nell Thomas Funeral Services Held July 23 Funeral services were held Monday, July 23, 2007 for Joy Nell Thomas at Ricks-Bowers Funeral Home in Jewett with Bro. Neil Bond officiating. She passed away Saturday, July 21 at her home in Jewett. She was born in Groesbeck on March 15, 1936 to Joe and Vada Burleson Parker. Joy attended school in Groesbeck and later married John W. Thomas of the Farrar community. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband and nephew Keith King. Survivors include her son Rick Thomas; grandson, J.J. Thomas; great-granddaughter Kaede, all of Jewett; sisters: Linda Black and husband Larry, Karen Shamblin and husband Tommy from Mexia; and a very special friend Cindy Paul and son Zach of Marquez; several nieces and nephews and extended family and friends. Pallbearers were Omer Muirheid, Darrin Bates, Larry Black, Robert McIlhany, Eldon (Smitty) Smith and Joe Homer Holmes. Graveside Services Held July 31 for Steve B. Sims Steve B. Sims, 96, of Groesbeck passed away Sunday, July 29, 2007 at Groesbeck LTC. Graveside services were conducted on Tuesday, July 31 at Lost Prairie Cemetery with Rev. Clifton Jones officiating. Mr. Sims was born November 21, 1910 in Lost Prairie to John S. and Fannie (Mahan) Sims. He was a farmer/rancher all his life in this community. He was preceded in death by his parents John and Fannie Sims; his wife, Opal Sims; two brothers, A.G. (Red) Sims, A.W. (Buster) Sims; two sisters, Nell Geade and Louise Edward. Survivors include his son Lawrence Sims of Groesbeck and daughter Maxine Baldwin of Seale; seven grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; three sisters Esta Mae Hardison of Groesbeck, Johnnie Curtis of Waco, Doris Ray Davis of Houston. To leave a memorial message for the family please visit www.groesbeckfuneralhome.com Kathleen Forrester Funeral Services Held August 1 Funeral services for Mrs. Kathleen Louise Sammons Forrester, 60, of Coolidge were held Wednesday, August. 1, 2007 at 2 p.m. in Blair-Stubbs Chapel in Mexia. Rev. Fred Sain officiated with interment following in Prairie Hill Cemetery. Mrs. Forrester passed away on Monday, July 30 at her residence. Mrs. Forrester was born June 24, 1947 in Refugio, Texas to Conon Doyle and Dorothy Winifred Underwood Sammons. On May 28, 1966 she was married to Kenneth Ray Forrester in Coolidge. She was a retired Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice property officer. She is survived by her husband, Kenneth Ray Forrester of Coolidge; daughter, Kelli Renee Richards and husband, David of Gatesville; son Kevin Ray Forrester and wife, Crissy of Waco; grandchildren: Katelyn Renee Brock and Taylor Kristine Faust-Forrester; sisters: D.D. Haines and husband, Wesley of The Colony, Pat Whicker and husband, Chuck, of Sinton; brother, James B. "Jim" Sammons and wife, Gina of Rockport; numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers were Joe Aguliar, Charles Kerr, Ronnie Easton, Chris Hill, Lee Fivecoat and Bubba Reeves. Honorary pallbearers were the Boyd Unit Employees and extended family and friends. Please visit www.blair-stubbs.com to leave a memorial message or sign the guest book. Memorial Services Held Aug. 1 For Thomas J. Geren Thomas James Geren, 68, of Pleasanton, Texas, passed away Saturday, July 26, 2007, quietly at his home. Memorial services were held on Wednesday, Aug. 1 at Foss Funeral Home in Valley Mills. Tommy was born June 12, 1939 in Groesbeck, to L. L. and Beulah Geren. He was a 1957 graduate of Groesbeck High School. He graduated from the University of Texas in 1963 and was a lifelong Longhorn fan. Tommy spent 32 years working as a federal employee, and the majority of his career was with the Veterans Administration before retiring. Tommy is survived by his wife, Diane Green; son, Steven and wife, Amy; brother and sister, Preston and Lawana Geren; step-children, Derek and wife, Tracey Cowan, and Kelly Cowan; and step-grandchildren, Hailey, Kaelyn and Riley Cowan. John W. Moore Funeral Services Held July 29 John William Moore, 62, of Navasota passed away Thursday, July 26, 2007 in Bryan. Funeral services were held Sunday, July 29 at the First United Methodist Church of Navasota with the Reverend J.K. (Tim) Bruegger officiating. Interment was in Pilgrim Cemetery in Elkhart with graveside services held on Monday, July 30. Visitation was held Saturday, July 28 from 5-7 p.m. at Nobles Funeral Chapel in Navasota. Arrangements were under the direction of Nobles Funeral Chapel. Mr. Moore was born November 2, 1944 to Melvin and Johnny Main Moore. He married Emily Willard on June 23, 1974. On November 17, 1975, they welcomed the arrival of their daughter, Glenna. January 14, 1978, brought the joyful birth of their second daughter, Johnna. Mr. Moore taught and coached football in the public school system before moving to Navasota in 1984. He sold insurance in Grimes County for several years. He was a member of Navasota Masonic Lodge #299 and the United Methodist Men. Mr. Moore often volunteered for the Grimes County Republicans as a voting election judge. He took the greatest pride and joy in spending time with and preparing meals for his family. He is survived bg his wife of 33 years, Emily Willard Moore of Navasota; daughters and sons-in-law, Glenna and Jason Workman of Marshall and Johnna and Ryan Simpson of Houston; grandchildren, Meadow Leigh and August Moore Workman of Marshall; sister and brothers-in-law, Laura and Robert Stuteville of Elkhart and Raymond Lively of Elkhart. He was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Johnny Main Moore and sister, Melva Elaine Lively. Donations may be made to the First United Methodist church. The family invites you to leave a fond memory or kind words at www.noblesfuneral.com. 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. No material may be copied, reproduced, republished, broadcast or distributed in any way or decompiled, except that you may download one copy of the Materials on any single computer for your personal, non-commercial home use only, provided you keep intact all copyright and other proprietary notices. On-line publication, Copyright 2000, Groesbeck Journal. Web page design, Copyright 2000, EZ Edit Web Publishing.