OBITUARIES
Martha Joyce
Jun 16, 2023
Martha Ann Woodard-Joyce, age 80 of Rising Star, Texas passed away on Friday, June 16, 2023, at home surrounded by family in Rising Star, Texas. Martha was born on January 17, 1943, in Hodges, Texas to the late Barney Woodard and Annie Belle Jones-Woodard. Martha married Blake Thornton in November of 1961 in Abilene, Texas, who preceded her in 1972....
Frances Thornton
Jun 11, 2023
Frances Clauda Wilson-Thornton, age, 82 of Abilene, Texas passed away on Sunday, June 11, 2023, at The Oaks at Radford Hills in Abilene, Texas. Frances was born on April 12, 1941, in Wellington, Texas to the late James Albert Wilson and Myrtle C. Sublet-Wilson. Frances married Donald Mac “Don” Thornton on April 12, 1958, in Clyde, Texas, they celebrated 53...
Royal Spurger
May 30, 2023
Royal Douglas Spurger, age, 59 of Rising Star, Texas passed away on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Douglas was born on April 11, 1964, in Mesquite, Texas to the late Alan Westenhoffer and Audrey Faye Lawson-Westenhoffer. Douglas married Canace Nelson on December 22, 2002, in Brown County, Texas. Douglas was a truck driver for many years, when he was not driving,...
Grace Bennett
May 23, 2023
On December 6, 1962, Grace was born to Mary and Clyde Priddy in Lahore, Pakistan, where her parents served as missionaries for the Methodist Church. She was the third child after Phil and Isabelle. The family moved back to Mary’s home in upstate New York and in 1967, her sister Kathy was born. In her youth, she enjoyed summers and...
Jerry Cassle
Apr 28, 2023
Jerry Kenneth Cassle, age 88 of Cross Plains, Texas passed away on Friday, April 28, 2023 at Ranger Care Center in Ranger, Texas. A Celebration of Life Service will be Saturday, May 6 at 1:00 PM at the First Baptist Church in Cross Plains, Texas. Jerry’s wishes were to be cremated and his cremains to be buried next to his...
James Nichols
Apr 27, 2023
James Wayne Nichols, age 77 of Cross Plains, Texas passed away on Thursday, April 27, 2023 at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene, Texas after a lengthy illness. James was born on September 23, 1945 in Coleman, Texas to the late Tolbert Nichols and Dorris Atwood-Nichols. James married Lovey Pearl Bishop on January 24, 1966 in Rising Star, Texas. He served...
Vondean Hutchins
Apr 21, 2023
Vondean Walters-Hutchins, age 80 of Cross Plains, Texas passed away on Friday, April 21, 2023 our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend stepped into the presence of the Lord. Vondean Walters-Hutchins, who loved to be called “Nannie” by her grands and great grands was born July 14, 1942 in Brownfield, Texas. Vondean centered her life on...
Franklin Buckner
Apr 18, 2023
Franklin Dee Buckner, 64, residing in Rising Star, TX passed away unexpectedly on April 18, 2023 after a battle with chronic health issues. Dee was born on September 13, 1958 in Levelland, TX and then spent his early childhood in South Texas before returning to West Texas as a teenager. He was Class of 1980 at Texas A&M University where...
Evelyn Parker
Apr 16, 2023
Evelyn Mae Potter-Parker, age 76 of Cross Plains, Texas passed away on Sunday, April 16, 2023 at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene, Texas. Mae was born on March 24, 1947 in Cross Plains, Texas to the late Walter Skeet Potter and Estalee Corene Pittman-Potter. Mae married Steve Parker on June 19, 1965 in Cross Plains, Texas. Spending time with family...
Angelita Williams
Mar 22, 2023
A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend passed away on March 22, 2023 into her Savior’s arms. Angelita Marie Quintana-Williams was 57 years old. She was dearly loved by her family and friends and will be greatly missed. Those privileged to know her were treated to lots of love and laughter. Angie was born on June 27,...
Barbara Swinney
Mar 22, 2023
Barbara Susan Garrett Swinney, 89, passed peacefully into her dear Savior’s arms at her daughter’s home in Prosper, Texas on March 22, 2023. Barbara was born on September 15, 1933, in Santa Anna, TX to Clarence Merlin and Gladys Naomi Wagnon Garrett. Barbara lived in Cross Plains, TX until she left for Texas Women’s University at 17 years old. At...
Allen Bland
Mar 11, 2023
Allen Wayne Bland, age 88 of Cross Plains, Texas passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, March 11, 2022 in Cross Plains, Texas. A private memorial service will be held in July. Allen was born on January 8, 1935 in Cross Cut, Texas to the late Allen John Bland and Lena Jennings-Bland. Allen married Johnny Fortune on June 1, 1954...
Ophelia Merrill
Mar 6, 2023
Ophelia Ruth Justice Merrill November 22, 1939 - March 6, 2023 Born November 22, 1939 in Sherman Texas, to George Delmus Justice and Vivian Leona Gantz-Justice. As a young girl, she moved to many towns in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri before her family settled in Pioneer Texas in 1957. She graduated from Cross Plains High School in 1958. On...
Agustus Moore
Feb 26, 2023
Agustus Moore, age 30, passed away on February 26, 2023. Gus was born on October 3, 1992 in Texas to Ethel Marie Monville and Harry Arnett Moore. Gus was preceded in death by his father, Harry Moore. Gus is survived by his mother, Ethel Monville; his sisters, Toni, Brandy, Bridget and Brenlyn; brother, Brandon; and many nieces and nephews and...
George Leonard
Feb 20, 2023
George Leonard, 88 of Rising Star, Texas passed away Monday, February 20 at his home surrounded by family. George was born September 30, 1934 at the Blackwell Sanatorium in Gorman, Texas to Nonnie and Sally Mae Leonard. He was raised in Sipe Springs, Texas with his six brothers. George married the love of his life, Shirley Jenkins, on October 31,...
Danielle Eppard
Feb 19, 2023
Danielle Elaine Eppard, age 38 of Cross Plains, Texas passed away on Sunday, February 19, 2023. Graveside services will be held Thursday, February 23 at 11:00 AM at Trails End Cemetery in Callahan County, Texas. Danielle was born on December 10, 1984 in Brownwood, Texas to John Eppard and Drucilla Ratliff~Eppard. Danielle graduated from Cross Plains High School in 2003....
Agatha Taylor Neal
Feb 4, 2023
Agatha Sue Halsell Taylor Neal, age 94, went to be with her Lord and Savior on February 4, 2023. Jeb, known to many, was born November 10, 1928 in Kokomo, Texas to Rev. Austin Carl and Mabel Halsell. She married Onis Taylor on May 15, 1948 and they had 5 children: Al Taylor, Louann Taylor, Diana Levisay, Amanda Taylor and...
Ella Merrill
Jan 29, 2023
Ella Faye Merrill slipped peacefully into eternity on January 29, 2023 while listening to her loved ones talking together. She is survived by her son, Robert Merrill and his wife, Paula of Lafayette, LA; daughter, Norma Evans of Cross Plains, TX; son, Roy Merrill and his wife, Sandra of Penrose, CO; grandchildren, Melanie Fowler and her husband, Shane of Lafayette,...
Robert Martin
Jan 14, 2023
Robert Carmel Martin, known to his friends as Bob, age 55 of Rising Star, Texas passed away on Saturday January 14, 2023. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday January 24 at 2:00 PM at Higginbotham Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow the service with Abilene Professional Services for cremation. Bob was born on April 21, 1967 in Canton New...
Alfred Harrell
Dec 28, 2022
It is with a heartfelt sadness that we have to say goodbye to a beloved husband, father, brother, papa, great-grandfather, uncle and friend who passed away on December 28, 2022, after a brief illness. Alfred Leon “Al” Harrell was 89 years old. He was dearly loved by his family and friends and will be greatly missed. Those privileged to know...
