March 30 Obituaties

Bell
Russell Leon Bell, 56, of Daingerfield passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, March 22. He was born in Sacramento, California on Jan. 27, 1961 to Leon Bell and LaWanda Ferguson Bell. A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. March 26 at Erman Smith Funeral Home in Pittsburg. Memorial contributions may be made to: Cypress Basin Hospice, 207 Morgan Street, Mt. Pleasant, TX 75455.

Burt
Ruby Watson “Garrett” Burt, 86, passed away at her home in Pittsburg on March 27. Ruby was born Aug. 27, 1930 in Anona to Thomas and Lucy Owens Watson. She graduated from Mary Hardin-Baylor University with her Bachelor’s degree in Home Economics with a minor a Biblical Studies. Afterwards she worked for many years in Pittsburg at Dr. Coldsnow’s office, and was also a Globe Life Insurance Agent.
Mrs. Burt was never one to be idle. In addition to her regular jobs she kept busy tending her flower beds, gardening and canning, sewing, and dancing. She was a gifted crafter, and sewed innumerable quilts, pillows, and dolls over the years. Ruby loved to dance country western, and kept with it over the years by dancing at senior citizens dances.
In addition to her many activities, Ruby was also a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She treasured the time that she was able to spend with her family. She was also a devout Christian, and longtime member of Ebenezer Friendship Baptist Church in Pittsburg.
Ruby is survived by her two daughters: Debbie Bolyer and Brenda Mize; sisters: Jeanette O’Bier, Pearl Bennett and husband Gene, and Viola Merrell and husband Arthur.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Thomas and Lucy Watson; husband: Charles Burt; and two brothers: Tommy Watson and Johnny Ray.
Graveside services were held at 2 p.m., March 28, at Ebenezer Cemetery in Pittsburg with Bro. Dwayne Turner officiating.
 

Hamm
Harvey David Hamm, Sr., 82, died Friday, March 24, in Pittsburg. Celebrations of life services were held at 1 p.m. March 27 at the First United Methodist Church in Pittsburg, where he was a member. Burial was held at a private ceremony in Fairview Cemetery, Clarksville. Pallbearers were members of the Masonic Lodge with honorary pallbearers were realtors and staff at Mayben Realty.
Born in Clarksville on Oct. 19, 1934, he married his high school sweetheart Shirley Sloan Hamm on Aug. 15, 1954. Their inspiring and fairytale love story has concluded with his passing away just two short weeks after losing the love of his life.  
A natural born salesman, he spent his career in sales. He began at Lone Star Cadillac in Dallas, working in the service department and found his way quickly onto the sales floor. He never stopped!  Days before his death, he was still taking calls on his cell phone as a Realtor. 
Harvey owned and operated Hamm Motor Company in Pittsburg, a Chrysler Plymouth dealership. As a salesman, he sold insurance, had a gas station, a retail shoe store, and a restaurant. In the end, he spent the better part of his career in the auto and real estate industries, and loved telling stories to people along the way.  
He was instrumental in the formation of Mayben Realty, where he was a licensed realtor and vice president. He was a member and past director of the Titus, Camp, Morris, Upshur Board of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, and National Association of Realtors He leaves behind decades of happy homeowners and clients.  
He was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason and received his 50-year pin. His daughter fondly remembers the many hours he spent taking the Dale Carnegie Course, which he continued to use daily until his passing.
A master chef, he loved to cook for family and friends. Always the entertainer and always telling a story, he loved to cook at deer camp, men’s prayer breakfasts, elaborate family dinners, and at age 75, he was one of the first to enroll in the Culinary Arts Program at Northeast Texas Community College. Entertaining and serving his friends and family as Shirley hosted, brought him the greatest of joy. 
Always happy, always charismatic, always compassionate, he spent his life truly caring for others.  He began early in life caring for his six sisters, then doting over his bride of 62 years, raising their two children, swelling with pride over his beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren, and had a genuine passion for caring for the friends he encountered along the way.  
Left to cherish his memory are son Harvey David Hamm, Jr. and wife Linda of Mount Pleasant, Texas; daughter Melinda Mayben and husband Paul R. of Pittsburg; granddaughter Jennifer Hamm-Veal and fiancé Kevin of Texarkana; grandson Michael Mayben and wife Karla of Mount Pleasant; grandson Mitchell Mayben and wife Casey of Pittsburg; great granddaughters Josie Veal, Kenlie Mayben, Kennady Ebarb-Mayben, and Kynslee Ebarb-Mayben; great grandsons Noah Veal and Keyton Mayben; sisters: Beth Jones of Clarksville, Mattie Cash of Fort Worth, Joyce Cooke of Springtown, Joy Wilson of Decatur, and Cynthia Bishop of Midland; lifelong best friend: Edward Williams of Midland; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in his honor to the Pittsburg-Camp County Library - Shirley Sloan Hamm Children’s Initiative, 613 Quitman St., Pittsburg, TX, 75686.

O’Quinn
Tiffany Shawn O’Quinn of Atlanta, Georgia was born Nov. 27, 1966 in Mount Pleasant to William Neal O’Quinn and Linda Ruth Minchew O’Quinn and passed away March 23 in a Tyler hospital.
Tiffany graduated from Pittsburg High School in 1985 and then furthered her education earning a Bachelor Degree in Liberal Arts from Ole Miss in 1990, and then earned a fine arts degree in 1993 from Atlanta College of Arts. Immediately upon receiving her degrees, she went to work for Georgia Tech as an Art Director for Interactive Media Technology Center where she worked for 23 years. While working for Georgia Tech she also taught for two years at the Atlanta College of Art. During Tiffany’s years at Georgia Tech, she worked on numerous projects such as: Emory University’s Michael C. Carlos Museum, updating their visuals and kiosk for the 21st century. She also designed the kiosk for The Gates of Paradise, Lorenzo Gluberti’s Renaissance Masterpiece in Florence, Italy for the exhibition at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia, The Art Institute of Chicago Museum and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Tiffany was IMTC’s web accessibility expert on the five-year Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies , dissemination materials (reports, articles, white papers, etc.) as well as Art Director for the Millennium Gate Museum at Atlantic Station in Atlanta, Georgia. This museum features Atlanta and Georgia history and the history of philanthropy in Georgia. IMTC, under Tiffany’s art direction, designed and deployed a multi-user, large projection screen virtual tour of Atlanta’s many historic sites and buildings funded by philanthropic efforts. She also worked on many other prestigious projects through the years.
She was a member of First Baptist Church of Atlanta, Georgia where she also served by helping with the three and four year old Sunday school classes. She was a proud member of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority at Ole Miss.
Tiffany had a love for nature and pets. She enjoyed hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing, zip lining and even working in the yard. She has had many, many dogs as pets.
She is survived by her parents: Neal and Linda O’Quinn of Pittsburg; brother: Kendall Neal O’Quinn and his wife Jennifer Waddell O’Quinn of Haughton, Louisiana; and her nephew: William Robert “Will” O’Quinn of Haughton, Louisiana.
Services will be officiated by Bro. Neil McClendon and Rev. Hill Johnson at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 1 at First United Methodist Church in Pittsburg followed by an invitation to attend with Tiffany an Ole Miss tailgate luncheon at the First United Methodist Church Ministry Center prior to proceeding for burial at Rose Hill Cemetery in Pittsburg.
Pallbearers will include: Stephen Groce, Mike Crowell, John Shrum, James Pearson, Clay Cavender and Mike Reynolds. Honorary Pallbearers will include: Mike Cavender, Ken Pilgrim, Pat Harrel, Billy Joe McNutt, Matt Emery, John Truitt, Billy Taylor, Mickey Taylor and Keith Sewell.
Memorial Donation in Tiffany’s name may be made to the Kitchen Fund at the First United Methodist Church, 109 College Street, Pittsburg, Texas or a charity of your choice.

Smith
Mary L. Smith, 88, was born Nov. 17, 1928 in Camp County and passed away March 26 in Pittsburg.  
Graveside Services were held at 10 a.m. March 28 at Reeves Chapel Cemetery in Camp County.

Thompson
James Eddie Thompson passed away on March 20 in Pittsburg; he was born Dec. 13, 1941 in Jefferson. 
Services were held at 1 p.m. March 25 at Johnson Funeral Home in Pittsburg with the 
Rev. Patrick Lloyd officiating. Interment was held at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Pittsburg.