Obits

Tanton
Norma June Riley Tanton, 78, was born June 20, 1938 and passed away Saturday, May 6, 2017 at Hermann Medical Center-Houston with her family by her side.
She was preceded in death by her parents A.C. and Lottie Riley of Pittsburg, Texas.
She is survived by her husband, Milus Joseph Tanton of Mt. Pleasant, daughters Debbie Roark of Longview, Tammy Cooper and her husband Michael of Richardson, and Misti Tanton of Long Beach, California; brother A.C. “Bubba” Riley and his wife Katy of Lufkin; and six grandchildren.
A private memorial will be held per Norma’s wishes.

Duncan
Royce Oliver Duncan was born Dec. 7, 1928 in Pittsburg, Texas to Nathaniel and Alice Duncan. 
He was the last of eight children. He passed away May 1, 2017. Royce was married to Rosemary Rye Duncan for 53 years and had three children; Cathy, Becky, and Steven Duncan.
After retiring from the Post Office in Longview, Texas in 1984, he and Rose Mary moved to the Mena area, and after Rose Mary passed in 2005, he continued to live there until 2013. He moved to Texarkana, Texas after selling his home.
Royce enjoyed sports, gardening, and wood carving.  
He served in the Korean War in 1950-1952.
Royce is survived by a daughter, Becky Knepp and husband Tim of Linden, Texas; five grandsons, Matthew, Joshua, Erick, Jake and Justin; granddaughter,   Kelli and many great-grand children.

Rust
Betty Ruth Rust was born May 6, 1938 in Antlers, Okla., to Clayton J. Hayes and Clara J. Walker Hayes.
Rust was a member of the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Pittsburg and had worked 29 Years at Mike Benet Formals in Pittsburg and 12 years at the Pittsburg Public Library.
Rust is survived by her husband of 60 years, Charles W. Rust of Pittsburg; son, David Rust and wife Linda of Pittsburg; daughter: Pamela Smith and husband David of Mount Pleasant; grandchildren Brandon and Shelby Rust, Chris Rust, Amber and Danny Holderness, Tiffany and Kyle Robertson; great-grandchildren Addison and Braylen Rust, Logan and Lankston Holderness, and Kinley Robertson; brother: Elbert Burnett and wife Ellen of Antlers, Okla.; sister, Sharon Tigert Dinnis and husband Sam of Las Vegas; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Clayton J. Hayes and Clara J. Walker Hayes Burnett.

Kennington
Oleta Pierce Kennington, 89, passed away at her home in Pittsburg on Monday morning, April 17. 
She was born Oct. 17, 1927 in Dallas to Joe Lorenzo Pierce and Tommie Edgar Pierce. Oleta was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, and was a longtime member of the Greer Boulevard Church of Christ in Pittsburg.

Robinson
Mildred Robinson was born Feb. 21, 1934 in Camp County to Elvin Reel McCaslin and Myrtle Canant McCaslin and passed away on April 3 at her home in Pittsburg in the Holly Springs Community.
She was a member of Holly Springs Baptist Church and was a homemaker to her husband; Carroll and children: Jerry, Donald and Debbie.
She is survived by her husband: Carroll Robinson of Pittsburg; two sons: Jerry Robinson and Donald Robinson, both of Pittsburg; and daughter: Debbie Copeland and her husband Larry of Pittsburg. She is also survived by granddaughter: Amy Bynum Cunningham; great grandchildren: Kaden Proffitt, Kenley Proffitt, Kember Cunningham, Mailey Bynum and Allison Bynum; and sister: Sue Davenport of Pittsburg.
She was preceded in death by her parents and grandson: David Bynum and siblings: E.B. McCaslin, Ruth Knight, Gladys Cravey and Elton McCaslin.

Deaton
Rosemary Alyne Savelle Deaton, of Mount Vernon, age 77, passed away on March 26. She is survived by daughter Rene Deaton, son Bobby C. Deaton II, grandson, Bobby C. Deaton III, and numerous nieces and nephews. 
Ms. Deaton is preceded in death by her parents George Monroe Savelle and Mary Alyne Barksdale Savelle, and three brothers George M. Savelle, Jr., Joe Barksdale Savelle and Charles Haddan Savelle.
Rosemary was born and raised in Houston. An accomplished pianist, she began her professional music career performing church services in the Houston area at the age of nine. She graduated from Jefferson Davis High School in Houston. She attended Baylor University on a scholarship and was awarded a B.A. in Music Theory in 1961. Later, she received her M.S. Ed. from East Texas State University, now known as Texas A&M University–Commerce.

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.

Hamm
Shirley Jane Sloan Hamm, 82, died Tuesday, March 7 in Pittsburg. Celebration of life services were held 11 a.m. Friday, March 10, at the First United Methodist Church in Pittsburg, where she was a member. Visitation was from 5-7 p.m. March 9 at the Erman Smith Funeral Home, Pittsburg. Burial followed in the Fairview Cemetery, Clarksville. 
Born in Clarksville on June 19, 1934, she married her high school sweetheart Harvey David Hamm, Sr. on Aug. 15, 1954. Their enduring love inspired many.
She graduated from Clarksville High School and East Texas State University, earning bachelor of arts and master of library science degrees.
She leaves a legacy as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and gifted educator. Her career spanned 34 years, first teaching English in Dallas and then Pittsburg, where she also served as librarian. Her former students take pride in positions as “library helpers,” whom are asked to serve as honorary pallbearers.

Thomas
Charles “Pete” Thomas was born in Pittsburg on June 23, 1940 to the late Reed and Annie Bell Thomas and passed away Feb. 13.
He united with Union Chapel Baptist Church at a very early age. He received his education at Union Chapel School and graduated from Fredrick Douglass High School with the class of 1959. He was called to the ministry and pastored at the St. Mark Baptist Church, Como and Independent Hope Baptist Church.  
Pete worked at Lone Star Steel for over 30 years until he retired. He served the National Alumni Association as Chaplin for over 20 years and president of the Pittsburg Chapter Frederick Douglass Alumni Association for over 15 years.  He was also past president of the Camp County Ministerial Alliance and coached “Boots and Saddle” and “Pete’s Angels” softball teams.
Pete married the love of his life, Frances Morgan, Sept. 5, 1959 (over 57 years) and to their union eight children were born.

Parker
Linda Sue Dyess Parker passed away Wednesday, Feb. 8, in Tyler at the age of 64. She was born June 16, 1952 in Pittsburg to Jim Bob and Bessie Starnes Dyess. Linda worked at Parker Building Supply; she was a Baptist and was an original T.O.T.S.school teacher at Emmanuel Baptist Church. 
She is survived by her husband: John Parker of Pittsburg; two sons: Stephen Parker and wife Robyn of Pittsburg, and Jason Parker and wife Magdalena of Johnstown, Colorado; her daughter: Christi Lawson and husband Brian of Tyler; eight grandchildren: Allie Parker, Pryce Parker, Parker Lloyd, Brianna Lawson, Logan Parker, Skylar Parker, Adam Lawson, and Joshua Lawson; as well as several nieces and nephews and many dear friends.
Linda was preceded in death by her parents: Jim Bob and Bessie Dyess; a brother: Wayne Dyess; and a sister: Angela Kay Dyess.