Obits

John Randall Durfee passed away Jan. 12 at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler from pneumonia. 

He was born May 5, 1950 in Lincoln, Nebraska. He had many occupations throughout his life: owner of a 
gas station in Lincoln, mechanic for Pilgrim’s Pride and owner of several other businesses.

He was preceded in death by his father, Lawrence Durfee, and mother and stepfather Sallie and James Barrett. 

He leaves to cherish his memory a sister and her husband Sallie and Joe Justiss of Leesburg and a brother, Richard “Rick” Durfee and his wife Gail of Bossier City.

Fanning

Jerry Fanning, of Pittsburg, passed away at his home on Saturday, Jan. 14, at the age of 73. 
He was born Nov. 17, 1943 to Alfred and Phelma Thomason Fanning.
He is survived by his wife: Norma Clark Davis Fanning; a stepson: Johnny Ray Davis, Jr., of Daingerfield; a stepdaughter: Shannon Roseberry and husband Daniel, of Trophy Club; three grandchildren: Kelly Roseberry, Karen Roseberry, and Ava Elizabeth Davis; as well as a brother: Larry Fanning and wife Brenda, of Pecan Gap; and a sister: Lynda Jandro, also of Pecan Gap. A memorial service was held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, at Erman Smith Funeral Home.
 

Sleeter

William “Sonny” Rufus Miller Jr., 85, passed away on Oct. 14; he was born on Jan. 28 1931 in Nacogdoches.His sister is Julia Anne Truitt of Pittsburg. Services were held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at  First Baptist Church of Pasadena. Interment was held at  Na-cogdoches Sunset Cemetery.

Curtis Lee Evetts was born Dec. 1, 1931 in Medicine Lodge, Kansas to Tom and Lura Marshall Evetts and passed away on Nov. 2, in Pittsburg.He was a member of First Baptist Church in Pittsburg since 1965; owner of Evetts Oil Company. He was active in his community, being a former Scout Master with Boy Scout Troop 210, being involved with boys baseball, Ki-wanis Club and civic organizations.Mr. Evetts is survived by his son: Dr. Curtis A.

Johnny Pernell Edwards, 52, of Pittsburg, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 25; he was born Aug. 1 1964 in Pittsburg.   He was born to Charles and Patsy Duncan Edwards. He was a dispatcher for Pilgrim’s Pride. He was a very active church member at Pine Acres Missionary Baptist Church where he was a deacon. He was most known for his telling tall tales and practical jokes. Johnny loved spending time with his family and watching Star Trek, he also enjoyed barbecuing.   He is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Meshelle Edwards; parents, Charles and Patsy Edwards; sons, Jim Edwards and Darren Edwards, all of Pittsburg; sister, Dona Edwards and wife Kirsten, of Austin; brother-in-law, Chris Wall, and numerous nieces and nephews.   Johnny was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Ta and Dona Renshaw and Fred Edwards and his maternal grandparents, Welton and Flossie Duncan. Memorial services were held at  5 p.m. Oct. 1 at Pine Acres Missionary Baptist Church in Gilmer.

David A. Baker, of Pittsburg, passed away  Saturday evening, Oct. 1, at the age of 74. David was born Sept. 16, 1942 in Dallas to Bruce and Georgia Baker. e day aer his 19th birthday, he wed the love of his life Bobbie Finney. Over the next 55 years the couple would laugh, love and raise three children. David enjoyed a 28 year career with the Dr. Pepper Corporation prior to his retirement. Aer that, he had spent 10 years working for Frito Lay in Dallas. Never one to slow down, David worked at Pittsburg Hot Links aer he and Bobbie moved to the Pittsburg area. More importantly, though, he was a devoted husband and father, and a wonderful friend. He had a warm and inviting personality and never met a stranger. David is survived by his beloved wife Bobbie Baker; two sons: Bruce Baker and wife Carolyn of Grice and Robert Baker and wife Peggy of Austin; daughter Donna Winchell and husband Mike of Noble, Oklahoma; as well as ve grandchildren: David, Andrew, Beverly, Rachel and Marian.

J.C. Brown Jr., 83, of Pittsburg died on Sept. 22 at East Texas Medical Center Tyler; he was born Dec. 1, 1932 in Pittsburg. Services were held at 1 p.m. Oct. 1 at Center Point Baptist Church in Pittsburg with the Rev. John F. McCormick ociating. Interment was held at Center Point Cemetery in Pittsburg, under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.

Bobbie Floyd Brown Mattingly, 88, of Mount Pleasant was born on Oct. 28 1927 in Marshall Springs and died Sept. 18 in Mount Pleasant; she was a homemaker. Services were held at Bates-Cooper-Sloan Chapel at 2 p.m. Sept. 21 with Dr. Clint Davis and Bro. Bryan Peck o ciating. Internment was held at Win eld Cemetery in Win eld. She is survived by three daughters: Earlene Poe and husband Norman of Pittsburg, Judy Cook and husband Danny of Mount Pleasant and Carla Jones and husband Rusty of Mount Pleasant; seven grandchildren: Lisa Poe Duran and spouse John, Kevin Poe and spouse Jennifer, Bradley Brown and spouse Kimberly, Jennifer Cook Wooten and James Arledge, Danette Cook Richardson and spouse Phillip, Angela Dunn and Chris Adair and Josh Jones and Codie Edwards; 12 great-grandkids; three great-great grandkids; sister: Jane Chislett; sisters-in-law: Garret Ruby and Maurene Brown.

James Edward Borth, 92, of Mount Pleasant, passed away Sept. 24 in Plano, surrounded by his loving family. James was born March 8, 1924 in Kaufman to Herman and Essie Borth. In 1942, at the age of 18, James enlisted in the US Army Air Force. He excelled at ight school and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutanant Pilot in May of 1944. James would serve as a ight instructor with the 559th Base Unit for the rest of the war. Afterwards, he served in the Air Force Reserve until 1955. A er his military service, Mr. Borth began commercial farming and crop dusting in west Texas. Later, he would own two Harley-Davidson dealerships in Longview and Tyler, and would work as the Director of the East Texas Division of the Department of Agriculture before retiring in 1990. James is survived by his wife of 34 years, Eva Rice Borth; a son: David Borth and wife Becki of the Woodlands; two daughters: Frieda Borth of Austin, and Jane Borth Cates and husband Gary of Little Elm.

Richard Allen McCarty of Pittsburg passed away Sept. 19, at the age of 82. Richard was born August 8, 1934 in Columbus, Ohio to Elden McCarty and Lemma Chapman McCarty. He graduated from Tyler High School and attended Tyler Junior College. He would later graduate from Texas A&M in 1958 with his Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Arts. Mr. McCarty was a veteran of the United States Air Force, having served for six years and obtained the rank of Captain. He enjoyed lengthy careers with Texas Instruments and Boeing before retiring to Pittsburg. Richard is survived by his wife: Carol McCarty of Pittsburg; two daughters: Lynn Hillston and husband Stuart of Thame, England; and Rowena Russell and husband Chuck of Bremmerton, Washington; two step-sons: Chris Pollard and wife Kim of Blodgett; and Kerry Pollard and wife Lauren of Dallas; as well as 11 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, a sister: Mary Newman of Tyler, niece: Glinda Bauer and husband Tom of Tyler and a host of friends.