Obits

Robert Rix Martin, 70, passed away June 8, 2015 at his home in Atlantic Beach, Florida following a nine year battle with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Memorial services were held at 4 p.m. on June 26 at Community Presbyterian Church in Atlantic Beach, Florida. Mr. Martin was born to Alton and Ruby Martin on July 2, 1944 in Pittsburg.

He graduated with a BA from Austin College in Sherman where he was a member of the track team. He was a member of Community Presbyterian Church in Atlantic Beach, Florida. Mr. Martin was transferred by Proctor and Gamble to Jacksonville, Florida in 1969. Shortly after, he took up the game of golf, becoming a member of Selva Marina Country Club and moving to Atlantic Beach. Loving the game of golf and an excellent salesman, he launched a new golf business named Rix Martin Sales.

Walter “Louis” Hammonds, 69, of San Anotnio, formerly of Mount Pleasant, passed away Monday, June 22, 2015. Funeral services were held June 25, 2015 at 2 p.m. in the sanctuary of Gladewater Baptist Church in the Harts Bluff community with Bro. Gib Johnson and Bro. Rickey Logan officiating. Interment followed at Gladewater Cemetery.

Jacklon “Jack” Hix Abbott, 67, died peacefully at home, Wednesday, June 3, 2015. Jack was born in Pittsburg, on Dec. 25, 1947.

He was the second son of Wyulah and Calvin Abbott and led an idyllic small town childhood. He had many pets (including a fox and a blind alligator) and followed his older brother, Joe, around town.

Jack graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1966 where he played football and ran track. After graduation, Jack attended Texas A&M University in College Station. He had such a colorful college experience that he wouldn’t tell his sons many of his stories for fear of influencing them. He loved and supported his Aggies through all their highs and lows.

He met Janice Toney at the Mount Pleasant bowling alley in the summer of 1969. They were married in Pittsburg on Dec. 20, 1970. Jack and Jan were blessed with two sons, Todd and Trent.

Brad Christopher Stansbury, 39, passed away at his home in Pittsburg Thursday, June 4, 2015. Mr. Stansbury was born July 20, 1975 in Longview, Texas to Roger Stansbury and Deborah Patterson.

He attended and graduated from Pittsburg High School, Class of 1993. He received his Bachelors of Business from Steven F. Austin University in 1998 and was a member of the Phi Delta fraternity. Brad will be remembered as a friendly, outgoing and fun loving person as well as a hard worker. He was an avid outdoorsman, who especially enjoyed fishing. Brad was proud of his relationship with Christ and was an active member of The Woodlands Church in Humble, where he enjoyed being part of the social ministry. Most importantly though, he was a devoted and loving father to his two wonderful children, Bella and Kaleb. He meant the world to his family and will be deeply missed.

Philip Michael Ellison, CPA, 66, passed away early Wednesday, May 20, at East Texas Medical Center, Tyler, Texas. Mr. Ellison was born January 1, 1949, to Meredith and Foncie Ellison in Pittsburg.

A memorial celebration for family and friends was held Friday, May 22, in the Fellowship Hall of Reeves Chapel United Methodist Church. Known for his spirit of generosity, and having greatly extended his battle with cancer since 2006 through research, it was Mr. Ellison’s desire to donate his body to science at LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport, Louisiana, for medical education and research.

Mr. Ellison graduated cum laude from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. He was an accredited Certified Public Accountant (C PA) for 36 years, working for major Dallas-area corporations and subsequently maintaining his practice in Pittsburg for the past eighteen years.

Margaret Marie Green, 94, passed away on June 6, 2015, at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler. Mrs. Green was born on April 15, 1921 in Gilmer. Funeral services were held at 1:00 p.m. on June 13 at Shady Grove Baptist Church in Cason with Reverend Jesse Biles officiating. Interment followed at Shady Grove Cemetery in Cason.

Robert Russell Dunavant, 67, passed away on Monday, May 18 at his home in Ripley, Miss. Mr. Dunavant was born on Oct. 1, 1947 to Sherwood and Rachael Davis Dunavant in Pittsburg. He was a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. He was a businessman and owner and operator of a McDonald’s franchise in Ripley for twenty- seven years. He was an active member of First Baptist Church-Ripley. Services were held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, at First Baptist Church-Ripley with Dr. Rex Yancey and Bro. Bill Baker officiating. Mr. Bobby Martin delivered the eulogy. Burial followed in Rosehill Cemetery in Pittsburg on May 23 at 1 p.m. Mr. Dunavant is survived by his wife of forty- eight years, Glenda Bennett Dunavant of Ripley; two sons, Trent Dunavant and wife Tysha of Canyon Lake; Dr.

Willie Harold Curlin, 75, of Pittsburg, died Thursday, April 30 at The Hospice of East Texas in Tyler. Services were held Saturday, May 9, at 12:00 pm. at Johnson Funeral Home Chapel in Pittsburg with Minister Veronica Sears officiating. Interment was held at Wilks Cemetery in Pittsburg.  

Services for Earlene Jones, 83, of Pittsburg, were held April 28 at 10 a.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church with Bro. Kyle Smith officiating. Interment was held at Rose Hill Cemetery in Pittsburg. Mrs. Jones was born September 15, 1931 in Prairie Grove, Ark. and died April 26 at Pittsburg Nursing Center.

Mrs. Jones worked as a realtor, was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church, and shared a love for art.

She is survived by her son: Perry Jones and wife Janet of Pittsburg. Brother: Earl Cheney of Pittsburg.  Five sisters: Sonoma Davis, Brenda Davis, Jean Carlton, and Charlsey McKenna, all of Pittsburg, and Dorothy Holder of Spring. Two grandchildren: Brad Jones of Plano and Buck Jones of Prosper. Two great grandchildren: Braden Jones and Tanner Jones of Prosper.

She was preceded in death by parents: Earl Linwood Cheney and Lillian Brisco, and husband: Sam Jones.

Services for Lillie Lorraine Wiseman Kee, 86, formerly of Nacogdoches, were held May 1 at 10 a.m. at Free Will Baptist Church in Henderson with Reverend Don Ellis and Reverend Mark Headrick officiating. Interment followed at Rusk County Memorial Gardens under the direction of Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home. Mrs. Kee was born on November 6, 1928 in Lucien, Okla. and died April 28 in Tyler.

Her husband of 51 years, James Edmond Kee, preceded her in death on April 17, 1997. They were married in Enid, Okla., on July 22, 1945. To this union were born two children, James Franklin and Katrina Kay.