OBITUARIES | March 16

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.
After her family, Mrs. Hamm’s greatest passion was literature, which she continued to teach in retirement to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She last quoted to them Victorian poet Christina Rossetti’s “Who Has Seen the Wind,” delighting in helping them discover the innuendo and hidden spiritual meaning.   
She was a painter of oils and watercolors and preserver of beauty, happiest when arranging flowers, repairing antique furniture, hosting teas and gardening. She was instrumental in the continuation of the Green Thumb Garden Club in Pittsburg, which created a much-anticipated annual flower show and an accompanying tea, bringing the community closer together by celebrating beauty. Johnny Jump Ups, or Violas, were her favorite garden flowers. She was known to stop on a roadside to collect a twig, stick, weed or “wispy” to use in her Hogarth Curve design flower arrangements, which won many awards.  
She and her husband hosted legendary Christmas breakfasts for family and friends. He cooked, she decorated, and the table often was set two weeks beforehand. The couple traveled for many years as members of the “Shriner’s RV Club,” and a favorite destination was the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina.  
After retirement, she continued to visit the Pittsburg Public Library several times a week, often with her great grandchildren in tow. With her Kindle, she kept a virtual library at her fingertips; however, she insisted on her dear friend returning three bound library books just days before her passing. 
She found ways to honor her former students by displaying valentines she received from them over the years. Often in February, her daughter and son-in-law Melinda and Paul Mayben artfully display hundreds of them in the windows of their downtown Pittsburg clothing store.  
Small in stature but large in personality, she was known for her authenticity and frankness. She told family that she preferred visits to be “short and frequent.” She never procrastinated, and kept up with friends and family through emails and texts, demanding proper grammar and punctuation on her iPhone.
Along with her beloved husband, others left to cherish her memory are son Harvey David Hamm, Jr. and wife Linda of Mount Pleasant; 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-in-law Beth Jones of Clarksville, Mattie Cash of Fort Worth, Joyce Cooke of Springtown; Joy Wilson of Decatur; Cynthia Bishop of Midland; favorite cousin Ruth Dinwiddie Merritt of Colquitt, Georgia; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers include: Steve Slinkard, Randy Lange, Morris Capps, Joe Westbrook, Tim Truitt, Gray McWhorter, Curtis Alan Evetts, Vee Couch and Wayne Franklin. Honorary Pallbearers include: Don Emery, Cary White and Ed Williams.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the newly established Pittsburg-Camp County Library - Shirley Sloan Hamm Children’s Initiative, 613 Quitman St., Pittsburg, TX, 75686.

Jester
Melvin Lee Jester, of Pittsburg, passed away Monday, March 6, at the age of 60. Melvin was born Oct. 20, 1956 in Pittsburg to Leoris and Clara Faye Jester.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Leoris and Clara Jester; nephews Derrick and Shane Reynolds; and niece Wendy Reynolds.
Melvin is survived by his brother: Dickie Jester; a sister: Ann Reynolds; and also many nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 18, at Macedonia Cemetery in Pittsburg.
Nix
Eugene Wayne Nix, 85, passed away at his home in Pittsburg on Friday morning, March 10. Wayne was born Jan. 3, 1932 in Ft. Worth to Eugene Ford Nix and Ima Beryl Shephard Nix.
Wayne was a veteran, having served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War. He was a devout Christian, and served the Lord by working as a pastor for Baptist Churches in the Pittsburg area. Wayne was also a family man, and greatly enjoyed the time he spent with his loved ones.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years: Pat Whitehead Nix; two daughters: Donna Behymer of Pittsburg and Deborah Wooten also of Pittsburg; as well as three grandchildren: Robert Behymer, Kristi Lankford, and Tammy Jernigan; eight great-grandchildren: Ali Lankford, Trey Lankford, Katelyn Behymer, Natalie Behymer, Chris Griffin, Ty Griffin, Jessica Griffin, and Garrett Peden; a great-great-granddaughter: Lily Anne Marie Griffin; along with a host of nieces and nephews, and many dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Eugene and Ima Nix; his son: Michael Wayne Nix; and his siblings: Billie McColloch and Horace Nix.
A Memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 16, at Erman Smith Funeral Home Chapel.
Spearman
Hazel Bennett Spearman, 93, of Pittsburg, passed away peacefully Saturday afternoon, March 11, surrounded by her family. Hazel was born Sept. 29, 1923 in Wood County, Texas to Warren Frank Bennett and Myrtle Snead Bennett.
Mrs. Spearman was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Pittsburg for many years. She was also an active member of the Bridge Club in Pittsburg. Hazel taught school in her early years, and was later co-owner of B&S Hardware with her husband George.
Mrs. Spearman is survived by her two sons: Steve Spearman and wife Beverly of Pittsburg, and Tim Spearman and wife Pam, also of Pittsburg; four grandchildren: Chad Spearman, Chet Spearman, Jenny Spearman, and Lindsey Van Curen; her seven great-grandchildren; two sisters: Helen Reynolds of Longview and Nelwyn Hudgens of Amarillo; along with numerous nieces and nephews and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Warren and Myrtle Bennett; her beloved husband George Spearman; and six siblings: Billie Smith, Glen Bennett, Tim Bennett, Faye Scudder, Mildred Hughey, and Hartzel Spratt.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 14, at First United Methodist Church in Pittsburg with the Rev. Hill Johnson officiating. Employees of B&S Hardware will serve as pallbearers. Burial followed at Rose Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Monday, March 13, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorial donations be made in Mrs. Spearman’s honor to the First United Methodist Church, 109 College Street, Pittsburg, Texas 75686.

Barber
Wylce D. Barber, 93, of Leesburg died March 5 at Theron Granger Nursing and Rehab Center in Hughes Springs. She was born on Nov. 18, 1923. Services were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 11 at Johnson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Patrick Lloyd officiating. Interment was held at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Pittsburg.

Burleson
Johnny B. Burleson, of Cookville, passed away on March 8. He was born on March 22, 1966 in Tyler, to Bobby and Judy (Hill) Burleson.  
He loved to hunt and enjoyed the outdoors. He was employed with EDH electric.
He is survived by his loving wife: Linda Taylor Burleson of Cookville; son and daughter-in-law: Chris and Jessica Burleson of Naples; grandchildren: Corbyn Burleson and Dylan Riddle of Naples; parents: Bobby and Judy Burleson of Pittsburg; brothers: Bart Burleson of Pittsburg and Jerry Burleson of Cookville.
Services were held at 10 a.m. Sunday, March 12, in the Bates-Cooper-Sloan Chapel.  Interment followed in the Lone Star Cemetery in Cookville.
Online registry is available at batescoopersloanfuneralhome.com

Carter
Mike “Country Boy” Carter was born July 6, 1950 in Ada, Okla., to Dan and Geraldine Carter and passed away March 5, at the age of 66 in Portland, Ore.
He was a hardworking man who loved his family and always took care of others before himself. He was the best papaw, daddy, and husband there ever was.  He was a truck driver and affiliated with Crossroads Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife Edna Carter of Detroit, Texas; son, Chris Carter and his wife Sara of Detroit, Texas ; daughters, Teresa Miller and her husband Greg of Pittsburg and Tammy Turnbow and her husband Shannon of Daingerfield; grandchildren: Ashley Wilson, Brian Miller, Mikey Miller, D.J. Carpenter, Kyddie Carter, Blaine Carter, Kelsey Carter, Katelyn Carter, Dustin Turnbow, Angie Turnbow, Gracelyn Atwood, and Gannon Carter; great grandchildren: Huxley Miller, Ava Carpenter,and Annabella Carpenter; brothers: Jerry Carter of Garvin, Oklahoma and Gary Raulston of Paris.
Memorial services were held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 11, at Crossroads Baptist Church in Camp County with Bros. Greg Miller and Jimmy White officiating.
The family requests memorial donations be made to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Foundation Mail Stop 45, P.O. Box 4000 Portland, OR 97208-9852.