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Dr. Ralph H. Womack
Dr. Ralph Henry Womack, 70, of Lake Charles, La., died at 2:03 a.m. Wednesday, April 06, 2005.
He was a native of Jacksonville, Texas, and has lived in Lake Charles, La., many years. At the age of 15, Dr. Womack graduated from Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville, Texas, where he served as president of the student body and the National Honor Society. He was also active in drama and was a high school basketball letterman. Dr. Womack graduated from Lon Morris College in Jacksonville where he was president of the Baptist Student Union, president of Phi Theta Kappa, president of Lamda Kappa Alpha Fraternity, elected to Who's Who twice, received drama awards for best actor, and most valuable student, and was a cast member of several state-winning one act plays.
Graduating with honors, Dr. Womack received his bachelor of science and master of education degrees from Stephen F. Austin State College in Nacogdoches, Texas, where he served as assistant publicity director for the college, president of Alpha Chi National Honor Fraternity, president of the Baptist Student Union and president of the Press Club. Dr. Womack earned his doctor of education at the University of Houston and, while there, he served as a research assistant in the bureau of education research.
Dr. Womack was associated with the Pasadena, Texas, School District in his early career serving as teacher, chairman of the history department, chairman of the guidance department, and as the director for the school district board testing program. He organized and directed an evening high school program for adults and taught at San Jacinto College. While in Pasadena, Dr. Womack also served as president of the Local Texas State Teachers Association.
Dr. Womack joined the McNeese faculty in 1966 as an assistant professor of secondary education and served the university for over thirty years as professor, student advisor, interim department chairman and member of the promotion and tenure committee as well as the athletic affairs committee.
Dr. Womack was an active member of First United Methodist Church of Lake Charles where he taught adult Sunday school and served on the board of stewards. He played “lead role” in the Lake Charles Little Theatre for over twenty years. He was an avid amateur photographer and loved spending time with and reading to his grandchildren.
His favorite scripture was John 3:16.
Survivors include his wife of forty-nine years, Margaret Gibson Womack of Lake Charles; sons, Clay Harris Womack and wife, Dr. Eleanor Piel Womack of Santa Monica, Calif., and their children, Chase, Joshua, Samuel, Joy, Luke, Grace, Clay, David and Faith; David Ralph Womack and wife, Carol Hebert Womack, of Lake Charles and their children, Reagan, Marshall and Garrett; daughter, Melissa Womack Gilmore and husband, Dr. Richard Gilmore, of Lake Charles and their children, Jamie, Skylar, Rikki, Darby and Piper; brothers, George Womack and wife, Louise, of Wake Village, Texas, and Aubrey Womack and wife, Ann, of Jacksonville, Texas, and many nieces and nephews. A brother, Newburn Womack, preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 9, 2005, at First United Methodist Church of Lake Charles. The Reverend Doug deGraffenried will officiate. Private graveside services will be under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 5 until 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. Visitation will continue from 10 a.m. until time of services, Saturday, at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lake Charles Little Theatre.
Johnson Funeral Home, Lake Charles, La.
Barbara Elaine Kriz
Family, friends and colleagues honored retired Air Force Captain Barbara Elaine Kriz as she received soldier's honors in a memorial service held Tuesday, April 5, 2005, in the National Veteran's Cemetery in Houston. A military honor guard stood at attention while the bugler played “Taps.” An American flag was folded one final time and placed in the hands of her family with thanks from a grateful nation for her years of service.
A local memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 9, 2005, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Nacogdoches with Monsignor James E. Young officiating.
Born July 20, 1956, in Lexington, Missouri, daughter of John and Doris Tillerson Kriz, Barbara died unexpectedly March 23, 2005, in Houston, Texas.
After graduating from the University of Missouri with a B.S. degree in art history and an M.A., degree in museum administration, she served in the United States Air Force for 17 years, retiring with the rank of captain. Her military career took her all over the world, but most especially within the European continent.
While living in Nacogdoches, she pursued career interests in many areas, including a stint as director of a local nursing home and most recently worked with the JM Clipper Corporation during their transfer of operations to the new Houston facility until just prior to her death. Barbara gave generously in many areas, combing her insatiable curiosity for how things worked with a constant need to help others. Always active and eager to learn, she once studied and learned to speak a Chinese dialect. A voracious reader and confirmed organizer, Barbara liked nothing better than to delve into the latest book, make a list of her questions and discuss it for hours with friends. Barbara didn't know why anyone would limit themselves to 100 percent when 200 percent was much more fulfilling. Among her many interests, she was a fabulous cook; worked with local quilting clubs; was a volunteer teacher of sewing skills to local public housing residents; was a Sacred Heart Church choir member; was associated with he Society of Creative Anachronism and often designed and sewed incredible period costumes for herself and friends who attended Texas Renaissance Fairs. She had recently begun to learn flower arranging, lamp working, metal sculpture and guitar.
After much searching for answers earlier in life, she recently found herself at home with the Catholic faith and took her conversion very seriously, studying far beyond the materials recommended for her classes. She touched many hearts during her time in RCIA classes at Sacred Heart Church.
Barbara's life of giving touched many people. In addition to many grieving friends and acquaintances in both Houston and Nacogdoches, she is survived by her mother, Doris; and brothers, David Kriz of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Michael Kriz and wife, Libby, of St. Louis, Missouri, as well as several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father.
Barbara was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Nacogdoches, Texas, and also attended St. Hyacinth Catholic Church in Deer Park, Texas.
The family has requested that memorial contributions be sent to The United Way or St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Seleta Jean Huckabee
Seleta Jean Huckabee, 76, of Beaumont, went to be with her Lord on April 23, 2005, at Silsbee Convalescent Center.
She was born in Nacogdoches, Texas, and has been a resident of Beaumont for most of her life. A long time member of First Baptist Church, Beaumont, she was known to many as “Nanny Huckabee” because of over 20 years of service to God in the church nursery.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Grady T. Huckabee, and her brother, Lindell Westmoreland.
She is survived by her three children, Mark Huckabee and wife, Susan of Knoxville, Tenn., David Huckabee of Snellville, Ga., and Laura Shearer and husband, Raymond of Wildwood, Texas; five grandchildren, Matthew and Ethan Huckabee of Knoxville, Tenn., and John, Ashley and Zachary Shearer of Wildwood, Texas. She is also survived by her sister, Dorris Welch of Hemphill, Texas, and brothers, Lowell Westmoreland and wife, Tommie of Orange, Texas, Garrel Westmoreland and wife, Sue of Panhandle, Texas, and Don Westmoreland and wife, Linda of Buna, Texas. She is also survived by many wonderful nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. today at Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home Chapel in Beaumont, Texas. Burial will be at 4 p.m. today in Maroney Cemetery in Nacogdoches, Texas.
Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home Chapel in Beaumont, TX
Vonnie Barnhart Whitaker
Vonnie Barnhart Whitaker, 91, passed away Wednesday, April 27, 2005, in Carthage, Texas.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, April 29, 2005, at the Cason Monk-Metcalf Sunset Chapel with the Rev. Dan Danheim of First United Methodist Church officiating.
Mrs. Whitaker was born June 8, 1913, near Nat, Texas, to General Lee Barnhart and Mary Elizabeth Popp Barnhart. She was a lifetime resident of Nacogdoches County, Texas. She was a Baptist and loved to quilt, cook, play cards, and listen to Southern gospel music.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Earl L. Whitaker; her parents, Lee and Lizzie Barnhart; and sons-in-law, David Whitaker and H.T. Wellman.
Survivors include her four daughters, Judy Whitaker Fuller and husband, Glenn, of Nacogdoches, Texas, Ouida Whitaker Dean and husband, R.G., of Nacogdoches, Texas, Betty Whitaker Wellman of Avinger, Texas, and Susie Whitaker Evers and husband, Charles, of Carthage, Texas; her ten grandchildren, Debra Dean Cox of Cedar Park, Texas, Keith Dean of Nacogdoches, Texas, Steven Whitaker of Austin, Texas, Norma Whitaker Kline of Flower Mound, Texas, Ronnie Fuller of Tyler, Texas, Craig Fuller of Nacogdoches, Texas, Jeff Fuller of Conroe, Texas, Kyle Fuller of Waco, Texas, Chris Evers of Diboll, Texas, and Dawn Evers Zajicek of Spring, Texas; her twelve great-grandchildren, Eric Fuller, Jordan Fuller, Trent Fuller, Trevor Fuller, Lexie Fuller, McCauley Fuller, Evan Fuller, Chloe Fuller, Kylee Fuller, Wendi Whitaker, Klint McCoy, and Alicia McCoy; her sister-in-law, Mrs. Robbie Barnhart of San Antonio, Texas; and a host of close family and friends.
Pallbearers will be Ronnie Fuller, Craig Fuller, Jeff Fuller, Chris Evers, Keith Ray Dean and Bob Hilliard.
Visitation will be held from 5 until 7 p.m. today.
Arrangements are under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors, Nacogdoches, Texas.
Robert Wood Edgeworth
Graveside services for Robert Wood Edgeworth, age 77, of Palestine will be held 10 a.m. today at Roselawn Park with John Hafner officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Bailey & Foster, Palestine.
Mr. Edgeworth died Monday April 25, 2005, in Palestine. He was born November 21, 1927, in Neches to John Robert and Katie Laura Edgeworth. Mr. Edgeworth served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a life member of VFW Post 3907, he was a member of the Palestine Masonic Lodge 31, the Shriners of Waco, and a charter member of the Palestine Dogwood Squares.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Dorothy Goebel Edgeworth; daughters, Ellen Hafner and husband, Dan, of Nacogdoches, Susan Anthony and husband, Roy, of Nacogdoches; granddaughters, Laurie Considine and husband, Doug, of Houston, Lindsay Christopher and husband, Joey, of Nacogdoches; and four great-granddaughters, Taylor, Malori, Maci and Madison.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, or the Salvation Army.
The family will receive friends at the home of Mrs. Willie Giles, 1210 Lamar Street.
Norman Williams
Graveside service for Norman Williams, 86, of San Augustine will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Mount Herman Cemetery in Shelby County the Rev. Larry Chandler officiating.
Williams died April 27, 2005, in San Augustine.
Born Sept. 11, 1918, in Shelby County, he was the son of Eligan and Arleva McSwain Williams. He was a member of Hawthorne Missionary Baptist Church. He was retired from Holly Farms and East Texas Poultry as an electrician. He was U.S. Army veteran, having served during World War II. He was married to Adena Williams, and she preceded him in death.
Survivors include sons, Larry Williams of Richmond and Gary Williams Lufkin; daughters, Carolyn McCauley of Melrose, Dana Judson of Lawrence, Kansas, and Kari Shofner of San Augustine; brother, Charles Ray Williams of San Augustine; 14 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. today.
Watson and Sons Funeral Home, Center.
Deborah Wester Jacob
Funeral for Deborah Wester Jacob, 52, of Dallas will be at 2 p.m. today in King of Glory Lutheran Church, 6411 LBJ Freeway, Dallas 75240. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Monday, April 25, at Prairie Lea Cemetery, Brenham, Texas.
Deborah Wester Jacob died April 20, 2005, at at Presbyterian Hospital Dallas after a six-month encounter with pancreatic cancer.
Born May 24, 1952 in Longview, Texas, she was the daughter of Melvin Heath and Frances Harrison Wester. She married Will Jacob July 6, 1990. She was a graduate and valedictorian of Nacogdoches High School in 1970. She received a bachelor of arts degree with highest honors from Texas Tech University in 1974. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority and president of Mortar Board. She received the master of education degree from the University of North Texas in 1983 and the doctor of philosophy (PhD) degree from University of North Texas in 1994. She was an English teacher and department chairwoman at North Garland High School from 1974 until 1984 and assistant principal Garland High School from 1984 until 1987. She served as the first principal of Lyles Middle School in Garland ISD from 1987 until 1991 and director of secondary schools for Garland ISD from 1991 until 2004. She retired from Garland ISD in June 2004 after 30-year career.
She was preceded in death by father, Melvin Heath Wester; and mother, Frances Harrison Wester.
Survivors include her husband, Will Jacob of Dallas; step-daughter and husband, Chrissi and Bill McKown of Rockwall; grandchildren,
Kaleigh and Cole McKown of Rockwall; brother and wife, John and Karan Wester of Pflugerville; and nephews, Justin and Jeremy Wester of College Station.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider contributions to one of these activities: Dr. Debbie Wester Jacob Memorial Scholarship, Nacogdoches High School Alumni Association, P.O. Box 2152, Nacogdoches, Texas 75963-2152; Dr. Debbie Wester Jacob Memorial Scholarship, North Garland High School, BEST Education Foundation , P.O. Box 460517, Garland, Texas 75046-0517; or Will and Debbie Jacob Life Enrichment Speakers Series, King of Glory Lutheran Church , 6411 LBJ Freeway, Dallas, Texas 75240-6455
