Geral Dee Willingham, 76, of Paris, died Sunday December 9, 2012 at the residence of his son William, in Sumner. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Saturday December 15, 2012 in the chapel of Starrett Funeral Home, with Rev. David Cahill officiating. Interment will follow in the West Post Oak Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Geral was born March 5, 1936 in Clarksville, a son of John Henry and Lillian Rosella Lacey Willingham. He attended Red River County schools, and was of the Baptist faith. He worked as a paint contractor for forty years, then retired from the air conditioning and refrigeration business after fifteen years, all in the Paris and Northeast Texas area.
He married Annette Marie Hudgins on October 5, 1956 in Dallas. She preceded him in death on March 6, 2012.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by two grandsons, William Dee Willingham, Jr. and Jimmy Ray Wilson, Jr.; a granddaughter, Carol Marie Willingham; and a brother, John Dee Willingham.
Survivors include four sons, William Dee Willingham, of Sumner, Michael Dee Willingham, of Alba, Richard Doyle Willingham, of Paris, and Geral Dee Willingham, Jr., of Hugo, Oklahoma; two daughters, Elizabeth Rosella Wilson, of Tuscon, Arizona and Lannette Rena Bruner, of Festus, Missouri; fifteen grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; four sisters, Elizabeth Carter, Barbara Cain, Martha Parris, and Lillian Sanders; a brother, Johnny Ray Willingham; a cousin, Billy Don Willingham; several nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
Named to serve as pallbearers are Tyler Austin Vaughn, Tazz Black, Everett Carter, Robert Nichols, Robert Gilbert, and Bob Guthridge.
In lieu of usual remembrances, contributions toward Geral’s final expenses may be made to Starrett Funeral Home.
Friends may register in Geral’s Book of Memories at www.starrettfunerals.com.
Leon Lewis, 76, of Paris, passed away December 11, 2012, at Paris Regional Medical Center, after a long, courageous battle with cancer. Services are scheduled for 2:00 pm, Friday, December 14, 2012, at Bright-Holland Funeral Home with Reverend Ken Cannon and Reverend James Barnes officiating. Burial will be made in Providence Cemetery. The family will receive friends, at the funeral home, from 1-2 pm, prior to the service.
Leon was born September 14, 1936, in Danville, Virginia. He was the thirteenth of fourteen children, born to John Harvey Lewis and Nellie Jane Powell Lewis. He attended Robert E. Lee Elementary School and was a graduate of George Washington High School in Danville, VA – two schools named after patriots of Virginia. As a small boy, he shined shoes on the streets of Danville and after losing his shoe shine box to a thief, he began sweeping floors in Giles Florist.
During high school he worked as a stocker in a sporting goods store. As a boy he enjoyed attending both church and YMCA camps. He attended church at the Salvation Army before he was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Danville, at around 10 years of age. He served his country in the U.S. Army from 1957 – 1959, with the 29th Infantry Scout Dog Platoon at Fort Benning, GA. He married Monta Lee Powers November 12, 1959 in Grapevine, TX, building 53 years of family and memories.
After moving to Texas he was employed by Texas Power and Light Company from 1959 – 1992. During which time he worked on a line crew, in a storeroom, and as a meter reader, before becoming a clerk and eventually Junior Accountant in the accounting department. He transferred to Paris in 1971 to assume the Chief Accountant position and continued in that job until his retirement.
Leon was an active member of First Baptist Church in Paris, where he sang in the choir and also led the singing in his Sunday School Department. He was ordained a deacon in First Baptist Church in Grapevine and served as a deacon at First Baptist Church in Paris. He always led his family to attend church and and worship regularly. Leon loved music and enjoyed singing in choirs from the age of 6.
In his retirement he developed a love and great talent for woodworking and gardening. A true craftsman, making fine furniture, and an avid gardener, producing quality produce, both of which he enjoyed sharing with family, friends and neighbors. He also enjoyed socializing with his friends over coffee several mornings a week. Traveling was important to him and his family. They enjoyed riding motorcycles at Beavers Bend as well as many trips visiting 49 states. Leon and Monta traveled to several countries. The last trip was to see the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany.
Leon was preceded in death by his parents and 12 brothers and sisters.
He is survived by his wife Monta; a son, Brad Alan Lewis and wife Colleen of Virginia Beach, VA; a daughter, Penny Lewis Sansom of Powderly; two grandchildren, Shelby Sansom and Cameron Lewis; a great-granddaughter, Makenzie Lewis; five step-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; a sister, Joyce Matherly and husband Raymond of Fredericksburg, VA; one special nephew, William Burrell and wife Linda of Wilmington, NC, who he grew up with as a brother, along with numerous other nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
Casket Bearers will be Bob Myers, Bob Skinner, Lewis Sheridan, Bill Arnold, George Locke and Boyce Flenniken.
The family desires memorials be made to the Benevolence Fund at First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 489, Paris, TX 75460 or Gideons International, 875 SE 39th, Paris, TX 75462.
Leon’s family wishes to thank the fourth floor nurses and staff at PRMC for their kind care. Special thanks to Dr. Prakash and nurses at Paris Regional Cancer Center and Gina Lancaster with Millennium, for their empathy and help. To leave a message or tribute for the family, please visit www.brighthollandfuneralhome.com.