SAM SHAVER



Sam Shaver, 76, of Commerce died Dec. 8, 2008, at the Bonham VA nursing home.

Services were. Friday at the Coker-Mathews Funeral Home Chapel with Chaplain Gene Owen officiating. Interment was in Wieland Cemetery.

Mr. Shaver was born on July 18, 1932, in Dallas to Robert L. and Pauline Furrah Shaver.

On Oct. 25, 1995, he married Nita Prince in Mesquite. He served in the United States Army. He worked as a security guard for Winn-Dixie for many years.

His is survived by his wife of Commerce; three sons; a son, Stacy Pruitt of Whitehouse; daughters Teresa Johnson of Point and Melissia Thompson of Grand Saline; close grandchildren Bobbi and Junior Johnson; brothers Richard Shaver and James Shaver both of Dallas and Douglas Shaver of Arlington; sisters Lea Bowers of Sulphur Springs and Doris McQuirk of Dallas; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Robert Shaver Jr. and Larry Shaver; and a sister, Geri Sue Thomas.

Pallbearers were Bryan Edwards, Wesley Edwards, Ernie Fouse, Jarred Ferguson, and Junior Johnson.

Russell Royal



Russell Royal, 61, of Ladonia, formerly of Garland, died Dec. 9, 2008, following a courageous battle with cancer.

A Mass of Christian Burial was at 10 a.m., Dec. 12, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Commerce. Interment followed in the Pecan Gap Cemetery.

Russell was born in Young stown, Ohio, to Ralph and Jane Royal and moved to Texas in 1977. He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy and its Seabee battalion. He served in Vietnam and was awarded numerous medals and commendations. He was a member of the American Legion and the Navy Seabees of America.

He was a self-employed electrical engineer of Royal Enterprises, and previously employed by Reed-Wells-Benson Engineers where he worked as a Chief Electrical Engineer from 1988 until 1999.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years; Louise; four sons, Kevin and wife Lorry of Ladonia, David (Ernie) and wife Kattie of Garland, Randy and wife Katherine of Beaufort, S.C. and Matthew and wife Sarah of Rowlett.

Survivors include nine grandchildren, Ashlyn, Blayne, Blake, Sarah, Kaitlyn, Ethan, Lily, Sophia and Addison; his father and two brothers.

He was preceded in death by his mother and one grandson, Kolton.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sammons Cancer Center in Dallas or the Disabled American Veterans Association.



‘Doug’ Riddle



MINEOLA — Services for Douglas “Doug” Riddle, 65, of MIneola were at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Beaty Funeral Home chapel in Mineola with David Gibson and Danny Buster officiatiing.

Mr. Riddle lost his battle with cancer on Dec. 13, 2008, in Tyler.

Son of Raymond and Arlene Riddle, he was born Oct. 16, 1943, in Tyler. He had been a resident of the Redland Community in Wood County for the past 20 years and was a member of the Church of Christ. Mr. Riddle attended numerous schools, including Mineola, and graduated from Commerce High School in Commerce. He also attended East Texas State University in Commerce.

Going to work at age 14, he worked at a variety of odd jobs. In later years he worked for Frito-Lay, Haliburton and Industrial Towel Co. before becoming a long-distance truck driver. Upon retirement he spent many hours doing his favorite things — woodworking, gardening and visiting friends and family. He was an avid fisherman and has his trophy bass displayed over his mantle.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, T.F. “Frank” and Dora Riddle of Mineola; his father and one sister, Maurine Riddle Ansley.

Survivors include his wife of 20 years, Melba Riddle of Mineola; his mother and stepfather, Arlene and Lloyd Wilkins of Commerce; a son and daughter-in-law, Bobby and Danna Riddle; daughter and son-in-law Melissa and Clay Hartsell of Longview; stepdaughters and husbands Paula and Tim Jenkins of Yantis, Melinda and Bryan Nephew of Galveston, Jennifer and Brent Cotten of Royse City and Jamie Linker of Garland; a sister and brother-in-law, Diane and Chuck Houghton of Golden; a brother-in-law, Charles Ansley of Royse City; sister- and brother-in-law Mary and David Talley of Sulphur Springs and sister-in-law Clara McKinney of Yoakum; stepbrother and wife Gary and Toopie Wilkins of Blossom; stepsister and husband Betty and James Hardman of Dublin, Ohio; four grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one stepgreat-grandchild; and numerous uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or Hospice of East Texas Homeplace in Tyler.

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Johnnie Thigpen



Johnnie Juanita Thigpen, 85, of Commerce died the evening of Dec. 15, 2008, at Hunt Memorial Community Hospital in Commerce. A graveside service is scheduled at 10 a.m. today at Forest Park Cemetery in Greenville under the direction of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home. David Gibson will officiate.

Daughter of John and Ida Elizabeth Detroit Turner, she was born Dec. 10, 1923, in Red River County. Mrs. Thigpen was a homemaker. She was a member of the Church of Christ.

Surviving are a son, Jerry Lambert and wife Joan of Campbell; daughter Carlotta Hutchins and husband Elbert of Austin; grandchildren Derek and Rhonda Lambert, Jason and Terri Hutchins, Jeremy Hutchins and Kimberly and Joe Webber; and great-grandchildren Hunter Lambert, Tyler and Lauren Webber, Michael, Andrew and Courtney Hutchins.

Her parents and husbands William Guy Lambert and Frank Thigpen preceded her in death.

Grandsons Derek Lambert, Jason and Jeremy Hutchins and granddaughter Kimberly Webber are honorary pallbearers.

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