Obituaries

James Ricky Arney, 75, of Hemphill, passed away Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at Harbor Hospice House in Jasper. Ricky was born October 25, 1948 in Dallas, to James Rodney Arney and Madge Elise Tyer Arney. He had been a resident of Sabine County since 1973, having previously resided in Carthage. He had worked as a Pipeliner for many years and was a member of Pipeliner's Union 798. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge.

Mr. Lavelle Woodroe Kilgore, age 88, of Hemphill, passed away on April 3, 2024.

Charlie Venetis (Venis) passed from this life into his eternal life on March 24, 2024. Born on May 8, 1936, in a small mountain village in Greece (Terpsithea), he came to the United States as a young adult.

Joyce Fay Smith, age 90, of Hemphill, passed from this world on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at HCA Houston Healthcare Hospital in Conroe. Joyce was born on November 3, 1933, in Newton, to Robert Everett Smith and Ellie Edgar Smith. She graduated from Hemphill High School in 1951. After graduating she moved from Sabine County, returning in 2022 to be near her family.

Jaliyah LaVonne Wymer, age 8 months 27 days, of Hemphill, passed from this earth into the arms of angels on March 17, 2024. She was born on June 28, 2023, in Lufkin . Jaliyah was the happiest baby who loved everyone dearly and always brought a smile to everyone's face. She found joy in watching Spongebob and Peppa Pig and loved her BaBa. She is survived by her loving family who will miss her so much: her mother, Kalista York of Pineland; father, Jeremiah Wymer of Pineland; sister, Kambri LeeAnn Wymer of Pineland; grandparents, Kristina York of Fort Wayne, IN, Barbara Westhead of Pineland, Shane O'Neal of Anna, John Wymer of Youngstown, OH, Donald Asher of Fort Wayne, IN and Brian Merwin of Jasper; godfather, Pooda O'Hara of Six Mile Community; aunts and uncles, Tamara Wymer, Kristy Wymer, Dustin Kukes, Brent Wymer, and Dax O'Neal; numerous cousins, and other close family members.

William 'Bill' Eugene Bertrand passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2024, in Hemphill, at the age of 86. Born to the late Atley Bertrand and Alma Joyner Bertrand on March 2, 1938, in Port Arthur, Bill lived a life marked by dedication, hard work, and service to his community. As a self-employed Civil Engineer and the respected owner of CSM Canvas Mfg., Bill, along with his wife, Chris, provided invaluable custom equipment to athletic trainers across the globe. His unwavering support of athletic professionals, through both his enterprise and his personal endeavors, touched many lives within the sports community.