Obituaries

Rev. Wesley Lane Pate, 88, of Bronson, passed away Thursday, February 1, 2024 in Lufkin. Bro. Pate was born October 1, 1935 in Nacogdoches County, to James Benjamin Pate and Belva Kate Pate. He was a longtime, beloved minister in Sabine County and pastor of Hemphill Missionary Baptist Church. He had resided in Bronson since 1988, having previously lived in Houston. When he wasn't preaching or ministering, you could find him faithfully studying his Bible.

Shirley Ann Williams, 88, of Hemphill, passed away on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at Legacies Nursing Home in Hemphill. Shirley was born on March 22, 1935 in Hemphill, to Dalton Paul 'Shine' Smith and Lemmie Coussons Smith. She worked at First State Bank in Hemphill, for over 30 years. She enjoyed watching Gunsmoke and dancing. She is survived by her son, Randy Williams and wife, Jan of Mont Belvieu, ; brothers, Paul Smith and wife, Shirley of San Augustine, , Phillip Smith and wife, Pauline of Hemphill, and Michael Smith and wife Johnette of Hemphill, ; sisters, Tanya Walker and husband, Buckshot of Hemphill, and Stella Frances 'Sissy' Smith of Nacogdoches; grandchildren, Jennifer Ferguson and husband, Jody, Jason Williams and wife, Leah, Krystal Fuller and husband, Cole, Christy Tyer and husband, Mike, and Jennifer Foster and husband, Jay; 11 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

com. Earl Douglas Behan, 71, of Hemphill, passed away Thursday, January 25, 2024 at his residence.

Reba Jean Cooper, 81, of Pineland, passed away Monday, January 22, 2024 at Harbor Hospice in Jasper. She was born July 9, 1942 in Milam, to Edward James and Lula McGown James. She was a graduate of Hemphill High School and had worked as a secretary for the Sabine County Sheriff's Office for many years. A longtime resident of Sabine County, she had moved to Fort Worth with her husband when she was only 17 years old. They returned to Pineland in 1979 where she became a member of First Baptist Church.

Mary Luana Sample Montgomery, daughter of Jack and Noba Dean Sample of Geneva, passed from this world to the next on Saturday, January 26, in Sugar Land. She was a member of Geneva Baptist Church. Luana attended San Jacinto High School in Houston and regularly attended their reunions as recently as 2019. She obtained her BA and Masters degrees in Education from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches. She joined the Pine Burrs Sorority there which later became Chi Omega Sorority, into which she was also inducted in the early 2010s. Luana taught deaf children in Houston, 1st Grade at Thomas Johnson in Hemphill, and Special Education at Hemphill and in Houston.

Timothy G Shrader, Jr. of Hemphill, formerly of Havre de Grace, Maryland, passed away at home on January 24, 2024 with his wife by his side after a brief fight with Leukemia. He was 83 years old. He was predeceased by his first wife and love of his life, Mary Catherine Shrader (nee Sine) and his parents, Timothy G. Shrader, Sr. and Louise Shrader (nee Jones). He is survived by his second wife, Sara J. Shrader and his three children, Nancy Roxanne Lynch (David) of Havre de Grace, Maryland, Timothy G. Shrader, III (Katherine) of Bridgewater, Virginia, and Bonnie Lee Ritter (Eric) of Darlington, Maryland. He is also survived by his sister, Penelope Jo Giampapa (Michael) of Port St. Lucie, Florida. Tim had 8 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren with another due in a couple months. Also cherishing his memory are Sara’s daughters, Michelle Baldwin, Kimberly Thomas, and Laura Bess Frye whom he loved and thought of as his daughters, as well.

T. L. Latham, 97, of Hemphill passed away Monday, January 15, 2024 at Harbor Hospice in Jasper. He was born May 13, 1926 in Hemphill to John Henry Latham and Jessie Ethel Tatom Latham. He retired from the United States Navy after 25 years of service as a Sea Bee. He was a World War II Veteran, having served in the South Pacific. He returned to Sabine County in 1984 after living in many places, among them, Washington, Montana, and San Antonio. He had also worked for Judson ISD for 25 years.

William Sylvester Crowell passed from this life at home in Jasper, on January 15, 2024 at the age of 97. He was born on May 25, 1926, to Levi and Sarah Crowell in Gandy, Louisiana. Bill was the oldest child of four and outlived Rae and Faye, his sisters and Doyle, his brother. Bill and Gloria were married in 1951 and celebrated 72 years of marriage on September 29, 2023. They attended Hillcrest Baptist Church in Jasper for the last 20 plus years He retired from Southwestern Bell in 1985 and spent his days hunting and fishing with occasional honey-do’s for Gloria during retirement. He had almost 40 years of retirement doing the things he enjoyed.

Joy Nell Brown, 64, of Hemphill died January 11, 2024, at Nacogdoches Medical Center. Born January 15, 1959, in Lufkin, she enjoyed spending time with family and was a longtime Sabine County resident.

Loretta Clarene Ellis, 82, of Hemphill, Texas passed away Friday, January 12, 2024. She was born May 29, 1941 in Hemphill, Texas to O.A.