Obituaries

Delores (Sissy) Ashcraft, 60, of Milam passed away peacefully in her home, Thursday, December 22, after a four-year battle with Frontotemporal Dementia. She was born on July 24th, 1962, in Hemphill, to Mary Odell Chambers & Tuck Jacobs.

Ottis Dale Melton, 90, a lifelong resident of San Augustine and Sabine Counties, passed away Friday, December 23, in Stone Creek Nursing Home in San Augustine. He was born September 15, 1932 in Paxton, to Preston Melton and Alice Rowe Melton. He served in the United States Army and later for IBW in Port Arthur as an electrician before his retirement. He was a 53 year member of Bronson Masonic Lodge #893 and also of the Eastern Star. He is survived by his grandsons, Benjamin Melton and wife, Sarah, of Macon, Georgia and Jeremiah Melton and wife, Kayla, of Maud, Texas.

Nedra Ince, age 90, passed away on Tuesday, December 27. She was born on December 30, 1931, in Mounds, Illinois. She lived her teen years in Parsons, KS where she graduated from Parsons High School where she was homecoming queen and performed in school musicals showcasing her beautiful operatic voice. She continued her singing talent throughout her college years, at church, and at home for her family. She met the love of her life, Jim Ince, in Parsons. It was love at first sight when he saw her walking down the street. That climactic moment led to nearly 60 years of marriage filled with love and blessings. Those blessings included their three sons Jim, Tom, and Jon, their two daughters, Tammy and Jeanne, daughtersin- law Gloria and Cindy, son-in-laws Bob and Gregg and their grandchildren Daniel, Thomas, Rachel, Jessica, Ryan, Krystal, Landon, Hayley, Kylee, Spencer, Zane, and Natalie and their great-grandchildren Jake, Cale, Charlie, Hunter, Kinley, Madeleine, Caroline, Graham, Norah, Heidi, Rainy, Gracie, Emory, Drayton, Emma James, Anderson, Warren, Ellison, Isla Rose, and Luke.

He passed away on Saturday, December 24, while working on the family ranch in Jasper. He graduated from Beaumont High School and later received a Bachelor of Science degree Sam Houston State University. He and his wife, Ann, moved to Jasper in 1972. Bill and his brother Matt later opened and operated Jasper Farm and Ranch Supply for over 34 years. He was also a former owner of All Wheels Yamaha and Pumpco, a rural water system construction company out of Beaumont, Texas. He was a member of the Jasper Lions Club Rodeo “Good Guys and Bad Guys” Group, the Bevils Rangers, and a founding member of the Jasper County Junior Livestock Foundation. He was a cowboy, a horseman, and avid outdoorsman. He also loved building black powder rifles, working in his shop, and above all else, taking care of his family. There was nothing that Bill couldn’t fix.

Leonard Wayne Hughes, 56, of Hemphill, passed away on Tuesday, December 20, at the Sabine County Hospital. He was born on January 21, 1966 in Hemphill, to Floyd Buford Hughes and Ruth Lee Watson Hughes. He enjoyed going to church and singing in the choir. He loved country western music and knew all the words to The Star-Spangled Banner. Although he couldn’t read, he loved his books and would sit for hours just turning the pages. Leonard adored his collection of stuffed animals and would line them up all around the house to look at them all. He was very loved and will be dearly missed.

Eva Dell Lunsford, 79, of Orange, passed away on December 22, at her home in Orange. Born in “Fergie Hill” outside of Hemphill, on Dec. 3, 1943, She was the daughter of Willie Samuel Ferguson and Nettie Irene Rogers Ferguson. As the second oldest of 9 children, she was like a parent to her youngest siblings. Passionate about education, she was single-minded in her pursuit of the highest grades possible and her goal to attend nursing school in Beaumont. Her hard work paid off, and she graduated Valedictorian of her high school and her college where she co-edited the yearbook and developed lifelong friendships.

Thomas Woodruff Stillwell, Jr., 82, of Hemphill, passed away on Tuesday, December 20, in Humble. He was born on February 20, 1940 in Columbus, GA to Thomas Woodruff Stillwell, Sr.

Clementine Teagle Johnson of San Augustine passed away Tuesday, Dec. 6, at Colonial Pines Health Care Center at the age of 84 years, 5 months, and 20 days. She was born June 16, 1938, in San Augustine to parents Ella (Jones) and Joe Teagle. She had lived in other areas, but returned to the San Augustine area to reside for the past several years. A nursing assistant, she had worked at a Houston hospital in addition to several years at Colonial Pines Health Care Center in San Augustine as well as Green Acres Nursing Home in Center.

Freddie Jo Solly Shaver, 87, passed away on December 14, 2022. She was born on July 9, 1935, in Hemphill, to Fred and Magdalene Solly. She moved to Beaumont to attend Lamar University and remained a lifelong resident. She worked as a bookkeeper for several Beaumont businesses over the years. She was an avid gardener and loved making crafts with her mother and traveling to craft shows around Texas. She enjoyed her grandchildren’s marching band performances, football games and family celebrations. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother!