Obituaries

Rickey Glenn Logan, son of Madison Edgar and Lenora Lee (Turknett) Logan, was born Nov. 27, 1954, in Franklin, Louisiana. He departed this life on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital, in Fort Leonard Wood, MO, at the age of sixty-eight years, nine months, and twenty-seven days. On Feb. 14, 2001, he was united in marriage to Gay Nell Holt, and they shared the last twenty-two years together.

Troy Julious Boyett, 97, of the Campground Community in Milam, passed away Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023 at Shady Acres Nursing Home in Newton. Troy was born Sept. 2, 1926 to Nathan Edward and Ola Boyett. He was a lifelong resident of Sabine County and he served his country during World War II as a member of the United States Army. After his time in the military, he worked for many years as a bricklayer. He enjoyed working in his garden and preserving his vegetables and figs. He also liked mowing his yard. When he had the chance, he like to go fishing and he enjoyed spending time with all his grandchildren.

Joe Edward Best, 87, of Milam passed away Thursday, Sep. 14 at CHI St. Luke’s Hospital in Lufkin. Joe was born to James Fletcher Best & Juanita Best on May 20, 1936 in Holly Fork, a community out of Colmesneil. Visitation was held Monday, Sep. 18 from 11:30 a.m. until service time at 1 p.m. at Stringer & Griffin Funeral Home Chapel in Woodville. Burial followed at Magnolia Cemetery in Woodville. Officiating was done by Michele Hunt Flores. Randall Best, Brock Poole, Zack Poole, Justin Hunt, Rodney Paulette, and Johnnie Dunn served as pallbearers with Bryan Zbylot as honorary.

Joanna Sparks Smith, 54, of Willis passed away peacefully surrounded by her family Sunday, Sep. 10 at her home. She fought her battle with cancer with grace as she did everything else in her life. Her smile brightened every day. She was born September 25, 1968 in San Antonio to John Richard Sparks and Julia Ann (Judy) Carter Sparks. She was a graduate of West Sabine High School as a member of the class of 1987. After high school, she attended Stephen F. Austin University where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and went on to work at the firm of Melms & Schubert in that capacity.

Howard Gaylon Waller, 84, of Hemphill, passed away Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023 at Baptist Hospital in Beaumont. Gaylon was born Aug. 18, 1939 in Milam, to Clarence Washington Waller and Leona Bragg Waller. He was a life-long resident of Sabine County and a graduate of Hemphill High School. Shortly after graduating from high school, he started his career in the automotive field at Hemphill Motor Company where he worked for many years doing what he loved. While there, he worked as a mechanic, parts manager, and shop manager. After the dealership closed, he stayed on. You could count on him being there, always smiling, to help with all your automotive issues and inspections. His favorite things to work on were old tractors and old trucks.

Amy Lea Carr, 64, of Milam, Texas passed away Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023 at her residence. Amy was born April 23, 1959 in Granite City, Illinois to Ernest Archie Cochran and Anna Lee Futrell Cochran. She was a graduate of Collinsville High School in Collinsville, Illinois. After graduation, she moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma where she worked for the Federal Reserve Bank. She later moved back to Illinois where she studied at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science.

Sept.11, 2023 at Starr Funeral Home. Graveside services began at 11 a.m.