HAZEL ANN BENNETT

Hazel Ann Bennett, 79, of Buna died Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont.

Funeral services were held Saturday, January 16 at Adams E.E. Stringer Funeral Home in Buna with burial at Antioch Cemetery. Brother Mike Ivy officiated and pallbearers were Joshua Bennett, Johnny Hall, Ray Worsham, Danny Stanley, Robert Buffington, Jr. and Steven Comte.

Hazel was born December 25, 1930 in Buna to Charlie Quinn Sheppard and Hazel Ann (Turner) Sheppard.  She was a lifelong resident of Buna.

Survivors include her sons, James Bennett and wife Reba and Buck Bennett and wife Charlotte; sisters, Ruby Jackson and Mary White and husband Robert; brother, W.A. Sheppard and wife JoAnn; grandchildren, Joshua M. Bennett and Johnny Grey Hall and wife Karen; and great-grandchildren, Jonathan Hall, Cameron Hall and Elizabeth Hall.

JESSE W. DOWDEN

Jesse W. Dowden, 73, of Call died Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at CHRISTUS Jasper Memorial Hospital.

Funeral services were held Friday, January 22 at Adams E.E. Stringer Funeral Home in Kirbyville with burial at Davis Cemetery in Beulah Springs. 

A native of Segno, he had lived in Kirbyville 24 years and was retired from Central Freightlines.  He was a U.S. Army veteran.

Survivors include his wife, Yvonne Dowden of Call; children, Allen Denmon and Theresa of Kirbyville; Chris Dowden and Joanie of Call; Beverly Wade and Mitchell of Waller; Belinda Arroyo and Miguel of Call and Jessica Liles and Doug of Call; sister, Betty Sue Guillory of Houston; 10 grandchildren; and five great- grandchildren.

BOBBIE JEAN SMITH MORGAN

Bobbie Jean Smith Morgan, 81, of Call died January 20, 2010 at her residence.

Funeral services were held Saturday, January 23 at the Call United Methodist Church with burial at Trout Creek Cemetery under the direction of Adams E.E. Stringer Funeral Home in Kirbyville. 

Born February 24, 1928 in Jasper, she had lived in Call most of her life. She attendended school at Brookeland, Call and Kirbyville.

Her service to the community, county, state and nation includes: President of local PTA, 48 year member of Call United Methodist Church while teaching Sunday School there for 40, served on Paster Parish Relations committee for 20 years.  Bobbie milked cows to support the family while in the dairy business, was President of the local MHMR support group, served on the Burke Center MHMR board for 20 years, led a drive and acquired a grant from both Temple Foundation and the Johnson Foundation to reopen the Mixon Memorial Clinic and to open the Sam Rayburn Clinics.  She was the president of Texas Rural Electric Womens Association for four years and was elected the first National president of the NREWA covering 7000 co-ops in every state except Hawaii, where she spoke in all 10 regions.  Mrs. Morgan founded ETREYS for the rural electric youth of East Texas sponsoring 125 youth each year and where a scholarship is given yearly in her and her husband’s name.

Survivors include her husband, Carl Morgan; brother, Lester Wayne Smith and wife Beth; sister, Carolyn Sue Williams; sons, David M. Morgan and wife Gwen, Randy Morgan and wife Donna, along with Michael and Theresa Stuck; grandsons, Clint Morgan and wife Ashley, Jessie Morgan and wife Jennifer, Christopher Morgan and wife Khyle, Cody Morgan and wife Melissa, David L. Morgan and wife Jennifer and Trent Morgan; granddaughter, Courtney Morgan and fiancé Perry Odom; and great-grandchildren, Cade Morgan, Karli Morgan, Caylee Morgan and Makenzie Odom.

WILLIAM RONALD “RONNY” POWELL

William Ronald “Ronny” Powell, 41, of Kirbyville died Tuesday, January 12, 2010 in Groves.

Funeral services were held Friday, January 15 at Adams E.E. Stringer Funeral Home in Kirbyville with burial at Trout Creek Cemetery. Janice Herron officiated the service.  

Pallbearers were Charles Graham, Steve Peel, Jason Kirbow, Jason McClendon, Keith Stout and Richard Jordan.  Honorary pallbearers were Mark Kirbow, Thad Meredith, Dustin Stout, Rick Hughes and Jerry Reynolds.

Ronny was born February 5, 1968 in Kirbyville to Ronald Cobb Powell and Delores (Gilcrease) Powell Laviolette.  He was a lifelong resident of Kirbyville and was a Foreman for Conex.

He was preceded in death by his father, Ronald Cobb Powell.

Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Delores and Dickie Laviolette of Kirbyville; sister and brother-in-law, Joleen and Mark Kirbow of Kirbyville; nephew, Jason Kirbow and Haylee of Kirbyville; niece, D’anna Kirbow and fiancé Jason McClendon of Kirbyville; fiancé, Ronda Jo Ozan of Kirbyville; aunt, Janice and Fred Herron of Kirbyville; uncle, Kenneth and wife Paula Gilcrease of Spurger; and stepsister, Amanda “Mandy” Caster of Kirbyville.