Obituaries

Betsy Helen Garner, age 95, (born August 11, 1926) passed away peacefully on November 30, 2021. She was the widow of Marion Marshall Garner, Jr. They shared 61 years of marriage together.

Richard Lee Houston II of Forney, Texas was born September 27, 1975 in Dallas, Texas to Richard Lee I and Debra Houston. He married Shelley Penn on May 11, 2001 in Dallas.

Sam Tanner was born on March 23,1936 in Forney, Texas to John B. Tanner and Velma Ruth Lindsey Tanner. He was raised in Forney and graduated from Forney High School in 1954.

Guy Edward Helms passed away on Nov. 4, 2021, at the age of 51. The Dallas-area native was born June 10, 1970, to Ross Junior Helms and Sharon (Matthias) Helms and graduated from MacArthur High School in Irving, Texas. Guy Helms held a series of jobs before beginning his career in law enforcement with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office in 1993. He met his future wife, Susie Crawford, five years later, and they married in August 2000 -- about the same time he graduated from the academy and was sworn in as a deputy. He left the sheriff’s office in December 2002 to join the Rowlett Police De-partment as a patrol officer. He advanced to detective in the department’s Criminal Investigation Division. He was a sergeant in the department’s Patrol Division at the time of his death. Guy was known to family, friends and colleagues as a kind man but with a wicked sense of humor. He was always able to lighten a tense day with laughter. Guy and Susie had two beautiful daughters, Lauren and Alyssa, and he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He liked to work out, play golf, ride his motorcycle and four-wheel all-terrain vehicles, and fish with his girls. His daughters had only recently interested him in TikTok, and he could be heard in the other room as he laughed over some of the comments posted there. His parents preceded him in death. Besides his wife and children, he is survived by three sisters, Lea and Amanda Helms and Laura Lawson; his grandmother, Mickey Matthias; many aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces ... and his Blue Family.

Ronald Gene Chandler (Ron) was born to Vernon and Geneva Chandler on November 19, 1937 in Lawton, OK and left this earth on October 26, 2021 at the age of 83 years 11 months and 7 days.

Charles Bruce Benedict, 58, of Forney, Texas; son of Charles Millard Benedict and Florence Lee Fewell Benedict, went to be with the Lord on Oct. 11, 2021. Bruce was born on Dec. 16, 1962 in Dallas, Texas. He was raised in the Dallas area until 1977 when his parents decided it was time to move to Forney, Texas, his hometown for the last 44 years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Forney.

Services for Lewis Clifton Pierce, Jr. of Forney, TX, were held 2 pm Wednesday, October 20, 2021, at Eubank Funeral Home in Canton with Pastor Jeff Garrett officiating. Interment was held in Haven of Memories. Visitation preceeded the service at 1 pm.

Dr. Robert Lamar Woodham (Lamar), lifelong professor and teacher, passed away on October 4, 2021, at the age of 81. Lamar’s life did not come to an end with his death. His teachings and influence, both in life and school, will continue to live on through his family, friends, and students, who were able to learn from his knowledge and experience. At the time of his death, he was a resident of Sunnyvale, Texas.

Lottie Mae Harper Kent was born January 12, 1935 and passed on September 25, 2021. She was a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and a friend to so many. She was a born again believer and had attended Brother Jerry Griffin’s Sunday school classes and the 1st Baptist Church of Forney.

Audrey Goode Stinson, 46, of Wills Point, Texas, passed away on September 19, 2021, in Tyler at Mother Francis from effects of Covid-19 after fighting for 5 1/2 weeks. She was born February 16, 1975, in Dallas, Texas, to Shirley Jean Goode and the late Earle Henry Goode.

Gloria Fay (Allred) Eacret, 87 of Bella Vista, Arkansas, passed away on Thursday, August 27, 2021 at Highlands of Bella Vista. She was born on July 12, 1934 to Sam and Lela (Palmer) Allred, in their home near Clarksville, Arkansas. She was raised in Fort Smith. She worked as a secretary to the principal of Forney High School in For-ney, Texas. Later, she started her own business, The Calico Goose, in the historic district of downtown Van Buren, selling handmade crafts.

David Eugene Townsend, a lifelong resident of Forney, passed away peacefully on August 5, 2021. David was born May 28, 1932 in Forney, Tx. to James Columbus and Ettie Mae (Nash) Townsend, and was the youngest of nine children.

Caleb Brandon Couch, son of Brandon Couch and Jessica Crawford, was born on January 15, 2004 and passed away on July 15, 2021.