Dorothy Lena Cook Foster

     Funeral services for Dorothy Lena Cook Foster, age 93 of Forestburg, are scheduled for 10:00 AM Tuesday, March 4, 2014 the Church of Christ of Forestburg with C. E. Cole and Ricky Wyatt officiating. Burial will follow in New Harp Cemetery outside of Forestburg under the direction of Scott Funeral Home of Saint Jo. A visitation will be held Monday, March 3, 2014 from 7:00 to 8:00 PM at the funeral home. Mrs. Foster died Friday, February 28, 2014 in Muenster.
     One of the fifteen children of Jim and Nora Helms Cook, Dorothy was born January 22, 1921 in Valley View, Texas. After the death of their father at an early age, she and her siblings were raised by their mother in the community of New Harp where she attended the small school. On December 24, 1939, Dorothy married Cecil V. Foster. They became the proud parents of two daughters. Dorothy retired from North Texas State University (now University of North Texas) as the Food Service Supervisor. She was a longtime member of the Church of Christ in Forestburg and a member of the Farm Bureau. Dorothy loved to be around people and thought of her family and others first. She loved the family reunions and was always the life of the party.
     Dorothy is survived by her: daughters, Billie and Jerry Poirot of Forestburg and Kaye and Chuck Scott of Denton; her sisters, Inez Boydstun and Minnie Jones of Throckmorton, TX; four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil Foster, her parents Jim and Nora Helms Cook, eleven of her sisters, three of her brothers, and one grandchild, Amy Poirot. Pallbearers were: Willie Scott, Chris Scott, Brent Walker, Ethan Rankin, Ross Scott, and Ryan Scott.

Audrey Lavern Graham Sampson

     Funeral services for Audrey Lavern Graham Sampson, age 79 of Saint Jo, are scheduled for 2:00 PM, Friday, February 28, 2014 at First Baptist Church of Saint Jo with Rev. Jeff Roe officiating. Burial will follow in Mountain Creek Cemetery under the direction of Scott Funeral Home. A visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Thursday, February 27, 2014 at the Scott Funeral Home in Saint Jo. Mrs. Sampson died Wednesday at the North Texas Medical Center in Gainesville.
     One of the three children of Franklin and Gertie (Larson) Graham, Audrey was born on February 24, 1935 in Nocona. She and her husband, Jesse “Bud” Sampson were the proud parents of fourteen children.
     Audrey is survived by her daughters: Linda Romine of Fort Worth, Debra and Jackie Husband of Gainesville, Belinda Sampson of Saint Jo, Leisa Sewell of Gainesville, and Kay Sampson of Gainesville; her sons: Jesse Bill Sampson, Jr. of Saint Jo, Gary and Evette Sampson of Nocona, David Sampson of Saint Jo, Frankie Sampson of Nocona, Jeff and Linda Sampson of Bowie, Dean and Martha Sampson of Nocona; her sister Hazel Sampson; twenty-nine grandchildren, thirty-four great grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter Patricia Sampson Weatherread; her sons Ricky and Jerry Sampson; and her brother, Franklin Graham. Pallbearers were: Dean, Jesse, David, Jeff, Randall, and Alan Sampson.

MaryNell King Donnell

     “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth more than rubies…Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” – Proverbs 31: 10, 28
     Heaven gained another saint on Thursday, February 20, 2014, as MaryNell King Donnell entered the gates and walked the streets of gold. MaryNell King was born to Joe and Nettie Pearl Buck on their home place east of Hardy, Texas, on June 19, 1918. She attended Hardy School and was a starting player on the basketball team. She married the love of her life J.C. Donnell on December 21, 1933. They had two wonderful children, Leonard Joe and MaryAnn. J.C. and MaryNell worked hard and made it possible for both their children to continue their education and earn college degrees. This extended for two more generations as they also made college a reality for their two grandsons, Terry and Gary, as well as their three great-granddaughters.
     The Donnells lived on acreage along Willie Wallie Creek where J.C. and MaryNell cleared and planted much of the land by hand. In 1954 they were awarded the “Most Progressive Farm Family” of Montague County then went on to win the “Master Farm Family of Texas” award given by “Progressive Farmer” magazine the next year. J.C. and MaryNell received numerous other farm and ranching awards over the years. They were one of the founders of the Blue Bonnet Hills Memorial Cemetery in Collinsville, Texas. In 1973, the Donnells moved to town in Saint Jo, Texas, where they became very involved in the Methodist Church in Saint Jo as well as many civic groups. MaryNell was room mother for both children every year, FFA and FHA mother, and a Camp Fire leader. She was president of the Blue Bonnet Study Club, and a member of Twentieth Century Club, Garden Club, and Home Demonstration Club. She was Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star in Saint Jo as well as Sunday School teacher and choir member for several decades along with being a member of the Wichita Women’s Forum.
     When you needed to find MaryNell, you could almost always locate her in a couple of in places…her flower beds with her gorgeous roses and hydrangeas, in her kitchen making yet another delicious meal, or at the local Dairy Queen having coffee and with her numerous friends and telling a good joke. In their 75 years together, J.C. and MaryNell traveled to all fifty states and several continents with friends and family. Their last excursion took them on a family cruise to Mexico as they celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary. They took top honors on the cruise for being the best “newlywed” couple on the ship! They loved watching the Mavericks and the Rangers play ball, and above all, they loved seeing their family members happy. MaryNell moved to Presbyterian Manor in 2009 following J.C.’s death. She dearly loved her nurses there.
     MaryNell is preceded in death by her devoted husband, J.C. Donnell; her beloved son Leonard Joe Donnell; and her sisters Joann King Mock and Louise King Roberts. She is survived by her daughter MaryAnn Donnell Cunningham of Wichita Falls; grandson Terry Donnell Cunningham and great-granddaughter Laura Elizabeth Cunningham of Stillwater, OK; grandson Gary Dean Cunningham, wife Shelly Cardwell Cunningham and great-granddaughter Kelise Deann Cunningham of Wichita Falls; and great-granddaughter Callie Jo Cunningham of Lubbock.
     Funeral services for Mary Nell Donnell, age 95 of Saint Jo, will be held 2:00 PM, Saturday, February 22, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church of Saint Jo with Rev. Larry Kruger and Rev. Larry Coleman officiating. Burial will follow at Mountain Park Cemetery in Saint Jo under the direction of Scott Funeral Home of Saint Jo. There will be a visitation following the burial at the church. Pallbearers were: Don Vogel, Tommy Langston, Michael Roberts, Joe Roberts, Homer Kirk and Jess Kirk. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Wichita Falls, Presbyterian Manor, or the charity of your choice.

Eileen Sicking

     Mass of Christian Burial for Eileen Sicking, age 61 of Muenster was held 10:00 AM Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Rev. Ken Robinson officiating. Burial followed in Sacred Heart Cemetery under the direction of Scott Funeral Home of Muenster. A Rosary/Vigil was held at 7:00 PM, Monday, February 17, 2014 at the funeral home.
     Eileen was born May 6, 1952 and died February 15, 2014 in Muenster. She was one of the eight children of Joe H. and Hilda (Becker) Sicking. With an ever present smile, Eileen brought joy to everyone who knew her.
     Eileen is survived by her mother, Hilda Sicking of Muenster; her sisters: Dolores and Johnny Stark of Irving, Ann Sicking of Arlington, Rose Sicking of Arlington, Sharon and Darrell Swirczynski of Kyle, TX; her brothers: Robert Sicking of Arlington, TX, Chris Sicking of Muenster, and Joe L. Sicking of Woodbine, TX; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Joe H. Sicking.

Billy Joe James

     Mass of Christian Burial for Billy Joe James was held 10:00 AM Thursday, February 6, 2014 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Muenster. A Rosary/Vigil was held 6:00 PM, Wednesday, February 5, 2014 also at Scott Funeral Home. Services were officiated by Rev. Ken Robinson and under the direction of Scott Funeral Home of Muenster. Billy Joe died February 2, 2014 in Muenster.
     Billy Joe was born in Gibson County, Indiana on March 10, 1932 to Thurman Delbert James and Ruth Viola Wicklin.
     God, family, and country – the three most important elements in Billy Joe’s life in which he served with love and passion.
     He searched for a long time and after 81 years he found his peace by joining Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Muenster on Palm Sunday, March 24, 2013. Daily prayers and bedtime thanks were among his many conversations with God.
     Music was a window to Billy Joe’s soul. He wrote many songs and poems. Sharing his talent as a musician, he started a band named “The Country Rocks” where he played lead guitar and backup vocals with his brother, Kenny James, as lead vocalist. This was some of his happiest and fondest memories, often bringing a lump in his throat and tears to his eyes anytime he drifted down memory lane.
     Billy Joe is his families’ hero. Being the first born, he served as son, big brother, daddy, grandpa, great grandpa, and great-great grandpa. There was no limit to what he would do for his family.
     Billy Joe joined the Army in February 1956. Being award declarations in Carbine Sharpshooter, Rifle Expert, Good Conduct Medal, Expert Infantry Badge. He was stationed in Germany along the Berlin Wall. He was a lifelong member of the V.F.W and a member of the American Legion and served in many positions and duties.
     Billy Joe worked in his early years helping his dad and his grandpa Joe on the farm, as a driller in the oil field in Indiana and Illinois and the coal mine in Illinois. After moving with his wife, Marilyn, and youngest daughter, Billie to Texas in 1986, he enrolled in the police academy and served as chief of police in Saint Jo until his retirement in 1996.
     Billy Joe’s most loved work was farming and ranching, the hard work but simple life of a farmer. He took on many jobs brush hogging, plowing, disking and planting as well as many fence building jobs where he graciously supervised. Waking up early each day to check on the cattle and make sure all were counted for and repeating this before each evening’s sunset. Billy Joe was a simple man with simple ways, where a man’s handshake and good word was all that he needed to seal a deal.
     Billy Joe is survived by his daughters: Gail and Mike Bryant of Newalla, OK, Betty James of Gainesville, Billie and Tony Grewing of Muenster; sons: Ralph and Sharron James of Gainesville, David and Kathy James of Oklahoma City, OK, Keith and Suzanne Haney of Fountain Valley, CA; his sister, Grace and Terry Kelsey of Odon, Indiana; brother Pete and Kathy James of Mt. Carmel, Illinois; thirteen grandchildren, twenty-four great grandchildren, and seven great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Marilyn L. Alldredge, Chrystal Adams, mother of his five oldest children; his parents: Thurman Delbert James and Ruth Viola Wicklin; his brothers: Ora Kenneth (Kenny) James and Hovey Ray James and one grandchild.
     Pallbearers were: Keith Bartlett, Mike James, Tim James, Brian James, Jon Grewing, Matthew Grewing, Kenneth Grewing, and Ryan Hess.