Bobbie Roy Whitaker

  Bobbie Roy Whitaker, 87, of Argyle, Texas passed away April 2, 2025 at his residence. He was born January 19, 1938 in Harlem, Georgia to Roy C. and Dona Moore Whitaker. 

Bobbie was married 38 years to the love of his life Glenda Sue Perry Whitaker. He worked many years as a supervisor for a telephone company. Bobbie served our country proudly in the United States Air Force. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Gordon; two sisters, Elsie and Julia; and a brother-in-law, John Perry.

His survivors include his loving wife Glenda Sue Whitaker; daughter, Melanye Griffin and husband Ricky of Argyle, Texas; brother, Ronnie Whitaker and wife June of Harlem, Georgia; sister, June Anderson and husband Ernest of Martinez, Georgia; sister-in-law, Dena Perry of Newton, Tx; grandsons, Storm Griffin and wife Morgan of Argyle, Texas and Antonio Griffin and wife Alexis of Argyle, Texas; great granddaughters, Weslynn and Emersyn Griffin; many nieces , nephews and lifelong friend Jesse Gillard.

Visitation will be Friday April 4, 2025 at Smith Funeral Home in Newton, Texas from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm. A memorial service will be held Saturday April 5, 2025 at 2:00 pm in the Chapel at Smith Funeral  Home. 

Bobbie will be missed and remembered by all who knew and loved him. 

  Sopharia Ann Dainwood Hurst passed away, in her home, among close family on Monday, March 17, 2025. She was 80 years old. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jonathan (Jon) Irvin Hurst, Verna Faye Newberry Dainwood (mother), and John Aaron Dainwood (father).

Sopharia was born in Jasper, TX, October 8, 1944. She was an only child, raised by her mother and father in Newton, TX, where she graduated from Newton High School. She began her undergrad studies at Kilgore Junior College, where she was a member of the Kilgore Rangerettes, and Zeta Phi Omega Sorority. 

Sopharia married the love of her life, Jon Hurst, May 15, 1963. Starting out as a young married couple, they moved into an old home, near the Sabine River, in Newton, TX. They built their first home on the banks of the Sabine River, where they started their lives, family, and business together. In 1963 they opened the Sabine Fish Hatchery, moved into their home, and had their first-born child soon thereafter. She lived her life to the fullest as a homemaker, mother, wife, Nana (grandmother), and so much more.

Apart from the Sabine Fish Hatchery, Sopharia loved to paint, go to art shows, and enjoyed being around others. She took up photography as her children grew up and left home. She enjoyed taking photographs of wildflowers, flowers, butterflies, birds and all nature. She loved to share her photography with everyone, as she believed in sharing the beauty of the world with others. She had hopes to one day finish and publish her book of “wildflowers of Newton County, TX.” 

She lived a full life, as a loving wife, mother, Nana, and friend. She leaves behind Jonathan “Andy” Hurst (son), James “Jim” Hurst (son), Tamara “Tammy” Medley (daughter), James Hurst (brother-in-law); grandchildren Lauren Hurst Reynolds, Mark Shoemaker, and Aaron Shoemaker. 

Visitation will be Thursday, March 20, 2025 from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM at Smith Funeral Home in Newton, Texas.

Funeral Services will begin at 10:00 am Friday, March 21, 2025 in the Chapel at Smith Funeral Home with burial at Newton City Cemetery.

Jimmy Lavelle Powers, Jr., 77, of Jasper, Texas, passed away at home on Saturday, March 15, 2025.

Jimmy was born on March 12, 1948, to Jimmy Lavelle Powers, Sr., and Jeanne Sanders Powers in Kilgore, Texas. After graduating from Bay City High School in 1966, he went to college at East Texas Baptist College, where he met the love of his life, Betty Lea Fillyaw. Betty’s family was not too sure about the “city boy” she brought home, but it worked out, and Jimmy and Betty were married in 1968. Together, they had a son, Jimmy Lavelle Powers III (Jay), and a daughter, Amy Elizabeth Powers Woods.

With a young family to support, Jimmy worked odd jobs to make ends meet, as a security guard at Jasper Memorial Hospital and as an offshore driller for a short time. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1975, with a degree in Accounting, a major he would jokingly say he chose because it had the least amount of required math and no foreign language. His first job after graduation was at Jasper Federal Savings & Loan as a home appraiser, where he was also tasked with leading a group of traveling seniors called the Federalaires. Traveling around the world with the Federalaires provided some of the greatest friends and memories of his lifetime. Later, he worked with Wayne Stephenson as a real estate agent, until he finally found his calling as a mortgage loan officer. He worked at many of the banks in Jasper through the years and was very proud that he played a role in helping so many in his community purchase homes. 

Jimmy was an active member at First Baptist Church of Jasper, serving on various committees and singing in the church and community choirs. He loved sports, particularly football and baseball. He was a season ticket holder for the Jasper Bulldogs for nearly 45 years and loved his years running the timeclock in the press box. Jimmy fondly remembered his time as a Little League and Babe Ruth League coach, which he began even before his own son played. At season’s end, he would take his baseball team to Astroworld or to watch his favorite MLB team, the Houston Astros. In 1995, Jimmy was recruited by his daughter to perform with her in the Jasper Community Theater’s production of South Pacific, with the promise that he would not have to sing, dance, or have a speaking part. He ended up with a few lines, singing, and dancing in that show, but it must have been okay with him because he went on to join many other productions and even served on the JCT board.

In 2018, Jimmy retired from full-time work. An avid golfer and longtime member of Jasper Country Club and Rayburn Country Club, he expected to spend his retirement on the golf course, but his health had started to limit his ability to play. Instead, he leaned into other things that gave him joy: singing in the choir, going to his yoga class, and attending as many of his grandchildren’s activities as possible. When he was not doing that, he could be found in his living room, testing his knowledge of random tidbits of trivia while watching Cash Cab or Jeopardy! There was never a Civil War question he could not answer.

Jimmy was preceded in death by his father, Jimmy L. Powers, Sr., and mother, Jeanne Sanders Powers. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Betty Fillyaw Powers of Jasper, Texas; his children, Jimmy Lavelle Powers III “Jay” and wife, Kimberly Day Powers, of Jasper, Texas, Amy Powers Woods and husband, Dustin Thomas Woods of Carrollton, Texas; sister, Barbara Jo Baethe and husband, Frank Baethe, of Richmond, TX; grandchildren, Matthew Dawson Powers, Macy Reese Powers, Dylan Micah Woods and wife, Samantha Harsh Woods, Tyler Thomas Woods, and Payton Elizabeth Woods, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation will be held at First Baptist Church of Jasper, TX, on Saturday, March 22nd, at 1pm, with the funeral service to follow at 2pm. He will be laid to rest in the Newton City Cemetery immediately following the ceremony. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Newton City Cemetery, care of Charlene Medley, 551 FM 2626, Newton, TX 75966.

  Funeral services for Roy Gene Herrington will be 10:00 am Wednesday March 19, 2025, at Smith Funeral Home in Newton, Texas. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm at the funeral home in Newton. 

Roy passed away March 17, 2025 at Beaumont Baptist Hospital. 

He was born January 25, 1956 to James Arthur and Hazel Lee Campbell Herrington.

Roy was a logger in the logging industry for many years. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers, James Herrington, and Robert Herrington.

Roy is survived by sons, Jason Roy Herrington of Newton, Tx, Joseph Paul Herrington of Atascocita, Tx, and Dillin Kelly Herrington of Newton, Tx; daughter, Cynthia Lee Sharp of New Caney, Tx; brother, Billy Herrington of Newton, Tx; sisters, Rose Adams of Lumberton, Tx, Helen Clark of Lumberton, Tx, and Mary Jeane of Newton, Tx; grandchildren, Iziah, Samual, Cameron, Austin, Jacob, Kimber, Kaylynn, Kilee, Mackenzie, Tyson, and Rose; and great grandchildren, Jensen and Mason.

Roy will be remembered and missed greatly by all who knew and loved him.

Funeral services for Joyce Gilchriest Gilley will be 2:00 pm Wednesday March 12, 2025 at Smith Funeral Home in Newton, Texas. Visitation will be from 1:00 pm until service time. 

Ms. Gilley passed away March 8, 2025 at her residence in Newton, Texas.  

She was born February 02, 1933 to John and Myrtie Russell Gilchriest. Joyce was a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother and so much more.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Gordon Gilley; and son, Tony Gilley.

Joyce is survived by her son, Jimmy Gilley and wife Lynda of Blank, Tx; daughter, Kathy Maier and husband Donnie of Newton, Tx; grandchildren, Dina, Robyn, Eric, Heather, Jason, Amy, and Brandy;  numerous great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. 

She will be remembered and greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. 

A memorial service for Thomas Daniel Smyczek will be Friday March 7, 2025 starting at 1:00pm, at Fawil United Pentecostal Church in Fawil, TX.  

He was born December 15, 1974 in Jamestown, New York to Michael J. and Kathleen Ann White Smyczek.

Mr. Smyczek lived in Bon Wier for the past few years. He served our country proudly in the United States Army and he worked many years as an auto mechanic. 

Survivors include wife, Wendy Brown; sons, Jonathan Smyczek; Ty Smyczek; and Edward Smyczek; brother, Scott Smyczek; sisters Denise Ann Smyczek, Brenda Smyczek Edsall, and Dawn Kostryicki; and grandchild Zuri Brown.

He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.