Lena Mary Smith

   Lena Mary Smith passed away December 16, 2024 at her residence in Bon Wier, Texas.

Lena was born August 13, 1953 in Wetumpka, Alabama to William C. and Aldora Self Jarrett.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Eugene Smith; and a brother Gene Jarrett.

Lena is survived by her sons, Rufus Smith of Buna, Texas and Jimmy Smith and wife Kristy of Bon Wier; brother, Roy Ward of Merryville, Louisiana; grandchildren, Trevor, Taylor, Brooklyn, Tyler, Taylor, Montana, Jacob, Mary, Isaiah, Shelby, Gracie, Mary and Sara; and many great grandchildren.

Funeral services for Lena Mary Smith will be 2:00 pm Saturday December 21, 2024 at Smith Funeral Home in Newton, Texas with burial at Newton City Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm at the funeral home.

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

Thelma Jane McKinney 90, of Newton, Texas passed away at Hemphill Care Center on December 11, 2024. She was born May 31, 1934 in Newton, Texas, to Alson and Zealy Craft Simmons. 

Thelma worked many years at the Plywood Plant on the lay up line. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Almus McKinney; sons, Allen Ray McKinney and Wayne McKinney; brothers. Enoch Simmons and Marvin Simmons; sisters, Beatrice Hayden and LaVern DuBose.

Thelma is survived by her daughters, Teresa Scott and husband Kenneth of Pineland, Dot Vaughn and husband Troy of San Augustine, and Nelda McKinney of San Augustine; a sister Shirley DuBose of Hemphill; and several grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. 

A graveside service will be held 2:00 pm Friday December 13, 2024 at Newton City Cemetery. 

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

Danny Thomas Gilley Sr., 63, of Newton, Texas, passed away at his residence December 08, 2024.  He was born September 07, 1961 in Newton, Texas to Thomas Ebin Gilley Sr. and Mertie Jewel Armstrong Gilley. 

He is preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include sons, Ryan Gilley and wife Raegan of Newton, and Danny Thomas Gilley Jr. and wife Davonna of Conroe; brothers, Thomas Polk Gilley Sr. of Conroe, Daniel Gilley of Newton, Thomas Gilley Jr. of Newton, Prentiss Gilley of Newton and Donnie Gilley of Old Salem; sisters, Theresa Green of Newton and Cheryl Naranjo of Jasper; grandchildren, Easton Layne Gilley, and Adalyn Mae Gilley.

Danny was a truck driver in the Logging industry for many years. 

Visitation service will be Wednesday December 11, 2024 from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Smith Funeral Home in Newton, Texas. The Funeral will be 2:00 pm Thursday December 12, 2024 in the Chapel at Smith Funeral Home with burial to follow at Woods Cemetery in Burkeville, Texas. 

Mr. Gilley will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

In Lieu of flowers please donate to the funeral home for funeral expenses.

William Earl “Bill” Callaway, 70, of Fred, Texas passed away December 2, 2024 at his residence. He was born April 19, 1954in Silsbee, Texas to Raymond “Punk” Callaway and Oda Mae” Janie” Jenkins Callaway. 

Funeral services will be 11am Friday December 6, 2024 at Oak Grove Assembly of God Church in Fred Texas. Visitation will be from 10am until service time.

Bill was a resident of Fred, Texas and was married to Tammy Callaway for 24 years even though they were together for 37 years. He loved to hunt and fish, Bill like to joke and sometimes you didn’t know if he was serious or joking. He loved his kids and grandkids and taught them a lot about life. 

Bill was retired from Santa Fe Railroad where he worked on the track crew. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Tammy Callaway; son Raymond Joe Callaway; and a sister Elizabeth Ann Hutto.

Survivors include sons William E. “Tooter Bill” Callaway, Cody McGallion, and Dustin Hinson,; daughter Patricia Callaway; brother Sambo Callaway and wife Sue; nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren and many others who thought so much of Bill. He will be greatly missed. 

  Funeral Services for Mary Etta DuBose, 81, of Bon Wier, Texas will be 2:00 pm Monday December 2, 2024 at Smith Funeral Home in Newton, Texas with interment following at Ford cemetery in Newton. 

Mrs. Dubose passed away Saturday November 30, 2024 at her residence.

Mary was born December 16, 1942 in Deweyville, Texas to Claude Cecil and Ruby Mae Berry Youngblood. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, a grandson Sloane; and numerous brothers and sisters.

Mary is survived by her husband James Noel (Jim) DuBose Sr. of Bon Wier; son, James Noel Dubose Jr. and wife Karmon of Beaumont; daughters, Angela Smith and husband Thomas of Newton, Suzi Dubose of Houston, and Laurie Williamson and husband Ronny of Lumberton; brother, Josh Youngblood and wife Fleta of Kirbyville; sister, Joy Booth and husband Doug of Erin; grandchildren Kyle, CJ, and Madison; Great Grandchildren, Ryan, Madi, Joe, Layne, Kimber, Ali, Cash, and Karsyn.

Mrs. Dubose will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. 

Jonathan I. Hurst, affectionally known as “Jon,” passed away peacefully on November 10, 2024, at his home. He was 85 years old. He was proceeded in death by Ruth Ann Kerr Hurst (mother), Nathan “Johnny” I. Hurst (father). 

Jon was born in Dallas, TX. He was raised in Newton, TX, where he graduated from Newton High School. He began his undergrad studies at A&M University, and completed his studies as a biology major at the University of Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, TX. He married the love of his life, Sopharia Dainwood Hurst, on May 15, 1963.

Starting out as a young married couple, they moved into an old home, with dirt floors in the river bottom, near the Sabine River, in Newton, TX. He built their first home on the banks of the Sabine River, where they started their lives, family, and business together. Since he was a very young child, Jon always dreamed of opening a fish farm, studying wildlife, and being in and around nature. In 1963 he and his wife opened the Sabine Fish Hatchery, moved into their new home, and had their first-born child soon thereafter. Over the years he would recall that being the most precious moments in his life, starting out as a young adult, so ready to begin his adventure with the love of his life, his first son, and doing what he had dreamed of his entire life. 

As the Fish Hatchery grew, he became more involved with other entities, from the private sector to government entities, to share information about conservation in the bottomland ecosystems. He assisted scientists and biology students on field trips to the Sabine River region of East Texas in fisheries and wildlife conservation methods and practices. He hosted annual field trips for the ecology course students from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (currently the University of Louisiana) in Lafayette, LA. 

He was a keen observer of nature, identifying and studying the life cycle of numerous insects, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals occurring in the bottomlands, where he had established his home. He assisted scientist at the National Wetlands Research Center, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in understanding more about snapping turtles conservation in the bottomland ecosystems. He continued to build his legacy, as he encouraged others to learn about preserving our fish and wildlife. He was an independent contractor for Union Carbide, studying the effects of different chemicals. 

He lived a full life, as a loving husband, father, and friend. He leaves behind Sopharia Dainwood Hurst (wife), Jonathan “Andy” Hurst (son), James “Jim” Hurst (son), Tamara “Tammy” Hurst Medley (daughter), James Hurst (brother); grandchildren Lauren Hurst Reynolds, Mark Shoemaker, Aaron Shoemaker, and great grandchildren. 

Visitation will be Wednesday November 13, 2024, from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Smith Funeral Home in Newton, Texas.

Funeral service will begin at 2:00 pm Thursday November 14, 2024 in the Chapel at Smith Funeral Home with Burial at Newton City Cemetery.