Obituaries

Lynne was called home to Jesus on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. On July 16, 1952, Lynne was born in Fort Worth, Texas, to Betty Jo Beaver and Leroy Felder. She was a middle child, sister to older brother Steve and younger sister Dusty, and later a big sister to baby brother Billy Gaylen who went to be with the Lord at only two months old. Lynne was a daddy’s girl, and she was an avid fisherman. She also loved to sew and crochet, bake and cook for her family, and she loved the Lord with all her heart. She always had a “green thumb”, and she loved watching the Dallas Cowboys. She was known to get a little rowdy on game day.

Sterling (Sam) was born on 13 January, 1931, in Meyersville, Texas to Julius and Mary Moeller. At 91 years of age, he passed away on March 25, 2022. As a young boy working in the fields of the family farm, Sterling would stare into the sky at the planes overhead and dream of being that pilot, soaring to the greatest heights and touching the hand of God. In 1948, after graduating from Cuero High School in Cuero, Texas, he enlisted in the United States Air Force to carry out his dream. He was given the nickname Sam because Sterling took too long to say. He held the enlisted rank of Staff Sergeant until being commissioned as an officer and receiving his pilots’ wings in August, 1953. During his Air Force career, he was stationed at Perrin AFB in Denison, Texas, where he married and welcomed his first daughter. Stationed at Yokota AFB in Japan he welcomed daughters two and three; at Chanute AFB in Rantoul, IL he welcomed daughter four; and finally at Cannon AFB in Clovis, NM he welcomed his only son. Upon receiving a promotion from Captain to Major, Sterling was assigned to Da Nang AB in Vietnam as the Base Operations Officer. When his tour of duty in Vietnam was complete, he was assigned back to Perrin AFB.

MELISSA - Betty Rice Lynch of Melissa, Texas passed away on March 30, 2022 at the age of 88. She was born an only child on November 24, 1933 to Cindi E. and Ruth Elorn (Goolsby) Rice in Colbert, Oklahoma. The small family eventually moved to Texas, where Bettye graduated from Denison High School and later SOSU. She married Col. Harold D. Lynch “Pa” on April 7, 1961 in Denison, Texas and led a very happy and adventurous life with him as he made his way through the ranks to Full Bird Colonel of the United States Army. When “Pa” retired from the military in 1991, the pair continued with their travels around the world. He left us in 2008. Bettye “Ma” was the matriarch of the family and was very proud of her brood. She loved to tell stories of her experiences in travel and life. She was fortunate enough to have been a part of three consecutive “Five Generation” photos. Bettye was loved by all and will be greatly missed.

DENISON - Robert Dean Berry, 89, of Denison, TX, passed peacefully into the loving arms of his lord Jesus on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. Robert was born in Leonard, Texas, on March 8, 1933, to Neil and Annie Berry.

PLANO - Barbara Ann Whitt née Smith of Plano, Texas passed away the morning of March 24, 2022 at the age of 78. Barbara was born December 9, 1943 to Warren and Mary Inez Smith. Barbara grew up near Bokchito in southern Oklahoma. She had a modest upbringing but was dedicated and a hard worker; after graduating top of her class from high school in 1962 and with the help of her big brother, James, she was able to attend Southeastern State College in Durant where she earned her bachelor’s degree in home economics in 1966. While at Southeastern, Barbara caught the eye of Glen Whitt, whom she married in 1968. After being drafted into the military Glen attended officer school he and Barbara moved many times in their first years of marriage. While stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, Barbara gave birth to their son, Jeff in 1969. The young family then moved to Plano Texas after Glen returned from his deployment in Korea. In 1974, Barbara was again blessed by a beautiful baby girl, Amanda.

Lacie Gene Smith was born on April 27th, 1944 in Sherman, Texas to John Arlis Smith of Texarkana, Arkansas and Katherine Jean Hardison of Vernon, Texas. Lacie was the son of an IBMer and moved throughout the United States from Boston to Washington state. He graduated from Clover Park High School in Lakewood, Washington near Tacoma in 1962, moving to Vernon, Texas in the summer to help his grandfather on their family ranch (building fence). Lacie entered SMU School of Engineering in the fall of 1962 and graduated in 1967 from a 5-year co-op program with a Degree in Electrical Engineering. Then in 1995 he received an MBA in Finance from University of Dallas.