Obituaries

William “Bill” Hageman, Jr., 72, of Denver, passed away October 12, 2011. He came to age in his father’s funeral home that planted the seed of his passion to assist families in their most trying times. He established Hageman’s Mortuary Transport Service in 1987. Bill’s stature was only matched by his enormous work ethic and warm, friendly attitude. He was an active member of the Colorado Funeral Directors Association.

Margaret Edwidene “Eddie” Peacock, 81, of LaJunta, passed away on November 15, 2011. She was wife of past Colorado Funeral Directors president Ralph E. “Sam” Peacock and mother to Curtis Peacock, owner of Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home in LaJunta, and Clay Peacock, owner of Peacock Funeral Home in Lamar. The Peacock family began their service to families in Stafford, Kansas in 1886 moving to Colorado in 1935. Arrangements were handled by the Peacock Funeral Homes.

IOWA

Charles W. “Chuck” Iles, 78, of Des Moines passed away December 25, 2011. He attended the St. Louis School of Mortuary Science. Chuck established the Westover Funeral Home in 1960. He also founded the Iles Funeral Homes that now have six locations. He was Secretary of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association for many years. He also was a member of National Funeral Directors Association, Preferred Funeral Directors International, Selected Independent Funeral Homes and various other organizations that pertained to his business. His services were under the direction of Iles Funeral Home—Dunn’s Chapel.

KANSAS

Carol Jane Cline, 81, of Victoria, passed away October 31, 2011. She was married to Harold F. Cline and was an assistant funeral director at Cline’s Mortuary in Victoria and Cline’s Funeral Home in Russell until 1988. Services were under the director of Cline Mortuary.

Gladys E. Morris, 97, of El Dorado died November 4, 2011. She was married to Dick A. Morris. After graduating from high school she was the lead singer for the Gigi Royce Orchestra. Her piano player was Liberace. The band played from coast to coast for two years. During World War II, she served her country in the USO. Her services were under the direction of Kirby-Morris Funeral Home.

MISSOURI

William B. “Bill” Cantrell, 85, of Republic, passed away December 20, 2011. He enlisted in the Navy in 1944 where he served during WWII. In 1946 he attended Drury College prior to enrolling in Mortuary School in St. Louis graduating in 1948. He purchased Fossett Funeral Home which later became Cantrell Funeral Home in Republic in 1955. In 1962 he purchased funeral homes in Clever and Billings. After retirement in 1974 he drove a school bus for 18 years. Arrangements were directed by Meadors Funeral Home
Susan I. Watkins, 57, of Dexter, passed away on January 17, 2012. She is the wife of Stephen L. Watkins, one of the owners of Watkins & Son Funeral Service in Dexter. Services are under the direction of Watkins & Sons Funeral Service.

OKLAHOMA

Gary Morrison, 69, of Wakita passed away August 29, 2011. He attended the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science graduating in 1967. Managed a large funeral home in Santa Fe, New Mexico and purchased the Thomas Funeral Home and Furniture Co. in Wakita, OKlahoma in 1971 and later changed the name to Morrison Funeral Service and sold it in 1983. He recently had been employed as funeral director in charge at Goodwin Funeral Home in Cherokee and assisted Wilson Funeral Home in Pond Creek who directed the services.

TEXAS

James Hardy “Bruce” Broussard, 69, of Orange passed away November 11, 2011. He was a part-time funeral assistant and father of Greg Broussard, a funeral director at Dorman Funeral Home in Orange, Texas. He served in the National Guard.

Ed Burleson, 78 of Waco, passed away November 26, 2011. He served in the United States Air Force. He was employed by Texas Coffin Company in Waco for a total of 21 years including eight years as president and CEO. Beginning in 1979, Ed was involved in funeral home and cemetery acquisition and operation. He became part-time staff for Connally-Compton Funeral Directors in Waco after semi-retirement in 1999. Services were directed by Connally-Compton Funeral Directors.

Ted Cain, 94, of Rockwall, passed away on December 18, 2011. He served during WWII in the U.S. Army in Africa and Europe. He was father of Dewayne Cain of Rest Haven Funeral Homes & Memorial Park who handled the arrangements.

Wayne Charles Craven, 64, passed away on December 4, 2011. He worked for Crowder Funeral Homes for the last 12 years in LaMarque, Dickinson, Webster, League City and Pearland. His service was under the direction of the James Crowder Funeral Home in La Marque.

Mildred House Duncan, of Dallas, passed away on January 10, 2012. She was the wife of Robert “Bobby” Duncan who is a salesman for Frigid Fluids. Arrangements were under the direction of North Dallas Funeral Home Chapel in Farmers Branch.

Margaret Jeannine Guinn, 82, of Hondo, passed away on November 13, 2011. She was the wife of the late W.P. “Bud” Guinn who was licensed for over 50 years. She also is the mother of Russell Guinn and his wife Dolores Guinn who handle Tondre-Gwinn Funeral Home in Castroville and W. Paul Guinn, Jr. and his wife Frances who take care of Guinn-Horger Funeral Home in Hondo, who directed the service.

Ronald W. Hughes, Sr., 78, of Dallas, passed away on November 24, 2011. He graduated from the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science. In 1947 he joined his father in beginning a new family business, the Dudley M. Hughes Funeral Home. He spent the next 50 years of his life devoted to building the family funeral business. He was the owner of the Hughes Funeral Home. The Hughes Funeral Home North Chapel handled his service arrangements.

Edwin Carlton Laywell, 83, of Cameron, passed away on November 21, 2011. He was a retired funeral director and the owner/operator of Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home in Cameron who handled his arrangements.

Ralph L. Lindsey, Sr., 81, of Alto, passed away on December 8, 2011. He was the father of Ralph L. Lindsey, Jr. who is a funeral director at Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville. Arrangements were under the direction of Autry Funeral Home.

Eunice Larue Casey Morrow, 85, of Bellaire died on November 12, 2011. Eunice and her husband John founded the Quarter Century Club in 1978 for Texas Funeral Directors who had been licensed for 25 years or more. After John’s death, Eunice continued to organize the Quarter Century Club until 2006. Arrangements are under the direction of The Settegast-Kopf Co. @ Sugar Creek.

David L. Probert, 77, of Kileen passed away January 17, 2012. He served in the military for 30 years retiring in 1983. After retiring he attended Dallas Institute of Funeral Service and earned his Funeral Director and Embalmers license on February 12, 1988. He was employed at Harker-Talasek Funeral Home and later Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home until retirement. Arrangements are under the direction of Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home.

Sylvia Ruth Smiley, 70, of Corrigan, passed away on November 22, 2011. She was the wife of Past President
Robert R. :”Bobby” Smiley of Corrigan Funeral Home who handled the arrangements.

L.N. “Bill” Sparkman Jr., 83, of Dallas, passed away on December 24, 2011. He served in the United States Air Force. He joined Sparkman, Inc. in 1953 becoming president in 1964. He was recipient of the SCI Chairman’s Council Service/Civic Service Award in 1987. He was a lifelong member of the Salesmanship Club. He spearheaded the 1967 merger between Sparkman Funeral Home and Hillcrest Memorial Park changing name to Sparkman/Hillcrest that handled his final arrangements.

H.B. Terry, Jr., 84, of Abilene passed away on December 13, 2011. He served in the U.S. Navy. He graduated from the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in 1947 and started his funeral career with Wylie Funeral Home in Baird until 1953. He pastured several churches and re-entered funeral service in 1983 with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Homes & Hamil Family Funeral Home who handled his funeral arrangements.

Denotes Veteran of Military Service

If you know of a fellow funeral service colleague that has died that we have not included, please send the information and picture if available (The Dead Beat, P.O. Box 145, Golden City, MO 64748) or fax it to us (417-537-4797) or E-Mail to Joanne@thedead-beat.com

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