Shopper Online - Obituaries - January 15, 2004

Gene Roberts...
     Gene Roberts, age 69, of Bowie, TX passed away January 5, 2004 in the Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, TX.
     Mr. Roberts was born August 24, 1934 in Wichita Falls, TX. He married Cora Jewell Edwards on September 22, 1956 in Bowie, TX. He was of the Baptist faith. He was the owner of Roberts Radiator Shope which was established in 1948. He coached PeeWee baseball for several years and also was involved in the works of the Boy Scouts of Amercia for several years. He served in the U.S. Army.
     Funeral services for Mr. Roberts were held Friday, January 9, 2003 at 2:00 p.m. at the Fry Funeral Home Chapel in Bowie, TX with Rev. Paul A. Henderson offiating. Interment was at Elmwood Cemetery under the direction of Fry Funeral Home.
     Surviving relatives include: his wife, Jewell Roberts, Bowie, TX; two sons, Andy Roberts, North Richland Hills, TX and Elvis Roberts, Bowie, TX; three grandchildren, two brothers, Alvin Roberts, Bowie, TX and Lee Roberts, Wichita Falls, TX; three sisters, Laska Sanders, Paris, TX, Flo Trotter Lawanna Bolden, both of Gordonville, TX and one uncle, Doc Roberts, Bowie, TX.
     Pallbearers included: Andy Roberts, Roy Glen, Leonard Mayo, Danny Griswold, Randy Tucker, Gary Hachtel, Jimmy Johnson and Steve Gilland. Honorary pallbearers include: All of the young men that Mr. Roberts knew in the Boy Scouts of America and coaching Pee Wee Baseball.

Richard Antonio Diaforli...
     Richard Antonio Diaforli, age 52, passed away January 9, 2004 in Wichita Falls, TX.
     Mr. Diaforli was born December 12, 1952 in Princeton, NJ to LaRue C. Diaforli and Antonio Diaforli, Jr. He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, Tx. He was a long time Assistant Boy Scout Master of Troop 42 in Dallas, TX. He was also a vigil honor member of the Order of the Arrow.
     Funeral services for Mr. Diaforli were held Tuesday, January 13, 2004 at 1:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Nocona, TX with Reverend Michael K. Harmuth and Pastor Keith Barbee officiating.
     Surviving relatives include: his daugher, Rachel Marie Diaforli, Tuttle, OK; his mother, Larue C Diaforli, Dallas, TX; his paternal grandmother, Angelina Diaforli, Princeton, NJ; his sister and brother in law, Donna Gibbs-Nini and Anthony Nini, Mercerville, NJ; his nieces and nephew, Brice, Pattie and Kieran Gibbs and Karina Beverage, Nocona, TX and Christine, Rudy and Annie Rangel, Denton, TX; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and extended family. He was preceded in death by his father, Antonio Diaforli, Jr.
      Pallbearers included: Harry Bubeck, Tom Bubeck, Bill Bubeck, Mariano Cordero, Scott Dyer, W.R. Yarbrough, Mike Reed and Steven Wall.
     The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to local volunteer fire departments, the Nocona Elementary School TRIBE (220 Clay Street, Nocona, TX, 76255) or the charity of your choice.

Laverne Pittman...
     Laverne Pittman, age 85, of Bridgeport, TX passed away January 8, 2004 in Bridgeport, TX.
     Mrs. Pittman was born April 17, 1918 in Sunset, TX to Mr. and Mrs. Lee Blaylock. She married E.L. Pittman on November 2, 1936 in Sunset, TX. She was a lifetime resident of Sunset, TX before moving to Bridgeport, TX two years ago.She was a longtime member of the First Assembly of God Church in Sunset, TX. She was a seamstress and a supervisor at the Howard Woolf Dress Factory in Bowie until her retirement.
    Funeral services were held Saturday, January 10, 2004 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Sunset with Rev. Tim Neely and Rev. Charles Reed officiating. Interment was at the Smyrna Cemetery in Sunset, TX.
    Surviving relatives include: three daughters, Eloise Willet, Sunset, TX, Elaine Kasner, Bridgeport, TX and Elwanda Turlington, Sunset, TX; two sons, Curtis Pittman, Sheridan, TX and Keith Pittman, Bridgeport, TX; twenty-three grandchildren; thirty-three great grandchildren; six great great grandchildren; one great great great grandson; two sisters, Florine Pittman, Bowie, TX and Nell Campbell, Langdon, ND; numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, E.L. Pittman; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Blaylock; two brothers, Alton and Elmo Blaylock; one grandson, Curtis Brent Pittman; and one great grandson, Zachry David Turlington.
     Pallbearers included: Dexter Agee, Louie Lowrance, Bennie Motley, Biff Huddleston, Kenneth Fowler, Gordon Wade, Danny Russell and Jerry Hall.

T.S. Grimsley, Jr....
     T.S. Grimsley Jr. age 89, of Ringgold, TX passed away January 9, 2004 at the Bowie Memorial Hospital in Bowie, TX.
     Mr. Grimsley was born April 12, 1914 to Linnie Tave and Thomas S. Grimsley. He married Coy Lee Howard on March 8, 1935 in Terral, OK. He was a rancher and a farmer and of the Pentecostal faith.
Funeral services for Mr. Grimsley were held Monday, January 12, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. at the Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Weldon Wright officiating. Interment was at the Ringgold Cemetery under the directions of Jerry Woods Funeral Home.
     Surviving relatives include: his wife, Coy Lee Grimsley, Ringgold, TX; two sons, Wayne Grimsley and Leon Grimsley, Ringgold, TX; and two daughters, Billie Fay Grimsley, Keller, TX and Donna Lotter, Colleyville, TX; nine grandchildren; seventeen great grandchildren; and six great great grandchildren.
Pallbearers included: Jerry Walker, Jimmy Franklin, Larry Fenoglio, Sonny Fenoglio, Malcolm Cagle and Jonnie Reynolds.