Russell "Rusty" Nall Erwin, 65, of the Waco area, took Jesus' hand and entered the gates of Heaven on Tuesday, May 4, 2021. Funeral service will be at 1:00 pm, Saturday, May 8th, at the First United Methodist Church on Cobbs Drive. A reception with the family will follow. Interment will be 3:00 pm, Saturday, May 8th, at the Robinson Cemetery. The family will receive visitors from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Friday, May 7th, at Grace Gardens Funeral Home. Masks and social distancing will be at the discretion of the attendees. Rusty was born April 19, 1956 to Howard and Jean (Seawright) Erwin in Tyler, Texas. He attended school in Robinson where he excelled in high school baseball and football....

Russell N. "Rusty" Erwin, 65, of the Waco area, entered the gates of Heaven on Tuesday, May 4, 2021. Funeral Service will be 1:00 pm, Saturday, May 8th at First United Methodist Church on Cobbs. A reception with the family will follow. Interment will be 3:00 pm, Saturday, May 8th at the Robinson Cemetery. A Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 pm, Friday, May 7th at Grace Gardens Funeral Home. Masks and Social Distancing will be at your discretion. Funeral Services will be live streamed on Grace Gardens Facebook page.

On April 9, 2021, Jimmy Dan Bourland, beloved husband, father, and PawPaw went to rest in the arms of his Lord Jesus Christ. Born on October 18, 1934 to John Henry and Edna Bourland, Jimmy Dan and his brother and two sisters grew up in Abilene, Texas. Early on and continuing throughout his life, Jimmy Dan found great athletic success in both football and baseball at Abilene High School in the school's early glory days, where he played for renowned coaches P.E. Shotwell and Blackie Blackburn. Upon graduation, he continued to play football for Abilene Christian College. He had a lifelong love of football and, combined with his unique ability to remember every single detail of every play of...

Nona Vinzant, 88, formerly of Tyler, died Wednesday, March 3, 2021, at her assisted living residence in Waco. Services will be at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, March 7 at Grace Gardens Funeral Home Chapel in Waco, with Dr. Bruce Cox officiating. Wearing a mask and social distancing will be required at the funeral home. A graveside service will be held in Tyler at 1:00 PM on Monday, March 8 at Rose-Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers are Brad Vinzant, Ryan Vinzant, Brett Vinzant, Travis Martin, Donald Martin, and Cole Baldock. Born Nona Mae North on November 29, 1932 in Thornton, Texas, to the late Marcus Vassar North and Anna Miller North, Nona was the youngest of two daughters. Growing up, she and her...

Elaine Chastain, 94, of Waco, Texas passed away peacefully Thursday, January 21, 2021. There will be a private burial in Llano Cemetery, Amarillo, Texas. Elaine Marjorie Babb was born July 8, 1926 to Elizabeth (Kirsch) and Maynard Babb in Malden, Mass. She was the oldest of three children. She attended schools in the East and Midwest, graduating from the University of Pennsylvania. While a student, she married Richard Chastain in 1947. Elaine dedicated herself to a lifetime of learning. She was the 18th registered histology technician in the country, having worked in labs in New York City and St. Louis while husband, Dick, interned and took his training in ophthalmology. In 1955 the family...

Ray Eugene Russell, 94 of Woodway, formally of Dallas, passed away Wednesday, December 30, 2020. He had requested that no services be held. Ray Eugene Russell, 94 of Woodway, formally of Dallas, passed away Wednesday, December 30, 2020. He had requested that no services be held. Ray was born August 8, 1926 to Roy and Ione Timken Russell in Dodge City, Kansas. He married Maxey Schnitzer on Jan. 19, 1951 in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. He served his country in the United States Navy, on the USS Shields, in the South Pacific during WWII. He was a graduate of The University of Oklahoma, and went on to earn his Law Degree from The University of Oklahoma Law School. He was employed by State Farm...

Lunell Davis Corley (Lou), 85 of Waco, TX, passed away November 18, 2020. Ms. Corley was a long-time resident of North Richland Hills, TX. There will be a private family service 10:30am, Friday, November 27, 2020, at Grace Gardens Funeral Home Chapel in Woodway, Texas. Out of respect for the current health crisis, the family encourages you to participate by watching the live stream on Grace Gardens Facebook page, which will be added to the funeral home page after the service. https://www.gracegardensfh.com/obituary/Lunell-Corley

Charles Edwin "Cookie" Cook, 86, of Woodway, Texas, was welcomed into Heaven on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. The Cook family takes the risk of exposure to Covid-19 seriously, and wishes everyone to take all precautions; social distancing, wearing face masks, temperature screening, and please care for yourself if you are running fever or have recently been exposed. There will be a time of Visitation with the family from 2-4 pm, Sunday, November 8, 2020 at Grace Gardens Funeral Home. There will be a private Celebration of Life Service at 11am, Monday, November 9, 2020 that you are encouraged to watch via live stream on Grace Gardens Facebook page, and will later be uploaded to his obituary page...

Eduardo Lucio Contreras, of Waco, Texas, passed away peacefully at the age of 91, on Sunday, November 1, 2020. Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation 6 to 7 p.m. Friday, November 6, at Grace Gardens Funeral Home, 8220 Woodway Drive, with a Rosary at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 7, at St. Jerome Catholic Church in Waco with the Father James Ekeocha as Celebrant. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial Cemetery. Eduardo was born August 14, 1929, in San Marcos, Texas to Mauricio Jr. and Petra Contreras. He grew up in San Marcos. He married Elena Cruz Contreras on her birthday, July 14, 1957, and they celebrated 56 years of...

Jeffrey "Chappy" Jayne, 55, of Valley Mills, Texas, formerly of Divernon, Illinois, beloved Husband, Father and Papa was called to his eternal resting place on October 3, 2020. There will be a time of visitation with his family from 6-8 pm, Wednesday, October 7, 2020 at Grace Gardens Funeral Home in Woodway. He entered this world on November 25, 1964, in Springfield, Illinois, born to William "Chappy" and Betty Jayne of Thayer, Illinois. He was a 1982 graduate of Virden High School. After graduation, Jeffrey served in the United States Air Force from 1982 to 1986. He worked at the Illinois Department of Revenue for 20 years. In 2016, Chappy and Gail moved to Texas to be close to family,...

Phillip Wayne Hill, 80, of Waco, Texas, passed from this life surrounded by his family at Providence Hospital on Wednesday, September 23. He was a proud 1958 graduate of Dixie High School, a 1968 graduate of Arkansas State University. He was employed as an engineer for Emerson Electric in Paragould, Arkansas for over 30 years. He was a faithful member of First Baptist Church Paragould for 50 years serving in many ways including deacon. He enjoyed driving a tractor, fishing, hunting, playing free cell on his computer and spending time with his grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Forrest and Ruby Hill of Lake City, Arkansas and two sisters Juanita Clark of Florida and...

Art Sepeta passed away on September 14, 2020 in Cleburne, TX. Art was born October 11, 1931 in Cleveland, OH to Theresa and Alois Sepetowski. Art was raised in Cleveland where he excelled in basketball, baseball and ice hockey. He graduated from Ohio University, where he met and married his college sweetheart Diane. Commissioned a U.S. Army officer and trained as an artillery officer, Art and Diane were stationed at Fort Bliss and Fort Hood, TX. Art started his career with General Motors at the New Departure-Hyatt Bearing Division in Sandusky, OH. Art and Diane planted roots in Anderson, IN in 1965 when he was transferred to the Guide Lamp Division. In the mid-1980s the two of them...

Bobbie Hale Day passed away early Sat. morning Sept. 12, 2020, at the age of 95. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 P.M. Mon. Sept 14, 2020, in the Parlor of Grace Gardens Funeral Home, 8220 Woodway Dr. The funeral service will be at 1:00 P.M. Tues. Sept 15, 202, in Grace Gardens Chapel with Rev. Dennis Rejcek officiating. Interment will be 11:00 A.M. Wed. Sept. 16, 2020, at Trinity Methodist Cemetery in Castell, Texas. Mr. Day was born July 20, 1925, in Yoakum, Texas, the son of the late John Coleman and Pearl (Cantrell) Day. On August 26, 1950, he married Jimmie Dean Leifeste in San Antonio, Texas. After sixty-eight years of marriage, she preceded him in death July 27, 2019, in Waco,...

John Allen Rider II was born March 11, 1928 to George and Lorene Rider on the family farm near Arnett OK. After service in the US Navy 1946-1948, John had a 42 year career in education, teaching in several high schools in Kansas, and at a number of colleges and universities from North Dakota to the Panama Canal Zone, receiving many awards over the years for his distinguished service. Throughout his life, John actively served others in church and community activities, working particularly in support of adult literacy, as a hospice volunteer, and as a member of Kiwanis, Lions Clubs, and the American Legion. He also did a great deal of work in genealogy for his own and other families....

John Allen Rider II was born March 11, 1928 to George and Lorene Rider on the family farm near Arnett OK. After service in the US Navy 1946-1948, John had a 42 year career in education, teaching in several high schools in Kansas, and at a number of colleges and universities from North Dakota to the Panama Canal Zone, receiving many awards over the years for his distinguished service. Throughout his life, John actively served others in church and community activities, working particularly in support of adult literacy, as a hospice volunteer, and as a member of Kiwanis, Lions Clubs, and the American Legion. He also did a great deal of work in genealogy for his own and other...

Roy Gale Vandine, 79, of Lorena, Texas, formerly of Stockport, Ohio, passed away on Thursday, April 2, 2020. Roy was born July 5, 1940 in Stockport, Ohio to Lucius and Dorotha Vandine. He is preceded in death by his parents; his sister Verla Blind and brothers Dean Vandine and Eugene Vandine. He is survived by his son Robert Vandine and wife Kim, daughter Dee Watts and husband Kevin, sisters Erma Foster and husband Robert and Patricia Groah and husband David, brother Daniel Vandine and wife Terri, seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. After high school, Roy served four years in the Navy and later retired from NCR. He was a master craftsman with wood and...

Doris Lee Fisher (Plake) Olsen, 93, of Waco, formally of Lumberton, Tx. went to her heavenly home on March 28, 2020. There are no planned services due to the health issues of our world. Doris was born on July 13,1926 to Jim and Maudie Fisher. The family is blessed to have our mom for 93 years! She kept us laughing and brought us joy each day.

Betty Close, passed from this life on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 and the loss we feel cannot fully be put into words. Born Betty Claire Earp in Wheeling, West Virginia, on January 2, 1925. Her parents, Harold Robert Earp, Sr. and Alma Cox Schang, preceded her in death, as did her brother, Harold Robert Earp, Jr. Children, are Sally Reynolds (Jim), William E. Close, III, and Pam Geldmeier (Gary); Grandchildren: Randy Cooley (Megan), Susan Spanley (Jeff), Shelly Turner (Matt), and Mark Reynolds (Tracey), along with eight great-grandchildren: Noah and Hank Cooley, Erin and Makenna Spanley, Chyanne, Lane,and Liam Turner, and Reagan Reynolds. The family wishes to thank Zane Neeley for the care...

William "Bill" John Stelzer, Sr. of Crawford, TX passed away Tuesday,December 24, 2019. The son of Magda and Robert Stelzer, he wasborn December 23, 1936, in Toledo, OH. Bill was a graduate of St.James Grade School and Central Catholic High School, class of 1955.In 1955, he joined the US Navy and reported to Great Lakes, IL. Overthe next 20 years, he served on the USS John Paul Jones, USSRadford, USS Orion, USS Wainwright, and USS Mt. Baker and wasstationed in Philadelphia; PA, Newport, RI; Oahu, HI; San Diego, CA;Charleston, SC; Norfolk, VA and more. He was deployed to suchlocations as the North Pole, South Pole, New Zealand, Italy, France,Greece and other Mediterranean bases. Bill moved...

Ruby Lillian Gloff Howard passed away peacefully on the morning of December 9, 2019 at the age of 91. A Celebration of her life will be 1:00 pm, Saturday, December 28, 2019 at Grace Gardens Funeral Home, Woodway, Texas with Chaplain Monte Michaels officiating. A reception with the family will follow in the Grace Gardens parlor.

Darla Janel Blanscet, 83, of Waco, TX went to be with her Lord on November 28, 2019. A graveside service will be 1:00 pm, Saturday, December 7, 2019 at Oakdale Cemetery in Daisetta, Texas. Janel was born August 24, 1936 in Daisetta, TX in her Mimi's home to parents J.C. and Thelma Bevers. Janel graduated from Robert E. Lee high school in Baytown, TX in 1954 and from North Texas State University in 1957 with a degree in education. Janel spent her career as an English teacher in Baytown, Sheldon, and Channelview School Districts. She was a longtime member of Memorial Baptist Church in Channelview, TX and First Baptist Church of Woodway, TX. Mrs. Blanscet was preceded in death by her parents,...