Grand Prairie Funeral Home

Ralph "Clayton" Hutchins, age 85 of Grand Prairie, Texas passed away on Friday, October 20, 2023 in Dallas. Clayton was born on April 9, 1938 in Bossier City, Louisiana to Ray Hutchins and Vesta (Bell) Hutchins. Clayton began his lengthy law career when he received his undergraduate degree in Education from the University of Texas in Austin. He taught at Allen Junior High School in Austin for three years before beginning Law School. Clayton received his Law Degree from the University of Texas in 1968. Clayton was City Attorney of Texarkana, Grand Prairie, Bedford and Carrollton. He was in private practice for three years, including his practice while in Texarkana. He specialized in trial...

Gail F. Holka, 69, of Arlington, passed away on March 21, 2023. She was born on April 3, 1953 in Acushnet, Massachusetts to Armand Thumudo and Joan (Bingenheimer). Memorial service: 11:00 AM Saturday, April 15, 2023, followed by a reception at Grand Prairie Funeral Home, 733 Dalworth Street, Grand Prairie, TX 75050. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Children's Miracle Network Hospital. Gail graduated from Rancocas Valley Regional High School in 1971, then went on to study Social Science at Burlington County Community College. After graduating in 1980 she immediately began her career as a Social Worker. Gail retired from The Texas Department of Human Services...

Lauren Leigh Nicks, 61, of Grand Prairie, TX, succumbed to cancer on Wednesday December 28, 2022, after a brief but fierce battle. Lauren was the eldest daughter of Lawrence Gruber, deceased, and Lois Gruber Knoffer. She joined brother, David and later sister, Kimberly arrived, to join the family. They resided in Florida, her formative years in Tampa, then moved to Land O' Lakes, FL. She graduated from Land O' Lakes High School and furthered her education as a graduate from the University of Oklahoma. She met her best friend and love of her life, Walter B. Nicks in November of 1980, and they were married June 19, 1981. They enjoyed traveling together, country dancing, camping and...

Colonel Gilberto Cardenas, USA, Retired , 94 of Puerto Rico, passed away in Grand Prairie on Tuesday September 27, 2022. He was born in Puerto Rico on June 9, 1928. He attended the University of Puerto Rico before joining the Army in 1951. Colonel Cardenas is a decorated war veteran having served with Valor in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was a Borinqueneer and a member of the 65th Infantry Regiment of Puerto Rico. Gilberto married Clara Lee White of Bloomfield, Kentucky and they had three children, Dr. Richard Cardenas, Colonel Steven Cardenas, and Deborah Cardenas. He served as an Army Officer from 1951-1979 and worked for The Joint Commission for 23 years before retiring....

Funeral: 11 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church Grand Prairie. Visitation: 10 a.m. prior to the service. Interment: Grand Prairie Memorial Gardens.

Elia Salas Nevarez-McCoy, 74, passed away on Saturday September 10, 2022. Funeral: 11 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church Grand Prairie. Visitation: To begin at 10 a.m., prior to the service. Interment: Grand Prairie Memorial Gardens.

Funeral: 12 p.m. Monday, Grand Prairie Funeral Home. Visitation: One hour prior to service. Interment: Old Southland Cemetery.

Ed Brinkman age 79, of Grand Prairie, Texas, met our Heavenly Father while surrounded by family on Saturday, June 4, 2022. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at St. Michael the Archangel Church, Grand Prairie, Texas with a rosary to begin at 6:30 p.m. Funeral Mass will follow, beginning at 7 p.m. Ed was born in Covington, KY and grew up near the family Dairy Farm in Fort Mitchel, KY. He attended Blessed Sacrament School and St. Henry High School. Ed met the love of his life at age 17, Gayle Questa. Ed worked for American Airlines for 33 years. He was an athlete all his life playing baseball, softball and golf. He enjoyed family, friends, and travel. Ed's pillars in life are...

Wake: Tuesday, May 5, 2022 at 5:30PM at South Phoenix Baptist Church, 2006 E. Broadway Rd, Phoenix, AZ. Home Going Celebration: Friday May 6, 2022 10:00am, with viewing at 9:00am at First Institutional Baptist Church, 1141 E. Jefferson St, Phoenix, AZ. Burial: Friday, May 6, 2022 at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery 2300 W. Van Buren, Phoenix, AZ. Visit: GrandPrairiefh.com

Rev. Steven Edward Matthew passed away on April 15, 2022. He is survived by his wife, Amy Matthew, daughter, Heather Matthew, and son, Jared Matthew (Kathryn Norman). He served the North Texas Conference and retired from Highland Park UMC as Executive Minister in 2012. Celebration of his life will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, April 29, at HPUMC. Please visit www.grandprairiefh.com for full obituary.

For 97 years the world was a better place. Janet Hurley enriched the lives of those fortunate enough to know her with her gracious disposition, her tolerance, her wisdom, her ability to find and create beauty, her talent to infuse any occasion with humor and fun, her practicality, her tenderness toward her cherished Westies, and her sheer delight in living. Janet brought courage and joyful energy to everything?whether diving, skiing, ice skating, doing head-stands, water aerobics, camping, playing basketball, or sailing a boat she and her sisters eponymously named "Pajama." She created art with her painting, her cooking, her gardens, her sense of style, her subtle elegance. Even her...

For 97 years the world was a better place. Janet Hurley enriched the lives of those fortunate enough to know her with her gracious disposition, her tolerance, her wisdom, her ability to find and create beauty, her talent to infuse any occasion with humor and fun, her practicality, her tenderness toward her cherished Westies, and her sheer delight in living. Janet brought courage and joyful energy to everything-whether diving, skiing, ice skating, doing head-stands, water aerobics, camping, playing basketball, or sailing a boat she and her sisters eponymously named "Pajama." She created art with her painting, her cooking, her gardens, her sense of style, her subtle elegance. Even her...

Lucas Lucio Espinoza, 67, of Grand Prairie, TX passed away October 13, 2021. He was born 12/13/1953 in Laredo, TX to Pedro and Manuela Espinoza. He graduated from Layton High School in Utah in 1972. Survived by his wife Rosario Alvarado Espinoza, children: Danielle (Tinker Bell), Bill (Billy), Lucas Jr. (Mikey), Andrea (FC), Katherine (Priscilla), Oscar (Franky); 14 grandchildren; previous wife Thelma. Visitation will be held Thursday, 10/21 at Grand Prairie Funeral Home in Grand Prairie, TX from 5pm-9pm. Funeral service will be held Friday, 10/22 at Grand Prairie Funeral Home at 1pm with burial at Grand Prairie Memorial Gardens.

Patricia Swallow Godfrey died peacefully by Jack's side surrounded by family on September 7, 2021 in Comanche, TX. There will be a burial service on Saturday, October 16, 11:00 am at Moore Memorial Gardens in Arlington, followed by a Celebration of Life, 12:00 pm at the White Room in Pantego. Pat was born July 27, 1939 in Ft. Worth, TX to Oscar B. and Claudina L. Swallow (Lyons). She grew up in Ft. Worth graduating from Our Lady of Victory H.S. where she was a cheerleader and voted "Most Likely to Become a Nun"?she DID NOT!! At the age of 17, while attending O.L.V., Jack enticed her to go on their first date with tickets to see Chuck Berry. That began their courtship and lifelong...

Scott Donaldson was born in Dallas, TX, 1948 and passed away June 10, 2021 at the age of 73. He graduated from Grand Prairie High School in 1966 and attended Sam Houston State University before joining the US Air Force where he served 4 years that included a tour in Vietnam. Scott married his high school sweetheart, Jamie Corley, in 1968 and they were together for 53 years and blessed with 2 daughters, Stacey and Martie. After serving in the military, Scott joined the family nursing home business where he served as administrator for 15+ years. Scott was the ultimate entrepreneur and also co-founded several businesses & ended his career owning a local tavern, retiring in 2019. Scott was...

Edith LaVerne Hurlbut passed from this life on 06-21-21. She was born to William and Evangeline Elliott on 06-25-37 in Goldthwaite, TX. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Larry Hurlbut and brother John Elliott. Edith is survived by daughters Phyllys Anthony (Michael), Evelyn Archer, and Karel Lebsack (Timothy), her 'grands' Whitney, Christy, Chelsea, Jennifer and Lary, eight great-grands, sister Ruthie Flanders; and sister-in-law Gayla Elliott. Edith's life will be celebrated on 06-28-21. Visitation will be 9 am to 10 am at Grand Prairie Funeral Home, 733 Dalworth St, Grand Prairie, TX. Graveside service to follow at 10:30 am at Southland Cemetery, Grand Prairie, TX. In...

Shirley Ann Embree Jackson, of Grand Prairie, TX, passed away April 23, 2021 after a long battle with COPD. She was 84. Shirley was born in Andrews, TX on October 25, 1936. She graduated Class Salutatorian from Mt. Pleasant High School, Mt. Pleasant, TX in 1955. She married Jimmy Murdock Jackson on March 15, 1958 and was married for 48 years until his death in 2006. Shirley built a career as a dedicated and skilled bookkeeper, retiring from William C. Hart Construction Company. She was a faithful and dedicated reader of her Bible everyday and enjoyed being a member of CrossPoint Church of Christ for over 50 years. Survived by children: Mischelle Sinclair and her husband, Pete, Matt...

Mrs. Melba Fay Ratliff, age 95, of Arlington, TX, passed away Friday morning, April 9th 2021, at her residence . She was born on May 11th 1925, in Snyder, TX. A daughter of the late Harry J. Gill and Nellie Fay Fowler. Melba was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, John H. Ratliff; her two sons Steve and Mike, grandson Kerry, and grand daughter Brigett. Melba is survived by her son Don and daughter Judy; 12 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. She has also left many other family members and friends that will sadly miss her. She was a member of The Church of Christ. She was a homemaker with a love of antiques. A viewing will be held at Grand Prairie Funeral Home...

Dolores J. (Holacka) Tobola, 92, passed away at her home in Grand Prairie on 2/3/2021. She was born 11/3/1928 in West, TX. She and her husband, Henry Tobola, moved to Grand Prairie in 1948 as newlyweds and raised their family. Dolores was a homemaker, seamstress, and active member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church for 72 years. Survivors include Candace Mason Nelson, Mark Tobola, Melanie Tobola, Brit Tobola and wife, Sandy, Tyce Tobola, Holli Oakley and husband, Dan, 8 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and a sister. Grand Prairie Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Graveside Service Dec. 21, 2020 at Moore Memorial Gardens. Katherine was born September 1, 1940 in Arlington, Texas. A graduate of Birdville High School she met and married her loving husband Ray Short in 1962. Katherine retired from AT&T in 1990. She is preceded in death by her parents, Vernon R. Fitch and Liza Fitch; sister Helen Steele. Survived by her husband Ray Short, son Greg Short, daughter Traci Singer, grandchildren: Katy Short, Nikki Singer, Mitchell Short, Mandi Woods; brother-in-law Joe Steele, nieces, nephews and her closest friends: Jeanie Adams, Jane Buehler and Marilyn Mays.

Christine Anne Senerote, 70, lost her courageous battle with cancer on June 26, 2020. She passed at home surrounded by her loving husband, Len, and her brother Jeff. Chris was the daughter of the late Alfred R. and Ruth (Weyhgandt) Ackerman. She is survived by her husband, Leonard, her brothers, Jeffrey and his wife Peggy of Boston; and Johnathan and his life partner Scott Housen of New Hampshire. Chris was deeply loved by her niece Kristin (Ackerman) Locuson and her husband Chuck and especially by her great-niece, Ada Belle. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Jerry Senerote and her life partner of South Carolina. Chris held a Master's Degree and her practice spanned decades...