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Obituaries published in the November 2019 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

Gary L. Garner
TEMPLE – Long-time Temple Telegram Advertising Manager Gary L. Garner died Sept. 13. He was 70.
Garner would have celebrated his 50th work anniversary with the newspaper in less than three months, according to a Telegram article. 
He was described by his colleagues as “a walking encyclopedia of people, events and institutional memory.”
“For 50 years, the name Gary Garner was synonymous with advertising at the Temple Daily Telegram,” Sue Mayborn, owner and publisher, said. “A familiar phrase at the Telegram was ‘call Gary’ or ‘ask Gary.’ He wore a lot of hats over the years and had various titles. But he was the go-to person,” she said.
A native of Temple, Garner went to work for Frank Mayborn at the Temple Daily Telegram in 1969, starting in the classified department and working his way up the ladder to retail advertising department manager.
“He was good at setting goals and figuring out what it was going to take to reach them. He was a coach to the sales staff, someone who believed that rules were designed to be followed and should be applied to everyone fairly,”  Telegram General Manager Don Cooper said.
A lifelong supporter of Temple High and the Wildcats, Garner held season tickets for more than 50 years and was active in the Wildcat Quarterback Club.
Garner and his wife, the former Judy Ketterman, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last December.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son and two grandchildren.
Funeral Mass was held Sept. 19 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Temple with burial at Bellwood Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorials may be gifts to a favorite charity.

Kate Nuber McVey
KYLE – Veteran journalist Kate Nuber McVey, 72, died Sept. 9.
A native of Detroit, she later moved to Holland, Mich., where a high school job at the Holland Sentinel sparked her career as a reporter, photographer, editor, publisher and communications professional.
She attended Aquinas College in East Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1965 and continued her education throughout her life, also attending Michigan State University, St. Edward’s University and Austin Community College.
Her first husband was in the military, and for 15 years the family traveled to posts throughout the country as well as South Korea and West Germany. During that time, she worked for various base newspapers and was an overseas reporter for some U.S. publications, including the Austin American Statesman. 
She later married Robert M. McVey when she was managing editor of the Lake Travis View in Austin in 1990. They moved to Zapata, where she became managing editor and later co-publisher/co-owner of the Zapata County News and the Hebbronville View, taking part in aggressive reporting and exposés on local elections and government operations. She also worked for the Austin Business Journal, Copperas Cove Leader and the Harker Heights American. In addition she worked as a reporter for two radio stations.
Her professional career also included serving as director of communications for the Texas Association of Builders and the Oil Field Haulers Association and as public information specialist for the Texas Safety Association.
She won awards from the National Newspaper Association, the International Association of Business Communicators and the National Association of Home Builders.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by three sons, two grandchildren and other relatives.

Patrick Bennett
ABILENE – Patrick Bennett, McMurry University professor and former co-owner of the Crosbyton Review, died Aug. 4 in Abilene. He was 88.
A native of Chillicothe, he drew up in Paducah. He served in the U. S. Army and later earned a bachelor of arts degree from Texas Tech University and a master’s degree from Hardin-Simmons University.
Following college, he became editor and co-owner of the Crosbyton Review. In 1963, he joined the staff of the Abilene Reporter News as amusements editor. In 1967, he became associate director of public relations at McMurry University, later moving to a faculty position in the English department. He wrote two books, “Talking With Texas Writers” and “Rough and Rowdy Ways,” both published by Texas A&M Press. He was a co-founder, with the late Joe Stamey and the late Sam Pendergrast, of the Almost Every Wednesday Club, a luncheon group of writers and artists. He was a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Abilene.
He is survived by his wife Charlene “Shay” White Bennett and a son.
A memorial service was held Aug. 10 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Abilene.
Memorials may be made to Hendrick Hospice, Rescue the Animals, SPCA, 4620 North 1st Street, Abilene, TX 79603; or the donor’s favorite charity.

Nancy June (Christian) Young
STINNETT - Nancy June (Christian) Young, a veteran newspaper journalist, died Aug. 30. She was 76.
A lifelong resident of Stinnett and 1961 graduate of Stinett High School, she attended Kilgore Junior College, where she was a Rangerette.
She worked in the newspaper industry for more than 40 years at the Borger News-Herald and The Pampa News. She was the editor of the Stinnett Herald during the 1970s and 1980s before working as a reporter at the Borger News-Herald. In the early 1990s, Young transferred to The Pampa News. In 2003, she moved back to the Borger News-Herald, and was named editor of the paper in 2004. She remained there until her retirement in 2006.
After retirement, she began on online newspaper, Hutchinson County Highlights, providing information about Borger, Fritch and Stinnett. She also shared the background and history of Hutchinson County.
She was active for many years with the Hutchinson County Museum and in the Stinnett Ex-Students Association, starting a popular Facebook group for her fellow alumni.
Preceded in death by her husband, John Jacob Young, she is survived by four children, eight grandchildren, four great grandchildren and other relatives.
A memorial service was held Sept. 5 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Stinnett.

Sheila Hatfield
FERRIS – A celebration of life service for Ellis County Press News Editor Sheila Joann Hatfield, 74, was held Sept. 28 at Covenant Church in Ferris.
She grew up in Decatur, Ill., with her adoptive parents and siblings and later lived in North Carolina and Mississippi before moving to Texas.
She and her husband Charlie Hatfield moved to Ferris from Arlington. In 1992, they expanded the local newspaper, the Ferris Press, which later became the Ellis County Press. She also published the North Ellis County Review and founded The Red Oak Record, which she also published.
She recovered from a massive stroke in 2006, returning to work at the newspapers with her husband. Earlier this year, she suffered another stroke following a fall.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by four children, five grandchildren and other relatives.
Frances Hinsley Gibson
HENDERSON – Frances Hinsley Gibson, 94, a former society editor for the Henderson Daily News, died Sept. 8.
A native of Henderson, she attended local schools and graduated from McNee School of Business. In 1945, she joined the Henderson Daily News as society editor, becoming a contributing writer in later years.
In 1962, she joined her husband Earl Gibson in opening a men’s store in downtown Henderson and worked there until retirement.
She is survived by two sons, a granddaughter, two great grandchildren and other relatives.
A celebration of life service was held Sept. 11 at First Baptist Church of Henderson, where she was a member for more than 80 years. Interment was in Lakewood Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to the Children’s Building Fund at First Baptist Church, 207 W. Main St., Henderson, Texas 75654.

Robin Elizabeth Keith
GRAHAM – Robin Elizabeth Keith, a former editor of the Jacksboro newspapers, died Oct. 4 in Graham.
She was 60.
Keith was a native of Olney, graduated from Jacksboro High School and Ranger College. A writer and artist, she was editor of the Jacksboro newspapers for 10 years during the 1980s and early 1990s. She was also a licensed vocational nurse.
She is survived by her husband Jimmy Dale Keith, three children, thee grandchildren and other relatives.
A graveside service was held Oct. 11 at Loving Cemetery in Loving, Texas.

Julia (Judy) May Norwood O’Neal
FRIENDSWOOD – Julia (Judy) May Norwood O’Neal, a former classified advertising employee for the Galveston County Daily News, died Oct. 5 in Grapevine. She was 92.
Raised on Galveston Island, O’Neal was working for the newspaper when she met her husband, Billy (Bill) Eugene O’Neal, who worked in retail advertising. They were married in 1951.
In 1954, Bill O’Neal accepted a position with the Houston Post. Judy O’Neal later worked for the Clear Creek ISD administrative office, retiring there with 22 years service. 
They resided for many years in both League City and Friendswood and attended St. Christopher Episcopal Church in League City. A memorial service was held Oct. 26 at Jeter Funeral Home in Friendswood. 
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill O’Neal. She is survived by three children, five grandchildren, five great grandchildren and other relatives.

Marlene Bohr
HUGHES SPRINGS – Marlene Bohr, former news editor of the Steel Country Bee in Daingerfield, died Oct. 7 at her home. She was 76.
Bohr began working for the paper in 1999 as a reporter, typesetter, and photographer. She continued with the Bee until 2014, eventually taking on the news editor role. Her columns called “The Buzz,” covered everything from respect to the proper way to construct the best garage sale signs. After leaving full-time work at the Bee, she did freelance writing for the Monitor in Naples and Omaha, as well as the Tri-County Press. She was active in the Daingerield-Hughes Springs Lion’s Club, and covered many events in Daingerield, Hughes Springs, Avinger, and Morris County for both the Lion’s Club and the newspaper.
She was a native of Freeport, Illinois. In accordance with her wishes, no services were held.