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Obituaries published in the April 2020 edition of the Texas Press Messenger.

JUANITA CANTEY
BRYAN – Juanita Cantey, former sports reporter for the Normangee Star, died Feb. 20. She was 98.
A native of North Zulch, Cantey held many jobs during her lifetime, including sports reporter for the Normangee Star, insurance sales, wholesale and retail work, and then went to work at Texas A&M. She worked first in Military Properties and then transferred to the Purchasing Department. She retired from Texas A&M in 1989 after 17 years of service.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 73 years, W.T. Cantey, her parents and all of her siblings.
She is survived by three children, four grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Services were held Feb. 25 at the Fellowship Free Will Baptist Church with burial in the Willowhole Cemetery in North Zulch.

TERI RACHELLE GRAY
GEORGETOWN – Graphic artist and advertising specialist Teri Rachelle Gray, 50, died March 1 in Georgetown, following a three-year battle with cancer.
A native of Georgetown, Gray graduated from the University of Texas.
A lifelong artist, she worked as a graphic designer for Al’s Formal Wear in Houston. 
Later she worked as ad manager for the Williamson County Sun before becoming a page and ad designer for a group of weekly newspapers. One of her later designs took first place for the Colorado County Citizen in the Texas Press Association newspaper competition.
Known for her compassion, Gray had a deep love for animals and enjoyed being surrounded by cats, dogs and chickens.
She is survived by her parents, Allen and Vara Gray, a sister and other relatives.
A memorial reception was held March 14 at the Georgetown Church of Christ Family Life Center.
Memorials may be donations to the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter.

CHARLES MURRAY MILES
AUSTIN – Charles Murray Miles, civic leader and political activist who in 1987 purchased and renewed publication of one of East Austin’s oldest newspapers, the Capital City Argus, died Feb. 25. He was 81.
A native of Hearne, Miles moved to Austin in 1956 to become a member of the first class of African American undergraduates to attend the University of Texas. After graduating from UT, he earned a masters degree in government from the University of North Texas in Denton.
He started his career teaching public school and community college government classes in the Austin area. He later worked for the U.S. Commission on on Civil Rights, co-authoring a report about conditions at Angola prison in Louisiana. He also served as an assistant to Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock. He was also the executive director of the Austin Housing Authority and was a member of the Austin Planning Commission. He was politically active throughout his life, assisting in many campaigns and launching a few of his own.
He was active in the Elks Club, Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and the Precursors, a group dedicated to remembering the first African American students at UT.
Miles was preceded in death by his wife of 35 years, Winona Wilson Miles. He is survived by three sons and other relatives.
Funeral services were held March 7 at St. James Missionary Baptist Church in Austin.

LAURA ANN SIMANK
ARANSAS PASS – Former Aransas Pass Progress Editor Laura Ann Simank died Feb. 19 in Aransas Pass.
She and her family moved to Ingleside in 1978 and then to Aransas Pass in 1984 where she resided ever since. She became very active in many organizations including the Aransas Pass Rotary Club, Aransas Pass Order of the Eastern Star, Aransas Pass Chamber of Commerce, Aransas Pass Woman’s Club, and Tri-County Crime Stoppers. She was a member of the Methodist Church. Laura also was a member of the Texas School Public Relations Association and National School Public Relations Association.
Simank worked as a reporter and editor at the Aransas Pass Progress and Ingleside Index papers for many years. She was also a radio personality for KLUX 89.5. Following the AP Progress Newspaper, she went to work as the Community Relations Director for the Aransas Pass School District and later the Aransas Pass Housing Authority retiring fully in 2013.
Memorial service was held Feb. 28 at Ingleside First United Methodist Church.