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Obituary:

Dr. James Crenshaw
October 15, 1947 - November 14, 2018

Birth: 10/15/1947, Deleon, TX. Death: 11/14/2018, Tyler, TX

After completing high school in Jal, New Mexico, Jim went on to study at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. As a newly minted graduate, "Doc" Crenshaw moved to East Texas and built the famous "Alamo" building on Highway 69 N, where he offered chiropractic care for over 40 years. "Doc" Crenshaw was instrumental in founding the Tyler Unity Center of Practical Christianity. He also shared a lifelong interest in music, playing numerous instruments and recording across several genres. Dr. Crenshaw had a certain interest in leather-working, hand-tooling several saddles from scratch. He had a keen interest in Native American culture and was an avid reader of fiction centering on the "Old West." He had a love of the outdoors, whether it was a good game of golf or paddling around the lake with his best friend, Carol, this past summer in a stunningly beautiful hand-hewn cedar strip canoe he crafted. A man of many talents, from painting to poetry, he will be missed by his friends and family.

Dr. Crenshaw was preceded in death by his father, James Eugene Crenshaw, and his beloved son, Frank Ramon Crenshaw. He is survived by long-time companion, Carol Herring of Tyler, TX. As well, he is survived by three children: Paul N. Crenshaw of San Antonio, TX, James Benjamin Crenshaw of Yantis, TX and Darryl Crenshaw of Oklahoma; his mother, Reta Crenshaw and sister, Sheila Frank - both of Plano, TX; and many grandchildren.

Honorary Pallbearers are: Arcenio Ramirez, Bill Ferguson, Mel Edstrum, Dazion Goodsky, and Jerry Whiddon.

Memorial Donations may be made to the Tyler Unity Center of Practical Christianity, 14024 Hwy 155 South, Tyler, TX 75703 OR the American Cancer Society, 1301 S Broadway Ave, Tyler, TX 75701

(Published by Hilliard Funeral Home of Van, TX)

James married R.J. Fouse [Group Sheet]

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Obituary:

ALBA - Services for James Eugene "Gene" Crenshaw, 81, Alba, are scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday at Wilson-Bartley Funeral Home chapel, Alba, with Frank Summers officiating.

Burial will be in Salem Cemetery.

Mr. Crenshaw died Feb. 23, 2007, at a Tyler hospice.

He was born June 3, 1925, in Eastland County to the late Felix and Floy Ford Crenshaw. He grew up in Gorman, and served in the Navy during World War II and the Korean War. He lived in Jal, N.M., where he retired as a material manager from El Paso Natural Gas Co. prior to moving to Alba in 1984. He was a member of Alba Church of Christ, and was preceded in death by sister, Jocelle Underwood, and brother, Herbert Crenshaw.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Reta Griffith Crenshaw, Alba; son, James F. Crenshaw, Lindale; daughter, Sheila Frank, Plano; sister, Patricia Herrington, Sulphur Springs; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

To view online, go to tylerpaper.com and clock on obituaries.

(Published in The Tyler Courier Times on February 25, 2007)

James married Loreta Lavee Griffith 30 Aug 1946. Loreta was born 26 Aug 1928, De Leon, Comanche County, Texas, USA; died 24 Feb 2020, Plano, Collin County, Texas, USA; was buried 29 Feb 2020, Salem Cemetery - Alba, Texas, USA. [Group Sheet]

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As we commemorate Loreta Lavee Crenshaw "Reta" and celebrate her life, we remember all the hard work she put in to life. No matter the obstacles, she always worked to keep her marriage of 60 years a priority, she worked to keep her faith in God a priority and she worked hard to keep her family happy and healthy.

Loreta Lavee Griffith was born on August 26, 1928, in De Leon, Texas to David Litton Griffith and Sallie Veta Morgan Griffith. She was raised in and attended schools in Desdemona, Texas. She played basketball for Desdemona High School and graduated in 1945 at 17 years of age.

The summer after graduation, she was swept off her feet by a handsome young man, James Eugene Crenshaw "Gene", who had just been honorably discharged from the Navy after serving his country in WWII. They were married soon after her 18th birthday on August 30th, 1946. When asked what attracted her to him, her eyes lit up as she said it was his blonde wavy hair, his beautiful white teeth, an impish smile, his wonderful hug and the sense of excitement and adventure he projected when he was with her. They worked together on a farm, traded cattle, and started their family when their son, James, was born on October 15, 1947.

During the Korean conflict, Gene reenlisted in the Navy and their small family of 3 moved to San Diego, California, where they lived until May, 1952. While there, Reta worked on the Naval Base as a riveter.

After her husband's discharge from the Navy, Reta and her family moved to a farm outside of Desdemona, Texas, where their daughter, Sheila, was born on May 22, 1953. After a devastating fire that destroyed their home and crops in 1955, Reta and Gene moved to the oilfields of West Texas, eventually settling in the small community of Jal, New Mexico.

While in Jal, Reta was a homemaker until her youngest child started school. At that point, she started seeking employment outside of the home and began her impressive banking career with New Mexico Bank and Trust Company in 1961. Over the years, she gained extensive knowledge and experience in many phases of the bank's operations and was promoted to many leadership positions there. In 1977 she was promoted to Operations Officer for the branch. In 1979, she received another promotion to Assistant Vice President, Loans.

Reta and her husband both loved the outdoors and loved spending time with their friends. Most weekends while in Jal were spent taking trips or vacations to cabins in Colorado to fish, land leases along the Rio Grande River for camping and fishing, deer hunting, bird hunting and weekend trips to Mexico. In addition, Reta served as Noble Grand of the IOOF of the Jal Rebekah Lodge and enjoyed playing golf.

After their retirement in 1984, Reta and Gene moved to Alba, Texas where they attended and were active in the Church of Christ there. She enjoyed running the household, canning the vegetables they grew in their garden, helping with the cattle, playing games on the computer, volunteering as a member of the Newcomers Club and looking after the couple's finances. After her husband's death in 2007, Reta moved to Plano, Texas where she lived with her daughter, Sheila, until the end of her life on February 24, 2020.

Reta is survived by her daughter, Sheila Frank of Plano; 4 grandchildren, Laura Frank, Ben Crenshaw, Paul Crenshaw, and Darryl Crenshaw; 7 great grandchildren, Zach, Sadie, Audrey and Rowdy Crenshaw, Lilyana and Jack Kemper, and Vajray Crenshaw; and 1 great great grandchild, Amelia Crenshaw.

(Published by Wilson-Bartley Funeral Home of Alba, TX)

Leslie married Floy Fidelia Ford 15 May 1918. Floy (daughter of Pinkney Franklin Ford and Beaetta Laura Hamlin) was born 30 Mar 1900, Anson, Jones County, Texas, USA; died 28 Nov 2005, Alba, Rains County, Texas, USA; was buried 4 Dec 2005, Oakland Cemetery - Duster, Texas, USA. [Group Sheet]

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Obituary:

ALBA - Services for Floy Fidelia Morrison, 105, Alba, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at Higginbotham Funeral Home, Gorman, with Durward Webb officiating. Local arrangements are with Wilson-Bartley Funeral Home, Alba.

Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery, Gorman.

Mrs. Morrison died Nov. 28, 2005, at her residence. She was born March 30, 1900, in Anson to Pinkney Franklin and Beatta Laura Hamlin Ford. She was a longtime resident of the Gorman area before moving to Alba in 1992. She was a member of Alba Church of Christ and worked as a licensed vocational nurse at Blackwell Hospital for more than 30 years and also did private nursing.

She was preceded in death by husbands, Leslie Felix Crenshaw and Horace Morrison; daughter, Jo Underwood; son, Herbert Crenshaw; grandson, Michael Clayton Underwood; granddaughter, Leslie Leighann Harrington; great-grandson, Conrad Paul Clapp; four brothers and two sisters.

Survivors include son, Gene Crenshaw, Alba; daughter, Patricia Harrington, Sulphur Springs; five grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home in Alba.

(Published in The Tyler Morning Telegraph on November 29, 2005)