It is always difficult saying goodbye to someone we love and cherish. Family and friends must say goodbye to their beloved Madeline Toler Ferris (Fort Worth, Texas), who passed away at the age of 87, on January 29, 2020. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family.

Twila McCoy Plant GRANBURY -- TWILA MCCOY Plant died peacefully, surrounded by family and secure in love of her Heavenly Father at home in Granbury, Texas on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at the age of 77.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Thursday, May 21, 2020, 1:30 pm at First Baptist Church, Granbury, with a graveside service to follow at Mt. Olivet Chapel Cemetery, Ft. Worth, 4:00 pm. Pastor Mike Corb will officiate the ceremony.

All are welcome to attend and celebrate Twila's faith, life and legacy. Twila was born October 27, 1942 in Ft. Worth, Texas to Dewey Listo McCoy and Fern Freudigger McCoy. She graduated from Carter Riverside High School in 1960, marrying Tim Pruitt in February of that year. They lived in Ft. Worth, El Paso, Midland, Ft. Worth (again) and Abilene. Tim and Twila had four children and many happy times as a family.

Twila created many great birthday parties, family outings and activities. She was energetic and ambitious that her family would be one of faith, achievement and creativity. But she also endured the pain of their first, Timi, dying in a car wreck at age 4 and a marriage that ended after 22 years. Through the difficult days and years, Twila grew in her faith, persevered to raise Tad, Shea and Danielle and developed her own career, graduating from Hardin-Simmons University and becoming a Special Education teacher. Twila began a second chapter of family life when she met and married Ross Landrum Plant in 1983 in Abilene.

Twila and Ross found in each other an enduring and sweet love and companionship that reflected their faith, strengthened as they aged, filled their years together and was as perfect sitting together on the porch or in church as it was riding together on a motorcycle. They blended their families of adult and teen children, adding on to the house and taking on all the cars, colleges, conflicts and coordination that such a big family brings. One of the greatest unexpected joys of her life was becoming a second mother to Jody, Elizabeth and Grace and to love them as her own.

Ross and Twila moved from Abilene to Yoakum and lived there for 27 years. They raised longhorns on the Alpha Omega Ranch, served their church, danced, traveled, fought back the huisache (unsuccessfully) and welcomed 14 grandchildren and one great grandchild. Twila loved ranch life with Ross and wanted to share it. She and Ross served and cared for her mother and brother and Ross' brother Burke for many years along with others. Twila and Ross moved to Granbury in 2014, settling down with a smaller piece of land and just a couple of longhorns. Twila took on the diagnosis of Alzheimer's and more recently lung cancer with the same faith, trust, peace-and reliance on Ross-we saw throughout her long, good life and marriage. She died where she lived, at home and around her family. She leaves a legacy of teaching and loving hundreds of kids, especially valuing the underdogs. She imparts an example as loving wife that inspires. She leaves countless lessons, advice and prayers for her family. She leaves an example as a servant and as a follower of Christ who sought to grow, overcome life's trials and pass on her faith. She loved her country. And she moves on now to a better, perfect one. She is preceded in death by her daughter, Timi Fern Pruitt, her parents and two brothers, Dewey L. McCoy, Jr. (Allonia) and Bobby.

Dorothy "Jean" Merrell DALLAS--Dorothy "Jean" Merrell was joyfully received in the loving arms of Her Heavenly Father on Tuesday, May 5, 2020.

Jean was born in Mount Pleasant, Texas, on Feb. 4, 1931, to D.H. and Bertha Garrett. She was their precious and devoted daughter. Jean was a loving wife, married to her childhood sweetheart, Byram Merrell, for 56 years. She is rejoicing as she joins him in Heaven. Her legacy of love continues with children, Earl and Rebecca Merrell and Diane Merrell; grandchildren, Emily and Daniel Taylor, Garrett Merrell, Merrell Milano and Kendall and Andrew Hicks. She was blessed to meet her first great-grandchild, Olivia Noël Taylor.

Jean graduated summa cum laude from Amon Carter- Riverside High School and attended North Texas State University. Jean's relationship with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was deep and intimate. Byram and Jean were founding members of North Richland Hills Baptist Church, and she enjoyed leading Community Bible Study. She loved and was loved by so many lifelong friends. In Dallas, she was an active member of Park Cities Baptist Church and always looked forward to dinners with friends and fierce Canasta competitions. Her family was her priority, and she was adored and loved by all.

GRAVESIDE SERVICE: A family graveside service celebrating her precious life was held at Greenwood Memorial Park in Fort Worth, Texas.

Dr. Janie Faris loved Texas Wesleyan. She battled cancer for four years but continued to impact the lives of our students through it all. It was Janie and her husband Evan’s wish to continue to help Texas Wesleyan students achieve their dreams through the establishment of the Janie Faris Fine Arts Scholarship Endowment. Janie and Evan met in a music history class on campus in 1974 and from that moment on, grew in their love of the arts together.The University is immensely appreciative of how the Faris’ have given their time, talents and treasures throughout the years. Thank you for honoring Janie by contributing to this endowment and fulfilling her wish to support Texas Wesleyan University.

Barbara J. Leland, age 87, passed from this life on March 22nd, 2020. She was the daughter of Andrew J. Calvert and Dorothy A. (Kennedy) Calvert. She was born in Fort Worth, TX on February 18th, 1933. She worked as a ticket agent for Western Airlines which later became Delta Airlines for 16 years retiring in 1993.

She is survived by daughters Donna McTernan of Folsom, CA, Karen Davidson of Washington State, Jan Atkinson of Folsom CA, Kay Thompson of Fallbrook, CA, her sister Peggy Fry of Seguin, TX and brother Andrew Calvert of Roseville, CA. She also leaves 10 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Jacquelyn “Jackie” Christine Moore (née Brooks) passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on April 14, 2020. She was 84 years old.

Jacquelyn was born November 30, 1935 in Fort Worth, Texas to Theron and Fay Garrett Brooks.  She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Theron Edgar Brooks, III.

Jackie is survived by her husband of 57 years, Seth Moore; daughter Valerie and husband John Krehmeier of Hamilton, Texas; daughter Dr. Brooke Moore and husband Kevin Glick of Quinter, Kansas; and son Alex Moore and wife Katrina of Slidell, Louisiana.  She is also survived by grandchildren Will and Katherine Krehmeier; Kaitlin, Cambry and Avery Seth Prichard; and Joshua, Zachary and Matthew Moore, as well as two great grandchildren, Luke and Levi Moore.

A brilliant woman, Jackie was salutatorian of her high school class, earning a four-year Borden Scholarship to Texas Tech University.  While there, she was a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, Mortar Board and Phi Kappa Phi, graduating with honors with a bachelor’s degree in Education.  She was an active member of Delta Gamma sorority, the rodeo club and served on the Supreme Court at Texas Tech. 

After graduation, Jackie moved to Goppingen, Germany where she taught first grade for two years at the Army Dependent’s School. Her passion for traveling was sparked here, and she spent a lifetime exploring new places, trying new foods, learning new things, and sharing her experiences with her family and friends. While in Germany, she traveled extensively throughout Europe and the Middle East.  When Jackie returned to the United States, she brought home a German-origin Volkswagen Beetle.

In 1962, she married Seth Thomas Moore, Jr., and they moved to Stephenville, Texas where Seth was manager of the Chamber of Commerce.  They had dated throughout college, often attending sorority and fraternity dances.  After a year of teaching in several rural schools, Jackie became a full-time homemaker and mother.  She was very active in the Chamberlain Elementary PTA. At First Christian Church, she was a deaconess, in the choir, and a Sunday School teacher.  She served as a Girl Scout leader. She helped organize Friends of the Library and was on the Museum board.  Jackie was a life-long member of the Stephenville Study Club.  While in Stephenville, she had a very close-knit group of friends who shared birthdays and Grandmother Showers.

In 1978, after her three children had started school, Jackie earned a master’s degree in Education at Tarleton State University.  She taught in more than 50 schools in the Erath county area for thirteen years, supervising student teachers. Once her children were grown, Jackie continued to be involved in the community. One of her favorite activities was her investment club, Up Your Assets, and she often shared stock tips with her grandchildren.  Jackie and Seth travelled extensively throughout Europe and enjoyed multiple cruises.

Jackie filled her life with art, music, and a life-long love of learning. Jackie loved to design homes and gardens, and with her husband, built more than eight unique homes, including a log cabin in Angel Fire, New Mexico. She painted oil landscapes of the Texas Hill Country and the mountains of New Mexico.  She conducted extensive research to obtain a membership in the Daughters of the Texas Republic and the Daughters of the American Revolution, which culminated in her publication, Family Stories in 2014.  In her summer New Mexico home, she was an active participant in the annual Music of Angel Fire festival. 

In one of her journals, Jackie left the following note: “My love for Seth, my three children and their spouses and those delightful grandchildren has grown and grown.  I am so truly blessed to have you…each of you has graced my life beautifully.”

Teresa Toney Witherspoon of McKinney, Texas passed away on April 12, 2020 at the age of 65. She was born December 3, 1954 to Ralph Bailey and Mary Jo (Eidson) Toney in Fort Worth, Texas. Teresa graduated from Texas Woman’s University in 1978 and received her master in 1982. She married John Douglas Witherspoon on July 27, 1985 in Denton, Texas. Teresa worked as a teacher in public education. She was a long-time member of High Point Church of Christ.

She is survived by her children, Jacob Sloan of McKinney, Texas, John Harrison Witherspoon and wife, Mallory of McKinney, Texas, Marianne Elizabeth Witherspoon of McKinney, Texas; grandchildren, Seth, Sara and Sadie Sloan, Liam Johnson, Mason Witherspoon; siblings, Joyce Farmer, Wayne Toney and Rhonda Hamrick; numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and a host of other loving family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband.