Published: March 21, 2008 12:25 am         

Obituaries for the week of March 21

Jerry Lightel



Jerry Lightel of Rockwall died March 12, 2008.

He was born June 7, 1938, to Jerome Joseph Sr. and Helena (Hammel) Lightel. Jerry was a graduate of the University of Delaware with a master’s degree in economics. After receiving his degree, he decided to follow his love for working with people and obtained a master’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland. Initially Jerry worked with troubled teenagers in northeast Maryland; and after three years he joined the Civil Service, where he was recognized for his outstanding work as clinical director of Human Resources for southern Germany and southern Netherlands. Following his retirement from Civil Service, Jerry went to Antigua, Guatemala, to study the language and work with indigenous children. He volunteered in Guatemalan schools where he taught and developed programs for children, and was very instrumental in providing educational equipment and technology for the school. Jerry has several godchildren for whom he has provided financial support for their education as well as the emotional support to the children’s families as needed. His love for Guatemala and its people has been expressed in many ways in the past 15 years. Jerry’s last gift to the indigenous community of San Antonio Aguas Calientes was the financial support for the development of a multi-purpose community center. This project of peace was completed with the cooperation of the community of San Antonio, and is to be dedicated within the next six weeks to his four children: Teresa, J.J., Erika, and Kristina. Jerry was a member of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church.

He is survived by his wife, Sheny Lightel of Antigua, Guatemala/Rockwall; four children; his mother; siblings Joan, Nancy, Tommy, and Helena; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., March 17, at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, Rockwall, TX with Rev. Monsignor Robert M. Coerver officiating.

Donations may be made to a charity of choice.



‘Walt’ Taylor



Walter “Walt” Louis Taylor of Rockwall died March 13, 2008.

He was born Feb. 14, 1934, in Houstonto Walter and Hattie (Emfinger) Taylor. Mr. Taylor served his country in the United States Navy aboard the U.S.S. Lexington during the Korean Conflict. He was an industrial engineer in the aluminum extrusion field.

Mr. Taylor is survived by his wife, Barbara (Whitworth) Taylor; sons Gregg Taylor and wife Amy of Fayetteville, Ark., Guy Taylor and wife Tina of Dallas and Clark Taylor and wife Laura of Miamisburg, Ohio; daughters Kim Cravens of Wills Point and Amber Ritchey of Dallas; a sister:, Hazel Dow and husband James of Houston; grandchildren: Cody, Cameron, Campbell, Mallory, William, Wesley and Warren Taylor, and Taylor and Logan Cravens; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held at 2 p.m., March 16, at Rest Haven Funeral Home-Rockwall Chapel with James Hawk, Minister officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to American Lung Association, DFW Region, 8150 Brookriver Dr, Ste. S-102, Dallas, Texas 75247.



Marjorie McWhirter



Marjorie M. Stanley McWhirter entered the heavenly kingdom peacefully on March 16, 2008, while residing at the Tender Care unit of Colonial Lodge in Greenville.

She was born Sept. 17, 1921, in Prairie Hill, the only child of John Felton and Maye (Waldrop) Stanley.

Marjorie’s parents and her husband of 55 years, Charles Olin McWhirter, preceded her in death.

She is survived by her son: Stanley Olin McWhirter and wife Pamela Martin McWhirter, and a grandson, Nicholas Martin McWhirter and wife Erin Davis McWhirter.

Marjorie will be remembered by all who knew her as a gracious hostess with an impeccable sense of style. She and Charles made many trips all over the world as host and hostess of General Electric major appliance builder junkets. Marjorie enjoyed travel, and especially enjoyed traveling to Texas A&M football games. But perhaps her favorite destination was the Florida panhandle, where she would gaze out and enjoy the beautiful blue water. That blue theme was carried over into every facet of Marjorie’s life-if it was blue, she loved it. Marjorie had the heart of a volunteer. Over the years she spent thousands of hours at Doctor’s Hospital helping and comforting others. She was a longtime member of White Rock UMC and FUMC of Rockwall. A proud graduate of Texas Women’s University, TSCW as she called it, Marjorie was active with her alumni association.

The family wishes to acknowledge with great gratitude the care and attention she received while staying at Tender Care. Thank you Melinda and staff for the loving attention you provided.

Following a private entombment at Sparkman-Hillcrest Memorial Park, Marjorie was honored at 3 p.m., March 20, 2008, with a memorial service at White Rock United Methodist Church, 1450 Old Gate Ln., Dallas, Texas 75218.

Memorials be made to the Charles and Marjorie McWhirter President’s Endowed Scholarship at Texas A&M University.



‘Sally’ Holan



Sarah “Sally” M. Holan of Quinlan died March 16, 2008.

She was born July 13, 1920, in Mineral Wells to Charles Wilson and Esta (Addison) McBride. Mrs. Holan was a graduate of Farmersville High School in Farmersville. She met her husband, Thomas Skinner, and they were married on April 4, 1942. They resided in Farmersville with their daughter, Esta, until Mr. Skinner’s death in 1960. Mrs. Holan later met Lad “Laddie” Holan; and they were married Oct. 14, 1961. They moved to Quinlan in the early 1970s where the Holans operated a landscaping/tree farm business for more than 30 years. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Quinlan.

Mrs. Holan had many hobbies she enjoyed during her leisure time. She was an expert seamstress and sewed many items of clothing for herself, her husband and grandchildren. Mrs. Holan also enjoyed crochet and needlepoint. She spent a number of years participating and operating ballroom dances with Laddie at the Sokol Club of Dallas. Mrs. Holan had a love for animals, especially the many cats which she adopted and cared for throughout her life.

She is survived by her daughter, Esta Barnes and husband Bobby of Garland; grandchildren Stephanie Tamul and husband Mark and Holly Winter and husband Rick, all of Grapevine, and Stanton Sembroski and wife Ashlee of Denton; great-grandchildren Caroline Tamul of Grapevine and Addison and Jackson Sembroski of Denton.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and husbands Thomas Skinner and Lad Holan.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., March 19 at Rest Haven Funeral Home-Rockwall Chapel.



Alva Conover Jr.



A celebration of Alva “Ace” Conover Jr.’s life will be held March 22 at 10 a.m. at Trinity Life Baptist Church, 2030 Rowlett Rd. in Garland. Ace, 81, founder of Conover Heating & Air Conditioning, went to be with the Lord on March 17, 2008, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Ace is survived by his wife of 54 years, Janice “Jan” Conover; his children and their families, Randy and Anita Conover, Cheryl Bailey, Janette and Richard Krecek and Carla and Walt Oldham; 10 grandchildren, Randy Conover Jr. and wife Melissa, Dawn Solorzano and husband Jason, Valerie, Ryan, and Drew Krecek, Amy Conover, Tiffany Ritter, Harrison, Megan and Myles Oldham; and three great-grandchildren, Brayden and Kylee Solorzano and Sebastien Slater.

Donations may be made to PROUDD, a non-profit organization that supports training and education of autism, which has affected his grandson. Send to PROUDD, P.O. Box 1833, Rockwall, Texas 75087.



JoAnn Faulkner



JoAnn Faulkner, 72, died March 16, 2008.

She was born Aug. 26, 1935, in Van Zandt County to T.A. Hutcherson and Odessa Hutcherson Harwell. A Rowlett resident since 1974, she was employed with W&S Finishing Corp. for more than 47 years as office manager, in addition to serving with the City of Rowlett, Board of Adjustments.

Affectionately known as MeMa, she is survived by two sons: Michael Faulkner and wife Patti of Carrollton and Kyle Faulkner of Rowlett; a daughter, Melinda Copeland and husband James of Rowlett; three grandchildren, Kristy Faulkner and fiancée Eric Looney, Cody Copeland and Matthew Faulkner; and special great-niece Michelle Falcone and husband Kevin of Rowlett.

She was preceded in death by one sister, Edith Stegall; one brother, James Hutcherson; her parents; and special niece Barbara Hart, along with many other family members.

Funeral services are at 10 a.m. today at Rest Haven Funeral Home-Rockwall Chapel with Dr. Paul Brown officiating. Interment follows in Rest Haven Memorial Park. T

Memorial contributions may be made to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, 5005 LBJ Frwy, Ste. 250, Dallas, TX 75244.