Obituaries

Laura Mae Simonek, 75, of Forney, TX went home to be with the Lord on April 18, 2021. She was born on August 3, 1945 to Donald Udell and Valta Aline Parsons at the Naval Air Base in Norman, OK. She moved many times when she was young. She lived in Florida, Alabama, Delaware, Hawaii; and Midwest City, Oklahoma. Laura graduated from Midwest City High School in 1963.

Sam Madison Guthrie born September 3, 1952 and went Home to be with our Lord and Savior April 5, 2021, unexpectantly.

Michael “Reed” Scott Green passed away, Wednesday, March 17th, 2021, from pneumonia due to COVID-19. His parents were Colonel Lynell and Bess Green. He was born in Fort Benning, Georgia and, as an Army brat, lived in Minnesota, Colorado and Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX. He later joined the United States Air Force and served for 6 years.

Retired nurse, wife and mother, Helen Jean Shaffer’s life did not come to an end with her passing. Helen passed away on March 18th, 2021 listening to her favorite musician Willie Nelson. There was not one song of Willie’s that she did not know all the words to. Her six children gathered together to celebrate, honor and preserve her legacy by living their lives to the fullest as she would have wanted.

Jesse D. Wood, born April 3, 1953, peacefully passed away February 26, 2021 after a long battle with brain cancer.

Barbara Jean Schlebach, 63, of Terrell, Texas passed away on January 12, 2021 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Dr. Jimmy D. Pritchard, of Forney, stepped into glory and laid his crown at the feet of Jesus on Wednesday, February 24, 2021. He was born August 30, 1955 in Fairfield, Texas to John Henry and Mary Cordelia (Brown) Pritchard, both of whom preceded him in death along with his sister-in-law, Nancie Pritchard.

Norman Gene Preskitt Sr., a 34-year resident of Forney, Texas, passed from this life on February 4, 2021, after a five-week battle with COVID-19. Norman was born to James Franklin Preskitt Sr. and Sarah Julia (Laney) Preskitt in Rome, Georgia, on August 10, 1939.

Sue Adams passed away on January 29, 2021 at her residence in Rowlett, Texas at the age of 91. She was born February 15, 1929 in Franklin, Texas to Dr. Andrew Jackson Sharp and Katie Henderson Sharp.

Donald (Don) R. Gray, 86, of Forney, Texas, unexpectedly passed away peacefully on January 24th, 2021. He was born Donald Ray Clark on August 18th, 1934, in Dallas, Texas, to Leon and Winona (Nielson) Clark. His biological father, Leon Clark, passed away five days before his birth, and Don was adopted seven years later by Winona’s new husband, Leland Gray.

Floyd David Goolsby, Jr., of Forney, TX, passed away on January 23, 2021 at his residence with his loving wife by his side. He was born on June 4, 1947 in Corona, CA to Floyd David Goolsby, Sr. & Edith (Awtry) Goolsby.

Patty Madison, age 91, passed away on Saturday, January 9, 2021. Patty was born September 16, 1929 in Paola, Kansas to Kenneth and Hazel Bair.

John Darden, longtime Forney resident, passed away at home on Friday, January 8, 2021. John was born in Lamar County, Texas on September 25, 1938 to John Haskell and Myrle Marie Chancellor Darden, both of whom preceded him in death along with his brother, James Darden, brother-in-law, Jim Crow and sister-in-law, Shirley Darden.