Oct. 23 Obituaries

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Geneva Hester

1927-2017

Saying goodbye to Grandmother was a competitive sport for her grandchildren with each vying to get the last hug and kiss to end a visit. She was happiest surrounded by them. Sugar cookies, waffles and jelly rolls were abundant and competed for also. Saying goodbye now is difficult, but her children and grandchildren were blessed to have her.  

Geneva Aleen Gifford was born on March 23, 1927 in Haskell County to Jim Jackson and Marscilla  Wheeler Gifford. She died on Oct. 20, 2017 at the age of 90. She resided on a farm between May and Rising Star, graduating from May High School in 1943. She worked at the telephone switchboard at Camp Bowie during World War II. 

Alfred Doyle “Red” Hester and Geneva were united in marriage on May 25, 1946 in Brownwood. They lived most of their 45-year marriage in the Brownwood/Blanket area. 

They had three children, Sheryl Ann, Terri Lee and Michael Doyle.  

She attended Brownwood Commercial College and retired from Smith Bell Accounting.

Her son, Michael Doyle and his wife, Kathy Williams Hester, live in Midland.

Grandmother’s passion for her grandchildren was prominently displayed on a long hallway of her home on the Blanket Highway. She had a large sign entitled “Wall of Fame” with 16”’x20” portraits of each grandchild. She loved having each grandchild visit separately for a good deal of spoiling and none can recall hearing the word “no” from her. 

Grandchildren in Snyder are Lisa Lamb and her husband, Scott Diggs, Sandy Lamb and her husband, Michael Ward, as well as Scott Lamb and his wife, Rhonda Ray. Scott’s deceased wife (2012), Misty Hall, was cherished, too. Michael Jared and his wife, Alexandra Edwards Hester, reside in Midland. Jordan Hester resides in Wimberley.

The love and spoiling continued to the next generation of great-grandchildren, Paige Diggs, Colby Diggs, Chris Ward and his wife, Kaitlyn Hargrove, Hunter Ward and his longtime girlfriend, Rebecca Gunset, Chelsey, Aaron, Weston and Trevor Lamb, Jack Hester, Everett Klepper and A.J. and Shelby Ray. She had one great-great-grandchild, Layla Lennell Lamb.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband (1992). She was also preceded in death by infant, Terri. Her daughter Sheryl Ann and her husband, Ronnie Lamb, died in 2004. Her siblings LolaBell Gifford Sanderson, J.W. Gifford and Lewis Gifford preceded her in death.  

She had many nieces and nephews that she loved dearly, too.  

She was a member of First Baptist Church in Blanket and later Calvary Baptist Church in Brownwood.

Geneva moved to Midland in 2015, residing in an independent apartment at Manor Park Retirement Community.

Funeral service for Mrs. Hester will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Davis-Morris Funeral Home in Brownwood. 

Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Her grandsons and great-grandsons will be the pallbearers.

Hugs and kisses goodbye from all your grandchildren and we all win from having you in our lives.

Online condolences may be posted at www.davismorrisfuneralhome.com.

 

Alan McGuire

1966-2017

Alan Wayne McGuire was born on Jan. 10 1966 to Kenneth and Sallie (McCleskey) McGuire. Unexpectedly, Alan went to be with Christ on Saturday Oct. 21, 2017 peacefully in his sleep. 

Funeral service for the Rev.  McGuire will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Miller Family Funeral Home with John Cahill Sr. officiating. Burial will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Resurrection Cemetery in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Visitation will be held from 6-7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Alan went to North Lamar High School and graduated in 1984. He graduated from Southern Nazarene University in 1990 with his heart devoted to the Lord and theology and ministry. 

He married Catania Cahill on June 4, 1988. 

Alan started his hearts call to be a minister at the age of 15. Little did he know that his spirit had only begun spreading God’s word. Following God’s lead, Alan was able to preach a sermon at his own high school baccalaureate service. 

One of Alan’s greatest accomplishments was starting Love Links Ministries. Partnering with his father-in-law, John Cahill, together they lit the eternal candle of Christ for thousands to look up to. 

He devoted his life to being a pastor for more than 27 years. He served as one of most compassionate hospice care chaplains for more than 10 years. Alan was ordained in 1991, and lived his life in the church as a minister to all walks of life. 

He was awarded alumni of the year in 2008 by Southern Nazarene University. 

He was preceded in death by two children, Meagan Rachelle and Bryan Russel McGuire; his maternal grandparents, Bryan and Nellie McCleskey; and his paternal grandparents, Marcus and Lucille McGuire. 

Survivors include his angel of a wife, Catania (Cahill) McGuire; three children, Ashlynn Jene McGuire, Noah Cahill McGuire and Jonah Alan McGuire, all of Oklahoma City, Okla.; his mother and father, Kenneth Dale McGuire Sr. and Sallie (McCleskey) McGuire; one brother, Kenneth McGuire Jr. of Lafayette, La.; and two sisters, Tonya Vanderburg and her husband, Robin, and Kristi Murray and her husband, Scotty, all of Paris. He also leaves behind a loving extended family of John and Rebecca Cahill; two brothers-in-law, John Rusty Cahill and his wife, Martha, of San Angelo and Nathan Brent Cahill and his wife, Alicia, of Edmond, Okla.; one sister-in-law, Jayme Jene Hightower and her husband, Greg, of Edmond, Okla.; 15 nieces and nephews; and five great-nieces and great-nephews.

Online condolences may be posted at www.millerfamilyfuneralhome.com.