CECIL OLIVER
Cecil Oliver died May 12, 2021. Interment will be in Mt. Olive Cemetery.  He was preceded in death by, Parents, Bryant and Bessie Oliver; Brothers, William, James, Bruce, Riley Bryant, Gordon Oliver.  Survivors include, Sons, Thomas of Kingwood, Austin of Glastonbury, Connecticut; Daughter, Katelyn of Logan, Utah; Brother, 
Dr. Byron Oliver of St. Johns,Vi; Sisters, Carolyn Elliott of Splendora, Bess Reeves of Center.

JOE LOUIS JONES
Joe Louis Jones, 94, Guru of Shelby County, died May 10, 2021. Interment will be in Oaklawn Memorial Park, Center, Texas.  He was born May 4, 1927, in Center. He was a 4th generation resident of Shelby County, where his great-grandfather, Louis Jones, settled in the Newburn area before the mid-19th century after leaving Indiana on a house boat. Joe Louis resided in Center most of his life and graduated from Center High School in 1944. After a short stint in the U.S. Navy in San Diego, California, he moved into Ms. Atkin’s boarding house on Mound St. in Nacogdoches while he completed his Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture on the GI Bill from Stephen F. Austin State College.  As a life-long resident of Shelby County, Joe, had a variety of responsibilities. He swept out the State Guaranty Bond Bank for his Father, Vice President of the bank; chopped cotton on the farm near Smith Creek north of Center in the summers after school let out; waited the counter and closed out the register at the end of the night at the Brian Bailey Café on the square; as a young father milked 37 head of Jersey cows twice a day at the same time he worked as a teller in the bank he’d swept out as a child; owned a wholesale/retail business, owned a cow/calf operation on the same farm he’d chopped cotton and milked cows; imported the first Pinzgauer cow (red and white) into the U.S. from Europe, with his unique wit and dry humor, he always said “The prettiest color a cow can be is green at selling time;” served as Center Little League Coach (World’s Greatest Coach 1966) and the Center Noon Lions Club Tail Twister; worked with the Texas Archeological Society in evaluation of several archeological sites of significance in Shelby county as a self-taught archeologist; served as the Shelby County Historic Courthouse Docent; and was a loving and devoted Husband; Father; and Grandfather.  He was preceded in death by his beautiful and loving wife of 64 years, Gloria “Ann” Simon Jones.  Survivors include, Daughter, Traci Ellen Jones of Missouri City; Son and daughter-in-law, Ben & Michelle Jones of College Station.

EUGENE MATTHEWS
Eugene Matthews, 58, of Joaquin, Texas, died May 13, 2021, in Nacogdoches, Texas.  He was born on September 28, 1962, in Shreveport, Louisiana to Phillip Tony Matthews and Laverne Malmay Matthews.  He was preceded in death by, Parents;  Brother, Mack Matthews; Mother-in-law, Patsy Phillips; Twin infant boys.  Survivors include, Wife, Samantha Jones Matthews; Sons, Jeff Matthews & wife, Laura, Hayden Matthews, Sawyer Matthews; Daughters, Jessica Blalock & husband, Brandon, Madison Matthews, Mackenzie Matthews; Brothers, Randy Matthews & wife, Wanda, Scott Matthews & wife, Joannie. 
Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Logansport, Louisiana

BRUCE WAYNE KOONCE
Bruce Wayne Koonce, 80, of Center, died May 17, 2021, in Center. Interment was in Jackson Cemetery, Shelby County.  He was born July 10, 1940, to Robie Koonce and Pauline Humphries Koonce. He graduated from Center High School in 1958. He was preceded in death by, Parents; In-laws, James and Mary Cannie Lewis; Brothers-in-law, Walter Walla and Steve Richards.  Survivors include, Wife, Mary Lewis Koonce of Center; Son, David Koonce & wife Angela of Center; Daughters, Kathy Nichols & fiancé Mark Davis of Center, Kristi Holt & husband John of Center; Sister, Alice Sue Howard & husband Bob of Center; Sisters-in-law, JoAnn Walla of Joaquin, Joyce Richards of Friendswood.
Online condolences can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfuneralhome.com

SHARON DIANA GRACE
Sharon Diana Grace, 54, died April 23, 2021. Interment will be in Restland Cemetery, Tenaha, Texas.  She was born December 2, 1966 to Robert Earl and Doris (Oliver) Grace in Center, Texas. She was preceded in death by her father, Robert.  Survivors include, Mother, Doris of Livingston, Texas; Sister, Stephanie Armstrong (Jason) of Arkansas City, Kansas; Brother, Jonathan Grace (Jamie) of Livingston, Texas; Daughter, Kari of Cleveland, Texas; Fiancé, David Lester.

L. H. HEWITT
L. H. Hewitt, 86, of Center, died May 15, 2021 at his daughter's house.  Interment was in Westview Cemetery, Center, Texas.  He was born July 28, 1935, in Center, to Louie and Erma Jean Hewitt.  He graduated from C.H. Daniels High School where he ranked 2nd in his class. He served his country in the United States Army.  He was preceded in death by, Parents; Sisters, Mary Jane, Ida Mae, Eddie Pearl, Erma Jean, Bertha; Brothers, Willie B. and Samuel Lee; Sons, Louie and Frederick Hewitt; Daughters, Rachel and Shirley Ann.  Survivors include, Daughter, Teresa (Oliver); Sons, Darryl, Eddie, Eric (Lana); Twin brothers, Richard and Thomas Martin; Sister, Mary Lou Hughes.
Services are under the direction of PrePared Place and Savoy Gambles and Community Funeral Home of Center.

FRANCES O. HOOVER
Frances O. Hoover, 85, of Timpson, Texas, died May 18, 2021 in Garrison Texas. Interment will be in Mt. Olive Cemetery, Shelby County.  She was born on January 14, 1936 in Streetman, Texas, to Alfred E. Stephens and Virginia Othella (Goodson) Stephens.
To send condolences you may go to www.taylorfh.net.