Doris Blanche Runyan Rutland

(November 27, 1927 ~ December 1, 2025)

Doris, daughter of Clayborne Teller Runyan and Ella Blanche Williams, married to Marvin Joe Rutland and will be buried in McBee Cemetery, Ovalo, Taylor County, Texas.

Doris Blanche Runyan Rutland, age 98, passed away on December 1, 2025. Visitation will be held Monday, December 8th from 5-7pm at Fry Funeral Home in Tuscola, TX. Funeral service will be held at 10:00am on Tuesday, December 9th , at Lawn Church of Christ with burial to follow at McBee Cemetery.

Doris was born to Teller and Blanche Runyan in Thorp Springs, TX on November 27, 1927. She was raised in McAlister, New Mexico and graduated from House, NM in 1945. She attended Abilene Christian College and met Marvin Rutland, to whom she married on November 16, 1947 in McAlister, New Mexico. They were married 65 years.

Doris was a homemaker and worked at Eaton Locker Plant at Lawn, as well as sold beef for 12 years. She then worked for the Jim Ned Schools as a secretary and teacher's aide at Lawn Elementary and Buffalo Gap Elementary for 24 years. She was a member of Lawn Church of Christ.

She is survived by her children: daughter, Janie Runyan of Mansfield; son, Steve Rutland and wife Marsha of Oplin; son, Gary Rutland and wife Tik of Lawn; and daughter, Becky Peschell and husband Sam of Ft. Worth. She had 12 grandchildren: Jennifer Trujillo, Shawn Runyan, Stephanie Rutland, Laura Ross, Matt Rutland, Whitney Ice, Amber Skelton, Michael Peschell, Austin Rutland, Nana Rutland, Mary Rutland and Gail Rutland and 15 great grandchildren.

Preceding her in death, include her husband, Marvin; a daughter, Winona Gail, and her parents and brothers, Duane and Lowell.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorials be sent to The Cherokee Home for Children, PO Box 295, Cherokee, TX 76832.

Pallbearers will be: Shawn Runyan, Matt Rutland, Austin Rutland, Tavis Ross, Michael Peschell and Esteban Ice.

Service Schedule

Visitation

Monday, December 8, 2025

5:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)

Fry~Smith Funeral Home

502 KENT AVE, Tuscola, TX 79562

Funeral Service

Tuesday, December 9, 2025

10:00 - 11:00 am (Central time)

Lawn Church of Christ

6217 Highway 84, Lawn, TX 79530

James Robert 'Birdie' Atwood

(July 2, 1946 ~ November 8, 2025)

James, son of William Russell Atwood, Sr. and EvaNell Fostine McCall, married 1st to Gay Frances Grant, married 2nd to Jan Gaston and will be buried in Tuscola Cemetery, Tuscola, Taylor County, Texas.

James Robert “Birdie” Atwood, aged 79 of Weatherford, TX passed away Saturday, November 8th, 2025 following a courageous battle with cancer. A funeral service was held at 12pm on Saturday, November 15, 2025 at the First Baptist Church of Horseshoe Bend in Weatherford, TX with a lunch that followed. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at Tuscola Cemetery in Tuscola, Texas with lunch after. Please feel free to attend.

After losing his first love and wife of 43 years Frances, he found love again with wife, Jan Gaston, of Weatherford. James and Jan had some great adventures. They spent summers at their cabin in NM surrounded by God’s beauty, they enjoyed watching football and golf together and Jan even helped James discover a love of music-mostly country, and they even went to see Hank Williams Jr just last month. James loved to listen to Jan and her brother Gary play guitar and sing Johnny Cash.

James was born on July 2, 1946 and raised in Abilene.  He graduated from the SMU School of Banking and went on to enjoy a successful career in banking and then in sales. He was well respected and admired by both his colleagues and clients.

James was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church of Horseshoe Bend where he found fellowship and a love of country hymns along with being a gifted bible study leader. His gentle spirit and unwavering faith touched everyone he met. He treasured every moment he spent with his family, especially hunting and fishing with his boys!

James is preceded in death by his parents William Russell and EvaNell Atwood, a brother William Russell “Junior” Atwood and his wife of 43 years, Frances.

He is survived by his two sisters Sharon Rideout(Abilene, TX) and Janara Bennett(Leander, TX), sons Kevin (Longmont, CO) and Mark (Lubbock, TX) and daughter Brooke (Justin, TX). James also has nine grandchildren including Braeden, Emily, Olivia and Will, JaCoby and Madison, Mackenzie, Tommy III and Colby, as well as five great grandchildren.

James will be remembered for his kindness, his wisdom and most importantly, his faith. His love for his family and his ability to laugh heartily will continue to inspire all of those who were blessed to know and love him.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”

Joy Kay Hancock Vasquez

(May 14, 1944 ~ November 5, 2025)

Joy, daughter of Jack W. Hancock and Frankie Lee Straley, married to Ernesto Vasquez and to be buried in Tecumseh Cemetery, Oplin, Callahan Co., Texas, USA

Joy Kay Vasquez passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, in Abilene, Texas, at the age of 81. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Fry-Smith Funeral Home in Tuscola, Texas. Funeral services will take place at Windham Family Chapel in Ovalo, Texas, on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 1:00 p.m., followed by interment at Tecumseh Cemetery.

Joy Kay Vasquez was born on May 14, 1944, in Coleman, Texas, to Jack and Frankie Lee Hancock.

Joy graduated from Jim Ned High School in 1962 and attended Texas Tech University, where she began her lifelong dedication to education. A gifted and passionate teacher, Joy taught junior high English in Lubbock, Austin, and Ysleta, inspiring generations of students with her patience and creativity. Later, she taught Spanish at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara in Mexico. During her years there, she co-authored a book on English as a Second Language with a colleague-an accomplishment that reflected her deep love for language, culture, and learning.

In 1970, Joy married the love of her life, Ernesto Vasquez, and together they built a life full of adventure, family, and faith. They lived in Guadalajara for 19 years before returning to Texas, where they spent many years in Laredo. In January of this year, Joy returned to her beloved family ranch-a place she cherished deeply. She loved sitting on the back porch, watching the animals, and taking in the beauty of nature.

Joy was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT), serving faithfully in several capacities within each organization. She was also the family genealogist, preserving her family's rich heritage for future generations.

Above all else, Joy loved Jesus with all her heart and burned to share the gospel. Her faith was the guiding light of her life, and her compassion and kindness touched everyone she met.

Her family was her greatest blessing. She is survived by her husband, Ernesto Vasquez; sons Carlos Vasquez and wife Carolina of Spain, and John Paul Vasquez and wife Esther of California; and her treasured grandchildren Carlitos, Andres, Jimena, Joaquin, Valentina, and Santiago, who were her pride and delight. She is also survived by her sister, Jackie Henry of Tuscola, and many loving nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Frankie Lee Hancock; her stepmother, Keva Hancock; and her beloved stepsister, Dena Ivey.

Joy was a devoted member of the Baptist church, and her passion for the past decade was the Windham Family Chapel, which she lovingly worked to restore and rebuild as a place of worship and family connection.

Joy Kay Vasquez will be remembered for her faith, warmth, wisdom, and unwavering love for others. Her legacy lives on through the countless lives she touched as a teacher, mentor, friend, and devoted servant of Christ.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Windham Family Chapel Restoration Fund or to a charity of your choice.

"Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your Lord." - Matthew 25:23

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