Brenda Diane Blanton
from Ruth Walsh
Herald Democrat, Sherman, TX Thursday, Oct. 28, 1999
BRENDA DIANE BLANTON - Sherman - Brenda Diane Mathis Blanton, 57,
was born on February 6, 1942, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, daughter to Rev. and Mrs.Earl C. Mathis. After a five year courageous battle with lung cancer,
Diane, a non-smoker, died on October 27, 1999, at Wilson N. Jones Medical
Center in Sherman. Arrangements are under the direction of Waldo Funeral
Home. Diane was a teacher, receiving her Bachelor's Degree from Henderson
State Teacher's College in Arkadelphia, Arkansas and Master's Degree from
East Texas State University in Commerce. She taught 4th grade at
Crutchfield Elementary School in Sherman for 14 years. She was a member of
the First United Methodist Church in Sherman, a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority, Sherman Education Association, Texas State Teacher's Association, and the National Education Association. // Diane is survived by her husband of 36 years, James F. (Jimmy) Blanton of Sherman; her mother, Mrs. Earl C. Mathis of Arkadelphia, Arkansas; she was a loving mother and "Mom" to one daughter, Cynthia D. Jones of Houston, two sons and their wives, Scott and Amy Blanton and Chris and Holly Blanton, all of Sherman; and was "Mimi" to two much loved granddaughters, Ashley and Abby Blanton and a grandson, Tanner Scott Blanton. // She is also survived by brothers, Winston Mathis and Randall Mathis of Arkadelphia and sisters, Gayle Owen of Greensboro, North Carolina and June Wrinkle of Arkadelphia; 14 nieces and nephews; 19 great-nieces and nephews; four great-great-nieces and nephews; and her father-in-law Jim Blanton of Okolona, Arkansas. She was preceded in death by her father, Earl C. Mathis, a retired Methodist minister, a brother, Travis
Mathis; and sisters, Dorothy Christopher and Joyce Mathis. // Pallbearers
will be Howard Brandon, Tom Carolan, Nile Duke, Randy Fluke, Bert Garcia,
Eddie McMaster and Jim Parsons. Honorary pallbearers will be her eight
nephews. // Services will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, October 30, 1999, at the
First United Methodist Church in Sherman with Dr. Jim Pledger, Senior Pastor
of the church, presiding. Family visitation will be held from 7 to 9 p.m.
Friday, October 29, 1999, at Waldo Funeral Home. // Graveside services will
be held at 11 a.m. Monday, November 1, 1999 at Center Ridge Cemetery in
Gurdon, Arkansas, with Dr. Jim Pledger of Sherman First United Methodist
Church of Arkadelphia presiding. Family visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m.
Sunday, October 31, 1999 at Murray Ruggles Funeral Home in Arkadelphia. //
Memorials may be made in Diane's honor to the Youth and Children's
Ministries of Sherman's First United Methodist Church, 402 N. Elm, Sherman,
Texas 75090; to the Davidson Methodists Camp Ground, 4756 Highway 182 W.
Okolona, Arkansas 71962; or to your favorite charity.