Obituaries

Mary Ella Graham, of Denison, died Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at her residence in Denison. Graveside services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Thursday, in Bethany Cemetery in Sherman, Texas, with Rev. Andy Taylor officiating assisted by Rev. Robert A Ramsey. A family visitation was held Wednesday, December 9, 2015 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Dannel Funeral Home, Sherman, Texas. Mrs. Graham was born February 20, 1944, in Sherman, TX, to Robert Lee and Mary Brinlee Hawkins. She graduated from Sherman High School. She retired from the Kraft Foods Plant in Sherman. She was a long-time member of Loving Baptist Church. A favorite past-time was working in her yard, tending to her flowers. Even though she was quite independent, Mary loved spending time with her family. Preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Donald Brinlee and Jerry Hawkins, and nephew Bobby Phillips, Mary is survived by her two sisters: Joyce Beshears and Leona Phillips, both of Denison; nieces: Darlene Nix, of Sherman, Melissa White, of Denison, and Nikki Hawkins, of California; nephews: David Beshears, of Sherman, Ricky Brinlee, of Howe, Robert Brinlee, of Dorchester, Vernon Phillips, of Missouri, and Donny Phillips, of Indiana; sixteen great-nieces/nephews and several great-great nieces/nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family would be especially honored by memorial donations to Bethany Cemetery Association, Meals on Wheels, or to the Salvation Army.