OBITUARY COLUMN
Our prayers surround the families of our loved ones now fully with our Lord.
Jesus said: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. (John 14:27 NRSV)
May this unspeakable peace of Christ hold you and keep you.
Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church
3901 North Star Road
Richardson, Texas 75082
(972) 238-8103
This list is in order of the memorial service date, beginning with the most recent. You may press "view previous"/"view next" at the bottom of the list to scroll.
Marilyn Wiggins (1936 - 2024)
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Marilyn Lee Wiggins went to her eternal peace on June 9, 2024. She was born on November 5, 1936, to Will and Hilda (Happy) Bowman in Troy, Ohio. She was a graduate of Miami University of Ohio and also The Christ Hospital School of Nursing in Cincinnati.
She married Richard Keith Murphy, and their union was blessed with a daughter, Mary Ann Murphy. They moved to Dallas in 1964 where Marilyn was the nurse for Dr. Joel Steinberg’s practice for many years, and then for Dr. Albert Karam’s practice, finishing her career there well into her 70s.
Possessing a strong unshakeable faith, Marilyn lived a life close to God, family, and friends. She was a longtime and active member of Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church, where she served as an elder, deacon, and member of the Adult Choir and of the Women’s Circle. She was also a founding member and early leader of the CCPC Singles Group, leading many excursions and events.
Marilyn was an avid volunteer for a number of causes, including Meals on Wheels. She pursued many interests, including sewing and playing piano and the marimba. She loved to travel, especially with her daughter. Her family and friends remember her as cheerful and elegant, always bringing joy and laughter wherever she went, and always wearing a smile.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. Grieving her loss but cherishing her memory are her daughter and many beloved family members and friends.
A memorial service for Marilyn will be held at Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church, 3901 Northstar Road, Richardson, Texas, at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, June 26, followed by interment at Restland Cemetery. In lieu of cut flowers, the family suggests potted plants.
Published on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 @ 10:52 AM CDT
Kay Kutis (1950 - 2024)
Kay McClain Kutis passed away to her eternal reward on May 26, 2024.
She was born in Dallas on September 18, 1950, to Floyd R. McClain and Beth Ray (Speck) McClain. She attended Adams Junior High in Grand Prairie, where she served as assistant librarian and graduated with straight As and high honors and a lifelong interest in world history. Kay was active in youth fellowship at the Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Grand Prairie.
After attending college, she was a buyer for Neiman Marcus for ten years for their specialty international delicatessen, a job she enjoyed. Later she joined the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas as a research librarian where she provided tremendous support to the bank’s economists. She retired in 2010.
Throughout her life, she especially enjoyed drawing and music, especially classical music. Kay was also a skilled seamstress. As a very petite person, she found it difficult to find clothing in her size After a neighbor taught her to sew, she was able to make her own fashionable clothes. She was also proud of her Scottish heritage, and she loved dogs, especially miniature schnauzers. Her friends remember her as a very kind, quiet person.
She met her husband-to-be, Marian Kutis in 1990 on the dating site Together, because they were both determined not to remain single. They were married on her birthday in 1993 in Grand Prairie’s First Presbyterian Church. They moved to Richardson in 1997 and joined Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church where they were regular worship service attendees, and she attended CCPC’s Women’s Bible Study.
Kay is survived by her husband Marian, her Aunt Phyllis Speck, several cousins in Texas and Oklahoma, and her beloved schnauzer Phoebe. She was preceded in death by her parents and her older sister Donna Peacock.
Published on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 @ 10:01 AM CDT
Richard Allison (1940 - 2024)
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Richard Edwin Allison of Plano, Texas, passed away on April 2, 2024, at the age of 83.
He was born in Columbus, Ohio on November 22, 1940, to Edwin Martin Allison and Josephine Naomi Allison. He graduated from North High School in 1958. He married his high-school sweetheart, Sue Ann Bauer, on St. Patrick’s Day in 1962. They were blessed with two children, Jeffrey Edwin, and Karin Sue.
Upon receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from The Ohio State University where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, Richard was recruited as an artist by Hallmark Cards, embarking on his successful creative career in the social expression industry. Over the years, he held management positions in marketing, creative, and product development roles in a variety of such companies including Gibson Greeting Cards, CPS Industries, Marcel Schurman Co., Antioch Publishing Co., and was a Vice President of Creative at Carlton Cards.
Richard was involved in both community and church activities. He was one of the first soccer coaches for the children in their community and coached both of his children’s teams. He enjoyed the sport so much that he joined a soccer team himself. He was a past member of the Kiwanis Club and a former volunteer at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum. He served as a member of the Plano Public Art Commission and several of their commissioned public art sculptures can be seen at the Plano Fire Station One and the Plano Animal Shelter. Richard was also an Elder in the Presbyterian church, and was a current deacon at Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church.
In the years after his retirement, he found pleasure working at Market Street in Plano, where he enjoyed his fellow workers and talking with customers. He would refer to his longtime customers as “my customers.”
Richard had many varied interests. Genealogy was one of his favorite hobbies where he pursued the family connection to Scotland, culminating in a family trip to Scotland. He also enjoyed photography, traveling, family activities, gardening and working on his pond.
Another lifelong passion of Richard’s starting in his teenage years was cars – vintage, exotic, and contemporary – all cars. He read car magazines, watched car racing, went to car shows and races. A real highlight for him was attending an Indianapolis 500 race. In later years he took to photographing exotic cars and would strike up in-depth conversations with their owners.
Richard is survived by Sue, his wife of 62 years, as well as his son Jeffrey Allison and his daughter Karin Allison White (husband, John White) and their son Andrew Michael White, who fondly called his grandfather G-Dad. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Robert Gary Allison, and his sister Shirley Ann Allison.
A memorial service will be held at Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church in Richardson, Texas at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 26. It will be livestreamed at www.canyoncreekpres.org.
Donations in Richard’s memory can be made to Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church and to the American Heart Association. Online condolences to the family can be made at www.teddickeywestfuneral.com.
Published on Friday, April 26, 2024 @ 4:37 PM CDT
Jason Brown (1977 - 2024)
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In memory of Jason Aaron Brown, a beloved husband, son, brother, uncle, and friend, who departed from this world due to a tragic hit-and-run incident on Monday evening, April 8th, 2024. He passed away on Saturday evening, April 13th, after a valiant fight. Jason's life was cut short while he was doing what he loved - going for a run. He will always be remembered for his sweet smile, warm eyes, and unwavering determination. He truly had a heart of gold and loved deeply, illuminating the lives of those around him with his vibrant spirit and genuine love for life. His dedication to everything he pursued was genuinely admirable, and his cherished wife, Tiffany, his devoted family, and countless friends will feel his absence deeply.
Tiffany, his beloved wife and soulmate, lovingly remembers Jason as the love and light of her life, her husband, and her best friend. When they started dating, they shared an intense connection and hated being apart from each other. After seven years of dating, they married early in the Covid years. She describes their ten years together as the best of her life. His passing has left an indescribable pain in her heart.
Jason is survived by his loving wife, Tiffany Brown; his mother, Leah Maglio, and stepfather, John Maglio; his father, Homer Brown, and stepmother, Melinda Hunt; his sister, Mia Luna, and brother-in-law Ricky Luna; and his nephews, Alex Luna and Josh Luna. In their grief, may they find solace in the memories of Jason's love and his impact on so many lives.
Let us honor Jason's memory by embracing life with the same vigor and passion that he did. May his legacy serve as a reminder to cherish every moment and love fiercely, for life is too short.
Rest in peace, Jason; you will be missed beyond words.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your local animal shelter.
Published on Thursday, April 18, 2024 @ 2:53 PM CDT
Bill Pool (1930 - 2024)
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William (Bill) Harmon Pool, 94, of Dallas, Texas passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday March 31, 2024 at his home. He was predeceased by his mother Annetta (Lassitter) Pool, father William Harmon Pool Sr., paternal Aunt Jewel Nixon, and grandson Joseph Gregory Pearson.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years Anna R. (Finnell) “Bunny” Pool. He is also survived by two daughters: Stephanie Pearson and husband Greg, Melanie Houchin and husband Kerry. Grandchildren: Alex Pearson, Brian Pearson and wife Brittnie, Chad and Sarah Houchin. Great-grandchildren: Callie Mae and Tyler William Pearson.
A memorial service will be held at Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church in Richardson, Texas on Friday, April 5, 2024 at 3 PM.
Bill was born in Albany, Texas on March 21, 1930. He graduated from Albany High School in 1947 in a class of 26 students. He worked at the local drug store’s soda fountain, and as a surveyor and draftsman before entering the U.S. Army. Bill served in the Second Infantry Division during the Korean War where he earned his Combat Infantry Badge as an infantryman and later trained non-commissioned officers at the Second Division NCO Academy.
After his discharge in 1953 he enrolled in the University of Texas at Austin where he met his future wife, Bunny. Bill was initiated into Texas Alpha Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity in 1954, married Bunny in 1956, and earned his BBA in 1958 and LLB in 1959. He was the only member of his family to attend college.
Over his career Bill practiced law in County, State, and Federal courts. He served 10 years as Assistant Attorney General in Austin, then in 1970 moved to Dallas as an Assistant District Attorney under Henry Wade and then John Vance with 25 years total service. Bill retired in 1995 and in 1996 he was recruited to serve as Chief Public Defender for Dallas County.
Bill was active for over 50 years in the Presbyterian Church with multiple leadership roles such as Clerk of Session, Chairman of Worship Committee, Chairman of Personnel Committee, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chairman Day School Reorganization, Deacon, and Elder. He was also an active member of the couples and men’s bible study groups.
Bill loved to travel, having visited over 50 countries and all 50 states, and sailed most oceans. Bill enjoyed reading and considered himself a student of military history.
Bill’s most important role in life has been husband to his wife Bunny and father to their two daughters. His biggest pride and joy have been his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Published on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 @ 9:21 AM CDT