January 2026

Van Zandt County Historical Commission Publicity Chairperson Linda Lantrip Mays of Van recently won first place from the Texas State Genealogical Society (TSGS) for the second volume of her history of the Van oil industry of the 1930s.

It was a busy year for Van Zandt County in 2025 as a number of political items and individual and group accomplishments were very much a part of what was happening. In a month-by-month review, the staff of the News takes a look back at the people and the events that made 2025 a special year to remember.

June 1, 1982 – December 18, 2025 Funeral services for Jeremy Oats, 43, of Wills Point were held December 22, 2025, at Hiett’s LyBrand Funeral Home. Visitation was held one hour prior to service time.

September 5, 1937– December 7, 2025 Donald Leroy Purinton, 88, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, December 7, 2025. He was born on September 5, 1937, to Roy and Mabel Purinton in Kansas City, Missouri.

November 16, 1955 – December 15, 2025 Funeral services for Thomas Wayne Comer, 70, of Wills Point were held Saturday, December 20, 2025, at Hiett’s LyBrand Funeral Home in Wills Point. A visitation was held one hour prior to the service time.

July 9, 1952 – December 1, 2025 Rhonda Jan Sparks was born in Harlingen to Jessie Lee and Wanda Jean Minchew. Her family moved often before settling in Tulia, where her father managed the local cotton gin.

December 16, 2007 -December 20, 2025 Services for Jacquiline Brealynn Campbell, 18, of Grand Saline, are scheduled for 2 p.m., Monday, December 29, 2025, at Bartley Funeral Home, with Kyle White and Alex Peredes officiating. Interment will be in Woodside Cemetery.

March 22, 1987 – December 16, 2025 Memorial services for Joseph Christopher Matteson, 38, of Grand Saline, were held Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at Bartley Funeral Home with Jeremy Harrell officiating. Joseph Matteson passed away on December 16, 2025, in Canton.

November 23, 1940-December 17, 2025 Charles ‘Bud’ Ray Page, age 85, of Canton passed away on December 17, 2025. Born on November 23, 1940, Charles lived a life rooted in hard work, integrity, faith, and devotion to family and community.