Vesta Cantrell
Vesta Mae Cantrell, 86, of Greenville, went to be with her Lord on September 4, 2018, after a courageous battle with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
Vesta was born in Peggs, Oklahoma, to John Harrison and Marie Deardeuff Lewis on April 30, 1932.
She grew up in Porter, Oklahoma and graduated from Porter High School where she was Salutatorian and a popular student involved in many activities including yearbook and basketball.
On December 19, 1953, she married Charles Wesley Cantrell in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In June 1961 she and her husband and young sons, Randy and Gary, moved to Greenville, Texas, and made it their home.
Vesta and her family joined Washington Street Baptist Church (now Highland Terrace Baptist Church) where she has been an active and faithful member for 57 years. She loved her church and continued serving in many different areas of ministry until this last year when her health began to decline.
Vesta was a strong person of faith and was devoted to her family. She lovingly cared for her mother, father and husband during their long illnesses. During these times she was especially encouraged by the book of James (“…count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”) She was a loving mother and grandmother and delighted in time spent with family.
Vesta is survived by her sons Randy and Gary Cantrell, both of Greenville, who tenderly cared for her in her last weeks. She is also survived by her brother Merle Lewis of Sperry, Oklahoma; daughter-in-law Jane Cantrell, grandchildren Catherine (and her husband Art Schmidt) of Santa Monica, California, and Emma Cantrell of Denton, Texas; and great grandsons Roman and Axel Schmidt.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brothers Earl Lewis and Beecher Lewis, and grandson Dylan Dobson.
Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, September 7, 2018, at Highland Terrace Baptist Church with Rev. Royce Litchfield and Rev. Bob Layman officiating. Burial will follow at Memoryland Memorial Park. Services are under the direction of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home. Visitation will be 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Jerry Bench, Clyde Dennis, Gary Griffin, Charles Roberts, David Roberts and Fred Samples.