Dewey Crockett Rister

Dewey Crockett Rister, 84, of Avoca, passed away on Monday, May 25, 2009 at his home. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at he Avoca Baptist Church with Revs. Les Mims, Charles Gafford and Kelly Russell officiating. Burial will follow at the Spring Creek Cemetery in Avoca under the direction of Tankersley Funeral Home of Stamford.  The family will be receiving friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from 6 until 8 p.m

Dewey was born June 30, 1924 in Jones county just north of Merkel to John Jacob and Nora Farmer Rister. He was a lifetime resident of Jones County. He married Jessie Buntin on May 8, 1948 in Anson. He was an independent oil and gas operator, and a member of the Avoca Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School for over 50 years and was a deacon for over 58 years.

He is survived by his wife, Jessie Rister of Avoca, 2 sons, Larry Rister and wife Markay of Midlothian, TX, and Joel Rister of Flower Mound, TX, 1 daughter, Sharon Neatherlin and husband Earl of Avoca, 1 sister, Dottie Price of Merkel, 3 grandchildren, Shane Neatherlin and wife Dawn of Avoca, and Jennifer and Daniel Rister, both of Flower Mound, 6 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild.

Dewey and Jessie had an extended family consisting of 4 foreign exchange students over the years, including Lisa Rontanen of Finland, Kiran Mazumdar of Germany, Anne Heiburg of Denmark, and Pete Barten of Holland who now lives in Calgary, Canada with his wife Michelle and children John and Matthew.

He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 grand sons, Eddie Neatherlin and Brian Rister, 2 brothers, John Rister and Wesley Rister, and 2 sisters, Ruby Rister and Cynthia Park.