Jan Murdoch Dempsey

Funeral services for Jan Murdoch Dempsey, 67, of Lufkin will be held Tuesday, December 28, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in the Denman Avenue Baptist Church with Brother Charles Roberts and Brother Kevin Roy officiating. Interment will follow in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park.

Mrs. Dempsey was born April 24, 1943 in Lufkin, Texas to the late Lillyette Hawthorne Defee and Blakey Murdoch, and died Thursday, December 23, 2010 in a local hospital.

Mrs. Dempsey was a lifetime resident of Lufkin and was the office manager at Gipson Funeral Home for 25 years. She was a member of Denman Avenue Baptist Church and the Bible Survey Sunday School Class. She was also a volunteer with the Most Excellent Way program at the church, helping to cook a meal each Wednesday for the group.

Jan knew that cancer would ultimately take her, and through her faith had made peace with her shortened time on earth. The past few years, despite her weak body, Jan kept moving, striving to make every moment count. Through words, home cooked dinners, trips to Disney World and above all love, she left her family and friends each with precious memories that we will lean on during these difficult times.

Jan was and will continue to be an example of a devoted Christian, a selfless parent, a proud grandparent, a giving sister, and a wife who loved and cared for her husband of 48 years with all of her heart.

Survivors include her husband, W.A. Dempsey of Lufkin; daughter, Dana Thompson of Lufkin; sons and daughter-in-law, Lance Dempsey of Beaumont and Ron and Courtney Dempsey of Lufkin; grandchildren, Seth and Zac Thompson, Bree and Tracy Dempsey, Drew and Libby Dempsey; sister and brother-in-law, Charlene and Bill Ringler of Bossier City, Louisiana; aunt, Rags Billingsley; sisters-in-law, Linda Roach and Jany Dempsey; and a number of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Jackie Dempsey; parents, Lillyette Hawthorne Defee and Blakey Murdoch; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Willard and Dale Dempsey; and brother-in-law, Jack Dempsey.

Pallbearers will be Bill Mead, Buddy Jordan, Melvin Hendry, Bill McCall, Bill Gerland, Bob Fruge, Todd Alston and Don Seelbach.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Bible Survey Sunday School Class of Denman Avenue Baptist Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Denman Avenue Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1351, Lufkin, Texas 75902 or the Lufkin Youth Baseball Association, 1332 East Denman Avenue, Suite 101, Lufkin, Texas 75901.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.