Latest News

Lena Belle Stout Griffin, age 97, peacefully passed away on July 4, 2021, at the Beacon Hill Nursing Facility in Denison, Texas. Lena was born on December 14, 1923, in Howe, Texas to Wilton and Leo Wilson Stout. Lena was a class of 1941 graduate from Howe High School. She married David Garland Griffin on March 16, 1943. She attended Decatur Baptist College and studied at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. 

Lena was taught to sew at a very young age by her mother. During her lifetime, she became quite an accomplished seamstress, sewing things such as tailored suits and draperies. She truly loved being a minister’s wife and happily served right alongside her husband. She served as secretary at Lake Lavon Baptist Encampment for 22 years while David was the administrator there. Her passions in life were sewing, baking, teaching Sunday School, Bible study, entertaining and spoiling her grandsons.

Lena is survived by her son, J.D. Griffin and wife, Tammy of Sherman, grandsons, Joshua Griffin of McKinney and Matthew Griffin of Joplin, MO. as well as cousins, nieces and nephews. Her parents and husband, David preceded her in death. 

The family would like to thank the nurses, aides and staff of Beacon Hill for taking good care of our loved one during an especially difficult time the last 15 months and Elysian Hospice for their added care the last 2 months. The family will receive friends and relatives on Tuesday, July 13^th from 9:15 AM until 10:00 AM prior to funeral services.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 13^th at 10:00 AM at Forest Avenue Baptist Church in Sherman with Rev. Brian Taylor officiating. Burial will follow at Ridgeview Memorial Park Cemetery in Allen, Texas.

You may sign the online register book at waldofuneralhome.com

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints.” Psalm 116:15

Robby Gene Cannaday, “Pappaw,” born on April 9, 1932, in Mount Vernon, Texas, passed away on June 21, 2021, at age age of 89 years at his home in Howe, Texas. Honoring his wishes, and with his soul in the presence of the Lord, Robby often expressed his request for no formal funeral service and for no flowers to be sent in his remembrance. He would rather have his friends and family spend that time with loved ones, and that a gift be given to someone in need. Robby’s home-going to his Heavenly Father was a joyful event for which he lived and prepared throughout his life. A private celebration of Robby’s life will be held by his loving family.

Robby is survived by his wife of 66 Years, Martha (Marty), with whom he shared a blessed life. He is also survived by a beloved family: His children, son, John Cannaday and wife, Debbie; daughter Robbie Mangrum and husband, David; daughter Jane Mrozinski and husband, Thomas; and son David Cannaday and his fiancé, Nikki Chapman. Robby is also survived by his grandchildren: Robert Cannaday and his wife, Kelsie; Joe Cannaday and his wife, Mady; Jon Cannaday and his wife, Ayleem; Collin Mangrum and his wife, Olivia; Loren Williams and her husband, Matt; Haley Weir and her husband, Shannon; Libby Cannaday, Sarah Cannaday, Carly Cannaday and Emma Cannaday; Levi Mrozinski, and Robby’s great grandchildren, Cole, Crew, Presley, Nora, Carson, Laurel, and Audrey. Robby is also survived by his niece, Mary Martha Stewart and her husband, Rick, and their daughter Christa; and by his nephew, Douglas Richardson and his children Taylor, Noah and Joey.

Robby was preceded in death by his father and mother, Verde and Lula Cannaday, father-in-law   and mother-in-law, John and Peggy Silman; and by sister- in-law, Peggy Richardson and her husband, Bob.

Robby was born in Mount Vernon, Texas, graduated from Mount Vernon schools and in 1955 earned a BS in Mathematics and an MS in Industrial Arts from East Texas State University, Commerce, Texas. Robby and Marty married on April 30, 1955, in Commerce, Texas. Robby entered the Air Force and served in the strategic air command as an officer and pilot. He taught in Port Arthur public schools, and then worked at Texas Instruments as a production supervisor and inventory control manager for 32 years in Dallas and Sherman. After retiring from Texas Instruments Robby worked part-time for Waldo Funeral Home and then as a Wal-Mart greeter for 17 years, and he considered both of those employments a pleasure rather than a job.

Robby was a member of the Howe First United Methodist Church and was devoted to the Lord all of this life.  He taught Sunday School from the age of 17 until his health failed him in his 80’s. He led an exemplary Christian life before his family, friends and all who crossed his path. Robby will be remembered with high regard and much love by all who knew him, especially his family. It can be said without question that Robby Cannaday was a good and godly man, always a gentleman, and was the perfect role model of a loving husband, father and grandfather. Robby’s favorite song illustrated the life he lived:

“HE KEEPS ME SINGING” (LB. Bridgers)

There’s within my heart a melody, Jesus whispers sweet and low, “Fear not, I am with you; peace be still,” in all of life’s ebb and flow. Feasting on the riches of His grace, resting ‘neath His sheltering wing,

Always looking on His smiling face, that is why I shout and sing. Tho’ sometimes He leads thro’ waters deep, trials fall across the way,

Tho’ sometimes the path seems rough and steep, see his footprints all the way.

Soon He’s coming back to welcome me, far beyond the starry sky;

I shall wing my flight to worlds unknown; I shall reign with Him on high.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know, fills my every longing…keeps me singing as I go.”

Grid operator requests energy conservation

AUSTIN, TX, June 14, 2021 – The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is asking Texans to reduce electric use as much as possible today through Friday, June 18. A significant number of forced generation outages combined with potential record electric use for the month of June has resulted in tight grid conditions.

Generator owners have reported approximately 11,000 MW of generation is on forced outage for repairs; of that, approximately 8,000 MW is thermal and the rest is intermittent resources. According to the summer Seasonal Assessment of Resource Adequacy, a typical range of thermal generation outages on hot summer days is around 3,600 MW. One MW typically powers around 200 homes on a summer day.

“We will be conducting a thorough analysis with generation owners to determine why so many units are out of service,” said ERCOT Vice President of Grid Planning and Operations Woody Rickerson. “This is unusual for this early in the summer season.”

According to generation owners, the number of outages should decrease throughout the week.

Wind output for today is expected to be 3,500 to 6,000 MW between 3 and 9 p.m. This is roughly 1,500 MW lower than what is typically available for peak conditions. Wind output is expected to increase as the week goes on.

Today’s peak load forecast may exceed 73,000 MW. The peak demand record for June is 69,123 MW set on June 27, 2018 between 4 and 5 p.m.

Please take these simple actions to help reduce electric use:

• Set your thermostat to 78 degrees or higher – every degree of cooling increases your energy use by six to eight percent.
• Turn off lights and pool pumps and avoid using large appliances like ovens, washing machines and dryers.
• If you don’t need something – we are asking you to turn it off and unplug it if possible.

 Visit the Power to Save website or your electric provider for more ways to conserve.

How to track electricity demand

• View daily peak demand forecast, current load and available generation at http://www.ercot.com.
• Follow ERCOT on Twitter (@ERCOT_ISO) and Facebook (Electric Reliability Council of Texas).
• Sign up for the ERCOT mobile app (available for download at the Apple App Store and Google Play).
• Subscribe to the EmergencyAlerts list on http://lists.ercot.com.

Consumer assistance

Public Utility Commission of Texas Hotline – 1-888-782-8477