July 13, 1935 ~ February 9, 2026 (age 90)
Demple Lunsford Obituary
Funeral services for Demple C. (Harris) Lunsford, will be held at 3:00 PM, on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at Garrison Funeral Home. Visitation will be held immediately prior to the service beginning at 2:00 PM. Interment will follow at Walnut Grove Cemetery.
Demple was born on July 13th,1935 in Garrison, Texas in her family’s home with her parents, William and Meriam Harris. Since her mother, Meriam Harris (Beckham) was not expecting twins, she asked the doctor for help in naming the girls and he suggested Dot and Demple. And so it was- Dot Anyce and Demple Claryce were welcomed into the world! Growing up with her brothers and sisters in the Garrison area, Dot and Demple ended up dating two young men who were cousins (Robert Little and Verna Lee Lunsford) and they had a double wedding on December 19th, 1953, while they were still in High School.
Demple went on to graduate Garrison High School in August of 1954, and she later attended Massey Business College. At one point she worked at Phillip’s Cash Store (grocery store) but for the most part, she was a stay-at-home mom where she raised her two kids, Edd William and Dianna. Many of you from the surrounding communities may recall her Tea Room or her Antique store, Demple’s Antiques. Or, you may have even received a perm or hair color from her back in the 80’s and 90’s! She definitely always had a flare for style, whether it was jewelry, antiques, hair, or her car.
One thing for sure that most people remember about Demple was her love of cooking southern-style food. She made the best fried chicken, chicken salad, and her dressing was unbelievable. Replicating her recipes is nearly impossible because she would not measure anything , and she used terms like “bring to a boil and stir until it strings a hair”… she would be so frustrated if it was too humid, and it made her cakes “flop” (no one cared, they still tasted just as good).
Family time was the best time… spent playing card games, checkers, 42, regular dominos, and Wa-Hoo. Demple loved to play games and had the biggest time sitting around a table with loved ones. If you had the pleasure of playing with her, you will never forget her famous cackle when she’d get tickled at something, especially when she got knocked out or knocked someone else out in Wa-Hoo.
She and Verna Lee also loved to travel with their camper trailer where they explored places like Branson, saw the lights of Marfa, and even made trips to the Grand Ol’ Opry. Memaw, you are free to explore eternal life and see the greatest wonders of all now with your parents, brothers and sister, and your son.
Demple is preceded in death by her parents, William and Meriam Harris, her brothers, Charles and Wilford Harris, her twin sister, Dot Little, and her son, Edd William Lunsford.
She is survived by her husband, Verna Lee Lunsford of Mt. Enterprise; sister, MaryAnn and husband, Gale Swartz of Ashdown, AR; her sisters-in-law, Ima Jean and Mary Lynn Harris; her daughter, Dianna and husband, Lee Richards of Nacogdoches; her daughter-in-law, Pam Lunsford; her grandson, Clint Richards, and wife, Gwen of Nacogdoches; her grandson, Corey Black of Mt. Enterprise; her granddaughter, Jenna, and husband, James Carpenter of Nacogdoches; her great granddaughters, Kinslee Barnhill, Rylan Richards, and Sawyer Richards, all of Nacogdoches; and numerous nieces and nephews.
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