Memorials
Submit a memorial at texasbar.com/memorials or call (512) 427-1830. For information on closing a deceased attorney’s practice, go to www.texasbarcle.com/materials/closingapractice.html.
Haroldeen Hartsfield
Hartsfield, 73, of Houston,
died August 6, 2020. She received her law degree from Drake University
Law School and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1974. Hartsfield was an
attorney with Burney, Edwards, Hall, Hartsfield and Scott from 1975 to
1977 and Burney, Caggins and Hartsfield from 1977 to 1984, in private
practice from 1984 to 2011, and director of human services at William
Smith Sr. Tri-County Child Development Council, Inc., from 2011 to 2013.
She was a health advocate, dedicated mother, excellent cook, music
enthusiast, and trailblazer. Hartsfield made lifelong friendships. She
provided a lifetime of service to the underserved in her community. She
is survived by her son, attorney Solomon Holness; daughter, Tewahado
Holness Aligaz; brothers, Albert Hartsfield, Anthony Hartsfield, and
Roderick Hartsfield; sisters, attorney Joyce Hartsfield and attorney
Judy A. Hartsfield; and one grandson.
T. Gerald Treece
Treece, 75, of Houston, died July
13, 2020. He received his law degree from the University of Houston Law
Center in 1969. Treece served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1972 during
the Vietnam War and received two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. He was
admitted to the Texas Bar in 1972. Treece was a law clerk for the U.S.
Court for the District of Kansas in Kansas City from 1972 to 1973; a
professor of law at Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu,
California, from 1974 to 1977; vice president and associate dean of
advocacy at South Texas College of Law, now South Texas College of Law
Houston, from 1977 to 2020; and was an on-air legal analyst for KHOU-TV
from 1988 to 2020. He received the American Bar Association Silver Key
Award. Treece was an avid baseball lover and Houston Astros fan. He
loved his dogs, Charles Cooper, Delilah the Delightful, Trixie the
Barker, and Greta the Great. Treece is survived by his wife of 50 years,
Sue Treece; son, Justin; and daughter, Trisha.
Allyson Bohannon Goldman
Goldman, 30, of Dallas, died March
15, 2020. She received her law degree from Baylor Law School and was
admitted to the Texas Bar in 2014. Goldman was estate planning
coordinator for Botsford Financial Group in Frisco from 2014 to 2018 and
manager of client advisory for Tolleson Wealth Management in Dallas from
2018 to 2020. She cared for her family above all else, especially her
beautiful daughter, Caroline, who she welcomed into the world in January
2020. Goldman enjoyed traveling with her friends and family. She was an
active member of the Junior League of Dallas, volunteering at the Texas
Scottish Rite Hospital for Children and Ronald McDonald House, and was a
supporter of Susan G. Komen. Goldman is survived by her husband of two
years, Jody Goldman; daughter, Caroline Allyson Elaine Goldman; father,
Steve Bohannon; mother, Sharon Bohannon; and sister, Katie Phillips.
Michael Edward McElroy
McElroy, 67, of Austin, died June
22, 2020. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1978. McElroy was counsel to
Texas Railroad Commission Chairman John H. Poerner, counsel to the Texas
Senate Natural Resources Committee, and was founding partner in McElroy,
Sullivan, Miller & Weber from 1982 to 2020. He served as chair of
the State Bar of Texas Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law Section,
including a posthumous election, and served on the State Bar of Texas
Pattern Jury Charges Committee. McElroy had a love for and encouragement
of knowledge and education. He played for the “Legal Eagles” football
team while in law school. McElroy was a lifelong supporter of KUT radio.
He is survived by his son, Michael Andrew McElroy; and daughter,
attorney Catherine Cecile Darch.
Karen Danielle McCloud
McCloud, 49, of Dallas, died April 9,
2020. She received her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center
and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1999. McCloud was a trial lawyer at
Strasburger & Price in Dallas from 1999 to 2005 and at Davis Rawlins
in Dallas from 2006 to 2008 and in private practice in Dallas from 2008
to 2020. She was president of the Dallas Women Lawyers Association in
2004, class facilitator of the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Board
of Directors from 2004 to 2018, president of the Dallas Association of
Young Lawyers in 2008, president of the J.L. Turner Legal Association in
2010, and first vice president of the Dallas Bar Association in 2020.
McCloud was honored as Dallas Bar Association Joanna Moreland
Outstanding Committee Chair, Dallas Area Young Lawyers Outstanding Board
of Director Award, and J.L. Turner Legal Association Outstanding Mentor
Award. She was a loving person and ready to help anyone at any time.
McCloud enjoyed helping in any way she could and believed in community
service, especially in helping young women and minority lawyers. She was
selfless and altruistic. McCloud is survived by her mother, Carole
McCloud, and brother, Terence J. McCloud.
Joe D. Denton
Denton, 95, of Dallas, died April 13,
2020. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1948 as a
crewman, flight engineer, and pilot, including test flying the first Air
Force jet, the XP-59A, at Muroc Army Air Field in California. Denton
received his law degree from Baylor Law School and was admitted to the
Texas Bar in 1953. He was in private practice from 1953 to 1961; served
in various roles, including trust officer, president, and CEO with Oak
Cliff Bank & Trust Company, later First RepublicBank Oak Cliff, from
1961 to 1989; and was in private practice from 1989 to 2020. Denton was
a member of the American Bar Association, Dallas Estate Planning
Council, Texas Bankers Association, and the American Bankers
Association. He loved golf and served as director of the Texas Golf
Association, the Northern Texas Professional Golfers Association, and
the Professional Golfers’ Association Tournament Players Division.
Denton was named the Northern Texas PGA Amateur of the Year in 1981,
served as director of the World Golf Hall of Fame, founded the Dallas
Reunion Pro-Am golf tournament in 1985, served as treasurer of the
Senior PGA Tour Sponsors Association, and was a member of the Senior PGA
Tour Advisory Council. He played minor league baseball and was inducted
into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989 for his contributions to
the game. Denton is survived by his wife of 69 years, Elouise Denton;
sons, John Denton and Don Denton; daughters, Kay Denton and Lynn Denton;
and two grandchildren.
Michael Lewis Parham
Parham, 72, of Dallas, died December
2, 2019. He received his law degree from Southern Methodist University
School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1973. Parham was a
trial attorney and partner in Vial, Hamilton in Dallas; a partner in
Winstead and the Law Firm of Frank Branson; and founder of Parham, Jones
& Shriver and the Law Office of Michael L. Parham. He was an adjunct
professor of trial advocacy at Southern Methodist University School of
Law for 30 years. Parham was Dallas chapter president of the American
Board of Trial Advocates and was named a Dallas Bar Foundation fellow
and American Board of Trial Advocates fellow. He was a member of Sam P.
Cochran Lodge No. 1335, serving as a past master, and was also a member
of the Masonic Jurisprudence Committee of the Grand Lodge of Texas, the
Claude L. Austin Lodge No. 1450, and the Scottish Rite bodies. Parham
fiercely loved his family, spending time outdoors with friends and
family, hunting, traveling, sunrises, and sunsets. He is survived by his
wife of 50 years, Jo Ann; son, Michael Parham Jr.; daughters, Jennifer
Irvine and Elizabeth Johnson; brother, Dan Parham; sister, Patricia
Gard; and five grandchildren.
Megan Jo Styers
Styers, 34, of Hempstead, died March
15, 2020. She received her law degree from Texas Southern University
Thurgood Marshall School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in
2013. Styers was owner of Megan Styers Law Office in Hempstead from 2014
to 2020. She had a passion for helping others, gave 110% in all she did,
and only saw the good in others. Styers is survived by her husband of
seven years, Odis Kidd Styers; daughters, Chloe Kidd Styers and Corrigan
Jo Styers; father, Kent Margist; mother, Vicki Jo Igansiak; and brother,
Justin Margist.
Robert Aldrich Felsman
Felsman, 86, of Austin, died June 11,
2020. He received his law degree from the University of Houston Law
Center and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1963. Felsman was admitted
to practice before the U.S. Patent Court in 1964. He was in private
practice in Fort Worth from 1964 to 1966, a partner in Wofford, Felsman,
Fails & Zobal in Fort Worth from 1967 to 1978, and a partner in
Felsman, Bradley, Gunter & Dillon in Fort Worth from 1979 to 1997.
Felsman became a Texas Bar Foundation life fellow in 1985 and served as
chair of the State Bar of Texas Intellectual Property Section from 1987
to 1988. He was dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in both
professional and leisure activities. Felsman enjoyed golf, fly fishing,
and watching Texas Longhorn football. He is survived by his wife of 58
years, attorney Mary Lou Felsman; son, Bradley Keen Felsman; daughter,
Marianna Louise Felsman; brother, James Felsman; sister, Janet Puryear;
and two grandchildren.
Gus J. Strauss Jr.
Strauss, 76, of New Ulm, died April 28,
2020. He received his law degree from St. Mary’s University School of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1968. Strauss was an attorney
with Gaus & Strauss in Yoakum from 1968 to 1983 and judge of the 2nd
25th Judicial District Court from 1983 to 2004. His greatest pastime was
fishing at Rockport. Strauss is survived by his wife of 30 years, Susie
Strauss; sons, Matthew Strauss and Gus J. Strauss III; brother, attorney
Olin Strauss; sister, Mary Rose Grafe; and three grandchildren.
Nanneska “Nan” Hazel
Hazel, 76, of Austin, died April 30,
2020. She received her law degree from the University of Texas School of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1991. Hazel was an attorney at
George & Donaldson, now George Brothers Kincaid & Horton, in
Austin. She enjoyed gardening. Hazel sang in the choir at St. David’s
Episcopal Church. She is survived by two sons, Chris Magee and Ted
Magee; sister, Dorinda Noble; and four grandchildren.
Jess Hall Jr.
Hall, 83, of Houston, died August 9, 2020.
He received his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law and
was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1971. Hall was a partner in Liddell,
Sapp, Zivley & LaBoon from 1971 to 2003. He was a minister in the
Churches of Christ. Hall served on the Faulkner University Board of
Directors in Montgomery, Alabama. He is survived by his wife of 64
years, Millie Brown Hall; son, attorney Eric Hall; daughter, Jessalyn
Eaton; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Thomas M. Root
Root, 72, of Houston, died July 13,
2020. He served in the U.S. Army as a pilot and military intelligence
officer during the Vietnam War. Root received his law degree from St.
Mary’s University School of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in
1981. He practiced law across Texas before eventually settling in the
Clear Lake area and practicing there for the past 20 years. Root was
passionate about his clients and gave his full attention to each one.
His enormous heart often led him to set his fees based on the means of
the individual. Root enjoyed woodworking, fishing, and watching movies
with his family. He was in the process of retiring to spend time
traveling with his wife in their new motorhome. Root is survived by his
wife of 25 years, Sandy Root; sons, Shawn Root and Clint Stapleton;
daughters, Errin Cox, Misty Schion, Kelly Borne, Stephanie Allison;
brother, Timothy Root; sisters, Patricia Morgan and Sheila House; 14
grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Robert Fields Spears
Spears, 76, of Dallas, died May 3,
2020. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1968. Spears was a partner in
Rain, Harrell, Emery, Young & Doke in Dallas from 1968 to 1975, a
partner in Locke Purnell in Dallas from 1975 to 1980, general counsel to
Lone Star Technologies in Dallas from 1985 to 2008, and in private
practice from 2008 to 2020. He was a member of the Texas Law
Review, Order of the Coif, and Chancellors. Spears enjoyed
traveling. He researched World War II. Spears was an avid volunteer. He
is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jacky Spears; son, Jeff Spears;
daughter, Sally Spears White; brother, Bill Spears; and four
grandchildren.
Nels Christopher Hansen
Hansen, 53, of Austin, died April 23,
2020. He received his law degree from Oklahoma City University School of
Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1995. Hansen was a partner in
the Law Office of Nels C. Hansen in Austin from 1996 to 2020. He was a
longtime volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. Hansen enjoyed reading,
wind surfing, golfing, fixing things, cooking, and watching PBS
mysteries. He is survived by his father, Kenneth Hansen; mother, Karen
Hansen; and sisters, Amy Hammons and Carrie Hansen.
Charles Richard “Dick” Turnbow
Turnbow, 96, of Dallas, died
November 8, 2019. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Turnbow received his law degree from the University of Illinois College
of Law and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1983. He was admitted to the
Illinois Bar in 1951, to practice in Indiana in 1959, the Oklahoma Bar
in 1964, the Alaska Bar in 1977, and to practice in Colorado in 1980.
Turnbow was in private practice in Champaign, Illinois, from 1951 to
1958; an attorney for Ohio Oil/Marathon Oil in Terre Haute, Indiana,
from 1958 to 1964; an attorney for Marathon Oil in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from
1964 to 1966; a division attorney for Marathon Oil in Robinson,
Illinois, from 1966 to 1977, in Anchorage, Alaska, from 1977 to 1980,
and in Denver, Colorado, from 1980 to 1983; an attorney for Marathon Oil
in Houston from 1983 to 1986; and a consultant attorney for Marathon Oil
in Houston from 1986 to 1996. He enjoyed golfing and exercising. Turnbow
loved spending time with his family. He is survived by his wife of 68
years, L. Elizabeth Turnbow; daughters, Linda Walsh and Laura Murray;
brother, attorney Robert Turnbow; sister, Margaret Beach; three
grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Paul Lyle
Lyle, 79, of Plainview, died November 22,
2019. He received his law degree from Baylor Law School and was admitted
to the Texas Bar in 1964. Lyle was an attorney with Day, Owen, Lyle,
Voss & Owen from 1964 to 2004. He served on the State Bar of Texas
Board of Directors. Lyle was recognized by the State Bar of Texas as a
distinguished expert in school law. He was State Bar of Texas School Law
Section chair. Lyle was the author of Lyle Digest and
Superintendent’s Manual – Commissioner’s Decisions. He was a Mayer
Foundation trustee. Lyle was a deacon at the First Baptist Church
Plainview and a noted mentor to many through the years. He is survived
by his daughter, Leah Kay Lyle Gabriel; and four grandchildren.
Annette Stewart
Stewart, 92, of Dallas, died August
28, 2020. She received her law degree from Southern Methodist University
School of Law with the highest GPA in school history and was admitted to
the Texas Bar in 1966. Stewart worked in private practice, served as
court reporter to Judge Beth Wright from 1968 to 1974, was the first
woman in Dallas County to be elected to serve as presiding judge of the
301st District Court from January 1975 to March 1983, was appointed by
Gov. Mark White to the 5th Court of Appeals in Dallas from March 1983 to
December 1984, served as presiding judge of the 305th Juvenile District
Court from January 1985 to January 1986, was reappointed by Gov. Mark
White to the 5th Court of Appeals in Dallas from January 1986 to
December 1992, and served in trial and appellate courts in retirement.
She was past chair of the Dallas County Juvenile Board and was awarded
the American Board of Trial Advocates Dallas Chapter Jurist of the Year
Award in 1984. Stewart established a Dallas County work-release program
for parents who were jailed for non-payment of child support. The
Annette Stewart American Inn of Court in Dallas was established in her
honor. She is survived by her brother, Ray Bryan Stewart
Jr.TBJ
