Dena J. Spurgeon

Dena Jo Wallace Spurgeon was born January 15, 1933, in Cushing, Texas. She was the second of four children born to Floyd “Sonny” Wallace and Velma Christie Wallace.

Dena made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ at the age of 12 and she was baptized at Landmark Baptist Church there in Cushing.

She graduated from Cushing High School in 1950, and she married Ralph M. Spurgeon July 4, 1954. After Ralph graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1957, they moved to Baytown, Texas.

Dena and Ralph had two sons, Dan Morris Spurgeon and John Lane Spurgeon. After Ralph’s untimely death in 1984, Dena continued to work for Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District in Baytown until her retirement in 1992.

After she retired, Dena moved back to Nacogdoches, Texas, where she would live for the next 33 years. During her time in Nacogdoches, she was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church, where she had many friends. She loved playing bridge and 42, being a part of the Newcomer’s Organization of Nacogdoches. She also loved volunteering for the Nacogdoches Food Panty and working in the gift shop at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital. She married Garland White August 13, 1998, and she cared for him until his passing in 2006.

Dena is survived today by her son, John and his wife Debra of La Grange, Texas. She is also survived by her sister, Eugenia Boley of Nacogdoches, Texas. Her surviving grandchildren are Jennifer Liebrum and husband, Michael; Katie Mixon and husband, Trey; and Priscilla Harlan and husband, Brett. Her great-grandchildren include Wyatt and Piper Liebrum; John Mixon, and soon to be baby Mixon; as well as, Dylan Harlan. Her survivors also include a long list of nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Dena is preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Morris Spurgeon; her son, Dan Morris Spurgeon; along with her father and mother; her sister, Ruth Oxford; and brother, Jack Wallace; and her second husband, Garland White. She is also preceded by a long list of brothers and sisters-in-law and a great-grandson, Weston John Liebrum.

Dena loved the Lord, her family, and friends. She lived in The Arbor Assisted Living in Nacogdoches for 8 years, and for the past 6 months she has lived with John and Debra in their home outside of La Grange, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Colorado River Cowboy Church Building Fund, P. O. Box 458, Smithville, Texas, 78957.

A visitation for Dena will be held Saturday, October 25, 2025 from 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM at Sunset Memorial Park, 5127 North St, Nacogdoches, TX 75965, followed by a graveside service from 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM.