Dale Koonce

Levy Dale Koonce, age 76, of the Chapman Community in Rusk County, Texas, passed away on Monday morning, September 14, 2026, at his home. He was born on October 13, 1949, in Marshall, Texas, to the late Levy Washington and Alice Moneil Skelton Koonce.

Mr. Koonce graduated from Carthage High School with the class of 1968. He married Tambra Larue “Tammy” Redmon on March 4, 1983, in Tatum, Texas. Throughout his life, Mr. Koonce was a hardworking man with an entrepreneurial spirit. He worked as a cattle rancher, owned and operated chicken houses, owned and operated the Clayton General Store, ran a barbecue stand, and also worked in the pipeline industry.

In his spare time, he enjoyed gardening, hunting, and fishing, but his greatest joy came from spending time with his grandchildren and family. He moved from Henderson to the Chapman Community in 2006 and was a member of Liberty Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister and brother-in-law, Joann and Fred Hendrix.

He is survived by his wife, Tammy Koonce; children, Brad Koonce and wife Kasey, Teri Pence and husband Jason, Lara Hightower and husband Justin, and Kalie Dean; grandchildren, Kelby, Keve, Morgan, Kloe, Barrett, Jackson, Carter, Jase, Cannon, Cooper, Landen, and Serenity; great-grandchild, Lennon; sister, Ruth Tyler; niece, Jodi Swonke and husband Joey and their children, Jade, Jace, and Jaron; and great-niece, Kristy Fowler and husband Justin and their daughter, Kaylee. Numerous other nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and many friends also survive.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Thomas Monroe officiating. Interment will follow in Six Mile Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Keve Koonce, Kelby Koonce, Jace Swonke, Derick McFadden, Matthew Redmon, and Jaron Swonke.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jackson Hightower, Carter Hightower, Jase Hightower, Cannon McFadden, Cooper McFadden, Landen Pence, and Barrett Walden.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.