Cynthia Judith Preston passed away on July 7, 2021 at the age of 71 in Denison, Texas. She was 
born on January 31, 1950, to Walter F. Cisek and Theresa H. (Kuduk) Cisek in Harvey, Illinois. 
She is survived by her daughters, Crystal Preston, and Serena Bryan. Grandchildren Starla 
Bevins, Harley Evans, Jemma Bryan, and great grandson Hendrix Marquez. Her sister, Diana 
Hendrick. Her partner Keith Lokey. Her stepchildren Cliff Lokey Thomas Lokey and Michelle 
Lokey. Grandchildren Bryce, Aryan, Keara and Jax Morris.
Cynthia is preceded in death by her parents Walter F. Cisek and Theresa H. Cisek. Cynthia 
Judith (Cisek, DeRooy) Preston
Cynthia, or better known as Cyntie, attended St. John Catholic primary school and moved to 
Dolton, IL and graduated Thornton Township High School in Harvey, IL. She studied art at 
Thornton Township Community College. She loved to oil paint, hike the mountains and beaches
in California, go to rock concerts, ride motorcycles, ice skate and ski, both water and snow ski, 
and was a very accomplished snow skier, skiing Wilmot Mtn, Devil’s Head and Alpine Valley 
Wisconsin, Vale and Aspen Colorado and the Swiss Alps in Switzerland. She went to castles in 
Germany and even painted an oil painting of her visit to the castles.
She married William Bastain DeRooy who was and airplane mechanic at O’Hare Airport for 
TWA on March 22, 1969 and lived in Dolton until his transfer and they bought a duplex in 
Redwood City, California.
After her move to California in 1974, she became proficient in art and sold many oil paintings on
the streets of San Francisco. After purchasing their second home in Montera, Cynthia enjoyed 
restoring the interior woodwork to original of the homes they bought. Cyntie continued to study 
art and sell her oil paintings on the streets of San Francisco until their breakup. 
Cyntie married Vern Hathaway Preston in 1980 and moved to Wylie, Texas and had two 
daughters Crystal and Serena who were the light of her life. She continued to study Art through 
ATI Institute and graduated with a degree in Graphic Arts. Through her children’s childhood she 
was a school bus driver, had a baby-sitting business, taught Sunday school at her local Baptist 
church in Sachse, repaired water meters for the city of Wylie and raised her children. 
She loved people and animals. She was an introvert but balanced her love for Jesus by showing 
her faith through how she treated others. She grew up Catholic but attended a Baptist church. She
began reading the Bible. She was the living example of St. Francis of Assisi’s words, “Preach 
the Gospel. When necessary, use words.” She never met a stranger and she loved and tried to 
help anyone who asked, even if they did not ask. She was always kind, and you would never ever 
see her become angry with anyone. Ever. She chose to serve others and never realized how much
strength she had and showed us and would press on through the most difficult of life’s 
circumstances without complaining. She would lift others instead of putting them down and 
she put other peoples’ needs before her own. She believed every person had a right to dignity and
did not judge anyone. She believed you should never try to intentionally hurt another person 
which was her fundamental and abiding respect for all people. She would give anything she had 
to someone in need. These are not inflated words but the truth. 

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at Hurst’s Fielder-Baker Funeral Home

from 6-8PM. The graveside will be held on Thursday, July 15, 2021 at I.O.O.F. Cemetery at 10AM. Burial will follow the graveside service.