Ector Co. TX - Obits from the Odessa American Online 20 Jan 1999 Submitted by Charlene Beatty Beauchamp cbodessa@classicnet.net Thanks to the Odessa American Online http://www.oaoa.com/ ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** OA Online Obituaries. January 20, 1999 Permian Basin Obituaries _________________________________________________________________ Josepha `Chepa' Hinojos ODESSA -- Josepha Hinojos, 86, of Odessa died Monday, Jan. 18, 1999, at her residence. She was born May 4, 1912, in Marfa to Pilar Nevares and Paula Dominguez. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Mrs. Hinojos was preceded in death by her husband, Ramon Hinojos in 1994. Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20, 1999, at St. Joseph Catholic Church with the Rev. Gilbert Rodriguez officiating. Interment will be at Ector County Cemetery. Arrangements by Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. Survivors include daughters, Viola Jimenez of Odessa, Victoria Reyes of Odessa, Yolanda Gomez of Midland, Velma Minjarez of Odessa, Janie Galindo of Odessa; sons, Gilbert Molina of San Bemdino, Calif., Lionel "Tito" Hinojos of Odessa, Raymondo Hinojos of Houston; 30 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchiIdren. _________________________________________________________________ Bernice Irene Mathers ODESSA -- Bernice Mathers, 97, of Odessa died Monday, Jan. 18, 1999, at Medical Center Hospital. She was born March 13, 1901, in Shawnee, Okla. (Indian Territory) to William Slaton and Irene Strong Slaton. She and her husband, Thomas J. Mathers, were in their 75th year of marriage. They were married March 9, 1924, in Oklahoma City. Mrs. Mathers came to Odessa in 1993. She had previously been a member of Fate Springs Baptist Church in Arlington, where she was very active in the work of the church and with the church choir. Mrs. Mathers traveled the North American continent singing with the Ponca Citv, Okla. Women's Quartet. Their picture is hanging in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., to celebrate "How the West Was Won." She was an accomplished musician playing the piano, organ, harmonica and accordion. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, 1999, in the chapel of Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors with the Rev. Jimmy Braswell officiating. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Arrangements are by Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. Survivors include her husband, Thomas J. Mathers of Odessa; son, Joe R. Mathers and wife, Glenda, of Odessa; daughter, Ruthanne M. Woodward and husband, Dick, of San Carlos, Mexico; four grandchildren, Debbie Hazelwood and husband, Travis, of Keller, Diane Latimer and husband, Kelly, of Richmond, Bob Myrick and wife, April, of Plano and Katherine Massa and husband, Rick, of Willows, Calif.; six great-grandchildren, Anne and Brian Kelley, Amy and Ashley Latimer, Austin Myrick and Peyton Massa of Odessa; step-grandson, Mike Bates and wife, Joni; great-granddaughter, Tisha Bates; great-grandsons, Jason and Jerod Hefner; and great-great granddaughters, Belinda and Kelsee Hefner. Mrs. Mathers was preceded in death by her parents, sisters, Hattie Slaton, Gertrude Moore, Ruby Slaton Warren; and brother, Murl Slaton. Hazel Hancock MORTON -- Services for Hazel Hancock, retired Sheriff of Cochran County, were held Jan. 13, 1999, at First Missionary Baptist Church of Morton with the Revs. Gordon Renshaw of Morton and Weldon Richardson of Gardendale officiating. The burial was in Morton Memorial Cemetery with DPS Honor Guard participating led by J.R. Allen, DPS Regional Commander of Midland and Major Lamar Beckworth, DPS Regional Commander of Lubbock. He was born July 29, 1911, in Hancock and married Eunice Richardson in Lovington, N.M., on Dec. 24, 1930. She preceded him in death Dec. 24, 1989. They moved to Morton in 1946 from Lamesa. In 1948, Hancock completed his father's term as Sheriff and was elected to the same position from 1953 to 1973. He also served as County Tax Assessor/Collector. He attended La Salle University Law School and held offices in national and state peace officer organizations. He was a member of First Missionary Baptist Church of Morton. He farmed and ranched and was appointed Marshall by the City of Morton and Constable by Cochran County. He was a City Councilman and served as Mayor Pro-Tem. He worked with the Fire Department and was a member of the Odd Fellow Lodge. He was chosen Morton Man of the Year in 1985. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Myrnalyn. Survivors include children, Richard Hancock of El Paso, Hershel Hancock of Breckenridge and John Hancock of Morton, Wanda Lemons of Monahans, Mayree Silhan of Morton and Melinda Angel of Lubbock; sisters, Orene Holliday of Lamesa, Frances Scoggin of Schertz and Nancy Pruitt of Kingsland; brothers, Mac W. Hancock Jr. of Farwell and W.L. Hancock of Roswell N.M.; sister-in-law, Johnie Middleton of Lamesa. Hancock is also survived by 25 great-grandchildren and 15 grandchildren, including Mike Lemons and Curt Lemons, both of Gardendale, and Ann Dunaway of Odessa. Memorials may be made to First Missionary Baptist Church of Morton. _________________________________________________________________ Copyright © 1999 Odessa American. All rights reserved.