Ector Co. TX - Obits from the Odessa American Online 9 Feb 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. February 09, 1999 Permian Basin Obituaries _________________________________________________________________ Ruby Ballard ODESSA -- Ruby Ballard, age 77, of Odessa died Feb. 7, 1999, at her residence after a long illness. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Sunset Memorial Gardens. She is survived by a daughter, Estelle Griffis of Odessa; son, James Ballard of Corpus Christi; three grandchildren, Jamie Swinney, Michael and Michelle Griffis; and two great-grandchildren, Tiffeny and Samantha, all of Odessa. Funeral arrangements are by Odessa Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ John Alton Beem ODESSA -- Graveside services for John Alton Beem, 82, of Odessa, will be at 10 a.m. today at Sunset Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Bruce Troy officiating. Mr. Beem died Sunday, Feb. 7, 1999, at Medical Center Hospital. He was born Nov. 25, 1916, in E. Fultonham, Ohio, to Fred L. and Bertha Beem. He married Leona B. Summers in 1946 in Newport, Ken. She died in Aug. 1996. He served in the Air Force from 1942 to 1945. He was a very loved uncle, friend and neighbor and he will be missed. Survivors include his brothers, Donald "Tom" Beem of Roseville, Ohio, and Fred Beem Jr. of Caselberry, Fla.; sisters, Ruby Kopy and Genevieve Briere, both of Detroit, Mich.; four nieces and one nephew. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA -- Mary Elizabeth Bullard, 70, died Saturday, Feb. 6, 1999, at her residence. She fought the good fight and finished the race. She kept her faith. (II Tim. 4:7). She was born Jan. 15, 1929, in Brownwood to Robert G. and Ivy Pearl Littlefield. She was a licensed vocational nurse for 28 years in various West Texas hospitals, including Cogdell Memorial in Snyder and St. Mary's of the Plains in Lubbock. She retired in 1991 and moved to Odessa. She was Baptist and loved the Lord. She enjoyed Gospel music, crafts, woodworking and her dog, Bandit. She loved her family, and her family returned that love. Mary, Mother and Mema, you will be missed. We love you! She is survived by her son, Tony Bullard, and his wife Vicki of Odessa; one brother, Walter Littlefield of Snyder; a sister, Virginia Botts of Garden Grove, Calif.; and two grandchildren, Tonya Thurlby and her husband Derek; and Vic Bullard, and his wife Stacey. She was preceded in death by her parents, and four brothers, Frank Littlefield, Robert Littlefield, Raymond Littlefield and Norvel Littlefield. Services will be at 4 p.m. today at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home with the Rev. Dale Thurlby officiating. Private burial will be at a later time. Arrangements by Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. "Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day," -- II Tim. 4:8 _________________________________________________________________ LAKE LEON --Herbert A. Fick, 75, of Lake Leon, formerly of Odessa, died Saturday, Feb. 6, 1999, in an Abilene hospital. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel in Eastland with the Rev. Bob Hayes officiating. Burial will follow in the Merriman Cemetery. Mr. Fick was born Sept. 19, 1923, in Cushing, Okla., to Louis M. and Elsa (Kluck) Fick. He was raised in Cushing and graduated high school there before entering the U.S. Army in Jan. 18, 1943, serving England, with the Eighth Air Force First Division, 398th Bomb Group, on B-17s as engineer/gunner during the air offensive in Europe. He was discharged as a Tech. Sergeant on Sept. 4, 1945, with an honorable discharge. He moved to Odessa and married Jacquetta Palmer in July 6, 1946. He began working for the Atlantic Richfield Company in 1946 and retired as a field supervisor in 1986 when he moved to Lake Leon. He was a member of the Lutheran church in Cushing, Okla., attended Lake Leon Baptist Church and enjoyed traveling, fishing, and playing cards with children and grandchildren. Survivors include his wife, Jacquetta Fick of Lake Leon; daughters, Bonnie J. McQueen of Independence, Mo., and Debra Jean Walls of Rohnert Park, Calif.; sons, Michael Norbin Fick of Stephenville, Duane Robert Fick of Saginaw and Gary Herbert Fick of Colleyville; brothers, Edwin Fick of Cushing, Okla., Henry Fick of Stillwater, Okla., and Melvin Fick of Andrews; sisters, Emma Macuila of Brownfield and Louise Nolan of Andrews; five grandchildren, five stepgrandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to the Eastland Centennial Memorial Library or Lake Leon Baptist Church and left at the funeral home. Funeral arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA -- Mass for Consuelo Gonzales, 68, of Odessa, homemaker, will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Martinez Funeral Home. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Mrs. Gonzales died Sunday, Feb. 7, 1999, at Medical Center Hospital. She was born Aug. 14, 1930, in Fort Stockton. She moved to Odessa in 1951 from Fort Stockton. She married Marcial Gonzales Jan. 10, 1951. She was Catholic. Survivors include her husband, Marcial Gonzales of Odessa; daughter, Jessie Irene Montoya of Odessa; daughter, Joel Gonzales of Odessa; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Funeral arrangements are by Martinez Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA -- Q. L. "Shorty" Hall, 88, of Odessa passed away Sunday, February 7, 1999, in an Odessa hospital. Mr. Hall was born September 10, 1910 in Louisville, Mississippi to Everett T. and Pinkie Elizabeth Hall. He married Delora Eldora Weeks on December 31, 1934 in Big Spring, Texas. She preceded him in death on January 7, 1995, one week following their 60th wedding anniversary. Mr. Hall was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. He was a pioneer in the oil industry in the Permian Basin. He was the founder of Shorty Hall Rig Company, and was the first company owner in the Permian Basin to begin a profit sharing program with his employees. Mr. Hall had been a member, Director or Chairman of many organizations and received many honors. He was appointed by President Nixon to the National Transportation Advisory Committee in 1974. He was a member of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association, Life member of the Roughneck Association, member of "Royal Order of Fire Eaters" and a 32nd Degree Mason, and a Shriner. He had received two special awards as Permian Basin Petroleum Pioneer, Special Award from Universal Studios for work on "The Hellfighters," The Texas Commerce Bank Silver Bar Award, Special recognition and awards from the Shriners for lifetime contributions to Shriner Hospitals for Crippled Children and several awards from Odessa College for Scholarship contributions. He had served on many Boards of Directors, including the Oil Haulers Association for 25 years including two terms as Chairman of the Board, Permian Basin Oil Show for 15 years. Mr. Hall served on the Board of Directors for the Odessa Country Club for 15 years, serving two terms as President, and received the first President's Award. These are but a few of the awards with which Mr. Hall had been honored in his life time. Mr. Hall assisted in the production of several movies with themes centered on the oil industry and West Texas. As an early pioneer in the oil industry in the Permian Basin, Mr. Hall built wooden derricks for producers on-site before the technology shifted to steel derricks. An example of his early wooden derricks is on display at the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum. The derrick was a gift from Mr. Hall and his family to the Museum. In addition to being a living legend in the oil fields of West Texas, Shorty was also a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was an avid golfer and lived an active and full life. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him as a huge man of stature and an equally loving heart. The most important of all was his total commitment and life time of service to helping others, not only in improving the quality of their lives, but preserving, by example, those values we all hold dear. He was a booster and backer of Odessa and the Permian Basin, always holding in the highest esteem his colleagues, and never forgetting to be humble and grateful for the good fortunes of his life. Mr. Hall is survived his daughters, LaRue Tucker and her husband, Tommy, Barbara Mitchell and her husband Ray, Dorothy Hall (wife of Don T. Hall) all of Odessa. Mr. Hall' s grandchildren are Terri Conner and husband Jerry, de'Anne Miller and husband Don, Robin Lauer and husband Kurt, Jay Hall, and Rogene Spruill. Mr. Hall's great-grandchildren are, Chantel and Shallen Conner, Barrett, Brian and Brock Lauer, and Guy Spruill. Mr. Hall's sisters are, Bernice Castleberry of Lovington, New Mexico, and Nita McNabb and Nella Swenson, both of Lubbock. Mr. Hall was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and his sons, James D. Sims and Don T. Hall. The family requests memorial contributions be made to the Harmony House of Odessa, 910 S. Grant, Odessa, TX 79761. Public visitation will be held from 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. Tuesday, February 9, 1999, in the Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Memorial services are scheduled for 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, February 10, 1999, in Westminster Presbyterian Church with Dr. Truman Warren officiating. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA -- Mevla Jeanene Andrews Lee, born May 13, 1938, in Kermit, to her parents of Melvin and Myrl Hester, passed from this life on Saturday, Feb. 6, 1999, in the home of her mother, Myrl Hester Hamilton. Jeanene resided in Bronte with her husband, Royce Lee. She was a graduate of Odessa High School and continued her education at Odessa College (1979 Cum Laude), University of Texas of the Permian Basin (1981), Tarrant County Jr. College (1983) and received an MBA degree at Waylan Baptist University, graduating Cum Laude in 1990. She was currently a professor at Waylan Baptist University and an intern administrator for a nursing home in Lubbock. Jeanene was used to starting up and administrating several nursing homes in the West Texas region. Jeanene was active in various civic and religious organizations in various leadership positions. She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Lubbock. She was an active member and officer of the Eastern Star of Bronte, the Sorosis Federated Club, Women's Christian Club, Female Executive Association, officer of Phi Beta Lambda at Wayland Baptist University and Women's Ministries president of Assemblies of God Churches for 10 years. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, 1999, at First Assembly of God with the Revs. David Crispin and Paul Thompson officiating. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Arrangements are by Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. Jeanene is preceded in death by her father, Melvin Hester; one brother, Bill Hester; and one son, Michael Trey Andrews. She is survived by her mother, Myrtle Hester Hamilton and her husband, Tyra, of Lubbock. She is also survived by her husband, Royce Lee of Bronte; daughter, Kathy Crispin and husband, David, of Alamogordo, N.M.; son, Harvey Andrews Jr. and his wife, Debie, of San Angelo; grandchildren, Justin, Jennifer and Tiffany Crispin, all of Alamogordo, N.M., Ashley Andrews of San Angelo and Ryan Andrews of Odessa. She was greatly loved and appreciated by a great number of friends, church members, professional associates, educators and family for her unselfish concern for everyone in her life. She will be greatly missed. _________________________________________________________________ James William Miller ODESSA -- Graveside services for Mr. James William Miller, 85, of West Monroe, La., formerly of Odessa will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1999, at Sunset Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Loren Green officiating. Mr. Miller died Saturday, Feb. 6, 1999, at Richardson Medical Center. Mr. Miller was retired as terminal manager from Curry Motor Freight in Odessa. He also worked for Gillette Motor Freight and Merchants Fast Motor Company. He was preceded in death by his grandsons, Calvin Earl Stubbs Jr. and James Dwight Miller. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Lillie W. Miller of West Monroe, La.; daughters, Mrs. Betty Stubbs, of West Monroe, La., and Mrs. Barbara June Elliott of Tuscon, Ariz.; son, Mr. James Ronnie Miller of Odessa; brother, Mr. J.B. Miller of Colorado Springs, Colo.; sister, Mrs. Ruby Coon of Natchez, Va.; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until noon Wednesday at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA -- Services for Jessie L. Vowell, 72, of Odessa will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home with the Rev. Dr. Mark Riley officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Mr. Vowell Jr. died Sunday, Feb. 7, 1999, at Medical Center Hospital. He was born April 1, 1926, in Enid, Okla. He married Rebecca "Becky" Brewer. Mr. Vowell was known to his grandchildren and friends as "Bear" because he was "Daddy Bear." He worked as a centrifugal pump specialist until his retirement. He had been a member of the Chuck Wagon Gang since 1974, and was also a member of the American Legion. His favorite hobby was "Las Vegas." Survivors include his wife, Rebecca Brewer of Odessa; sons, Bobby Hammel of Odessa and Stephen Vowell of Beaumont; daughters, Linda Childs and her husband, Lance, of Midland, and Gayle Scarborough and her husband, Johnny, of Artesia, N.M.; brother, Roy Vowell of Velma, Okla.; sister, Violet Ritter of Wichita Falls; 16 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ Copyright © 1999 Odessa American. All rights reserved.