Ector Co. TX - Obits from the Odessa American Online 9 May 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. May 9, 1999 Permian Basin Obituaries _________________________________________________________________ AUSTIN -- Polly Ray Brett Bates passed away May 6, 1999, after a brief illness in Austin, Texas, surrounded by her family. Polly is survived by her son, Brett Howard Bates and his wife, Denise Marie Bates, and grandsons Matthew Brett Bates, Nicholas Patrick Bates and Brian James Bates, all of Austin, and son-in-law Edward Perdue of Seattle, Wash. Her husband, Wallace Henry Bates, and her daughter, Bonnie Ellen Bates Perdue, preceded her in death. Polly was born Jan. 18, 1927, in Tupelo, Miss., the daughter of Margaret and Matthew Brett. She attended public schools in Mississippi and Tennesse, graduating from Jackson High School. She was a graduate of Union College in Jackson, Tenn. She began her long career as a schoolteacher at a small school in Tennessee. Polly married Wallace Henry Bates of Lobelville, Tenn., who was employed by Trunkline Natural Gas Company. Polly and Wallace moved to Coldwater, Miss., where she taught at Coldwater High School. She taught at Longville (Louisiana) High School before moving to Victoria, Texas, where she taught at O'Conner Elementary School. Polly and Wallace moved to Odessa in 1962. She taught at a private business school before she began, in 1965, a 20-year career teaching typing and bookkeeping at Permian High School. Polly made many lifelong friends among the faculty and students at Permian. She coached the Permian Typing Team to many UIL district and regional titles. She enjoyed the company of eager students and relished their accomplishments. Polly was an animal lover and avid jazz aficionado and enjoyed traveling. In 1982, she led a group of students on a tour of Great Britain, one of the many memorable events of her teaching career. She loved to travel the southwestern states and often visited Estes Park, Colo. Polly was a member of the West Texas Jazz Association, the Pan-American Study Club and the Permian Study Club. She was an active member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Odessa. Funeral services will be held in Westminster Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 11, 1999, with the Reverend Cheryl Homsher officiating. The family suggests memorials to Westminster Presbyterian Church, Odessa, Texas. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA -- Erich Leeder, 52, of Dallas, a school bus driver, died Thursday, May 6, 1999, in Odessa. Memorial services will be 7 p.m. Tuesday at Odessa Funeral Home Angeles Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Fred Davila officiating. Arrangements by Odessa Funeral Home Angeles Memorial Chapel. He was born in Waukesha, Wis. He was a Vietnam War Army veteran and had been a prisoner of war in Vietnam. He was a member of the Vietnam Veterans Association. He was Baptist. He was an avid Odessa High Bronchos fan, and Coach Randy Quisenberry visited him at a nursing home when health problems prevented him from attending the game in 1997, when Odessa High beat Permian. He is survived by his wife, Kathy Leeder of Odessa; sons, Erich Leeder and wife, Michelle, of Kermit and Jake Leeder of Odessa; daughter, Wendy Leeder of Odessa; mother, Betty Leeder of LaPine, Ore.; brothers, Mike Leeder of Hillsboro, Ore., Tim Leeder of Portland, Ore., and Dan Leeder of LaPine, Ore.; and sister, Barbara Thompson of Gladstone, Ore.; and two grandchildren, Logan and Alysa. _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA -- D.M. and Mary Thomas died, Thursday, May 6, 1999, after fire broke out in their home. D.M. died at their home after heroically going back inside, trying to rescue Mary. She died later the same day at Medical Center Hospital. D.M. was born Sept. 24, 1915, in Ballinger and Mary Louise Kelley was born Sept. 12, 1920, in Childress. They were married Dec. 13, 1938. Joint funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 10, 1999, in the Chapel of Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors with the Rev. Craig D'Armond officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. D.M. and Mary moved to Odessa in 1954 from Talco. He was a member of the Pipeliners Local 798 and liked to tell stories of his pipeline days when he traveled extensively. He loved to bake and garden and raised tomatoes. D.M. liked hunting and fishing and he raised Pomeranians. Mary loved to crochet and watch the Dallas Cowboys play football. She loved to visit family and friends and was always very supportive of them. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. They are survived by their sons, Sidney and wife, Darlene Thomas, and James Dewey Thomas, all of Odessa; Daughter, Lynda White of Odessa; grandchildren, Stacey Thomas of Grand Prairie, Darrel White of Oklahoma City, Okla., Jamey White of Irving, Tina Lewis of Amarillo, William Rice of Odessa, Evan Jones of Venus, Ramona Simon of Electra; seven great-grandchildren; and D.M.'s sister, Opal Hash of El Paso. _________________________________________________________________ Copyright © 1999 Odessa American. All rights reserved.