Ector Co. TX - Obits from the Odessa American Online 12 May 1999

Submitted by Charlene Beatty Beauchamp  cbodessa@classicnet.net

Thanks to the Odessa American Online
http://www.oaoa.com/

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   OA Online Obituaries. 
   
May 12, 1999

Permian Basin Obituaries

     _________________________________________________________________
   
   Lela Clyde Cole Kelley
   
   BALMORHEA  --  Lela Clyde Cole Kelley was born in Balmorhea, Texas, on
   November  30,  and  died in Escondido, Calif., May 10, 1999. She never
   would talk about her age!
   
   She  was  a  teacher  of  many years; she loved teaching and loved her
   kids. After graduation from Sul Ross State Teachers College in Alpine,
   she  began  teaching in Pecos at Earl Bell School, and moved to Odessa
   in  1957,  where  she  taught  at Milam and Goliad Elementary Schools.
   Being  in  Mrs. Kelley's room was an exciting time of experiences; her
   classroom  was  rich  with  opportunities for learning. She introduced
   many  children  to  coin  and  stamp  collecting.  They  learned about
   fossils,  plants,  musicians,  famous  painters.  At one Open House, a
   former  student brought in his mother and pointed proudly to a picture
   in  Mrs.  Kelley's  room,  "Look,  Mama, that's by Marc Chagall!" Mrs.
   Kelley  shared  with  her students her love of learning and engendered
   that same love in her own children.
   
   Mrs. Kelley "graduated from third grade" in 1978 -- "Retirement is for
   old people!" At her "graduation" party, she told everyone that she was
   going  "to  spend  part of her time in San Diego, in San Francisco, in
   Mexico City and the rest of the time she would just travel!" She never
   retired;  she studied photography under Martha Edwards at UTPB and was
   an  active  member  in  the Permian Basin Gem and Mineral Society, the
   Permian  Basin  Stamp  Club, the West Texas Archaeological Society and
   the  Daughters  of  the  Republic  of Texas. Her mother's grandfather,
   Valentine  Burch,  had  been  at  the  battles  of  Harrisburg and San
   Jacinto.
   
   Mrs.  Kelley  was preceded in death by her husband, William E. Kelley;
   her  parents,  Jeff  and  Edna Cole; her brother, Julian Cole; and her
   sister, Mary Lou Cole.
   
   She  leaves behind her children, Bill Kelley of San Diego, Mary Ussery
   of   Coronado,  Calif.,  and  Elizabeth  Smith  of  Odessa;  and  five
   grandsons,   one   granddaughter,   two   great-grandsons   and  three
   great-granddaughters.
   
   Mrs.  Kelley  will  lie  in state at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. There
   will be a graveside service in Balmorhea.
     _________________________________________________________________
   
                                      
   Tony Earnest Pontremoli
   
   FORT  WORTH  --  Tony  Earnest Pontremoli, 38, has gone to be with his
   heavenly  father  on  Friday,  May  7,  1999,  after several months of
   cancer. He died at his residence surrounded by his family and friends.
   
   Services  were  held  Monday  at  Thompson's Harveson and Cole Funeral
   Home. There was a private burial.
   
   Tony was born in Odessa, Oct. 12, 1960. His parents are Jim and Winnie
   Pontremoli.  Tony  lived  in  Odessa  for  23  years where he attended
   Gonzales Elementary School and Nimitz Junior High School and graduated
   from  Permian High School. He also attended Odessa College and Houston
   Baptist  College and majored in business. His first job was at the age
   of  16  with Red Lobster. He obtained this job through the D.E. course
   at  Permian  High School and since went on to become a manager and was
   employed there for 22 years.
   
   Tony's  hobby  was horses. He loved horses and went on trail rides and
   rode  in parades with his friends. Tony will be greatly missed by all.
   The  family  would  like to thank all doctors, hospice and all friends
   very much for all their help.
   
   He   was  preceded  in  death  by  his  grandmother  Eunice  Langston;
   grandfather,  Rassie  Langston;  aunt, Maxine Termin; and uncle, Frank
   Termin.
   
   Survivors  include  his mother, Winnie Kennedy and stepfather, Carl W.
   Kennedy, of Odessa; father, Jim Pontremoli of Mineral Wells; brothers,
   Jimmie Ray Pontremoli of Nashville, Tenn., and Freddie Lynn Pontremoli
   of  Fort Worth; stepbrothers, Billy R. Kennedy of Odessa and Rickey A.
   Kennedy  of  Galveston;  aunt  and  uncle, Bill and Nell Pontremoli of
   Mineral  Wells; and several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, family and
   friends.
   
   Memorials can be sent to Community Hospice of Texas (Cleburne branch),
   1208 W. Henderson, Cleburne, Texas 70031.
   
   Arrangements by Thompson's Harrison and Cole Funeral Home.
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