Ector Co. TX - Obits from the Odessa American Online 25 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 25, 1999 Permian Basin Obituaries _________________________________________________________________ Tomasa Cardenas, 87, of Odessa, died Sunday, May 23, 1999, at Medical Center Hospital. She was born Dec. 21, 1911, to Dolores and Ponciana Serulveda in Lamesa. She married Senobio Sanchez Cardenas, April 14, 1928, in Stanton. She is preceded in death by her husband, Senobio Sanchez Cardenas, in 1956; daughter, Margarita Cardenas, in 1940; and grandson, Desi Cardenas Castellon, in 1993. She is survived by her daughters, Lois Cardenas Castellon Eggleston of Midland, Connie Cardenas Weaver, Janie Cardenas Ramos, Abelina Cardenas Vasquez, Maria Cardenas Ramos and Eva Cardenas Green, all of Odessa, Elena Cardenas Chavez of Lubbock and Corina Cadenas Gonzalez of Richardson; 29 grandchildren; 66 great-grandchildren; and 27 great-great-grandchildren. A rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. today at Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors Chapel. Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church with the Rev. Frank Chavez officiating. Interment will be at Ector County Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons: Michael Castellon, Chris Arredondo, Steve Ramos, J.R. Ramos, Thomas Medrano, Rick Vasquez and Art Vasquez. _________________________________________________________________ Mrs. Marguerite Ferrell Pierce, 88, formerly of Odessa, died Saturday, May 8, 1999, at her home in Siler City, N.C, where she was living with her son and daughter-in-law. Born August 23, 1910, in Richland, Ga., Marguerite was the daughter of Flanders and Marion Ferrell, both of whom were school teachers. Her great-grandfather, Thomas Hill Watts, governor of Alabama during the Civil War, was a member of the cabinet of Jefferson Davis. She married William Luther Pierce in 1929. He preceded her in death in 1943. Marguerite moved to Texas in 1946, first to Dallas, then Midland and later to Odessa in 1964, where she lived for 32 years. At 44 years of age, she entered the University of Texas and from there went to the University of Alabama, where she studied English. Her desire to write took her to Columbia University in New York City to study journalism. In September 1964, she founded The Odessan Magazine which she published and edited until she sold the magazine in September 1978. The Odessan is still in publication. Marguerite was very supportive of the university and the arts in Odessa. She served on the boards of the Permian Playhouse and the Odessa Symphony. Marguerite is survived by sons, William Luther Pierce Jr. and wife, Sevdalinka, of West Virginia and Flournoy Sanders Pierce and wife, La Jeanne, of North Carolina; six grandchildren, Kelvin Pierce, Eric Pierce, Elizabeth Gibson, Valerie Pierce, David Pierce and Elaine Cella; six great-grandchildren, Hanna Pierce, Balie Pierce, Mariame Pierce, Marieka Pierce, Tiffany Evans and Nicholas Cella. _________________________________________________________________ Royce Gerald Purvis, 73, of Odessa, died Saturday, May 22, 1999, at Medical Center Hospital. Graveside services will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Sunset Memorial Gardens. He was a member of the V.F.W. He enjoyed fishing and working on cars and loved to read the Bible. He was a World War II veteran, and he took part in the D-Day invasion. He served in the Army from May 1944 to June 1946. He won several awards: European African Medal, the Eastern Campaign Ribbon with bronze stars, Good Conduct Medal, Army Occupation Ribbon, Germany Victory Ribbon and three overseas service bars. Survivors include his wife, Julia Purvis of Odessa; sons, Royce Purvis and Melvin Purvis, both of Odessa, George Purvis of Dallas; daughter, Margie Newsom of Dallas; five grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Odessa Funeral Home Angeles Memorial Chapel. _________________________________________________________________ Cliff E. Crawford, 63, of Odessa died Saturday, May 22, 1999, at his residence. He was born May 1, 1936, in Menard. He married Andrea Carroll June 13, 1959, in Grand River, Ohio, and they moved to Odessa from Sonora in 1961. He was an active member of Bible Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Jody Bagley; grandson, Nathan Bagley; and brother, Johnny Crawford. Survivors include his wife, Andrea Crawford of Odessa; sons, H. Wayne Crawford of Iraan and John C. Crawford of Odessa. He is also survived by brothers, Wayne Crawford of Arkansas, Ray Crawford of Brownwood, and Dale Crawford of Brady; sister, Marie Beasley of San Saba; and grandchildren, Patrick Bagley, John Crawford Jr., Taylor Bagley and Andrea Crawford. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. today in the chapel of Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors with the Rev. John A. Lyons officiating. Interment services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Holt Cemetery. Arrangements by Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. _________________________________________________________________ Roy J. Johnson, 85, went to the arms of his Lord Saturday afternoon, May 22, 1999. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 26, at Belmont Baptist Church of Odessa with the Rev. Rex Clayton officiating. His grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Roy Jacob Johnson was born June 11, 1913, in Kaufman County, Texas, to Willie W. and Pauline Johnson. When he was 13, his family moved to Friona, where they began a successful farming venture. An all-state basketball player, Roy graduated from Friona High School in 1931. In 1935, Roy married Hazel Marie Crow of Friona and the couple ran a grocery store in Friona. They then purchased a farm near Friona in 1939 and their four children were born there. In 1945, the family moved to Odessa, where Hazel died in 1972. Roy married Florene Ingram of Odessa on Aug. 1, 1975. Roy and his brother Homer bought the Phillips 66 wholesale business in Odessa and opened Johnson Bros. Oil Company Jan. 7, 1946. Roy was also instrumental in the opening of Midland 66 Oil Co. Inc. in 1951 and was a director of First Savings and Loan Association of Odessa. He served as manager, president and chairman of the board of Johnson Bros. Oil Company until he retired in 1986. Besides being a successful businessman, Roy was active in the community and in his church. He enjoyed 30 years of perfect attendance in the Downtown Rotary Club. He worked with the Salvation Army for 25 years and served on its board. He was also a faithful volunteer with Meals on Wheels. A member of Belmont Baptist Church since 1946, Roy was a vital part of many committees and was ordained as a deacon in 1980. A well-loved husband, father and grandfather, Roy is survived by his wife Florene; his son, Jack Johnson and his wife, Claire, of Midland; his daughter, Doris Nichols and her husband, Wayne, of Odessa; his son, Bill Johnson and his wife, Carolyn, of Burnet; his son-in-law, Grady Gaulke of La Vernia; his stepdaughter, Flo Nell Ingram of Odessa; his sister, Bernice Meeks of Bakersfield, Calif.; his sister, Louise Bible and her husband, Buck, of Cleburne; and his brother, Herbert Johnson and his wife, Betty, of Odessa; 13 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Roy was preceded in death by his wife, Hazel; his daughter, Beth of La Vernia; his grandson, Zachary Broadway of Austin; his stepson James Ingram of San Antonio; his brother, Ernest Johnson of Odessa; his brother, Homer Johnson of Levelland; and his sister, Edith Deaton of Friona. The family suggests memorials to the stained glass window fund of Belmont Baptist Church or to Vista Hospice of Odessa. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ Copyright © 1999 Odessa American. All rights reserved.