Ector Co. TX - Obits from the Odessa American Online 20 July 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. July 20, 1999 Permian Basin Obituaries _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA -- Alvis L. Brackeen, 70, of Odessa, died Saturday, July 17, 1999, in Odessa. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Odessa Funeral Home Angeles Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Bill Counts officiating. Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery. Arrangements by Odessa Funeral Home Angeles Memorial Chapel. He was born Nov. 9, 1928, in Paris, Texas, and moved to Odessa from Andrews in 1970. He worked in the oilfield as a driller. He was a member of the Church of Christ. Survivors include his wife, Joyce Brackeen of Odessa; sons, Gary Paul Brackeen of Devine, J.D. Brackeen of Azel, James Huse, Mike Huse and Steve Huse, all of Odessa; and Tim Parish of Midland; brothers, Jesse Davis of Atkins, Truman Davis of Yucon, Okla., and Bill Davis of Sacramento, Calif.; sister, Jeanie Ratinoff of Mustang, Okla.; aunt, Ruth Lowe of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; 19 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. _________________________________________________________________ Tina Lee Barnhill Alexander SULPHUR SPRINGS -- Tina Lee Barnhill Alexander, 44, of Brashear, formerly of Odessa, died Saturday, July 17, 1999, in Wood County. Services will be at 11 a.m. today at Shannon Oaks Church of Christ with Jeff Harris, Todd Tunnell and Roger Elliott officiating. Burial will be at the Brashear Cemetery. Pallbearers will be: Wade Bartley, Wayne Cooper, Don Worsham, Wes Brumley, Bob Strait, Brian Lennon, Gregg Price and Chris Davis. Honorary Pallbearers will be the elders and deacons of the Shannon Oaks Church of Christ. She was a member of the Shannon Oaks Church of Christ where she was an active youth leader. She was a member of the Mothers Culture Club. She was born June 28, 1955, in Shreveport to Thomas and Mary Collum Barnhill. She married Dwight W. Alexander on April 3, 1982, in Sulphur Springs. He survives her. She is survived by her sons, Grant Alexander and Collin Alexander, both of Brashear; her parents; brothers and sisters-in-law, Larry and Brenda Barnhill of Oklahoma City and Jerry and Sharon Barnhill of Longville, La.; brother-in-law, Rodney and Elizabeth Alexander of Nashville; sister-in-law, Cynthia and Rex Johnson of Tyler; mother and father-in-law, Clifton and Marrietta Alexander of Brashear; and 12 nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Murray-OrwoskyFuneral Home. _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA -- On July 17, 1999, the Lord called his beloved servant, Dr. James L. Christensen, home. Dr. Christensen, a retired Disciples of Christ clergyman, was born April 25, 1922, in Cheyenne, Wyo., the son of Howard and Verna Christensen. His home congregation was First Christian Church in Cheyenne, where he dedicated himself to the Christian ministry. Dr. Christensen received his bachelor of arts degree from Phillips University in Enid, Okla. He received a bachelor of divinity and masters of theology degree from the graduate seminary at Phillips University in Enid, Okla. The doctor of divinity was bestowed for his professional achievements. He married Margaret Gilstrap from Great Bend, Kan., on Dec. 19, 1943. To this union two daughters, Lynda and Rebecca, were born. Since graduation from seminary, the Christensens have served six congregations including: First Christian Church of Wellington, Kan; First Christian Church of San Angelo; Central Christian Church of Enid, Okla.; Lindenwood Christian Church of Memphis, Tenn.; First Christian Church of Odessa; and First Christian Church of Cushing, Okla. Retiring in 1988, Dr. Christensen helped 11 congregations during the interim process while the church searched for a new minister. He had a positive affect on many lives both in the church as well as those not affiliated with his church. He was an active participant in civic affairs, receiving the key to the city of Odessa for community-wide Christian leadership. While minister in Odessa, he was responsible for the addition of the chapel, parlor and parking lot at First Christian Church. He had been a popular inspirational and humorous after-dinner speaker. Dr. Christensen, a well-known religious author, has published 20 books for Fleming H. Revel Co., as well as numerous articles for religious journals. He was a member of First Christian Church in Midland. He was preceded in death by his parents and older sister, Helen. He is survived by his loving wife, Margaret; daughters, Lynda Terry of Odessa and Rebecca Christensen of Fort Worth; son-in-law, Bill Terry; two grandchildren, Heather and Chris Terry; sister, Beverly Quimby of Crawfordsville, Ind.; brother, Dr. Stanley Christensen of Cheyenne, Wyo.; numerous nieces and nephews; and many friends. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. His life will be celebrated in a memorial service at 2 p.m. Wednesday at First Christian Church of Midland with the Rev. Dr. Tommy Potter officiating. The family requests memorials be made to the First Christian Church, 1301 W. Louisiana Ave., Midland, Texas, 79701. Services are under the direction of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home of Odessa. _________________________________________________________________ Claude Hardy Bennett SAN ANGELO -- Claude Hardy Bennett, 73, of Junction, died Sunday, July 18, 1999, at his residence. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church. Masonic graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. today in Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens. Arrangements are under the direction of Aubrey Fife Funerals. Mr. Bennett was born Aug. 12, 1925, in Terrell. He worked in the oil industry with sales and service, was a Navy veteran in World War II, a 32nd Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the First Presbyterian Church. He is preceded in death by his parents, H. Claude and Mary Catherine (Hardy) Bennett. Survivors include his wife, Martha Bennett of Junction; sons, Jim Bennett and Ted Bennett, both of San Angelo; daughter, Marcia Bennett of San Angelo. _________________________________________________________________ Catherine Earlene Davis BROWN COUNTY -- Catherine Earlene Davis, 76, of Odessa, died Friday, July 16, 1999, at Medical Center Hospital. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today at Pleasant Valley Cemetery. Arrangements by Davis-Morris Funeral Home. She was born April 4, 1923, in Brownwood. She married Horace Levi Davis Oct. 18, 1940, in Brownwood. She was Baptist and a member of Rebecca Lodge. She was preceded in death by her husband; son, Thomas Melvin "Timmy" Davis; and brother, Johnny Seed. Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law, Harold Lee Davis of Odessa, Harley Gene and Trish Davis of San Diego, Calif., and David Keith and Barbara Davis of Odessa; sister, Joyce Hoskins of Odessa; brother, Melvin Seed of Houston; sister-in-law, Jackie Seed of Galveston; 11 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews including Brenda and Allen Wilson of Odessa. _________________________________________________________________ Copyright © 1999 Odessa American. All rights reserved.