Ector Co. TX - Obits from the Odessa American Online 20 Feb 2000 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 20, 2000 Permian Basin Obituaries _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA – Ona C. Waters Pyles passed from this vail of tears to the joy of heaven on Friday, Feb. 18, 2000. Ona was the daughter of John M. Waters and Lilly Catherine Cook Waters. She was born March 23, 1922 in Creek County, Oklahoma. She was preceded in death by her twin sister, Nona, her parents, husbands, John "Candy Boy" Goldman and Fred H. "Pete" Pyles. She lost Fred in 1975 and "Candy Boy" was killed in action in 1944 during WWII. Ona’s life was one of service to others. She and husband, Pete, worked with troubled and orphaned young men much of their life together. They worked in such places as Boys Industrial School, Hutchinson, Texas, Boysville, San Antonio, Texas, and Boys Ranch, Tankersley, Texas. Pete taught the young men ranching, woodworking and industrial trades. Ona would counsel, cook and provide tough love to "her boys." She and Pete worked also at many construction jobs and hospitals. They also owned a saddle shop for a time in Paris, Texas. Her last years were as a home companion to others. Ona was a blessing to all who knew her, especially her family. She was a kind spirit who would tell you the truth. She loved the Lord and served Him at the Sherwood Church of Christ, of which she was a faithful member. She dearly loved her nieces and nephew, Kathy Blackwell and W.L. Sibley, and was a second mom to niece and nephews Barbera Jean "Babs" Ross, Clyde Waters and Rodney Waters. Ona was a loving part of her nephew, Randy Delmasso, his wife, Debra, and their children’s lives. She moved to Odessa in 1988 to be close to her sister, Venice Sibley. "Nin needs me there," she told her friends in Dublin. Many times each week, they went shopping and to the beauty shop. As often as they could find time, they would go to see their brother, Claude Waters, and his wife, Mattie, down in Marble Falls. Ona was best friend to many Sherwood LOLAS and a very best friend to Irene Pottete, her cousin Bill’s wife. Bill is the son of her loving first cousin, Eula Pottete, of Hobbs. Other than those mentioned, she is survived by many nieces and nephews and friends who all loved her. Ona waits now for her family in the arms of the Lord. Service will be at the Frank W. Wilson Chapel at 10 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 21. Lynn Money of the Sherwood Church of Christ will officiate. Interment will be Tuesday at the Evergreen Cemetery in Paris, Texas. Arrangements by Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. (www.wilsonfuneral.com) _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA – Jewell Smelser, 95, died Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2000, at her home. Services are scheduled at 4 p.m. Monday at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church with the Rev. Kevin Strempke officiating. Mrs. Smelser was born July 17, 1904, in Claude, Texas. She married Nelson H. Smelser on Sept. 15, 1921, in Clarendon, Texas. Mr. Smelser preceded her in death on March 28, 1982. Mrs. Smelser moved to Odessa in 1928 from Baird, Texas. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. She is survived by her daughters, Grace Laman of Dunnville, Ky., Della Baker and Juanita Gilbert of Odessa; 13 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and 5 great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be made to St. Luke’s Methodist Church. _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA – Savannah R. Belcher, 78, of Odessa died Friday, Feb. 18, 2000, at Seabury Center in Odessa, Texas. Visitation will begin at noon Sunday at Odessa Funeral Home. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2000, at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Melvin Warren officiating with Dr. Jimmy Braswell and the Rev. Minor assisting. Graveside services will be held at 4 p.m. in Fairview Cemetery in Bronte, Texas. Mrs. Belcher was born on May 31, 1921, in Bronte, Texas. She married Jack D. Belcher on Feb. 13, 1949, in Bronte. Mr. Belcher preceded her in death. Mrs. Belcher graduated from Bronte High School in 1938. She then attended Angelo State Junior College. During WWII, she was a civilian supervisor of the medical records department at Lackland Air Force Base Hospital. She served as administrator of the hospital in Uvalde, Texas, in 1949. She lived in Andrews for 16 years prior to moving to Odessa. She was very active in helping set up the medical record department at Permian General Hospital, the Andrews Chapter of the American Cancer Society, the March of Dimes, the 4-H Club, the First Baptist Church, the Democratic Party, the Girl Scouts of America, the Boy Scouts of America and the Andrews Chamber of Commerce. Upon moving to Odessa, she became very active in and a lifetime member of the Odessa Chamber of Commerce, a life member of the Ambassadors, Ector County Democratic Party and the First Baptist Church. She taught at the West Texas Business College, and for several years served as the executive director for the Arthritis Foundation for a 42-county area. In 1948, she was named in "Texas Women of the Year" by the Texas Association of Extension Home Economist at Texas A&M University. She hosted a popular TV talk show known as "Week-Day" shown by Cable One for almost 11 years. Mrs. Belcher was also on the original committee to bring UTPB and Texas Tech Medical School to Odessa. She was an active supporter and former board member of the Ector County Meals on Wheels. She remained an active member of D.A.T. Team with the Permian Basin Chapter of the American Red Cross. In 1995, she received her 50-year service pin as a volunteer with the American Red Cross. She is survived by her son, J. Dug Belcher Jr. of Odessa; daughter, Becky Showers, and her husband, Jack, of Victoria; twin granddaughters, Katy and Lacey Showers of Victoria; grandson, Jeven Showers of Ashland, Ore.; brothers, R.T. Caperton of Bronte, Texas, and Matt Caperton of Big Spring. The family suggests memorials be made to the music ministry of First Baptist Church in Odessa or the Permian Basin Chapter of the American Red Cross. Services by Odessa Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA – Troy Wilford "T.W." Mobley, 76, of Odessa passed away Friday, Feb. 18, 2000, at his residence. Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 21, in Parkview Church of Christ, where he was a faithful member, with Charles Jones and Joe Cross officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens under the direction of Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Mr. Mobley was born Sept. 6, 1923, in Rotan, Texas. As the second son of Sam David and Viola May Mobley, he was raised in Henrietta, Texas. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1944 and served his country during WWII and was honorably discharged in 1946. He married Christine Halcomb, who was the love of his life, on Oct. 17, 1951, in Rotan, N.M. Mr. Mobley retired from Shell Oil Company in 1986 after 37 years of service. He worked in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska on drilling rigs and as a lease operator. He will be remembered as a very loving person who always had a smile and a kind word for everyone he met. He was loved by all who knew him. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Clue David Mobley, and a grandson, Austin Scott Mobley. He is survived by his wife, Christine Mobley, of Odessa; three sons, Jim Mobley and his wife, Nancy, Rick Mobley, and Micky Mobley and his wife, Vanessa, all of Odessa; sister, Ruby Treadwell, and her husband, Wesley, a life friend and brother-in-law, of Henrietta, Texas; a niece, Cindy Defer and her husband, Robert, of Carlsbad, N.M.; 11 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Funeral services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA– Frances L. Rodgers, 70, died Friday, Feb. 18, 2000, at Avalon Place Nursing Center. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Hubbard-Kelly Chapel with the Rev. Gale Wilson officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Rodgers was born Dec. 18, 1929, in Desark, Ark. She married Charlie Rodgers, who preceded her in death. She moved to Odessa in 1950 from Missouri. Mrs. Rodgers was a Baptist and a homemaker. She is survived by her sons, Jimmy Gower of Safford, Ariz., Brent Gower of Austin, Arther Gower of Lubbock, and Benji Gower of Russellville, Ark.; daughters, Andrea Williams and Cousie Westfall, both of Odessa; 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA – Jim Owen, 58, of Odessa passed away Friday, Feb. 18, 2000, in Snyder, Texas. Mr. Owen was born Jan. 17, 1942, in Dallas. He had been a long time resident of Odessa and Kermit and he was in the first graduating class of Permian High School in 1960. He married Sharon Kay Carpenter on May 27, 1989, in Odessa. Jim had worked in the insurance industry for 30 years and the last three years at the Melton Agency. He also served as the Men’s Ministry Coordinator for the Open Door Assembly of God Church and was active in Promise Keepers in this area. He had served as a referee for the Odessa Chapter of PBOA. Jim will be remembered as an avid sports fan, outdoorsman and one who loved woodworking. He enjoyed being with people and was known as a friend to all. Jim is survived by his wife, Sharon Owen, of Odessa; son, Coby Owen and his wife, Cindy, of Van Horn; step-son, Jimmy Webb of Lakeside, Calif.; daughter, Cheryl Weaver and her husband, Brian, of Dallas; step-daughters, Shonda Dolloff of Denver City, and Tammy Kody of Cody, Wyo.; brothers, Jerry Owen of Arlington, Marshall Owen of Detroit, and Bill Owen and his wife, Deanna, of Midland; his aunt and uncle, Billie and Ed Shaver of Odessa; grandchildren, Kaleb Louis Owen and Zachary David Owen; step-grandchildren, Tara Harris, Michael Dolloff, Briana Webb and Wyatt Kody. Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 21, 2000, in the Open Door Assembly of God Church with the Rev. Scott Burton and Rev. Wayne Ziegler officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gar- dens under the direction of Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ Odessa — Elsie Oneta Easterling, 79, of Odessa died Friday, Feb. 18, 2000, at Avalon Place. Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 21, 2000, at the Northside Baptist Church with the Rev. Clydel Chapman officiating. Burial will follow at the Sunset Memorial Gardens under the care of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. Mrs. Easterling was born Nov. 21, 1920, to Mark and Ella Wilson in Gordon, Texas. They soon moved to Mineral Wells, Texas, farming and operating a dairy. Elsie Oneta Wilson met and married John Easterling April 12, 1941, in Weatherford, Texas, with the Rev. P.F. Gallagher officiating. After World War II, the Easterlings decided Odessa would be their best choice to live, work and raise their family. They have always felt that they made the right choice. Mrs. Easterling spent many years working in public service, first as receptionist and doctor’s aide for Dr. W.K. Green and many more years serving the public at Easterling Funeral Homes as receptionist and office manager. Elsie helped kindly caring for and assisting many families through the years at life’s most stressful time. She was always thoughtful toward everyone, and the void in our lives can never be filled until we meet again in our Heavenly Home. Elsie raised three sons to be fine men, who served the public for many years. Sadly, two, Wayne and Floyd, preceded her in death. Her sister, Inez Blakely, and brothers, Glen and Clyde Wilson, also preceded her in death. Survivors include her husband, John Easterling, of Odessa; son, Tom Easterling of San Angelo; brothers, Bob Wilson of Mineral Wells and Roy Wilson of Tampa, Florida; sisters, Frances Davis of Odessa, Vivian Locke, Jean Alcorn, Mae Folk and Imogene Cooke, all of Mineral Wells, Texas, and Patsy Yarbrough of Arlington, Texas; nine grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren. The family requests donations be made to the charity of your choice, in lieu of flowers. _________________________________________________________________ William (Bill) Fahrig William (Bill) Fahrig, 73, passed away at home 1:25 a.m., Feb. 19, 2000. He was born in Roscoe, Texas, Sept. 11, 1926. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Ellis Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. James Otterness officiating. Graveside services will be at Andrews Memorial Cemetery, in Andrews, Texas. He went to work for Humble Oil Co. in 1945 in the Colorado District in Kingsville, Texas. In 1949, he transferred to West Texas, working in Monahans, Odessa and Andrews. He retired with Exxon in 1986 as Senior Operator in Andrews, Texas, with 41 years of service. In 1987 he and his wife, Ruth, moved to Midland to retire. His hobbies were hunting and fishing with his friends. He was also an avid duplicate bridge player and life master. Survivors include his wife, Ruth; a sister, Helen Harris; and a brother, Bryan Fahrig; and several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorials should be made to a charity of your choice or to Hospice of Midland, P.O. Box 2621, Midland, TX 79702. Pallbearers will be Doc Sharp, Bob Berry, Jim Clanahan, Sonny Tom, Bill Kammerer, Bill Duncker, Wayne Baker and Richard Pitman. Honorary pallbearers are Exxon Annuitants. _________________________________________________________________ Copyright © 2000 Odessa American. All rights reserved.