Ector Co. TX - Obits from the Odessa American Online 14 Sep 2000

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.
   
September 14, 2000

Permian Basin Obituaries

     _________________________________________________________________
   
   Ben F. Gearhart Jr.
   
   MARFA  Dr. Ben F. Gearhart Jr. passed away at his home Sept. 12, 2000.
   A  memorial  service  will  be  held Sept. 15, 2000 at 2 p.m. at First
   Presbyterian  Church.  Memorial  Funeral Home in Marfa is in charge of
   arrangements.
   
   He  was  born  in  Fort  Worth on Oct. 21, 1916. He attended school in
   Marfa  and  was  a  graduate  of  Texas  A & M University in 1939 with
   degrees in animal husbandry and veterinary medicine.
   
   Dr.  Gearhart  was  first employed by the Texas Sanitary and Livestock
   Commission. During World War II, he served six years with the Army and
   attained  the rank of major. Following the war, he opened a veterinary
   clinic  in  Marfa  and  practiced  until ranching became his full-time
   responsibility in both Texas and Montana.
   
   Dr.  Gearhart served as a Jeff Davis County Commissioner for 17 years.
   He was a director at the Marfa Production Credit Association from 1958
   to  1983  and a director of the Farm Credit Bank of Texas from 1983 to
   1986.  In addition, he was a director of the Texas Southwestern Cattle
   Raisers Association and a vice president of the Southwestern Livestock
   Show  in El Paso for many years. He and his wife were also founders of
   the Davis Mountain Trans-Pecos Heritage Association.
   
   Dr. Gearhart was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben F.
   Gearhart  Sr.;  his  brother,  Bill  Gus  Gearhart; and his wife of 59
   years, Mary Martha Coffield Gearhart.
   
   He  is  survived by his daughter, Martha Anne Gearhart of El Paso; his
   son  William  A.  Gearhart  and wife Marsha Gearhart of Valentine; his
   daughter,  Jessica  Gearhart  McInnis  and her husband Bill McInnis of
   Ganado;  and three grandchildren, Ben and Rachel McInnis of Ganado and
   Paul  B.  Gearhart of Valentine. A nephew, Dr. James L. Gearhart of El
   Paso,  and  two  nieces,  Mary  Askin  of Miles City, Mont., and Sheri
   Gearhart of Irving also survive Dr. Gearhart.
   
   Memorials  to  Dr. Gearhart may be made to the charity or organization
   of ones choice.
     _________________________________________________________________
   
   
   ODESSA  Sonny  Silvas,  21, of Odessa, died Monday, Sept. 11, 2000, in
   Gaines County.
   
   He  was  born  Feb. 21, 1979, in Odessa. He worked for Kirby Robertson
   Sales and Service in Midland.
   
   Services  will  be at 3 p.m. Friday at Latter Rain Ministries with the
   Rev.  Craig  De  Armond  officiating.  Burial  will  be  at  Rose Hill
   Cemetery.
   
   Survivors include his wife, Natalie C. Silvas of Odessa; daughter, Nia
   Avery  Silvas  of  Odessa;  mother,  Gloria Vasquez and stepfather Ray
   Johnson  of Odessa; father, Frankie Silvas and stepmother Celia Silvas
   of Odessa; brothers, Frankie Silvas Jr. of Odessa; stepbrothers, Chris
   Gonzales  and  Johnathan  Gonzales,  both  of  Odessa;  sisters,  Lisa
   Sandate,   D.D.   Sandate   and   Jo-Amber  Vasquez,  all  of  Odessa;
   stepsisters,  Britney  Silvas  and  Savanah  Silvas,  both  of Odessa;
   grandparents,  Celia  Lujan,  Chilo  Munoz, Alfredo Silvas and Claudia
   Silvas, all of Odessa; and nieces and nephews, George Beane Jr., Savon
   Beane, Alshala McGruder, Marina Rodriguez and Dominick Chabera.
   
   Pallbearers  will be Jaime Juarez, Paul Pallan, Auge Ortiz, Tim Ortiz,
   Gerardo Carrasco, Jason Perez, Mario Hinojos and Alex Castillo.
   
   Sonny  was  loved  by so many people. He was a special brother, uncle,
   son  and  friend to many loved ones. Sonny was an especially wonderful
   husband  and  father. His pride and joy was his daughter Nia. Just his
   voice  brought  joy  and  laughter to her face. Everyone will remember
   Sonny  as  someone  who loved to make people laugh. With this in mind,
   you  will  be greatly missed and loved in our hearts forever, until we
   meet again at Our Lords gates in heaven. I love you, Sonny! Your wife,
   Natalie.
   
   Arrangements by Odessa Funeral Home.
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