Ector Co. TX - Obits from the Odessa American Online 21 Dec 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. December 21, 2000 Permian Basin Obituaries _________________________________________________________________ Leander Bond ODESSA Graveside services for Leander Bond, 83, of Odessa are scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23, 2000, at Odessa Cemetery with the Rev. Jimmy Braswell officiating. Mr. Bond died Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2000, at Medical Center Hospital. He was born Dec. 10, 1917, in Cuthand, Texas. He married Ruby Glover on April 27, 1938, in Mount Pleasant. Mr. Bond moved to Odessa in 1957 from Hooks. He worked for the Ector County Independent School District for 22 years until his retirement. He enjoyed working with leather, making wallets and writing poems. He was a Baptist. Survivors include his wife, Ruby Bond of Odessa; daughters, Sue Edwards of Odessa and Jackie Kidwell and husband Donald of New London, Wis.; brother, Joe Bond of Broken Bow, Okla.; sister, Blanche English of Hart; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews. Services are entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ Dianna Valenzuela Carrasco ODESSA Dianna Valenzuela Carrasco of Bryan, Texas, passed away Saturday, Dec. 16, 2000, of injuries suffered in an automobile accident. Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. today, Dec. 21, 2000, at St. Marys Catholic Church. Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery. Dianna was born Sept. 1, 1969, in Odessa. She was raised in Odessa and was a graduate of Permian High School. She married Benito Carrasco on Dec. 26, 1992, in Odessa. She was employed with Albertsons and resided in Bryan. She is survived by her husband, Benito Carrasco of Bryan; daughters, Brittany Carrasco and Victoria Carrasco, both of Bryan; father, Cosme Valenzuela of Odessa; mother, Sulema Valenzuela of Odessa; brothers, Gilbert Valenzuela and his wife Virginia Valenzuela and Adolfo Valenzuela, all of Odessa; sisters, Dora Venne and her husband Ralph Venne of Dallas and Irma Lampe and her husband Michael Lampe of Houston. Arrangements by Martinez Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ Moises Parra Gomez ODESSA Moises Parra Gomez, 81 years of age, passed away Dec. 20, 2000, at Medical Center Hospital. He was born Nov. 14, 1919, in Presidio. He was self-employed in the landscape business for many years and served in the Army during World War II. He married Ramona Castillo in Marfa in 1946. Surviving are his wife, Ramona Gomez of Odessa; son, Joe Gomez of Odessa; daughters, Maria Elena Gonzalez of Midland, Lupe Vasquez, Anita Vega, Armida Jaquez and Margie Diaz, all of Odessa; brothers, Thomas Gomez of Corpus Christi, Joe Gomez and Henry Gomez, both of Coolidge, Ariz.; sisters, Rosa Gomez of Odessa, Celia Martinez of Midland, Mariana Paz of Salinas, Calif., and Eloisa Aguayo of Coolidge; 17 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today, Dec. 21, 2000, at Odessa Funeral Home Chapel. Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22, 2000, at St. Joseph Catholic Church with the Rev. Gilbert Rodriguez officiating. Burial will follow at Odessa Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Steven Vega, Roy Jaquez, Chris Vasquez and Joel Gonzalez. Services by Odessa Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ A.C. Johnny Bassett ODESSA Memorial services for A.C. Bassett, 85, of Odessa are scheduled for 4 p.m. today, Dec. 21, 2000, at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Sherry Holloman officiating. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Mr. Bassett died Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2000, at his residence. He was born June 3, 1915, in Stanton to Minnie Bell Anderson Bassett and John Bassett. He attended Stanton High School and graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in industrial engineering. He married Melba Slaton in Colorado City on July 14, 1940. Mr. Bassett was called to active duty June 1940 as a second lieutenant in charge of construction of Red River Arsenal in Texarkana. He was transferred to General Pattons command in Europe and awarded the Bronze Star medal by him as well as five bronze service stars. He attained the rank of major. Mr. Bassett moved to Odessa during the oil boom to build much-needed housing. He and his partners built seven homes a week. He built and operated Best Western Motels in Texas. He was organizing director of over 20 corporations including American Bank of Commerce and Home Savings and Loans of Odessa. He served several terms as elder at First Presbyterian Church and was president and board member of Odessa Country Club. He was an officer and director of the Odessa Chamber of Commerce and later was inducted into their Businessmans Hall of Fame. Other civic activities include commander of the American Legion Post, president of the Civic Club, Salvation Army Board, United Way/Community Chest, Parks Board, Odessa A&M Club and district vice president of A&M Former Students Association. His strong belief in education led him to endow scholarships at Odessa College, Texas A&M and establish the Ector County Scholarship Fund for OC and the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. A sister, Jean Flanagan of Belen, N.M., preceded him in death. Survivors include his wife, Melba Bassett; son, Don Bassett and his wife, Dixie, and grandchildren, Bo, Blake and Blaire of Abilene; son, Billy Bassett and his wife, Sheilagh, and grandchildren, Erin and Paige of Odessa; and sisters, Dot Wiginton of Plano and Carrie Mayo of New Boston. Memorials may be made to Ector County Scholarship Fund, P.OBox 4979, Odessa, Texas, 79760. Services are entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA Services for Mary Wright Pargas, 67, of Odessa are scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23, 2000, at Kingdom Hall of Jehovahs Witnesses Church Fourth and Adams with Larry Tate officiating. Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery. Mary Pargas died Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2000, at Medical Center Hospital. She was born Nov. 21, 1933, in Alpine. She married Senaido B. Pargas on Oct. 31, 1968, in Kermit. Mrs. Pargas moved to Odessa in 1974 from Pecos. She was a nurses aid and of the Jehovahs Witnesses faith. She was preceded in death by her parents, Nick and Josefina Wright; son, Joel Lambrano; and daughter, Nora Lambrano Garcia. Survivors include her husband, Senaido B. Pargas of Odessa; sons, Hector Rey of Alpine, Frank Lambrano, Glenn Lambrano and Higinio Garcia, all of Odessa; daughters, Norma Enriguez of Pecos and Hilda Rodriguez of Odessa; brothers, David Wright, Mike Sam Wright and Nick Wright, all of Alpine, Isreal Wright of Austin and Abel Wright of Odessa; sister, Neomi N. Wright of Alpine; 13 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Services are entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ Gene Williams ODESSA Gene Williams, 61, of Odessa died Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2000, at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. He was born Sept. 7, 1939, in Guthrie, Okla., to Clarence and Pauline Williams. He graduated from high school in Kermit in 1958, where he was an outstanding all-around athlete. He married his high school sweetheart, Linda Earnest, June 18, 1961. He graduated with a bachelor of business administration degree from Texas Western College in El Paso in 1963. He and his young family moved to Odessa in 1967, where he began his career at J&J Steel. He played on Odessas semi-pro football team in the early 1970s. He was an avid athlete and enjoyed playing handball and basketball at the YMCA. His favorite hobby was riding his Harley Davidson. He dearly loved his family and friends and will be greatly missed by all. He is survived by his wife, Linda Williams of Odessa; daughters, Kristi Millican and husband, Dean, of Burleson and Kelly Williams and husband, Tim, of Garland; and grandchildren, Jake and Jett Williams of Garland. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 22, 2000, in the chapel of Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors with the Rev. Dr. Jimmy Braswell officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Arrangements by Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. If desired, memorials may be made to Baylor University Medical Center Cancer Research, Dallas, Texas, 75246. (www.wilsonfuneral.com) _________________________________________________________________ ODESSA Robert Bob Willison, 78, of Odessa died Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2000, at Medical Center Hospital. He was born April 24, 1922, in Cook County, Ill., to Gardner and Margaret Willison. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22, 2000, at Sunset Memorial Gardens with the Rev. B.J. Foster officiating. Arrangements by Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. He moved to Odessa in July 1971 from Knox City. He was employed by Oxidential Petroleum for 20 years as a pipeline superintendent. He was a member of the Methodist church in Knox City and a member of the National Rifle Association. He enjoyed traveling in his motor home and was a member of the Sandhills Ramblers RV Club. Mr. Willison is survived by his wife, Dorothy Willison of Odessa; sons, Dick Willison and wife, Terry, of Tulsa, Okla., and Robert Willison Jr. and wife Teresa of Odessa; sister, Peggy Billingsley of Houston; grandson, Trae Willison III of Broken Arrow, Okla.; granddaughters, Kim Willison of Tulsa, Okla., and Heather and Meagan Willison of Odessa; great-grandsons, Cade Willison and Gage Willison of Broken Arrow, Okla.; stepgrandchildren, Crystal Gensicke and P.T. Sherman; and stepgreat-grandchildren, Erica, Kyle and Kadyn Gensicke. The family will receive visitors from 7 to 8 p.m. today at Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. Following the service, there will be a reception at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4901 Maple Ave. (www.wilsonfuneral.com) _________________________________________________________________ Copyright © 2000 Odessa American. All rights reserved.