Ector Co. TX - Obits from the Odessa American Online 16 Jan 2001 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. January 16, 2001 Permian Basin Obituaries _________________________________________________________________ A.M. Murl Lawless ODESSA Services for A.M. "Murl" Lawless, age 70, of Odessa are scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2001, at Sunset Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Bill Heggemeier of First United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Murl passed away in his home at Lincoln Towers Sunday, Jan. 14, 2001. He was born Sept. 3, 1930, in Stillwater, Okla. He and his beloved wife, Peggy Lawless, were married Aug. 30, 1956. She preceded him in death May 20, 2000. Murl was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He was a 1949 graduate of Odessa High School and an avid OHS football fan, a dedicated Dallas Cowboy fan and a tried and true Houston Astro fan. He was a longtime employee of J. Cleo Thompson Drilling and Production. He retired in 1996. He is survived by his mother, Lois Lawless of Odessa; his sister, Jean Harmon of California; his daughter, Dana Williams and her husband Larry of Odessa; and his grandsons, Joshua and Justin Williams of Odessa. Services are under the care of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ John Gregory Powell BIG LAKE John Gregory Powell was born Aug. 8, 1915, in Decatur, Tenn., to John Dodson Powell and Cora (Gregory) Powell. Gregory first came to Texas in 1934 to work on his Uncle Leon Powells Six Mile Ranch near Menard. In 1942, he joined the U.S. Navy and served on the USS Cascade. In 1945, he began ranching in Big Lake on the Adobe Ranch where he and his wife Mary Powell lived for 34 years. He married Mary Mann Dec. 19, 1945, in San Angelo. After retiring, Gregory and Mary moved to Gardendale, where they lived for 17 years. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Big Lake, Big Lake Golf Association, Lions Club and VFW Post 4372 in Odessa, and he served on the Reagan County Memorial Hospital Board while living in Big Lake. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary, his parents and a sister, Mary Dodson. Survivors include two daughters, Judy Luxton and her husband Robbie Luxton of San Angelo and Nancy Koch of Floresville; brother, Marvin Powell and his wife Barbara of Riceville, Tenn.; sisters, Charlotte Carpi and her husband Jimmy and Sarah Powell, both of North Hollywood, Calif.; and four grandchildren, Gregory Koch, Kadia Koch, Wesley Luxton and John Luxton. Mr. Powell died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2001, at his residence in Gardendale. Funeral services are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. today, Jan. 16, 2001, at the First United Methodist Church in Big Lake. A graveside service will be held at 4 p.m. today at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens in San Angelo. Arrangements are under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home in Midland. Pallbearers are John Luxton, Gregory Koch, Wesley Luxton, R.L. McKinney, John Daughtery and Wilbur George. _________________________________________________________________ James K. Spiher ODESSA James K. Spiher, beloved father and grandfather, passed away Sunday, Jan. 14, 2001, at Medical Center Hospital. He was born Jan. 14, 1943, in Colorado Springs, Colo. He moved to Odessa 21 years ago from Temple. He graduated from Pepperdine University. He was an avid sportsman. He was a pro pitcher for the San Francisco Giants from 1962 to 1964. He had been active with youth programs and had coached Little League baseball. He married Mary Alford Sept. 19, 1980, in Odessa. He was a member of Golf Course Road Church of Christ in Midland. He worked for 7-11 Corp. for 22 years. Survivors: His wife, Mary Alford Spiher of Odessa; sons, Jimmy Spiher and wife Stephanie of Clarksville, Tenn., and Scott Kraemer and wife Tricia of Odessa; daughters, Jeanne Kelley and husband Nathan of Waco, Jolie Gant of Waco and Nanette Dooley and husband Doug of Midland; brother, Richard Spiher of Las Vegas, Nev.; sisters, Moonyeen Umstot and Joyce Galvin, both of Denver, Colo.; and eight grandchildren. The family will meet with friends from 7 to 9 p.m. today, Jan. 16, 2001, at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2001, at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Mike Johnson officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to the youth charity of your choice. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ Albina Woodward ODESSA Albina Woodward, 76, of Odessa passed away after a lengthy illness Sunday, Jan. 14, 2001, at her home. Ms. Woodward was born in Chicago, Ill., to Margaret and John Judnick and moved to Odessa in 1971. After her retirement as a draftsman from Eckle Manufacturing, Albi enjoyed gardening, painting and reading. She is survived by her daughter, Travis Woodward of Odessa and a sister, Evelyn Kohnke of Menomonee, Wis. Interment will be at Resurrection Cemetery in Argo, Ill., with arrangements by Odessa Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Albie Woodward Memorial Art Scholarship at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, 4901 E. University Blvd., Odessa, Texas, 79762. Services by Odessa Funeral Home. Copyright © 2000, 2001 Odessa American. All rights reserved.