Ector Co. TX - Obits from the Odessa American Online 18 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 18, 2001 Permian Basin Obituaries _________________________________________________________________ Lucius D. Bunton III ODESSA U.S. District Judge Lucius D. Bunton III died Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2001, in Austin. He was 76. Bunton was born Dec. 1, 1924, in Del Rio. He grew up in Marfa as the son of pioneer rancher Lucius D. Bunton and Avis Fisher Bunton. He attended the University of Texas in Austin where he was a member of the band. He married Mary Jane Carsey of Houston in 1946. He served in World War II in the European Theatre and then graduated from UT Law School in 1950. He was a district attorney for the 83rd Judicial District. He practiced law in Odessa with the Shafer, Gilliland, Davis firm from 1959 to 1979. At that time, he was appointed to the federal bench by President Jimmy Carter. The federal courthouse in Pecos is named in Buntons honor. In Odessa, he served as a trustee on the school board. He was a member of the First Baptist Church. He was active in the Boy Scouts. He was a member of the Texas Bar Foundation, president-elect of the State Bar of Texas, the Ector County and Midland Bar Associations and the American Judicature Society. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Mary Jane of Austin; his son and daughter-in-law, Lucius and Lynn Bunton of Austin; his daughter and son-in-law, Cay and Mark Warner of Pampa; and four grandchildren, Emily and Desha Bunton of Austin and Rebekah and Mary Alice Warner of Pampa. Memorials may be directed to the Texas Bar Foundation or the music ministry of the First Baptist Church of Odessa or Mission Odessa. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today, Jan. 18, 2001, at Hubbard Kelly Funeral Home. Memorial services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, 2001, at First Baptist Church with Dr. Ernest Easley and Jack Tidwell officiating. A family graveside service will precede the memorial service. Honorary pallbearers will be Perry Davis, Jim OLeary, Judge Paul McCollum, Ray Stoker Jr., Jimmy Smith, Judge Walter Smith, Judge Sam Sparks and Judge Royal Ferguson. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ [INLINE] Russell David Hickerson ODESSA Russell David Hickerson, 48, of Odessa passed away Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2001, at his home from cancer. He was born Oct. 6, 1952, in Borger, Texas. He moved to Odessa in 1972 and married Suzy Ward on April 4, 1992. He was a successful businessman and entrepreneur being the owner and operator of Panhandle Brine Sales and working with his father at Permian Brine Sales for 26 years designing and building brine and fresh water stations in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. He held two patents on methods to extract heat from salt domes. He enjoyed playing with his three grandchildren, Kailee, Logan and Morgan. They were the light of his life. Russ loved playing the guitar, was in a band and wrote his own music. Russ loved to fish, especially at Lake Amistad. It was his favorite place in life and also will be in death, as his ashes will be spread there. He is survived by his beloved wife, Suzy Hickerson of Odessa; daughter, Celena Sammons of New Braunfels; son, Jason Hickerson of Odessa; daughter, Samantha Hickerson of Odessa; stepson, Jason L. Lederman; three grandchildren; mother, Geraldine C. Hickerson; father, Albert L. Hickerson; brothers, Brooks Hickerson, Crazy Carl Hickerson and Riley Hickerson; sisters, Lucretia Hickerson-Luc, Melanie Hickerson, Helen Nelson and Cynthia Hickerson; numerous family members; and a host of friends. A celebration in memory of his life is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. today, Jan. 18, 2001, at the Duffs Windmill (location sign will be at the corner of 87th St. and County Road West) with the hospice Chaplain the Rev. Dr. Jimmy Braswell officiating. If desired, memorials may be made to West Texas Boys Home in San Angelo, Cal Farleys Boys Home in Amarillo or the Childrens Home of Lubbock. Arrangements are by Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. (www.wilsonfuneral.com) _________________________________________________________________ [INLINE] Cecil Freeman Howard ODESSA Cecil Freeman Howard, a longtime resident of Odessa, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2001, after a lengthy illness. Mr. Howard was born Oct. 30, 1924, in Vashti. He moved to Odessa in 1954. Mr. Howard served with the Staff of Commander First Air Wing Ten during the Liberation of the Philippine Islands during World War II. He received the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with a Bronze Star for services performed. Mr. Howard began his career in the oilfields of West Texas with Exploration Drilling and retired with Sharp Drilling in 1986. Cecil and Peggy would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Jan. 18, 2001. Mr. Howard was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Ethel Howard; brother, Doyle Howard; and a sister, Elizabeth Ann Clements. He is survived by his wife, Peggy June; a son, Roy Cecil Howard of Odessa; three daughters, Ethel Howard of Spring, Susan Howard of Pearland and Vicki Myers (Don) of Odessa; five grandchildren, Brandon Howard, Ashley, Jessica and Elizabeth Myers, all of Odessa, and Amanda Howard of Pearland; and a sister, Zelma Mae Simmons of Fort Worth. Services will be at 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, 2001, at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. John Van Hoose officiating. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Services entrusted to Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ [INLINE] Margaret K. Susie Murphey ODESSA Margaret K. "Susie" Murphey, 62, of Odessa passed away Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2001, at her residence. She was born Jan. 5, 1939, in San Angelo. She married Tommie Murphey on July 3, 1964, in Odessa. Mrs. Murphey moved to Odessa in 1951 from San Angelo. She was a retired Postmaster Relief and a member of Beacon Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Franklin Pearce Harden and Dorothy Dorris; brother, William Guy Harden; and sister, Dell Burchell. Survivors are her husband, Tommie L. Murphey of Odessa; mother-in-law, Lizzie Murphey of Odessa; children, Cynthia OKeefe of Muskogee, Okla., Dale Reese of Fort Worth, Debbie Langston of Odessa, Sr. Master Sgt. James "Tony" Gray of Japan, Daniel Gray of Wickett, Tom Murphey of Odessa, Dr. Mark Murphey of Ruston, La., Terry Murphey of Greenwood, Kenneth Murphey of Monahans and Melissa Gage of Bellville; sisters, Bell Thornton of Odessa, Izetta McKinney of Miles and Sylvia Smith of Mineral Wells; brother, Pete Harden of Roland, Okla.; 21 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews who loved her very much. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 19, 2001, at Beacon Baptist Church with the Rev. Amon Langston officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Services are entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ [INLINE] Damiana Diane Paredes ODESSA Damiana "Diane" Paredes, 55 years of age, passed away Monday, Jan. 15, 2001, at Medical Center Hospital. She was born Sept. 27, 1945, in Fort Stockton. She married Ildefonso Paredes on Oct. 15, 1961, in Fort Stockton, present publisher of the Permian Basin Entertainment Guide. To this union were born son, Jose Luis "Joey" Paredes and wife Rene Paredes and daughters, Jane E. Paredes Aguilar and husband Ruben G. Aguilar, Belinda and her husband Vico Montes, Dinah Olivas and Jassamine "J.J." Paredes, writer of Teen Talk, all of Odessa; mother and stepfather, Frances M. "Kika" Hernandez and Alfonso Hernandez of Fort Stockton; mother-in-law, Guadalupe C. Paredes of Abilene; brother, Oscar "Blinky" Ramirez of Fort Stockton; sister, Alicia and husband Elias Ramirez of Fort Stockton; brothers-in-law, Ismael and Delia Paredes of Brownsville and Abel and Adelina Paredes of Midland; sister-in-law, Irene Paredes of Abilene; 17 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Guadalupe "Petey" Paredes and her father, Thomas Ramirez. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today at Odessa Funeral Home Chapel. Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, 2001, at St. Marys Catholic Church with the Rev. Francis Frey officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. Diane was very active throughout her life in the business communities of Odessa, Abilene, Fort Stockton and the surrounding areas, including Midland and Colorado City, before her lengthy illness. Pallbearers will be her son Joey, Ismael Paredes, Abel Paredes, Mario Munoz, Ruben G. Aguilar, John Albert Munoz, Jacoby Olivas, Victor Rene Montes, Joe Thomas Ramirez and Tony Paredes. Services by Odessa Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ William Bill Richards ODESSA William "Bill" Richards, 68 years of age, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2001, at his Odessa residence. He was born Aug. 6, 1932, in Rush Center, Kan., to Walter and Lois Richards. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a first class airman and was a member of First Assembly of God. He retired from Homco as wire line supervisor after 19 years of service. Surviving are his daughters, Carla VanZandt of McDade, Gwen Walker of Sherman, Tracy Flowers of Kerrville and Julie Shelton of Odessa; six grandchildren; and his companion, Murphy. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. today at Odessa Funeral Home. Funeral services are set for 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, 2001, at Odessa Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Paul Thompson officiating. Burial will follow at Odessa Cemetery. Services by Odessa Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ Copyright © 2000, 2001 Odessa American. All rights reserved.