Ector Co. TX - Obits from the Odessa American Online 6 Feb 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. February 06, 2001 Permian Basin Obituaries _________________________________________________________________ Elsie N. Canterbury ODESSA Elsie N. Canterbury, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away Sunday, Feb. 4, 2001, at Memorial Hospital and Medical Center. She was born Dec. 11, 1920, in San Angelo where she spent her childhood and later married William Burl Canterbury. They moved to Odessa in 1940 where they raised four children. She spent many years working as a cosmetician for Walgreens and Albertsons. She later had her own business, "Initially Yours," a monogramming and gift shop for many years that she loved until she retired. Her many customers throughout the years were instant friends. She enjoyed china painting, cooking, gardening and most of all, being with her friends and family. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Burl Canterbury, and two brothers, Freddy and Gerald Taylor. Survivors include son, Robert Canterbury; daughters, Nila Harries and husband Tom of Blackwell, Judy Davis of Odessa and Jane Goodman and husband Galen of Midland; two brothers, Raymond Taylor and wife Suzie of San Angelo and Eugene Taylor of Irving; and grandchildren, Craig Canterbury, Tracy Vargas and husband Elias of Mexico, Courtney Aguado and husband Hank of Dallas and Jason Goodman and wife Shelby of Midland. She had six great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2001, at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Funeral arrangements are under the director of Ellis Funeral Home in Midland. Elsie will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. _________________________________________________________________ Dewayne Barbee ODESSA Dewayne Barbee, 31, of Odessa passed away Sunday, Feb. 4, 2001, in Odessa. He was born Dec. 17, 1969, in Odessa. He was a lifelong resident of Odessa and attended Shiloh Baptist Church. Survivors are his parents, Donna and Terry Barbee of Odessa; grandparents, Robert and Mary Jo Morrison; grandmother, Joe Ruth Rittiman of Odessa; sister, Renee Barbee of Odessa; brothers, Don Mikeworth of Athens, Brodee and Terron Barbee, both of Odessa; nephew, Cassidy Barbee of Odessa; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2001, at Central Baptist Church with the Rev. Dewey Blevins officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ Joe Firestone ODESSA Joe Firestone, 66, passed away Saturday, Feb. 3, 2001, at his residence in Odessa. He was born Feb. 5, 1934, to Uthel and Opal Firestone in Fields, N.M. They preceded him in death. Mr. Firestone married Christine Donahoo Jan. 16, 1960, in Clovis, N.M., and later moved to Odessa in 1972. He served as a deacon at Sherwood Church of Christ. Services will be at 2 p.m. today, Feb. 6, 2001, at Sherwood Church of Christ with Lynn Money officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Survivors include his wife, Christine Firestone of Odessa; daughters, Cristal Jackie Firestone of Midland and Annette Firestone Hogue and husband, Glen, of Odessa; sisters, Nelda Austin of Melrose, N.M., and Janette Collins of Blanchard, Okla.; grandchildren, Ryan Brown of Midland, Samantha, Christy and Michelle Hogue, all of Odessa; and special friend, Dan Margeson of Odessa. The family extends special thanks to Home Hospice and to Dr. Butler and his staff. Memorial can be made to the Sherwood Church of Christ Youth Club and to Odessa Christian School, 2000 Doran, Odessa, Texas, 79761. Services are in the care of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ A.L. Leon Melton ODESSA A.L. "Leon" Melton, 83, died Saturday, Feb. 3, 2001, at Medical Center Hospital. Leon was born April 24, 1917, in Dustin, Okla., the last of six children of W.N. Melton and Annie Irene Bates. He graduated from Dustin High School in 1936 and married his high school sweetheart, Yvonne Shaber, July 4, 1936, in McAlester, Okla. Leon went to work for Phillips Petroleum Co. in 1942 in Oklahoma City and was transferred to Odessa in 1948. He was the M&I Supervisor for the Western District of Phillips at the time of his retirement in April 1977. A former Sunday school teacher, he served as an elder and as clerk of the Session of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Odessa for several years. He was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church at the time of his death. Leon was a member of the Odessa Chuck Wagon Gang and served as an advisory director of the Parker County Water District. Following retirement and being an avid fisherman, Leon and Yvonne retired to Possum Kingdom Lake, their home from 1987 to 1995. He had been a resident of Parks Methodist Retirement Center since 1995. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Yvonne; a daughter, Margo Melton Campbell and her husband Powell of April Sound; a son, Larry Melton and his wife JNevelyn of Odessa; and grandchildren, Julie Melton Porter and her husband Steve of Bryan, Mel Campbell of Houston, Jeff Melton and his wife Becky of Austin and Casey Campbell of Houston. Survivors also include two sisters-in-law, Juanita Flaugher of Wetumka, Okla., and Maxine Shaber of Tahlequah, Okla.; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews and a host of friends. He will be remembered by all for his faith, love of family, business acumen and sense of humor. Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. today, Feb. 6, 2001, at Westminster Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Cheryl Homsher officiating. Graveside services will be held Wednesday in Wetumka. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts to Westminster Presbyterian Church. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ Gladys M. Couch ODESSA Gladys M. Couch, 80, of Odessa passed away Saturday, Feb. 3, 2001, at a local hospital. Mrs. Couch was born May 11, 1920, in Skiatook, Okla. She married Richard Edward Couch Feb. 11, 1940, in Seagraves. He preceded in death in 1977. Mrs. Couch had worked for Phillips Petroleum Co. in Hobbs, N.M., from 1952 to 1963 and in Odessa from 1977 to 1987 as a PBX operator and a librarian. She had been a member of the Jane Phillips Sorority and was a member of the Christian Church. She will be remembered as a loving wife and mother. She is survived by two sons, Mike Couch and his wife Pat of Odessa and Richard Edward Couch of San Francisco; and a sister, Sophia Ball of Zapata. Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m. today, Feb. 6, 2001, at the Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home Chapel. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. MST today at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Hobbs under the direction of Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ Myrtle Ann Ellis ODESSA Myrtle Ann Ellis, 82, of Odessa passed away Sunday, Feb. 4, 2001, at Medical Center Hospital. She was born March 5, 1918, in Soso, Miss. She married Ladell Ellis July 21, 1937, in Midland. She was a homemaker, a Baptist and a member of the VFW Auxiliary. Survivors are her husband, Ladell Ellis of Odessa; son, John Ellis of Redwood City, Calif.; daughters, Janett Hopper and Barbara Ellis, both of California; sister, Ruth Eden of San Angelo; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2001, at Rose Hill Cemetery. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ Copyright © 2000, 2001 Odessa American. All rights reserved.