Ector Co. TX - Obits from the Odessa American Online 4 April 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. April 04, 2001 Permian Basin Obituaries _________________________________________________________________ Pat Shanham ODESSA Pat Shanhan, 69, of Odessa died Monday, April 2, 2001, at Medical Center Hospital. Mr. Shanahan was born Aug. 30, 1931, in Lawton, Okla., to John and Toy Shanahan. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, April 6, 2001, at St. Marys Catholic Church with Father Francis Frey officiating with interment of cremains to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Pat Shanahan was a graduate of Cameron University in Lawton, Okla. He played football through college and boxed for the Army, winning the Golden Gloves. He lived life to the fullest and enjoyed experiencing new things, like his love of toys and books. He retired from Great Wes-tern Oil Drilling as a landman in 1991. Pat was a man well loved by everyone, but most of all by his family, who looked up to him for advice, guidance or a joke. We will miss him very much. The family would like to personally thank Dr. Kodi, Dr. Agasala, Dr. Pereck and Dr. Pearlman. Survivors: Wife, Susana Shanahan of Odessa; son, Mathew Shanahan and his wife Jennifer of Dallas; daughter, Sylvia Ramos and husband Sam of Elkton, Md.; mother, Toy Shanahan of Poteau, Okla.; and brothers, Harry Shanahan of Poteau and June Shanahan of Sioux City, Iowa. Arrangements are by Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. (www.wilsonfuneral.com) _________________________________________________________________ Donald R. "Don" Register ODESSA Donald R. "Don" Register, 64, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away April 2, 2001, at Medical Center Hospital. He was born January 23, 1937, in Oklahoma City. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 5, 2001 at Sunset Memorial Gardens with the pastor Jerry Fortune of Mother of Holmes Memorial Baptist Church of Sheffield officiating. Mr. Register moved to Hobbs in 1952. He married Barbara June Berryman on Nov. 11, 1954. He moved to Midland in 1955 and worked in the oilfield. He moved to Odessa in 1960 and worked at Cabot Corp. as a welder. Mr. Register was a patrolman for the Odessa Police Department from 1966 until 1967. He became a deputy for the Ector County Sherrifs Department in 1967 until 1980. He was the owner of Registers Drilling Company. He moved to Sheffield in 1996 and was a deputy for Pecos County Sheriffs Department. He retired in 2000. He loved cars and hunting and was an avid fisherman and gun collector. Mr. Register was preceeded in death by his parents John Wesley and Gertie Lyles Register, brothers, Andy Register and Jerry Register, and sister, Maudie Lou Summar. He is survived by his wife Barbara Register of Sheffield; sons, Donnie Ray Register of Midland, Ronnie Ray Register and Terry Lee Register, both of Odessa; brothers, Wesley Register of Houston and Jody Lyles of Midland; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Arrangements are by Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. (www.wilsonfuneral.com) _________________________________________________________________ Ronald "Ron" Patterson MIDLAND Ronald "Ron" Patterson, 75, of Midland passed away Monday, April 2, 2001, at Hospice House of Odessa. Ron was born May 25, 1925, in Kenmore, Ohio, and married Virgie Mullen April 23, 1943, in Akron, Ohio. They moved to Midland in 1992. Mr. Patterson served in the Navy during World War II and in the Army during the Korean War. After the military service, Ron worked as a regional transportation specialist and teamster negotiator in the trucking industry. He retired in 1988. Ron was a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and was an active member of the Westside Church of Christ in Midland. His wife, parents, sister and brother preceded him in death. Survivors include his daughter, Margie Pecore and husband Al of Midland; grandchildren, Linda Biggs and husband Mike of Houston, Jill Ray of San Antonio, Mike Morrow and wife Patti of Mapleton, Iowa, Brenda Morrow of Delray, Fla., and Stan Pecore of Dallas; and eight great-grandchildren. Memorial services are scheduled for 3 p.m. today, April 4, 2001, at Polo Park Estates in Midland. Graveside services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Friday, April 6, 2001, at Sunset Memorial Park in San Antonio. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Home Hospice or Hospice House of Odessa. _________________________________________________________________ Gatha Lee Melton Porter ODESSA Gatha Lee Melton Porter, age 62, of Odessa passed away Monday, April 2, 2001, at her residence. She was born Sept. 14, 1937, in Cross Cut to James and Gladys Melton. Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday, April 5, 2001, in the chapel of Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors with the Rev. Dr. Ernest Easley officiating. Interment will be at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 5, 2001, in Cross Plains. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. Mrs. Porter grew up all over West Texas, settling in Odessa in 1961. She married William Ben "Dub" Porter Jan. 19, 1960, in Cross Plains. She worked for Connies Fashions, Matney Shoe Box and Scotts Shoes in Odessa. She loved to "flea market," collected cookie jars and gingerbread. She was preceded in death by her parents, James Lee Melton and Gladys Inez Melton, and a brother, James Gary Melton. She is survived by her husband, William Ben "Dub" Porter of Odessa; sons, David A. Porter of Odessa and Dwight G. Porter and wife Deanna of Pueblo, Colo.; daughter, Cheryl Lewallen and husband David of Odessa; seven grandchildren; brothers, Larry D. Melton of Richardson and Bill Melton of Cross Plains; sister, Glenda Weiss and husband Wilburn of Whitehouse; nephew, Gregg Weiss of Greenville; niece, Staci Mayo and husband Keith of Whitehouse; and great-nieces and nephews. Arrangements are by Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. _________________________________________________________________ Elbert D. Lewis ODESSA Elbert D. Lewis, 86 years of age, passed away Monday, April 2, 2001, at the Hospice House in Odessa. He was born Nov. 11, 1914, in Sanger. He was a member of Sherwood Church of Christ. Mr. Lewis was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Janie. Mr. Lewis is survived by a son, Raymond D. Lewis and wife Diana of Levelland; daughters, Sherry D. Rose and husband Don of Midland, Paula J. Hopper of Gardendale and Carol B. Collins of Mineral Wells; grandchildren, Sheleen Avery, Shannon Copeland, Sheila Liles, Dale Sullins, Dee Sullins, Daniel Nail and Joe Bob Hopper; great-grandchildren, Krisstopher Morton, Cade Copeland, Cameron Tanner, Lizzie Sullins and Kalan Copeland. Mr. Lewis was the second man in U.S. military history at the age of 80 to receive a letter stating he must register for the draft or face the consequences if he didnt. The Associated Press took the funny story and it went around the world as well as the U.S. Mr. Lewis received 143 phone calls in two days from around the globe and was featured in many front pages of newspapers. He was also awarded the Purple Heart for bravery shown aboard the USS Reno during World War II, but did not receive the medal until 38 years later. Funeral services have been set for 3 p.m. Thursday, April 5, 2001, at Sherwood Church of Christ with Lynn Money officiating. Burial will follow with military honors and a Con-federate Air Force Missing Man Formation Fly-By at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Mr. Lewis will be remembered by his children, family and friends as a good Christian man that fought for his country with honors and took care of his wife Janie in the last years of sickness. He is his childrens hero. Services by Odessa Funeral Home. (www.wilsonfuneral.com) _________________________________________________________________ Copyright © 2000, 2001 Odessa American. All rights reserved.