Ector Co. TX - Obits from the Odessa American Online 3 Jun 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. June 03, 2001 Permian Basin Obituaries Obituaries Index Home _________________________________________________________________ Russell Stice ODESSA Russell Ray Stice, 88, passed away Saturday, June 2, 2001, at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa. He was born December 25, 1912, to John David and Catherine Virginia Stice in Geary, Oklahoma. His parents and 3 brothers precede him in death. Mr. Stice married Vinnie Gull in Kaw City, Okla., on May 29, 1938, later moving to Odessa from Rangley, Colo., in 1957. He was a mason for 57 years, a member of the Wesley Evangelical Methodist Church and retired from the oil industry. He won the Texas State Handicap Championship for trap-shooting in 1972. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 5, 2001, at Sunset Memorial Chapel, with the Rev. Ronnie Newton of Wesley Evangelical Methodist Church officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Vinnie Stice of Odessa; sons, Warren Lee Stice and wife, Jan of Salem, Virginia; Randal Ray Stice of Brandon, Florida; and Donald Wayne Stice and wife, Toni of Odessa; nine grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews. Memorials can be made to Wesley Evangelical Methodist Church. Arrangements by Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ LaVerne Blumentritt SAN ANGELO LaVerne Blumentritt, 87, went to be with her Lord on Wednesday, May 31, 2001, quietly and peacefully, at Parks Methodist Retirement Village. A visitation has been set for Sunday, June 3, 2001, from 6 to 8 p.m. Graveside services have been scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, June 4, 2001, in Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens in San Angelo with the Rev. Chester McGowan officiating. Arrangements by Ellis Funeral Home. LaVerne was born in Erath County on May 4, 1914. Her parents were Luther M. and Blanche Sawyer Bryant. LaVerne attended schools in the Exray community and Thurber, then in 1929, moved to Iraan where she graduated in 1931. She then attended Abilene Christian and Draughum Business College. She married George L. Blumentritt and lived as a homemaker in Hobbs, Seagraves, Monahans, and San Angelo. During World War II, while her husband was a military pilot, LaVerne held secretarial jobs in Texas, California, Oregon, North & South Carolina and Oklahoma. Postwar, their home was in San Angelo, then Odessa, Midland, Dallas and Irving. After retirement, George and LaVerne traveled far and wide throughout the U.S., including Alaska. Mrs. Blumentritt was a life-long member of the Church of Christ. LaVerne was an accomplished pianist and singer. She was active politically and in her church and community and she had many friends. But she will be most remembered for being a wonderful wife and mother and for her love for God and others. LaVerne was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, and sister, Polly Baker. She is survived by her husband, George, L. Blumentritt; her daughter, Jan Blumentritt and her husband, Charles W. Sponsel; and numerous nieces and nephews. _________________________________________________________________ Edith Read ODESSA Read, Edith "Kay" Terry, Mrs. B.E."Cuz" Read, born March 26, 1912, in Lovelace to John S. and Allie Wynn Terry, passed away Wednesday, May 30, 2001. She died the way she lived: smart, tall, proud, beautiful and determined. She was the next to the youngest of nine children and joined them picking cotton in the fields during her childhood. She wed Bryson Earl "Cuz" Read in June of 1946. They enjoyed a wonderful life in Odessa where they raised their two children, Dr. Terry Bryson Read of Independence, Kan., and Sally Kay Read of Dallas. Cuz preceded her in death in January of 1983. If you looked in the dictionary under "The Texas Woman," Kays picture would be there. She had a spirit and love for children as big as Texas. She passed that zest for living to her children and students. Her love was always teaching and she felt the same joy at hearing a second grader read in 1945 as she did 46 years later when she retired from the Ector County Independent School District. For many years, she was active in the social scene of Odessa and left many dear friends when her health required she move to Dallas. Her children, grandchildren and family will receive her friends from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. If you would prefer to make a memorial in lieu of flowers to The American Breast Cancer Society, please do so in loving memory of her daughter-in-law Elaine "Laney" Read. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, June 4, 2001, at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Melvin Warren officiating and interment at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Arrangements by Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ Gary C. Riley LUBBOCK Gary C. Riley passed away after a brief illness on May 17, 2001. He was born on October 14, 1949, to Bill and Katherine Riley in Lubbock, Texas, both of whom predeceased him. Gary was a graduate of Lubbock High School, Texas Tech University, and the Texas Tech University School of Law. He was an English major in college with a great gift of expression, and he was a great storyteller and unrepentant jokester. Gary practiced as a trial attorney for many years in Odessa and Midland, Texas, representing hundreds of Defendants in medical negligence cases. Since 1989, he lived and practiced law in Austin, focusing his efforts on litigation and representation of clients before state agencies. Gary was larger than life, standing 65" tall weighing 250 pounds, and seeing and appreciating the humorous side of life in all situations. He was a vigorous and inventive advocate for his clients and a loyal friend. Gary loved politics, the Hill Country, and his Texan heritage. Gary is survived by his beloved teen-aged daughter, Jordan Catherine Riley, of Hobbs, N.M. Jordan was the light of his life and the purpose for all his efforts. Gary had many friends who will miss his humor, his intelligence, and his antics. Life was more fun for knowing Gary Riley, he will be sorely missed by his friends, but never forgotten. A memorial service was held for Gary on May 24, 2001, and his ashes were scattered at Lake Travis. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Jordan Riley Educational Fund in care of Michael Sharp, Suite 460, 1717 West Sixth Street, Austin, Texas, 78703. _________________________________________________________________ Copyright © 2000, 2001 Odessa American. All rights reserved.