Ector Co. TX - Obits from the Odessa American Online 31 July 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. July 31, 2001 Permian Basin Obituaries _________________________________________________________________ Maldene Branch Heard ODESSA Maldene Branch Heard, age 84, of Odessa died Sunday, July 29, 2001, at her residence. She was born April 29, 1917, as the eldest child to Myrtle and George Branch in Abilene. Family visitation will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. today, July 31, 2001, at Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. Private burial will be held at a later date. Maldene Branch Heard was a devoted wife, mother and Christian and a staunch defender of what was right and good. Mrs. Heard was married for 60 years to Charles Parks Heard, had two daughters, faithfully attended Sixth and Jackson Church of Christ and was the most loyal of friends. She graduated magna cum laude from Abilene Christian University and taught school in Goree for two years before her marriage. Mrs. Heard loved her family, traveling, reading and teaching first-graders how to read when she was age 52 to 72. During those years, she was selected as ECISD Teacher of the Year and was a lifetime member of the Odessa Downtown Lioness Club. Her life was the epitome of courage, grace and perseverance. Maldene Heard is survived by her husband, Charles Heard of Odessa; daughters, Sidney Heard and Jo A. Heard of Odessa, and Bullett, the cat; a sister, Mrs. Ross Finley of Irving; a brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Patsy Branch of Abilene; plus numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Daniel OHearn, Angie Musick, the great staff at Odessa Internal Medicine and Home Hospice of Odessa. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Home Hospice, Odessa Christian School, Texas Lions Camp or the charity of your choice. Arrangements by Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. (www.wilsonfuneral.com) _________________________________________________________________ Gerald Travis Donaway CISCO Gerald Travis Donaway, 57, of San Angelo passed away Sunday, July 29, 2001, at his residence. Gerald was born Sept. 28, 1943, in Cisco to Joe and Era Donaway. He married Mary Tonne Feb. 4, 1966, in Cisco. He worked for Chevron in Crane for 20 years, retiring in 1994. He then worked for R&H Well Service until 1998. Gerald was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite. He was a member of the Cisco Masonic Lodge and the Fellowship Lodge of Odessa. Gerald is survived by his wife, Mary of San Angelo; a daughter, Carolyn of Aspen, Colo.; a son, Shannon of Phoenix, Ariz.; a brother, Boyce Donaway of Cisco; and his mother-in-law, Lina Tonne of Cisco. Masonic graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2001, at Dothan Cemetery in Cisco. Arrangements are by Chambers-Wilcox Funeral Home in Cisco. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donors choice. _________________________________________________________________ Jimmy Dale McKelvain MORAN Jimmy Dale McKelvain, age 56, died Sunday, July 29, 2001, at Medical Center Hospital. He was born April 6, 1945, in Breckenridge. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today, July 31, 2001, at First Baptist Church in Moran. Interment will follow at the Moran Cemetery. Jimmy attended Moran public schools, graduating from Moran High School. He attended Cisco Junior College, then transferred to North Texas State and graduated with a degree in business. He worked his way through school as a fireman living at the fire station. He flew about 15 years in the Odessa-Midland area for a number of private companies. He moved to Houston in 1986 to work for Continental Airlines, where he was currently employed as a co-pilot. He grew up in First Baptist Church but later transferred his membership to Moran Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by a brother, John R. McKelvain, and his father, R.K. McKelvain. He is survived by his mother, Mildred McKelvain, 97, of Andrews; sisters, Evelyn Criner of Andrews, Lela Mathis of San Angelo and Berlin Gavitt of Odessa; brothers, Kenneth McKelvain of Abilene and Harold McKelvain of Odessa; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Arrangements by Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. (www.wilsonfuneral.com) _________________________________________________________________ Juanita Smith ODESSA Juanita Smith, 75, of Odessa passed away Sunday, July 29, 2001, at her residence. She was born Nov. 25, 1925, in Seminole. She married Thomas Charles Smith March 14, 1947, in Midland. He preceded her in death. Mrs. Smith moved to Odessa in 1945 from Denver City. She was a nurse and retired from Medical Center Hospital and then worked for MHMR for several years. She was a member of Crescent Park Baptist Church. She is survived by her sons, Jerry D. Smith of Rising Star and Thomas Wayne Smith of Odessa; brother, Raymond Scarbrough of Andrews; sisters, Jewell Mathers of Denver City and June Veatch of Fort Worth; three grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2001, at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Robert L. Bratcher officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ Bobbie Wayne Miller ODESSA Bobbie Wayne Miller, 43 years of age, was called by our Lord Sunday, July 29, 2001. He was a native of Odessa, attended Permian High School and obtained his associates degree of science at Odessa College. Bobbie spent his life helping people to live longer and healthier lives. He was the owner of Wandas Health Food Store in Odessa and enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Bobbies passion was motorcycles, animals and most of all, taking road trips with his lovely wife, daughter and motorcycle buddies. Bobbie was a very caring and giving person. He never met a stranger and was willing to extend a helping hand to anyone. Bobbie was preceded in death by his father, Floyd W. Miller of Midland in November 1993, and his brother, Michael Miller in February 2001. Bobbie leaves behind his loving spouse, Linda S. Moore-Miller of Odessa with whom he spent the best two years of his life. Bobbies creative and talented daughter, Brittany Miller, the light of his life, will miss her father dearly. Other survivors include his mother, Wanda Joyce Miller of Midland, and his brother, Ronnie W. Miller of San Jose, Calif. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2001, at Lutheran Church of the Risen Lord located on Grandview Avenue and will be officiated by Pastor James Otterness. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Arrangements entrusted to Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. (www.wilsonfuneral.com) _________________________________________________________________ Ruth Lynn Roquemore ODESSA Ruth Lynn Roquemore, 85, of Odessa passed away Saturday, July 28, 2001, at Medical Center Hospital. She was born Nov. 5, 1915, in Weatherford. Mrs. Roquemore was the owner of H&R Enterprises Inc. She was a 50-year member of the Eastern Star Friendship Chapter No. 1008 and a charter member of Odessa Ladies Oriental Shrine Club. She was preceded in death by her husband, O.W. Roquemore; and brother, Forrest Landon Howard. She is survived by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, N.M. Jr. Roquemore and Charlotte Roquemore of Weatherford; nieces, Barbara Sharp and Norma Hamilton, both of Odessa, and Tommie Coalson of Garner; nephews, Bill Jordan of Weatherford, Steve Roquemore of Dallas and Ray Roquemore of Odessa; great-niece, Margaret Whitehead of Odessa; and numerous other great-nieces and nephews. Services will be held at 10 a.m. today, July 31, 2001, at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Curtis Brewer officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. _________________________________________________________________ Copyright © 2000, 2001 Odessa American. All rights reserved.