Ector Co. TX - Obits from the Odessa American Online 23 Oct 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. October 23, 2001 Permian Basin Obituaries Obituaries Index Lewis Wilburn 'Shorty' Alexander ODESSA - Lewis was born Feb. 6, 1910, in Rising Star, Eastland County, to Martha Matilda Burns and Lewis Wilburn Alexander Sr. Lewis was the youngest of seven children. His father, Lewis Sr., having passed on at an early age, never knew of the unexpected arrival of his youngest son. Lewis was preceded in death by his father, Lewis; mother, Matilda; sisters, Lillie and Henrietta; and brothers, Osburn, Luther, Brice and Fred. Lewis was married to Lucy Etheredge, daughter of Samuel Edwin Etheredge and Ada Durham Hall, Nov. 12, 1932, in Lamesa. They were married 48 years. To this union were born daughter, Wilma Joyce, and son, Boyce Wilburn. Lewis had been a farmer, truck driver and custodian for the Ector County Independent School District and Medical Center Hospital. He retired after many years of service to Ben Milam Elementary School. Lewis was preceded in death by his beloved Lucy on Jan. 25, 1981. Lewis moved to San Marcos, Calif., in 1985. He lived with his daughter and son-in-law, Joyce and Dick Crockett and family. He was a treasured member of that household. While in California, Lewis participated in many camping and gold prospecting jaunts with his family. He enjoyed playing old time fiddle music. Lewis never learned to read notes, but played entirely by ear. Together with his grandson-in-law, Bailey Stump, they spent many hours playing music together. They played at retirement homes and a few local community events where they were billed as "Shorty and Stump." Lewis enjoyed watching his great-grandson, Jason, grow up and hearing news about his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other family and friends in Texas. Lewis enjoyed country living, gospel and country music, family pets and the company of his favorite cat, Tom. Lewis passed from this life at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital on Oct. 19, 2001, at the age of 91. He is survived by daughter, Joyce and son-in-law, Dick Crockett of California; son, Boyce Alexander and daughter-in-law, Sonya, of Texas; grandchildren, Rick Crockett and Diane Stump of California, David, Randy and Laura of Texas; and five great-grandchildren. Lewis was small in stature and a man of modest means, but he left an inheritance as big as Texas itself, a priceless legacy. Through his love and faith in the Father and Jesus Christ, His Son, in seeking out the "Old Paths" and endeavoring to walk therein, this legacy, this love he has passed on to family and friends to lead them to the Truth in God's Word and salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Lewis was a diligent and faithful member of the Church of Christ. A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2001, at University Boulevard Church of Christ, East University Boulevard and Roger Avenue, in Odessa. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2001, at Resthaven Memorial Park in Midland. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Elbert Neil 'Pop' Hayes ANDREWS - Elbert Neil "Pop" Hayes, age 80, passed away the morning of Sunday, Oct. 21, 2001, at his home in Andrews. He is survived by his wife, Iris; his daughters, Linda Hayes of Houston and Hilary Haygood; his son-in-law, Danny Haygood; as well as three grandchildren, Lane Haygood, Patrick Haygood and Joe Ryne Haygood, all of Andrews. He was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Cassie Haygood. Neil Hayes graduated from Mineral Wells High School in 1937. He attended the Texas School of Mines in El Paso. He was a student in El Paso when he was drafted into the United States Army in 1943. He served in the Army, participation in Operation Overlord in June 1944. He received a Purple Heart after being wounded at St. Lo, France, in July 1944. After World War II, he graduated from the Texas School of Mines and enrolled at Baylor Dental College in Dallas. Upon his graduation from Baylor in 1950, he moved to Andrews and opened the first dental practice there. He paid his way through dental school by serving as an anesthetist at St. Paul's Hospital in Dallas. When he came to Andrews, he often had to fill in as an anesthetist at the local hospital, since no one else was available to fill the position. Andrews at the time was experiencing a period of growth due to the oil boom. Neil Hayes was instrumental in several of the community's growth-oriented projects. As chairman of the Board of Trustees for Means Memorial United Methodist Church, he oversaw the building of the new sanctuary. He was the president of Andrews' first Little League Baseball Association in 1954. In 1956, he and Max Ramsey traveled to Austin to secure water rights for Andrews' current water field. During the mid-1950s, he became one of the first directors of the Andrews Savings and Loan, an institution he helped found. In 1962, as president of the Andrews Country Club, he oversaw and chaired construction of the new building as well as the swimming pool. Services will be held at 10 a.m. today, Oct. 23, 2001, at McNett Funeral Home. A.L. Hickerson ODESSA - Mr. Albert Hickerson died Sunday, Oct. 21, 2001, at his residence. Private memorial services will be held in Austin by his immediate family. He was born Oct. 11, 1916, near, McQueen, Okla. He married Billye Howington Bailey on Dec. 29, 1962, in Odessa. She preceded him in death in 1994. His son, Russell David Hickerson, also preceded him in death Jan. 16, 2001. Survivors include his first wife, Geraldine Hickerson of Austin, 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. The children are Lucretia Love Hickerson of the Seychelle Islands, Lester Brooks Hickerson of Englewood, Colo., Carl Henery Hickerson of Austin, Cynthia Hickerson of Bastrop, Helen Deborah Hickerson Nelson of Livermore, Calif., and Riley Gerald Hickerson of Austin. He was a member of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, Natural Gas Processors Association, Natural Gas Men of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association and The Salt Institute. He was a member of the Odessa Country Club and an avid golfer. He was the owner of Permian Brine Sales Inc. since 1958. He installed the first brine well for the solution mining of salt for use as drilling fluid in the Permian Basin. Originally, he had worked for Phillips Petroleum Co. for 20 years in various supervisory, engineering and operating positions. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.