Ector Co. TX - Obits from the Odessa American Online December 16, 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. Permian Basin Obituaries ============================================================================================ December 16, 2001 Permian Basin Obituaries Obituaries Index Merlene Smith Young CASTOR, La. - Merlene Smith Young, born July 6, 1928 in Castor, La. passed on to be with her Lord and Savior on Dec. 14, 2001 in Kerrville, Texas. She had lived in Odessa for 34 years, Stamford for three years and recently moved to Kerrville. She was a devout Christian, being a lifelong member of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Castor, La. Ms. Young married Darrel Dean Young in Odessa on Aug. 4, 1964, enjoying 37 wonderful years of marriage. She was preceded in death by her parents, Sam Smith and Willie Sullivan Smith and 16 siblings. She is survived by her husband, Darrel Dean Young; sons, Johnnie Little of Yukon, Okla. and Kyle Young of Kerrville; daughter, Dianne Majors of Ada, Okla.; eight grandchildren and one great-grandson. She is also survived by sisters, Bonnie Daniel of Weatherford, Texas, Ruth Byrd, Ruby Jacobs and Grace Warren, all of Castor, La., along with a host of many loving friends and neighbors. Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 17, 2001 in Castor, La. At Ebenezer Baptist Church under the direction of Rocket Funeral Home, Ringgold, La. Interment will follow at Ebenezer Cemetery, Castor, La. Local arrangements by Kerrville Funeral Home. John Leo Diehl Jr. ODESSA - John Leo Diehl Jr., 52, of Odessa, passed away Friday, Dec. 14, 2001 at Medical Center Hospital. Services will be 10 a.m. Monday at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jimmy Braswell officiating. Burial will be in Missouri at a later date. He was born Aug. 4, 1949 in Louisiana, Mo. He married Sharon Cooper on April 14, 1986 in Odessa. John was an avid hunter and sportsman who loved the outdoors. John was a devoted husband, loving father, and adoring Pa Pa. He came to Odessa in 1986 from Monahans. John worked for A.W. Thompsonn Drilling from 1974 to 1977. From 1977 to 1979, he worked for Santa Fe Drilling and later for Gulf Oil which merged with Chevron where he worked for 22 years. He is preceded in death by his father, John Diehl Sr.; brothers, Butch Diehl and Edward Diehl; son, John Leo Diehl III, and step-father, Henry Genzling. He is survived by his wife, Sharon Diehl of Odessa; daughters, Amber Diehl of Monahans and Cherie Bushy of Odessa; sons, Shane Diehl of Monahans and James Pickett of Goldsmith; mother, Mary Ann Genzling of Monahans; sisters, Lynn Gary of Little rock, Ark., and Cissy Newsom of Monahans; brothers, Paul Diehl of St. Charles, Mo., and Jimmy Genzling of Carlsbad, N.M.; stepmother, Mary Diehl of St. Charles, Mo.; and six grandchildren. Arrangements by Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Kim Yoneko George ODESSA - Services for Kim Yoneko George, age 66, of Odessa are scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2001 at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home with the Rev. Jimmy Dennis officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Mrs. George died Saturday, Dec. 15, 2001, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on May 29, 1935 in Naha, Okinawa. She was married to Christopher Doyle George on May 18, 1952 in Naha, Okinawa. Mr. George preceded her in death in February 1998. Mrs. George was a friend to many and a devoted mother and wife. She was active in many charities including the VFW, Eagles, March of Dimes, United Way and Relay for Life. She embraced life and lived it to the fullest. Mrs. George is survived by, her fiance, Milton Allen of Odessa and her children, Cathy George of Odessa, Michael Anthony George and his wife, Kim of Wylie, and Christopher David George and his wife, Summer of Dallas. She is also survived by three brothers, Wesley Taira of Hawaii, ShinZan Taira and ShinTaRo Tiara of Okinawa; and one sister Haruko Sakumoto, also of Okinawa. She was also the proud grandmother of six grandchildren. Arrangements by Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Lizzie Faye 'Granny' Murphey ODESSA - Granny Murphey, 88, of Odessa went to be with the Lord on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2001. She was born Aug. 22, 1913 in Nocona, Texas. She married Wesley Murphey on Aug. 3, 1928 in Montague County. Granny was a homemaker and enjoyed spending time at the senior citizen's center. She was an active member of the Ruth Class at Central Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, who died 15 years ago to the day; one brother, Bill Richardson; and one sister, Rose Laughlin. She also lost two sons, H.L. Murphey and LeeRoy Murphey and two daughters-in-law, Susie Murphey and Stella Murphey in the past 18 months. She is survived by son, Tommie Murphey of Odessa, Robert Murphey and his wife, Betty of San Angelo, and Kenneth Murphey and wife, Jo of Odessa; daughter-in-law Marie Murphey of Las Cruces, N.M.; sisters Dora Oxford of Nocona, Ronna Hill of Portland, Texas, Fannie Sims of Haltom City, Texas, and Kate Sturdevant and her husband, Rudy of Haltom City, Texas; 24 grandchildren; 54 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great grandchildren. Granny's love for life, family and the Lord will always be an inspiration to everyone who knew her. She always had a loving smile and a kind word for everyone. Through sadness and tears, she always held on to this smile. Age did not keep her from going places. She frequented the Senior Citizen's Center, went to church, and visited family even out of town. She spoke with enthusiasm about moving into her new home in a couple of weeks. It is comforting to imagine the excitement she felt when she arrived at her heavenly home. Thank you for leaving us with many precious memories. We will always love and miss you Granny! A celebration in memory of her life is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 17, 2001 at Central Baptist Church with the Rev. David Johnson and the Rev. Amon Langston officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be grandsons. If desired, memorials may be made to Central Baptist Church of Odessa. Arrangements by Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Copyright © 2000, 2001 Odessa American. All rights reserved.