Ector Co. TX - Obits from the Odessa American Online 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 Copyright © 1999 - 2002 Odessa American. All rights reserved ============================================================================================ Tuesday January 22, 2002 Max Henderson Fly CRANE - Max Henderson Fly, a retired superintendent of schools and longtime resident of Odessa, passed away Saturday, Jan. 19, 2002, at his home in Odessa from complications with Rheumatoid Arthritis. He was born to Murry Henderson Fly and Mildred Lorraine (Hamm) on Nov. 5, 1931, in Odessa. After high school, Max enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served his country during the Korean War. He was a radarman on the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. After his honorable discharge, he worked in and around the oilfields of the Permian Basin. He left the oilfields when he was 26 years old and went to college. He had a wife and three children at that time. After earning his associates degree at Odessa College, he transferred to Sul Ross in Alpine to finish his bachelor's degree and teaching certificates. While teaching and coaching in his first teaching assignment at Sierra Blanca, Max drove the 80 odd miles to the University of Texas at El Paso and earned his master's degree in 1966. With an administrator's certificate, he became a principal and served in several West Texas schools. He later became superintendent in Sierra Blanca and Imperial. Max retired in 1991. He enjoyed trips to Las Vegas with Barbara and family and fishing in the Rio Grande River with his sons, grandsons and fishing buddies. Max was the youngest of eight children of which only his brother, J. Paul, remains alive. He leaves behind his loving wife, Barbara, to whom he was married for over 25 years, and six children, Vicki, Patti (Steve), Matt, Mark, Doris Renee and Max Jr. (Rose). Of his 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, seven are named in his honor. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews and the hundreds of students he nurtured and helped mature into contributing citizens of our country. Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. today, Jan. 22, 2002, at the Shaffer-Nichols Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Craig Mull officiating. Burial will follow at the Crane County Cemetery with services under the direction of Shaffer-Nichols Funeral Home of Crane. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Paralyzed and Disabled Veterans organizations and the Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation. The family wishes to express our thanks to the many friends who have supported us these last few months with their prayers, time and contributions. Peery Pickens ODESSA - Peery Pickens, 74, of Odessa died Friday, Jan. 18, 2002, at Medical Center Hospital. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2002, at Sunset Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Dr. Jimmy Braswell officiating. He was born Dec. 22, 1927, in Walters, Okla. He was a fisherman and store manager for Homco and Dotco Inc., and he was a Christian. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Betty Gene Pickens; parents, Johnnie and Ruby Pickens; son, Perry Edward Pickens; grandson, Perry Edward Pickens Jr.; and sister, Joyce Vick. He is survived by his wife, Judy Pickens of Odessa; son, Johnnie Pickens of Odessa; brother, Bobby Pickens of Springdale, Ark.; four grandchildren, Sherri Miraglia of Odessa, J.D. Pickens of Odessa, Eugene Pickens of Odessa and Cindy Ensley of Springdale, Ark.; and great-grandchildren, Matthew Pickens of Odessa, Keleigh McCurdy of Odessa, Kaylee Pickens of Odessa, Leslie and Kevin Pickens of Odessa and Dalton and Whitney Ensley of Springdale, Ark. Arrangements by Odessa Funeral Home Angeles Memorial Chapel. Estela Valenzuela Cadena Ramon ALPINE - Mass for Estela Valenzuela Cadena Ramon, 36, of Midland will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of Peace Church. Interment will follow at Holy Angels Cemetery. Rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. today at Our Lady Peace Church in Alpine. She was an office manager for Drug Screen Compliance and Consortium of the Southwest. She died Friday, Jan. 18, 2002, at an Odessa clinic. She was born in Alpine and had lived in Pecos, Odessa and Midland. She was Catholic. Survivors include her son, Joe Albert Ramon Jr. of Odessa; daughters, Candes Joyce Ramon and Clarinda Alaina Ramon, both of Midland, and Cassandra Desiree Ramon of Odessa; parents, John Joe and Beatriz Cadena of Alpine; brothers, Larry Cadena of Alpine and John Joe Cadena of Lubbock; sisters, Blanca Martinez of Del Rio, Anabelle Sanchez of Midland, Olga Quiroz of Arlington, Diana Chavez and Gracie Cadena, both of Odessa, and Lorena Delgado of Chihuahua; and a grandchild, Isiah Ali Leal of Odessa. Services are entrusted to Geeslin Funeral Home in Alpine. W.A. 'Smitty' Smith ODESSA - W.A. "Smitty" Smith, age 89, of Odessa died Monday, Jan. 21, 2002. Smitty was born June 26, 1912, in Edmonds, Wash., to Deacon and Eva Smith. He was a drill sergeant in the Marine Corps during World War II. After the war, he married Roberta Deitrich in 1946 in Vernal, Utah. After traveling around the country following pipeline construction with Dunn Bros., they settled down in Odessa in 1954, where he went to work for Shirley Mobile Home Sales as a repairman. He later worked for Plains Mobile Homes and had his own business, Smith's Mobile Home Repair, for many years. After he retired, he went to work at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin as a carpenter for 10 years. Smitty was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason. He was preceded in death by Roberta in 1987, and in 1990, married Nan Brown of Houston. He was a great dad and always helped with 4-H projects and Rainbow Girl activities. He is survived by Nan Smith of Odessa; daughter, Sue Kremer of Odessa; grandson, Wesley Hightower of Russellville, Ark.; and sister, Dorothy McKenzie of Lacy, Wash. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2002, at Sunset Memorial Gardens. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at St. Barnabas' Episcopal Church. Memorials may be made to St. Barnabas' Building Fund. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Peggy Irene Williams ODESSA - Peggy Irene Williams, 77, of Odessa passed away Monday, Jan. 21, 2002, at Medical Center Hospital. She was born April 20, 1924, in Blythe, Calif. She married Rev. M.D. Williams on Nov. 24, 1941, in Albuquerque. Mrs. Williams was a minister's wife for 50 years. She served as the women's ministries representative for the West Texas District Council. She and her husband were pastors of the First Assembly of God Church in Odessa for 23 years. She is survived by her husband, Rev. M.D. Williams of Odessa; son, Marshall David Williams Jr. of Laredo; two daughters, Margaret Fagan and husband Roy of Aztec, N.M., and Darlene Carroll and husband Rusty of Lampasas; three brothers, Roy C. Bryant Jr. of Amarillo, Rev. Paul Bryant of Snellville, Ga., and Rev. John Bryant of Elk City, Okla.; three sisters, Ima Jean Adkins, Francine Estes and Barbara Lowe, all of Elk City, Okla.; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2002, at the First Assembly of God Church with the Rev. Paul Thompson officiating. Interment will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002, at Fairlawn Cemetery in Elk City, Okla. The family will meet with friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today, Jan. 22, 2002, at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Jim Brents CRANE - Jim Brents, 56, of Crane, on Jan. 18, 2002, left his home here on Earth to be with his Heavenly Father. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today, Jan. 22, 2002, at the Shaffer-Nichols Funeral Home Chapel with Bob Petree officiating. Burial will follow at the Crane County Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Shaffer-Nichols Funeral Home of Crane. Jim was known and loved by a great number of family and friends. He was born April 13, 1945, in Hill County. He had lived all his life in Crane and raised his family in Crane. He established The Bird in 1983. He put a lot of love and labor into his business and enjoyed watching many children grow up and graduate throughout the years. The Bird will always be a fond memory in those students' minds. From Jim's family, thank you to all of the many customers who enjoyed their lunches and suppers prepared for them by Jim. He was preceded in death by his father, Emy Brents, and his brother, Dan Brents. He is survived by his wife, Margie Brents of Crane; his parents, Jane and Thurston Taylor of Crane; his children, Elizabeth Baker of Sherman, Georgianna Blue of Crane, James Brents of Crane, Jyme Lane Carlson of Florida and Barbara Hawkins of Utah; his sisters, Shirley De Shazo of Oklahoma, Judy Streety of Roby and Rita Woodard of New Waverly; and a brother, Tex Brents of Crane. He had 19 grandchildren, a great-grandchild and many nieces, nephews and cousins who loved him very much. Copyright © 1999-2002 Odessa American. All rights reserved.