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 ============================================================================================ Wednesday January 30, 2002 Gay Neill Benefield BRADY - Former Odessa resident Gay Neill Benefield died peacefully during her morning nap Sunday, Jan. 27, 2002, in Amarillo. She was 101. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. today, Jan. 30, 2002, at Live Oak Cemetery in Brady with Larry Barber presiding. Arrangements are under the direction of Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors in Amarillo. Gay was born Dec. 26, 1900, in Gorman, the tenth child of Nancy Hones and John Thomas Neill. After graduating from Gorman High School, she attended Texas Wesleyan College in Fort Worth. On Nov. 6, 1920, Gay married Malcolm Jefferson Benefield, who later became the manager of the Chambers of Commerce in Brady and Odessa. While raising her three children in Brady, she supported her husband's many civic activities and served as the Gallup Poll representative for the region. Her Gallup polling assignments were on topics ranging from politics and railroads to socialized medicine. After the unexpected death of her husband in 1948, Gay became Odessa's Welcome Wagon Hostess. For 12 years she welcomed Odessa newcomers with gifts and information and founded an Odessa Newcomers Club. In 1952, she was named First Lady of Odessa, a yearly honor bestowed on a woman for her outstanding work for the betterment of Odessa. In the 1950s, she became certified as a master Goren Bridge teacher, and she taught hundreds of Odessans to play bridge in small group classes. She continued to teach bridge until she was 80 years old, and bridge playing led to many wonderful relationships with a large group of very special Odessa women. She was a lifelong member of the Methodist church. In 1995, Gay authored an autobiographical book, "The 20th Century as I've Lived It," which describes her life experiences during the Depression and two world wars, and the many technological advances she saw during her lifetime. Thanks to the help of good friends and neighbors, Gay was able to live on her own in her Odessa home until the age of 96. In recent years, she received very special care at Sears Methodist Retirement System facilities in Amarillo and Abilene. She was preceded in death by her husband, 10 brothers and sisters, three grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Survivors include her children, June Benefield Hinckley and her husband Kenneth of Austin, Malcolm Jefferson Benefield and his wife Peggy of Amarillo and Jack Benefield of Abilene; as well as seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, a great-great-grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews. Gifts in her memory may be made to Sears Methodist Foundation, 3233 South Willis, Abilene, Texas, 79605. Hazel Berryman ODESSA - Hazel Loralee Berryman, age 96, went to the Lord on Monday, Jan. 28, 2002, at McCamey Convalescent Home. She was born April 30, 1905, in Dixie Indian Territory, Okla., to George Washington Umberson and Julia Phelina Umberson. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. MST Thursday, Jan. 31, 2002, at Prairie Haven Cemetery in Hobbs, N.M., with Benny Greenlee officiating. She moved to Odessa from Hobbs in 1996. Hazel was an avid fisherman and a very kind and loving person. She was a homemaker and always had a smile that will always be remembered by friends and family. Her husband, Dewey Berryman, preceded her in death in 1989, and her children, Dorothy Lee Berryman, Mary Ella Berryman and George Berryman. She is survived by a son, Carl Berryman of Altus, Okla.; a daughter, Barbara Register of Sheffield; 11 grandchildren; and many great- and great-great-grandchildren. You are invited to leave a message or memory in the online guest book at www.wilsonfuneral.com. Services have been entrusted to Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. Dorothy Mae Brantley MONAHANS - Dorothy Mae Brantley, 75, of Monahans went to be with the Lord on Monday, Jan. 28, 2002, at Hospice House of Odessa. Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, 2002, at Immanuel Baptist Church with burial at Monahans Memorial Cemetery. Arrangements by Harkey Funeral Home. She was born June 3, 1926, in Waurika, Okla. She graduated from Apache High School in Apache, Okla. She was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church. She was a homemaker and wonderful mother. Our beloved mother, Mema, companion and friend, had struggled bravely with a lengthy illness. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ollie and Herbert Cash; her husband, Henry Brantley; and her brother, Marvin Cash. She is survived by her son, James White of Odessa; daughter, Janie Cochran of San Angelo; brother and sister-in-law, Willie and Mary Cash of Monahans; grandchildren, Zachary Cochran of Austin, Lady Jane Kasik of Hubbard, Justin White, Chad White and Jacob Henry White of Odessa; a great-granddaughter, Hannah Kasik of Hubbard; and her beloved companion and caregiver for the last several years, Jack Jones. There is a void left here on earth without her. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. The family wishes that all memorials be made to West Texas Boys Ranch, 10223 Boys Ranch Road, San Angelo, Texas, 76904, or Hospice House, 903 N. Sam Houston Ave., Odessa, Texas, 79761. Doyce Gerald Perkins ODESSA - Doyce Gerald Perkins, 62, of Odessa passed away Monday, Jan. 28, 2002, at Medical Center Hospital after a brief illness. He was born April 19, 1939, in Rochester and moved to Odessa in 1994. Doyce graduated from Andrews High School in 1957. He married Eva Lee Gavit on June 11, 1996, in Las Vegas. He was a service technician and a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. As a young man, Doyce was a gospel recording artist. He enjoyed music and being with his family his entire life. He was preceded in death by his father, R.V. Perkins, and a grandchild. He is survived by his wife, Eva Lee Perkins of Odessa; daughter, Michelle Holley of Wyoming; sons, Randall and Bobby; mother, Sybil Perkins Clark of Midland; brother, Danny Perkins and wife Kim of Springtown; sisters, Sharon Walker and husband David of Midland and Laneita Bingham and husband Bobby of Midland; four grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, 2002, at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Ken Davis officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Bettie Lou Roberson ODESSA - Bettie Lou Roberson, age 63, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2002, at Medical Center Hospital. She was born May 13, 1938, in Merkel to Alvin "Bill" Patterson and Mable Alice Patterson. Her parents, along with Bettie, 9 years old, and her brother Billy, first came to Odessa in 1947. Housing was in short supply and they lived in a tent for a short time. Her parents and her brother Billy Eugene preceded her in death. She loved people, especially her family and will be missed by all. She made friends very easily and was a wonderful wife and mother. Bettie loved church, doing artwork, oil painting, sewing quilts, knitting, crocheting, cooking and traveling. She had won the Permian Basin Best of Show for some of her work. She was a member of Grace Baptist Church of Odessa. Survivors include her husband, Jack Roberson of Odessa; daughter, Sandra Dee Roberson Tilley and husband Raymond of Odessa; two sons, Ivey Jack "Buddy" Roberson of Odessa and Billy Joe Roberson and wife Lora of Midland; four granddaughters; and a great-grandson. Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, 2002, at Sunset Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Chapman of Grace Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. Ronald Joe Robitson Sr. ODESSA - Ronald Joe Robitson Sr., 49, of Odessa passed away Monday, Jan. 28, 2002, at his residence. He was born March 3, 1952, in Odessa to Joe and Dorothy Robitson. He married Anna Gail Williams Jan. 24, 1979. He worked as a maintenance man for West Texas Drum and he also worked as a welder. He loved to hunt and fish and he enjoyed being with his family. He was a member of the Elk Lodge and a Baptist. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Robitson. He is survived by his wife, Anna Gail Robitson of Odessa; daughters, Christina Hollis and husband Chester of Odessa and April Lowrance and husband Royce of San Angelo; sons, Ronald Joe Robitson Jr. and Kody Eric Robitson, both of Odessa; mother, Dorothy Biggers of Big Lake; brother, Dennis Robitson of Odessa; sisters, Julia Rowland of Big Lake and Sherry Cordle of Odessa; and two grandchildren, Keith and Kayla Lowrance. The family wishes to give a special thanks to Anell at Star Hospice. Services are scheduled for 1 p.m. today, Jan. 30, 2002, at Sunset Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Jim Ray Brown officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Services are under the direction of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. Copyright © 1999-2002 Odessa American. All rights reserved.