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 February 6, 2002 Juanita Abalos RANKIN - Juanita Abalos, 93, a housewife, died Sunday, Feb. 3, 2002, at the Rankin County Hospital. Mrs. Abalos was born Oct. 20, 1908, to Juan Barrera and Jesusita Hernandez. Mrs. Abalos lived in Rankin all her life. She was preceded in death by her husband, Selso Abalos of Rankin; daughter, Micaela Haro of Colorado City; sons, Henry Abalos of Odessa and Rito Abalos of Rankin; and sisters, Julia Sanchez of Muleshoe, Margarita Abalos of Robert Lee and Estella Sanchez of California. Survivors include sons, Brijido Esparza and Frank Abalos, both of Rankin, and Andres Abalos of Midland; daughters, Lola Watson of Rankin, Josie Mata of Odessa, Natalia Sandoval of Crane, Lupe Barrandey of McCamey and Nettie Pulido of Rankin; a special granddaughter, Vickie Abalos of Rankin; 32 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today at the Rankin Park Building in Rankin. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002, at the Rankin Park Building. Burial will be at the Rankin Cemetery. Services under the direction of Martinez Funeral Home. Walter Joseph Campbell Jr. McCAMEY - Walter Joseph Campbell Jr. of McCamey passed away Monday morning, Feb. 4, 2002, at Hospice House of Odessa following a short illness. Walter was born Feb. 23, 1916, in Butler, Pa., the son of Walter and Nan Campbell. He moved to Texas at the age of 4, living in Cisco, Colorado City and McCamey, where he graduated from McCamey High School in 1935. He attended St. John's College in upstate New York. Walter married Shirley Baker on Aug. 16, 1941, in Kermit, prior to entering the Air Force. Walter served as a navigational instructor during World War II, earning the rank of first lieutenant. Walter and Shirley settled permanently in McCamey in 1950, where Walter worked for C.W. Brown Pipe and Supply. He later owned and operated Permian Pump and Supply. After selling his business, Walter became the chief appraiser for Upton County at the age of 65. He retired from the Upton County Appraisal District in 1993 after 12 years of service. Walter was a member of the First Christian Church of McCamey, serving as chairman of the board of trustees and on the building committee. Walter previously served on the McCamey Independent School Board of Trustees, the Permian Basin Girl Scout Council Board of Directors and was Democratic chairperson for Upton County at the time of his death. He was a 50-year member of the American Legion, belonged to the Optimist Club and the Oil City Lodge and coached little league baseball, all in McCamey. Walter was an accomplished woodworker, having built his own home in McCamey. He was most proud of his banks and clocks, which were often gifts to family, friends and acquaintances. In his later years, he constructed the furniture for his granddaughters' room, including a rocking horse they both can ride. He especially loved building things for and time spent with his granddaughters, Kelton and Kelle. Walter loved cooking, sending e-mail greeting cards, animals, which he called "fuzzy people," and spending time with his family and friends. A good day always ended with a game of Skip-Bo. Walter was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Richmond Campbell and Paul Campbell; sister, Mary Louise Menefee; daughter, Joan Campbell Lowe; and nephew, Paul Menefee. He is survived and will be sorely missed by his wife of 60 years, Shirley Baker Campbell of McCamey; daughter, Kathy Campbell of Odessa; granddaughters, Kelton and Keller Campbell of Odessa; sister-in-law, Jo Campbell and nephew, David Campbell, both of Odessa; niece, Marjorie Menefee of Austin; granddaughters, Stacy Coburn of Midland and Joy Vick of Breckenridge; grandson, Shawn Shannon of California; two great-grandsons, Dillon and Gunter of Midland; and special family member, Karen Reed of Odessa. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. today, Feb. 6, 2002, at First Christian Church of McCamey with the Rev. Jimmy Braswell officiating. Burial will follow at Resthaven Cemetery in McCamey. Pallbearers will be James Blanscett, Stanley Bryson, Boob Kelton, Marvin King, Doug Mitchell, Leonard Rose and Curtis Thomas. Services entrusted to Shaffer-Nichols Funeral Home of McCamey. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Hospice House, 903 N. Sam Houston Ave., Odessa, Texas, 79761, or First Christian Church, Box 807, McCamey, Texas, 79752. The family wishes to thank Dr. Domingo and the staff of the McCamey Hospital, the fourth and fifth floor staff of Medical Center Hospital and the staff of Hospice House of Odessa for the excellent care Walter received during his illness. Jose G. Chavarria ODESSA - Jose G. Chavarria, 66, of Odessa passed away Monday, Feb. 4, 2002, at his residence. He was born Aug. 27, 1935, in Rotan. He married Aurora Ornelas on March 13, 1964, in Odessa. He retired from General Tire and was a member of St. Martin's Catholic Church. Mr. Chavarria was preceded in death by his daughter, Juanita Chavarria; brothers, Manuel, Edward and Samuel Chavarria; parents, Felix and Paula Chavarria; and sister, Isabell Ramirez. He is survived by his wife, Aurora Chavarria of Odessa; five sons, Joe O., Joe M., Mike and Michael Rey Chavarria, all of Odessa, and Johnny Chavarria of Del Monte, Calif.; sisters, Reyes Garcia and Maria Dominguez, both of Big Spring; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Mass will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church with the Rev. Gilbert Rodriguez officiating. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Devin Monroe Harrison ODESSA - Devin Monroe Harrison, 8 months old, of Odessa passed away Sunday, Feb. 3, 2002, at his residence. He was born May 21, 2001, in Odessa. He is survived by his father, Tony Harrison of Odessa; mother, Emily Moore of Odessa; grandparents, John and Kay Harrison and Judy Moore, all of Odessa, and Mike and Penney Moore of Midland; great-grandparents, James and Betty Moore of Brady, Don Hopper and Joanne Whitmire, both of Odessa; and aunts and uncles, Missy and Erik Reynolds of Bryan and John Michael Harrison of Odessa. Services will be held at 4 p.m. today, Feb. 6, 2002, at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Kyle Rodgers officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Don Merckle MIDLAND - Don Merckle, 70, of Granite Shoals died Saturday, Feb. 2, 2002, in Austin. Don was born Sept. 26, 1931, in Wheeling, W. Va., to Jessie (Hissom) and Roy Merckle. He graduated from Wheeling High School in 1948 and left West Virginia to work in the oil patch. He enjoyed a long career as a drilling superintendent with Exxon and Hunt Energy. He worked on some of the deepest wells drilled in West Texas. He later opened the Craft Bazaar in Midland and enjoyed that business until he retired to Granite Shoals. Don delighted in his grandchildren, his woodworking, fixing things and his cooking. He never met a stranger and enjoyed talking with everyone. His parents; sister, Ruth Hartman; and brother, Robert Merckle preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Robinett Merckle; son, Steven and his wife Melinda of Lafayette, La.; daughter, Donna and her husband Gerry Edney of Midland; stepdaughter, Lisa and her husband Joe Klein of Southlake; and grandchildren, Carol Smead of Dallas, Sharon Smead of Midland, Lindsey and Christopher Merckle of Lafayette, Alisha, Marshall and Samantha Klein of Southlake, Stephen Edney of Midland and Shawn Edney of Raleigh, N.C. He is also survived by two sisters, June and her husband Tim Lynskey of Wheeling and Doris and her husband John Schaber of Woodsfield, Ohio; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. Services have been scheduled for 10:30 a.m. today, Feb. 6, 2002, at First Christian Church with interment to be at Resthaven Memorial Park. Arrangements are under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home. The family requests memorials be made to the American Diabetes Association or the charity of one's choice. E.J. Taylor ODESSA - E.J. Taylor, 78, of Temple passed away Sunday, Feb. 3, 2002, at a nursing home in Temple. He was born April 3, 1923, in Briggs. Mr. Taylor, a former resident of Odessa, had served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a prisoner of war in France. He was a driller in the oilfield, and he was a Baptist. He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise Taylor; parents, Ernest and Mamie Taylor; son, David C. Eddings; stepson, Clay Ward; and sister, Ruth Cantrell. He is survived by his daughter, Pat Brown of Odessa; brother, Fred Taylor of Killeen; nephew, Ernest Duncan Cantrell of Tennessee; four grandchildren, Elizabeth Brown Webb of Odessa, Emily Brown of Portland, Ore., Davie Eddings of Detroit, Mich., and Cyndi Burns of Dallas; and three great-grandchildren, Preston Burns, Jacob Webb and Daniel Webb. Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002, at St. Barnabas' Episcopal Church with the Rev. David Veal officiating. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Carl Ray Watson ODESSA - Carl Ray Watson, 45, a lifelong resident of Odessa, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2002, at Medical Center Hospital. He was born Feb. 21, 1956, in Odessa to W. Dean and Evelyn Watson. He loved fishing, art and reading. He lived a happy and fulfilled life. He was an intelligent and special person who inspired everyone. He enjoyed meeting people. No one was ever a stranger. He was a Baptist. He is survived by his parents, Dean and Evelyn Watson of Odessa; brother, Bill Watson of Portsmouth, R.I.; sisters, Pam Wilson and husband Mike of Odessa and Sharon Marshall and husband Danny of Odessa; uncle, Roger Allen; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Services are scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, 2002, at Sunset Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Jimmy Braswell officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Services are under the direction of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home.