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 ============================================================================================ Thursday March 07, 2002 Joe Eddie Ellison ODESSA - Joe Eddie Ellison, 64, of Odessa, a retired employee of the Ector County Independent School District, died Monday, March 4, 2002, at Midland Memorial Hospital and Medical Center. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Ellison II, and his mother, Bertha Lene Jones-Ellison. He is survived by his wife, Lucille Ellison of Odessa; son, Joe E. Ellison Jr. of Houston; daughters, Denna Gibson and Evalyn Mazone, both of Odessa; grandchildren, Dewayne Gibson of Dallas, Andae Gibson of Dallas, Chantell Mazone of Odessa and Jerome Mazone of Odessa; brothers, Robert Ellison III of Pampa, Harold Ellison of Pampa, Ardie Neal Ellis of Pacific Grove, Calif., and Paul Ellison of Denver, Colo.; and sister, Jewel Williams of Denver. He was born July 1, 1937, in Wellington, the son of Robert and Bertha Ellison II. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday with family hour from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Martinez Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 9, 2002, at Life Unlimited Church with Pastor Dan Palmer of Life Unlimited Church officiating. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Arrangements by Martinez Funeral Home. Kathryn Griffin-Dorman SANTA FE - Kathryn Griffin-Dorman, 38, of Pearland passed away Monday, March 4, 2002, in Alvin. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, March 8, 2002, at First Assembly of God Church in Santa Fe with Pastor Roger Bailey officiating. A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 9, 2002, at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Odessa. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. today at Emken-Linton Funeral Home in Texas City. Ms. Dorman was born Dec. 13, 1963, in Abilene. She was a certified emergency medical technician and member of the First Assembly of God Church in Santa Fe. Survivors include daughters, Cherry Griffin and partner Clayton Karlson of Pasadena and Jamie McGinnis of Freeport; son, John Grizzaffi of Columbus, Ohio; parents, Gene and Kathy Brunkenhoefer of Santa Fe; grandmother, Rose Brunkenhoefer; brothers, Emmett Brunkenhoefer and wife Michelle of Santa Fe and Mitchelle Brunkenhoefer and wife Cindi of Lufkin; sisters, Delora Bunch of Alvin, Melissa Brown of Santa Fe and Michelle Brunkenhoefer of Plano; former husband, William Dorman; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Pallbearers are Benny Thomas, Troy Kelley, Bob Thomas, Emmett Brunkenhoefer, Mitchelle Brunkenhoefer and Gary Burns. Honorary pallbearers are William Dorman, Indian Bill, and Clayton Karlson. Joe Dibrell Heath KERMIT - Joe Dibrell Heath, M.D., died March 4, 2002, at an El Paso hospital due to respiratory failure. Dr. Joe Heath was born May 16, 1917, in Hondo, Texas. Dr. Heath graduated valedictorian from Sinton High School in 1934. He graduated from UT-Austin in 1942 and received his M.D. degree from Southwestern Medical College in 1945. He served his internship in Denver, Colo., and his residency in San Angelo. Dr. Heath served in the U.S. Army from 1943 through 1948. In 1949, he opened his general medical practice in Kermit where he served the community for the next 40 years. Apart from his medical practice, Dr. Heath was very active in civic and other organizations. He was a member of the Kermit school board from 1964 until 1969. He was active in the Masonic Lodge, York Rite and Scottish Rite Masons, as well as the Texas Medical Association and the Reeves, Ward and Winkler County Medical Society. From 1967 until 1971, the State Department employed Dr. Heath as a volunteer physician in Vietnam. He received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Southwestern Medical College and the University of Texas in 1968. After his retirement in 1989, Dr. Heath continued to be of service to his community by tutoring the students at West Texas Children's Home in Pyote. Dr. Joe Heath was preceded in death by his sister, Billie Crow, and his loving wife, Frances Roberts Heath, whom he married Oct. 9, 1943. Dr. Heath is survived by his sons, Robert L. "Bob" Heath of Farmington, N.M., and William A. "Bill" Heath of El Paso; and grandchildren, Shelly Bagley of Henderson, Nev., Randy Heath of Houston, Shaylon Whittington of Oklahoma City, Okla., Dire Naranjo of Hobbs, N.M., Quinn Heath of Odessa and Bob Sutherland III of Katy. He leaves five great-grandchildren, two nieces, three nephews, and his brother, Jack Heath of Hondo. Visitation will be Wednesday, March 6, 2002, and Thursday, March 7, 2002, at Cooper Funeral Chapel in Kermit. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, March 8, 2002, at First United Methodist Church in Kermit with interment at Oaklawn Cemetery in Terrell. Donations may be made to the Scottish Rite Hospital. Services entrusted to Cooper Funeral Chapel, Inc. Norine J. Hoover PECOS - Norine J. Hoover, 88, of Pecos died Tuesday, March 5, 2002, at Pecos Nursing Home. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 8, 2002, at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Bruce Abbott officiating. She was born May 8, 1913, in Sonora. She was a retired cotton store manager and Methodist. She was preceded in death by two sons, Gene Ater and Joe R. Ater, and her first husband, Joe L. Ater. She is survived by her husband, Mitch Hoover of Pecos; daughter, Peggy Drake and husband Jimmy Drake of Hobbs, N.M.; son, Jimmy Ater and wife Carol Ater of Arlington; stepson, M.M. Hoover and wife Helen Hoover of Saginaw; daughter-in-law, Caroline Ater of Tyler; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Pecos Funeral Home. Ruthie Neel ODESSA - Ruthie Neel, age 62, went to be with the Lord on Monday morning, March 4, 2002. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today, March 7, 2002, in the chapel of Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors with the Rev. Laura Deaderick officiating. Interment will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Ruthie was born in Gorman, daughter of the late Frank and Theo Markham. Ruthie lived in Odessa most of her life. She loved to play bingo. She was the former owner of several businesses in Odessa. Ruthie loved to grow flowers of all kinds and decorate her yard and home with them. She loved to go shopping and travel whenever possible. Ruthie was an excellent cook and her family loved to eat her cooking. Ruthie received her nurse's training from Odessa College. After her training, she took care of terminally ill patients. Dear Grandma, I know we haven't seen each other in years, but I am so proud that we kept in touch over the years. I enjoyed our talks and the time we shared. I once told you that when I got old enough I would stay with you for a while, but now that you're gone…it would be hard to stay. But I'm gonna come back in you honor some day. I love you with all my heart. One day I'll see you on the other side, and then you and me can spend as much time as we want, because you won't be so far away. You'll be in my heart until that time comes, until then, Grandma, be at peace. Love, your granddaughter, Rachel Ellen Curtis. She is survived by her sons, Jason Curtis of Odessa and Ronnie Curtis of McCrory, Ark.; daughter, Belinda Curtis of Jacksonville, Fla.; sisters, Doris Belyeu, Christine Carmichael and Frances Myers of Abilene and Mary Holman of Odessa; brothers, Edward Markham of Cross Plains, Joe Markham of Abilene and Roy Markham of Breckenridge; and granddaughter, Rachel Curtis of McCrory, Ark. Pallbearers will be Sammy Goff, Kerry Belyeu, Randy Thomas, Robert Thomas, Rex Carmichael and Craig Myers. Honorary pallbearers will be Benny Goff and Cory Markham. You are invited to leave a message or memory in our online guest book at www.wilsonfuneral.com. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. Donnie Faye Smith BROWNWOOD - Donnie Faye Smith, 87, of Odessa died Monday, March 4, 2002, at Medical Center Hospital. She was born Dec. 6, 1914, in Byrd's Store, Brown County. She married Tommie Edward Smith on May 13, 1944, in May, Texas. She was a homemaker and a member of Early United Methodist Church. She lived in Odessa for three years and had been a resident of Brownwood for 14 years. She had lived in Odessa many years before moving to Brownwood. Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, March 8, 2002, at Davis-Morris Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. John Beckling officiating. Interment will be at Lost Creek Cemetery near May. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tommie Edward Smith in 1977; her parents, William Howard and Lena Rosa Newton Smith; two brothers, Alton and Austin Smith; and a sister, Bee Williams. She is survived by a number of nieces and nephews and a number of great- and great-great-nieces and nephews. Davis-Morris Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Copyright © 1999-2002 Odessa American. All rights reserved.