Ector Co. TX - Obituaries 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 ================================================================================ Friday April 26, 2002 Otis Edward Day MIDLAND - Otis Edward Day passed away Wednesday, April 24, 2002, at a local hospital. Otis was born Dec. 30, 1918, in Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto County, to T.I. and Ida Espeseth Day. Otis grew up in Mineral Wells, a town where he could ride horses, chase wild jackasses, fish, play ball and run with the rest of the kids. He played football and baseball through high school and a year at Texas Tech University. He married Doreen McGrew in 1941. Together, they spent World War II in California. Otis worked as design draftsman with two aviation legends, Donald Douglas and Ted Smith, on the A-26 bomber for Douglas Aircraft. Otis became a pilot after the war and enjoyed flying for many years. He retired in 1976 as president of Southwest Explosives. Otis spent over 25 years in retirement watching his three grandchildren grow up and four great-grandchildren play on the farm and catch fish from the pond he built. Otis was a member of the Downtown Lions, Society of Exploration Geophysicists, National Rifle Association and Midland Lutheran Church. He enjoyed a good, long life with a wonderful wife, close friends and family, loving children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. How could he have been more blessed? He is survived by his wife, Doreen McGrew Day; his two loving sons, Gary Patrick Day and wife Nancy and Mark William Day and wife Vicki; three grandchildren, James Day, Charisse Rook and Austin Day; and four great-grandchildren, Ian Rook, Kelby Day, Mia Rook and Bryce Day. Funeral services have been scheduled for 3 p.m. today, April 26, 2002, at Midland Lutheran, 2705 W. Michigan in Midland, with the Rev. Bob Barndt officiating. Interment will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park. Arrangements are under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home. James Neal Grimes CRANE - James Neal Grimes, 80, of Crane passed away Wednesday, April 24, 2002, at the Hospice House in Odessa. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27, 2002, at Shaffer-Nichols Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Steve Baker officiating. Burial will be at the Crane County Cemetery and services are under the direction of Shaffer-Nichols Funeral Home in Crane. Mr. Grimes was born Feb. 21, 1922, in Farm Greer County, Okla., to Raymond Calvin Grimes and Lula Brock Grimes. Mr. Grimes graduated from Crane High School in 1940 where upon he entered the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1940 to 1945 serving three years in India. He married Mary Nell Allen Dec. 20, 1946. He retired as a production supervisor from Gulf Oil Co. in 1984. He is survived by his wife, Mary Grimes of Crane; a son, Jimmy Grimes and wife Kathy of Abilene; a sister, Joy Grimes DuBose and husband James S. DuBose of Fort Worth; nephew, James E. DuBose and wife Tori of Fort Worth; niece, Gwynne Michelle Keyland of Fort Worth; grand-nephew, Christopher Keyland of Fort Worth; and grand-nieces, Catherine Joy Keyland, Anna Adams DuBose and Jamie Adams DuBose, all of Fort Worth. Francis Marcel Thomas SEAGOVILLE - Francis Marcel Thomas was born Nov. 5, 1927. She passed away Thursday, April 25, 2002. Mom went to join our father in his many mansions. She will be greatly missed by all that knew her and loved her. She will always be remembered for her kindness, thoughtfulness, hard work and her good cooking. She lived her life for her children and grandchildren. It has been a great loss for our family. Marcel was preceded in death by her mom, Katie "Mama" Holt Ward; her father, W.C. Baker; husband, Jullian Thomas; and a daughter, Francis Thomas. She is survived by sons, Bill and wife Mable Thomas of Odessa and Tony and wife Beverly Thomas of Seagoville; daughters, Ann and husband Leonard Edmondson of Seagoville and Anita and husband Marshall Flynn of Seagoville; brothers and sisters, Al Baker of Gardenia, Calif., Jean and Freddie Hart of Odessa, Carey C. and Ramona Baker of Arlington, Roy and Debbie Baker of Italy, Texas, and Bill and Norma Baker of Kaufman; 13 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27, 2002, at Roselawn Funeral Home in Seagoville, Highway 175. Frank M. 'Butch' Short ODESSA - Frank M. "Butch" Short, 56, of Colorado City passed away Saturday, April 20, 2002, at his residence. He was born March 24, 1946, in Odessa. He was a tool pusher in the oilfield. He is survived by his wife, Lilian Short of Odessa; sons, Ray Short and Andy Short, both of Odessa, and Brent Short of Colorado City; daughter, Nadine Delcruz of Odessa; sister, Bobbye Harris of Odessa; and grandson, Aaron Delcruz of Odessa. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 27, 2002, at Sunset Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Jimmy Braswell officiating. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Copyright © 1999-2002 Odessa American. All rights reserved.