Ector Co. TX - Obituaries from the Odessa American Online Submitted by Sonny Hall shall@balista.com 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 =========================================================================== Sunday October 06, 2002 Lillie Mae Graham Lillie Mae Graham, 97, was escorted by angels to Heavenly Home on Friday, Oct. 4, 2002, at Odessa Regional Hospital. She was born Sept. 22, 1905, to Charles and Minnie Stephenson in Commanche County, Texas. A capable, intelligent and virtuous woman, who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels, and her value is far above rubies or pearls. Charm and grace are deceptive and beauty is vain, but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised, and that is Lillie "Grannie" Graham. She loved Jesus and her home church. In her lifetime of 97 years, she saw horse carriages to gas power, she heard conversations to telecommunications, coal lamps to electricity, looking at the moon to men on the moon, bathing suits to birthsuits and lived through 17 presidents - Teddy Roosevelt through George W. Bush. But her most prized possession was her Jackie, caregiver of nine years and her granddaughter. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her, especially her Heart to Heart. Lillie took pride in her occupation as a waitress, earning several certificates of recognition. Lillie's favorite day of the week was Sunday because that was the day she would see all of her friends at her home church, Odessa Tabernacle. She was always thankful for the prayers and love that was shown to her. She appreciated everyone who visited her, especially her weekly visits from Martha Herget and Debbie Childers. Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 7, 2002, at Odessa Tabernacle with the Rev. Doug Hergert officiating. Burial will commence at 4 p.m. at Fairmount Cemetery in San Angelo, Texas. She is preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Minnie Stephenson; two sons, three daughters, three sisters and three brothers. Survivors include her caregivers of nine years, Jackie Kemp, Jaclyn Kemp, Dimples and J.J. Lowery and Sonja Lowery, all of Odessa; two sisters, Juanita Sumpter of Euless and Francis Chapin of Sweetwater; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; six nieces and four nephews. Services are entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Jane Jennings Kraker COLEMAN - Jane Jennings Kraker, of San Angelo, Texas, formerly of Abilene, Texas, passed away Thursday, Oct. 3, 2002, at a care center in San Angelo. Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Brookhollow Christian Church in Abilene with Dr. Steven G. Williams officiating. Interment will follow at the Coleman City Cemetery. Services under the direction of Walker Funeral Home. Mrs. Kraker was born Dec. 24, 1916, in Kirk, Texas, to Dr. and Mrs. W.L. Jennings and was raised in Coleman, Texas. In 1946, she married Albert W. Kraker Sr. in Coleman. Mr. Kraker preceded her in death in March of 1993. Mrs. Kraker was educated at Bryn Mawr University in Philadelphia and did research at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Md. She received her B.A. from Sul Ross State University in 1939 and also her M.A. from Sul Ross in 1954. Mrs. Kraker was an educator in Texas public schools for 44 years teaching mainly in the Abilene, Lubbock and Odessa school systems. The bulk of her teaching experience involved educating students with special needs, the last 10 years in the classroom teaching-impaired students. Prior to her teaching career, she performed social welfare casework for the state of Texas. Jane was active professionally and maintained membership in numerous professional organizations throughout her career. Her professional memberships include Who's Who in American Education, Who's Who Among Human Service Professionals, vice president of American Businesswoman's Association, Retired Teacher's Association, Abilene Garden Club, Beta Sigma Phi, Kappa Kappa Iota, various genealogical societies and Christian Women's Fellowship. Mrs. Kraker was a charter member of Brookhollow Christian Church in Abilene. Mrs. Kraker was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and one grandson, James Kennemer. Survivors include one son, Albert William Kraker Jr. of Lubbock; daughters, Martha Paulos and husband Gust of Ford City, Pa., Marilyn K. Ross and husband Van of San Angelo, Nancy Kennemer and husband Robert of San Angelo and Alyce Bartley and husband Mickey of Goldthwaite; six grandchildren, Audri Levering (Craig), Allen Payne, Noel Payne (Liz), Amber White (Tracy), Asenath Bartley and Tyler Bartley; one great-grandchild, Bryce Payne; two brothers, David Jennings of St. Louis, Mo. and Arthur Vollie Jennings Sr. of Coleman; one sister, Marion Whitaker of Alvin; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the dedicated and gracious staff of Sagecrest Alzheimer's Center of San Angelo. The Rev. Dr. John Sellers Rasco ODESSA - Rev. Dr. John Rasco died Oct. 3, 2002, at Medical Center Hospital. He was born Oct. 4, 1912, in Prattville, Ala., to William Austin and Glennie Sellers Rasco. Dr. Rasco came to Odessa in 1954 from Texarkana, Texas. He was the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Odessa for 24 years. He is survived by a daughter, Audrey Chartier of Odessa; brothers, Roy Rasco of San Jose, Calif., Tommy Rasco and wife Miriam of Birmingham, Ala., and Harold Rasco and wife Charlotte of Birmingham; three grandchildren, five great- grandchildren, John Chartier and his son Zeke of Las Vegas, Nev.; his daughters, Christy and Toni, all of Richardson; Michael Chartier and wife Susan of Wiley; their daughters, Taylor and Heather and son, Kevin Chartier, all of Hurst, and two nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, 2002, at First Baptist Church, with Revs. H. Bailey Stone and Curtis Brewer officiating. Services have been entrusted to Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. Dill (Don) Mervin Teel PALM BEACH, Fla. - Dill (Don) Mervin Teel, longtime resident of Palm Beach, Fla., passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2002, at the age of 94. His devoted wife, Mildred Rita, preceded him in death. Don was born in a sod house on a farm near Rexford, Kan., the only child of Brack and Carla Teel. Don's aviation career started in 1927 when he was accepted as a cadet in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Brooks Field, San Antonio, Texas. On April 1, 1941, with the full approval of his Draft Board, Don, always the pioneer, joined the Royal Air Force Ferry Command as a civilian and continued with the RAF until Dec. 31, 1945. He delivered bombers to England, high priority supplies to Cairo, Egypt, via the South Atlantic and V.I.P. flights throughout the world. Don made 103 ocean crossings during the war, flew over 5,000 hours, 4,500 of which were in B- 24 Liberators. He was honored by HRH the King of England with a Commendation for Valuable Service. After the war, he piloted an additional 69 ocean crossings for private industry. In January 1952, Don was hired by U.S. Steel Corp. to establish and operate an aircraft department for the transportation of their executives with safety, service and dependability second to none. Twenty-one years later, when he retired, U.S. Steel Aircraft Division was considered, throughout the industry, the No. 1 business aircraft operation. Don was retired as General Manager of U.S. Steel Aircraft Division at age 65, on March 31, 1973. Professional Pilot Magazine devoted the February 1973 issue to his retirement. Included are over 60 letters from people whose lives had been touched by him during his long aviation career. He became a corporate consultant to Bell Helicopter in 1973 and traveled extensively for them for several years. Don was active in the OX5 Club, Quiet Birdman (QB), RAF War Birds, The Liberator Club, The Lotus Club, Wings Club of New York, IOC (International Order of Characters), Good Fellowship Club of U.S. Steel, Kiwanis Club, Pundits of Palm Beach, The Palm Beach Round Table, the International Club of Palm Beach, The Palm Beach Yacht Club and Associate Member of the Early Birds. On Sept. 22, 1993, Don was inducted into the OX5 Aviation Pioneers HALL OF FAME. He donated most of his aviation memorabilia, gathered throughout his long career, to the University of Texas. It is now located in the Love Field Aviation Museum in Dallas, Texas. Don's personal philosophy was: "My mother and father taught me, by their examples, the basic qualities of successful life . . . love, honor, self respect, honesty and to respect others. Throw in the Ten Commandments and that is about all you need." Don is survived by a daughter, Peggie Don Osgood; grandson, David Osgood; great- granddaughter, Sabrina Osgood of Germany; and many other relatives and friends. A funeral service will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2002, at E. Earl Smith and Son Funeral Home and Cremation Chapel, 1032 N. Dixie Highway, Lake Worth, Fla. 33460, with the Rev. Lynn Batista officiating. The family will receive friends on Monday, Oct. 7, 2002, from 2 p.m. to 4p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. John R. Wooten ODESSA - John R. Wooten, of Commanche, Texas, died Friday, October 4, 2002, in the Abilene Regional Hospital at the age of 86 and went to be with our Lord Jesus Christ. He worked in the Permian Basin oilfields as a mechanic and roughneck, driller and toolpusher and as a business owner. He raised most of his children in the Midland and Odessa area and retired to fish at Lake Proctor where he caught the largest catfish there at that time. He was preceded in death by his wife and our beloved mother, Flaxie Mae Wilkerson and later married his wonderful friend and companion, Ozella Wilson, who continues to reside in Commanche. John and Flaxie raised seven boys, John Ray and wife Tommie Gene of Midland, Marvin and wife Nawona of Odessa, Jack Wade of Venus, Edward of Midland, Ronald (deceased), Glenn and wife Donna of Venus and Dean and wife Paula of Midland; 26 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces and many friends. He will be greatly missed. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7, 2002, at Sunset Memorial Gardens with Roy Don Wooten officiating. Funeral arrangements by Hall and Sons Funeral Home of Commanche. Copyright © 1999-2002 Odessa American. All rights reserved.