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, December 01, 2002 Permian Basin Obituaries Ray C. Berry ODESSA - Ray C. Berry passed away at his residence Thursday, Nov. 28, 2002, in Navasota, Texas. He was born Oct. 25, 1925, in Caddo County, Okla., to Ella and Fred Berry, who preceded him in death. Ray enlisted in the U.S. Navy just before graduating from Odessa High School. He served three years in the South Pacific on board an aircraft carrier. Soon after his discharge from the Navy, he went to work for Santa Fe Drilling Co., and spent 30 years in the Sahara Desert, the North Sea, the Alaskan Slope, off shore of the Santa Barbara Channel and off shore of Tripoli. After his retirement he became a Mason and an Eastern Star holding various offices in both organizations. He married Hazel Wallace Dean on May 31, 1956, in Lovington, N.M. His real passion was his workshop where he made many wonderful things from wood. Give him a picture and he could make it. He spent many happy hours in his shop. A daughter, a grandson, four brothers and two sisters preceded Ray in death. He is survived by his wife, Hazel Berry of Navasota; daughter, Cindy Wright and husband Whot of Navasota; daughter, Doris Curry of Baton Rouge, La.; son, James Dean and wife Gloria of Durango, Colo.; one brother, Tex Berry and wife Evelyn; three sisters, Vashti Willis, Marjorie Stubblefield and Corine Berry, all of Odessa; eight grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., today at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, December 2, 2002, at Hubbard-Kelly Chapel with the Rev. Paul Thompson officiating. Burial will follow at Ector County Cemetery. The Masons will be pallbearers. Services are under the direction of Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Joan Davis Muncy ODESSA - Joan Davis Muncy, 70, passed away Friday, Nov. 29, 2002, at Medical Center Hospital. She was born July 17, 1932, to Thomas Leroy and Theadocia Davis in Hereford, Texas. She was the owner of a welding service, an avid bowler and was a Baptist. The family will receive visitors from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Services are scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday, December 2, 2002, at Belmont Baptist Church with the Rev. Rex Clayton officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Her son, Robert Muncy, preceded her in death. Survivors include her husband, Bob Muncy of Odessa; one son, Tommy Muncy and wife Cindy of Odessa; one daughter, Janis Fitzpatrick and husband Danny of Pecos; two sisters, Mary Morris and Dean Oestreich, both of Longview, Texas; and six grandchildren. Arrangements are under the direction of Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Mariano P. Rico ODESSA - Mariano P. Rico, 83 years of age, passed away on Nov. 27, 2002, at Terrace West in Midland. He was born on Oct. 31, 1919, in San Pedro, Mexico. He was a long time ranch hand and Catholic. He was preceded in death by his wife, Anita Madrid Rico; parents, Isabel and Refugio Rico; brother, Alfonso Rico; and sister, Hortensia Rico. Surviving him are his son, Manuel Rico of Los Angeles; daughters, Nidia Muro of La Puente, Calif. and Alicia Webster of El Paso; brother, Arturo Rico of Odessa; sisters, Elfida Torres, Ofelia Hinojos, Romelia Acosta and Socorro Cordova, all of Odessa and Aurora Calderon of Dallas; four grandchildren; and two great- grandchildren A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today at Odessa Funeral Home Chapel. Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Monday December 2, 2002, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with the Rev. Gilbert Rodriguez officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Manuel Calderon, Hector Calderon, Edward Hinojos, Joe Torres, Daniel L. Acosta and Ray G. Acosta. Services by Odessa Funeral Home. Esther Ramirez Salinas ODESSA - Esther R. Salinas, a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother went to be with the Lord. She will always be remembered as a loving and kind friend to all. Esther Ramirez Salinas, 81, passed away Friday, Nov. 29, 2002, at Medical Center Hospital. She was born June 21, 1921. She married Gregorio Y. Salinas on March 30, 1957, in Sonora, later moving to Odessa in 1974. She was a homemaker, and a member of Iglesia Bautista Jerusalem Church. Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2002, at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home with Edward Rodriguez officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. She is preceded in death by her husband, Gregorio Salinas; and her son, Raymond Salinas. Survivors include one son, Gregg Salinas and wife Marie of Odessa; two daughters, Cris Jacquez and husband Pete of Odessa and Sandra Aguayo and husband Rudy of San Angelo; 12 grandchildren, Valerie A. Hipolito and husband Edward, Greg A., Raymond P., Yvonne M., David M., Joshua and Jeremie Salinas, Jessica R. and Jacob D. Aguayo, Jared M., Eric K. and Stephen R. Jacquez; and two great-grandchildren, Edward I. and Patricia I. Hipolito. Arrangements are under the direction of Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Vincente Esparza Jr. ODESSA - Vincente Esparza Jr., 64, a retired self-employed brick mason, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2002, at Hospice House Facility in Odessa. Mr. Esparza Jr. lived in Odessa for 10 years and was previously from Austin where he lived for 30 years. While residing in Austin, he indulged in his favorite hobby, "fishing." He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Ramona Torres-Esparza of Odessa; sons, Larry Esparza and Gabriel Esparza, both of Odessa; daughter, Yvonne Esparza of Austin; sister, Jesuita Lujan of Odessa; brother, Richard Esparza of Odessa; four grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his father, Vincente Esparza Sr.; and his mother, Apolino Espino-Esparza. He was born Feb. 4, 1938, in San Angelo, Texas, the son of Vincente and Apolino (Espino) Esparza Sr. Visitation will be from 1 a.m. to 10 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday at Martinez Funeral Home. A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Monday at Martinez Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with the Rev. Gilbert Rodriguez officiating. Burial will follow at the Ector Cemetery in Odessa. Copyright © 1999-2002 Odessa American. All rights reserved.