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 =========================================================================== Friday, December 20, 2002 Permian Basin Obituaries Virgil Adams ODESSA - Virgil L. "Red" Adams, 74, of Odessa, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2002, at his residence. He was born April 28, 1928, in Tuxedo, Texas, to William Virgil and Willie Myrtle Adams. Virgil married Frankie Smith Aug. 8, 1948, in Clarendon. He worked diligently for the State Highway Department and as a heavy duty mechanic, servicing big rigs and diesels. Virgil was a very inventive man and a great jokester known for his sense of humor. He served in the Coast Guard from 1941 to 1947 and was stationed in Pearl Harbor. He crossed the equator three times. Virgil is survived by his wife, Frankie Adams of Odessa; sons, Warren Adams of Amarillo, David Adams of San Marcos, Jackie Adams of Emory, Tommy Adams of Liberty and Danny Adams of Odessa; brothers, Tommy Berry of Cedar Creek Lake and Gordon Allen of Lochney; sister, Ruby Nell of Plainview; 14 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors Chapel. Services entrusted to Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. David Frank Firebaugh ODESSA - David Frank Firebaugh, 66, of Krum, Texas, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2002, in Denton. He was born July 25, 1936, in Hutchinson, Kan. He was a U.S. Air Force Veteran. He graduated from Odessa High School, Odessa College and Sul Ross. He was passionate about geology and poetry. He discovered a meteor crater around Cameron and Rosebud, Texas. He was owner of Four Corners Mineral Co. He never met a stranger. He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Ann Firebaugh and son, Gary D. Firebaugh. He is survived by his son, David Frank Firebaugh Jr. of Krum; daughters, De’Adre Walker of Decatur and Sarah Elizabeth Firebaugh of Kentucky; brothers, Stan Firebaugh of Carrollton and Jerry Firebaugh of Del Rio; sisters, Nancy Arthur of Robert Lee and Carolyn Brooks of Del Rio; two grandchildren, Sierra Diane Walker and David Frank Firebaugh. Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, 2002, at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Sheri Jenise Griggs ODESSA - Sheri Jenise Griggs, 48, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2002, at her Odessa residence. Sheri was born June 24, 1954, in Texas City. She grew up in Hitchcock, Texas, where she began studying ballet, tap, jazz and gymnastics. In the summer of her junior and senior years, she traveled across the country performing with The Houston Dance Company. She attended Southwest Texas State University and was a member of the Strutters, a precision dance team. While in college, she was selected as Miss Texas University and advanced to the Miss USA Pageant. After graduating from college with a B.S. in education, Sheri began teaching in public schools. She taught for 25 years. Sheri owned and operated her own dance studio for 16 years. She choreographed shows for Odessa College as well as the Permian Playhouse. She also did the choreography for Black Magic for nine years. Sheri coached the nationally ranked dance team, the Panther Paws, and taught dance and English at Permian High School. She and her assistant, Allen Jones, coached the Permian Cheerleaders to two consecutive NCA National Championships. Sheri is survived by her husband, Robert Griggs of Odessa; daughters, Cymber Bolen of San Angelo and Bryne Bolen of Austin; parents, Walter and Ann Sander of Hitchcock; brother, Bruce Sander of Hitchcock; and numerous other family members. Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, at Temple Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Permian High Cheerleaders. Services have been entrusted to Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. Arva Nell Higgins MIDLAND - Arva Nell Carpenter Higgins of Midland went to join our heavenly father Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2002. She was born March 26, 1924, in Cumby, Texas, to Edward and Hattie Carpenter. She was raised and educated in Commerce, Texas. She met her current husband while working for Aquila in the avionics division. Nell has been a resident of Midland since 1978. She was a homemaker and a loving Christian her entire life. Nell was an active member of Alamo Heights Baptist Church for over 20 years. It was said that she was at church every time the doors were open. She was truly loved and respected by all who knew her. She enjoyed bowling, sewing, computer games and spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Nell is survived by her husband, George Higgins; two sons, Ronnie Turney of Duncanville and Kenneth Turney of Midland; two step-daughters, Patricia Fernandez of Houston and Teresa Sellers of Egypt; one brother, Weldon Carpenter of Irving; one sister, Margie Bracewell of San Antonio; seven grandchildren, Chris Evans, Melissa Slate of Midland, Sarah McDowell of Katy, Mathew Sellers of Greece, Brian Evans of Houston, Jason Turney, Christopher Turney and Heather Turney, all of Duncanville; and four great-grandchildren, Cara Willis, Megan Willis, Taylor Evans, Nathaniel Slate, all of Midland. She was preceded in death by both parents, her first husband, Doyle Jackson Turney, three brothers, Shannon, Blake and Gerald Carpenter, and one sister Vera Blount. Visitation will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, 2002, at Ellis Funeral Home. Funeral services have been scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Dec. 21, 2002, at Alamo Heights Baptist Church with the Rev. James Sain officiating. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, 2002, at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Wolfe City, Texas. Arrangements are under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home. Memorials may be directed to Alamo Heights Baptist Church, 1305 N. Midland Dr., Midland, Texas, 79703. Madeleine Marshall ODESSA - Madeleine Marshall, 72, died Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2002, at Medical Center Hospital after a long fight with kidney disease. She was born Oct. 1, 1930, in Oklahoma City, to Roger and Rose King. "Teddy", as she was known to friends, married LeRoy Marshall in May of 1948 in Oklahoma City. They moved to Odessa in 1958. Madeleine was a member of University Park Baptist Church. She retired from Richard Abalos, Attorney, in December 1999. She was a loving and caring mother and grandmother and cherished the friendships of many. Her favorite pastime was football, especially Permian High School. Neither rain, sleet, snow, diabetes, nor kidney failure would keep her from Ratliff Stadium. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, sister, and eldest son Michael. Madeleine is survived by her sons, Steven and wife Sue Marshall of Odessa, and Monte Marshall of Odessa; two granddaughters, Kelly and Jodi Marshall, both of Austin. Services are scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, 2002, at Sunset Memorial Chapel. Rev. Robert Bratcher will be officiating. Arrangements are entrusted to Sunset Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home. John W. Pyfer Jr. ODESSA - John W. Pyfer Jr., 79, of Odessa went to be with the Lord Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2002, at Medical Center Hospital. He was born July 15, 1923, in Philadelphia, Pa., to John W. and Dorothy Pyfer. He married Juanita Davisson Aug. 9, 1997, in Odessa. Mr. Pyfer was an Air Force veteran of World War II. He moved to Odessa in 1950. He taught little church and R.A.’s at Belmont Baptist for 20 years. He was a deacon for Belmont Baptist Church and cook for the men’s prayer breakfast at Belmont for 10 years. He was head of the church bus ministry for many years. He was a little league coach for many years and was involved in the Apartment Ministry in Mission Odessa and a builder for Campers on Mission for the past four years. He built model railroads and enjoyed fishing. He had worked for Lawrence Robert’s Hardware. Wooley Tool and was past owner of Texas Reamer. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 50 years, Billie Pyfer in 1994, and two sisters, Dorothy Ferrante and Anna Dragone. He is survived by his wife, Juanita Pyfer of Odessa; son, Wes Pyfer and wife Carol of Irving; step-son, Charlie Whittington of Melissa; step-daughters, Theresa Westfall and Kay Young, both of Lubbock, and Sue Reed of Amarillo; brother, Frank Pyfer of Philadelphia, Pa.; sisters, Alice Gibson of Odessa and Florence Birch of Warminster, Pa.; 12 grandchildren including Darren Pyfer and Dana Polk; eight great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, 2002, at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Johnny Young officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. The family will meet with friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, 2002, at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Circle Six Baptist Encampment, Stanton, Texas. Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. A.W. "Al" Tweelings MIDLAND - A.W. "Al" Tweelings, age 87, of Edina, Minn., and Naples, Fla., formerly of Midland, died Thursday, Dec. 12, 2002. Al served as a Lieutenant in the Navy during WWII in the Pacific Theater. He was a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a degree in petroleum engineering. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret "Doddie". Al is survived by his loving wife, Evelyn; sons, Jack of Dallas; David of Abilene; step-granddaughter, Carrie Paynter of Dallas; sister, Florence Tweelings of Richfield, Minn.; Evelyn’s children, Bonnie Bale and her husband Gene, Brian Duoos and his wife Mary, Shelley Duoos-Rust and her husband Dennis, and Philip Duoos and his wife Karen; and Evelyn’s grandchildren, Kelly, Tori, Jeremy, Austin, Cody, Julia and Maura. Visitation with the family will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday Dec. 21, 2002, at Ellis Funeral Home. A memorial service for Al will follow the visitation at 2 p.m. at Ellis Funeral Home Chapel with Monsignor T.J. Murphy officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home. Memorials may be directed to the charity of one’s choice. Copyright © 1999-2003 Odessa American. All rights reserved.