Wise County, TX - Obits: From the Wise County Messenger, July, 2001 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Submitted by: Lola Withrow: lolawithrow@yahoo.com With permission of Wise County Messenger: http://www.wcmessenger.com *********************************************************************** USGENWEB 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. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** Many thanks to the Wise County Messenger for permission to store their online obits/death notices in the USGenWeb Archives ======================================================================= AREA DEATHS & FUNERALS Sunday, July 1, 2001 Claude Wayne Henderson 1931-2001 Graveside service for Claude Wayne Henderson, 70, of Tucson, Ariz., formerly of Bridgeport, was to be at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 30, at West Bridgeport Cemetery. Henderson died Monday, June 25, 2001, in Tucson. Born March 11, 1931, in White Deer, he was a retired owner/operator of an excavating company. He served in the U.S. Army in Korea. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Wanda Henderson; two sons, Carl W. Henderson and his wife Melva of Bridgeport and Chet B. Henderson; three daughters, Holly Henderson, Angela Henderson and Amy Henderson; a brother, Layne Boring and eight grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, July 1, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charles Orville Wilson 1920-2001 Service for Charles Orville Wilson, 81, of Decatur will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 1, at Coker Funeral Home Chapel in Decatur. The Rev. Jerry Miller will officiate. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery. Wilson died Friday, June 29, 2001, in Decatur. Born June 8, 1920, in Denton County, he was the owner and operator of Wilson Egg Farm in Decatur. He married Theo Morris on Dec. 21, 1948, in Decatur. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Decatur and a World War II Navy veteran. He was preceded in death by his son, Charles M. Wilson, his parents and two sisters. Survivors included his wife, Theo of Decatur; a son, Kenneth Wilson of Decatur; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, July 1, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Geneva Ruth Thacker 1916-2001 Graveside service for Geneva Ruth Thacker, 84, of Justin was to be Saturday, June 30 at 11 a.m. at Oaklawn Cemetery in Decatur. The Rev. Rusty Hedges was to officiate. Thacker died Tuesday, June 26, 2001, in Denton. Born July 22, 1916, in Wise County, she was a member of the First Methodist Church in Decatur. She married the late Oran C. Thacker in Weatherford on June 7, 1938. She is survived by two daughters, Sandra Lobsinger of Justin and Oneva Clifton of Johnson City; one brother, Thurman Price of Springtown; one sister, Jessie Harrell of Decatur; four grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, July 1, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earl Wayne Hudson 1926-2001 Service for Earl Wayne Hudson, 75, of Fort Worth was Friday, June 29 at Burgess-Fry-Owens-Brumley Funeral Home in Bowie. The Rev. Darius McKay of Bonita officiated. Burial followed at Sunset Cemetery. Hudson died Tuesday, June 26, 2001, in Sunset. Born Feb. 6, 1926, in Sunset, he was a retired truck driver. He lived in Fort Worth for 49 years where he was a member of the American Legion Post #569. He was a Baptist. Survivors include a sister, Bequita Hudson of Fort Worth; an aunt, Mrs. Dean Ellison of Sunset; and five cousins, T.E. Hudson and wife, Mildred, of Springtown; Ruby Bray of Granbury; LaRue Blemmell of Grand Prairie; Betty Price and husband, George, of Haslet and Robert Gehrels of Sunset. Wise County Messenger, July 1, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Norma Jean Shawn 1940-2001 Service for Norma Jean Shawn, 61, of Bridgeport was Friday, June 29, at Twin Oaks Assembly of God Church in Bridgeport. Burial followed at Willow Point Cemetery. Shawn died Wednesday, June 27, 2001, in Bridgeport. Born June 12, 1940, in Jacksboro, she was a teacher at Wackenhunt Corrections Corp. and a member of the Balsora Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Everett and Myrtle Pitts and her son, Howard Mills. She is survived by her husband, Bobby Shawn of Bridgeport; four sons, James D. Mills and his wife Kathy, Thomas Mills and his wife Kelly, Chris Shawn and his wife Angelina and Doug Shawn; two daughters, Carla Rumbaugh and Shandra Shawn; two brothers, Carlos Pitts and Clarence Pitts; one sister, Mae Gammage; 15 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, July 1, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, July 5, 2001 Eleanor J. Martin 1920-2001 Service for Eleanor J. Martin, 81, of Boyd was Tuesday, July 3, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bridgeport. The Rev. Gerald Peterman officiated. Burial followed at Boyd Cemetery. Pallbearers were Zack Selby, Willie Jack Vincent, B.J. Stringfellow, Bill Paschall, Jack Moody and Lee Pierce. Martin died Saturday, June 30, 2001, in Decatur. Born April 4, 1920, in Detroit, Martin was a resident of Boyd for 15 years. She was a member of the Lutheran Church and a volunteer at the Boyd Library. She is survived by two granddaughters, Yvonne Jackson and Lyn Lee; four great-grandchildren, April, Jon, Cole Jackson and Phillip Pierce. Wise County Messenger, July 5, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tifani Denea Bruno 1982-2001 Service for Tifani Denea Bruno, 18, of Dublin, was Sunday, June 24 at Hawkins Funeral Chapel in Bridgeport. The Rev. Kenneth Wood officiated. Burial followed at East Bridgeport Cemetery. Pallbearers were Lynwood Harvick, James Barron, Jerry Morrow, Drew Schunk, Bill Wood and David Hutto. Bruno died Thursday, June 21, 2001, in Fort Worth. Born Dec. 14, 1982, in Abilene, Bruno was a student at Stephenville Independent School District. She was preceded in death by her grandparents Charles and Ruth Wood and Eddie W. Bruno. She is survived by her parents Shawn and Carolyn Wood Bruno of Dublin; two sisters, Elizabeth Ashley and Mary Kathryn Bruno; her grandparents, Jane Bruno Vise of Odessa, Betty and Troy Carlisle of Eagle Mountain Lake; one aunt and three uncles. Wise County Messenger, July 5, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amanda Bowling 1922-2001 Service for Amanda Bowling, 78, of Fort Worth was Monday, July 2 at Hallmark Baptist Church in Fort Worth. Burial followed at Laurel Land Memorial Park. Bowling died Friday, June 29, 2001, in Fort Worth. Born Oct. 9, 1922, in Decatur, Bowling was an active member of Hallmark Baptist Church, where she led the shut-in ministry. She was a member of the Wedgewood Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles L. Bowling; her son, Freddy Bowling and grandaughter, Melodee Bowling. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Charles L. and Teresa Bowling of Peaster; daughter Kathy Clark of Fort Worth; daughter-in-law, Donna Bowling of Joshua; sisters, Jane Cearley of Decatur, Inez Rogers and Joyce Horton of Fort Worth, Lois Davidson of Rockdale and Patt Spoede of Pottsboro; brothers, B.F. Hale of Bowie, Joe C. Hale and Lee Roy Hale of Decatur, Pete Hale of Denton and Marco Hale of Henrietta; 13 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. Wise County Messenger, July 5, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A.L. ‘Bud’ Willmon Jr. 1930-2001 Service for A.L. "Bud" Willmon, Jr., 70, of Bridgeport was to be Thursday, July 5, at the First Baptist Church in Bridgeport. The Rev. Moses Perales was to officiate. Burial was to follow at East Bridgeport Cemetery. Pallbearers were to be Robert Meek, John Cortez, Joel Lamb, Billy Fred Walker, David Crunk and Marvin Crawford. Honorary pallbearers were to be Charlie Spiller, Clint Dennis, Bud Davidson, Bill Munn and Willard Adams. Willmon died Sunday, July 1, 2001, in Bridgeport. Born Aug. 28, 1930 in Asher, Okla., Willmon resided in the Bridgeport community for the past 50 years. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in Germany during the Korean War. He was retired from the U.S. Postal Service after 30 years of service. A member of the First Baptist Church, Willmon married Reba Carlisle on Nov. 4, 1950 in Decatur. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arvie and Prudie Willmon. He is survived by his wife Reba Willmon; one son, Arvie Leon Willmon; his daughters Zena Miguez and husband Jack, Carla Jacinto and husband Toby; five grandchildren, Carrie, Chad, Alicia, Ashley and Caleb and his sister Audrey Kezer. Wise County Messenger, July 5, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dixie Lee Young 1920-2001 Service for Dixie Lee Young, 81, of Boyd was to be Thursday, July 5 at Coker Chapel in Decatur. Don Spain was to officiate. Burial was to follow at Oaklawn Cemetery in Decatur. Pallbearers were to be Edwin Haney, Loyd Jackson, Harold Mosley, Bill Adams, Kenny Bryan and Randy Chambers. Honorary pallbearers were to be James Cates, Jim McDonald and Max McDonald. Young died Monday, July 2, 2001, in Decatur. Born April 11, 1920, in Boyd, Young was a member of the Eagle Drive Baptist Church in Decatur. She married Wayne Young on March 9, 1936, in Decatur. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Lester Landes, James Landes and Paul Landes. She is survived by her husband Wayne Young; one son, Lanny Young of Weatherford; three daughters, Jane Reed of Henrietta, Nina Coffee of Fort Worth and Sara Young of Decatur; one sister, Elizabeth Green of Ruidosa, N.M.; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, July 5, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dorothy LaDean O’Dell Cox 1938-2001 Service for Dorothy LaDean O’Dell Cox, 62, of Mineral Wells was Tuesday, July 3, at Hawkins Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Gary Sessions officiated. Burial followed at Gibtown Cemetery. Cox died Sunday, July 1, 2001, in Mineral Wells. Born Oct. 2, 1938, in Bridgeport, she was an automotive support manager for Wal-Mart. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Nathan Cox, in 1988. She is survived by four daughters, Bunnia DoByns, Sammy Grimm, Shelly Thomas and Sally Johnson and husband Johnny; two brothers, Charlie and Jim O’Dell; four sisters, Bertha Plowman, Bunnia Phillips, Annie Ryan and Ruby Bennett; 11 grandchildren, Evan, Bud, Jessy, Scott, Linsey, Alex, Clint, Catlyn, Alan, Allisun and Allyssa and one great-grandchild, Harleigh. Pallbearers were Bud Isbell, Clint DoByns, Tommy Pair, Scott Thomas, Alan Grimm, Johnny Johnson and Jimmy Westbrook. Wise County Messenger, July 5, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, July 5, 2001 Irma Frances Sellers 1930-2001 Service for Irma Frances Sellers, 71, of Bridgeport was Friday, July 6 at First United Methodist Church in Bridgeport. The Rev. Rusty Hedges officiated. Burial followed in East Bridgeport Cemetery. Sellers died Thursday, July 5, 2001, in Decatur. Born Feb. 6, 1930, Sellers was an accomplished musician. At the age of 14 she appeared in Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Show in New York. She received a teaching degree from Texas Woman’s University and was a former band director at Chico High School and retired music teacher for Bridgeport I.S.D. She enjoyed playing golf and was the organist and a member of the First United Methodist Church in Bridgeport. She is survived by two sons, William B. Sellers Jr. and his wife, Deborah, of Wichita Falls and Craig Sellers of Bridgeport; two daughters, Jayne Neblett and husband, Mike, of Denton and Jayne Cantwell and husband, Allen, of Plano; and four grandchildren, Timothy, Tiffany, Kyle and Kendel. Wise County Messenger -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, July 8, 2001 Betty Jo Smith 1928-2001 Graveside service for Betty Jo Smith, 72, of Chico was Friday, July 6, at Chico Cemetery. Ed Norton officiated. Smith died Wednesday, July 4, 2001, in Bridgeport. Born Dec. 12, 1928, in Detroit, she was a member of the Church of Christ. She and O.L. Smith were married Dec. 11, 1952, in Clayton, N.M. Survivors include her husband, O.L. Smith of Chico; a son, David Smith and wife, Beth, of Fort Worth; a grandson, David L. Smith Jr. of Dallas; and a brother, Don Bourne of Chewelah, Wash. Wise County Messenger, July 8, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beverly Lee Bays 1992-2001 Service for Beverly Lee Bays, 8, of Fort Worth was to be Saturday, July 7, at Hallmark Baptist Church in Fort Worth. The Rev. Mike Haley was to officiate. Burial followed in Laurel Land Memorial Park in Fort Worth. Bays died Thursday, July 5, 2001, in a Fort Worth hospital. She was the granddaughter of Barbra Orozco of Decatur. Born Nov. 24, 1992, she was a second grader at J.T. Stevens Elementary School in Fort Worth and a member of Hallmark Baptist Church. She is survived by her parents, Larry and Cynthia Bays of Fort Worth; four brothers, Charles Goss, Lonnie Bays, Daniel Bays and Joseph Bays, all of Fort Worth; seven sisters, Stephanie Rutherford of Killeen, Elizabeth Knight of Fort Worth, Amy Henson of Burleson, Jennifer Goss of Arlington, Melissa Rhoads of Granbury, Linda Almaraz of Dallas and Felicia Goss of Grand Prairie; and her grandmother, Barbra Orozco of Decatur. Pallbearers were Chris Henson, Lou Almaraz, Aaron Grace and Ron Rhoads. Wise County Messenger, July 8, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, July 15, 2001 James Willard Grimes 1948-2001 Graveside service for James Willard Grimes, 53, of Bridgeport was Thursday, July 12, in the Mount Vernon Cemetery. Dr. Clint Davis officiated. Grimes died July 10, 2001, in Fort Worth. Born May 14, 1948, in Helena, Ark., Grimes was a teacher for the Bridgeport Independent School District in the ACE program. He was also a Baptist. He is survived by two sisters, Glenda Cantlon of Spring and Donna Kenyon of Bridgeport; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends. Wise County Messenger, July 15, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ronald Burt Beavers 1956-2001 Service for Ronald Burt Beavers, 44, of Bridgeport was to be Saturday, July 14 at Coker Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was to follow at Oaklawn Cemetery. Beavers died Tuesday, July 10, 2001, in Decatur. Born Aug. 14, 1956, in Wilson, Okla., he was a used car sales manager for Karl Klement Dodge in Decatur. He married Judith "Judi" Lynn Barker at Lake Murray, Okla. on Dec. 24, 1974. He was a Baptist. He is survived by his wife, Judi Beavers of Bridgeport; parents, Charles Beavers of Wilson and Roxanna and Robert Cox of Marshall; a daughter and son-in-law, Jodi and Marty Fitzgerald of Decatur; three brothers, Gerald and wife Jean Ann Beavers of Ardmore, Okla., Richard and wife Rhonda Beavers of Grand Prairie and Jeff Cox of Gilmer; two sisters, Tina and husband Eric McMichael of Bridgeport and Patty Burns of Wylie; a sister-in-law, Sue and husband Gary Hawkins of Ardmore; two grandchildren, Jake and Jaci Fitzgerald, both of Decatur and several nieces and nephews. Pallbearers were to be Robert Chaney, Peck Wilson, Asa Johnson Sr., Keith May, Rick Gregory and Asa Johnson Jr. Wise County Messenger, July 15, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, July 26, 2001 Leta Mae Smith 1912-2001 Service for Leta Mae Smith, 88, was Monday, July 23, at Mount Olivet Chapel in Fort Worth. Burial was in Mount Olivet Cemetery. She was the mother of Hattie Josserand of Rhome. Smith died Thursday, July 19, 2001, at a Fort Worth hospital. Born Aug. 1, 1912, in Devilla she was a homemaker and a charter member of Mid-Town Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband, Hugh F. Smith; a son, Lawrence D. Smith and a daughter, Wanda Queen. She is survived by a son, Hugh F. Smith Jr. of Haltom City; one daughter, Hattie and husband R.E. "Josh" Josserand of Rhome; 11 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jane Foster 1922-2001 A memorial service for Jane Foster, 79, of Euless was Sunday, July 22, at Forest Ridge Funeral Home in Fort Worth. She died July 21, 2001, in Fort Worth. She was born Feb. 27, 1922, in Conway, Ark. She was a legal secretary in Houston until retiring in 1983. She is survived by two sons, Chip Foster of Cottondale and Bruce Foster of Euless; two sisters, one brother, several nieces and nephews, and a host of friends at Hurst-Euless-Bedford Dialysis. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buster Coleman 1913-2001 Service for Buster Coleman, 88, was Tuesday, July 24, at the Crestview Mausoleum Chapel in Wichita Falls. The Rev. Terry Bowman officiated. Burial followed in Crestview Memorial Park Cemetery. Coleman died Friday, July 20, 2001, in a Wichita Falls hospital. Born April 29, 1913, in Wise County he was a self-employed property manager. He was a long-time member of Wesley United Methodist Church but had recently joined Lamar Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ollie Mae Coleman. Memorials may be made to The Wichita Falls High School Coyote Booster Club. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- J.I. Clinton 1911-2001 Service for J.I. Clinton, 90, of Bridgeport was Monday, July 23 at First Baptist Church of Bridgeport. Dr. Raymond Horne officiated. Burial was in East Bridgeport Cemetery. Clinton died July 20, 2001, in Bridgeport. Born January 14, 1911, in Brantley, Okla. he lived in Bridgeport since 1966. He was a retired minister, missionary and director of missions for North Central Texas with The Baptist General Convention. He was a member of the Texas Baptist Mission Team and the First Baptist Church of Bridgeport. He was preceded in death by his first wife, of 50 years, Anna B. Clinton. He is survived by his wife Bertha of Bridgeport; one son, Dr. Everett Clinton and wife, Wilma, of San Antonio; grandchildren, Russell W. Clinton and Betsy Ray; great-grandchildren, Crystal, Autumn and Delilah Ray and a great-great grandson Kevin Ray. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neva P. Sherrod 1932-2001 Memorial service for Neva P. Sherrod, 69, formerly of Sulphur Springs and Bridgeport, was to be Saturday, July 28, at 10 a.m. at West Oaks Funeral Home in Sulphur Springs. Burial was to follow in City Cemetery. Sherrod died Saturday, July 14, 2001, in Mill Creek, Wash. Born Jan. 2, 1932, in Richland to Ira and Esther Pool, she was a former member of the Wise County Domestic Violence Task Force Board of Directors. She married Richard Karl Sherrod on Feb. 11, 1950. He preceded her in death Dec. 14, 1997. Sherrod was a member of Davis Street Baptist Church and the Newcomers Club in Sulphur Springs, a member of the Order of the Eastern Star in Huntington Beach, Calif. and former member of Beta Sigma Phi. She was also a past mother advisor of the International Order of Rainbow Girls in Huntington, Calif. In addition to her husband, Sherrod was preceded in death by an infant son, Richard Dale, her parents and her twin brother, Neal Pool. Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Karla and Tom Kirkland of Mill Creek; two grandsons, Charles Herford of Midland and David Kirkland of Fort Worth; a granddaughter, Carissa Ward of Birthright; two great grandchildren, Ryan and Linda Ward of Birthright; a sister and brother-in law, Nalda and Don Hampton of Mill Creek; and several brothers- and sisters-in-law, Dale and Dian Sherrod of San Antonio, David and Linda Sherrod of Jacksboro and James Smith of Springtown. The family suggests memorials to the Hospice of Snohomish County, 2731 Wetmore Ave., 5th floor, Everett, Wash. 98201. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, July 29, 2001 Joan Collier 1930-2001 Graveside service for Joan Collier, 71, formerly of Bridgeport, will be Sunday, July 29, at 1 p.m. at Kleberg Cemetery. Her nephew, Tom Ranft, will officiate. Collier died Thursday, July 26, 2001. Born Feb. 3, 1930, in Kleberg to Merritt Preston Smith and Mora Lena Stovall, she was the ninth of 10 children. She lived in Bridgeport before moving in 1995. She was preceded in death by her husband, Hugh "Bud" Collier; her parents and several siblings. She is survived by her children, Lloyd Alvin Fields Jr., Carl Tildon Fields and Jo Denise Malone, all of the Garland area; five grandchildren, Cody Burris, Christian Walker, Matthew Fields, Amanda Fields and Cameron Malone; four siblings, Kathryn Ranft, Herman Smith, Lawrence Smith and Charles Smith and a host of nieces and nephews. Wise County Messenger, July 29, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mamie Lee Sowell 1911-2001 Service for Mamie Lee Sowell, 90, was to be Saturday, July 28, at 10 a.m. at Crosier-Pearson-Mayfield Funeral Home in Cleburne with burial to follow in Greenacres Memorial Park in Cleburne. The Rev. Robert Graham was to officiate. Sowell died Tuesday, July 24, 2001, in Chico. Born on April 9, 1911, to Sidney and Laura Clark at Honey Creek she married L.D. Sowell in 1932. Together they farmed in Erath and Hamilton counties for 25 years before moving to Cleburne in 1956 where they owned a laundry for many years. Sowell was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years. She was a longtime member of Field Street Baptist Church and served as a Sunday School teacher. She is survived by two sons, Sidney and wife, Frances Sowell and Charles and wife, Barbara Sowell; grandchildren, Terry Sowell and wife, Debbie, Danny Sowell and wife, Judy, David Lunt and Amy Lunt; great-grandchildren, Erica Sowell, Kara Sowell, Jake Sowell, Kacy Sowell, Clayton Sowell, Deanna Sowell, Trenton Sowell, Damion Sowell and Braden Sowell and numerous nieces and nephews. Wise County Messenger, July 29, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marjorie Doris Brown 1918-2001 Service for Marjorie Doris Brown, 83, of Decatur, was to be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church in Decatur. Burial was to follow at Oaklawn Cemetery. The Rev. Rusty Hedges was to officiate. Brown died Wednesday, July 25, 2001, in a Dallas hospital. Born May 18, 1918, in Turnersville, Brown was a homemaker. She married the late Lawrence M. Brown on March 29, 1941, in Denton. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Decatur. Survivors include a son, Lawrence Brown Jr. of Plano; a daughter, Judy Smith of Decatur; a brother, Bob Buchanan of Decatur; four grandchildren, Shannon, Mark, Sean and Matt; and a great-grandchild, Courtney. Wise County Messenger, July 29, 2001 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------