Wise County, TX - Obits: From the Wise County Messenger, April, 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 Thursday, April 4, 2002 Eva Dee Schluter 1914-2002 Service for Eva Dee Moore Schluter, 87, of Justin was held Tuesday at the Justin Church of Christ with Kenton Harvey and Don Boyd officiating. Burial was in the Justin Cemetery. Schluter died Sunday, March 31, 2002, in Decatur. She was born April 9, 1914, in Lewisville, to Guy and Lela Moore. She married Hans Schluter Nov. 12, 1932. He died Jan. 31, 2000. She is survived by one son, Edwin Schluter and his wife Betty of Rhome; three brothers, Herman Moore of Tucson, Ariz., Garland Moore of Denton and Homer Moore of Saginaw; a sister, Billie Fuqua of Justin; two grandsons, Dan Schluter and his wife Carol of Justin and Alan Schluter and his wife Kristy of Ponder; and two great-grandsons, Alexander Schluter of Justin and Tye Schluter of Ponder. Wise County Messenger, April 4, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Imogene Pleasant 1917-2002 Service for Imogene Collier Pleasant, 84, of Bridgeport was Monday at the Cates St. Church of Christ in Bridgeport with Ray Wells and Roger Rhodes officiating. Burial was in Chico Cemetery. Pleasant died March 29, 2002, in Nacogdoches. She was a longtime resident of Wise County, and was a retired sales representative for Avon. She married H.A. Pleasant, Jr., Nov. 18, 1939, in Chico. He died July 7, 2000. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Guy and Moye Collier, and a brother, Bud Collier. She was a member of the Cates St. Church of Christ. She is survived by a son, Jimmy Pleasant and his wife Jan; one sister, Thelma Pleasant; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, April 4, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beulah Lee Tumelty 1897-2002 Service for Beulah Lee Tumelty, 104, of Decatur was to be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Coker Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Gene Chamness officiating. Burial was to be in Oaklawn Cemetery. Tumelty died March 31, 2002, in Decatur. She was born April 18, 1897, in Decatur. She was a homemaker. She is survived by a grandson, Tom Tumelty of Decatur. Pallbearers were to be Johnny Hughes, Morris Berend, Alton L. Cook and Roland Walker. Wise County Messenger, April 4, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wayman C. Dawson 1929-2002 Graveside service for Wayman C. Dawson, 72, of Fort Worth was March 22 in the Sweetwater Cemetery in Decatur. Dawson died March 19, 2002, in a Fort Worth hospital. He was born Aug. 15, 1929, in Krum, to Cecil and Leola Hudson Dawson. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Winfred Dawson; a half sister, Linda Mann; one stepson, three stepdaughters, two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. A veteran, he served in the U.S. Army and was a member of American Legion Post 655. A retired truck driver, he worked as a volunteer for Citizens on Patrol. He was a member of the Glen Garden Baptist Church. He was a former resident of Decatur. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Betty Dawson of Fort Worth; two sons, John Combs of Condon, Ore. and Alex Flores of Fort Worth; two daughters, Sharon Jackson of Brownwood and Florence Savell of Fort Worth; a brother, J.S. Dawson of Goose Creek, S. C.; 18 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, April 4, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard Lee Choate 1954-2002 Service for Richard Lee Choate, 47, of Arlington was Tuesday, April 2, at the Coker Funeral Home Chapel with W. C. Mangram officiating. Burial was in Chico Cemetery. Choate died March 28, 2002, in Arlington. He was born May 15, 1954, in Ardmore, Okla. He was employed at Home Depot. Survivors include his parents, Burnie and Flo Choate of Chico; and a sister, Donna Thomas and her husband Keith of Chico. Wise County Messenger, April 4, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, April 7, 2002 Dora Gay Bagwell 1964-2002 Graveside service for Dora Gay Bagwell, 37, of Sunset was to be Saturday, April 6, at Cumby Cemetery in Wise County. Bagwell died Wednesday, April 3, 2002, in Sunset. She was born Dec. 12, 1964, in Fort Worth. She was preceded in death by a sister, Lavera Lynn Long, and a brother, Clint Eric Bagwell. She is survived by her father and stepmother, John and Georgia Bagwell of Fort Worth; her mother and stepfather, Lovedia Ford and Robbie Hart of Sunset and a brother, John Wayne Bagwell Jr. of Quinlin. Wise County Messenger, April 7, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sally Gettys Mahaffey 1921-2002 Following a private service, Sally Gettys Mahaffey, 80, of Fort Worth, was buried in Laurel Land Memorial Park in Fort Worth. Mahaffey died March 14, 2002, at her home in Fort Worth. She was born June 8, 1921, in Decatur, to Marion and Ethel Dement Gettys. She graduated from Decatur High School, Decatur Baptist College and North Texas State Teachers College. She married Phil T. Mahaffey in 1948. She is survived by two sons, Kenneth Mahaffey of Austin and Dr. David Mahaffey of Salt Lake City, Utah; two daughters, Susan Hammack and Pamela Mahaffey, both of Fort Worth; and three grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, April 7, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ruby Mae Dodson 1929-2002 Graveside service for Ruby Mae Dodson, 72, of Decatur, was at 1 p.m. Friday in Pleasant Grove Cemetery No. 1 with Rick Welcher officiating. Dodson died Wednesday, April 3, 2002, in a Dallas hospital. She was born Sept. 15, 1929, in Dill City, Okla. She married Kenneth Dwight Dodson on Nov. 24, 1978, in Portales, N.M. She was a retired nurse. She was a member of the Church of Christ. Survivors include her husband; four sons, Bill Carter of Pottsboro, Ernest Carter of Portales, N.M., and Roddy Dodson and Ken Dodson, both of Decatur; two daughters, Mary Dawson of Portales and Deana Taylor of Decatur; two sisters, Ina Welcher of Dora, N.M. and Melbo Jo Followill of Justin; 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers were Bobby Carter, Tony Hardin, Kelly Dawson, Clinton Dawson, Johnny Carter and Ernest Carter Jr. Honorary pallbearers were Charles Taylor, Roddy Dodson, Ken Dodson, Bill Carter, Ernest Carter Sr. and Mike Followill. Wise County Messenger, April 7, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jerry Glen Dugan 1956-2002 Service for Jerry Glen Dugan, 46, of Paradise will be Monday, April 8, at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Paradise. The Revs. Jack Vereen and Don Smith will officiate. Burial will follow at Paradise Cemetery. Dugan died Wednesday, April 3, 2002, in Galveston. Born Jan. 18, 1956, in Archer City, he married Brenda Kay Harris on May 29, 1986 in Springtown. He was a painter for Paradise Painting. He was preceded in death by his father, Jerry Dugan Sr. He is survived by his wife, Brenda Kay Dugan; three sons, Jerry Dugan Jr., Jammie Dugan and Shane Dugan; three daughters, Chrystal Dugan, Ashlee Dugan and Amanda Dugan; two stepchildren, Alvis Hunter III and Amber McIntire; his mother, Bobbie Saucier and her husband Richard; two brothers, Ronnie Dugan and his wife Terri and Walter Dugan and his wife Patricia; two sisters, Mary Ann Biddle and husband Roy and Brenda Jean Dugan and her friend Jay Caraway and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Johnathan Read, Michael Dugan, Alvis Hunter III, Jimmy Isaacs, Robert Abbott and Russell Dugan. Wise County Messenger, April 7, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bobby Joe Duty Sr. 1937-2002 Service for Bobby Joe Duty, Sr., 65, of Decatur, was Friday, April 5. Burial was in Oaklawn Cemetery with Charles Taylor and Don Brown officiating. Duty died Wednesday, April 3, 2002, in Decatur. Duty was born March 26, 1937, in Grand Prairie. He married Margie Elizabeth Duke Sept. 9, 1957, in Grand Prairie. A rancher, he was a member of the Northview Baptist Church in Grand Prairie. He was preceded in death by his mother-in-law, Jimmie Duke; a brother, Tommy Duty; and a son, Baby Duty. He is survived by his wife, Margie Duty of Decatur; one son, Bobby Joe Duty, Jr., of Greenwood; two daughters, Patti Barrow and Paula Phipps, both of Decatur; two brothers, Jimmy Ray Duty and Jerry Eugene Duty, both of Grand Prairie; and eight grandchildren, Bobby Joe Duty III, Cole Jacob Duty, Cody Jarrell Duty, Michael Jordan Duty, Gary Dale Hawkins, Jamie Joe Hawkins, Kaleb J. Phipps and Kayse Lynn Barrow. Wise County Messenger, April 7, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, April 11, 2002 Jimmie Douglas 1914-2002 Service for Jimmie Douglas, 88, of Decatur was Tuesday, April 9, at The Father’s House in Wise County. The Rev. Roy Faubion officiated. A private graveside service followed in Van Zandt County Haven of Memories in Canton. Douglas died Friday, April 5, 2002, in Killeen. Born Feb. 9, 1914, in Granbury, she was a retired fuel cashier. She married Frank L. Douglas on May 27, 1939, in Houston. She was a member of The Father’s House. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank; her son, Robert L. Douglas; a grandson, Jason Hough; five sisters and three brothers. He is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Hough and her husband James of Killeen; eight grandchildren, James Jr., Michael, Mark, Marie, Michelle, Jeff, David and Deborah; 14 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Wise County Messenger, April 11, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Authur Mitchell Sr. 1937-2002 Memorial service for John Authur Mitchell Sr., 65, of Chico will be Thursday, April 11, at Hawkins Funeral Chapel at 2 p.m. Gracie Turlington and Pat Forsythe will officiate. Mitchell died Monday, April 8, 2002, in Denton. Born March 5, 1937, in Sherman, he was a retired digger operator for C.C. League in Plano. He married Bernice Foshee in Bowie on Jan. 25, 1974. He was a Baptist. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Mary Mitchell, and a son, Eddie Woods. He is survived by his wife, Bernice Mitchell of Chico; two sons, Abner Woods of Chico and John Mitchell Jr. of Chico; two daughters, Sandy Jones of Decatur and Lori Houston of Park Springs; four sisters, Bobby Jane Colder of Denison, Pat Forsythe of Mesquite, Dorothy Stevens of Forney and Margaret Rainer of Sherman; 19 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Leukemia Foundation in Mitchell’s memory. Wise County Messenger, April 11, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alice Pratt 1934-2002 Service for Alice Robertson Pratt, 67, of Newark will be at noon Saturday, April 13. Pratt died Sunday, April 7, 2002, in Fort Worth. She was born Aug. 3, 1934, in Wichita Falls. She attended Bowie High School, TCU and Texas Woman’s University. She had an art gallery in downtown Fort Worth in the early 1960s, worked for radio station KFJZ in Fort Worth in the mid-60s and for the Denton Record-Chronicle in the early 1970s. She moved to Seattle, Wash., in 1971. She returned to the Fort Worth area in 1997. She is survived by a daughter, Andrea Barnett and her husband Bryan of Boyd; two brothers, Morris Robertson Sr. of Marlin and Leddie Robertson of Elk City, Okla.; and a grandson, Andrew Kennedy, Jr. and his wife Miranda. Wise County Messenger, April 11, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eva Deloris ‘Dee’ Irving 1924-2002 Service for Eva Deloris "Dee" Irving, 77, of Natalia, a former Bridgeport resident, was to be at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Greenwood Chapel in Fort Worth. Burial was to follow in Greenwood Memorial Park. Irving died Saturday, April 6, 2002, at her home following a long illness. She was born June 15, 1924, in Comanche. She was a longtime resident of Fort Worth and Bridgeport before moving to Natalia. She was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin and Edna McDonough; and two brothers, Medford McDonough and Billie Rayh McDonough, all of Comanche. She is survived by her husband, Douglas Irving; two daughters, Madelyn Anglin and her husband, Larry and Joy Eskew and her husband, Jimmy; two sisters, Dora Chandler and Betty Melton; and five grandchildren, Jan Carter, Diana Parkhill, Troy Clayton, Larry Allen Anglin and Jimmy George Anglin; and seven great-grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, April 11, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Opal Wood Mader-Petty 1910-2002 Service for Opal Wood Mader-Petty, 91, of Lake Worth was Monday, April 8, at First Baptist Church of Lake Worth. Burial followed at Eastside Cemetery in Bridgeport. Mader-Petty died Friday, April 5, 2002, in Keller. Born July 5, 1910, in Chico, she was a homemaker. She graduated from Bridgeport High School in 1927 and attended Brantley-Draughon Business College. She had worked in sales for Mask Drygoods in Bridgeport until she moved to Lake Worth in 1949. She had been a member of the First Baptist Church of Lake Worth for more than 50 years. She was preceded in death by husbands Claude Mader in 1934 and Samuel B. Petty in 1996; a son, Robert Lee Mader in 1933; a daughter, Jean Burns on March 2, 2002 and granddaughter Tammy Harless on May 8, 2000. She is survived by four sons, Jerry Petty and his wife Kay of Lake Worth, Sam Petty and his wife Qzella of Boyd, Larry Petty of Boyd and Ronny Petty of Hemphill; three daughters, Carla Bezner and husband Bill, Sandra Cogdell of Burleson and Ann Wright of Lake Worth; a sister, Bernice Phillips; 22 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Tarrant County. Wise County Messenger, April 11, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Juanita Cooley 1918-2002 Graveside service for Juanita Cooley, 83, of San Angelo was to be Wednesday, April 10, at Bethel Cemetery in Wise County at 11 a.m. Cooley died Sunday, April 7, 2002, in San Angelo. Born April 11, 1918, in Decatur, she was a homemaker. She married the late Pete Cooley on March 22, 1941. He preceded her in death on Nov. 24, 1988. She is survived by a son, Tom Cooley of Cancun, Mexico; a daughter, Phyllis Standard of San Angelo; a sister, Dale Hoyle of Decatur; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, April 11, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Noma Jean Pipes Boner 1926-2002 Service for Noma Jean Pipes Boner, 75, of Decatur was to be Wednesday, April 10, at 2 p.m. at Coker Funeral Home Chapel. John Featherston was to officiate. Burial was to follow at Oaklawn Cemetery. Boner died Sunday, April 7, 2002, in Fort Worth. Born Oct. 2, 1926, in Decatur, she was a homemaker and a member of the Decatur Church of Christ. She married the late Bert Pipes who preceded her in death in 1998. She later married O.W. "Buss" Boner. She is survived by her husband, O.W. Boner of Decatur; two daughters, Jean Collier of Chico and Robbie Watson of Decatur; one brother, Wayne Moyers of Granbury; two sisters, Bonnie Mott and Helen Schilling, both of Fort Worth; three grandchildren, Jeannette Collier Shaw, Katrina Pipes Watson and Calvin Guy Collier; and two great-grandchildren, Brent and Kelsey Shaw. Pallbearers were to be Mike Moyers, Bennie Moyers, John Coley Holmes, Kenneth Shaw, Glen Rhine and Wayne Long. Honorary pallbearer was to be Elton McCurdy. Wise County Messenger, April 11, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, April 14, 2002 Nhia Yia Vang 1963-2002 Services for Nhia Yia Vang, 38, of Rhome, were Thursday and Friday and Saturday with the Rev. Pang C. Heu officiating. Burial was to be in the Aurora Cemetery. Vang died Monday, April 8, 2002, in Newark. He was born June 7, 1963, in Mavuas, Laos. He was a scope technician for Precision Endoscopy of America in Irving. He was minister of music and education for the Hmong Alliance Fellowship Church in North Richland Hills. He is survived by his wife, Mang Vang of Rhome; his parents, Blia and Ly Vang of Rhome; one son, Simon Vang, of Rhome; five daughters, Rebecca Vang, Betty Vang, Susie Vang, Mickie Vang and Vickie Vang, all of Rhome; four brothers, Wang Vang of Rhome and Seng Vang, Na Vang and Ula Vang, all of Denver, Colo.; and a sister, Zoua Vang of Rhome. Pallbearers were to be Wang Vang, Seng Vang, Na Vang, Ula Vang, Zoua Vang and Rebecca Vang. Wise County Messenger, April 14, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tommy Eugene Briggs Jr. 1951-2002 Service for Tommy Eugene Briggs Jr., 51, of The Colony was held Friday at the First Baptist Church in Lewisville. Burial was in McCurley Cemetery. Briggs died Saturday, April 6, 2002, in Dallas. He was born Feb. 3, 1951, in Gainesville. He was the head football coach and athletic coordinator at The Colony High School. He was a coach at Decatur High School in the late 1970s. He is survived by his wife, Evy Briggs of Carrollton; two sons, Jeff Briggs and his wife LeAnn of The Colony and Brent Briggs of Carrollton; two stepdaughters, Monica and Kim Ameen of Lubbock; a brother, Jimmy Briggs and wife Vicki; a sister, Kathleen O’Neil and husband Pat of Dallas; and a granddaughter, Blaklee Ann Briggs. Pallbearers were Que Brittain, Ray Broussard, Danny Coley, Craig Deans, Larry Donaldson, Rody Durham, Ronnie Gage, Bill Williams, Mike Williams and Neal Wilson. Honorary pallbearers were Fred Matthews, Buster Leaf, Denny Foglia, The Colony High School coaching staff and The Colony High School football team. Memorials may be made to the Tommy E. Briggs Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund (managed by the Lewisville Education Foundation), P.O. Box 643, Lewisville, Texas 75067. Wise County Messenger, April 14, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charles Stanley Switzer 1985-2002 Service for Charles Stanley Switzer, 16, of Chico was to be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Assembly of God in Chico with the Rev. Charles Stevens officiating. Burial was to be in East Bridgeport Cemetery. Switzer died Wednesday, April 10, 2002, in a two-vehicle accident in Wise County. He was born Sept. 18, 1985, in Bridgeport. He was a freshman at Chico High School and a member of the Chico Assembly of God. He is survived by his father, John Switzer; his mother, Marla Switzer; two brothers, Mark Knox and Colton Horton; grandparents, Larry and Carolyn Biggerstaff; and great-grandmothers, Lucille Bell and Florita Biggerstaff. Wise County Messenger, April 14, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shawn Bouldin 1964-2002 Service for Shawn Bouldin, 37, of Alvord was held at 11 a.m. Thursday with the Rev. Craig Cox officiating. Burial was in Alvord Cemetery. Bouldin died Monday, April 8, 2002, in Decatur. He was born May 10, 1964, in Fort Worth. He was a 1983 graduate of Peaster High School. He was a Baptist. He was co-owner of Bouldin Masonry. He married Deedra Gaston on March 10, 1990, in Big Spring. He was preceded in death by his grandparents and a sister, Dana Matlock. He is survived by his wife; his parents, Mount and Joyce Bouldin; a son, Jerrad Bouldin of Peaster; a stepson, Brandon Yates of Alvord; a stepdaughter, Kelley Yates of Alvord; two brothers, Shane Bouldin and Billy Joe Everett; and five sisters, Kimberley Sosa, Tina McGreger, Keitha Ramsey, Reatta Fay Sulipeck and Paula Sue Bryant. Pallbearers were Warren Sosa, Steven Sosa, Darren Sosa, Les Williams, Travis Hicks, Terry Keeling, Stanley Sigman and Bryan Sims. Wise County Messenger, April 14, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, April 18, 2002 James Ralph Connally Jr. 1937-2002 Graveside service for James Ralph Connally, Jr., 64, of Boyd was Tuesday, April 16, at the Boyd Cemetery with the Rev. Bill Wright officiating. Connally died Saturday, April 13, 2002, in Decatur. He was born July 10, 1937, in Iredell. A 1956 graduate of Boyd High School, he was an Army veteran and a retired butcher. He was a Baptist. He married Gwen Hall Sept. 29, 1972, in Weatherford. He was preceded in death by his father, James Connally, Sr., and a brother, Joe David Connally. He is survived by his mother, Esther Connally; a son, Andy Connally; a daughter, Marcey Connally; three stepchildren Buddy Butcher, Peggy Crain and Trina Mathis; three brothers, Sam Connally, Danny Connally and Ricky Connally; three sisters, Peggy Perkins, Colene Scott and Linda Wright; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Wise County Messenger, April 18, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arnold Wayne Warner 1930-2002 Service for Arnold Wayne Warner, 71, of Longview and a former resident of Bridgeport, was Tuesday, April 16, at Hallsville Church of Christ. Kenneth Burnett and Joe Chase officiated. Burial followed at Jim Nedd Cemetery. Warner died Saturday, April 13, 2002, in Longview. He was born Sept. 6, 1930, in Chico. On Oct. 14, 1950, he married Fannie Sizemore of Paradise. After attending school in Bridgeport, he joined the U.S. Navy in 1948 and was discharged in 1950. In the late 1950s, Warner began working for Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America in Bridgeport. He moved to the Longview area in 1974. Warner was a member of the Church of Christ and was a deacon for many years in Bridgeport. He was a member of the Hallsville Lions Club. He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard Erwin Warner and Alziabee McDaniel Warner, and two brothers, Gilbert E. Warner and Morris Warner. He is survived by his wife Fannie; four children, Melissa Scott, Carol Alford, Larry Warner and Vada Shelton; eight grandchildren, Daniel, Cliff and Nathan Scott, Fiona and Joram Alford, Blake Warner and Kelsie and Samuel Shelton and six brothers and sisters, Vadis Simmons, Mary McClary, Clyde Warner, David Warner, Norman Warner and Jimmy Warner. Pallbearers were James Lovelace, Willie Bullock, Gary Dorsey, Tommy Stowe, Bo Benson and Charles Townsend. Memorials may be made to the Hallsville Church of Christ. Wise County Messenger, April 18, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ruth Ann Sakellaridis 1943-2002 Service for Ruth Ann Sakellaridis, 58, of Newark was to be Wednesday, April 17, at 10 a.m. at the Newark Church of Christ. Bobby Boaldin was to officiate. Burial was to follow at Aurora Cemetery. Sakellaridis died Saturday, April 13, 2002, in Newark. Born April 16, 1943, in Decatur, she was a homemaker. She married Alexander P. Sakellaridis in Rhome on March 25, 1961. She was a member of the Newark Church of Christ. She is survived by her husband, Alexander P. Sakellaridis of Newark; her mother, Esther Roper of Rhome; a son, Travis Sakellaridis of Brazoria; a brother, Marshall Roper of Chico; a sister, Adeline Wayland of Georgia and one grandchild. Pallbearers were to be Alex Sakellaridis, Travis Sakellaridis, Shannon Byrd, Leon Moss and G.L. Thomas. Wise County Messenger, April 18, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- George Edward Reisch 1957-2002 Service for George Edward Reisch, 44, of Bridgeport was Tuesday, April 16, at the East Bridgeport Cemetery with Rev. Larry McShan officiating. Reisch died Wednesday, April 10, 2002, in a two-vehicle accident in Wise County. He was born Sept. 23, 1957, in Blackwell, Okla. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and a Baptist. He is survived by his parents, Warren and Luan Reisch; a son, Warren E. Reisch; a daughter, Kris Tina Reisch; and two sisters, Esther Bilby and Mary McKeever. Pallbearers were Jeff Bilby, Nick Bilby, Kyle Bilby, Patrick McKeever, Josh Hankins and Tony McKeever. Wise County Messenger, April 18, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vernie Lee ‘V.L.’ Jordan 1913-2002 Service for Vernie Lee (V.L.) Jordan, 89, of Bridgeport was Monday, April 15, at the Hawkins Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Joe Motsenbocker officiating. Burial was in East Bridgeport Cemetery. Jordan died Friday, April 12, 2002, in Dallas. He was born Feb. 13, 1913, in Rayland. He served in the Coast Guard in World War II. He was a retired owner/operator of L.P. Gas Services. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lillie Mae Russell Jordan in 1993. He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Shirley Provence, three brothers and four sisters. He was a Methodist. He is survived by two daughters, Patricia Ann Johnson and Coleta Pittman; eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers were Robert Davis, Keith Stinnett, Tommy Salazar, Ronnie Barnes, Richard Albert and James Nielson. Wise County Messenger, April 18, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cuba Laurine Phipps Martin 1926-2002 Graveside service for Cuba Laurine Phipps Martin, 76, of Farmers Branch was Friday, April 12, at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas. Martin died April 9, 2002. She was born Jan. 11, 1926, to Lee Willis Phipps and Iva Lois Bledsoe Phipps, in Taylortown. She married Harvey Benjamin Martin, Jr., Feb. 26, 1946, in Corsicana. She is survived by her husband; one son, Lesly Martin and his wife Terry of Arlington; a daughter, Donna Brown and her husband Don of Decatur; grandchildren, Leigh Martin, Gregory Brown, Anthony Martin and his wife Elisha, Michele Brown and her husband Christopher, Terri Smith and her husband Kenny, Jim Brown and his wife Misty; and great-grandchildren, Candice Martin, Jared Martin, Garrett Brown, Victoria Gaston, Julie Gaston, Avery Brown and Kristen Brown. Wise County Messenger, April 18, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Youa Tchang Moua 1925-2002 Service for Youa Tchang Moua, 76, of Decatur will be Friday, April 19, from 10 a.m. through Monday, April 22, at 12:15 p.m. at Coker Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery. Moua died Sunday, April 7, 2002, in Decatur. Born Oct. 8, 1925, in Xiengkhoung, Laos, she was a homemaker. She married Cheu Chou Moua in Laos in 1950. She is survived by her husband, Cheu Chou Moua of Decatur; two sons, Kou Moua and Yi Moua, both of Decatur; a daughter, Pang Moua Xiong of Minneapolis, Minn. and 13 grandchildren. Pallbearers were Kou Moua, Yi Moua, Soua Xay Moua, Yong Xeng Moua, Txaij Lwm Moua, Vaaj Pao Moua, Zang Thao Moua, Nyiaj Tong Moua and Ge Xiong. Wise County Messenger, April 18, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jason Dale Dyer 1974-2002 Services for Jason Dale Dyer, 27, of Newark will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 18, at the Christian-Hawkins Funeral Home Chapel in Boyd with the Rev. Dan Hunt officiating. Burial will be in the Aurora Cemetery. Family visitation was scheduled for 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Dyer died at his home Sunday afternoon, April 14, 2002. He was born May 22, 1974. He is survived by his wife, Tammy Dyer; his parents, Donnie and Tina Dyer, all of Newark; two sisters, Andrea Dyer of Austin and Shawnna Stinson and her husband Charlie of Deleon. Pallbearers will be James Wood, John Tankersly, Jay Daughter, Ronnie Wright, Monty Wright and Jamie Pell. Wise County Messenger, April 18, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clara Wester 1920-2002 Service for Clara Wester, 81, of Chico was to be Wednesday, April 17, at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Chico. The Revs. Gerald Cox and Joe Motsenbocker were to officiate. Burial was to be in Chico Cemetery. Wester died Sunday, April 14, 2002, in Decatur. Born May 20, 1920, in Chico, she was a retired nurse at the Bowie Clinic and was a lifetime resident of Chico. She married Bruce Wester on March 20, 1937, in Chico. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Chico, the 42 Club, the Quilting Club and was a volunteer at nursing homes in Bridgeport. She is survived by her husband, Bruce Wester of Chico; a son, Roland Wester and wife Bobbie of Hobbs, N.M.; a daughter, Peggy Smith and husband Jimmie of Azle; a sister, Effie Lyon; seven grandchildren, Jolynda, Jim, Byron, Leisa, Kathy, Debbie and Sheri and 12 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers were to be Butch Coble, Harold Denney, Leonard Denney, Royce McClung, James William Redwine and Welton Redwine. Wise County Messenger, April 18, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billy Leon Pittman 1953-2002 Graveside service for Billy Leon Pittman, 49, of Bridgeport was to be Wednesday, April 17, at 4 p.m. at East Bridgeport Cemetery. Billy Rowe was to officiate. Pittman died Wednesday, April 10, 2002, in Wise County. Born March 7, 1953, in Bridgeport, he was a maintenance worker and a Baptist. He is survived by his brother, J.C. "Keith" Pittman of Bridgeport; a sister, Brenda Gail Moore of Chico and numerous nieces and nephews. Wise County Messenger, April 18, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beverly Ann Scribner 1950-2002 Graveside service for Beverly Ann Scribner, 52, of Rhome was to be Wednesday, April 17, at 3 p.m. at Oaklawn Cemetery. Scribner died Saturday, April 13, 2002, in Rhome. Born Jan. 2, 1950, in Arkansas, she was a homemaker. She married Lesley Scribner on June 1, 1968, in Grand Prairie. She is survived by her husband of Rhome; two daughters, Alice Musial of Grand Prairie and Sandra Rief of Royce City; a brother, Ricky Briscoe of Fort Worth; a sister, Jackie Pickney of Horseshoe Bend and five grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, April 18, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tommy Newton Boner 1922-2002 Service for Tommy Newton Boner, 79, of Wizard Wells was Monday, April 15, at the Hawkins Funeral Home Chapel in Bridgeport with the Rev. Melvin Clay officiating. Burial was in Bourland Cemetery in Keller. Boner died Friday, April 12, 2002, in Jacksboro. He was born Aug. 18, 1922, in Bridgeport. He was awarded the Purple Heart while serving in the U.S. Army. He was retired as owner of the Three Way Concrete Plant. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Wizard Wells and the VFW. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Bobbie Lou Boner; a son, Timothy Wayne Boner; and a brother, Clifford William Boner. He is survived by his wife, Ertis (PeeWee) Boner; two sons, Terry Boner and Donald Boner and his wife Patrisha; three daughters, Teresa Boner, Tommie Kennedy and Tania Whitaker; a sister, Betty Lou Tucker; 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Pallbearers were Mike Westbrook, Robert Earl Boner, T.M. Smith, Monty Anderson, Bill Boner and Richard Couch. Wise County Messenger, April 18, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comilla Mearle Simmons 1923-2002 Service for Comilla Mearle Simmons, 79, of Decatur was Monday, April 15, at Coker Funeral Home Chapel. Floyd Atkinson officiated. Burial was in Oaklawn Cemetery. Simmons died Friday, April 12, 2002, in North Richland Hills. Born Jan. 1, 1923, in Carlsbad, N.M., she was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church in Decatur. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Comilla Kelley. She is survived by a son, Wes Simmons of Hurst; a brother, Chester Beaver of San Angelo; a sister, Wanda Puryear of Fort Worth and four grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, April 18, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joe Pierce 1917-2002 Service for Joe Pierce, 85, of Newark was Tuesday, April 16, at the Newark Church of Christ. Burial was in the Dido Cemetery. Pierce died Saturday, April 13, 2002, at his home. He was born Feb. 20, 1917, in Boswell, Okla. He was a plant mechanic and maintenance man for TXU. He was a member of the Newark Church of Christ. He married Dorothy Mae Pope on Jan. 1, 1943, in Oklahoma. She preceded him in death as did a son, Harley Pierce. He is survived by a daughter, Armanda Hooks of Watauga; a sister, Myrel Belknap of North Carolina; a brother-in-law, John Pope; and a grandson, Robert Jeremy Hooks and his wife Jennifer. Wise County Messenger, April 18, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coy Wayne Stevens 1923-2002 Service for Coy Wayne Stevens, 78, of Decatur was Tuesday, April 16, with Robert Isham, Ryan Morrison and Ken Burnett officiating. Burial was in Oaklawn Cemetery. Stevens died Sunday, April 14, 2002, in Decatur. He was born July 19, 1923, in Decatur. He was vice president and secretary treasurer of Kelly Coppedge, Inc. He married Nellie Elizabeth Moore Oct. 13, 1960, in Tarrant County. He was preceded in death by his wife, and a brother, Floyd (Blackie) Stevens of Chico. He is survived by a sister, Patsy Howell of Decatur. Pallbearers were H.L. Ross, Dennis Lee, Ronnie Corbell, Roger Armstrong, Billy Wiley, Gerry Washburn and R.A. Pinkerton, Jr. Honorary pallbearers were Wayne Pinkerton, B.D. Lowe, Don Niblett, Virgil Parson and Waymon Pannell. Wise County Messenger, April 18, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Geraldine Hughes 1933-2002 Graveside service for Geraldine P. Hughes, 68, of Alvord was Monday at the Crafton Norwood Cemetery in Crafton with Earnest Patterson officiating. Hughes died Saturday, April 12, 2002, at her home. She married Jack Eugene Hughes Feb. 5, 1949, in Bay Saint Louis, Miss. He preceded her in death. She is survived by two sons, Jack Clifford Hughes of Alvord and Jon Erin Hughes of Balsora; three daughters, Carroll Lynn Stephenson of Park Springs, Kathy Rynn Rieke of Vienna, S. D., and Allison Margo Lawson of Mesquite; a brother, Albert Patterson of Alvord; a sister, Frances Layton of Kilgore; 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, April 18, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pearl Maxine Strickland 1930-2002 Graveside service for Pearl Maxine Strickland, 71, of Bridgeport was Tuesday at the West Bridgeport Cemetery with Eddy Hooker officiating. She died April 10, 2002, in Wise County. Born Dec. 20, 1930, in Arkansas, she was a longtime resident of Bridgeport and a homemaker. She married J.B. Strickland on Feb. 28, 1961, in Levelland. He died in 2000. She was also preceded in death by two daughters, Susie McChesney and Betty Phillips. She was a member of the Outreach Church in Chico. She is survived by a son, Andy Crisp; a daughter, Rita Harris; sons-in-law Tommy Phillips and Robert Scifert; a daughter-in-law, Carolyn Hardin; a brother, Ivan Reynolds; two sisters, Dora Crisp and Fannie Mae Green; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Pallbearers were Robert (Cooney) Scifert, Albert Taylor, Niel Jackson, David Horn, Richard Sanders and Douglas Shawn. Wise County Messenger, April 18, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, April 21, 2002 Pearl Maxine Strickland 1930-2002 Graveside service for Pearl Maxine Strickland, 71, of Bridgeport, was Tuesday, April 16, at the West Bridgeport Cemetery with Eddy Hooker officiating. She died April 10, 2002, in Wise County. She was born Dec. 20, 1930, in Arkansas. A longtime resident of Bridgeport, she was a homemaker. She married J.B. Strickland on Feb. 28, 1961, in Levelland. He died in 2000. She was also preceded in death by two daughters, Susie McChesney and Betty Phillips. She was a member of the Outreach Church in Chico. She is survived by a son, Andy Crisp; a daughter, Rita Harris; sons-in-law Tommy Phillips and Robert Scifert; a daughter-in-law, Carolyn Hardin; a brother, Ivan Reynolds; two sisters, Dora Crisp and Fannie Mae Green; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Pallbearers were Robert (Cooney) Scifert, Albert Taylor, Niel Jackson, David Horn, Richard Sanders and Roy Harris. Wise County Messenger, April 21, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- James Price Williams 1952-2002 Graveside service for James Price Williams, 50, of Benbrook, was to be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at the Cottonwood Cemetery with Dan Green officiating. Williams died Thursday, April 18, 2002, in Fort Worth. He was born March 31, 1952, in Cisco. He married Marilyn Jan Gregg May 23, 1970, in Juarez, Mexico. He was a member of the Alvord Community Church. He is survived by his wife; a son, Michael Williams of Benbrook; two daughters, Christi Williams of Fort Worth and Vickie Williams of Benbrook; two brothers, Larry Williams and Robert Williams, both of Breckenridge; three sisters, Debra Wooldridge of North Carolina, Shelia Williams of Breckenridge and Melissa Hancock of Tom Ball; and three grandchildren, Kala Hutto of Alvord and Whitney Williams and Jesse Guerrero III of Fort Worth. Pallbearers were James Klein, Rikch Epley, Thomas Williams, Doug Molden, Michael Rico and Jonathan Williams. Wise County Messenger, April 21, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jaunita Faye Idell 1931-2002 Service for Jaunita Faye Idell, 70, of Aurora, was to be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 20, at the Christian-Hawkins Funeral Chapel with the Rev. James Hurst officiating. Burial was to be in the Aurora Cemetery. Idell died Tuesday, April 16, 2002, in Decatur. She was born Nov. 20, 1931, in Decatur. She married Clyde Idell Dec. 27, 1946, in Decatur. She was a member of the Abundant Life Worship Center in Newark. She was preceded in death by four sisters and one brother. She is survived by her husband; a daughter, Tresia Kelly and her husband Dan of Aurora; a brother, Harold Joe Norris and his wife Charlene of Decatur; a sister, Pauline Ward of Aurora; two grandchildren, Toni Richardson and Dan Kelly, both of Aurora; and five great-grandchildren, Melissa Richardson, Kaitlynn Richardson, Lauren Kelly, Zachary Kelly and Catherine Kelly. Pallbearers were to be Robert Miles, Dennis Richardson, Jack Posey, Larry Spraberry, Bob Tidwell and Roy Blackwood. Honorary pallbearers were Ysbel Garcia Jr. and Paul Taylor. Wise County Messenger, April 21, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jason Dale Dyer 1974-2002 Services for Jason Dale Dyer, 27, of Newark, were held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 18, at the Christian-Hawkins Funeral Home Chapel in Boyd with the Rev. Dan Hunt officiating. Burial was in the Aurora Cemetery. Dyer died unexpectedly at his home Sunday afternoon, April 14, 2002. He was born May 22, 1974. He is survived by his wife, Tammy Dyer; his parents, Donnie and Tina Dyer, all of Newark; two sisters, Andrea Dyer of Austin and Shawnna Stinson and her husband Charlie of Deleon; and a brother, John Dyer of Newark. Pallbearers were James Wood, John Tankersly, Jay Daughter, Ronnie Wright, Monty Wright and Jamie Pell. Wise County Messenger, April 21, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- James Dwayne Ward 1964-2002 Service for James Dwayne Ward, 38, of Decatur, was held Thursday, April 18, at the Coker Funeral Home Chapel in Decatur with Lee Roy Jackson and Louis Horton officiating. Burial was in Sweetwater Cemetery with Justice of the Peace Mark Autry officiating at graveside. Ward died April 16, 2002, in Decatur. He was born Jan. 13, 1964, in Denton. He married Patricia Ann Cross Nov. 5, 1983, in Decatur. He was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church. He was a road construction worker for Wise County Pct. 1. He is survived by his wife; his parents, James and Darlene Ward of Chico; two daughters, Lindsey Ward and Marsha Ward, both of Decatur; and two sisters, Becky Hepworth of Celina and Janet Robinson of Chico. Pallbearers were Shade Slimp, David Slimp, Bobby Cross, Melvin Robinson, James Robinson and Dave Riddles. Wise County Messenger, April 21, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, April 25, 2002 Vernon B. Taylor 1929-2002 Service for Vernon B. Taylor, 72, of Aztec, N.M., will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 25, at the Coker Funeral Home Chapel in Decatur with Tim Watson officiating. Burial will be in Oaklawn Cemetery. Taylor died Sunday, April 21, 2002, in Aztec. He was born Dec. 21, 1929, in Vernon. A former resident of Decatur, he married Jo Anne Hill Aug. 7, 1948, in Decatur. He was a cross-country truck driver and a switcher for Southwest Gas Co. before retiring. He was a member of the Aztec Presbyterian Church. He was preceded in death by a brother, Charles Ray Taylor; a grandson, Dusty and a great-grandson, Zacharian. He is survived by his wife; a son, Ted Taylor and his wife Cyndy of Conroe; a daughter, Phyllis Morris and her husband Gary of Decatur; two grandchildren, Caleb Morris and wife Rachael of Euless and Alison Taylor of Conroe; and great-grandson, Christian Morris. Wise County Messenger, April 25, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Heather Joann Griffeth 1984-2002 Service for Heather Joann Griffeth, 17, of Decatur, was to be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, at the Sycamore Baptist Church with Tim Watson officiating. Burial was to be in Sycamore Cemetery. She died Sunday, April 21, 2002, at her home after a long illness. She was born Aug. 7, 1984, in Lewisville. She graduated from Slidell High School on April 3, 2002, and was a member of Sycamore Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her great-grandfather, John Edward Hunter Jr. She is survived by her parents, Gregory and Jo Ann Griffeth of Decatur; a brother, Colton Griffeth of Decatur; grandparents, Nolen and Rosemary Griffeth of Decatur; great-grandmother, Mary Hunter Bowles of Granbury; an aunt, Barbara Woolverton of Gainesville; and two uncles, Derek and wife Carol Griffeth of Decatur and Shane Griffeth of Lake Dallas. Pallbearers were to be Brian Moore, Ronnie Gilmore, Leland Hardcastle, Jeff Harner, Ricky Tompkins and Buck Milacek. Wise County Messenger, April 25, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- James Price Williams 1952-2002 Graveside service for James Price Williams, 50, of Benbrook, was 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at the Cottonwood Cemetery with Dan Green officiating. Williams died Thursday, April 18, 2002, in Fort Worth. He was born March 31, 1952, in Cisco. He married Marilyn Jan Gregg May 23, 1970, in Juarez, Mexico. He was a member of the Alvord Community Church. He is survived by his wife; a son, Michael Williams of Benbrook; two daughters, Christi Williams of Fort Worth and Vickie Williams of Benbrook; two brothers, Larry Williams and Robert Williams, both of Breckenridge; three sisters, Debra Wooldridge of North Carolina, Shelia Williams of Breckenridge and Melissa Hancock of Tom Ball; and three grandchildren, Kala Hutto of Alvord and Whitney Williams and Jesse Guerrero III of Fort Worth. Pallbearers were James Klein, Rikch Epley, Thomas Williams, Doug Molden, Michael Rico and Jonathan Williams. Wise County Messenger, April 25, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dora Louise Horton 1924-2002 Graveside service for Dora Louise Horton, 77, of Wichita Falls, was Tuesday, April 23, at the Chico Cemetery in Chico. She was the sister of Ed Culverhouse of Chico. Horton died Sunday, April 21, 2002, in Wichita Falls. She was born Nov. 14, 1924, in Crafton. She was a retired state hospital employee. A resident of Wichita Falls for 51 years, she was a member of the Faith Village Church of Christ. She married William Curtis Horton in 1988. She was preceded in death by her husband, a brother, Hubert Crick and a sister, Barbara McClurg. She is survived by a son Larry Carlisle and wife Joyce of Irmo, S.C.; two daughters, Mary McKay and her husband Johnny of Gilmer and Betty Faulkner and her husband James of Wichita Falls; a brother, Ed Culverhouse of Chico; eight grandchildren, Travis Splinter, Roger McKay, Randy McKay, David Faulkner, Jerry Wayne Pesterfield, Angela Coen, Deborah Moer and Melie Carlisle; 20 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Hospice of Wichita Falls, 4909 Johnson Road, Wichita Falls, Texas 76310. Wise County Messenger, April 25, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mabel Bernice Little 1912-2002 Service for Mabel Bernice Little, 89, of Decatur was Tuesday, April 23, at the First United Methodist Church of Decatur with Dr. Rusty Hedges officiating. Burial was in Roselawn Memorial Park in Denton. Little died Monday, April 22, 2002, in Decatur. She was born Oct. 15, 1912, in Lewisville. A homemaker, she was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Decatur. She married Melvin C. Little in 1932 in Wise County. He preceded her in death. She is survived by a son, Melvin B. Little of Decatur; a daughter, Lillian Sattawhite of Decatur; four grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers were Frankie Claborn, Tommy Neal, Joshua Neal, Jacob Neal, Philip Floyd, James Sattawhite, Melvin Bert Little and Melvin Clay Sattawhite. Wise County Messenger, April 25, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Margarita Perez 1963-2002 Graveside service for Margarita Perez, 38, of Decatur, will be in the Salitral Cemetery in Salitral San Louis, Potosi, Mexico. Perez died Sunday, April 21, 2002, in Decatur. She was born April 28, 1963, in Mexico. She was a homemaker. She is survived by her husband, Eleazar Perez; her father, Enrique Cornado of Mexico; two sons, Eleazar Perez and Juan Hosa Perez; three daughters, Ana Rosa Perez, Sandra Perez and Maria Guadalupe, all of Decatur; four brothers and four sisters. Wise County Messenger, April 25, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Furmin Lloyd Hays 1952-2002 Service for Furmin Lloyd Hays, 49, of Boyd, was to be at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, at Trinity Baptist Church in Boyd with the Revs. Darryl Hatley, Robert Worley and Sam Keener officiating. Burial was to be in Boyd Cemetery. Hays died Sunday, April 21, 2002, in Decatur. He was born Oct. 13, 1952, in Tahlequah, Okla. He marrIed Nancy Hatley Dec. 1, 1977, in Miami, Okla. He was a carpenter and a member of Trinity Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, J. Paul and Peggy Ruth Hays, and a sister, Ruth Keller. He is survived by his wife; a son, Jason Lloyd Hays; a daughter, Elizabeth Ann Hines and her husband Terry; two brothers, Raymond Hays and his wife Mellisa and Bruce Hays and his wife Shelli; three sisters, Glenda Aery and her husband Michael, Brenda Hays and Anita Hays; and two grandchildren, Taylor and James. Pallbearers were to be Raymond Hays, R.J. Hays, Bruce Hays, Don Doyle, Josh Hays and Jo Hatley. Honorary pallbearers were to be Michael Brown, David Hatley and Timmy Hatley. Wise County Messenger, April 25, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, April 28, 2002 Jorge Luis Rosales Huerta 2002 Graveside service for Jorge Luis Rosales Huerta, son of Maria Huerta of Decatur and Jorge Alberto Rosales Rodriquez, was to be at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 27, in Oaklawn Cemetery with Deacon Art Casias officiating. The child was stillborn on Wednesday, April 24, 2002. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his grandparents, Hosa and Aurelia Huerto of Decatur and Juan and Anna Rodriquez of Gainesville. Wise County Messenger, April 28, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack L. Utley 1919-2002 Service for Jack L. Utley, 83, of Gainesville will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the First Baptist Church of Gainesville with the Rev. J.L. Williams and Bob Kiner officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Utley died Thursday, April 25, 2002, at his home. He was born Jan. 5, 1919, in Escota to Luther Henry and Nannie Gertrude Franklin Utley. He married Shirley Ines Roberts June 18, 1954, in Carlsbad, N.M. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Gainesville and was a 32nd degree Mason. He was in the U.S. Air Force in World War II and was district superintendent for Burk Royalty Company before retiring. He is survived by his wife; three daugthers, Sharon McDonald of Gainesville, Vicki Madders and her husband Jim of Sherman and Fredese Whitsett and her husband Stan of Seattle, Wa.; a sister, Bertha Anderson of Plainview; four grandchildren, Tracye McDonald of Keller, Kristye McDonald of Denton, Gina Madders of Sherman and Jeff Whitsett of Houston; and a great granddaughter, Logan Lee Madders of Sherman. Pallbearers will be Matt Buckaloo, Lacy Wheeler, Bill Holderman, Dave Bishop, Neil Tibbets and Johnny Scott. Honorary pallbearers will be Burk Royalty employees and members of his Sunday School class at First Baptist Church of Gainesville. The family requests that memorials be made to: The American Cancer Society, Cooke County Unit, P.O. Box 1217, Gainesville, Texas, 76241, or to Alzheimer’s Disease National Headquarters, Attn. Renee Bitory, 919 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 100, Chicago, Ill., 60611. Write "for research" on check. Wise County Messenger, April 28, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weldon D. Harris 1941-2002 A memorial service for Weldon D. Harris, 61, of Decatur was Friday, April 26, at the Coker Funeral Home Chapel in Decatur with David Ruark officiating. Harris died Wednesday, April 24, 2002, at his home. He was born Jan. 9, 1941, in Sweetwater. He married Jo Ann Brownlee on Aug. 27, 1987, in Decatur. He operated a janitorial service. He is survived by his wife; a son, Weldon Dudley Harris, Jr., of Mineral Wells; a daughter, Rhonda Gail Jackson of Tijeras, N.M.; a brother, Mario Harris of Comanche; a sister, Belva Jordan of Odessa; 10 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, April 28, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Danny Marvin Mathes 1950-2002 Service for Danny Marvin Mathes, 51, of Boyd will be at 2 p.m. Monday, April 29, at the First Baptist Church of Springtown with the Rev. Hal Kinkeade officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Fort Worth. Mathes died Wednesday, April 24, 2002, in Boyd. He was born Nov. 28, 1950, in Austin. He graduated from Springtown High School in 1970, where he played football four years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Springtown. Survivors include his mother, Dorothy Mathes; five brothers, Derald Mathes and his wife Joan, Donald Mathes and his wife Deana, Dwayne Mathes and his wife Carol, Doug Mathes, and Dale Mathes and his wife Cheryl; a sister, Donna Alexander and her husband Gary; 15 nieces and nephews and 12 great-nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Danny’s name to the First Baptist Church in Springtown "United We Build Fund." Wise County Messenger, April 28, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pattie Dean McDonough Raper 1959-2002 Graveside service for Pattie Dean McDonough Raper, 43, of Aledo was to be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at the Justin Cemetery in Justin with Berl Pedigo officiating. Raper died Thursday, April 25, 2002, in a Fort Worth hospital. She was born Feb. 18, 1959, in Justin to Raymond Patrick and Jessie Dean Kennemer McDonough. She graduated from Northwest High School and was a member of Faith Baptist Church in Fort Worth. She married Ronnie Raper Jan. 30, 1981, in Justin. She is survived by her husband; her father, Pat McDonough of Justin; and a sister, Gayla Craig of Roanoke. She was preceded in death by her mother and a sister, Diana McDonough. Wise County Messenger, April 28, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Larry Pon Sr. 1953-2002 Service for Larry Pon Sr., 48, of Odessa was Tuesday, April 23, at Sunset Memorial Chapel in Odessa with the Rev. Cecil Maxey officiating. Burial was Wednesday, April 24, in Oaklawn Cemetery in Decatur. Pon died Saturday, April 20, 2002, at his home in Odessa. He was born May 21, 1953, to Bill and Margaret Pon in Fort Worth. He moved to Odessa in 1989 from Decatur. He had been employed by Key Energy Services for the past two years. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Emilia; a son, Larry Pon, Jr. and wife Emilia of Felton; three daughters, Misty Garza and husband Herman of Odessa, Krystle Pon of Odessa and Michelle Alvarez of Dallas; two brothers, Floyd Houtz and wife Brenda and Bill H. Pon and wife Cathy; two sisters, Kitty Taylor and husband Jimmy of Perrin and Verna Jones and husband Keith of Decatur; and nine grandchildren. Wise County Messenger, April 28, 2002 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------