Today's Obituaries (May 14, 1998)

Brigida Macias

SAGERTON -- Brigida Macias, 69, lifelong Stamford-area resident, died Tuesday in an Abilene hospital.

Mass will be said at 10 a.m. today in St. Ann's Catholic Church in Stamford with the Rev. Michael Melcher officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery in Sagerton, directed by Tankersley Funeral Home of Stamford.

Mrs. Macias was born in Stamford and married Catarino Macias Sr. in 1942 in Haskell. She was a homemaker and was a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church in Stamford.

Survivors include her husband, of Sagerton; five sons, Joe Macias and Catarino Macias Jr., both of Sagerton, John Macias and Jimmy Macias, both of Denham Springs, La., and Jesse Macias of Rule; five daughters, Delores Longoria of Dallas, Dora Torres of Rule, Gina Ruiz of Leander, Frances Silba of Haskell and Mary Ariaz of Grand Prairie; two brothers, George Moreno of Mineral Wells and Tom Moreno of Abilene; two sisters, Mary Diaz of Abilene and Abundia De La Cruz of Trent; 29 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.

Sarah Naomi Ledbetter

ALBANY -- Sarah Naomi Ledbetter, 77, died Wednesday at her home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Albany First Baptist Church with the Revs. Larry Baird and John Tunnell officiating. Burial will be in Albany Cemetery, directed by Godfrey-Neese Funeral Home.

Mrs. Ledbetter was born in Jones County and was a homemaker. She was a member of First Baptist Church and was the widow of Clarence Ledbetter, whom she married in 1946 in Albany.

Survivors include one daughter, Marlyn Pratt of Granbury; five brothers, Rupert Woodard of Hawley, Bob Woodard of Stephenville, J.T. Woodard of Jacksonville, Marvin Woodard of Abilene and Jerald Woodard of Hodges; two sisters, Lola Fay Henderson of Abilene and Martha Joyce of Rising Star; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Walter 'Nig' Hartsfield

ROTAN -- Walter "Nig" Hartsfield, 86, died Tuesday at his home.

Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Hobbs Cemetery with Greg Boden officiating, directed by Weathersbee Funeral Home.

Mr. Hartsfield was born in Fisher County and worked as a plumber. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and was the widower of Geraldine Aaron Hartsfield, whom he married in 1934 in Fisher County.

Survivors include two daughters, Joe Ruth Massey of Abilene and Hallie Mock of Rotan; seven grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Bennie Ray Whitehead

WESTBROOK -- Bennie Ray Whitehead, 56, died Tuesday in an Albuquerque, N.M. hospital.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Westbrook Cemetery with Chaplain Carroll Kohl officiating, directed by Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home of Big Spring.

Mr. Whitehead was born in Abilene and served in the U.S. Navy from 1961-65. He worked as a sorter for the U.S. Postal Service in Albuquerque, N.M. for 12 years. He moved to Westbrook in 1975 and was employed in construction.

Survivors include two brothers, Jim Whitehead of Albuquerque, N.M., and Clyde Whitehead of Clyde; two sisters, Dorothy Gregory of Potosi and Loretta Stephenson of Ballinger; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to American Cancer Society, c/o Lucy Bonner, P.O. Box 2121, Big Spring 79721-2121; or a favorite charity.

Robert 'Bob' Blair

COLEMAN -- Robert O. "Bob" Blair, 89, of Yates Center, Kan., and formerly of Coleman, died Saturday in a Humbolt, Kan. nursing home.

Graveside services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday in Coleman Cemetery with the Rev. Reed Justus officiating, directed by Stevens Funeral Home.

Mr. Blair was born in Coleman and graduated from Kansas State University in 1938. He served with the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theater during World War II and was a rancher and stockman. He owned and operated the Fagen Ranch in Woodson County, Kan. since 1961 and was a member of Coleman United Methodist Church.

Survivors include one son, Robin C. Blair of Ranton, N.M.; one sister, Nell Blair of Arlington; two grandchildren; and one aunt.

Memorials may be sent to Alzheimer Foundation.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m.-noon Friday in the funeral home.

Burk Clifford

CISCO -- Burk A. Clifford, 78, died Tuesday at his home.

Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Oakwood Cemetery with Larry Fitzgerald officiating, directed by Chambers-Wilcox Funeral Directors.

Mr. Clifford was born in Strawn and served with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He worked as an oilfield pumper and lived in Monahans for many years until moving to Clyde in 1983 and Cisco in 1997.

Survivors include one son, Mark Clifford of Lubbock; two daughters, Beverly Kimbler of Bentonville, Ark., and Letty Hodnett of Midland; two brothers, M.L. Clifford of Clyde and A.B. Clifford of Clear Lake, Calif.; two sisters, Gypsy Collingsworth of Cisco and Margie Tatum of Houston; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many other relatives.

Morris Williams

TUSCOLA -- Morris Williams, 86, died Monday in a Winters nursing home.

Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in Pumphrey Cemetery with Rick Cobb officiating, directed by Winters Funeral Home.

Mr. Williams was born in Gorman and moved to Pumphrey as a child. He was a farmer and was a Methodist.

Survivors include two brothers, James D. Williams of Franklin and Edward F. Williams of Fort Worth; one sister, Janie Lee Nix of Bellingham, Wash.; and several nieces and nephews.

John Wesley Smith

CISCO -- John Wesley Smith, 87, of Las Cruces, N.M., and formerly of Cisco, died Tuesday in a Las Cruces hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Cisco First Baptist Church with the Revs. Chris Craig and Jay Darnell officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, directed by Kimbrough Funeral Home.

Mr. Smith was born in Cisco, where he graduated from high school, and married Inez Surles in 1929. He was a retired wire chief of Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. and was a former member of the Lions Club. He was a deacon at First Baptist Church for many years.

Survivors include his wife, of Las Cruces, N.M.; two sons, Dr. James Durword Smith of Fort Worth and Dr. William C. "Bill" Smith of Las Cruces, N.M.; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Memorials may be sent to Cisco First Baptist Church.

James Pilgrim

SNYDER -- James Shane Pilgrim, 20, died Tuesday in a Lubbock hospital from injuries received in an automobile accident south of Snyder.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Snyder First United Methodist Church with Dr. Craig Curry officiating. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. in Woodland Park Cemetery in Mineral Wells, directed by Wright-Colonial Funeral Home.

Mr. Pilgrim was born in Mineral Wells and moved to Snyder six years ago. He graduated from Snyder High School in 1996 and was named an All-American Scholar while in high school. He also was named the most outstanding student in the golf/landscape technology program at Western Texas College. He worked in the college's pro shop and at Bar-H-Bar Family Outfitters and was a member of First United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his parents, Mike and Sherry Pilgrim of Snyder; one sister, Sarah Pilgrim of Snyder; one brother, Cody Pilgrim of Fresno, Calif.; and his grandparents, Reva and Del Glover, and Kathy and Ben Kirkpatrick, all of Mineral Wells.

Bennie Evans

BROWNWOOD -- Bennie Evans, 47, died Wednesday in a local hospital. Services are pending with Heartland Funeral Home of Early.

Imogene Watts

ANSON -- Imogene Watts, 66, died Wednesday in a local hospital. Services are pending with Lawrence-Adams Funeral Home.

Mary Rendon

BIG SPRING -- Mary Rendon, 74, died Wednesday in a local hospital. Services are pending with Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home.

Vernon 'Bigon' Kelly

GOLDTHWAITE -- Vernon "Bigon" Kelly, of Trinidad, died Monday in an Athens hospital. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Stacy-Wilkins Funeral Home Chapel.

Rhodney Stone

STEPHENVILLE -- Rhodney Stone, 55, died Tuesday in a local nursing home. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Stephenville Funeral Home Chapel.

Marie James

COLORADO CITY -- Marie James, 93, died Tuesday in a local nursing home. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Colorado City Cemetery, directed by Kiker-Seale Funeral Home.

Ben Rollins

EASTLAND -- Ben R. Rollins, 83, died Wednesday in a local nursing home. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Bakker Funeral Home Chapel.