Today's Obituaries (May 22, 1998)

Ed Davis, former ACU journalism professor, dies

Dr. Burl Edward "Ed" Davis, 67, a former professor of journalism and mass communications at Abilene Christian University, died Thursday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 1 p.m. today in Southern Hills Church of Christ, directed by Allen-Korzenewski Funeral Home, 1443 N. 2nd. Burial will be at a family plot in Gallatin, Tenn.

Dr. Davis was born in Edenwold, Tenn., and married Frances Dawn Bartlett in 1952. He came to ACU in 1969 as a professor of communication and remained on the school's faculty until his retirement in 1990.

"A B.E. Davis test is unique," one of Dr. Davis' students told the *iAbilene Reporter-News*i in 1973 after Dr. Davis was named ACU's Outstanding Teacher of the Year. "By the time you finish one, you feel like you've been chewed up and spat out."

While at ACU, he directed the Communications Research Center and in 1977 helped to found World Christian Broadcasting, serving as its president until 1980.

Dr. Davis began preaching at age 16 to small Church of Christ congregations in Tennessee. At Michigan State University, he helped establish Campus Advance. After coming to Abilene, he served Highland Church of Christ as a deacon, working with Herald of Truth radio and television ministries, and University Church of Christ as an elder.

He received a bachelor's degree in speech and Bible from David Lipscomb College in 1953 and a master's degree in agricultural economics and rural sociology from Clemson University in 1962. He was given a doctorate in communication theory and research methodology by Michigan State in 1968. He coordinated a weekly agricultural television program while at Clemson and helped with statistical analyses for a large-scale diffusion study of Eastern Nigeria, Brazil and India at Michigan State.

Survivors include his wife of Abilene; children, Kathy Eleta Davis and Mary Kay Davis, both of Arlington, and Phyllis Deanna Davis Hanson and Michael Edward Davis, both of Abilene; and one brother, J.W. Davis of Sitka, Alaska.

Alda Leona 'Sammie' Cowan

CROSS PLAINS - Alda Leona "Sammie" Cowan, 80, of Abilene died Wednesday in an Abilene nursing home.

Services will be at 11 a.m. today in Higginbotham Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Eric Lovell officiating. Burial will be in Pioneer Cemetery.

Mrs. Cowan was born in Eastland County and was a homemaker. She was a member of Gospel Tabernacle and was the widow of Jimmie R. Cowan, whom she married in 1933 in Eastland County.

Survivors include one daughter, Bonnie Sheppard of Abilene; one sister, Dorothy Lovell of Cross Plains; one brother, Floyd Fore of Kress; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Randi Jo Witte

BAIRD - Randi Jo Witte, 17, senior at Baird High School, died Wednesday in an Abilene hospital from injuries received in an automobile accident.

Services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in Baird High School auditorium, directed by Parker Funeral Home. The body will be cremated.

Randi was born in Big Spring and was student council president. She also played in the band and on the 1998 state championship golf team. She was a member of the Beta Club.

Survivors include her parents, Randall and Jo Witte of Baird; one brother, Jonathan Witte of Baird; her maternal grandparents, Austin B. and Mary Pyles of Quitman; and her paternal grandparents, Curtis and Alene Witte of Clyde.

Memorials may be sent to Randi Jo Witte Scholarship Fund, c/o First American Bank, 3409 S. 14th, Abilene 79605.

William Buford Brown

SWEETWATER - William Buford Brown, 89, formerly of Sylvester, died Wednesday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Sylvester Baptist Church with Charlie Brown and Bruce Hess officiating. Burial will be in Sweetwater City Cemetery, directed by Weathersbee Funeral Home of Rotan.

Mr. Brown was born in Nocona and moved to Sylvester in 1942. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II and worked for Santa Fe Railroad for 43 years. He moved to Sweetwater in 1992 and was a member of National Association of Retired Federal Employees. He was a treasurer for 26 years and deacon at Sylvester Baptist Church. He was the widower of Ruth Woodson Brown, whom he married in 1931 in Altus, Okla.

Survivors include two daughters, Mary Prather of Sweetwater and Wilda Deel of Kingsland; one son, William B. Brown II of Harlingen; one sister, Gertrude Brown of Odessa; one brother, Leonard Brown of Odessa; 13 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.

George Anna Stow

COMANCHE - George Anna Stow, 83, of Cedar Park, sister of a Comanche resident, died Wednesday in a Cedar Park nursing home.

Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in Pendergrass Cemetery, directed by Hall & Sons Funeral Home.

Mrs. Stow owned and operated a beauty shop in Lubbock for many years before moving to Cedar Park in 1989. She was the widow of Ralph Stow.

Survivors include one son, Marshall Eugene Perry Jr. of Lubbock; one sister, Tot Stailey of Comanche; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Alzheimers Association, West Central Texas Inc., P.O. Box 3344, Abilene 79604.

Nadalee Rosanne Smith

STEPHENVILLE - Nadalee Rosanne Smith, 2-1/2-month-old infant daughter of Shelly and Dennis Smith of Stephenville, died Tuesday in Stephenville.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Davis-Morris Funeral Home Chapel in Brownwood with the Rev. David Blagg officiating. Burial will be in Zephyr Cemetery.

Nadalee was born in Mineral Wells.

Other survivors include one sister, Darian Kye Smith of Stephenville; her grandparents, Betsy Moffatt and Regan Green, both of Blanket, Freddy and Lee Ann Moffatt of Brownwood, and Harold and Betty Smith of Zephyr; her great-grandparents, Zilapha Norwood of Brownwood, Beulah Montgomery of Comanche, and Truett and Verba Lee Auldridge of Goldthwaite; her great-great-grandmother, Evelyn Collier of Comanche; several aunts, uncles, great aunts and great uncles; and many cousins and other relatives.

Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Lenard Bruce Rose

HASKELL - Lenard Bruce Rose, 67, died Thursday at his home.

The body will be cremated and no services are planned. Arrangements were made by Holden-McCauley Funeral Directors.

Mr. Rose was born in Concord, Calif., and married Laura Weir in 1967 in Virginia City, Nev. He moved to Haskell 16 years ago and worked for the city of Haskell for five years.

Survivors include his wife of Haskell; six daughters, Joyce Williams of Tracy, Calif., Debra Moseley of Stamford, Holly Baker of Shingle Springs, Calif., Tracy Erickson of West Point, Utah, Julene O'Hearn of Tulsa, Okla., and Diana Hadley of Clinton, Utah; one son, Russell Graves of Columbus; one brother, Milton Rose of Diamond Springs, Calif.; 13 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

J.T. Cross

Marion Webb Cross

CROSS PLAINS - J.T. Cross, 79, and his wife Marion Webb Cross, 67, died Wednesday in Eastland County.

Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Cross Plains Cemetery with the Rev. Donald Duke officiating, directed by Higginbotham Funeral Home.

Mr. Cross, a retired milk pumper, was born in Cross Plains and served in World War II. Mrs. Cross, a beautician, was born in Oklahoma. The couple was married in California in 1975. Both were Methodists.

J.T. Cross is survived by three daughters, Laura Henry of Yucca Valley, Calif., Lisa Baldwin of Lake Arrowhead, Calif., and Kayla Hunter of Covina, Calif.; one brother, Frank Cross of Wimberly; one sister, Billie Jean Calhoun Buck of Midland; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Marion Cross is survived by her mother, Bessie Webb of Anaheim, Calif.; one sister, Betty Phillips of Garden Grove, Calif.; three stepdaughters, four step grandchildren, two step great-grandchildren and four nephews.

Mattie Storey

BIG SPRING - Mattie Storey, 88, died Thursday in a local nursing home. Services are pending with Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home.

Sam Hights

EASTLAND - Sam Hights, 84, died Thursday in a local hospital. Services are pending with Bakker Funeral Home.

Ramona Vasquez

BIG SPRING - Ramona Vasquez, 66, died Thursday at her home after a long illness. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today in Myers & Smith Funeral Home Chapel. Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.

L.O. Cardwell

SWEETWATER - L.O. Cardwell, 85, died Thursday in a local retirement center. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in McCoy Funeral Home Chapel of Memories.

Archie Crittenden

DE LEON - Archie J. Crittenden, 92, died Thursday in a local hospital. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in De Leon First Baptist Church, directed by Nowlin Funeral Home.

James Bradford Wooldridge, Ph.D.

SWEETWATER - James Bradford Wooldridge, Ph.D., 71, died Thursday in an Abilene hospital. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in Sweetwater Cemetery, directed by McCoy Funeral Home.

Verna Ann Narretta

COMANCHE - Verna Ann Narretta, 83, died Wednesday in a local hospital. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Comanche Funeral Home Chapel.