Today's Obituaries (June 1, 1998)

Robert Lee Garner Jr.

Robert Lee Garner Jr., 85, of Abilene died Friday at a local hospital.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Hawley Cemetery with Dave Takacs officiating, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Mr. Garner was born in Cleveland, Ark., and moved to Abilene from Arkansas in 1947. He owned and operated a dragline business. He was a Baptist and a 50-year-plus member of Knights of Pythias. He married Louise Ellison in 1933; she preceded him in death.

Survivors include four daughters, Bobbie Estes of San Angelo, Shirley Short of Sinking Springs, Ohio, and Annette Frazier and Paula Guthrie, both of Clyde; two brothers, Quincy "Jack" Garner and Lester "Les" Garner, both of Abilene; one sister, Cleo Parmenter of Abilene; eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Bethel Winter Cox

Bethel Winter Cox, 86, of Abilene died Friday in rural Taylor County.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory, with Dr. Eddie Sharp officiating. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday in Oak Hill Cemetery in Lampasas.

Mrs. Cox was born in Hermleigh, attended school in Dunn and graduated from high school in Ralls in 1929. She had lived in Abilene since 1935. She was a homemaker and a member of University Church of Christ. She married Dewitt C. "D.C." Cox in 1935 in Ralls.

Survivors include her husband of Abilene; two sisters, Alva Winter Brookshier of Dallas and Evon Wrinkle of El Paso; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Memorials may be made to the donor's favorite charity.

The family will be at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. today.

Katie Mae 'Mom' Zachry

Katie Mae "Mom" Zachry, 59, of Potosi died Saturday at a Dallas hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory, with Jimmy Jividen officiating. Burial will be in Potosi Cemetery.

Mrs. Zachry was born in Tulare, Calif., and graduated from Abilene High School. She lived in Abilene most of her life. She was a homemaker and a longtime member of the Church of Christ. She married Leon Zachry in 1958 in Abilene.

Survivors include her husband of Potosi; one son, Joe Zachry of Potosi; four daughters, Cindy Billups and Sharon Zachry, both of Abilene, Becky Hughes of Lake Leon and Karen Savage of Potosi; her mother, Bessie Martin of Potosi; 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Memorials may be made to American Liver Foundation, 2700 West Plano Parkway, Dallas 75075.

The family will be at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. today.

Mary Mauldin

BROWNWOOD - Mary E. Mauldin, 73, of Zephyr died Saturday at a local hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Fourth and Stewart Street Church of Christ. Burial will be in Eastlawn Memorial Park in Early, directed by Davis-Morris Funeral Home.

Mrs. Mauldin was born in Lampasas and moved to Brookesmith in 1937. She was a licensed vocational nurse and had worked at the hospital in Brownwood and the state school. She was a member of Fourth and Stewart Street Church of Christ and Daughters of the Republic of Texas and was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2527 Ladies Auxiliary in Bastrop. She married Rupert Oran Mauldin in 1942 in Brownwood.

Survivors include her husband of Zephyr; two sons, Roy Mauldin of Dale and Tony Mauldin of Kenya; three daughters, Janis Zimbal of Abilene, Marilyn Davis of Brownwood and Kathy Ener of Worcester, Mass.; 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Mary Mauldin Scholarship Fund for Needy Children in Africa, c/o Tony Mauldin, Southern Hills Church of Christ, 3666 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene 79605.

John Cross

MIDLAND - John E. Cross, 78, died Friday at a local hospital.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. today at First United Methodist Church chapel with the Rev. Molly Krueger officiating, directed by Ellis Funeral Home.

Mr. Cross was born in Eastland, where he grew up and attended school. He graduated from Sul Ross University with a bachelor's degree in 1942 and attended the University of Texas. He was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II and worked for Texaco from 1946-1979. He was a member of First United Methodist Church and Fellowship Sunday school class, Sons of the American Revolution and Rotary Club. He married Clyde Ola Parmelly in Abilene.

Survivors include his wife of Midland; and one daughter, Helen Cross of Fort Worth.

Memorials may be made to the donor's favorite charity.

E.M. 'Doll' Jones

ASPERMONT - E.M. "Doll" Jones, 90, died Sunday at a Kent County nursing home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Barry Taylor officiating. Burial will be in Aspermont Cemetery, directed by McCoy Funeral Home.

Mr. Jones was a longtime resident of Stonewall County. He was a county commissioner of King County, worked for Hamey Plow Company and managed Babes Cafe during World War II. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Guthrie and Paducah Lodge 868 AF&AM. He was a 32nd-degree Mason. He was the widower of Ida Mae Jones.

Survivors include one son, Tiney Jones of Aspermont; one daughter, Ladye Biddy of Paducah; two sisters, Essie Driver of Aspermont and Mae Clark of Odessa; one brother, M.L. Jones of Aspermont; 12 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Aspermont, or to the Masonic Home for Children.

A.A. 'Dude' Watson

COLEMAN - A.A. "Dude" Watson, 82, a longtime Coleman resident, died Saturday at a local nursing home.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Charles Sheffield officiating. Burial will be in Coleman Cemetery.

Mr. Watson was born in Brown County and grew up and attended school in Grosvenor. He moved to Coleman as a young man and was a retired oil field worker and farmer. He was a Baptist. He married Vestal Williams in 1937 in Brown County; she preceded him in death.

Survivors include one daughter, Martha Gayler of Bangs, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Big Country, 3113 Oldham Lane, Abilene 79602; or to the American Cancer Society.

The family will be at the funeral home from 6-7 p.m. today.

Charles 'Sonny' Jones

COLORADO CITY - Charles E. "Sonny" Jones, 61, a longtime Colorado City resident, died Sunday at an Abilene hospital.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Kiker-Seale Funeral Home Chapel with Steve Coffey officiating. Burial will be in Colorado City Cemetery.

Mr. Jones was born in Tom Green County. He was a mechanic at Cooper's Cove Marina, a Navy veteran and a member of First Christian Church in Snyder. He married Doris Jean Coffey in 1996 in Waco.

Survivors include his mother, Earline Jones of Snyder; his wife, of Colorado City; four daughters, Capt. Jamye Jones of Washington, D.C., Melissa Lee and Jennifer Jones, both of Snyder, and Karen Ross of Waco; one son, Steve Coffey of Mexia; one sister, Sharon Hillis of Dallas; and one grandson.

Nadine Taylor

SWEETWATER - Nadine Taylor, 86, died Sunday at a local hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at McCoy Funeral Home Chapel of Memories with Dr. Joel McCoy officiating. Burial will be in Sweetwater Cemetery.

Mrs. Taylor was born in Hail and had lived in Sweetwater since 1919. She was a bookkeeper and had worked for Frank Murchison Motors, Harry Carmichael Ford, Bill Sheridan Oil Co. and Globe Cleaners. She attended Newman High School and was a member of First Baptist Church. She married Hudson Taylor in 1953 in Portales, N.M.; he preceded her in death.

Survivors include two sisters, Myrlene Scott of Sweetwater and Maxine Sheppard of Winters; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Winnie Lee Billingsley

MERKEL - Winnie Lee Billingsley, 89, died Friday.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today at Abilene Primitive Baptist Church with Travis Brown and Mark Burress officiating. Graveside services will be at 1:30 p.m. today in Tuscola Cemetery in Tuscola, directed by Starbuck Funeral Home.

Mrs. Billingsley was born in Lawn and lived near there all her life until moving to Merkel 6-1/2 years ago. She attended school at Guion and was a retired stock farmer. She was a member of Abilene Primitive Baptist Church, Tuscola Senior Citizens and Ovalo Home Demonstration Club. She married Gilbert Billingsley in 1930; he preceded her in death.

Survivors include one daughter, Mitzi (Mrs. Don) Hart of Merkel; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Johnnie DaValle

WHEATON, Ill. - Johnnie DaValle, 72, died Saturday at a Downers Grove, Ill., hospital.

Services will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Trinity Episcopal Church with the Rev. W.M. Klusmeyer officiating.

Mrs. DaValle was born in Tahoka.

Survivors include her husband, Al DaValle; one son, Al DaValle Jr. of St. Charles; one daughter, Brenda Lotesta of Wheaton; two sisters, Geneva May of Glen Rose and Jo Tilley of Garden City; one brother, B. Coker Corley of Slaton; four grandchildren and numerous other relatives in the Abilene area.

Memorials may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church, 130 N. West St., Wheaton IL.

James Henry Todd

ALBANY - James Henry Todd, 20, died Saturday south of Woodson after a tractor accident.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Albany Cemetery with Matthew Reagles officiating, directed by Godfrey-Neese Funeral Home.

Mr. Todd was born in Albany, graduated from Albany High School and was a welder.

Survivors include his mother, Teri Nell Largent of Breckenridge; grandparents Liston and Patsy Todd of Palacios; and one aunt.

Dianna Lee Hayward

STAMFORD - Dianna Lee Hayward, 42, died Friday in an Abilene hospital. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Tankersley Funeral Home Chapel.

Nell Harris Ringener

BIG SPRING - Nell Harris Ringener, 68, died Saturday at a local hospital. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home Rosewood Chapel.

Exa Hogue

EUNICE, N.M. - Exa Hogue, 90, of Abilene died Friday at an Abilene nursing home. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Eunice Cemetery, directed by Griffin Funeral Home.

Clara Evelyn Fussell

Clara Evelyn Fussell, 82, died Sunday at an Abilene hospital. Services are pending with Buckner's Dickson Funeral Home, Inc., in Dickson, Tenn. Local arrangements were handled by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Victor John Schwertner

BALLINGER - Victor John Schwertner, 79, died Sunday at a local hospital. Rosary will be said at 8 p.m. today at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rowena. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph, directed by Rains-Seale Funeral Home.