Today's Obituaries (June 4, 1998)

Rachel Robinson

Rachel O. Robinson, 76, first female bus driver for the Abilene school district, died Tuesday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 3 p.m. Friday in Faith Baptist Church with Dr. Elbert Peak and the Rev. Jack Hardy officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Mrs. Robinson was born in Mansfield, Tenn., and married William L. Robinson in 1951 in Mississippi. She moved to Abilene in 1969 from Virginia Beach, Va., and worked as an aide at the Abilene State School for 6-1/2 years until retiring. She was a member of Faith Baptist Church.

Survivors include her husband, of Abilene; three sons, William L. Robinson Jr. and Wyatt Raymond Robinson, both of Abilene, and Whiteford Donald Robinson of Iowa Park; one daughter, Joyce Ann Crum of Austin; two brothers, J.T. Baldwin of Halls, Tenn., and Willard Baldwin of Memphis, Tenn.; two sisters, Mary Jones and Dean Bridges, both of Memphis, Tenn.; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to American Diabetes Association, 8008 Slide Road, #12 A, Lubbock 79424; or American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 41, Abilene 79604.

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

Herbert Rice Ellis

CISCO -- Herbert Rice Ellis, 78, died Wednesday in an Eastland hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Kimbrough Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bob Ferguson officiating. Burial will be in Cottonwood Cemetery.

Mr. Ellis was born in Cottonwood and married Wanda Juanita Curry in 1969 in Clyde. He was a farmer and was a member of the Church of the Nazarene.

Survivors include his wife, of Cisco; four stepchildren, Jerry Harris of Abilene, J.W. Harris of Clyde, Marlene Coats of Montrose, Colo., and Connie Jernigan of Cisco; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Henry Weldon 'Punk' Culwell

PLAINS -- Henry Weldon "Punk" Culwell, 81, formerly of Avoca, died Tuesday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Plains First Baptist Church with the Rev. Bill Wright officiating. Burial will be in Plains Cemetery, directed by Head Family Funeral Home of Seagraves.

Mr. Culwell was born in Avoca and married Inez Goad in 1935 in Lueders. He moved to Plains in 1946 from Avoca and worked for Yoakum County for 30 years until retiring in 1990. He was the music director at First Baptist Church for more than 40 years and also was a deacon.

Survivors include his wife, of Plains; two sons, Vaughn Culwell of Plains and Mike Culwell of Salinas, Calif.; one sister, Mary Meeks of Abilene; one brother, Robert Culwell of Abilene; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to American Cancer Society, 3411 73rd St., Lubbock 79423.

Hazle Potts

BURKBURNETT -- Hazle Potts, 84, mother of a Woodson resident, died Tuesday in a Wichita Falls hospital.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Burkburnett Cemetery with the Rev. Johnny Dowell officiating, directed by Owens & Brumley Funeral Home.

Mrs. Potts was born in Grapevine and married Travis Potts in 1929. She was a homemaker and moved to Burkburnett in 1966.

Survivors include her husband, of Burkburnett; two sons, James Travis Potts of Woodson and Danny Potts of Taylor; one daughter, Jackie June Jones of Costa Mesa, Calif.; 13 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Eva Emerson Seago

ROSCOE -- Eva Emerson Seago, 86, employed by the U.S. Postal Service for 30 years until retiring, died Wednesday in a Colorado City hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in McCoy Funeral Home Chapel of Memories in Sweetwater with the Rev. Charles Addington officiating. Burial will be in Sweetwater Cemetery.

Mrs. Seago was born in Nolan County, where she lived most of her life, and attended Daniel Baker College. She was a member of First United Methodist Church and was the widow of Coy Seago, whom she married in 1945 in Roscoe.

Survivors include three brothers, Bill Emerson of Snyder, and Joe R. "Jiggs" Emerson and Bob Emerson, both of Roscoe; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation will be from 7-9 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Mary Jane Perez Ortiz Najera

COLEMAN -- Mary Jane Perez Ortiz Najera, 45, police and maintenance office dispatcher for the city of Coleman since 1981, died Tuesday in a San Angelo hospital.

A vigil service will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Walker Funeral Home Chapel. Mass will be said at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in Sacred Heart Catholic Church with the Rev. Austin Herrmann officiating. Burial will be in Coleman City Cemetery.

Ms. Najera was born in Taylor and was a lifelong Coleman County resident. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Survivors include one daughter, Monica Ortiz of Coleman; one son, Eric Perez of Coleman; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Luna of Coleman; four sisters, Kay Gonzales of Tyler, Mary Ester Dela Fuente of San Antonio, Jean Guerrero of Coleman and Diane Martinez of Goldthwaite; and her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Noberto Dela Rosa of Coleman.

Visitation will be from 7-9 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Bertha Laird

BANGS -- Bertha Laird, 89, of Schertz and formerly of Bangs, died Tuesday in a San Antonio hospital.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Bangs Cemetery with the Revs. Kelly Crenshaw and Cecil Cox officiating, directed by Bangs Funeral Home.

Mrs. Laird was born in Fife and lived in Bangs for many years. She worked as a child care provider at a children's home until retiring and moved to Schertz in 1996. She was a Methodist and was the widow of Charlie Laird, whom she married in 1929 in Bangs.

Survivors include two daughters, Ruby Brucker of San Antonio and Ruth Fine of Bangs; one son, Billy Laird of Lake Brownwood; two brothers and three sisters; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.

Inez Adams Ray

ROTAN -- Inez Adams Ray, 82, died Wednesday in an Austin hospital.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Rotan First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Larry Holder officiating. Burial will be in Rotan Cemetery, directed by Weathersbee Funeral Home.

Mrs. Ray was born in Haskell and moved to Fisher County in 1923. She was a homemaker and was active in the Merribee Club and Roby Garden Club. She was a member of First United Methodist Church and was the widow of Richard "Dick" Ray, whom she married in 1934 in Sweetwater.

Survivors include two sons, Robert C. "Bob" Ray of Andrews and Tom Ray of Austin; one daughter, Virginia Swift of Lubbock; one brother, Mack C. Adams Jr. of Rolling Wood; one sister, Lucille Stone of San Diego; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Richard Allen Young

EARLY -- Richard Allen Young, 76, died Tuesday in a Brownwood hospital.

Services will be at 4 p.m. today in Davis-Morris Funeral Home Chapel in Brownwood with the Rev. Richard Hetzel officiating. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Eagle Creek Cemetery near Harleton.

Mr. Young was born in Marshall and served with the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. He moved to the Brownwood-Early area in 1948. He married Betty Weaver in 1980 in Brownwood and was a retired brakeman of Santa Fe. He was a member of Avenue D Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, of Early; two sons, Doug Young of Brownwood and Perry Young of Lake Brownwood; two stepchildren, John Weaver of Early and Barbara Beene of Fort Worth; his mother, Velma Bell of Brownwood; seven grandchildren; four step grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Louise Atkeison Burnett

MUNDAY -- Louise Atkeison Burnett, 84, died Wednesday in an Abilene hospital. Services are pending with McCauley-Smith Funeral Home.

Jessie Jewel Foster

CLYDE -- Jessie Jewel Foster, 94, died Tuesday in a local nursing home. Services are pending with Bailey Funeral Home.

Angel Jesus Olivares

STAMFORD -- Angel Jesus Olivares, 56, died Wednesday in an Anson hospital. Services are pending with Tankersley Funeral Home.

Yeolan Martin

CLYDE -- Yeolan Martin, 82, died Wednesday in an Abilene hospital. Services are pending with Bailey Funeral Home.

Alton Hufstutler

BALLINGER -- Alton Hufstutler, 81, of Irving died Wednesday at his home. Services are pending with Rains-Seale Funeral Home.

Manuel Gerardo Martinez Castillo

Manuel Gerardo Martinez Castillo, 38, died Monday at his home. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. today in City Cemetery, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Nita Louise Keeble

SNYDER -- Nita Louise Keeble, 91, died Tuesday in a local hospital after a lengthy illness. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in First Presbyterian Church, directed by Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home.

Bert Mize

DUBLIN -- Bert Mize, 84, died Wednesday in a local nursing home. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Old Dublin Memorial Park, directed by Harrell Funeral Home.

Benjamin Franklin Watson

SNYDER -- Benjamin Franklin Watson, 81, died Wednesday at his home. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Highland Cemetery in Iowa Park, directed by McCoy Funeral Home of Sweetwater.

Lucille Jones Caraway

DE LEON -- Lucille Jones Caraway, 92, died Tuesday in a local nursing home. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Nowlin Funeral Home Chapel.

Jack Boyd

BIG SPRING -- Jack C. Boyd, 84, died Wednesday in a local nursing home. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home Rosewood Chapel.