Today's Obituaries (June 10, 1998)

Longtime Stamford funeral director and civic leader dies

STAMFORD -- Doris Pope Kinney, a funeral director in Stamford for 57 years, died Monday in an Abilene hospital. She was 82.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Stamford First Baptist Church with the Rev. Jay Abernathy officiating. Burial will be in Highland Memorial Cemetery, directed by Kinney Funeral Home.

A Hamlin native, Mrs. Kinney graduated from Hamlin High School in 1932 and Texas State College for Women, now Texas Woman's University, in 1936.

After returning to Hamlin to teach high school English and Spanish, she found that fate would soon lead her down a new road, Kinney said in a 1996 <I>Abilene Reporter-News<I> story.

"I never dreamed of marrying a funeral director," said Kinney, who married her husband, George I. Kinney, in 1940. "Fate just points the way and you go."

The next year, at age 25, she took the state board exam to become a funeral director.

"He wanted me to get my license because we didn't know what would happen," she said.

The career switch was unusual for her generation because most women were employed in nursing, secretarial work or teaching.

Following her husband's service in World War II, Kinney worked part-time for him and his parents, who opened Kinney Funeral Home.

She and her husband became sole owners of the business in 1970. Her husband died seven years later.

"When George died, it was unusual for a woman to be directing funerals," said Kinney. "She was usually at the desk doing all the paperwork -- which I did both."

Kinney remained active with the business until just few months ago when ill health forced her to retire.

She opened The Wash Pot, a coin laundry, in 1948 and also owned and operated Coin Clean Center in Hamlin from 1960-83.

In 1988, she was named an Outstanding Funeral Director by the West Texas Funeral Directors Association and also received, that year, an Outstanding Service Award from the Texas Funeral Directors Association. She was a past president of the West Texas FDA and past director of the Texas FDA. She was a member of the National Funeral Directors Association.

Locally, she was a past president of the Pierian Club, Women's Forum of Stamford, Business & Professional Women's Club, and Jones County chapter of American Cancer Society. She also was the first female director of the Stamford Chamber of Commerce.

She helped establish the Margaret Crockett Scholarship Foundation, which is affiliated with the Stamford B&PW Club, to provide scholarships to Stamford High School graduates. She was a trustee-custodian of the foundation since 1968. She was active with United Way, American Heart Association, Texas Lung Association, VIP Senior Citizens Center, Camp Fire Girls, Girl Scouts, Stamford Main Street Project and was a member of First Baptist Church.

Survivors include one niece, Ann Dunbar of Midland; one nephew, Harry Hinkle of Midland; and several great nieces and great nephews.

Memorials may be sent to Margaret Crockett Scholarship Foundation, c/o Betty McDougal, 715 E. Reynolds, Stamford 79553.

R. Leroy Alexander

ALBANY -- R. Leroy Alexander, 62, died Tuesday at his home.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Albany Cemetery with the Rev. Don Clevenger officiating, directed by Godfrey-Neese Funeral Home.

Mr. Alexander was born in Albany and worked in the oil field.

Survivors include one brother, A.D. Alexander of Albany; four sisters, Ruby Webb, Alma Harris and Leta Burton, all of Albany, and Nancy Boyd of Henrietta; and many nieces and nephews.

James Edwin Butler

GORMAN -- James Edwin Butler, 62, died Sunday in a De Leon hospital.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Higginbotham Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dane Gressett officiating.

Mr. Butler was born in Gorman, where he married Delinda Aimsworth in 1993. He was a Baptist.

Survivors include his wife, of Gorman; one son, David Butler of Gorman; one daughter, Diane Pribvee of Connecticut; two stepsons, Jabob McCullough and Douglas McCullough, both of Gorman; and three grandchildren.

Chris Krieger

Chris L. Krieger, 46, died Tuesday at her home. Services are pending with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 U.S. Hwy 277 South.

Ann Gregory

Ann Gregory, 59, died Tuesday in a Fort Worth hospital. Services are pending with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 U.S. Hwy 277 South.

Estelle Leach

CISCO -- Estelle Leach, 80, died Tuesday in a local nursing home. Services are pending with Chambers-Wilcox Funeral Directors.

Myrtle Moore

BIG SPRING -- Myrtle Moore, 85, died Tuesday in a local hospital. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in College Park Church of God, directed by Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home.

Joe Pfluger

BALLINGER -- Joe P. Pfluger, 79, of San Angelo, died Tuesday at his home. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Protestant Cemetery in Rowena, directed by Rains-Seale Funeral Home.

Thelma Lewis

BIG SPRING -- Thelma (Mrs. R.V.) Lewis, 88, died Tuesday in a local hospital. Services will be at 4 p.m. Thursday in Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home Rosewood Chapel.

Margaret Jones

BIG SPRING -- Margaret Jones, 78, died Monday at her home. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Trinity Memorial Park, directed by Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home.