Today's Obituaries (June 17, 1998)

Nancy Lynn Mathiews

Nancy Lynn Mathiews, 66, died Sunday at her home.

Services will be 3 p.m. today in Elmwood Funeral Home Chapel, 5750 U.S. Hwy 277 South, with the Rev. Michael R. Chancellor officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park.

Mrs. Mathiews was born in Eastland and married James A. Mathiews in 1950. She was a member of American Business Women's Association and Beta Sigma Phi.

Survivors include her husband, of Abilene; three daughters, Brenda Mathiews of Arlington, Karen Parsons of San Marcos, Calif., and Shari James of Abilene; four grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to Hendrick Hospice Care, 1682 Hickory, Abilene 79601.

Tommie 'Blondie' Joiner

Tommie "Blondie" Joiner, 84, of Dallas and formerly of Abilene, died Thursday in a Dallas hospital.

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory, with the Rev. Vernon Paul officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Ms. Joiner was born in De Kalb and attended school in Abilene. She returned to Abilene in 1960 from Midland and was a homemaker. She was a member of Ash Street Baptist Church in Abilene.

Survivors include two sons, Darrell Dwayne Joiner of Dallas and William P. Bloss of Houston; one daughter, Selisha Donnice Brooks of Abilene; four grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

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

M.J. 'Bud' Rogers

M.J. "Bud" Rogers, 66, died Tuesday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory, with the Rev. Jack Ridlehoover and Dr. Jeff Reid officiating. A second service will be at 3 p.m. Friday in Colonial Funeral Home Chapel in Columbia, Miss. Burial will be in Foxworth Cemetery in Foxworth, Miss.

Mr. Rogers was born in White's Settlement, Miss., and graduated from high school in Columbia, Miss., and Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake, Wash. He married Joan Faye Ducote in 1955 in Krotz Springs, La. He was in the U.S. Air Force for 30 years until retiring in 1983 with the rank of chief master sergeant. During his career, he received a bronze star, Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with six oak leaf clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal with four bronze loops, National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star, Vietnam Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with six oak leaf clusters, Korean Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer's Professional Military Education Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, United Nations Service Medal and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. After retiring from the Air Force, he moved to Abilene from Albuquerque, N.M. He worked as a calibration laboratory supervisor for 10 years for Texas Instruments. He was a member of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church and also was a Baptist deacon.

Survivors include his wife, of Abilene; one son, Joe Rogers of Abilene; two daughters, Joni Ray of Pensacola, Fla., and Meri Stanley of Socorro, N.M.; one brother, Paul Rogers of Foxworth, Miss.; two sisters, Dianne Smith of Foxworth, Miss., and Margaret Hutchins of McComb, Miss.; six grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to Hendrick Hospice Care, P.O. Box 1922, Abilene 79604; or a favorite charity.

Visitation will be from 12:30-3 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Martin Treviso Diaz Sr.

PALMDALE, Calif. -- Martin Treviso Diaz Sr., 64, formerly of Abilene, died Thursday in Lancaster.

A memorial service was Saturday in Palmdale. A second memorial service is pending at St. Vincent Pallotti Catholic Church in Abilene. Arrangements were made by Chapel of the Valley Mortuary.

Mr. Diaz was born in Abilene and served with the U.S. Marine Corps in the Korean War. He married his wife 42 years ago. He worked in the aircraft industry for 41 years.

Survivors include his wife, Angelina Diaz of Palmdale; five children, Paquita Diaz, Angel Diaz, LoraLee Ortega, Sheila Rodriguez and Martin Diaz Jr.; two stepchildren, Steven Corral and Mary Garcia; four brothers, Lino Diaz, Felipe Diaz and Jesse Diaz, all of Abilene, and Enrique Diaz Jr. of Arlington; three sisters, Mary Rose Diaz Busch, Lala Diaz Loza and Consuelo Diaz Medrano, all of Abilene; 16 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

David Earl Delano Sr.

PARADISE -- David Earl Delano Sr., 38, formerly of Abilene, died Sunday in a Fort Worth hospital.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Slidell Cemetery with the Rev. Joey Vick officiating, directed by Coker Funeral Home of Sanger.

Mr. Delano was born in Abilene and worked as a welder for Bridgeport Truck Manufacturing.

Survivors include his wife, Sandy Delano of Paradise; one son, David E. Delano Jr. of Coosbay, Ore.; two daughters, Mellisa Delano of Coosbay, Ore., and Amy Sprague of Abilene; his mother, Cloranell Delano of Abilene; one half-brother, Thomas Edwards of Abilene; one sister, Earlene Jones of Denison; one half-sister, Clora J. Prichitt of Enid, Okla.; and one grandchild.

Exie Haynes

LAWN -- Exie Haynes, 95, of Mesquite and formerly of Lawn, died Monday in a Dallas hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Lawn Church of Christ with Richard Robbins officiating. Burial will be in Dewey Cemetery, directed by Fry-Bartlett Funeral Home of Tuscola.

Mrs. Haynes was born in Henderson County, Tenn., and moved to Lawn in 1909. She attended school in Dewey and worked as a nurse's aide at Lawn Nursing Home. She then was a cook and foster grandparent at Abilene State School. She moved to Mesquite in 1996. She was a member of Lawn Church of Christ and was the widow of Lanham Haynes, whom she married in 1923 in Tokene.

Survivors include two sons, L.G. Haynes of Cowpens, S.C., and James Haynes of Mesquite; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Nick Dworaczyk

BROWNWOOD -- Nick A. Dworaczyk, 74, died Tuesday in a local nursing home.

Mass will be said at 4 p.m. today in St. Mary's Catholic Church with Msgr. Benedict Zientek officiating. The body will be cremated, directed by Heartland Funeral Home of Early.

Mr. Dworaczyk was born in Wilson, where he attended school, and served with the U.S. Army during World War II. He married Wanda Faye Whipple in 1954 in Slaton and formerly lived in Lancaster. He worked as a template maker in the machinery division of Voight Aeronautics Aircraft in Grand Prairie for 20 years until retiring and was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.

Survivors include his wife, of Brownwood; three sons, Gary Wade Deishler of Dallas, Stephen B. Dworaczyk of Lancaster and Roger Dale Dworaczyk of Brownwood; two daughters, Becky Armstrong of Montgomery, Ala., and Linda Darlene Dyer of Dawson; one brother, Enerest Dworaczyk of Levelland; three sisters, Regina Steffens of Lubbock, Irene Kahlich of Brownwood and Gustie Gaydos of West; 13 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

S. Curtis Hayhurst

TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M. -- S. Curtis Hayhurst, 85, brother of a Clyde resident, died June 7 at his home.

Services were Thursday in Truth or Consequences Church of Christ with Charles L. Brackett officiating, directed by Sierra Funeral Home.

Mr. Hayhurst was born in Wingate and attended school in Maryneal. He married his wife more than 59 years ago and was a third-class petty officer with the U.S. Navy during World War II. He moved to Truth or Consequences in 1974 and trapped for the Ladder Ranch before retiring. He also was a retired carpenter. He was a life member of Disabled American Veterans and was a member of New Mexico Trappers Association and the Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife, Alma B. Townsend Hayhurst of Truth or Consequences; two sons, Solomon Curtis Hayhurst Jr. of Truth or Consequences and Don Stanley of Bartley, Neb.; one daughter, Rosemary Wright of Ronan, Mont.; one sister, Nora Harendt of Clyde; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

George James 'Jim' Covey

BROWNWOOD -- George James "Jim" Covey, 74, died Sunday in a local hospital.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Eastlawn Memorial Park with Dr. Norbert Peil officiating, directed by Davis-Morris Funeral Home.

Mr. Covey was born in Guthrie, Okla., and married Juanda Rose Youngblood in 1941 in Bristow, Okla. He served as a nose gunner with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He graduated from Oklahoma A&M College in Stillwater and moved to Brownwood in 1958. He worked as an offshore auditor for Dow Chemical and was a 32nd degree Mason. He was a Shriner and was a member of Union Presbyterian Church.

Survivors include his wife, of Brownwood; one son, James Anthony Covey of Seattle; one daughter, Carolyn Jeanne Matthews of Sugar Land; two brothers, Cyclone Davis Covey Jr. of Winston-Salem, N.C., and Moodi Covey of El Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

John Clarence Hamilton

SWEETWATER -- John Clarence Hamilton, 97, of Fort Worth and formerly of Sweetwater, died Tuesday in a Fort Worth nursing home.

Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Shep Cemetery with the Rev. Orvel Brantley officiating, directed by McCoy Funeral Home.

Mr. Hamilton was born in Mason County and farmed for 50 years until retiring. He lived in Sweetwater and Shep before moving to Fort Worth in 1986. He was a member of Lamar Street Baptist Church in Sweetwater and was the widower of Iula Mae Jackson Hamilton, whom he married in 1920 in Shep.

Survivors include one daughter, Marvalene Kauffman of Fort Worth; one sister, Mabel Morrow of Nolan; one brother, Buck Hamilton of Lake Sweetwater; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 6-7 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Laura McWilliams Gray Eagan

BROWNWOOD -- Laura McWilliams Gray Eagan, 62, died Tuesday at her home.

The body will be cremated and services will be at a later date. Arrangements are being made by Heartland Funeral Home of Early.

Mrs. Eagan was born in Brady and lived for several years in Irving, where she retired as a computer operator for Darr Equipment. She was the widow of Mike Eagan.

Survivors include one son, Gary Gray of Brownwood; her mother, Mae Wilder of Brownwood; one sister, Debra McWilliams of Brownwood; and one grandchild.

Lilla Mae Carr

ALBANY -- Lilla Mae (Mrs. W.R.) Carr, 87, died Tuesday in an Abilene hospital. Services are pending with Godfrey-Neese Funeral Home.

Marjory Jones

BIG SPRING -- Marjory K. Jones, 73, died Tuesday in a local nursing home. Services are pending with Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home.

Ray Moore

EASTLAND -- Ray Moore, 88, died Monday at his home. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Eastland Cemetery, directed by Edwards Funeral Home.

Denver Harris

BIG SPRING -- Denver G. Harris, 78, died Tuesday at his home. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Lamesa Memorial Park, directed by Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home.

Ben 'Buddy' Bates

SWEETWATER -- Ben L. "Buddy" Bates, 69, of the Sweetwater area, died Monday in an Abilene hospital. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in McCoy Funeral Home Chapel of Memories.