Today's Obituaries (June 30, 1998)

Georgia Henry James 'Momma Georgie' McAlister

Georgia Henry James "Momma Georgie" McAlister, 85, died Saturday at a local nursing home.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at North 10th and Treadaway Church of Christ with John Hamilton officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery, directed by North's Funeral Home, 242 Orange.

Mrs. McAlister was born in Dinking and moved to Abilene in 1936. She was a homemaker and a member of North 10th and Treadaway Church of Christ for a number of years. She married Clifford McAlister in 1967 in Abilene.

Survivors include her husband of Abilene; three sons, Jimmy James and Charles James, both of Abilene, and Billy James of Carson, Calif.; six daughters, Patsy Brown of Big Spring, Eva James of Orlando, Fla., Creovis Brown of Fort Worth, Lenora Francis and Devora Dobson, both of Dorchester, Mass., and Iola Owens of Bryan; one sister, Eva Eaton of Bryan; 35 grandchildren, 70 great-grandchildren, 15 great-great-grandchildren and many other relatives.

Ida Mae Alonzo

Ida Mae Alonzo, 62, of Abilene died Sunday at a local hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Mount Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. John Knight officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Mrs. Alonzo was born in Cameron, where she attended school. She moved to Abilene from Cameron in 1956 and worked at Abilene State School from 1976 until retiring in 1997. She was a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church and was in Senior Mission. She married Billy Joe Alonzo in 1956 in Rockdale.

Survivors include her husband of Abilene; four daughters, Marilyn Smotherman, Sheena L. Alonzo, Flisha A. Stewart and Adria A. Alonzo, all of Abilene; six brothers, Shirley Spells of Temple, Soloman D. Spells of Fort Worth, Roy David Spells of Abilene and Thomas Spells, Aaron Spells and Walter Spells, all of Cameron; two sisters, Gracie Lee Downe and Martha Patterson, both of Cameron; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Hendrick Hospice Care, P.O. Box 1922, Abilene 79604.

Vada Lou Camper

Vada Lou Camper, 64, of Abilene died Sunday at a local hospital.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory, with Richard Adkisson officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Gap Cemetery.

Mrs. Camper was born in Potosi and grew up in Tuscola, moving to Abilene about 40 years ago. She was a homemaker and a member of Oak Street Church of Christ. She married Grover Camper in 1967; he preceded her in death.

Survivors include one sister, Lura Mae Adkisson of Abilene, and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to West Texas Rehabilitation Center, 4601 Hartford, Abilene 79605.

Robert 'Jim Bob' Ares

MIDLAND - Robert "Jim Bob" Ares, 50, died June 24 after a traffic accident in Crane County.

Services were Friday at Mid-Cities Community Church with Russ Austin officiating. Burial was in Sunset Memorial Gardens in Odessa.

Mr. Ares was born in Lubbock and was a longtime resident of the Permian Basin. He graduated from Odessa Permian High School. He was a salesman for Applied Control and a member of Mid-Cities Community Church.

Survivors include his wife, Victoria Meister-Ares; one stepdaughter, Amy Parker of Abilene; his parents, Maxine Ares and Sam Ares Sr., both of Odessa; one brother, Sam Ares Jr. of Odessa; one sister, Gail Kelly of Odessa; one granddaughter and numerous other relatives.

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

Alburt Glen Johnson

RICHMOND - Alburt Glen Johnson, 67, died Saturday in Richmond.

Services will be at 11 a.m. today at Davis-Greenlawn Funeral Home in Rosenberg with Craven Crowell officiating. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Park.

Mr. Johnson was born in Abilene. He was a member of Avenue N Church of Christ in Rosemberg and was a Marine Corps and Air Force veteran of the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam era.

Survivors include his wife, Annie Ruth Cooper Johnson of Richmond; one sister, Pat Crawford of Abilene; one brother, Donald Johnson of East Bernard; one foster daughter, Salina Chavez; and several nieces and nephews.

William Curtis Maupin

CORSICANA - William Curtis Maupin, 87, director of Abilene YMCA from 1959-1976, died Sunday in Corsicana.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today at First Baptist Church with B.F. Risinger officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, directed by Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home.

Mr. Maupin was born in Pine Bluff, Ark., and graduated from Arkansas State College in Jonesboro, Ark. He was employed by the YMCA in Little Rock, Ark., and was director at Hot Springs, Ark. He was Southwest District Representative of the YMCA in Oklahoma City and moved to Abilene in 1959 to serve as YMCA director. He was a member and past president of Rotary Club and was secretary of the Abilene Ministerial Alliance for 14 years. He retired in 1976 and moved to Corsicana. He was a member, deacon and teacher at First Baptist Church in Corsicana.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Maupin, of Corsicana; one son, Bill Maupin of Corsicana; and two grandchildren.

Robin Glenn Cariker

BROKEN ARROW, Okla. - Robin Glenn Cariker, 33, died Saturday in Tulsa, Okla.

Services will be at 9 a.m. today at Floral Haven Memorial Garden, directed by Floral Haven Funeral Home.

Mr. Cariker was born in Hollis, Okla., and was an aircraft mechanic for Nordam.

Survivors include his wife, Paula Jean Cariker of Broken Arrow; one daughter, Traci Renee Cariker, and one son, Cody Glenn Cariker, both of Broken Arrow; his parents, Fern La Dean Cariker of Abilene and Donald Lee Cariker of Round Rock; one sister, Nona Raye Dodgin of Abilene; three brothers, Tommy Dale Chapman of Dallas and Richard Wayne Lott and Edward Marvin Powers, both of Abilene; and grandmothers Beulah Cariker of Dumas and Ruth Howard of Hollis.

homas 'Tom' Ponder

EARLY - Thomas "Tom" Ponder, 51, died Saturday at a Brownwood hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Richard Hetzel officiating. Burial will be in Eastlawn Memorial Park, directed by Heartland Funeral Home.

Mr. Ponder was born in Fort Worth and had lived in Brownwood and Early since 1963. He taught computer and business classes at Early High School and was active in Boy Scouts of America and Order of the Arrow. He was a member of Texas State Teachers Association and Texas Computer Teachers Association, as well as Texas Parks and Wildlife and Marketing Educators of Texas. He married Beverly Reve' Lynn in 1968 in Brownwood; she preceded him in death.

Survivors include one son, Blair Arlan Ponder of Fort Worth; one daughter, Eva Maria Rodriquez of Spain; two brothers, Wayne Ponder of Watauga and Jim Ponder of Orlando, Fla.; one sister, Vickie Martin of Saginaw; and one foster son, Jim Self of Abilene.

Mildred Rashell

BROWNWOOD - Mildred E. Rashell, 83, died Sunday at a local hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Davis-Morris Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. R.J. Elkins officiating. Burial will be in Eastlawn Memorial Park.

Mrs. Rashell was born in Brown County and lived in Brownwood all her life. She was retired from the Texas Feather Factory and was a member of Avenue D Baptist Church. She married Jim Rashell in 1975 in Brownwood; he preceded her in death.

Survivors include one daughter, Fern Wells of Plano; one son, Leon Wells of Comanche; one stepdaughter, Carolyn Moulton of Irving; one stepson, James Rashell of Irving; one sister, Betty Hutton of Early; eight grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, one niece and one nephew.

Barbara Stallings

BRECKENRIDGE - Barbara Stallings, 80, died Sunday at a local hospital.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Breckenridge Cemetery with Charles Kuhn officiating, directed by Melton Funeral Home.

Mrs. Stallings was born in Austin and was a longtime resident of Breckenridge. She had been a sales clerk for Cinderella Dress Shop, Baums and, for 17 years, C&G Fashions.

Jewel Henderson (Mrs. Macon) Freeman

TOMBALL - Jewel Henderson (Mrs. Macon) Freeman, 91, died Sunday in Tomball after a brief illness.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Cross Plains, directed by Klein Funeral Home.

Mrs. Freeman grew up on a farm west of Cross Plains and moved to San Angelo in 1928. She lived in Coleman from 1936-1962, where her husband owned a farm machinery and auto dealership. She was active with First Christian Church in Coleman and at Hyde Park Christian Church in Austin, where she moved in 1962. She moved to Tomball in 1993. She married Macon Freeman Sr. in 1924; he preceded her in death.

Survivors include one son, Macon Freeman Jr. of Magnolia; one daughter, Bonnie Wilhite of Winter Park, Fla.; five grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.

Angie Barberis

HASKELL - Angie Barberis, 81, died Monday at her home.

Graveside services will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday in Willow Cemetery with Dr. Troy Culpepper officiating, directed by Holden-McCauley Funeral Directors.

Ms. Barberis was born in Los Angeles. She was the widow of Eugene Newcomb.

Survivors include one sister, Rose Iden of Haskell, and one niece.

Opal Eakins

SEYMOUR - Opal Eakins, 86, died Sunday at a local hospital.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Glenn Shock officiating. Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in Rule Cemetery in Rule with the Rev. J.R. Williams officiating, directed by Archer Funeral Home.

Mrs. Eakins was born in Rule, where she was a sales clerk and, for 40 years, secretary of First Baptist Church. She moved to Seymour in 1986 and was a member of First Baptist Church in Seymour. She married Emmitt Eakins in 1928; he preceded her in death.

Survivors include one daughter, Nell Wester of Ozona; one son, Wayne Eakins of Seymour; one sister, Loudell Casey of Rule; five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Van Fund, 420 N. Washington, Seymour 76380.

Joe Saiz

BROWNWOOD - Joe Saiz, 77, died Monday at a local hospital.

Rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. today at Heartland Funeral Home Chapel. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church with the Rev. Benedict Zientek officiating. Burial will be in Zephyr Cemetery.

Mr. Saiz was born in Kimble County and attended school in Menard. He moved from Menard to Zephyr in 1959 and later to Brownwood. He was a Catholic and an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. He was retired from Superior Cable. He married Mary Aguirre in 1946 in Menard.

Survivors include his wife of Brownwood; two sons, Tony Charles and Daniel Saiz, both of Brownwood; three daughters, Erline Ragsdale of Zephyr and Jodie Cadena and Maria Saiz, both of Brownwood; two brothers, John Saiz and Cruz Saiz, both of Menard; one sister, Tanislada Ortega of Menard; 15 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Leola Ivy Barris

STRAWN - Leola Ivy Barris, 90, died Monday at a De Leon hospital.

Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Evergreen Cemetery in Ranger with R.C. Cobb of Stamford officiating, directed by Edwards Funeral Home of Ranger.

Mrs. Barris was born in Stamford and moved to Ranger in 1918. She graduated from Ranger High School and attended Ranger Junior College. She retired from Best Supply Company in El Paso and moved to Ranger in 1972 and to Strawn in 1975. She was the widow of B.H. Gifford and Henry Barris.

Survivors include one sister, Evelyn Cobb of Stamford, and several cousins.

John Arthur Ballard

PADUCAH - John Arthur Ballard, 16, of Dalhart died Sunday at a Dallas hospital after a lengthy illness.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church with the Revs. Henry Salley and Jeff Utter officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery, directed by Seigler Funeral Home.

John was born in Paducah and moved to Lone Star in 1993. He lived in Andrews before moving to Dalhart three weeks ago.

Survivors include his parents, Roy and Cynthia Ballard of Dalhart; and grandparents, Arthur Burr Morris and Awanda Morris of Dalhart and Jewel McGon of Paducah.

Memorials may be made to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 2929 Carlisle, Dallas 75204; or to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Thelma Lee Odorizzi

SNYDER - Thelma Lee Odorizzi, 79, died Sunday at a local hospital after a lengthy illness. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Colonial Hill Baptist Church, directed by Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home.

Carolyn Aguilar

Carolyn Aguilar, 68, died Monday at her home. A prayer service will be at 7 p.m. today at Elmwood Funeral Home, 5750 Hwy. 277 South. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Francis Catholic Church.

R.E. 'Gene' Dupuy Jr.

BIG SPRING - R.E. "Gene" Dupuy Jr., 69, died Saturday at a Midland hospital. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, directed by Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home.

Babe Herring

BRECKENRIDGE - Babe Herring, 83, died Monday at a local nursing home. Services are pending with Morehart Mortuary.

Sarah Virden

Sarah Virden, 91, died Monday at her home. Services are pending at North's Funeral Home, 242 Orange.

J.T. Harmes

COLEMAN - J.T. Harmes, 74, died Sunday at a local hospital. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel.

Bertie Lee Rodgers

SWEETWATER - Bertie Lee Rodgers, 73, of Odessa died Monday in Odessa. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Roscoe Cemetery, directed by McCoy Funeral Home.

Jane McConnell Dressler

SWEETWATER - Jane McConnell Dressler, 76, of Hermleigh and formerly of Sweetwater, died Sunday at an Abilene hospital. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home Chapel.

Marjorie Allen Houston

BROWNWOOD - Marjorie Allen Houston, 82, died Saturday at a local hospital. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Mount Zion Baptist Church, directed by Heartland Funeral Home and Gregory Spencer Funeral Directors of Fort Worth.

Edna Frieda Milholland

Edna Frieda Milholland, 89, formerly of Dallas, died Monday at an Abilene care center. Services are pending with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.