Today's Obituaries (July 2, 1998)

Thomas Ralph Purcell

LADY LAKE, Fla. - Thomas Ralph Purcell, 67, formerly of Abilene, died Tuesday in a Gainesville, Fla., hospital.

A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Beyers Funeral Home Chapel.

Mr. Purcell was born in Lafayette, Ga., where he graduated from Lafayette High School in 1948. He entered the U.S. Air Force at age 17 and married Violet Reed in 1951 in San Antonio. He moved to Abilene in 1966. He retired from the Air Force as a senior master sergeant in 1970 at Dyess Air Force Base. He then worked as an appraiser, first for the city of Abilene and then for the Central Appraisal District after the city and Taylor County tax offices were combined. He moved to Lady Lake in 1983 and was a former member of Grace Lutheran Church in Abilene.

Survivors include his wife, of Lady Lake; one son, Allen Purcell of Abilene; one daughter, Nina Purcell of Orlando, Fla.; one sister, Dorothy Abney of Lafayette, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to Disabled American Veterans.

Lynn Atchison

CROWLEY - Lynn Atchison, 49, member of Crescent Heights Baptist Church in Abilene, died Tuesday in a Fort Worth hospital.

Services will be at 4 p.m. today in Laurel Land Funeral Home Memorial Chapel in Fort Worth. Burial will be in Laurel Land Memorial Park in Fort Worth.

Mr. Atchison was born in Fort Worth and married his wife in 1972. He worked as a computer technology director for the Crowley school system.

Survivors include his wife, Sharron Atchison of Crowley; one son, John Atchison of Crowley; one daughter, Jennifer Atchison of Crowley; one brother, David Atchison of Orlando, Fla.; and one aunt.

Memorials may be sent to American Lung Association.

Leta Treadwell Harper

ANSON - Leta Treadwell Harper, 76, Anson school teacher for 30 years until retiring in 1986, died Wednesday in an Abilene hospital.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Anson First Baptist Church with the Rev. Lee Welch officiating. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery, directed by Lawrence-Adams Funeral Home.

Mrs. Harper was born in Plainview in Jones County and graduated from Anson High School in 1939 and Hardin-Simmons University. She taught school for 40 years and her career included Plainview in Jones County, Sylvester, Hale Center, Abilene and Anson. She was a founder of the Anson Museum and Library. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma sorority, Tuesday Study Club, Anson Garden Club and First Baptist Church and was the widow of Bland Harper, whom she married in 1946 in Anson.

Survivors include one son, Harvey Harper of Cleburne; and two grandchildren.

Margaret Rinehart

GLADEWATER - Margaret Rinehart, 79, formerly of Oplin, died Wednesday in a Longview hospital.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Elmwood Memorial Park in Abilene with the Rev. Oscar Fanning officiating, directed by Stone-Goodwin Funeral Home.

Mrs. Rinehart was born in Oplin and was a homemaker. She was a Baptist and was the widow of Harold C. Rinehart.

Survivors include one sister, Betty Frazier of Strawn; and many nieces and nephews.

Charlie Robert 'Bob' Goza Sr.

McALLEN - Charlie Robert "Bob" Goza Sr., 71, formerly of Merkel, died Monday in a local hospital.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Mount Hope Cemetery in Anson, directed by Starbuck Funeral Home of Merkel. Local arrangements were made by Kreidler Funeral Home.

Mr. Goza was born in Merkel and married B.J. Faulks in 1954. He moved to McAllen in 1962. He worked as an instrument technician for Claxton Music Co. until 1972 and Melhart Music until 1984. He then was self-employed. He was a charter member of National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians Inc. and was a Baptist.

Survivors include his wife, of McAllen; two sons, Gordon "Rocky" Goza of Noblesville, Ind., and Phillip "Rick" Goza of McAllen; three brothers, Frank Goza of San Antonio, Glen Goza of Gladewater and Guy Goza of Arlington; two sisters, Hattie Smithee of Arlington and Pattie White of Hendersonville, Tenn.; two grandchildren; two aunts; and 36 nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to Rio Grande Children's Home, Route 11, Box 535, Mission 78572.

James Richard Ellis

ROSCOE - James Richard Ellis, 76, of Dallas, died Tuesday in a Dallas care center.

Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Roscoe Cemetery with the Rev. Charles Addington officiating, directed by McCoy Funeral Home. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. July 11 in Cox Chapel of Highland Park Methodist Church in Dallas.

Mr. Ellis was born in Wichita Falls and grew up in Denison. He lived in Dallas most of his life. He served with the U.S. Army Air Corps as a navigator during World War II and married Betty Cooper in 1952 in Dallas. He earned both a bachelor's degree and law degree from Southern Methodist University and worked as an attorney. He was a member of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, Dallas Bar Association and Highland Park Methodist Church in Dallas.

Survivors include his wife, of Dallas; two sons, Robert Brian Ellis of Houston and Dr. Richard Mark Ellis of Killeen; and three grandchildren.

Billie Mahoney

BRECKENRIDGE - Billie Mahoney, 69, died Tuesday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Morehart Mortuary Chapel with the Rev. Cecil Harper officiating. Burial will be in Breckenridge Cemetery.

Mrs. Mahoney was born in Spearman and attended school in Hardesty, Okla. She lived in Fort Hood and Spearman before returning to Breckenridge in the 1980s. She was a cafeteria worker in the Breckenridge school system until retiring in 1993 and was the widow of Elvis Kenneth Brannan, whom she married in 1946 in Graham.

Survivors include one son, Dwain Brannan of Breckenridge; two daughters, Rachel Brannan of San Marcos and Kay Brannan of Albuquerque, N.M.; two brothers, Whitey Jones and Preacher Jones, both of Hardesty, Okla.; three sisters, Oletha Smith of Hardesty, Okla., Oneta Evans of Vidor and Earlene Wyles of Decatur, Ark.; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels and left at the funeral home.

Maurice Neeper

ROBY - Maurice Neeper, 85, died Tuesday in a Snyder hospital after a lengthy illness.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Roby First Baptist Church with the Rev. Mickey Waggoner officiating. Burial will be in Roby Cemetery, directed by Weathersbee Funeral Home of Rotan.

Mr. Neeper was born in Hot Springs County, Ark., and moved to Texas as a child. He farmed, then worked for Fisher County. He also was a water hauler. He lived in California for several years before returning to Texas. He was a member of Lamar Street Baptist Church in Sweetwater and attended Roby First Baptist Church.

Survivors include one sister, Janet Harvey of Dallas; and two brothers, Loy "Potsy" Neeper of Snyder and Ben Neeper of Roby.

Bendena Spill Ashburn

WINTERS - Bendena Spill Ashburn, 87, died Tuesday in an Abilene hospital.

Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today in Winters Funeral Home Chapel. Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in the funeral home with the Rev. Sam Homsey officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery.

Mrs. Ashburn was born in Winters and worked as a secretary for a cotton gin. She returned to Winters in the 1970s. She was a member of Mount Carmel Catholic Church and was the widow of Ralph Ashburn, whom she married in Casa Grande, Ariz.

Survivors include one stepson, Kempton Ashburn of Casa Grande, Ariz.; and one niece and one nephew.

Oma Carter

RISING STAR - Oma Carter, 88, died Monday in a Brownwood hospital. Services are pending with Higginbotham Funeral Home.

Donald Turner

COMANCHE - Donald G. Turner, 66, of Palestine, died Monday in Palestine. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Oakwood Cemetery, directed by Comanche Funeral Home.

Toni Ware

SWEETWATER - Toni M. Ware, 39, died Tuesday in an Abilene hospital. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home Chapel.

Mary Louise Basham

COMANCHE - Mary Louise Basham, 93, died Tuesday in a local nursing home. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Newburg Cemetery in Comanche County, directed by Comanche Funeral Home.