Today's Obituaries (July 4, 1998)

ACU graduate, former state lawmaker dies

AUSTIN - Ed Howard, 61, a 1959 Abilene Christian University graduate who later served in the Texas Legislature, died Thursday in Austin.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. today in the Senate chamber of the Texas State Capitol. Private burial will be in State Cemetery, directed by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home.

Mr. Howard was born in Hot Springs, Ark., and grew up in Greenville. He worked as an assistant city manager in Irving. He co-founded a discount store chain, headquartered in Texarkana, in the early 1960s.

He represented Bowie County and parts of Red River and Cass counties in the Texas House of Representatives from 1969-75. He was a Texas senator from 1979 until retiring in 1986. He moved to Austin from Texarkana after leaving the Senate.

He then joined the Austin law firm of Clark, Thomas & Winters as a legislative consultant. He later co-founded a governmental consulting firm in Austin. He was recognized by Texas Business magazine as one of its "10 Best Legislators," and Texas Monthly magazine twice named him an outstanding senator.

Survivors include his wife, Jo Ann Jay Howard of Austin; one daughter, Kathryn Howard of Flagstaff, Ariz.; three sons, Eric Howard of Flagstaff, Ariz., and Jay Howard and Lee Howard, both of Austin; his parents, V.E. and Ruth Howard of Texarkana; one brother, Jasper Howard of Texarkana; one sister, Kay Young of Killeen; two grandchildren; two uncles; and 10 nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to Ed Howard Memorial Fund for the Senate reception room, State Preservation Board, P.O. Box 13286, Austin 78711; or Opportunities Inc., 6101 N. State Line Ave., Texarkana 75503.

Martha Pearl 'Mickie' Wilson

Martha Pearl "Mickie" Wilson, 63, died Thursday in a local hospital.

Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. today in Hamby Cemetery with the Rev. Clayton Pennington officiating, directed by Allen-Korzenewski Funeral Home, 1443 N. 2nd.

Mrs. Wilson was born in Breckenridge and moved to the Abilene area in 1953. She was a retired nurse of Hendrick Home Health. She was a member of the Nazarene church and was the widow of Ted Wilson.

Survivors include six sons, Michael Ray Wilson of Aransas Pass, Patrick Keck Wilson, Casey Wilson and Timothy Lynn Wilson, all of Hamby, Terry Ted Wilson of Abilene and Peter Douglas Wilson of Colorado; one daughter, Sherel Deon Wilson Falco of Schaumburg, Ill.; one brother, Jake Scurlock of Breckenridge; two sisters, Rea Tollett and Sue Guthrie, both of Breckenridge; and 13 grandchildren.

Ruth McVay

Ruth E. McVay, 77, formerly of Levelland, died Thursday in a local nursing home.

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday in Christ United Methodist Church in Levelland. Burial will be in Levelland Cemetery, directed by George Price Funeral Home of Levelland.

Mrs. McVay was born in Groom and grew up in Brookston. She attended East Texas State College and moved to Levelland in 1946. She worked as the manager of Combs Abstract Co. in Levelland for 25 years. She moved to Abilene in 1979. She was a member of Abilene Chapter 30, Order of the Eastern Star; and Our Savior Lutheran Church and was the widow of R.W. McVay, whom she married in 1937 in Brookston.

Survivors include one daughter, Mary "Corky" Swanson of Abilene; one son, Larry McVay of Cairo, Egypt; two sisters, Betty Joan Weems of Levelland and Sue Eileen Albee of Dallas; one brother, Truman Redus Daniel of Midland; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

The body will be at North's Funeral Home, 242 Orange.

Feliciano Olvera

Feliciano "Felix" Olvera, 50, died Friday in a local hospital.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Cedar Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Margarito Lara officiating, directed by North's Funeral Home, 242 Orange.

Mr. Olvera was born in Mexico, where he grew up, and moved to Abilene in 1970. He worked as a machine operator for several years.

Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Luis Olvera of Acuna, Mexico; seven brothers, Jose Olvera of Abilene, Alberto Olvera of Bridgeport, Juan Olvera and Jose Ramon Olvera, both of Godley, and Amador Olvera, Jesus Olvera and Benito Olvera, all of Acuna, Mexico; two sisters, Martha Olvera of Fort Worth and Maria Olvera of Acuna, Mexico; and several nieces and nephews.

The family will be at 1557 Portland.

Mary Jean Thomas Jones Blackmon

FORT WORTH - Mary Jean Jones Blackmon, 73, formerly of Abilene, died June 18 in Fort Worth.

Services were June 20 in Benbrook Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Clifford Williams officiating. Graveside services were June 22 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Mrs. Blackmon was born in Abilene and graduated from Abilene High School in 1942. She attended Texas Women's University. She moved to Benbrook in 1989 from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and was a member of the Woman's Club of Fort Worth.

Survivors include her husband, Jack Blackmon of Benbrook; one son, Tom Jones of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; two stepsons, John Blackmon of Crowley and Robert Blackmon of Montgomery, Ala.; one sister, Doris West of Washington, D.C.; one brother, Hinds Thomas of Dallas; seven grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to Community Hospice of Texas, 1000 Summit Ave., Fort Worth 76102.

Douglas Marshal Williams

BURLESON - Douglas Marshal Williams, 84, father of an Abilene resident, died Thursday in a Fort Worth hospital.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Baumgardner Funeral Home Chapel in Fort Worth. Burial will be in Burleson Memorial Park.

Mr. Williams was born in Hill County and was a retired assistant department manager of Leonard Brothers.

Survivors include his wife, Estelle Williams of Burleson; one son, Charles Williams of Burleson; one daughter, Valarie Bennington of Abilene; three brothers, Billy Williams of Arlington, Bobby Williams of Weatherford and Bennie Williams of Duncanville; two sisters, Marie Gallian of Minneapolis and Janie Fullerton of Waco; and two grandchildren.

Clayton Reeves

MASON - Clayton Reeves, 83, father of an Abilene resident, died Friday at his home.

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in Mason Church of Christ. Burial will be in Gooch Cemetery, directed by Mason Funeral Home.

Mr. Reeves was born in McCulloch County and was a lifelong resident of Mason County. He managed Mason Wool & Mohair for many years and also was a rancher. He was a member of the Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife, Mabel Pfeifer Reeves of Mason; one son, Dr. Perry Reeves of Abilene; one sister, Helen Reeves of Mason; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Wilma Martin

BROWNWOOD - Wilma Martin, 89, died Thursday at her home after a lengthy illness.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Davis-Morris Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Steve McMeans officiating. Burial will be in Greenleaf Cemetery.

Ms. Martin was born in Throckmorton County and was a retired school teacher. She moved to Brownwood in 1990 and was a member of Coggin Avenue Baptist Church.

Survivors include one sister, Modena Burnam of Brownwood; one niece and three nephews; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.

Ella Edington

COLEMAN - Ella (Mrs. Cleo) Edington, 90, died Friday in a local nursing home.

Services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday in Stevens Funeral Home Chapel with David Ross Cathey officiating. Burial will be in Burkett Cemetery.

Mrs. Edington was born in Burkett and attended school in Comal and Burkett. She lived for many years in the Burkett-Crossroads area, where she farmed and ranched. She also was a homemaker. She was a member of Burkett Methodist Church and was the widow of Cleo Edington, whom she married in 1927 in Coleman.

Survivors include two daughters, Lelia Cathey and Lavada Young, both of Coleman; one sister, Lilly Porter of Coleman; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Hospice of the Big Country, 3113 Oldham Lane, Abilene 79602; or a favorite charity.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Clarence Morris

VALERA - Clarence Morris, 85, died Friday in a Coleman nursing home.

The body was donated to science. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Walker Funeral Home Chapel in Coleman with Carrol Hinds officiating.

Mr. Morris was born in Atoka, Okla., and married Grace Opal Castle in 1939 in Fulton, Ky. He moved to the Valera area in 1954 and was a retired oilfield driller. He was a member of Winters Masonic Lodge and the Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife, of Valera; and two sisters, Myrtle Russell of Midland and Delmas Seidel of Redondo Beach, Calif.

Memorials may be sent to a favorite charity.

R.L. 'Andy' Andrews

COLEMAN - R.L. "Andy" Andrews, 77, died Friday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Walker Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. James Posey officiating. Burial will be in Coleman City Cemetery.

Mr. Andrews was born in Albany and married Bertha Mae Hanke in 1941 in Cross Plains. He served with the 8th Air Force in England during World War II and moved to the Odessa area in 1957. He was a retired salesman of Gresham Industrial Supply and returned to Coleman in 1992. He was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars in Odessa and also was a member of American Legion in Bangs. He was a Baptist.

Survivors include his wife, of Coleman; one daughter, Juanita Gideon of Odessa; one son, Charles Andrews of Coleman; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to a favorite charity.

The family will be at the R.L. Andrews home.

Danny Pack

Danny Pack, 60, died Friday in Merkel. Services are pending with Starbuck Funeral Home of Merkel.

Mary Eleanor Estes

Mary Eleanor Estes, 91, died Thursday in Aztec, N.M. Services are pending with Allen-Korzenewski Funeral Home, 1443 N. 2nd.

Iola Hamilton Clinton

CISCO - Iola Hamilton Clinton, 90, of Abilene, died Friday in an Abilene hospital. Services are pending with Kimbrough Funeral Home.

Allen Clayton

HASKELL - Allen Clayton, 85, died Friday in a local nursing home. Services are pending with Holden-McCauley Funeral Directors. Visitation will begin Monday.

Octavia Rosetta Thompson

STAMFORD - Octavia R. Thompson, 96, died Friday in a local nursing home. Services are pending with Tankersley Funeral Home.

Flossie Lee Phillips

GOLDTHWAITE - Flossie Lee Phillips died Friday in Goldthwaite. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Goldthwaite First Baptist Church, directed by Stacy-Wilkins Funeral Home.

Lottie Mae Payton

STEPHENVILLE - Lottie Mae Payton, 96, died Thursday in a local hospital. Graveside services were Friday in Gardens of Memory Cemetery, directed by Stephenville Funeral Home.

Felipe Segura

ANSON - Felipe U. Segura, 57, died Thursday in an Abilene hospital. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in New Hope Cemetery, directed by Kinney Funeral Home of Stamford.

Carol Burnett

SWEETWATER - Carol W. Burnett, 54, died Thursday in Fisher County. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Palava Cemetery, directed by Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home.