Today's Obituaries (July 7, 1998)

Alan Jay Oden

ALBANY - Alan Jay Oden, 17, died Sunday at his home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Bruce Stovall and Jeff Pleasant officiating. Graveside services will be at 5 p.m. today in Blackwell Cemetery in Blackwell, directed by Godfrey-Neese Funeral Home.

Mr. Oden was born in Grand Prairie and was a junior at Albany High School. He was active in sports and with the Albany High School choir and was head sound technical assistant for the Fort Griffin Fandangle. He was a member of Friendship Baptist Church and was employed by Fort Griffin General Merchandise Restaurant.

Survivors include his parents, Joe and Jan Oden of Albany; two sisters, Sarah Freeman of Wahaihai, Oahu, Hawaii, and Melissa Oden of Abilene; two brothers, Tommy Oden and James Oden, both of Albany; grandparents Jon and LaVoy McNeill of Wingate and T.J. and Winnie Oden of Blackwell; and numerous other relatives.

Memorials may be made to Friendship Baptist Church Building Fund or Scholarship Fund; or to the donor's favorite charity.

Cynthia Bearden

LUBBOCK - Cynthia Bearden, 28, of Abilene died Friday in Lubbock.

Services will be at 11 a.m. today at Sanders Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Dave Treat officiating. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Park.

Mrs. Bearden was born in Lubbock, moved to Abilene in 1975 and graduated from Abilene Cooper High School. She attended Wylie United Methodist Church.

Survivors include her mother, Mary Bearden of Lubbock; her father, Harlan Bearden of Abilene; one daughter, Adriana Dione Bearden of Lubbock; two brothers, Glenn Bearden of Amarillo an Kevin Bearden of Lubbock; and a grandmother, Nettie Edwards of Lubbock.

Memorials may be made to the Trust Fund of Adriana Dione Bearden at American State Bank, 14th and Avenue Q, Lubbock 79401.

Linda Marie Messer

ATHENS, Texas - Linda Marie Messer, 48, the wife of Church of Christ minister Eddie Messer, formerly of Sweetwater, died Monday after a long illness. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Eastern Hills Church of Christ, directed by Carroll Lehr Funeral Home.

Mrs. Messer was born in Amarillo and grew up in Panhandle. She lived in Amarillo, Fort Worth, Sweetwater and, since 1994, Athens. She was active in various Bible teaching activities and was a therapist for Early Children Services in Sweetwater before moving to Athens. She married Eddie Messer in 1967.

Survivors include her husband, of Athens; three sons, Doug Messer of San Saba, Paul Messer of Abilene and David Messer of Lubbock; one daughter, Alaina Messer of Athens; her mother, May Park of Sweetwater; one brother, Robert Park of Lubbock; and one grandson.

Memorials may be made to Eastern Hills Church of Christ Nursery Fund, P.O. Box 1997, Athens TX 75751; or to Genesis Hospice Care, 500-B S. Palestine, Athens TX 75751.

The family will be at Eastern Hills Church of Christ from 6-8 p.m. today.

Marvis June McClain

ROTAN - Marvis June McClain, 53, died Monday at an Abilene hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church with the Revs. Werth Mayes and Wayne Horton officiating. Burial will be in Belvieu Cemetery, directed by Weathersbee Funeral Home.

Mrs. McClain was born in Tampa, Fla., and was a manager for the Texas Department of Corrections in Snyder. She was a member of First Baptist Church. She married Larry McClain in 1967 in Hermleigh.

Survivors include her husband, of Rotan; her parents, Marvin and Mary Evelyn Hanson of Snyder; one son, Steve McClain of Rotan; one daughter, Jodie McClain Valles of Abilene; two sisters, Mary Naizer of Clyde and Virginia Darden of Snyder; and three grandchildren.

Allen Clayton

HASKELL - Allen Clayton, 85, died Friday at a local care home.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Greater Independent Baptist Church with the Rev. Camilla Wade officiating. Burial will be in Willow Cemetery, directed by Holden-McCauley Funeral Directors.

Mr. Clayton was born in Waco and had lived in Haskell for 47 years. He was a farmer and a member of Greater Independent Baptist Church. He married I.V. Clayton in 1940 in Waco.

Survivors include his wife, of Haskell; three sons, Wayne Clayton and Danny Clayton, both of Dallas, and Edward Clayton of Lewisville; one brother, Herbert Clayton of Waco; 13 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

Mary Thomas

MORAN - Mary Thomas, 89, died June 30 at a Montrose, Colo., nursing home.

Services were Friday at First Baptist Church in Albin, Wyo. Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Moran Cemetery with Dr. Jack Clack officiating.

Mrs. Thomas lived in Moran for a number of years before moving to Albin. She was the widow of Prentice Clotiel "Pete" Thomas.

Survivors include one son, Joe Ed Thomas of Montrose; one daughter, Mary Lou De Bruyn of Sidney, Neb.; three sisters, Viola Strube of Riverton, Wyo., Fern Ackerson of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Opal Carlson of Wellington, Colo.; one brother, Merle Ackerson of Cheyenne, Wyo.; 10 grandchildren and numerous other relatives, including many in the Moran area.

Mamie Lee Fields Kemp

ABERNATHY - Mamie Lee Fields Kemp, 85, of Roby died Monday in Lubbock.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church with the Revs. Jim Curry and Russ Byard officiating. Graveside services will be at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in Neinda Cemetery in Neinda, directed by Abell Funeral Home.

Mrs. Kemp was born in Neinda and moved to Roby from McCaulley in 1940. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Roby, where she taught Sunday school and held several offices, and of Roby Home Demonstration Club. She moved to Lubbock in 1990. She married Ben Rex Kemp in 1935 in McCaulley; he preceded her in death.

Survivors include two daughters, Jamie Kay Taylor of Abernathy and Dr. Arminta Lee Jacobson of Denton; one sister, Mildred Fields Hanson of Dallas; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Abernathy or First United Methodist Church of Roby.

Hilario Fuentes Sr.

BANGS - Hilario Fuentes Sr., 72, died Saturday in Rio Grande City.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at New Testament Holiness Church. Burial will be in Bangs Cemetery, directed by Bangs Funeral Home.

Mr. Fuentes was born in Rio Grande City and had lived in Bangs for eight years. He was a rancher and a member of New Testament Holiness Church. He married Alicia Rosa in 1945 in Big Spring.

Survivors include his wife, of Bangs; five sons, Joel Fuentes, Juan Fuentes, Ricardo Fuentes, Roy Fuentes and Israel Fuentes, all of Bangs; four daughters, Gloria Fuentes, Margaret Fuentes, Minerva Serrato and Irma Partido, all of Bangs; two sisters, Opelia Fuentes and Carolina Flores, both of Rio Grande City; one brother, Fernando Fuentes of Rio Grande City; 23 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

LaWanta Livingston

EASTLAND - LaWanta Livingston, 74, died Saturday at her home.

Services will be at 10 a.m. today at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Elvis Whaley officiating. Burial will be in Merriman Cemetery south of Ranger.

Mrs. Livingston was born and attended school in Ranger. She owned and operated the Why Not Eat, Sale Barn and Hilltop restaurants. She lived in Breckenridge before moving to Eastland in 1963. She worked at Old Rip Cafe and Super Save grocery store until retiring in 1974. She was a member of Mangum Baptist Church. She married D.H. "PeeWee" Livingston in 1940 in Breckenridge; he preceded her in death.

Survivors include three sons, Corky Livingston of North Carolina and Corbin Livingston and Robert Livingston, both of Eastland; one daughter, Sandra Haines of Eastland; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Larry Glen Miles

SWEETWATER - Larry Glen Miles, 56, died Sunday in Odessa.

Services will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday at McCoy Funeral Home Chapel of Memories with the Rev. Steve McCaslin officiating. Burial will be in Sweetwater Cemetery.

Mr. Miles was born in Mills County and lived in Nolan County most of his life. He was a rancher and was employed by Rycroft Coffee Service. He married Bettye Powell in 1963 in Roscoe.

Survivors include his wife, of Sweetwater; one son, Matt Miles of Sweetwater; two daughters, Sandy Mahaffey of Longview and Robbie Clarac of Santa Fe, Texas; one sister, Dorothy Smith of Plainview; four granddaughters and several nieces and nephews.

Ardella Garrett

CISCO - Ardella Garrett, 81, died Monday at her home.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Oakwood Cemetery with Paul Sneed officiating, directed by Kimbrough Funeral Home.

Mrs. Garrett was born in Cisco and had worked as a clerk at Dean Drug and Norvell Miller Store. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church. She married Welborn Garrett in 1935 in Cisco; he preceded her in death.

Survivors include one son, Bobby Garrett of Cisco; one brother, Harry Grinder of Houston; three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Mary Toombs

LUBBOCK - Mary Toombs, 78, died Monday in Carrollton. Services are pending with Franklin-Bartley Funeral Home.

Anna Lovell

RISING STAR - Anna Lovell, 90, died Monday at a local nursing home. Services are pending with Higginbotham Funeral Home.

Sandra Dianne Bowen

ODESSA - Sandra Dianne Daniell Bowen, 48, formerly of Abilene, died Sunday at a local hospital. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors chapel.

Moree Holt Dixon

SWEETWATER - Moree Holt Dixon, 93, died Sunday at a local hospital. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Garden of Memories Cemetery, directed by McCoy Funeral Home.