Today's Obituaries (July 8, 1998)

Johnie Allen Stracener

Johnie Allen Stracener, 66, of Meridian and formerly of Abilene, died Sunday in an Abilene hospital.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Cedar Hill Cemetery with the Rev. David Cason officiating, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Mr. Stracener was born in Novice and owned Clifton Machine Works in Clifton for many years. He was retired.

Survivors include four sons, Mark Stracener of Meridian, Rick Stracener of Lubbock, Danny Patterson of Waco and Trace Hendrix of Stephenville; three daughters, Jody Watson of Granbury, Sommer Green of Lake Whitney and Shelly Mishler of Norfolk, Va.; three brothers, Joe Stracener of San Angelo and J.L. Stracener and Jimmy Stracener, both of Abilene; four sisters, Helen White of Novice, Lanora Cohrac of Santa Anna, Calif., Delsie White and Darlene Taylor, both of Abilene; 11 grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

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

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

Sadie Duncan

SHAWNEE, Okla. - Sadie O. Duncan, 74, died Tuesday in a local hospital.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Merriman Cemetery in Ranger, directed by Gaskill-Owens Funeral Chapel.

Born in Sweetwater, Mrs. Duncan attended high school in Texas and married David Harrison Duncan in 1941. She moved to Shawnee in 1964 and was an insurance underwriter. She was a member of Second Baptist Church in Ranger.

Survivors include two sons, Tommy Duncan of Plano and Clayton Duncan of Norman, Okla.; one daughter, Judy Bull of Shawnee; two sisters, Roberta Duncan of Ranger and Annie Bell Williams of Arlington; one brother, R.C. Balderree of Rockport; 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Sandra Dianne Bowen

ODESSA - Sandra Dianne Daniell Bowen, 48, died Sunday in an Odessa hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors Chapel with the Rev. Norman Owens officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Born in Abilene, Mrs. Bowen moved to Odessa in 1955 and graduated from Odessa High School. She attended American Commercial College and was a bookkeeper at Dunlap's Department Store.

Survivors include one son, Stephen Bowen of Odessa; one daughter, Brandy Ash of Amarillo; her parents, Raymond and Geneva Daniell of Odessa; two brothers, Bill Daniell of Houston and Taylor Daniell of Amarillo; and one grandson.

Ellen O'Brien

BROWNWOOD - Ellen E. O'Brien, 92, died Sunday in a local hospital.

Graveside services were Tuesday in Eastlawn Memorial Park with the Rev. R.J. Elkins officiating, directed by Davis-Morris Funeral Home.

Mrs. O'Brien was born in Boston, and lived in Mexico City, from 1944-70, when she moved to Brownwood. She was a homemaker and a "pink lady" at Brownwood Community Hospital. She married Carl O'Brien in 1944 in Mexico City.

Survivors include one son, C. Michael O'Brien of Abilene, one niece and one nephew.

Odell Harvey 'Odie' Kelley

PASADENA, Tex. - Odell Harvey "Odie" Kelley, 85, died Sunday at home.

Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Forest Park with the Rev. Charles Tanner officiating.

Odell was born in Holliday and was retired after 28 years with Exxon Oil Corporation in Clear Lake. He was a member of South Houston Masonic Lodge and the Shrine and of Faith United Methodist Church in South Houston. He married Drotha Ferne Harrison in 1934 in Breckenridge.

Survivors include one daughter, Barbara Ann Hemmer of Deer Park; one brother, Tony Kelley of Carmichael, Calif.; and several nephews, nieces and cousins, including Lois Kelley Stewart of Abilene.

Memorials may be sent to Shriners Hospital for Children, 6977 Main St., Houston 77030.

Melvin Edward Watson

JACKSBORO - Melvin Edward Watson, 81, died Monday in Jacksboro.

Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Coker Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jerry Reed and Norman Rushing officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.

A rancher, Mr. Watson was born in Clay County. He married Eula Fay Whitsitt in 1936 in Joy.

Survivors include his wife, of Jacksboro; three sons, Ronald Watson of Plano, Donald Watson of Midland, formerly of Abilene, and Larry Watson of Bowie; one brother, Morris Watson of Shannon; one sister, Audine Blaylock of San Angelo; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society or to Concerned Citizens.

Barbara Levens

SWEETWATER - Barbara Levens, 56, died Tuesday in an Abilene hospital.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Lamar Street Baptist Church with the Revs. Keith Clifton and Orvel Brantley officiating. Burial will be in Sweetwater Cemetery, directed by McCoy Funeral Home.

Born in Chicago, Mrs. Levens graduated from Texas Women's College and lived in Sweetwater most of her life. She married Loyd Levens and was an activity director at Holiday Retirement Center for many years.

Survivors include her husband, of Sweetwater; one daughter, Sheila Schroeder of Abilene; two sons, Eddie Levens of Sweetwater and Charlie Levens of Crowley; one brother, Earl Craig of Abilene; one stepbrother, Johnny Eckert of Irving; four stepsisters, Rosalie Helm and Peggy Lloyd, both of Roscoe, Winona Bankhead of Champion and Norma Kranz of Jefferson; and three grandchildren.

N.B. Leatherwood

LAMESA - N.B. Leatherwood, 78, died Monday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Second Baptist Church with the Rev. Syl Moore officiating and the Revs. Clifton Igo and John Free assisting. Burial will be in Lamesa Memorial Park, directed by Branon Funeral Home.

An Army Air Force veteran of World War II, Mr. Leatherwood farmed for more than 50 years. He was born in Victoria County and moved to Dawson County in 1932. He married Lillian Holt in 1939 in Lamesa and moved to Lamesa in 1953. He was a member of Second Baptist and served as a deacon for many years.

Survivors include his wife, of Lamesa; one son, Keith Leatherwood of Austin; one daughter, Shirley Koger of Lamesa; two brothers, Wayne Leatherwood and Custer Leatherwood, both of Lamesa; and four grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to a favorite charity.

Visitation will be from 7-8:30 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Tommie Leuvene Phariss

TUSCOLA - Tommie Leuvene Phariss, 75, died Tuesday at home.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. H.B. Terry Jr. officiating. Burial will be in Tuscola Cemetery, directed by Fry-Bartlett Funeral Home.

A retired baker for Abilene Independent School District, Mrs. Phariss was was a lifelong resident of Tuscola. She was born in Tuscola, where she married J.C. Phariss in 1944. She worked for AISD for 15 years, retiring in 1979. She was a member of Tuscola Senior Citizens, Jim Ned Livestock Association, Tuscola Cemetery Association and First Baptist.

Survivors include five sons, Tommy Lewis Gardener of La Porte, J.C. Phariss Jr., Johnny Wells Phariss and Daniel Webb of Tuscola, and Howard Wayne Phariss of Houston; one daughter, Anna Louise Linger of Tye; one brother, Walter Pinkston of Abilene; two sisters, Lovella Davis of Denton Valley and Mary Bowman of Oplin; 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

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

Visitations will be from 7-9 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Barbara Ann Daniel Hudspeth

ROCHESTER - Barbara Ann Daniel Hudspeth, 63, died Tuesday in a Missouri City hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Truett Kuenstler and the Rev. Dale Turner officiating. Burial will be in Rochester Cemetery, directed by Smith Funeral Home.

Born in Rule, Ms. Hudspeth graduated from Rochester High School. After retiring from Texas Instruments, she became a beautician. She married Sterman Hudspeth and lived in Stafford for many years.

Survivors include three stepsons, John Hudspeth, Bob Hudspeth and Paul Hudspeth, all of Stafford; one stepdaughter, Vicki Weems of Stafford; one sister, Linda Northam of Throckmorton; and several grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Felipe Segura

STAMFORD - Felipe U. Segura, 57, of Anson, died Thursday in an Abilene hospital.

Graveside services were Saturday in New Hope Cemetery with the Rev. Jesse Morton officiating, directed by Kinney Funeral Home.

Mr. Segura was a retired laborer and a lifetime resident of Jones County.

Survivors include his wife, Ignacia Segura; his mother, Delores Segura of Stamford; two daughters, Monica Segura of Portland and Justina Mia Segura of Marfa; one stepdaughter, Antonia Gavia of Wichita Falls; three sons, Felipe Segura Jr., Feliz Segura and Sergio Segura, all of Houston; three sisters, Basilia Yvarra, Tomasa Vasquez and Delores Gonzales, all of Stamford; four brothers, Frank Segura of Wichita, Kan., Larry Segura of Baird, Joe Segura of Pearsall and Cleto Segura of San Angelo; three grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Mary 'Snookie' Toombs

LUBBOCK - Mary "Snookie" Toombs, 78, died Monday in Carrollton.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Franklin-Bartley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. James Carter officiating. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. Thursday in Rose Hill Cemetery in Merkel with the Rev. Greg Kennedy officiating.

Mrs. Toombs was born in Stith, graduated from Merkel High School and attended John Tarleton University. She worked as an office manager and bookkeeper for Western Gin Company in Lubbock and was a member of St. Luke's United Methodist Church. She married Jack Murry Toombs in 1941 in Stith.

Survivors include one son, Tommy Toombs of Carrollton; two grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 3411 73rd St., Lubbock 79423.

Visitation will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Claudie Clark

BIG SPRING - Claudie Clark, 86, died Tuesday in a local hospital. Services are pending with Myers & Smith Funeral Home.

Macki Millaway

BIG SPRING - Macki Millaway, 75, died Tuesday in a local hospital. Services are pending with Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home.

George E. Hull

SWEETWATER - George E. Hull, 68, died Monday in Sweetwater. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home Chapel.

Ethel Bert Rampy

WINTERS - Ethel Bert Rampy, 96, of Ballinger died Saturday in a Ballinger hospital. Graveside services will be at 3:30 p.m. today in Northview Cemetery, directed by Winters Funeral Home.