Today's Obituaries (July 17, 1998)

Zelda Leon Lucas

Zelda Leon Lucas, 86, died Wednesday in a local care center.

Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Elmwood Memorial Park with Dr. Elbert Peak officiating, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 U.S. Hwy 277 South.

Mrs. Lucas was born in Bowie in Montague County, where she graduated from high school, and was a homemaker. She moved to Abilene in 1948 from Bowie. She was a member of the Church of Christ and was the widow of Clyde Lucas, whom she married in 1936 in Montague County.

Survivors include two sons, Ted Lucas of Abilene and Leon Lucas of Brownwood; one brother, Harold Loyd Woolsey of Denton; two sisters, Hazel Cox of Bowie and Augusta Miller of Fort Worth; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Faye Jones

Linnie Faye Jones, 74, formerly of Merkel, died Thursday in a local nursing home.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Merkel First Baptist Church with the Rev. Jimmy Griffith officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery in Merkel, directed by Starbuck Funeral Home of Merkel.

Mrs. Jones was born in Stith in Jones County and was a homemaker. She worked for Adcock Cleaners in Merkel and, for five years, Abilene State School. She was a member of Golden Saints and Merkel First Baptist Church and was the widow of Walter Lewis Farmer, whom she married in 1946 in Merkel; and Selma L. "Sam" Jones, whom she married in 1967 in Merkel.

Survivors include one son, Dale Farmer of Tuscola; one daughter, Jana Louden of Azle; one brother, Arnold Armstrong of Bonham; and four grandchildren.

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

Gordon Klump

BLISS, N.Y. -- Gordon F. Klump, 90, father of an Abilene resident, died July 5 in a Warsaw, N.Y. hospital.

Services were July 9 in Weeks Funeral Home Chapel in Warsaw, N.Y. Burial was in Union Park Cemetery in Wethersfield Springs, N.Y.

Mr. Klump was born in Pavilion, N.Y., and attended Bliss High School. He married Mildred Hatch in 1964 and worked as a miller for Agway in Hardys, N.Y. for many years until retiring in 1972. He was a 55-year member of Eagle Valley Lodge 1161 Free and Accepted Masons and attended Bliss Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, Gordon Klump of Warsaw, N.Y., Wilford Klump of Abilene and Norman Klump of Enon, Ohio; one daughter, Sandra Gill of Geneseo, N.Y.; 10 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Bliss Rescue Squad.

Harold Beard

COLEMAN -- Harold H. Beard, 75, of Abilene and formerly of Coleman County, died Thursday in an Abilene hospital.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Coleman City Cemetery with the Rev. Paul Smith officiating, directed by Walker Funeral Home.

Mr. Beard was born in Desdemona and lived in Coleman County most of his life. He served in the military and was a retired pipefitter. He was a Baptist.

Survivors include five daughters, Candy Mann and Marcia Elkins, both of Coleman, Jan Day of McAllen, Kayla Wyatt of Abilene and Patti Hawkins of Maryland; three sons, Mark Beard of Muleshoe, Randy Beard of Denton and Roger Beard of Maryland; three brothers, Ray Beard of Coleman, Woody Beard of Irving and Robert Beard Jr. of Phoenix, Ariz.; and 11 grandchildren.

Ray Fesmire

ODESSA -- Ray W. Fesmire, 90, formerly of the Big Country, died Thursday at his home.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Sunset Memorial Gardens, directed by Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors.

Mr. Fesmire was born in McCaulley and graduated from Hardin-Simmons College. He was a first lieutenant with the U.S. Army during World War II and worked as a store manager and district manager for Donaldson's and Montgomery Ward. He moved to Odessa in 1955 and operated Good Housekeeping Shop, an appliance store which he opened, until retiring in 1974. He was the widower of Ruth Ruthledge Fesmire, whom he married in 1932.

Survivors include twin sons, Richard Fesmire of Ennis and Russell Fesmire of San Francisco; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one niece and one nephew.

Dela Marth Matejowsky

ROSCOE -- Dela Marth Matejowsky, 86, lifelong Nolan County resident, died Tuesday in a Sweetwater retirement center.

Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. today in Roscoe Cemetery with the Rev. Keith Kreitzer officiating, directed by McCoy Funeral Home.

Mrs. Matejowsky was born in Nolan County and graduated from Brownlee High School. She was a homemaker and worked as a beautician and cosmetologist. She was a member of First Salem Lutheran Church and was the widow of Arthur J. Marth, whom she married in 1929 in Roscoe; and Clarence Matejowsky, whom she married in Roscoe.

Survivors include one son, Garland Marth of Roscoe; one sister, Zelma Helmers of San Angelo; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to a favorite charity.

Alma Partlow

BIG SPRING -- Alma Partlow, 71, died Thursday in a Midland hospital after a three-month illness.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Myers & Smith Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Kenneth Patrick officiating. Burial will be in Trinity Memorial Park.

Mrs. Partlow was born in Crews and moved to Big Spring in 1948 from Bradshaw. She was a homemaker. She was a member of East Fourth Street Baptist Church and was the widow of Myron J. Partlow, whom she married in 1948 in Bradshaw.

Survivors include two sons, George Adams of Fruitvale and Dickie Partlow of Big Spring; four brothers, Carlos Smith of Llano, James Smith of San Angelo, Walter Smith of Lubbock and Clint Smith of Hobbs, N.M.; two sisters, Vina Mae Trammell of Sterling City and Oletha Faye Hooper of San Angelo; and four grandchildren.

Eugene 'Gene' Wendell Wood

RULE -- Eugene "Gene" Wendell Wood, 90, owner and operator of Gene Wood Tractor Sales in Munday for many years, died Thursday in a local nursing home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Rule First Baptist Church with the Rev. Scott Hensley officiating. Burial will be in Rule Cemetery, directed by McCauley-Robison Funeral Directors.

Mr. Wood was born in Dalhart and married Myrtle Yarbrough in 1940 in Hollis, Okla. He received the FFA's Honorary Farmer Award and was local chairman of the Cattleman's Roundup for Crippled Children Farm Equipment Sale, benefitting the West Texas Rehabilitation Center. He was recognized in Cuernavaca, Mexico for his work with the Oliver Corp.

Survivors include his wife, of Haskell; one son, Gary Wood of Austin; one daughter, Gail Wood of Waco; one sister, Willie May Stone of Henderson; and three grandchildren.

Norman Lee

CROSS PLAINS -- Norman T. Lee, 71, died Thursday at his home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Higginbotham Funeral Home Chapel with Donald Duke officiating. Burial will be in Zephyr Cemetery.

Mr. Lee served with the U.S. Army and married his wife in 1950 in Wheeler. He worked as a welder and mechanic. He was a Baptist.

Survivors include his wife, Delphia Lee of Cross Plains; one daughter, Norma Del Cundiff of Valley View; and two grandchildren.

Lena Ruby Haag

ASPERMONT -- Lena Ruby Haag, 94, died Thursday in an Odessa hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Central Baptist Church with the Rev. Lawrence Ballou officiating. Burial will be in Highland Memorial Cemetery in Stamford, directed by McCoy Funeral Home.

Mrs. Haag was born in Giddings and married George Haag in 1922 in Taylor. She worked as a practical nurse and was a member of Central Baptist Church.

Survivors include one sister, Johanna Kattz of Floresville; four grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.

Maggie Lou Cotton

CISCO -- Maggie Lou Cotton, 91, of Fort Worth and formerly of Cisco, died Wednesday in Fort Worth.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in I-20 Church of Christ with Gary Adams officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, directed by Kimbrough Funeral Home.

Mrs. Cotton was born in Breckenridge and graduated from North Texas State College for Women. She taught school in Cisco. She was a member of I-20 Church of Christ and was the widow of Archie Whitehead and Fred Cotton.

Survivors include three daughters, Louise White of Putnam, and Norma Morris and Joan Johns, both of Fort Worth; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Bernard 'Barney' Blair

Bernard "Barney" Blair, 65, died Thursday in a local hospital. Services are pending with North's Funeral Home, 242 Orange.

Minnie Lee Scarlett

CISCO -- Minnie Lee Scarlett died Thursday at her home. Services are pending with Kimbrough Funeral Home.

Thomas Alonzo Jr.

SNYDER -- Thomas Alonzo Jr., 50, of Austin and formerly of Snyder, died Wednesday in an Austin hospital after a brief illness. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today in Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home Chapel. Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.