Today's Obituaries (July 20, 1998)

Virginia 'Elizabeth' Terry

Virginia "Elizabeth" Terry, 67, died Sunday at a local hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at North's Funeral Home Memorial Chapel, 242 Orange, with the Rev. Mike Schirle officiating. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery in Anson.

Mrs. Terry grew up in Texas and California and attended Pepperdine University. She was a secretary for several businesses in California for several years. She moved to Abilene in 1989 and was a member of Heritage Baptist Church. She married George Terry in California; he preceded her in death.

Survivors include her parents, Virgil and Elizabeth Virginia Dopson of Abilene; one brother, Weldon Dopson of Brea, Calif.; and three nephews.

James Othell O'Kelly

TRENT - James Othell O'Kelly, 73, died Saturday at an Abilene hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Trent United Methodist Church with Larry Gill and the Revs. Tommy Beck and Brett Rowlett officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Memories in Trent, directed by McCoy Funeral Home of Sweetwater.

Mr. O'Kelly was born in Trent, where he lived all his life. He graduated from Trent High School and was a farmer-rancher. He was a member of Trent United Methodist Church, where he was Sunday school superintendent and a teacher. He served on the board of directors for the Trent Independent School District, Production Credit Association and S.U.N. Water Corp. He served on the steering committee for United Bank and Trust and was a 50-year member of Merkel Masonic Lodge and a 32nd-degree Mason. He married Patsy Cox in 1945 in Merkel.

Survivors include his wife, of Trent; one son, Owen "Bubba" O'Kelly of Trent; one daughter, Melinda Simpson of Trent; seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Trent United Methodist Church, Trent 79561; or Hendrick Hospice Care, 1682 Hickory, Abilene 79601.

The family will be at the funeral home from 5-7 p.m. today.

Robert 'Bob' Bell

Robert H. "Bob" Bell, 84, died Saturday at a local nursing home.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Davis-Morris Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Greenleaf Cemetery.

Mr. Bell was born in Brownwood, where he lived all his life. He attended school in Brownwood and Howard Payne College. He was retired from the U.S. Postal Service and Davis-Morris Funeral Home. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of First United Methodist Church, American Legion, K.P. Lodge and National Association of Retired Federal Employees. He married Vanita Yates Martin in 1983 in Brownwood.

Survivors include his wife, of Brownwood; one stepson, W. Pat O'Bryan of Brownwood; one brother, Joseph Bell of Austin; two stepgrandchildren, one stepgreat-grandchild and several nieces and nephews.

Seth Jenkins

BANGS - Seth C. Jenkins, 87, who owned and operated Jenkins Variety Store from 1937-1972, when he retired, died Saturday at his home.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church with the Revs. Jimmy Allen and Richard Rust officiating. Burial will be in Bangs Cemetery, directed by Davis-Morris Funeral Home of Brownwood.

Mr. Jenkins was born in Trickham and had lived in Bangs for 77 years. He was a member of First Baptist Church, where he had been a deacon for 53 years. He had served on the Bangs and Brown County school boards and was a scoutmaster for Boy Scouts for several years. He married Joda Faye York in 1933 in Brownwood.

Survivors include his wife, of Bangs; two daughters, LaRecea Welch of Fort Worth and Donna Hallford of Pagosa Springs, Colo.; one sister, Mable Read of Corpus Christi; four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

The family will be at the funeral home from 6:30-7:30 p.m. today.

E.M. 'Shorty' Phillips

BROWNWOOD - E.M. "Shorty" Phillips, 79, of Lake Brownwood died Saturday at his home.

Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. today in Coleman City Cemetery in Coleman with the Rev. Donald Duke officiating, directed by Davis-Morris Funeral Home.

Mr. Phillips was born in Eastland County and had lived in Brown County for 28 years. He was a Navy veteran of World War II and a retired building contractor. He married Dortha Cantrell in 1935 in Coleman; she preceded him in death.

Survivors include one brother, Joe Phillips of Early; one sister, Viola Claiborne of Coleman; one granddaughter, two great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Martha Etta 'Huett' Drake

EASTLAND - Martha Etta "Huett" Drake, 101, formerly of Eastland, died Saturday in Seven Points. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Eastland City Cemetery, directed by Edwards Funeral Home.

Bertie Stocks

BIG SPRING - Bertie Stocks, 90, of Hamilton and a longtime Big Spring resident, died Saturday in Hamilton. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home Rosewood Chapel.

Thelma Motley

STEPHENVILLE - Thelma F. Motley, 87, died Sunday at a local nursing home. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Gardens of Memory Cemetery, directed by Stephenville Funeral Home. The family will be at the funeral home from 7-9 p.m. today.

Elsie Opal Files Echols

Elsie Opal Files Echols, 92, of Abilene died Saturday at a local nursing home. Services are pending with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Susan Leigh Peebles

RANGER - Susan Leigh Peebles, 50, died Sunday at an Abilene hospital. Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church, directed by Edwards Funeral Home.

Robbie Lee Wilson

MERKEL - Robbie Lee Wilson, 87, died Sunday at an Abilene hospital. Services are pending with Starbuck Funeral Home.

Clifford 'Pepper' Robison

COLEMAN - Clifford "Pepper" Robison, 45, of Lake Coleman died Sunday at his home. Services are pending with Stevens Funeral Home.