Today's Obituaries (Aug. 20, 1998)

Brenston Staggs

Brenston Staggs, 82, foster grandparent at the Abilene State School from 1979-98, died Tuesday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in New Beginnings UPC Church with the Rev. Floyd Leverton officiating. Burial will be in Potosi Cemetery, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Mr. Staggs was born in Brown County and attended school in Coleman. He was employed by the Works Progress Administration during World War II and moved to Abilene in 1954 from Coleman. He worked at Eddie Krieger Pharmacy. He played the guitar and harmonica in his band, the Texas Three, for many years. He was a member of Liberty Baptist Church and was the widower of Martha Downey Staggs, whom he married in 1936 in Coleman.

Survivors include four sons, Gerald A. Staggs and Jackie D. Staggs, both of Abilene, Raymond D. Staggs of Belton and Brenston H. Staggs of Coleman; two daughters, Thelma J. Hubbard and Frances Paige, both of Abilene; one brother, Tillman Staggs of Burkett; one sister, Joan Pearce of Fredericksburg; 21 grandchildren; 58 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to American Heart Association, 149 N. Willis, Abilene 79603.

Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Louis Ervin Simmons

CLYDE - Louis Ervin Simmons, 78, who, along with his wife, was a caretaker at the Clyde Lake since 1984, died Wednesday at his home.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Clyde Cemetery with the Revs. Dixie Robertson and Knox Waggoner officiating, directed by Bailey Funeral Home.

Mr. Simmons was born in Whon and married Pearl Batley in 1941 in Baird. He worked for the City of Clyde Water Department for many years. He was a member of First United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife, of Clyde; one son, Larry Simmons of Clyde; two daughters, Wanda Weed and Pat Davis, both of Waco; one brother, Roscoe D. Simmons of Clyde; two sisters, Marjorie Shaffer of Kerrville and Delavern Simpson of Fort Worth; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Hospice of the Big Country, 3113 Oldham Lane, Abilene 79602.

Blake Stephens

ARLINGTON - Blake Stephens, 79, formerly of Cisco, died Wednesday in Irving.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Moore Funeral Home Bowen Road Chapel.

Mr. Stephens was born in Cisco and married his wife in 1941. He served with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during World War II. He worked as a mechanical service representative and salesman in the automotive industry until retiring.

Survivors include his wife, Nadeene Stephens of Arlington; one daughter, Sharon Stephens of Arlington; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Wynona Wright Bennett

BROWNWOOD - Wynona Wright Bennett, 86, died Tuesday in a local nursing home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Davis-Morris Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Steve McMeans officiating. Burial will be in Eastlawn Memorial Park.

Mrs. Bennett was born in Hico and was a homemaker. She helped her husband own and operate restaurants in Tyler and Brownwood. She was a member of Coggin Avenue Baptist Church and was the widow of Vernon Bennett, whom she married in 1926 in Hamilton.

Survivors include one daughter, Charlene Matthews of Houston; two sons, Billy Bennett of Brownwood and Gene Bennett of Granbury; four grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; and three nieces and three nephews.

Memorials may be sent to a favorite charity.

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

The Rev. J.D. Stewart

SWEETWATER - The Rev. J.D. Stewart, 83, died Wednesday in an Abilene hospital.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Trinity Baptist Church with the Revs. Donald E. Johnson, Jay Orr and Malcolm Brown, and Dr. Joel McCoy officiating. Burial will be in Roscoe Cemetery, directed by Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home.

Rev. Stewart was born in Mansfield and served with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He married Mozelle Dement in 1946 in Waco and was a retired minister. He was a member of First Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, of Sweetwater; one son, Jay David Stewart of Terrell; two sisters, Thelma Brown of Roscoe and Mary Bridges of Lubbock; two grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to First Baptist Church, 111 Catherine St., Monroe City, Mo. 63456; or a favorite charity.

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

'Reba' Brunie Plumlee

CISCO - "Reba" Brunie Plumlee, 93, lifelong Eastland County resident, died Tuesday in a local care center.

Services will be at 4 p.m. Friday in Chambers-Wilcox Funeral Directors Chapel with the Rev. Gary Turner officiating. Burial will be in Pisgah Cemetery.

Mrs. Plumlee was born in Eastland County and worked in the Cisco school lunchroom for 13 years. She was a member of First United Methodist Church and was the widow of Vadus Plumlee, whom she married in 1940 in Scranton.

Survivors include two daughters, Vada Plumlee of Cisco and Lois Beavers of Chesterfield, Mo.; one son, J.V. Plumlee of Cleveland, Texas; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Mattie Lee Buchanan

MERKEL - Mattie Lee Buchanan, 86, died Wednesday in a Slaton nursing home. Services are pending with Starbuck Funeral Home.

Ethel Mae Kelley DeWitt

BRECKENRIDGE - Ethel Mae Kelley DeWitt, 66, died Monday in an Abilene hospital. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Elliott Street Church of Christ, directed by Melton Funeral Home.

Bobby Vinson

RANGER - Bobby G. Vinson, 69, of Daingerfield, died Monday in Daingerfield. Graveside services will be at 4:30 p.m. today in Evergreen Cemetery, directed by Edwards Funeral Home.

Deon Ray Mathews

BIG SPRING - Deon Ray Mathews, 7-month-old infant, died Sunday in a Lubbock hospital. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Mount Bethel Baptist Church, directed by Myers & Smith Funeral Home.

Vivian Allene Morris

DUBLIN - Vivian Allene Morris, 92, died Monday in a Fort Worth hospital. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Harrell Funeral Home Memorial Chapel.

Rosa Fudge Lucas

BIG SPRING - Rosa Fudge Lucas, 94, died Wednesday in a local nursing home. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Buffington Funeral Home Chapel in Yoakum. Local arrangements were made by Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home.

Darwin Arnold

MIDLAND - Darwin R. Arnold, 70, formerly of Cisco, died Tuesday in a local hospital. Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday in I-20 Church of Christ in Cisco, directed by Pipkin Funeral Home.

Getrudez 'Tule' Rodriguez Sr.

BIG SPRING - Getrudez "Tule" Rodriguez Sr., 83, died Tuesday in a local hospital. Rosary will be said at 8 p.m. today in Myers & Smith Funeral Home Chapel. Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Sacred Heart Catholic Church.