Today's Obituaries (Aug. 21, 1998)

Cecelia Merrifield

Cecelia Merrifield, 63, died Thursday in a local hospital.

A prayer service will be at 7 p.m. today in Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory. Services will be at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in the funeral home with the Rev. Joe Uecker officiating. The body will be cremated.

Mrs. Merrifield was born in Pinos Wells, N.M., and married Donald Ray Merrifield Sr. in 1955 in Indianapolis. She was a homemaker and moved to Abilene in 1994 from Roswell, N.M. She was a Catholic.

Survivors include her husband, of Abilene; three sons, Donald Ray Merrifield Jr. of Tucson, Ariz., Howard Russell Merrifield of Abilene and Danny Earl Merrifield of Mesa, Ariz.; three daughters, Carol Ruthann Loflin of Roswell, N.M., Julie Roxanne Ramirez of Abilene and Louise Jeanette Merrifield of Redwood, Iowa; her mother, Anita Chavez of Seminole; one brother, Michael Chavez of Dexter, N.M.; six sisters, Gloria Schartz of Trinidad, Colo., Rose Ester Tejan of Colorado Springs, Colo., Eufemia De Los Santos of Dexter, N.M., Mary Chavez of Seminole, Domie Aguilar of Garland and Kathy Rivera of Roswell, N.M.; 24 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Lela 'Polly' Watkins

COLEMAN - Lela A. "Polly" Watkins, 86, formerly of Silsbee, died Thursday in a local nursing home.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in R.S. Farmer Memorial Cemetery in Silsbee, directed by R.S. Farmer Funeral Home of Silsbee. Local arrangements were made by Stevens Funeral Home.

Mrs. Watkins was born in San Augustine County and attended school in San Augustine. She earned a teaching certificate from Stephen F. Austin College. She taught school and was a homemaker. She lived in Silsbee for more than 50 years and moved to Coleman in 1995. She was a former member of Silsbee First Baptist Church. She was a member of Coleman First Baptist Church and was the widow of P.W. "Bob" Watkins, whom she married in 1937 in San Augustine.

Survivors include one daughter, Ruth Ann Blake of Coleman; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Vina Mae Munnerlyn

RANGER - Vina Mae Munnerlyn, 88, died Wednesday in Breckenridge.

A memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Sunday in New Hope 3 Baptist Church in Breckenridge with the Revs. Charles West and Jody Sanders officiating, directed by Morehart Mortuary of Breckenridge. The body will be cremated.

Mrs. Munnerlyn was born in Erath County and graduated from Dublin High School. She attended Texas Wesleyan College in Fort Worth and then played professional basketball for the Texas Quick Lights. She moved to Stephens County in 1938 and was the widow of George Mazon Munnerlyn, whom she married in 1931.

Survivors include one son, Keith Munnerlyn of Breckenridge; one daughter, Karen Maag of Breckenridge; one brother, N.A. "Jack" Rasmussen of Pearland; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Memorials may be made to Dignity House of Breckenridge or Meals on Wheels and left at the funeral home.

Kyli Pemberton

LUBBOCK - Kyli Pemberton, 5-month-old infant, of San Angelo, relative of four Big Country residents, died Wednesday at her grandparents' home in Lubbock.

Services will be at 4 p.m. today in Lubbock First United Methodist Church with the Revs. Keith Wiseman and Elizabeth Abraham officiating. Burial will be in City of Lubbock Cemetery, directed by Rix Funeral Directors.

Kyli was born in San Angelo.

Survivors include her parents, Jake and Cele Chote Pemberton of San Angelo; her grandparents, Larry and Karen Pemberton of Ovalo, and Suzy and Ed Stiles, and Dale Chote, all of Lubbock; and her great-grandparents, Nelton and Naomi Chote of Ralls, Rachel Ferrell of Lubbock, and Jiggs and Earlene Hampton of Brownwood.

Memorials may be sent to Hospice of Lubbock, 1102 Slide Road, Suite 3, Lubbock 79416.

Sarah Genevieve 'Jan' Tiner

ASPERMONT - Sarah Genevieve "Jan" Tiner, 77, of Dallas and formerly of Aspermont, died Monday in a Dallas hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Aspermont First Baptist Church with the Rev. Barry Taylor officiating. Burial will be in Aspermont Cemetery, directed by McCoy Funeral Home.

Mrs. Tiner was born in Stonewall County and worked as a bookkeeper. She was a member of Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church in Dallas.

Survivors include one son, Sam Tiner of Plano; two sisters, LaVerne Carlile and Mae Rice, both of Dallas; one brother, R.B. "Parker" Goodloe of Lubbock; one grandchild; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Conda Odom 'C.O.' Richards

BALLINGER - Conda O. Richards, 72, operator of the Chadbourne Ranch since 1946, died Wednesday in Trinidad, Colo.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Ballinger First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Bill Hughes officiating. Burial will be in Fort Chadbourne Cemetery, directed by Rains-Seale Funeral Home.

Mr. Richards was born in Utica, N.Y., and graduated from Bronte High School. He attended Texas Tech University. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II and married Nell Papasan in 1949. He moved to Ballinger in 1974 from the Chadbourne Ranch. He was a director of Ballinger First National Bank from 1956-96 and board chairman from 1966-87. He also was a director of the Ballinger Industrial Foundation, Angelo Community Hospital and Ballinger Memorial Hospital. He was president for 9 of the 11 years that he served on the Bronte school board. He was a member of the South Texas Big Game Fishing Club. He was a building committee chairman and Sunday school superintendent at Bronte First United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife, of Ballinger; one daughter, Sallie Richards of Spicewood; two sons, Brian Richards of Ballinger and Garland Richards of Bronte; 11 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Memorials may be sent to American Heart Association, 149 N. Willis, Abilene 79603; or West Texas Rehabilitation Center, 4601 Hartford, Abilene 79605.

Mattie Lee Buchanan

MERKEL - Mattie Lee Buchanan, 86, of Slaton and formerly of Merkel, died Wednesday in a Slaton care center.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Merkel First Baptist Church with the Rev. Bill Scott officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, directed by Starbuck Funeral Home.

Mrs. Buchanan was born in Van Zandt County and attended school in Merkel, Mulberry Canyon and Stith. She was a homemaker and also worked as a secretary for her husband when he was the Precinct 2 justice of the peace. She was chairwoman of the Bible study at Starr Nursing Home in Merkel. She taught the Martha Class at Merkel First Baptist Church, where she was a member, and was the widow of Roy Buchanan, whom she married in 1930 in Merkel.

Survivors include two daughters, Loretta M. Barrios of Lehigh Acres, Fla., and Betty J. Swinney of Lubbock; two sisters, Clota Crawford of Midland and Onita Davis of View; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Memorials may be sent to Merkel Cemetery Association, 201 Edwards, Merkel 79536.

Hertha Bates

BALLINGER - Hertha L. Bates, 88, died Thursday in a local nursing home.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday in Avenue B Church of Christ with Dr. Truman Turk and Charles Ball officiating. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery in Winters, directed by Rains-Seale Funeral Home.

Mrs. Bates was born in Cheapside and was a homemaker. She was a member of Avenue B Church of Christ and was the widow of Arthur H. Bates, whom she married in 1971 in Ballinger.

Survivors include one brother, Raymond Turk of Cuero; and three sisters, Hattie Minzenmayer of Winters, Leona Piel of Malon and Alfreda Muston of Marble Falls.

Margaret McKown

WINTERS - Margaret W. McKown, 89, of New Braunfels and formerly of Winters, died Wednesday in a New Braunfels nursing home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Winters Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. James Hanson officiating. Burial will be in Wingate Cemetery.

Mrs. McKown was born in Milford and moved to Oak Creek as a child. She later lived in Winters. She married Wyatt F. McKown in 1927 in Winters and worked in the magneto department at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio during World War II. She later was a practical nurse and a seamstress. She was a Baptist.

Survivors include two daughters, Mary Lualice Lieck of New Braunfels and Patsy Jean Travis of Albuquerque, N.M.; one brother, Walter H. "Buck" Wilson of Port Aransas; two sisters, Emma Marks of Winters and Martha Middleton of Garden Grove, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Darcell Starnes

CLYDE - Darcell Starnes, 70, of Abilene, died Thursday in an Abilene nursing home. Services are pending with Bailey Funeral Home.

Robert Boadle

BIG SPRING - Robert Boadle, 68, died Thursday at his home. Services are pending with Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home.

Isa Flatt Kincheloe

GOLDTHWAITE - Isa Flatt Kincheloe, 98, of Moline, died Thursday. Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in Hurst Ranch Cemetery, directed by Stacy-Wilkins Funeral Home.