Today's Obituaries (Sept. 30, 1998)

Lucy Faye Russom Turner

Lucy Faye Russom Turner, 80, formerly of the Merkel area, died Tuesday in a local care center.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Starbuck Funeral Home Chapel in Merkel with the Rev. Greg Kennedy officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery in Merkel.

Mrs. Turner was born in Mulberry Canyon, southwest of Merkel, and was a homemaker. She was a Pink Lady volunteer at Hendrick Medical Center and was a member and past officer of the Abilene Bowling Association. She also was a member of Abilene Garden Club, China Painting Guild and St. Paul United Methodist Church and was the widow of Vergil L. Turner, whom she married in 1936 in Merkel.

Survivors include two daughters, Shirley Kesler and Sherry Smith, both of Abilene; two brothers, John Henry Swinney of Trent and Pete Swinney of Merkel; three sisters, Rose Anderson of Burkeville, Ona Mae Masserang of Abernathy and Opal Patterson of Odessa; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to a favorite charity.

Verna Spurlin Ray

Verna Spurlin Ray, 83, died Monday in a local nursing home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Faith, 5701 U.S. Hwy 277 South, with the Rev. Mike Woodard and Guy Spurlin officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Gap Cemetery.

Mrs. Ray was born in Cedar Gap in Taylor County and graduated from Tuscola High School in 1932 and Sul Ross State University in 1938. She taught school in Saragosa, Dumas, Tulia, and in Abilene at Dyess Elementary and the former Houston Elementary before retiring. She was a former member of Delta Kappa Gamma. She was a life member of National Educators Association and Texas State Teachers Association. She also was a member of Southwest Park Baptist Church and was the widow of Norman Spurlin and Gene Ray.

Survivors include one son, David Spurlin of Tuscola; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Jerry Lynn Jones

Jerry Lynn Jones, 71, self-employed paint contractor from 1968 until retiring in 1993, died Monday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Faith, 5701 U.S. Hwy 277 South, with Dr. Mike Stedham officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park.

Mr. Jones was born in Kosse and attended school in Marlin. He graduated from Baylor University and served in the U.S. Navy. He moved to Abilene from Marlin. He was a member of Rose Park Tennis Center and Fort Phantom Duplicate Bridge Unit. He attended Abilene First Baptist Church and was the widower of Marjorie Gafford Jones.

Survivors include his wife, Phyllis Jones of Abilene; one son, David G. Jones of Abilene; one daughter, Julie Beth Putterman of Mercer Island, Wash.; two stepsons, Sam Houston and Ronny Houston, both of Austin; one sister, Beryle Martin of Lampasas; and seven grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to First Baptist Church Ministry of Counseling and Enrichment, 1502 N. 1st, Abilene 79601.

Shawn Lewis Davis

CLYDE - Shawn Lewis Davis, infant son of Mack and Heather Davis of Abilene, died Monday in an Abilene hospital.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Kendrick Cemetery in Denton Valley with the Rev. Ronnie Timms officiating, directed by Bailey Funeral Home.

Shawn was born in Abilene.

Other survivors include one brother, Clint Odell Davis of Abilene; one sister, Alexus DeeAnn Davis of Abilene; his maternal grandparents, John Pine of California and Karen Pine of Abilene; his paternal grandparents, George and Deborah Davis of Clyde, and Carolyn and Wayne Zimmerlee of Lawn; his paternal great-grandmother, Lou Ella Davis of Clyde; and his maternal great-grandmother, Ida Mae Daron of Abilene.

Beverly Jenson Walker

ROCKWALL - Beverly Jenson Walker, 78, formerly of Abilene, died Monday in Rowlett.

Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Rockwall City Cemetery with the Rev. Keith Boone officiating, directed by Lyons Funeral Home.

Mrs. Walker was born in Bismarck, N.D., and lived in Abilene for many years. She owned Bev's Indian Things, later known as The Closet, in Abilene. She was the widow of Robert Yule Walker II, whom she married in 1943.

Survivors include two sons, Robert Yule Walker III of Rockwall and Chris Walker of Katy; one daughter, Tina Hoffman of Grand Prairie; two sisters, Edna French and Marion Thompson, both of Bismarck, N.D.; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Texas Boys Choir, 2925 Riverglen Drive, Fort Worth 76109; or a favorite charity.

Ben McKelvain

BRECKENRIDGE - Ben McKelvain, 96, of Stephens County, died Tuesday in Abilene.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Morehart Mortuary Chapel with the Revs. LaVelle Haynes and Steve Monk officiating. Burial will be in Battle Creek Cemetery.

Mr. McKelvain was born in Stephens County and attended school in Eureka. He married Louisa Blanche Loving in 1922 in Baird and was a rancher and farmer. He was a former Moran school trustee and was a member of Eolian Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife, of Moran; one son, Burrell McKelvain of Moran; one daughter, Nita Dunn of Portales, N.M.; one sister, Fay Walls of Abilene; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Eolian Methodist Church or Swenson Museum Clock Fund and left at the funeral home.

Gean Witt

HAMLIN - Gean Witt, 73, died Monday in an Anson hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Hamlin First United Methodist Church with the Revs. Martin Encke, James Moore and Randy Larpenteur officiating. Burial will be in Hamlin Memorial Cemetery, directed by Foster-Adams Funeral Home.

Mr. Witt was born in Stamford and lived in Hamlin for many years. He graduated from Hamlin High School in 1943. He married Laverne Hix in 1943 in Hamlin and served with the U.S. Army during World War II. He worked for Witt Jewelry, Hamlin Auto Parts and Jones County. He was a former president of the Hamlin Rotary Club and a former Scout master. He was a member of Western Square Dance Association and First United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife, of Hamlin; one son, Jeffrey Witt of Hamlin; two daughters, Linda Middleton of Hamlin and Cindy Leonard of Lewisville; one grandchild; and several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Estelle Preston

EASTLAND - Estelle Preston, 94, died Sunday in a local hospital.

Services were Tuesday in Merriman Baptist Church with the Rev. Jimmy Lively officiating. Burial was in Lakeland Hills Cemetery in Kingsland, directed by Bakker Funeral Home.

Mrs. Preston was born in Shreveport, La., where she grew up, and lived in McCamey, Kingsland and Arlington before moving to Eastland in 1982. She was a homemaker. She was a member of East Side Baptist Church in McCamey and was the widow of Charles L. Preston.

Survivors include three daughters, Edna Smart of Eastland, Joy Rushing of Kingsland and Rowena Parks of Arlington; four sons, Charles Preston of Belton, and Hubert Preston, George Preston and Bobby Preston, all of Kingsland; 19 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

Minnie Wenetschlaeger Kubena

SWEETWATER - Minnie Wenetschlaeger Kubena, 98, died Tuesday at her home.

Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today in McCoy Funeral Home Chapel of Memories. Mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Holy Family Catholic Church with the Rev. Timothy Guthridge officiating. Burial will be in Hermleigh Cemetery.

Mrs. Kubena was born in Shiner and was a farmer and homemaker. She moved to Sweetwater in 1972 from Hermleigh. She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and was the widow of Jim Kubena, whom she married in 1921 in Hermleigh.

Survivors include one daughter, Dorothy Kuss of Sweetwater; one son, Jimmie Kubena of Snyder; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Memorials may be sent to a favorite charity; or Holy Family Catholic Church, 507 Crane, Sweetwater 79556.

Ira Files

OLDEN - Ira L. Files, 85, died Monday in an Abilene hospital.

Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Eastland City Cemetery, directed by Edwards Funeral Home of Eastland.

Mr. Files was born in Gorman, where he attended school. He married Juanita Dodd in 1941 in Gorman and worked for Chance-Vought Aircraft in Grand Prairie during World War II. He moved in 1954 to the Seagraves-Seminole area, where he farmed until retiring. He moved to the Eastland area in 1980.

Survivors include his wife, of Olden; one son, Gerald Files of Lubbock; one brother, Elbert Files of Cleveland, Texas; one sister, Edna Roney of Gorman; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Donald Eugene Whitley

ROCHESTER - Donald Eugene Whitley, 63, rural carrier with the U.S. Postal Service for 35 years, died Sunday in a Haskell hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Rochester First Baptist Church with the Rev. Truett Kuenstler officiating. Burial will be in Rochester Cemetery, directed by Smith Funeral Directors.

Mr. Whitley was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and served in the U.S. Army. He married Rita Ann Garcia in 1987 in Knox City.

Survivors include his wife, of Rochester; two daughters, Kimberly Ann Whitley of Round Rock and Melissa Vasquez of El Campo; two sons, Chad Louis Whitley of Archer City and Joey Whitley of Rochester; and two grandchildren.

Raymond Talafuse Sr.

BROWNWOOD - Raymond Talafuse Sr., 78, of Lake Brownwood, died Monday in a Bangs nursing home.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Eastlawn Memorial Park in Early with the Revs. Michael Switzer and Arthur Switzer officiating, directed by Bangs Funeral Home.

Mr. Talafuse was born in Somerville and married Lucille Brewer in 1973 in Cameron. He worked as a cotton ginner and moved to Lake Brownwood in 1979. He was a Baptist.

Survivors include his wife, of Lake Brownwood; three daughters, Pat Guthneck of Austin, Beverly Sundberg of Florence and Wanda Parks of Bangs; one son, Ray Talafuse Jr. of Thorndale; three stepdaughters, Peggy Ferguson and Louise Muston, both of Cameron, and Linda Fikes of Rosebud; one stepson, William Seelke of Cameron; one brother, Wayne Talafuse of Leesville, La.; and nine grandchildren.

Sylvia Garcia Diaz

COLORADO CITY - Sylvia Garcia Diaz, 39, died Monday in a Lubbock hospital. Services are pending with Kiker-Seale Funeral Home.

Jerry Robinson

EASTLAND - Jerry D. Robinson died Tuesday at his home. Services are pending with Edwards Funeral Home.

George Schaefer

OLFEN - George Schaefer, 75, died Tuesday at his home. Rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. today in St. Boniface Catholic Church. Mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in the church, directed by Rains-Seale Funeral Home of Ballinger.

Patricia Darlene Johnson

EASTLAND - Patricia Darlene Johnson, 59, of Lake Leon, died Tuesday at her home. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Gunsight Cemetery, directed by Edwards Funeral Home.

Lillian Hornsby

COMANCHE - Lillian Hornsby, 75, of Weatherford, died Monday in a Weatherford care center. Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday in Comanche Funeral Home Chapel.