Today's Obituaries (Oct. 2, 1998)

Eric McCrum

Eric Shawn McCrum, 18, a 1998 graduate of Cooper High School, died Wednesday near Shiro in Grimes County.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Pioneer Drive Baptist Church with the Revs. Jack Ridlehoover and Stan Allcorn officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 U.S. Hwy 277 South.

Eric was born in Merced, Calif., and moved to Abilene in 1986 from North Carolina. He was a freshman at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville. He was active in Young Life, a Christian youth organization, and was a member of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church.

Survivors include his parents, Michael and Denise McCrum of Abilene; one brother, Brian McCrum of Raleigh, N.C.; his grandmothers, Lois Robertson of Albuquerque, N.M., and Joanne McCrum of Garden City Beach, S.C.; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Memorials may be sent to Young Life, 1917 S. 6th, Abilene 79602; or Cooper Angel Fund, Cooper High School, 3639 Sayles Blvd, Abilene 79605.

Herbert Stoker Gray

Herbert Stoker Gray, 74, lifelong Abilene resident, died Thursday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest with the Rev. Scott Mayer officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery, directed by Allen-Korzenewski Funeral Home, 1443 N. 2nd.

Mr. Gray was born in Abilene and worked for one year as a fire inspector at the former Sweetwater air base before joining the Abilene Fire Department in 1942. He retired 33 years later and then was a fire dispatcher for the city of Abilene for five years, retiring again in 1980. He married Mozelle Bates in 1946 in Reno, Nev., and was a member of Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest.

Survivors include his wife, of Abilene; two sons, David Lee Gray of Burleson and Ricky Lynn Gray of Big Spring; two brothers, Bill Gray of Hemphill and Charles Gray of Lampasas; one sister, Bess Carpenter of Aurora, Colo.; and one grandchild.

Memorials may be sent to American Cancer Society, 209 S. Danville, Building A, Suite 201, Abilene 79604.

George Wilburn Rhoads

OLD GLORY -- George Wilburn Rhoads, 70, Old Glory school teacher for many years, died Wednesday in an Abilene hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Rule Church of Christ with Tom Rhoads and John Greeson officiating. Burial will be in Old Glory Cemetery, directed by McCoy Funeral Home of Aspermont.

Mr. Rhoads was born in Haskell County and married Bernice Offill in 1959. He was Stonewall County judge in 1979 and Stonewall Memorial Hospital administrator from 1980-84. He also was a former Stonewall County school superintendent and was a member of Rule Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife, of Old Glory; one son, Tom Rhoads of Houston; one daughter, Sherry Breeding of Amarillo; two brothers, Raymond Rhoads of Abilene and Clifford Rhoads of Munday; one sister, Maree Goodwin of Fritch; and three grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to American Cancer Society.

Catherine Abbott

CISCO -- Catherine Abbott, 81, died Wednesday in Austin.

Mass will be said at 2 p.m. today in Holy Rosary Catholic Church with Deacon Jesse Ruiz officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, directed by Kimbrough Funeral Home.

Mrs. Abbott was born in Cisco and was a homemaker. She was a member of the altar society at Holy Rosary Catholic Church and was the widow of Gene Abbott.

Survivors include two daughters, Cathy Strother and Susan Isenhower, both of Round Rock; one sister, Agnes Richardson of Denver City; and five grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Christopher House, c/o Hospice Austin, 2820 Martin Luther King Blvd, Austin 78701.

Marion Lee Harrelson

RISING STAR -- Marion Lee Harrelson, 67, died Thursday at her home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Rising Star Church of Christ with David Harris and Jim Nash officiating. Burial will be in Rising Star Cemetery, directed by Higginbotham Funeral Home.

Mrs. Harrelson was born in Rising Star and married Buck Harrelson in 1948 in Eastland. She was a homemaker and was a member of the Church of Christ.

Survivors include her husband, of Rising Star; four sons, Steven Harrelson of Fort Worth, Loyd Harrelson of Central City, Ark., Richard Harrelson of Rising Star and Kenneth Harrelson of Bokoshe, Okla.; and nine grandchildren.

Lottie Fay Spruill

DE LEON -- Lottie Fay Spruill, 77, lifelong local resident, died Thursday at her home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today in De Leon First Baptist Church with the Rev. Tom Satterwhite and Dr. Van Christian officiating. Burial will be in De Leon Cemetery, directed by Nowlin Funeral Home.

Mrs. Spruill was born in De Leon and married Herbert Spruill in 1944 in Yuma, Ariz. She was a homemaker and was a member of First Baptist Church.

Survivors include her husband, of De Leon; one son, Ronald Spruill of Comanche; one daughter, Patricia Butler of De Leon; two brothers, Johnnie Chupp and Thurman "Tooter" Chupp, both of De Leon; and one grandchild.

Ruby Ann Earles Middlebrook

PAINT CREEK -- Ruby Ann Earles Middlebrook, 90, died Thursday in a Stamford nursing home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Paint Creek Baptist Church with the Revs. John Mark Trice and Alfred Altum officiating. Burial will be in Willow Cemetery in Haskell, directed by Holden-McCauley Funeral Directors of Haskell.

Mrs. Middlebrook was born in Paint Creek in Haskell County and was a homemaker. She was a member of Paint Creek Baptist Church and was the widow of Garland Velton Middlebrook, whom she married in 1923 in Paint Creek.

Survivors include two sons, Dale Middlebrook of Paint Creek and Billy Middlebrook of Haskell; one brother, R.V. Earles of Paint Creek; two grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Pearl Cross

Pearl Cross, 75, died Wednesday in a local nursing home. Services are pending with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 U.S. Hwy 277 South.

Ruby Mae Shumaker

Ruby Mae Shumaker died Thursday in a local hospital. Services are pending with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 U.S. Hwy 277 South.

J.B. Marshall

COLORADO CITY -- J.B. Marshall, 80, died Wednesday in a local hospital. Services are pending with Kiker-Seale Funeral Home.

Emma Munoz

SWEETWATER -- Emma Munoz, 54, died Wednesday in an Abilene hospital. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today in McCoy Funeral Home Chapel of Memories. Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.

Joshua Vernard Bristow

BIG SPRING -- Joshua Vernard Bristow, 91, died Thursday in a Midland care center. Services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home Rosewood Chapel.