Today's Obituaries (Oct. 6, 1998)

Longtime Cisco mayor dies

By ROY A. JONES II

Regional Editor

CISCO - Longtime Cisco Mayor Joe Wheatley died at his home early Monday, six days before he was to have been honored by the city with a "Joe Wheatley Appreciation Day."

City officials plan to go ahead with the Sunday afternoon observance, only it will be more of a memorial service to honor Wheatley's decades of commitment to the betterment of Cisco, Cisco Chamber of Commerce Secretary Helen Gaeta said.

A tree was planted in Wheatley's honor at the Hilton Community Center on Saturday and another will be planted Sunday to serve as a living memorial, she said.

Wheatley had served as mayor for 12 years and was so respected that when he was diagnosed with cancer several months ago and tendered his resignation, the city council refused to accept it. He was re-elected to a new term in May.

"No one could fill his shoes," Gaeta said. "I don't know how he did all he did for Cisco. Anything for the betterment of Cisco you can name, he was in it."

Funeral services for Wheatley will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Gary Turner officiating, assisted by the Rev. Duane "Dutch" Bazil.

Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery under direction of Kimbrough Funeral Home. The family will be at the funeral home for visitation from 6-8 p.m. tonight.

A native of Jones County, Wheatley graduated from Hardin-Simmons University and served in the U.S. Army. He married Virginia McMillin in 1969 in Cleburne. He was the longtime owner of Cisco Lumber and Supply Company.

In addition to being mayor, he had been president of the Cisco Kiwanis Club, Cisco Chamber of Commerce and Cisco Community Development Action Committee, Cisco Development Corporation, Cisco Lions Club and chairman of the Cisco Industrial Foundation.

He also was an active supporter of Cisco Christmas in May and an officer in the Texas Mid-West Community Network. He was a member of the Cisco Masonic Lodge and was a 32nd degree Mason and a member of the Scottish Rite.

He was an elder in First Presbyterian Church and had served as the church treasurer for many years.

Wheatley is survived by his wife, Virginia of the home; two sons, Doug Wheatley of Abilene and Mitchell Bowers of Cleburne; his mother, Willie Wheatley of Cisco; a sister, Julia Pittman of Abilene, and three grandchildren.

Wray Arnold Johnson

MANGUM, Okla. - Wray Arnold Johnson, 89, father of an Abilene resident, died Thursday from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

Services were at 2 p.m. Monday at First Baptist Church in Granite. The Revs. Arol Staverson and Ben Van Vactor officiated. Interment was in Rock Cemetery, Granite, directed by Greer Funeral Home in Mangum.

Mr. Johnson was born in Parker County and married Juanita Thompson on Feb. 11, 1933.

He worked for the Oklahoma State Reformatory from 1955-1975 and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Granite.

Survivors include his children, Marion K. Jimison (Mrs. Jerry W.) of Abilene and Rod Johnson of Lake Elsinore, Calif.; one brother, Joyce K. Johnson of Weatherford; and two grandchildren.

Juanita Johnson

MANGUM, Okla. - Juanita Johnson, 87, mother of an Abilene resident, died Thursday as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

Services were at 2 p.m. Monday at First Baptist Church in Granite, Okla. The Revs. Arol Staverson and Ben Van Vactor officiated. Interment was in Rock Cemetery, Granite, directed by Greer Funeral Home in Mangum.

Mrs. Johnson was born in Greer County and married Wray Arnold Johnson on Feb. 11, 1933.

She worked as a checker at Cothrum's Grocery in Granite and Schmidt's Grocery in Lone Wolf. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Granite.

Survivors include her children, Marion K. Jimison (Mrs. Jerry W.) of Abilene and Rod Johnson of Lake Elsinore, Calif.; and two grandchildren.

Freddie Masias

MUNDAY - Freddie Masias, 43, died Friday in a Fort Worth hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Mudday First Baptist Church, with the Rev. Rigoberto Contreras officiating. Burial will be in Johnson Memorial Cemetery in Munday, directed by McCauley-Smith Funeral Home.

Mr. Masias was born in Knox City and moved to Wichita Falls in 1978 and Mineral Wells in 1982. He was a member of the Mineral Wells Little League Association and served as an umpire around the state for many years.

Survivors include his mother, Eva Gonzales Masias of Munday; his wife, Nancy Masias, of Mineral Wells; four daughters, Cindy and Christy Masias both of Munday, Leslie Masias of Irving, Kimberly Baker of Mineral Wells and Jennifer Masias of Mineral Wells; three sons, Jimmy Guerrero of Abilene, Alfred Masias of Munday, Timothy Wayne Masias of Mineral Wells; two sisters, Betsy Arismendez and Audelia Guzman, both of Goree; three brothers, Frank Masias of Haskell, Andy Masias of Huntsville and Dennis Masias of Munday; and 11 grandchildren.

Audrey M. Robertson

BROWNWOOD - Audrey M. Robertson, 85, died Sunday in an area hospital.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Davis-Morris Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Judy Gayler officiating. Interment will be at Eastlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Davis-Morris Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Ms. Robertson was born in Nacona and was the widow of Curtis Ray Robertson, whom she married in 1933. She was a retired bookkeeper and worked at Brownwood Floral and Clements & Son Wholesale. A member of Altrusa International, Ms. Robertson had lived in the Brownwood community since 1951 and was actively involved in volunteer work.

Survivors include a daughter, Carol Thompson of Arlington; two sons, Kenneth Robertson of Brownwood and Noel Robertson of Austin; three brothers, W.O. "Buck" Nunley of Julian, Calif., Jack Nunley of Hereford and Charles Ray "Chub" Nunley of Florida; a sister, Jerry Dutton of LaJunta, Colo.; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Benny Morales

ROTAN - Benny Morales, 43, died Monday at an area hospital.

Rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. today at Weathersbee Funeral Home. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, with the Rev. Johnrose Hayden officiating. Burial will follow in the Belview Cemetery under the direction of Weathersbee Funeral Home in Rotan.

Mr. Morales was born in Rotan and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. He was a manager of the Casa Morales Restaurant.

Survivors include five sisters, Soveda (Sandy) Garcia of Abilene, Alice Morales of Rotan, Elisa Guzman of Odessa, Angel Velez of Rotan and Trena Morales of Rotan; two brothers, Alex Morales of Sweetwater and Robert Morales of Rotan; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews.

Archie Strother

CISCO - Archie Strother, 81, of Cedar Park, died Sunday at an area hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today at the Kimbrough Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Larry Fitzgerald officiating. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery.

The widower of Wanda Holiby, whom he married in 1943 in Belton, Mr. Strother was born in Gustine. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the United States Army Air Corps.

Mr. Strother worked as a agricultural land developer and was a member of the Church of Christ.

Survivors include four sons, Macon Strother of Sugarland, Anthony Strother of Round Rock, Michael Strother of Cedar Park and William Strother of Austin; a brother Glen Strother of Abilene; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

James Richard Higgins

BROWNWOOD - James Richand Higgins, 68, died Sunday at his North Lake Brownwood home after a lengthy illness.

Services will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Davis-Morris Funeral Home, with the Rev. Sam Bowden officiating. Interment will be at Pleasant Valley Cemetery.

Mr. Higgins was born in Buena Park, Calif. and moved from Lubbock to North Lake Brownwood in 1990. He retired from the United States Air Force after 21 years of service, which included representing the United States in the Korean conflict and in Vietnam. He went on to work as facilities superintendent at the Lubbock International Airport. He was retired at the time of his death.

Mr. Higgins was a lifetime member of American Legion Post 470, former Judge Advocate of American Legion Post 470 and was past president of the Tamarack Mountain Neighborhood Association.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley Marie Higgins; a son, Richard Higgins of Peyton, Colo.; three daughters, Sharlene Lubban of Lubbock, Diane Tilley of Dardanelle, Ark., Deanna Davis, of Lubbock; a sister, Jane Adair of Irvine, Calif.; and eight grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Military Graveside Services.

Michael Lynn Robinson

Michael Lynn Robinson, 45, died Monday at a local hospital.

Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Wylie Baptist Church, with the Rev. Mike Patterson officiating. Burial will be in Elliott-Hamil Garden of Memories directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 U.S. Highway 277 South.

Mr. Robinson was born in Haskell and graduated from Stamford High School and McMurry University. In 1982 he moved from San Angelo to Abilene, where he was a city carrier with the United States Postal Service for 12 years.

He married Leah Hargrove in Austin in 1977. Mr. Robinson was a member of Wylie Baptist Church and the National Association of Letter Carriers. He was a United States Air Force veteran.

Besides his wife of Abilene, survivors include his parents, A.C. and Frances Robinson of Stamford; two brothers, Doug Monzingo of Pflugerville and Montie Monzingo of Dallas; three sisters, Pattti Kirkeby of Vancouver, Wash., Barbara Hohertz of Round Rock and Donna Moore of Redford, Mich.; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to Hendrick Hospice Care, P.O. Box 1922, Abilene 79604 or Wylie Baptist Church, 6097 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene 79606.

Jesse M. Salgado

BIG SPRING - Jesse M. Salgado, 52, died Monday at an area hospital. Services are pending at Myers & Smith Funeral Home.

Rev. D.R. Philley

BROWNWOOD - Rev. D.R. Philley, 87, died Sunday at C.A.R.E. Inc. in Brownwood. Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Comanche Funeral Home Chapel.

Edith Wagoner Bachman

THROCKMORTON - Edith Wagoner Bachman, 96, died Sunday at her home. Graveside services will be at 2:30 today at Throckmorton Cemetery.

Billy H. Bounds

STAMFORD - Billy H. Bounds, 66, died Monday at an area hospital. Services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Ericksdahl.

Jossie May Harris

DUBLIN - Jossie May Harris, 88, died Sunday at People's Nursing Home. Graveside services will be today at 2 p.m. at the Gardens of Memory Cemetery in Stephenville.

Una M. Neill, 81, died Monday in a local nursing home. Services are pending with Starbuck Funeral Home of Merkel.

Frank Ullrich

MILES - Frank Ullrich, 78, died Monday at his home. Rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. tonight at St. Thomas Catholic Church and funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Thomas.