Today's Obituaries (Oct. 11, 1998)

Arthur Vernon Kraft

DALLAS -- Arthur Vernon Kraft, 89, father of an Abilene resident, died Friday in a Tyler hospital.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Laurel Land Memorial Park, directed by Lamar & Smith Funeral Home.

Mr. Kraft was born in Cincinnati and was the widower of Vesta L. Kraft.

Survivors include two daughters, Dr. Dorothy Barnes of Abilene and Patty Tunnell of Canton; one brother, R. Glenn Craft; 10 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

Wirtie 'Billie' Pickard

ALBANY -- Wirtie "Billie" Pickard, 86, died Saturday at her home near Albany.

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. today in Albany Church of Christ with Brian Cope and the Rev. Don Clevenger officiating. Burial will be in Albany Cemetery, directed by Godfrey-Neese Funeral Home.

Mrs. Pickard was born in Clayton, N.M., and later moved to Throckmorton. She moved in 1944 to Shackelford County, where she was a rancher. She was a member of the Church of Christ and was the widow of Earl Pickard, whom she married in 1929 in Throckmorton.

Survivors include one son, Robert Lee Pickard of the Albany area; one sister, Mary Wilkes of Abilene; and two nephews.

Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society or Hospice of the Big Country and left at the funeral home.

Nicholas Kent 'Nick' Gardner

ROSCOE -- Nicholas Kent "Nick" Gardner, 19, a 1998 graduate of Roscoe High School, died Saturday from injuries received in an automobile accident on Highway 84 near Snyder.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in First Salem Lutheran Church with the Rev. Keith Kreitzer officiating. Burial will be in Roscoe Cemetery, directed by McCoy Funeral Home.

Mr. Gardner was born in Sweetwater and lived in the Sweetwater-Roscoe area all his life. He played football and basketball, and ran track at Roscoe High School. He was attending Western Texas College in Snyder and was a member of First Salem Lutheran Church.

Survivors include his parents, W.L. "Sonny" and Sharon Gardner of Roscoe; one sister, Jamie Gardner of Roscoe; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Elmer Mathison

CARBON -- Elmer D. Mathison, 78, died Friday in a Temple hospital.

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday in Bakker Funeral Home Chapel in Eastland with Joe Wilson officiating. Burial will be in Bear Springs Cemetery.

Mr. Mathison was born in Weinert in Haskell County and grew up in De Leon and San Angelo. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II and married Donnie Barnett in 1950 in Rising Star. He worked as an auto upholstery technician until retiring. He moved to Carbon in 1972 and was a member of Flatwood Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife, of Carbon; two daughters, Ruth Martin of Brownwood and Barbara Jenkins of Round Rock; two sons, Paul Mathison of Brownwood and Joe Stewart of Irving; one sister, Clara Lasswell of Brownwood; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one niece and two nephews.

Willie 'Bill' Barron

STAMFORD -- Willie R. "Bill" Barron, 73, died Saturday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Tankersley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Katherine Byrd officiating. Burial will be in Highland Memorial Cemetery.

Mr. Barron was born in Putnam and married Joyce Weems in 1958 in Stamford. He was a retired bulldozer operator and was a Baptist.

Survivors include his wife, of Stamford; one son, Willie Albert Barron of Hawley; two daughters, Edna Mae King and Mary Ellen Vance, both of Stamford; two brothers, C.W. Barron of Baird and Charles Leon Barron of Arlington; one sister, Edna Earle Tillery of California; five grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Bobby Moore

BIG SPRING -- Bobby G. Moore, 70, died Friday at his home after a long illness.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Myers & Smith Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Emmett Barnard officiating. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Mount Hope Cemetery in Anson with P.B. Middlebrook Jr. officiating.

Mr. Moore was born in Hamby and served with the U.S. Army in Korea. He married Virginia Merrill in 1971 in Jal, N.M., and worked as a service technician for Sears and Montgomery Wards. He later was employed by Mead's Auto Supply until retiring in 1985. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife, of Big Spring; two sons, Ricky Gene Moore of Montana and Rex Anthony Moore of Big Spring; one daughter, Rene Thompson of California; one brother, Thomas James Moore of Anson; three sisters, Wilma Burton, Elaine Bailey and Pat Reese, all of Anson; one grandchild; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Marie Rodriquez Ramon

COLEMAN -- Marie Rodriquez Ramon, 86, died Friday in an Abilene hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Walker Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Paul Carrosco officiating. Burial will be in Coleman City Cemetery.

Mrs. Ramon was born in Jimenez, Mexico, and married Euaristo Ramon in 1929 in Eldorado. She was a homemaker and moved to Coleman County in 1988.

Survivors include two daughters, Carmen Rendon of Minnesota and Maria Anderson of Coleman; eight sons, Lupe Ramon and Santos Ramon, both of Eagle Pass, Manuel Ramon of Menard, Irael Ramon of Piedra Negras, Mexico, Rodolfio Ramon and Roland Ramon, both of Coleman, Roberto Ramon of Palacios and Ramond Ramon of Round Rock; one brother, Francisco Rodriquez of Levelland; and 37 grandchildren.

Carmen Castanda Arriaga

BROWNWOOD -- Carmen Castanda Arriaga, 78, died Friday in a local nursing home.

Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today in Davis-Morris Funeral Home Chapel. Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Mary's Catholic Church with Msgr. Benedick Zientek officiating. Burial will be in Greenleaf Cemetery.

Mrs. Arriaga was born in Monclova, Mexico, and was a homemaker. She moved to Brownwood in 1968. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and was the widow of Braulio L. Arriaga, whom she married in 1952 in Hidalgo County.

Survivors include five sons, Max Arriaga, Joe Arriaga, Antonio Arriaga, Arnulfo Arriaga and Braulio Arriaga Jr., all of Brownwood; five daughters, Virgenia Avarado, Emilia Gonzales and Rebbeca Bauer, all of Wisconsin, and Juliana Navejar and Natividad Ruiz, both of Brownwood; three brothers, Rafaeh Castanda of Bangs, and Inocencio Castanda and Guadalupe Castanda, both of Brownwood; two sisters, Paula Sanchez of Brownwood and Delfina Zamora of Andrews; 29 grandchildren; and 28 great-grandchildren.

Nicholas 'Nick' Acosta

Nicholas "Nick" Acosta, 90, died Saturday in a local hospital. Services are pending with North's Funeral Home, 242 Orange.

Hattie Rinehart

RULE -- Hattie Rinehart, 90, died Saturday in an Abilene hospital. Services are pending with McCauley-Robison Funeral Directors.

Ruby Kate Vandergriff

GORMAN -- Ruby Kate Vandergriff, 97, died Friday in a De Leon hospital. Services are pending with Higginbotham Funeral Home.

Leland Brown

COMANCHE -- Leland G. Brown, 83, died Saturday in a local hospital. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Comanche Funeral Home Chapel.

Ouida Holub

GORDON -- Ouida Holub, 73, died Friday in Stephenville. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Gordon First Baptist Church, directed by Edwards Funeral Home of Strawn.

Gregorio 'George' Aguilar Sr.

BIG SPRING -- Gregorio "George" Aguilar Sr., 83, died Wednesday in an Albuquerque, N.M. hospital. A prayer service will be at 7 p.m. today in Myers & Smith Funeral Home Chapel. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.

John Albert McFerrin

CROSS PLAINS -- John Albert McFerrin, 87, died Friday in a Brownwood hospital. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Higginbotham Funeral Home Chapel.

Marvin Gerald Smalling

BIG SPRING -- Marvin Gerald Smalling, 67, died Thursday at his home. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Pickens Assembly of God in Pickens, Okla., directed by Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home.

Jack Thomas

EASTLAND -- Jack Thomas, 74, died Saturday in Abilene. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday in Bethel Baptist Church, directed by Edwards Funeral Home.

Ruby Lee Cunningham Loftis

BROWNWOOD -- Ruby Lee Cunningham Loftis, 96, died Friday in a local nursing home. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Oakwood Cemetery in Comanche, directed by Comanche Funeral Home.

Arthur McMillan

HUBBARD -- Arthur McMillan, 84, formerly of Abilene, died Wednesday in a Waco hospital. Services were Saturday in Edens Funeral Home Chapel in Hillsboro.

Leaner May Abernethy

BRECKENRIDGE -- Leaner May Abernethy, 71, formerly of Breckenridge, died Friday in a Temple hospital. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Jeanette Street Church of Christ, directed by Morehart Mortuary.