Today's Obituaries (Oct. 14, 1998)

Minor Lee Johnson

Minor Lee Johnson, 68, died Monday in a local hospital.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Cresson Cemetery near Granbury with the Rev. Frank Harris Jr. officiating, directed by Allen-Korzenewski Funeral Home, 1443 N. 2nd.

Mr. Johnson was born in Stephens County and served with the U.S. Army in the Korean conflict. He worked as a professional cutting horse trainer and rodeo cowboy and also was an oilfield drilling superintendent. He moved to Abilene in 1980. He was named World Cutting Horse Champion Rider and Trainer in 1958 and 1959 and was a member of National Cutting Horse Association and Broadview Baptist Church.

Survivors include a longtime companion, Dorothy Harlow of Abilene; three sons, Fred Johnson of Queensland, Australia, Russell Johnson of Coleman and Roy Johnson of Fayetteville, Ark.; one daughter, Minor Jean Pricer of Glen Rose; two stepsons, Steve Gibson of Tuscola and Will Brants of Las Vegas, Nev.; two stepdaughters, Cheryl Scott of Vernon and Valeria Brants of Las Vegas, Nev.; 19 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 7-9 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home.

Kelly Martin Sr.

Kelly H. Martin Sr., 90, died Monday at his home.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Highland Church of Christ with Mike Cope and John Willis officiating. Graveside services will be at 5 p.m. in Union Cemetery in Teague, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Mr. Martin graduated from Malone High School and moved to Abilene in 1941 from Coleman. He worked in the oil business for many years. He started with Onyx Refinery and later became the company's president. He also was employed by McWood Corp., and was a president and partner of Reed Oil Co. He was a member and former deacon of Highland Church of Christ and was the widower of Aureba Baker Martin, whom he married in 1929 in Temple.

Survivors include two sons, Kelly Martin Jr. of Baytown and Prentice Martin of Abilene; one daughter, Doris Smothers of Atlanta; two sisters, Mildred Radke of Corpus Christi and Antonnette Biggs of Teague; 11 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Lillie Pauline Dyches

Lillie Pauline Dyches, 74, died Monday in a local nursing home.

Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Elmwood Funeral Home Chapel, 5750 U.S. Hwy 277 South, with the Rev. Kevin Kennedy officiating. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. in Bangs City Cemetery in Bangs.

Mrs. Dyches was born in LeDay and grew up in Breckenridge. She worked as a nursing home aide for many years and moved to Abilene in 1992 from Bangs. She was a Baptist and was the widow of Dale Dyches, whom she married in 1947.

Survivors include two sons, Gary Dyches and Greg Dyches, both of Abilene; two sisters, June Zink of Bangs and Frances Boyles of Breckenridge; two grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Wynona Hawthorne Portwood

Wynona Hawthorne Portwood, 84, died Monday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory, with the Rev. Scott Mayer officiating. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. in Greenwood Cemetery in Fort Worth with the Rev. Keith Burns officiating.

Mrs. Portwood was born in Anson and graduated from Anson High School and Hardin-Simmons University. She taught at Anson High School and also was the principal. She worked in radio and television sales and promotion in Sweetwater, and in Dallas and Fort Worth for 15 years. She formerly lived in Dallas and was sales and promotion director for WFAA Radio and Television until retiring. She also was a television series writer. She was a member of St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Dallas and was the widow of Mitchell A. Portwood, whom she married in 1941 in Sweetwater.

Survivors include one brother, Howard Hawthorne of Hays, Kan.; two sisters, Billye H. Morgan of Abilene and Jessie H. Herndon of Richardson; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to a favorite charity.

Sherry June Bethel Franklin

MIDLAND - Sherry June Bethel Franklin, 62, formerly of Abilene, died Monday at her home.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Crestview Baptist Church with Dr. Larry Ashlock officiating. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Park, directed by Ellis Funeral Home.

Mrs. Franklin was born in Abilene and also formerly lived in Monahans. She attended Midland High School. She married W.B. Franklin in 1952 and, with her husband, owned and operated Alicean Art Gallery and, later, W.B. Franklin Art Gallery. She was a partner in Chaparral Water Systems since 1988 and was a member of Crestview Baptist Church.

Survivors include her husband, of Midland; one son, Daryl Franklin of Midland; two daughters, Marilyn Franklin of Midland and Susan Barnes of Houston; her mother, Lucy Bethel of Midland; and eight grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Crestview Baptist Church, 3300 Thomas, Midland 79703.

Jacky Wayne Fulton

EARLY - Jacky Wayne Fulton, 44, died Monday in a Temple hospital.

Services will be at 4 p.m. today in Rocky Creek Baptist Church with the Rev. Richard Hetzel officiating. Burial will be in Rocky Creek Cemetery, directed by Heartland Funeral Home.

Mr. Fulton was born in Abilene and served in the U.S. Navy. He worked as a paint contractor and was a Baptist.

Survivors include his wife, Sally Fulton of Arlington; one son, Christopher Jacky Wayne Fulton of Arlington; his mother, Alma Jean Willis of Horatio, Ark.; and one sister, Peggy Fulton of Brighton, Tenn.

Frances Parthenia Parker

WEATHERFORD - Frances Parthenia Parker, 100, mother of an Abilene resident, died Tuesday in a local nursing home.

Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Potosi Cemetery near Abilene, directed by Galbreaith-Pickard Funeral Chapel.

Mrs. Parker was born in Decatur and was a homemaker. She moved to Weatherford several years ago. She was a member of Springtown Road Church of Christ and was the widow of George W. Parker.

Survivors include five daughters, Christina Mauldin and Joyce Stephens, both of Weatherford, Louise Christopher of San Manuel, Ariz., Ollie Franklin of Inola, Okla., and Georgia Kniffen of Abilene; two sons, Lewis Parker of Orem, Utah, and Frank Parker of Edgewater, Fla.; one sister, Pearl Ruth Hubbard of New Braunfels; and 203 total grandchildren to the sixth generation.

Margaret Trigg

BROWNWOOD - Margaret Trigg, 85, died Monday in a local nursing home.

Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. today in Heflin Cemetery, directed by Heartland Funeral Home of Early.

Miss Trigg was born in Owens and attended school in the Brownwood area. she graduated from Daniel Baker College in 1938. She was an elementary school teacher in Brown County and Odessa for many years. She moved to Brownwood in 1978 and was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International and Central United Methodist Church.

Survivors include one sister, Floy Trigg of Dallas; and several nieces and nephews.

Ruby Kate Vandergriff

GORMAN - Ruby Kate Vandergriff, 97, formerly of Lubbock, died Friday in a De Leon hospital.

Graveside services were Monday in Resthaven Cemetery in Lubbock with the Rev. James Price officiating, directed by Higginbotham Funeral Home.

Ms. Vandergriff was born in Georgetown and was a homemaker. She lived in Lubbock for many years before moving to Cisco and Gorman. She was a Methodist and was the widow of Dailey Vandergriff, whom she married in 1922 in Clarendon.

Survivors include one sister, Nannie Margaret Richardson of Wichita Falls; and several nieces and nephews.

Ora Thornton Sessions

BROWNWOOD - Ora Thornton Sessions, 101, died Monday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in St. John's Episcopal Church with the Rev. Andrew Bradley officiating. Burial will be in Eastlawn Memorial Park, directed by Davis-Morris Funeral Home.

Mrs. Sessions was born in San Saba County and was a homemaker. She moved to Brownwood in 1927. She was a member of Brownwood Garden Club, Order of the Eastern Star and St. John's Episcopal Church and was the widow of Marcus S. Sessions, whom she married in 1918 in San Benito.

Survivors include two sons-in-law, including John D. Tackett of Zephyr; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and three nieces.

Mina Fay Tipton

COLEMAN - Mina Fay Tipton, 86, died Sunday in a local hospital.

Graveside services were Tuesday in Coleman City Cemetery with James Bailey officiating, directed by Walker Funeral Home.

Mrs. Tipton was born in Scurry County and married S.C. Tipton in 1934 in Coleman. She was a member of the Church of Christ.

Survivors include two sons, Gene Tipton of Coleman and Albert Tipton of Eufaula, Okla.; one sister, Ruth McKinley of Coleman; one brother, Bob Beal of Vincent, Okla.; five grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Ruth Ruth

BROWNWOOD - Ruth (Mrs. W.C.) Ruth, 92, died Monday in a local nursing home.

Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Heartland Funeral Home Chapel in Early with the Rev. Tom Zintgraff officiating. Burial will be in Eastlawn Memorial Park in Early.

Mrs. Ruth was born in Ionia, Kan., and moved to Brownwood in 1938 from Topeka, Kan. She was a retired secretary of Pepsi Cola Co. She was a member of First United Methodist Church and was the widow of Wesley Charles Ruth.

Survivors include one son, Jack Ruth of Brownwood; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and one niece.

Barbara Jean Ballard

BROWNWOOD - Barbara Jean Ballard, 60, of Lake Brownwood, lifelong Brown County resident, died Tuesday in an Abilene hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Heartland Funeral Home Chapel in Early with the Rev. Bill Anderson officiating. Burial will be in Greenleaf Cemetery.

Mrs. Ballard was born in Brown County and married Ernest G. Ballard in 1954 in Brownwood. She was a homemaker and was a Baptist.

Survivors include her husband, of Lake Brownwood; four sons, Larry G. Ballard of Springtown, Steven C. Ballard of Winters, Terry G. Ballard of Texas City and Guy Ballard of College Station; one daughter, Deborah S. Sommers of Odessa; one sister, Sue Thomas of Haskell; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Memorials may be sent to Hendrick Hospice Care, P.O. Box 1922, Abilene 79604.

Visitation will be from 7-9 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Russell Schmittou

Russell Schmittou, 86, died Tuesday at his home. Services are pending with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Emory Preston Harper

Emory Preston Harper, 90, died Tuesday at the Abilene State School. Services are pending with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Barbara Sue Brown

Barbara Sue Brown, 57, died Monday at her home. Services are pending with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Cindy Hardin

MUNDAY - Cindy Hardin, 39, of Seymour, died Monday at her home. Services are pending with McCauley-Smith Funeral Home.

Patricia Anne Monroe

BIG SPRING - Patricia Anne Monroe, 65, died Tuesday in a local hospital. Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday in Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home Rosewood Chapel.

Georgia Barnes

SWEETWATER - Georgia M. Barnes, 81, died Monday in Abilene. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. today in First Christian Church, directed by McCoy Funeral Home.

Francisco Mata

BIG SPRING - Francisco Mata, 94, died Tuesday at his home. Rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home Rosewood Chapel. Mass will at 10 a.m. Friday in Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Carl Willingham

ASPERMONT - Carl W. Willingham, 64, died Monday in a Bossier City, La. hospital. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Aspermont First United Methodist Church, directed by McCoy Funeral Home.

Ruth Walker

BALLINGER - Ruth E. Walker, 79, died Monday in a local nursing home. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Seventh Street Baptist Church, directed by Rains-Seale Funeral Home.

James Alvin Lee

BLACKWELL - James Alvin Lee, 63, died Monday at his home. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in Blackwell First Baptist Church, directed by Shaffer Funeral Home of Bronte.