Today's Obituaries (Oct. 15, 1998)

Iris Lowe Elmore

Iris Lowe Elmore, 92, died Wednesday in a local nursing home.

Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Elmwood Memorial Park with Dr. David Hamblin officiating, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 U.S. Hwy 277 South.

Mrs. Elmore was born in Glen Cove in Coleman County and attended school in Novice. She was a homemaker and moved to Abilene in 1927 from Floydada. She was a member of South Side Baptist Church and was the widow of Oran E. Elmore, whom she married in 1926.

Survivors include one son, Oran E. Elmore Jr. of Abilene; one brother, Morris Lowe of Plains; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

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

Mary Lewell Fillmon

Mary Lewell Fillmon, 96, died Tuesday in a local hospital.

Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. today in Caps Cemetery with Rudy Fambrough officiating, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Mrs. Fillmon was born in Mena, Ark., and lived in Abilene most of her life. She was a homemaker and was the widow of Elibe Fillmon, whom she married in Abilene.

Survivors include one daughter, Frances Neble of Abilene; 14 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and 20 great-great-grandchildren.

Russell Schmittou

Russell R. Schmittou, 86, died Tuesday at his home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in University Church of Christ with Dr. Eddie Sharp, Eddie Mahanay and Forrest McCann officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Mr. Schmittou was born in Postoak, where he graduated from high school. He married Louise Epps in 1934 in Postoak and moved to Abilene in 1951. He worked in the Texas oil fields from 1947-53 and for Miracle Laboratories from 1954-64. He then owned and operated A-Quick Pest Control until retiring in 1971. He was a member of Texas Pest Control Association and University Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife, of Abilene; one daughter, Geri Jeffers of Colorado Springs, Colo.; two sons, Reford Schmittou of Abilene and Glenn Schmittou of Plano; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to Christian Village, 633 E.N. 19th, Abilene 79601.

Visitation will be from 7-8:30 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Wynona Hawthorne Portwood

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

Services will be at 10 a.m. today 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 graduated from Anson High School and Hardin-Simmons University. She taught in the Jones County school system at Pleasant Hill and was principal of the Truby School. She worked for KXOX Radio in Sweetwater and WBAP in Fort Worth in radio and sales. She was employed by the Dallas Morning News and WFAA Radio and Television in Dallas and was sales and promotion director until retiring. She also was a television series writer. She was working on a script for a new television series at the time of her death. She was a member of St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Dallas and was the widow of Mitchell A. Portwood.

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

Memorials may be sent to a favorite charity.

Dr. Max Leach

LAMESA - Dr. Max Leach, 89, former Abilene Christian College professor and Big Country minister, died Tuesday in a local hospital after a lengthy illness.

Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. today in Lamesa Memorial Park with Mike Prather and Bill Morrison officiating, directed by Branon Funeral Home.

Dr. Leach was born in Childress and graduated from Childress High School in 1925, Abilene Christian College in 1931 and the University of Denver in 1939. He earned his doctorate from the University of Colorado in 1950. He was a school principal in Chillicothe for eight years. He was executive secretary of the ACC Alumni Association and also the college's public relations director from 1942-48. He then began teaching full time in the ACC psychology division. He was named head of the psychology department at ACC when it was started in 1953 and held the position until 1966. He then returned to full-time teaching. He retired in 1974 from ACC after being a faculty member for 31 years.

He was a fellow of the International Institute of Arts and Letters, and is listed in <I>Who's Who in the South and Southwest<I>, <I>Who's Who in American Education<I>, <I>Who's Who in Commerce and Industry<I>, and <I>American Men and Science<I>. He was a member of the American, Texas and Southwestern Psychological associations; American Academy of Psychotherapists and Phi Delta Kappa.

He was a Church of Christ minister in Loraine, Maryneal, Knott, Cisco, Abilene, Throckmorton, Tarzan, Texas, and Boulder, Colo. He was the widower of Lelia Page Leach, whom he married in 1931 in Fredrich, Okla. He married Lavoy Miller in 1977 in Lamesa.

Survivors include his wife, of Lamesa; three sons, Max Leach Jr. of Albuquerque, N.M., and Rusty Miller and David Miller, both of Austin; five daughters, Beth Tatum of Kerrville, Leslie Prather of Lamesa, Norma Tuttle of Midland, Ann Wyatt of New Home and Polly Barringer of Houston; one sister, Doris Leach of San Angelo; 17 grandchildren; and 30 great-grandchildren.

Kenneth Childers

COLORADO CITY - Kenneth Childers, 82, a Chevron service station owner and operator for 25 years until retiring, died Tuesday in a local hospital.

Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Westbrook Cemetery with Dr. Ted Spear officiating, directed by Kiker-Seale Funeral Home.

Mr. Childers was born in Champion and moved to Colorado City in 1949. He married Dollie Davenport in 1953 in Portales, N.M., and was a member of First Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, of Colorado City; one son, David Childers of Big Lake; three daughters, Wanda Suggs and Judy Clare, both of Lubbock, and Shirley Grimes of Colorado City; three sisters, Beulah Magness of Bronte, Vera Buchanan of Big Sandy and Myrdi Ware of Abilene; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Eugene Olson

STAMFORD - Eugene Olson, 74, died Wednesday at his home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Orient Street Church of Christ with Chad Massie officiating. Burial will be in Bethel Lutheran Churchyard Cemetery in Ericksdahl, directed by Tankersley Funeral Home.

Mr. Olson was born in Ericksdahl and was a lifelong resident of the Ericksdahl-Stamford area. He began farming at age 16 and graduated from Stamford High School. He married Bobbie Maxwell in 1953 in Ericksdahl and was a co-owner and director of First National Bank and Smith Gin, both in Stamford. He served on the Stamford school board from 1969-76 and was a vice president. He also was a Stamford city councilman from 1987-91. He was a former member of the Stamford Lions Club, having served as president in 1965-66. He was president of the Stamford Grain Elevator and Stamford Fuel Co-Op. He also was president of the Stamford Junior Sheriff's Posse and was a deacon for several years at Orient Street Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife, of Stamford; one daughter, Genie Medford of Lake Palo Pinto; two sons, Max Olson of Stamford and Scott Olson of Abilene; four sisters, Myrtle Richards and Juliette Smith, both of Stamford, Margaret Bollinger of Levelland and Clarice Hebert of Dallas; and seven grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m. today in the funeral home.

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 with the Revs. Dolan Brinson, Gene Crane and Jim Reinbolt officiating. Burial will be in Aspermont Cemetery, directed by McCoy Funeral Home.

Mr. Willingham was born in Panama, Okla., and served with the U.S. Air Force in the Korean conflict. He married Patricia Dalby in 1968 in Houston and was a managing partner of Bar T Brangus cattle ranch in Aspermont. He was a former Stonewall County commissioner and was a past president of Stonewall-Kent County Farm Bureau. He was active in the Aspermont Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of Aspermont First United Methodist Church and attended Rochester First United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife, of Aspermont; one son, Carl A. Willingham of Fort Worth; two daughters, Glynda Newton of Austin and Jill Willingham of Dallas; three brothers, J.B. Willingham of California, Eugene Willingham of Oklahoma and Elton Willingham of Houston; and one sister, Gladys Oaks of Houston.

Wilma LaRue Bailey

BLANKET - Wilma LaRue Bailey, 76, died Tuesday in an Abilene hospital.

Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. today in Eastlawn Cemetery with the Revs. Gary Day, Gary Grambling and Jerry Shields officiating, directed by Heartland Funeral Home of Early.

Mrs. Bailey was born in Spur and moved to Blanket in 1950. She was a homemaker. She was active in Women's Missionary Union and played the piano for 41 years at First Baptist Church and was the widow of Dick Bailey, whom she married in 1939 in Lamesa.

Survivors include two daughters, Cheryl Rodgers of Blanket and Lisa Davis of Glen Cove; three brothers, B.R. Teague of Blanket, Don Teague of Bovina and Burl Teague of Mesa, Ariz.; one sister, Wanda Russell of Sunnyville, Calif.; and five grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to American Diabetes Association.

Cindy Hardin

MUNDAY - Cindy Hardin, 39, of Seymour and formerly of Munday, died Monday from injuries received in a fire at her home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Munday First Baptist Church with the Rev. John Hall and Dr. H.B. Graves officiating. Burial will be in Vera Cemetery, directed by McCauley-Smith Funeral Home.

Miss Hardin was born in Knox City and graduated from Munday High School in 1977. She also graduated as a licensed vocational nurse from Vernon Regional College's School of Nursing. She moved to Seymour in 1979 from Munday and was a member of Munday First Baptist Church.

Survivors include her parents, Ray Lynn and Joyce Hardin of Munday; one sister, Lisa Cypert of Munday; and one niece and one nephew.

Memorials may be sent to the Cindy Hardin School of Nursing scholarship fund, c/o Farmers National Bank, 100 N. Washington, Seymour 76380.

Lillian Dunn

SNYDER - Lillian Dunn, 90, died Wednesday in a local hospital. Services are pending with Wright Colonial Funeral Home.

Curtis Williams Squiers

BRADY - Curtis Williams Squiers, 63, formerly of the Big Country, died Saturday. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Sunset Ridge Church of Christ, directed by Heritage Funeral Home.

S.A. Taylor Jr.

SNYDER - S.A. Taylor Jr., 72, died Tuesday in a local care center after a lengthy illness. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Ira Cemetery, directed by Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home.

Gloria Christina Trotter

COMANCHE - Gloria Christina Trotter 68, died Wednesday at her home. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Comanche Funeral Home Chapel.

Mary Etta Day

STEPHENVILLE - Mary Etta Day, 87, died Wednesday in a local nursing home. Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. today in Macedonia Cemetery in Lacasa in Stephens County, directed by Edwards Funeral Home of Strawn.

Matthew Marquis McGee Hilliard

BIG SPRING - Matthew Marquis McGee Hilliard, infant, died Saturday in a Lubbock hospital. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Trinity Memorial Park, directed by Myers & Smith Funeral Home.

Jeffie Marie Shugart

ROSCOE - Jeffie Marie Shugart, 84, of Austin, died Wednesday in Austin. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Roscoe Cemetery, directed by Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home of Sweetwater.

Ralph Lange

OLFEN - Ralph Bernard Lange, 77, died Wednesday in a San Angelo hospital. Rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. today in St. Boniface Catholic Church. Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday in the church, directed by Rains-Seale Funeral Home of Ballinger.