Today's Obituaries (Oct. 18, 1998)

Joseph Vernon Smart

Joseph Vernon Smart, 64, formerly of McCaulley, died Friday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in McCaulley First Baptist Church with Chris Boone officiating. Burial will be in McCaulley Cemetery, directed by Foster-Adams Funeral Home of Hamlin.

Mr. Smart was born in Jones County and attended school in McCaulley. He married Myrna Zoann Current in 1957 in Hamlin and served with the U.S. Air Force. He moved to Abilene in 1991 and worked as a body shop manager at Art's Custom Center. He was a member of American Legion and was a Baptist.

Survivors include his wife, of Abilene; two sons, Joseph Vernon Smart Jr. and Michael David Smart, both of Abilene; three daughters, Nola Denise Nairn of Fort Worth, Anna Lavita Burgess of Graford and Donna Michelle Guerra of Hamlin; one brother, James G. Smart of McCaulley; eight sisters, Pearl Schenk of Logan, Utah, Opal Jones of May, Martha Boiles of Fort Worth, Hattie Keys of Midland, Malta Seaton of Marble Falls, Barbara Herpeche of San Marcos, and Wanda Heatherly and Mary Lou Liles, both of Abilene; and 15 grandchildren.

Raymond Harwell

Raymond H. Harwell, 66, of Ventura, Calif., and formerly of Abilene, died Friday in Ventura.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Drummond Cemetery near View with the Rev. Jim Hall officiating, directed by Elmwood Funeral Home, 5750 U.S. Hwy 277 South.

Mr. Harwell was born in Clyde and moved to Ventura, Calif. in 1982 from Abilene. He was a farmer for 31 years.

Survivors include one daughter, Nita Faye Burks of Abilene; four sisters, Geneva Wood of Ventura, Calif., Maxine Orender of Phoenix, Ariz., and Norma Clark and Elizabeth Taylor, both of Abilene; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.

Mary Allen Pruitt

LUBBOCK -- Mary Allen Pruitt, 72, mother of an Abilene resident, died Friday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Sunset Church of Christ with Dan Rouse and Edmond Poulter officiating. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. in Resthaven Cemetery in Midland, directed by Rix Funeral Directors.

Mrs. Pruitt was born in Ranger and graduated from Abilene Christian University. She married Walter Pruitt in 1950 in Ranger and taught school in Midland, Amarillo, Monahans and Laredo before retiring. She was a member of Lubbock Women's Club, New Neighbors of Lubbock, Garden Club and the Church of Christ.

Survivors include her husband; one daughter, Celeste Thompson of Lubbock; one son, Allen Pruitt of Abilene; her mother, Dora Lanier of Midland; one brother, O.G. Lanier Jr. of Midland; and three grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Children's Home, Box 2824, Lubbock 79408; Christian Homes of Abilene, 242 Beech, Abilene 79601; or Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, 1500 Broadway, Lubbock 79401.

Fred Kupatt

SAGERTON -- Fred Kupatt, 71, lifelong local resident, died Friday in an Abilene hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Faith Lutheran Church with the Rev. Jeff Zell officiating. Burial will be in Highland Memorial Cemetery in Stamford, directed by Tankersley Funeral Home of Stamford.

Mr. Kupatt was born near Sagerton and attended Texas Lutheran College in Seguin. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean conflict. He married Billie Hewitt in 1958 in Stamford and was a farmer. He received the Conservation Farmer of the Year Award three times and was a longtime member of the Hee Haw cast. He was a director of Texas Lutheran College at the time of his death. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Stamford, American Legion in Haskell and Sons of Herman Lodge in Old Glory. He served on the church council at Faith Lutheran Church.

Survivors include his wife, of Sagerton; one son, Kraig Kupatt of Sagerton; one daughter, Kris Kupatt of Hamlin; three sisters, Marie Curry of San Antonio, Frances Atha of Austin and Patricia Spaw of Midland; one brother, J.D. Kupatt of Sagerton; three grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to Faith Lutheran Church, Rural Route 2, Box 7, Sagerton 79548.

Helen Swafford

BAIRD -- Helen Swafford, 73, died Thursday in an Abilene hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Parker Funeral Home Chapel with Bob Sweeten officiating. Burial will be in Ross Cemetery Annex.

Mrs. Swafford was born in Searcy, Ark., and married Leonard Swafford in 1948 in Yuma, Ariz. She was a homemaker. She lived in De Leon for 14 years, Baird for two years and Comanche for two years before returning to Baird in 1998. She was a member of the Church of Christ.

Survivors include her husband, of Baird; one daughter, Tracy Harris of Houston; one son, Stacy Swafford of Houston; three sisters, Betty Jean Hawkins of Wichita, Kan., Zel Glass of Sweetwater and Patsy Young of North Platte, Neb.; two brothers, Bud Poole of Denver and Bob Poole of Sacramento, Calif.; one grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to American Cancer Society.

Howard Rodgers

BROWNWOOD -- Howard W. Rodgers, 74, of Lake Brownwood, died Friday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Davis-Morris Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. S.L. Yeilding, Carol Nichols and Ray Ricker officiating. Burial will be in Eastlawn Memorial Park.

Mr. Rodgers was born in Brown County and worked for Walker Smith Wholesale Grocery Co. He served with the U.S. Army Air Corps in the South Pacific during World War II and was a retired accountant of Forest Oil Co. He lived in San Antonio and Denver before returning to Brown County in 1991. He was the widower of Marcella Brooks Rodgers, whom he married in 1946. He married Mary Vickry Buck in 1991 in Bangs and was a longtime volunteer at the Family Outreach Center. He also was a driver for the Road to Recovery program with the American Cancer Society. He logged more than 6,000 miles on routes in San Antonio and Brownwood. He was a member of COPAS Accounting Society and Rocky Creek Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, of Lake Brownwood; two sons, Donnie Rodgers of San Antonio and Ricky Rodgers of St. Louis; one stepdaughter, Julie Bird of Grand Prairie; two stepsons, Rex Buck of Grand Prairie and David Buck of San Angelo; two brothers, Harber Rodgers of Brownwood and Hollis Rodgers of Blanket; one sister, Opal Curb of Brownwood; five grandchildren; five step grandchildren; two step great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Bobby Neil Weaver

COLLEYVILLE -- Bobby Neil Weaver, 53, relative of three De Leon residents, died Saturday at his home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home Chapel.

Mr. Weaver was born in Gorman and served with the U.S. Army. He worked in the collection industry for more than 25 years and was employed, at the time of his death, by The Associates.

Survivors include his wife, Diane Weaver of Colleyville; one son, Jake Weaver of Colleyville; one daughter, Tori Weaver of Colleyville; his mother and stepfather, Ruby and Luther Burdell of De Leon; two brothers, Noel Weaver of De Leon and Kevin Weaver of Fort Worth; and several nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.

Memorials may be sent to a trust fund for the Weaver children at First State Bank of Texas-Grapevine, P.O. Box 100, Denton 76202; acct. 5554012780.

William David Dean

BROWNWOOD -- William David Dean, 65, died Friday in a local hospital after a sudden illness.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Heartland Funeral Home Chapel in Early with the Rev. Ken Smith officiating. Burial will be in Zephyr Cemetery.

Mr. Dean was born in Runnels County and grew up near Winters. He lived in Brownwood most of his life and married Betty Cantrell in 1960 in Midland. He worked as a brick mason and attended Heartland Church.

Survivors include his wife, of Brownwood; five sons, William Dean of San Antonio, Ottis Dean of Arkansas, and Milton Dean, Gearld Cantrell and Steve Cantrell, all of Brownwood; four daughters, Lavonna Davis of Early, Brenda Albrof of Temple, Christine Strength of Lake Brownwood and Reba Williams of Irving; 21 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Dr. Ralph Hester

Dr. Ralph G. Hester, 80, died Saturday in a local hospital. Services are pending with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 U.S. Hwy 277 South.

Retired Master Sgt. Richard Greene

STAMFORD -- Retired U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Richard L. Greene, 59, died Saturday at his home. Services are pending with Tankersley Funeral Home.

Ellen 'Bea' Miller

HASKELL -- Ellen "Bea" Miller, 80, died Saturday in Haskell. Services are pending with Holden-McCauley Funeral Directors.

Gayle McDonald

SNYDER -- Gayle S. McDonald, 82, died Saturday in a local hospital. Services are pending with Wright Colonial Funeral Home.

Estalene Spinks

MULLIN -- Estalene Spinks, 81, died Friday at her home. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Stacy-Wilkins Funeral Home Chapel in Goldthwaite.

Felix Gutierrez

SNYDER -- Felix Gutierrez, 81, died Friday in a local hospital. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today in Wright Colonial Funeral Home Chapel. Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.

Lonnie Turner

BANGS -- Lonnie B. Turner, 78, formerly of Kentucky, died Saturday in a Brownwood hospital after a sudden illness. Services will be at a later date in Kentucky. The body will be at Heartland Funeral Home in Early until Monday evening.