Today's Obituaries (Nov. 1, 1998)

Betty Sue Wise

Betty Sue Wise, 65, died Friday at her home.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Liberty Baptist Church with the Rev. Doyle Pruitt officiating. Burial will be in Elliott-Hamil Garden of Memories, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Mrs. Wise was born in Comstock and graduated from Van Horn High School. She moved to Abilene in 1980 from Vista, Calif., and worked as an aide at the Abilene State School until retiring. She active in the Green Thumb Project, a program of the Social Security Office. She was a member of Liberty Baptist Church and was the widow of John H. Wise Sr., whom she married in 1952.

Survivors include two sons, John H. Wise Jr. of Peoria, Ariz., and James E. Wise of Abilene; two daughters, Katherine Sinsabaugh of Peoria, Ariz., and Sharon Swanson of Abilene; two sisters, Mary Lee Jobes of Burnet and Martha Brockman of Valley Center, Calif.; five grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 41, Abilene 79604; American Heart Association, 149 N. Willis, Abilene 79603; or Liberty Baptist Church, 1149 E.S. 11th, Abilene 79602.

Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Alice Jane Couch

Alice Jane Couch, 77, charter member of Second Baptist Church, died Thursday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Second Baptist Church with the Revs. Steven Parker and Clayton Pennington officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park, directed by Allen-Korzenewski Funeral Home, 1443 N. 2nd.

Mrs. Couch was born in Santa Anna, where she graduated from high school in 1939, and attended Southwest University in Georgetown. She trained in Wichita Falls for a nursing career and worked at St. Ann's Hospital, Hendrick Memorial Hospital in the delivery room from 1953-66, and for Dr. Preston Petty from 1962-75. She retired from the Abilene State School in 1982. She also was a volunteer nurse at the Rose Park, Southwest Park and Sears Park Senior Citizen centers; Big Country Baptist Assembly for Hope Camp; a camp in Lueders; and the YWCA camp in Buffalo Gap. She was the widow of Arnold L. Mayfield. She married A.M. Friday Couch in 1986 in Abilene.

Survivors include her husband, of Abilene; one son, the Rev. Raymond Mayfield of Jacksonville, Fla.; one daughter, Patricia Mayhar of Abilene; one stepson, Doyle Couch of Abilene; one stepdaughter, Pansy Mayes of Abilene; one brother, Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Roy Ray Lovelady of Austin; one sister, Ruth Dodson of Coleman; 15 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Second Baptist Church, 901 Victoria, Abilene 79603; or American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 41, Abilene 79604.

Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Cytha Ola Frost

Cytha Ola Frost, 102, employed by J&L Cleaners for 40 years, died Saturday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday in North's Funeral Home Memorial Chapel, 242 Orange, with Dr. Phil Christopher officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Cisco.

Mrs. Frost moved to Eastland County in 1900 from Indian Territory, Okla., to Cisco in 1919 and Abilene in 1926. She was a charter member of the Soroptimist Club. She also was a member of the Lightbearers Sunday School Class at Abilene First Baptist Church and was the widow of Jack Frost, whom she married in 1919 in Cisco.

Survivors include two nephew and one niece.

Visitation will be from 6-7:30 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.

Willis Roberson

Willis Roberson, 77, driver for Greyhound Bus Lines for 32 years until retiring, died Saturday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Faith, 5701 U.S. Hwy 277 South, with the Rev. David Cason officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park.

Mr. Roberson was born in Nocona, where he attended school, and moved to Abilene in 1939. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II and married Laura LaVoy Arnold in 1972 in Abilene. He was an amateur boxer in the Golden Gloves Association and was a member of Greyhound Retirees Association. He was a Baptist.

Survivors include his wife, of Abilene; one stepson, Prentiss Lee Crawford of Arlington; one stepdaughter, Dee Anna Loftis of Abilene; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be at the family's home.

Rupert 'Junior' Lamar

Rupert C. "Junior" Lamar, 68, of the Dallas area and formerly of Abilene, died Thursday in a Dallas hospital.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Cedar Hill Cemetery with David Girdner officiating, directed by Girdner Funeral Home, 111 Elm.

Mr. Lamar was born in Abilene and attended Abilene High School. He worked as a painting contractor and was a Dixie Little League baseball coach in the late 1950s. He moved to the Dallas area several years ago. He was a member of South Side Baptist Church in Abilene.

Survivors include two sons, David Lamar and William Lamar, both of Abilene; one sister, Mildred Davis of Abilene; seven grandchildren; and several great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Elsia Faye Christian

Elsia Faye Christian, 70, died Wednesday at her home.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in North 10th and Treadaway Church of Christ with Floyd Miller officiating. Burial will be in Masonic Cemetery, directed by Curtis-Starks Funeral Home, 542 E.N. 7th.

Mrs. Christian was born in Longview, where she attended school, and worked as a housemaid. She moved to Abilene in 1978 from Longview.

Survivors include six stepsons, Dr. James Christian of Muskogee, Okla., Johnnie Christian of Kansas City, Mo., Dr. Charles Christian of Baltimore, Willie Christian of Washington, D.C., Homer Christian of Richmond, Va., and Alvin Christian of Altus, Okla.; one sister, Earnestine Neal of Abilene; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and six nieces and three nephews.

The family will be at 5342 N. 9th.

Visitation will be from 5-6 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.

Clyde 'Bulldog' Turner

GATESVILLE -- Clyde "Bulldog" Turner, 79, a former Sweetwater resident who became a player and coach in the National Football League, died Friday at his home.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Scott's Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Miller Robinson officiating. Burial will be in Greenbriar Cemetery.

Mr. Turner was born in Plains and attended school in Sweetwater. He played football at Hardin-Simmons University prior to graduating in 1939. He also played football for one year while serving in the U.S. Air Force. He was a member of the Chicago Bears professional football team from 1940-52 and then was a Chicago coach until retiring in 1958. He then moved to Gatesville. He came out of retirement in 1962 to be the head coach of the New York Titans for one year. He then returned to Gatesville, where he ranched and raised race horses. He was a member of Professional Football Hall of Fame, Texas Sports Hall of Fame, HSU Hall of Fame, Helms Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame. He supported Boys Town in Chicago. He was a Baptist and was the widower of Gladys Webber Turner, whom he married in 1948.

Survivors include two daughters, Sandra Shaffer of Big Spring and Pat Turner of Gatesville; one sister, Ilene Hairston of Gatesville; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Family Hospice or Gatesville First Baptist Church.

Kathryn Julia Hobbs

SWEETWATER -- Kathryn Julia Hobbs, 74, co-owner of Hobbs Furniture and Upholstery for more than 50 years, died Friday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Trinity Baptist Church with Dr. Travis Monday and the Rev. Orvel Brantley officiating. Burial will be in Sweetwater Cemetery, directed by Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home.

Mrs. Hobbs was born in Roby and married Ed Hobbs in 1944 in Sweetwater. She was a member of Fourth and Elm Church of Christ.

Survivors include her husband, of Sweetwater; one daughter, Carolyn Alexander of Sweetwater; one son, Eddy Hobbs of Brentwood, Tenn.; one brother, Howard Milligan of Sweetwater; one sister, Flo Helvey of Abilene; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Clara Irene Heald

ANSON -- Clara Irene Heald, 93, of Amarillo and formerly of Anson, died Friday in Amarillo.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Lawrence-Adams Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Lee Welch officiating. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery.

Mrs. Heald was born in Doniphan, Mo., and lived in Anson for many years. She worked in women's retail clothing at Blackburn Brothers in Amarillo and Slack's Clothing in Denver before retiring in 1966. She returned to Amarillo in 1995 from Anson. She was a member of Anson First Baptist Church and was the widow of Fred L. Ponder, Calvin Manley and A.G. Heald.

Survivors include one daughter, Jerry Roush of Amarillo; one brother, Cliff Hayes of Columbus, Mich.; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

The body may be viewed starting at 2 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Juanda Covey

BROWNWOOD -- Juanda Covey, 74, of Sugar Land and formerly of Brownwood, died Friday at her home.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Eastlawn Memorial Park with the Rev. Kenneth Green officiating, directed by Davis-Morris Funeral Home.

Mrs. Covey was born in Guthrie, Okla., and was a homemaker. She moved to Brownwood in 1958. She was a member of Union Presbyterian Church and was the widow of Jim Covey, whom she married in 1941 in Bristow, Okla.

Survivors include one son, James Anthony Covey of Seattle; one daughter, Carolyn Jeanne Matthews of Sugar Land; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Dewey Martin

COLEMAN -- Dewey Martin, 77, died Saturday in an Abilene hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Walker Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Paul Smith and Jeff Robinett officiating. Burial with Masonic rites will be in Gouldbusk Cemetery.

Mr. Martin was born in Gouldbusk and grew up in Coleman County. He worked for Phillips Petroleum for 34 years before retiring and returned to Coleman County in 1984. He was a member of Gouldbusk Baptist Church and was the widower of Lucia Faye Bowen Martin, whom he married in 1939 in Gouldbusk.

Survivors include one daughter, Betty Lazelle Coatney of Rosenburg; one son, Ronnie 'Chip' Martin of Rolla, Kan.; one sister, Delma Matthews of Coleman; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Home of Aged Masons, 1501 W. Dennison, Arlington 76012.

Visitation will be from 5-6 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Billy 'Bill' Russell Chambers

BROWNWOOD -- Billy "Bill" Russell Chambers, 54, of Midland and formerly of Brownwood, died Saturday in a Midland hospital.

Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. today in Heflin Cemetery with the Rev. R.J. Elkins officiating, directed by Davis-Morris Funeral Home.

Mr. Chambers was born in Brownwood and worked in construction. He moved to Midland six months ago from Minden, La.

Survivors include his wife, Lynn Chambers of Minden, La.; three daughters, Tammy Johnson, Rebecca Chambers and Laura Chambers, all of Brownwood; one son, Billy Chambers of San Antonio; two stepchildren, Rhonda Greer of Midland and Richard Box of Seminole; two brothers, David Chambers of Early and Joe Kenneth Chambers of Indian Creek; eight grandchildren; and two step grandchildren.

Darral Slayton

COLEMAN -- Darral Slayton, 44, died Friday in a local hospital.

The body will be cremated. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Stevens Funeral Home Chapel.

Mr. Slayton was born in Coleman and grew up in Coleman and Hobbs, N.M. He worked in the oil field and was a Baptist.

Survivors include two sons, Christopher Shawn Slayton of Leota, Kan., and Shannon Kane Slayton of Eunice, N.M.; one daughter, Adrienne Leigh Slayton of Eunice, N.M.; his mother, Jeanette Miller of Eunice, N.M.; two brothers, Bruce Slayton of Burkett and Kemp Slayton of Coleman; two sisters, Deanna Slayton and Robin Ray, both of Artesia, N.M.; his grandparents, Evelyn and Allan Williams of Martinez, Calif., and Gladys Slayton of Coleman; and four grandchildren.

Rosie Henderson

Rosie Henderson, 77, died Saturday in a local hospital. Services are pending with Allen-Korzenewski Funeral Home, 1443 N. 2nd.

Shirley Brown

OLD GLORY -- Shirley Brown, 50, died Saturday in an Abilene hospital. Services are pending with McCoy Funeral Home of Aspermont.

Esta Mae Rogers

BIG SPRING -- Esta Mae Rogers, 80, died Saturday in Big Spring. Services are pending with Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home.

Faye Boustead

EASTLAND -- Faye Boustead, 75, died Friday in Merkel. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Eastland Cemetery, directed by Bakker Funeral Home.