Today's Obituaries (Nov. 8, 1998)

Eulalia Olvera

Eulalia Olvera, 62, died Friday at her home.

A prayer service will be at 7 p.m. today in North's Funeral Home Memorial Chapel, 242 Orange. Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Vincent Pallotti Catholic Church with the Rev. Joe Uecker officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Mrs. Olvera grew up in Abilene and was a homemaker. She was a member of St. Vincent Pallotti Catholic Church and was the widow of Ysmael "Mike" Olvera Sr., whom she married in 1952 in Abilene.

Survivors include six sons, Joe Olvera, Jesse Olvera Sr., Ray Olvera and Roy Olvera, all of Abilene, Andy M. Olvera of San Antonio and Mike Olvera Jr. of Hamby; two daughters, Julia Martinez and Elizabeth Beltran, both of Abilene; two brothers, Carter Flores of Arlington and Willie Rodriguez of Dallas; two sisters, Martha Gregory and Mary Ester Martinez, both of Abilene; 32 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

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

The family will be at 2425 Westmoreland.

Larry Alan Smith

Larry Alan Smith, 56, of Eastland and formerly of Abilene, died Saturday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday in Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory, with the Rev. Ernie Smith officiating. The body will be cremated.

Mr. Smith was born in Reagan County and attended Texas Tech University. He was a self-employed oilfield consultant. He married Jackie Niemann in Lubbock and moved to the Lake Leon area in 1990 from Abilene. He was a member of the Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife, of Eastland; three sons, James Smith of Abilene, Mike Dean and Lee Dean Jr., both of Locksburg, Ark.; three daughters, Lana Childs of La Grange, Trina Tiner of Marshall and Michelle Salyer of Dublin; one sister, Jeanie Walch of Odessa; 13 grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to American Heart Association, 149 N. Willis, Abilene 79603.

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

Claude Roberson

Claude Roberson, 69, plumber at Abilene Christian University for 19 years until retiring, died Friday in a local nursing home.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory, with Willard Tate officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Mr. Roberson was born in Los Angeles and attended school in Strawn. He moved to Abilene in 1949 from Ranger. He married Betha Lynn Stroud in 1950 in Abilene and was a member of Hillcrest Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife, of Abilene; one son, Charles "Chuck" Roberson of Abilene; one daughter, Rita Vieth of Hamby; two brothers, Johnny Roberson and Tommy Roberson, both of Abilene; two sisters, Jean Burnett of Eastland and Barbara Goforth of San Angelo; and four grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to National Alzheimer's Association, 919 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1000, Chicago, Ill. 60611; or The Christian Service Center, 901 Mesquite, Abilene 79601.

Paul Bender Gleason

Paul Bender Gleason, 83, died Saturday at his home.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday in Immanuel Baptist Church with the Rev. H.S. Calahan officiating. Burial will be in Hawley Cemetery, directed by Allen-Korzenewski Funeral Home, 1443 N. 2nd.

Mr. Gleason was born in Jones County and married Myrtle Virginia Thomas in 1940 in Sweetwater. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II. He lived for 22 years in Odessa, where he worked as a sales supervisor for Frost Bakery. He moved to Abilene in 1975 and was a service station manager for Farrington Brothers. He was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, of Abilene; two daughters, Paula Smith of Sapulpa, Okla., and Beverly Shelby of Bedford; one son, Dennis Gleason of Abilene; one brother, Truman Gleason of Lubbock; seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Immanuel Baptist Church, 1241 Cypress, Abilene 79601.

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

Bobby Roy Burnett

OVALO -- Bobby Roy Burnett, 49, died Friday in Clinton, Okla.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Gateway Baptist Church with the Rev. John Hadley officiating. Burial will be in Tuscola Cemetery, directed by Fry-Bartlett Funeral Home of Tuscola.

Mr. Burnett was born in Danville, Ark., and served in the U.S. Navy. He worked as a truck driver for J.B. Hunt for several years and, since 1995, Southwest Coca-Cola in Abilene. He moved to Abilene in 1975 and Ovalo in 1995. He married Virginia Sutton Powell in 1995 in Tuscola and was a member of Winters Country Club and Gateway Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, of Ovalo; five sons, Bobby Burnett Jr. of Russellville, Ark., Andy Carter, Michael Carter and Douglas Carter, all of Abilene, and Steven Powell of Ovalo; six daughters, Robin Fenton of Russellville, Ark., Misty McCarley and Dawn Lackey, both of Plainview, Ark., Christina Alderson of Santa Anna, Shelly Rhoades of Ovalo and Lisa Wilson of Abilene; his mother, Maudie Burnett of Plainview, Ark.; three sisters, Betty Gates of Dardenelle, Ark., Annette Moss of Plainview, Ark., and Shirley Barnum of Clay, Ark.; one brother, Carlos Burnett of Plainview, Ark.; and 16 grandchildren.

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

Thomas Roscoe Jones

BRONTE -- Thomas Roscoe Jones, 97, formerly of Brown County, died Saturday in a local nursing home.

Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Locker Cemetery with the Rev. Bob Riley officiating, directed by Heartland Funeral Home of Early.

Mr. Jones was born in Mills County and lived in Mills and Brown counties most of his life. He was a farmer and rancher. He lived in Anson for five years before moving to Bronte one month ago. He was a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Brownwood and was the widower of Myrtie McNurlen Jones, whom he married in 1934 in Mills County; Nadine Chambers Jones, whom he married in 1985; and Helen Miller Jones, whom he married in 1982.

Survivors include one daughter, Barbara Lee of Blackwell; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Dalphine O'Dell Stephens

STEPHENVILLE -- Dalphine O'Dell Stephens, 69, died Saturday at her home.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Oakview Cemetery in Mullin with the Rev. Andrew Stull officiating, directed by Hall & Sons Funeral Home of Comanche.

Mrs. Stephens was born in Brownwood and was a homemaker. She moved to Proctor in 1982 and Stephenville in 1997. She was a member of Willow Springs Primitive Baptist Church in Comanche and was the widow of Charles Stephens.

Survivors include three daughters, Brenda Kennedy of Stephenville, Maria Moody of Zephyr and Tammy Yanez of Brownwood; five sons, Jess Kennedy of Comanche, Joe Kennedy and Kirby Stephens, both of Stephenville, Dean Kennedy of Early and Bryan Stephens of Mission; three stepdaughters, Mary Scheider, and Charlene Stephens, both of Stephenville, and Paula Regions of Dublin; four sisters, Juanita Goatcher and Barbara Blanton, both of Brownwood, Shirley Fletcher of Lake Brownwood and Darlene Miller of Arlington; two brothers, Kenneth Elliott of Brownwood and Andrew Elliott of Comanche; 25 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to a favorite charity.

W.A. 'Smutt' Swafford

COLORADO CITY -- W.A. "Smutt" Swafford, 87, lifelong Mitchell County resident, died Saturday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Kiker-Seale Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. James Moore officiating. Burial will be in Colorado City Cemetery.

Mr. Swafford was born in Mitchell County and married Marie Gressett in 1935 in Colorado City. He worked as a production superintendent for Chevron for 36 years until retiring in 1973. He was a member of Lightfoot Church of Christ in Loraine.

Survivors include his wife, of Colorado City; one son, Danny Swafford of Mansfield; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Karen Robbins

Karen Robbins, 42, died Saturday at her home. Services are pending with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Clyde 'Joe' Herrin

Clyde D. "Joe" Herrin, 80, died Friday in a local hospital. Services are pending with Allen-Korzenewski Funeral Home, 1443 N. 2nd.

Virginia Wood

Virginia Russell Wood, 77, died Saturday in a local hospital. Services are pending with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

P.E. Moore

BIG SPRING -- P.E. Moore, 80, died Friday in a Lubbock hospital. Services are pending with Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home.

Arla Akin

SWEETWATER -- Arla Akin, 88, died Saturday in a local hospital. Services are pending with Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home.

Clyde Fields

BIG SPRING -- Clyde Fields, 44, died Saturday in a local hospital. Services are pending with Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home.

Filomena Ybarra

DE LEON -- Filomena Ybarra, 73, died Friday in a local hospital. Rosary will be said at 6 p.m. today in Nowlin Funeral Home Chapel. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in De Leon Cemetery.

Ray Ashley

BIG SPRING -- Ray Ashley, 82, of Stanton, died Thursday in a Stanton hospital. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Monday in Hillside Memorial Gardens in Snyder, directed by Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home.

Jetahn Floyd Rainwater

SNYDER -- Jetahn Floyd Rainwater, 80, died Friday at her daughter's home in Plainview after a sudden illness. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in 37th Street Church of Christ, directed by Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home.

Nita Wilkins

BROWNWOOD -- Nita S. Wilkins, 88, died Saturday in a local hospital. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Indian Gap Cemetery in Hamilton County, directed by Davis-Morris Funeral Home.

Norma Winnette Solsbery

STEPHENVILLE -- Norma Winnette Solsbery, 80, died Thursday at her home. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Stephenville Funeral Home Chapel.