Today's Obituaries (Nov. 12, 1998)

Clora Nell Delano

Clora Nell Delano, 72, lifelong Abilene-area resident, died Wednesday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory, with the Revs. David Bartley and Chris Tullos officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park.

Mrs. Delano was born in Stephenville and graduated from Abilene High School in 1943. She attended Abilene Christian College and worked as a seamstress for Rita Barber for 16 years and American Cleaners before retiring. She was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church and was the widow of Charles Earl Delano, whom she married in 1955 in Abilene.

Survivors include one son, Thomas G. Edwards of Abilene; two daughters, Clora Gene Pritchett of Enid, Okla., and a twin, Davil Earlene Jones of Denison; one brother, Gerald Dee Lawson of Lubbock; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 41, Abilene 79604.

Andrew Joseph 'Andy' Hogue

Andrew Joseph "Andy" Hogue, 78, died Tuesday at his home.

Services will be at 11 a.m. today in Elmcrest Baptist Church with the Revs. T.C. Melton, Burtis Williams and Jack Ridlehoover officiating. Graveside services will be at 2:45 p.m. in Aspermont Cemetery, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Mr. Hogue was born in New Boston, Texas, and attended school in Valley View in Mitchell County. He also attended Draughon's Business School in Lubbock and Hardin-Simmons University. He married Marie Winter in 1941 in Hamlin and was a staff sergeant with the U.S. Army Air Corps' Glider Corps during World War II. He moved to Abilene in 1951 from Dallas. He then was a co-partner and operator of Hogue's Inc. until 1987. He was a life member of the Optimist Club and was a past lieutenant governor. He was a deacon and taught Sunday school at Elmcrest Baptist Church and was a former music director.

Survivors include his wife, of Abilene; one daughter, Sharon Cosper of Abilene; one brother, June Hogue of Clyde; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to The Gideon Memorial Bible chairman, Abilene Gideon Camp, P.O. Box 7361, Abilene 79608; or Elmcrest Baptist Church Music Ministry, 517 N. Pioneer, Abilene 79603.

Harold James Best

Harold James Best, 67, died Tuesday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Ovalo Baptist Church with the Rev. T.C. Melton officiating. Burial will be in McBee Cemetery, directed by Fry-Bartlett Funeral Home of Tuscola.

Mr. Best was born in Ovalo, where he lived for many years, before moving to Abilene. He was disabled and was a member of Ovalo Baptist Church.

Survivors include one uncle, Dr. Charles Smith of Austin; and several cousins.

Memorials may be sent to West Texas Rehabilitation Center, 4601 Hartford, Abilene 79605.

Billie Tucker

Billie Tucker, 93, died Wednesday in a local nursing home.

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

Mrs. Tucker was born in Missouri and was a homemaker. She moved to Abilene in 1941 from Lubbock. She was a member of Abilene First United Methodist Church and was the widow of Marion Elijah Tucker, whom she married in 1938 in Lubbock.

Survivors include two sons, Billy Don Tucker of San Antonio and Tommy Tucker of Lubbock; one daughter, Patricia Ramsey of Abilene; one sister, Lottie Thorp of Petersburg; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to First United Methodist Church, 1318 S. 2nd, Abilene 79602.

Terry Lee Johnson

Terry Lee Johnson, 57, employed by Abtex Beverage Co. for 35 years, died Tuesday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Elmwood Funeral Home Chapel, 5750 U.S. Hwy 277 South, with Msgr. Fred Nawarskis and the Rev. Bob Smith officiating.

Mr. Johnson was born in Lansing, Mich., and attended school in Walnut Ridge, Ark. He moved to Abilene in 1963 from Arkansas. He married Celia Robledo in 1963 and served in the U.S. Air Force. He was a Baptist.

Survivors include his wife, of Abilene; one son, Mike Johnson of Austin; one daughter, Jeanette Baker of Lubbock; one sister, Linda Phillips of Walnut Ridge, Ark.; two grandchildren; one aunt; and several nieces and nephews.

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

James Wesley Smith

LAWN - James Wesley Smith, 63, died Tuesday at his home.

Graveside services with military honors will be at 9 a.m. Friday in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, directed by Fry-Bartlett Funeral Home of Tuscola.

Mr. Smith was born in San Antonio and was a U.S. Navy veteran. He served with the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. He worked as a rock mason.

Survivors include one son, James Wesley Smith Jr. of San Antonio; his mother, Edna L. Huckle of Lawn; two brothers, Kenneth Smith and Milton Smith, both of San Antonio; two sisters, Annette Uzzell of San Antonio and Nancy Uzzell of Devine; and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Victor Garcia Villa Sr.

HASKELL - Victor Garcia Villa Sr., 54, died Sunday at his home.

Mass will be said at 2 p.m. today in St. George Catholic Church with the Rev. Michael Melcher officiating. Burial will be in Willow Cemetery, directed by Holden-McCauley Funeral Directors.

Mr. Villa was born in Gillian and was a member of the Curristia Class at St. George Catholic Church.

Survivors include two sons, Chris Villa of Haskell and Victor Villa Jr. of Milton, Fla.; three daughters, Janie Villa Mathias of Winterhaven, Fla., and Jo Ann Villa Williams and Jane Villa Green, both of Haskell; two brothers, John Villa Jr. of Vernon and Marcus Villa of Haskell; six sisters, Julie Villa Rameriz of Seymour, Francis Villa Wang of Mineral Wells, Bessie Villa and Irene Villa Garza, both of Haskell, Marcelina Villa Gutierrez of O'Brien and Anita Villa Acosta of Abilene; and eight grandchildren.

Margaret McCarty Lawrence

ALBANY - Margaret McCarty Lawrence, 96, of Inglewood, Calif., and formerly of Albany, died Saturday in Inglewood.

Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. today in Albany Cemetery, directed by Godfrey-Neese Funeral Home.

Mrs. Lawrence was born in Albany, where she attended school, and married J.R. Webb in 1922. She moved to Inglewood, Calif. many years ago and was the widow of George Lawrence.

Survivors include one stepson, Hugh D. "Larry" Lawrence of Carlsbad, Calif.; and one cousin, Laura Dean Davis.

Lola Dee Bayless

HERMLEIGH - Lola Dee Bayless, 92, lifelong Scurry County resident, died Tuesday in a Snyder hospital after a lengthy illness.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home Chapel in Snyder with Homer Anderson and the Rev. Rex Reynolds officiating. Burial will be in Hermleigh Cemetery.

Mrs. Bayless was born in Hermleigh and was a homemaker. She was the widow of A.K. Bayless, whom she married in 1922 in Hermleigh.

Survivors include three sons, Bill Bayless of Odessa, Kiah Bayless of Whittier, Calif., and Carl Bayless of Houston; one sister, Lilly Atchley of Ivanhoe, Calif.; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

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

Bonna Belle Porter

ALBANY - Bonna Belle (Mrs. Albert) Porter, 103, died Monday in a local nursing home.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in First Christian Church with the Revs. David Mallory and Tom Anthony officiating. Burial will be in Albany Cemetery, directed by Godfrey-Neese Funeral Home.

Mrs. Porter was born in Italy, Texas, and moved to Albany in 1920. She and her husband owned and operated Porter Drug. She was a charter member of both Lee's Legion Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution and the Albany Study Club. She played the piano and organ for 31 years at First Christian Church and was the widow of John Albert Porter, whom she married in 1917 in Italy, Texas.

Survivors include one son, Richard Porter of McCall, Idaho; one daughter, Mary Adams of Wasilla, Alaska; one sister, Emily Reeves of Houston; and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Harriet Tipps Clemons

COMANCHE - Harriet Tipps Clemons, 95, died Wednesday in a local nursing home.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Comanche Gardens of Memory Cemetery, directed by Hall & Sons Funeral Home.

Ms. Clemons was born in Comanche and moved to Bryan in 1968 from Fort Worth. She worked as an office manager for Troy Wakefield Investments until retiring in 1980. She was a member of Arlington Heights Methodist Church in Fort Worth.

Survivors include one son, William E. Clemons of Comanche; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to a favorite charity.

Callie Fay Newcomb

LUEDERS - Callie Fay (Mrs. Jack) Newcomb, 79, died Tuesday in a Stamford hospital.

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. today in Albany Church of Christ with Ernie Smith officiating. Burial will be in Albany Cemetery, directed by Godfrey-Neese Funeral Home of Albany.

Mrs. Newcomb was born in Shields and was a homemaker. She was a member of the Church of Christ and was the widow of D.A. "Jack" Newcomb, whom she married in 1936 in Lueders.

Survivors include two sons, Samuel Watt Newcomb and George Kevin Newcomb, both of Lueders; one daughter, Martha Fannin of De Leon; two brothers, Vernon Jones of Hobbs, N.M., and Elgin Jones of Mentone; nine grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

Ed Miller

EARLY - Ed D. Miller, 79, of Granbury and formerly of Early, died Tuesday at his home.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Davis-Morris Funeral Home Chapel in Brownwood with the Rev. Lowell "Butch" Warren officiating. Burial will be in Mount Olive Cemetery in Mills County.

Mr. Miller was born in Lightner and formerly owned and operated Miller Janitorial Supply. He lived in Early for 32 years before moving to Granbury in 1979. He was a member of Early First Baptist Church and was the widower of Vallie Thompson Miller, whom he married in 1938 in Goldthwaite.

Survivors include two daughters, Marie Sutton of Pantego and Zaneta Miller of Arlington; one son, Dwayne Miller of Allen; one sister, Beatrice Bissonnet of Houston; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 6:30-8 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Julia Lederer

COLEMAN - Julia Lederer, 96, died Tuesday in a local hospital.

Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Coleman Cemetery pavilion with the Rev. Reed Justus officiating, directed by Stevens Funeral Home.

Ms. Lederer was born in Cameron and attended school in Coleman. She graduated from Howard Payne and North Texas State universities. She taught school in Coleman County and at West Ward Elementary. She also taught school in Odessa from 1944-66 and then in Pecos until 1971. She moved to Fort Stockton in 1971 and returned to Coleman in 1996. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma in Odessa, the Sewing Club and Senior Center in Fort Stockton, and First Baptist churches in Pecos, Fort Stockton, Odessa and Coleman.

Survivors include two nieces and one nephew.

Memorials may be sent to a favorite charity.

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

Zona McNeely

STAMFORD - Zona V. McNeely, 61, died Wednesday in a local nursing home.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in New Hope Cemetery in Jones County with the Rev. Jessie Morton officiating, directed by Tankersley Funeral Home.

Mrs. McNeely was born in Woodward, Okla., and moved to Stamford in 1973 from Kansas. She married William E. McNeely in 1982 in Anson and was a homemaker. She was a member of Temple Baptist Church.

Survivors include her husband, of Stamford; four sons, Phillip Henthorne of Killeen, and Kenneth Henthorne, Donald Henthorne and James Henthorne, all of Stamford; one daughter, Margaret Staggs of Stamford; and 11 grandchildren.

Homer Townsend

Homer Townsend, 95, died Wednesday in a local hospital. Services are pending with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Robert Wooldridge

Robert W. Wooldridge, 72, died Wednesday in a local hospital. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Elmwood Memorial Park, directed by Elmwood Funeral Home, 5750 U.S. Hwy 277 South.

Louise Proffitt Reding

BALLINGER - Louise Proffitt Reding, 76, of San Angelo and formerly of Ballinger, died Wednesday in a San Angelo care center. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Old Runnels Cemetery, directed by Rains-Seale Funeral Home.

Ozella Soules Clary

GOLDTHWAITE - Ozella Soules Clary, of Evant, died Tuesday in a local nursing home. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Evant Methodist Church, directed by Stacy-Wilkins Funeral Home.

Clarice Shafer

BIG SPRING - Clarice Shafer, 84, died Tuesday at her home. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. today in Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home Rosewood Chapel.