Today's Obituaries (Nov. 17, 1998)

Widow of longtime Abilene civic leader dies

By ROY A. JONES II

Regional Editor

Marie M. Nelson, the widow of legendary Abilene civic leader Grover Nelson, died Monday at a local hospital. She was 94.

Grover Nelson, who often referred to his wife as his "silent partner" and insisted she should have received equal credit for anything he accomplished, died in 1988 at the age of 88. He was named Abilene's Outstanding Citizen in 1972.

Nelson's name graces Abilene's zoo, the most popular city park, a Boys' Club Unit and a city street, and his wife's name is on one building. After his death, Sacred Heart Catholic Church named its newest building the Grover and Marie Nelson Center for Religious Education in honor of the couple's many years of unselfish service to the parish.

Funeral Mass for Mrs. Nelson will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with the Rev. James Bridges officiating.

Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Faith, 5701 U.S. Hwy. 277 South.

A wake will be held at 7 p.m. tonight at the Elliott-Hamil Chapel of Faith on Hwy. 277 with the Rev. Mark Woodruff officiating.

Mrs. Nelson was born in Kansas City, Kan., and attended St. Ignatius Schools in Fort Worth. Grover Nelson said it was love at first sight when he waited on Marie Krull at his Fort Worth shoe shop. They married in Fort Worth in 1926 and moved to Abilene two years later. By the 1940s he was a city councilman and later became the first Abilenian to serve as both an Abilene city councilman and a Taylor County commissioner.

Mrs. Nelson was a longtime member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

The Nelsons had no children but were major contributors and driving forces behind the old Central Catholic schools and the West Texas Rehabilitation Center.

Mrs. Nelson leaves no survivors.

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

Frances Cotton

Frances Cotton, 57, of Merkel died Sunday at a local hospital.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Mount Hope Cemetery in Anson with the Rev. David Cason officiating, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Mrs. Cotton was born in Lamesa and attended school in Anson. She moved to Merkel from Oklahoma in 1980 and was a nurses' aide for Central Nursing Home, Shady Oaks Nursing Home and Care Inn of Abilene for a total of nine years. She was a homemaker and a Baptist. She married Gene Cotton in 1970 in Abilene.

Survivors include her husband, of Merkel; her mother, Jettie M. Gillit of Anson; and two sisters, Joyce Johnson of Kansas and Annalee Bailey of Anson.

G.W. 'Bill' Comegys

G.W. "Bill" Comegys, 85, formerly of Abilene, died Sunday at an Orange hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory, with Dr. Tom Thomson officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery in Merkel.

Mr. Comegys was born in Merkel and was a longtime resident of Surrey Square. He retired from Exxon and was a member of First United Methodist Church. He was a Navy Seabee veteran of World War II. He was the widower of Thelma Leach Comegys.

Survivors include three nieces and eight great-nieces.

The family will be at the funeral home from 1 p.m. until service time Wednesday.

DeLois Henry

DeLois Henry, 71, a lifelong resident of Abilene, died Saturday at a local hospital.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory, with the Rev. Larry Baird officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Mrs. Henry was born in Clyde and was a homemaker and a member of the Pentecostal church.

Survivors include two sons, Clarence Henry of Abilene and Kenneth Henry of Albion, Mich.; one brother, Laverne Long of Tulsa, Okla.; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

W.A. 'Bill' Cochran

W.A. "Bill" Cochran, 79, of Abilene died Sunday at a local nursing home.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Elmwood Memorial Park with Richard Ellis officiating, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Mr. Cochran was born in Bon Aqua, Tenn., and attended school in Hickman County, Tenn. He moved to Abilene from Bon Aqua in 1951 and worked in the oil fields, for Tesco Equipment for six years and for the city of Abilene Parks Department, from which he retired after 15 years. He was a member of Minter Lane Church of Christ and a volunteer for the Christian Service Center. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He married Lucille Ellis in 1942 in Mason.

Survivors include his wife, of Abilene; three sons, David Cochran of Chandler, Samuel "Sam" Cochran of Bullard and Danny Cochran of Clyde; one daughter, Sue Lambart of Grosse Ile, Mich.; two sisters, Mary Vaughn of Franklin, Tenn., and Brownie Martin of Nashville, Tenn.; 13 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Christian Service Center, 901 Mesquite, Abilene 79601.

The family will be at the funeral home from 4-8 p.m. today.

Ascencion Fernandez

STAMFORD - Ascencion R. Fernandez, 63, died Sunday at an Abilene hospital.

Rosary will be said at 6:30 p.m. today at Kinney Funeral Home Chapel. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Ann's Catholic Church with the Rev. Oscar Del Rio officiating. Burial will be in Highland Memorial Cemetery.

Mr. Fernandez was born in Gto, Mexico, and moved to Stamford from Rockwall in 1959. He was employed by Howard Overby Farms and was a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church. He married Salome Fernandez in 1957 in Dallas.

He is survived by his wife; 12 children, Sophia Martinez, David Fernandez, Angela Contreras and Ascencion Fernandez Jr., all of Stamford, Ernest Fernandez of Hayes, Kan., Mary Lozano of Anson, Johnny Fernandez of Hermleigh and Tammy Gonzales, Cecilia Fernandez, Lupe Fernandez, Jane Fernandez and Frank Fernandez, all of Abilene; one brother, Antonio Fernandez of Stamford; two sisters, Cande and San Juana Fernandez of Romita Gto, Mexico; and one aunt.

Hettie Hutchinson

MULESHOE - Hettie Hutchinson, a former employee of the Borden Milk Company in Abilene, died Monday at a Lubbock nursing home.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Brad Reeves officiating. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday in Colorado City Cemetery, directed by Ellis Funeral Home.

Mrs. Hutchinson was born in Colorado City and moved from Abilene to Muleshoe in 1979. She retired from the accounting department at Borden. She was a member of First United Methodist Church and Ester Dorcis Circle of United Methodist Women.

Survivors include one sister, Elizabeth King of Muleshoe, and numerous nephews and nieces.

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 505, Muleshoe TX 79347.

Robert McElrath

RENO, Nev. - Robert M. McElrath, 68, formerly of Abilene, died Saturday at his home.

The body was cremated. Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at South Reno Methodist Church, directed by Ross, Burke & Knobel Mortuary.

Mr. McElrath was born and grew up in Abilene. He graduated from North Texas State University with a degree in business and retired after 35 years as a pilot for United Airlines. He had lived in Fairfax, Va., and San Pedro, Calif., before moving to the Reno area 25 years ago. He was a member of Reno Mondongueros, Confederate Air Force, several hot-air ballooning organizations and South Reno United Methodist Church. He was an Air Force veteran of the Korean Conflict.

Survivors include his wife, Rose Ann McElrath of Reno; two daughters, Ann Stuart and Sandy Week, both of Reno; one son, Neill McElrath of Fallon; two brothers, Jimmy McElrath and Edwin McElrath, both of Abilene; and two grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to South Reno United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 70939, Reno NV 89570.

Dr. Pattye Johnstone

DENTON - Dr. Pattye Johnstone, 66, died Wednesday at a local hospital.

Memorial services were Monday at Mulkey-Mason/Jack Schmitz and Son Funeral Home Chapel with Phillip Young officiating, assisted by the Rev. Canon Jimmye Kimmey.

Mrs. Johnston was born in Dallas County. She graduated from the University of North Texas in 1952 with a bachelor's degree and from Hardin-Simmons University with a master's degree. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a doctorate and had been a vocal coach and teacher at the University of North Texas since 1968.

Survivors include one daughter, Penny Johnstone of Tampa, Fla.; four sons, Robert Johnstone of Las Vegas, Nev., Jimmy Johnstone of Wichita, Kan., and John Johnstone and Bill Johnstone, both of Denton; and two grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Pattye Johnstone Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o School of Music, University of North Texas.

Cameron Matthew Allen

BALLINGER - Cameron Matthew Allen, infant, of Austin died Saturday in Austin.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Evergreen Cemetery with the Rev. Stephen Kennelly officiating, directed by Rains-Seale Funeral Home.

Cameron was born Saturday in Austin.

Survivors include his parents, Matt and Wendy Sonnenberg Allen of Austin; siblings Anthony Manley, Tavias Allen and Nekisha Green; grandparents Phil and Myra Sonnenberg of Miles and Dominga Gonzales of Ballinger; and great-grandparents John and Joan Doves of Morgan and J.C. and Olga Sonnenberg of Mereta.

Cecil Willard 'C.W.' Moore

CLYDE - Cecil Willard "C.W." Moore, 83, died Monday at an Abilene nursing home.

Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Clyde Cemetery with the Rev. Riley Fugitt officiating, directed by Bailey Funeral Home.

Mr. Moore was born in Wright City, Okla., and moved to Clyde from Abilene in 1966. He retired from the Abilene Independent School District and was a Baptist. He married Ethel Kennedy in 1936 in Clarksville.

Survivors include his wife, of Clyde; two sons, Willard Moore of Sweetwater and Robert "Bob" Moore of Clyde; one daughter, Lois Faye Cooper of Clyde; 12 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Sanford Elvin Lee

JAYTON - Sanford Elvin Lee, 88, died Sunday at a Kent County nursing home.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Jayton Cemetery with the Rev. Jim Reinbolt officiating, directed by Weathersbee Funeral Home of Rotan.

Mr. Lee was born in San Saba County and was a farmer and rancher. He was a member of First United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Lorean Lee of Jayton; one daughter, Geneva Webb of Lubbock; one son, Eugene Lee of Jayton; one nephew, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Mary Margaret Johnson

BROWNWOOD - Mary Margaret Johnson, 73, of Port Aransas and formerly of Brownwood, died Sunday at her home.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Eastlawn Memorial Park, directed by Davis-Morris Funeral Home.

Mrs. Johnson was born in Detroit, Tex. She was the widow of Dewey Johnson.

Survivors include one daughter, Margaret Ann Daniell of Port Aransas; two sisters, Birdie Shipp of Altus, Okla., and Doris Adams of Commerce; two grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

J.T. Oliver

SAN ANGELO - J.T. Oliver, 75, died Sunday at his home. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Johnson's Funeral Home Chapel.

Ruth Marie Harker

CISCO - Ruth Marie Harker, 70, of Ranger died Sunday at an Abilene hospital. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Oakwood Cemetery, directed by Kimbrough Funeral Home.

Lonie Johnson

CISCO - Lonie M. Johnson, 96, of Pecos died Monday at a Pecos hospital. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Oakwood Cemetery, directed by Kimbrough Funeral Home.

Elizabeth Furgeson

LUBBOCK - Elizabeth Furgeson, 92, died Sunday. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Abbey Chapel of Resthaven Funeral Home.

Nancy Frank Stribling

THROCKMORTON - Nancy Frank Stribling, 62, died Monday at a Graham hospital. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Merriman-Archer Funeral Home Chapel.

Nicholas Alexander Kimball

Nicholas Alexander Kimball, 15, a Cooper High School freshman, died Sunday in Abilene. Services are pending with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 U.S. Hwy. 277 South.

Charles Thomas Beard

Charles Thomas Beard, 71, of Abilene died Monday at a local hospital. Services are pending with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Julia Pirl Johnson

Julia Pirl Johnson, 71, of Abilene died Monday at a local hospital. Services are pending with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 U.S. Hwy. 277 South.

Hazel Hester

Hazel Hester, 76, of Abilene died Monday at a local hospital. Services are pending with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 U.S. Hwy. 277 South.

Janie Coats

BIG SPRING - Janie Coats, 50, died Monday at a Lubbock hospital. Services are pending with Myers & Smith Funeral Home.