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Walton Arthur Wilson (W.A.), 68, of Del Rio, passed away Friday, January 16, 2004, at his residence with family by his side.
W.A. was born March 26, 1935, in Buck Hollow to Walton David and Velma Idell Wilson. He graduated from Junction High School in 1954. He served in the USAR, Fort Hood, with an honorable discharge, June, 1958. He ranched for 27 years in Kimble, Schleicher and Edwards Counties. He worked for Cedar Fiber Inc. of Junction for 13 years and then moved to Del Rio to operate and later own Amistad Propane, Inc.
W.A. was married to Bessie Carlene Wilson in October 1957, in Junction. She preceded him in death in 1977. In 1979, he married Martha Martin Baker.
He was loved and treasured by his family and all that knew him. Those who met W.A. knew they had found the trust of a friend. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, washer pitching and cooking goat and brisket.
He was preceded in death by his mother, father and only sister, Bonnie Louise Stapp-Smith and grandson, Walton D. Wilson.
Survivors are his beloved wife, Martha C. Wilson, of Del Rio; two daughters, Jolene Williams and husband, Jay, of Junction and Teresa D. Wilson, of Del Rio; two sons, Rock B. Wilson and fiancee, Desiree Heard and Baye Wilson and wife, Mary, all of Del Rio; two step-daughters, Lisa and Bonnie Baker of Rocksprings; one step-son, Jimmy Hugh Wood of Kansas; 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Monday, at G.W. Cox Memorial Funeral Chapel in Del Rio, with Reverend Bob Lockhart officiating. Graveside services were at 3 p.m. Monday, at Junction Cemetery with Brother Cecil Conner officiating.
Local arrangements were made by Gentry-Fife Funeral Home.
Melba Lois Hicks, 85, of Junction, died Sunday, January 18, 2004, at Kimble Hospital.
She was born in Mills County on June 17, 1918, to Jay Hue and Susie Mae Hicks.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20, at the First Baptist Church and burial followed in the Junction Cemetery.
Melba was married to S.J. Ratliff in 1936. He preceded her in death in 1965. She married James Arthur “Pete” Lackey in 1951. He preceded her in death in 1979. She was also preceded in death by her grandson, Duane Fairchild, in 1985, and her son-in-law, Ted Fairchild, in 1999.
Survivors include two daughters, Jerrie Lois Fairchild and Judy Lee Chenault and her husband, Jimmy, all of Junction; seven grandchildren, Judy Kay Albus, Cheryl Herring, Charlie Fairchild, James Blake Chenault, Jerry Don Chenault and Jeana Lee Wollman. She is also survived by sixteen great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were under the direction of Gentry-Fife Funeral Home. Condolences to the family may be made online at www.gentryfifefuneralhome.com.
Lorena Couey Stephenson, 91, of Flower Mound, died Tuesday, January 6, 2004, in the Medical Center in Lewisville.
She was born August 27, 1912, in Dublin, Texas, to Claudius J. and Ida Belle Wilson Couey. She attended the Junction schools and graduated from Mary Hardin Baylor in Belton. After receiving a degree in education, she began a teaching career that spanned forty years. Two of her early teaching assignments were at the Murr and Copperas schools in Kimble County.
On June 4, 1941, she married Lother Alexander Stephenson, also a teacher, school superintendent and coach. They were parents of a daughter, Nancy Lo.
Lorena was an active member of the Church of Christ. Following her retirement from the educational field, she spent many hours in volunteer work for her church and community. In addition to other civic affiliations, she was founder of the Lewisville Retired Teachers Association.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1970, her parents, and her three brothers, Thomas Couey, Rufus Couey, and Sessum Couey.
Survivors include her daughter, Nancy Miley and son-in-law, Gary, of Flower Mound; two grandsons, Stephen Towner and his wife, Caryle Ann, of Lewisville, and David Alan Towner of Carrollton, and three great-grandchildren. Also surviving are a sister-in-law, Bessie Surber Couey Bowers and her three sons, Marvin, Steve, and Len Couey. Among other survivors are two other nephews, Van and Mac Couey.
A memorial service was held Wednesday, January 7, in Flower Mound, and a funeral service and interment were at Henderson.
If anyone wishes, memorial contributions can be made to a favorite charity or to the Leukemia Foundation, c/o Nancy Miley, 3513 Pecan Park Drive, Flower Mound, Texas 75028.
Jimmie Lee Thomas Bottern, 68, died Friday, January 16, 2004, at her home in Zephyrhifls, Florida, after a heroic battle with cancer.
The daughter of James H. and Viola Tomberlin Thomas, she was born January 5, 1936, in Junction. Her paternal grandparents were Sidney and Mary Ann Pepper Thomas, who homesteaded the land encompassing the present South Llano River State Park. Her maternal grandparents were Robert L. and Maggie Sweeten Tomberlin. Jimmie's great-grandparents who settled in Kimble County were Benjamin F. Pepper, James Madison Tomberlin, and Emma Schmitt Tomberlin.
Jimmie was a 1954 graduate of Junction High School. Although she lived in several locations across the continental United States, she remained a Texan at heart and was a devotee of western music.
Before retirement, she and her husband, Knud "Ben” Bottern, managed a KOA Campground at Fiesta Key, Florida, and she especially enjoyed working at the fishing marina.
She was a talented artisan and crocheted many beautiful creations. When her daughter, Pamela, was stationed with the Navy in Germany, Jimmie crocheted gifts of baby blankets for premature infants born to Navy parents. Most recently, she had crafted and donated lap robes for residents at the Hill Country Care Center. Several months ago, she also donated a handmade coverlet that will be sold as a fundraiser for the Kimble Historical Museum.
Jimmie was preceded in death by her parents and her step-father, Thomas A. Allsup.
Survivors include her husband, two daughters, Pamela Kuckenbrod of Royal Oak, Michigan, and Beverly Riggs and her husband, Ronald, of Macomb, Michigan. Also surviving are two grandchildren, Michael and Melissa Riggs.
At her request, Jimmie’s cremains were scattered in the ocean off the coast of the Florida Keys.
Rev. Carlos B. Parker, 93, passed away Tuesday, January 13, 2004.
He was born December 6, 1910, in the Harper Community to George V. and Olive Roberts Parker. He married Hallis W. Bode on August 30, 1933, in Junction.
Rev. Parker is survived by one daughter, Zane Deiter and husband, Chester, of San Antonio; one son, George "Buzzy" Parker and wife, Charolet, of Harper; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Carlos were held Thursday, January 15, at 2 p.m., in the Lighthouse Fellowship Chapel, with Rev. James Engelmann officiating. Interment followed in the Noxville Cemetery.
He was preceded in death by a grandson-in-law, Frank Benitez and three sisters, Hazel "Potsy" Gillette, Foye Brown, and Faye Jones.
Pallbearers were David Dieter, Lowell Parker, Don Phillips, Levi Ellebracht, Gene Bode, Ronald Bode, Harold Sanders and Walter Winn Parker.
Honorary pallbearers were Joe Parker, Bob Brown, Paul Celedon, Bruce Conn, Gene Royce Ake, Bill German, and Don Harper.
Services were under the direction of Beckmann Funeral Home in Fredericksburg.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lighthouse Fellowship Chapel, Harper Volunteer Fire Dept. and EMS, Noxville Cemetery, or the charity of one's choice.
Ray C. Burrows, 91, passed away Wednesday, January 14, 2004, in Broadway Manor Healthcare Center in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Services were held Saturday, January 17, at 2 p.m. in London Cemetery with members of the Junction City Masonic Lodge officiating.
Ray was born October 26, 1913, in Braggs, Oklahoma, to Tobe and Eva Malory Burrows. He was a member of the Cherokee Nation and was a Mason. He was an architect and worked in the furniture industry.
Ray married Lucille Ashworth, and they had two sons, Gary and Richard (Bo) Burrows. His wife passed away in 1981.
Ray is survived by his sons, Gary and Bo; one grandson, Toby Ray Burrows; two great-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were by Gentry-Fife Funeral Home.
Condolences may be made to the family on-line at www.gentryfifefuneralhome.com.