Today's Obituaries (Feb. 26, 1997)

Helen Berniece Parsons

Helen Berniece Parsons, 84, died Tuesday in a local nursing home.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in St. Paul United Methodist Church with the Rev. Archie Echols officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Mrs. Parsons was born in Higgins and graduated from Okeene High School in Okeene, Okla., in 1930. She attended college in Alva, Okla., and married W.L. "Bill" Parsons in 1935 in Woodward, Okla. She moved to Abilene in 1950 from Waco. She worked as a department manager at Montgomery Ward for 13 years and was a homemaker. She was a charter member of the Women's Study Club and was a member of the Friendship Sunday School Class at St. Paul United Methodist Church. She also was a member of the organization that founded the Methodist Service Center.

Survivors include two daughters, Barbara Ice of Houston and B. Ann Evensen of Austin; one brother, Gerald Scott of Oklahoma; one sister, Dorothy Laubach of Oklahoma; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many other relatives.

Memorials may be sent to Gideons International, P.O. Box 2882, Abilene 79604; or a favorite charity.

Jimmie Grissom

Jimmie Grissom, 52, died Monday in a local hospital.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Elmwood Memorial Park with the Rev. Jerry Pitman officiating, directed by Elmwood Funeral Home, 5750 U.S. Hwy 277 South.

Mr. Grissom was born in Haskell County and worked as a truck driver since 1970.

Survivors include his wife, Tracy Grissom of Abilene; three sons, Jimmie Grissom Jr. and William Clay, both of Abilene, and Joe Grissom of Arkansas; three daughters, Christi Motes and Jennifer Grissom, both of Abilene, and Tammy Griffin of Hawley; three brothers, Randall Grissom of Grand Prairie, Darrell Grissom of Hawley and Merle Grissom of Lawn; three sisters, Dora Mankin of Eldorado, Jody Kirk of Truby and Sharon Rister of Hamlin; and eight grandchildren.

Willie Evans

Willie Evans, 86, heavy equipment operator for Rose Construction for many years, died Sunday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory, with Dr. Leo Scott officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Mr. Evans was born in Brenham and moved to Abilene in 1941.

Survivors include one daughter, Willie Bell of Abilene; two sisters; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.

Helen Bacon

Helen G. Bacon, 80, Abilene school teacher for many years, died Monday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Faith, 5701 U.S. Hwy 277 South, with the Rev. Darris Eggers officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park.

Mrs. Bacon was born in Sherman, where she graduated from high school. She also graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1936 and Hardin-Simmons University in 1966. She moved to Abilene in 1958 and was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma at OU, Abilene Country Club, The Cotillion Club and St. Paul United Methodist Church. She was the widow of J. Mac Bacon, whom she married in 1938 in Sherman.

Survivors include two sons, William Bacon and Robert Bacon, both of Houston; one grandchild; and two great-grandchildren.

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

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Lawrence Dean Woodruff

ANSON - Lawrence Dean Woodruff, 57, died Monday at his home.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Anson Church of Christ with Paul Landis officiating. Burial will be in Sylvester Cemetery, directed by Lawrence-Adams Funeral Home.

Mr. Woodruff was born in Abilene and graduated from high school in Blythe, Calif. in 1957. He married Louise Green in 1958 in Hamlin and moved to Lovington, N.M., in 1967 from Rotan. He worked as a field operator for Texaco Oil Co. in Lovington, N.M., before retiring in 1994. He returned to Anson in 1995 and was a member of the Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife, of Anson; two sons, Lawrence Woodruff of Lake Jackson and William Woodruff of Crosby; his father, R.L. Woodruff of Hamlin; two brothers, Gerald Woodruff of Spring and Robert Woodruff of Arlington; one sister, Delores Stephens of Colleyville; and two grandchildren.

Ovella 'Betty' Garrett

BALLINGER - Ovella "Betty" Garrett, 87, died Monday in Ballinger.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Seventh Street Baptist Church with the Revs. Tony King and Dale Schultz officiating. Burial will be in Old Runnels Cemetery, directed by Rains-Seale Funeral Home.

Mrs. Garrett was born in Hatchel and lived in Sterling City, where she owned and operated a beauty shop. She later worked as the Sterling County treasurer. She moved to Ballinger after retiring. She was the widow of Darrell "Levi" Garrett, whom she married in 1951 in Bradshaw.

Survivors include one brother, Foy "Buster" Davis of Ballinger; one sister, Media Pearl Davis of Ballinger; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Memorials may be sent to American Cancer Society, 209 S. Danville, Abilene 79605; or a favorite charity.

Claude Crossland

COLEMAN - Claude Crossland, 75, died Monday at his home.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Bangs Cemetery with the Rev. Kermit Sorrels officiating, directed by Stevens Funeral Home.

Mr. Crossland was born in Coleman County and attended school in Coleman. He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II and was a retired truck driver. He moved to Spearman in 1956, Brownwood in 1988 and Coleman in 1991. He was the widower of Dorotha Lucille Davis Crossland, whom he married in 1946. He married Ruth Chancellor in 1991 and was a Baptist.

Survivors include his wife, of Coleman; two sons, Claude L. Crossland of Spearman and Charles L. Kennedy of Coleman; two daughters, Joy Hansen of Lake Brownwood and Carolyn Tipton of Austin; three brothers, Richard Crossland of Seattle, Frank Crossland of McCamey and Archie Crossland of Bangs; four sisters, Iola Mills and Dollie Crossland, both of Dallas, Mary Van Zandt of San Angelo and Lenora Sanders of Tulsa, Okla.; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to a favorite charity.

Edwin Willie Werner

BALLINGER - Edwin Willie Werner, 90, died Tuesday at his home.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Ballinger First Baptist Church with the Rev. Jerry Howe officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, directed by Rains-Seale Funeral Home.

Mr. Werner was born in Blanco County and was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He worked as a stockfarmer. He was a member of First Baptist Church and was the widower of Tiny Lee Reese Werner, whom he married in 1962 in Ballinger.

Survivors include one stepson, Kerry Lange of New Mexico; one brother, Monroe Werner of Ballinger; and many nieces and nephews.

Jack Edward McCanlies

MORAN - Jack Edward McCanlies, 81, formerly of Cisco, died Tuesday in an Abilene hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Chambers-Wilcox Funeral Directors Chapel in Cisco with the Rev. Gary Turner officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Cisco.

Mr. McCanlies was born in Cisco and was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He married Stella Pappas in 1959 in Breckenridge and worked for the Texas Employment Commission for 15 years before retiring. He was a rancher and was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion.

Survivors include his wife, of Moran; two daughters, Dena "Dinky" Kierre of Cisco and Vickie Greenhill of Fort Worth; one sister, Myrtle Van Short of Cisco; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Memorials may be sent to a favorite charity.

Jennie Lee Kelley

BROWNWOOD - Jennie Lee Kelley, 56, of Harbor Point on Lake Brownwood, died Sunday at her home.

Graveside services will be at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Weedon Cemetery with the Rev. Don Roath officiating, directed by Heartland Funeral Home of Early.

Mrs. Kelley was born in San Angelo and married William E. Kelley in 1982 in Brownwood. She was a member of North Lake Brownwood American Legion Auxiliary and Fisherman's Chapel United Methodist Church.

Survivors include her husband, of Harbor Point; one stepson, Tim Kelley; one daughter, Veronica Johnson of Brownwood; one adopted daughter, Nancy Ann Miller of Temple; her mother, Vada T. Chriesman of Harbor Point; one brother, Jim Bob Chriesman of Watauga; one sister, Patricia Smith of Plainview; her grandfather, Whitney Regan Karnes of Brownwood; one grandchild; and two nephews.

Memorials may be sent to VNA Hospice, 212 Brown St., Brownwood 76801; or Texas Oncology Center, Brownwood 76801.

Tennie Watson

BROWNWOOD - Tennie L. Watson, 84, died Sunday in a local hospital.

Services were held Tuesday in Davis-Morris Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Eastlawn Memorial Park.

Mrs. Watson was born in Swenson and married Winifred C. Watson in 1944 in Waco. She moved to Brownwood in 1977 and was a retired jewelry sales clerk. She was a member of Austin Avenue Church of Christ.

Survivors include her husband, of Brownwood; two sons, Marvin Gene Sherrod of Memphis, Tenn., and Hilton H. Sherrod of Boerne; one sister, Faye Farley of Waco; two brothers, Bill R. Davis of Bluffton, S.C., and Grover Davis of Palmer, Alaska; seven grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Cherokee Home for Children.

Fadua Salman

HASKELL - Fadua Salman, 85, formerly of Rochester, died Monday in a local hospital after a brief illness.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Faith Chapel in Rochester with Kathryn Byrd officiating. Burial will be in Rochester Cemetery, directed by Smith Funeral Home of Rochester.

Mrs. Salman was born in Choufat, Lebanon, and lived in Rochester for more than 50 years. She and her husband owned and operated, for many years, Frank's Department Store in Rochester. She moved to Haskell about five years ago and was a member of Order of the Eastern Star and Faith Chapel in Rochester. She was the widow of Frank Salman, whom she married in 1941 in Mexico.

Survivors include two daughters, Naviha Aboul Hosn of Fort Worth and Laela Martin of Haskell; two brothers, Nagib Hassanille and Samia Hassanille, both of Mexico City; two sisters, Zahia Sabb of Mexico City and Sue Ameen of Lubbock; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Noah Project, Haskell 79521.

The body will be at Holden-McCauley Funeral Home in Haskell.

Lula Kirkpatrick

BROWNWOOD - Lula M. Kirkpatrick, 90, died Monday in a local nursing home.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Wise Funeral Home Chapel in Bonham with Bill Ferguson officiating. Burial will be in Sandy Cemetery. Local arrangements were made by Heartland Funeral Home of Early.

Mrs. Kirkpatrick was born in Bennington, Okla., and attended school in Oklahoma. She was a homemaker and moved to Brownwood in 1975 from Tyler. She was a Baptist and was the widow of Hubert Lee Kirkpatrick, whom she married in 1924 in Sandy in Fannin County.

Survivors include one daughter, Alpha "Jean" Ferguson of Brownwood; one sister, Dolly Weaver of Canyon; 14 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Opal Dawson

Opal Dawson, 72, died Tuesday at her home. Services are pending with North's Funeral Home, 242 Orange.

Johnnie Withers

SWEETWATER - Johnnie Withers, 81, of Hugo, Colo., died Monday in Denver. Services are pending with McCoy Funeral Home.

Samuel Eugene 'Gene' Gilder

COLEMAN - Samuel Eugene "Gene" Gilder, 80, died Tuesday in an Abilene hospital. Services are pending with Stevens Funeral Home.

Hardy Lee Edmonds

STEPHENVILLE - Hardy Lee Edmonds, 83, died Monday in a local nursing home. Services will be at 4 p.m. Thursday in Lacy Funeral Home Chapel.

Clyde Norris Weaver Jr.

COMANCHE - Clyde Norris Weaver Jr., 46, died Monday. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Comanche Funeral Home Chapel.

Buster Anderson

SNYDER - Buster Anderson, 81, died Monday in a local nursing home after a lengthy illness. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in 37th Street Church of Christ, directed by Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home.

Luther Bell

STEPHENVILLE - Luther W. Bell, 93, died Tuesday at his home. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Lacy Funeral Home Chapel.