Today's Obituaries (Nov. 14, 1997)

Prominent Abilene scoutmaster dies at age 62

Michael Ted Noe Sr., 62, the first person inducted into the Chisholm Trail Council Hall of Fame, died Thursday in a local hospital.

The body will be at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory, from 5 p.m. today until 5 p.m. Saturday. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Mr. Noe was born in Missouri and married Shirley Bassetti in 1957 in Abilene. He moved to Abilene in 1970.

After retiring from the U.S. Air Force, he worked as an electronics technician for West Texas Utilities.

He was involved in Scouting for 37 years, all but two in the Chisholm Trail Council. He founded Troop 3 which is sponsored by University Baptist Church.

Don Knecht, a retired Chisholm Trail Council executive, went to Noe's hospital room two days before his death. Noe and his wife were very active in Scouting as they both participated in events at the district and council levels.

"Michael was an extremely dedicated and sincere individual and also had a good sense of humor to go with that which helped him get along even better with the boys in the Boy Scouts," said Knecht.

Noe was a staff member of the Wood Badge and Timber Tag training programs and also was an instructor with the Eagle Mountain Junior Leader training program. He was a Vigil member and advisor of Order of the Arrow. He earned the Silver Beaver Award, District Award of Merit, Scouter's Training Award, Scouter's Key, Commissioner's Arrowhead Award and Baptist Good Shepherd Award.

He was president of KCARC, a ham radio club. He was a choir director, Sunday school teacher and Royal Ambassadors advisor, among other positions, at University Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, of Abilene; one son, Michael T. Noe Jr. of Abilene; one daughter, Marie Noe of Abilene; his parents, Howard and Gladys Noe of Mississippi; three sisters, Helen Lisanby and Kathy Long, both of Georgia, and Marion Noe of Mississippi; and one grandchild.

Memorials may be sent to Chisholm Trail Council, Boy Scouts of America, 1208 N. 5th, Abilene 79601.

Julia Louise Register

Julia Louise Register, 54, died Thursday at her home.

Services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory, with the Rev. Robert Christian officiating. Burial will be in Compere Cemetery.

Mrs. Register was born in Abilene, where she attended school, and was a homemaker. She returned to Abilene in 1979 from Lubbock and was the widow of David Charles Register, whom she married in 1959 in Abilene.

Survivors include three sons, David Register of Petersburg, and Paul Register and Steven Register, both of Merkel; her mother, Emma Moore of Abilene; two brothers, Gene Moore of Abilene and Jimmy Moore of Vacaville, Calif.; two sisters, Loretta Logsdon of Abilene and Geneva Fort of Pasadena; three grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to Cook Children's Medical Center, 801 7th Ave., Fort Worth 76104; or The House That Kerry Built, 751 Hickory, Abilene 79601.

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

The Rev. Earleen Westbrook

The Rev. Earleen Westbrook, 79, died Wednesday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Faith, 5701 U.S. Hwy 277 South, with Dr. Sidney Westbrook and the Rev. Tom McClelland officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park.

Rev. Westbrook was born in Sagerton and attended school in Old Glory. She married the Rev. Herman Westbrook in 1934 in Stamford and was ordained a minister in the Foursquare Gospel Church in 1945. She moved to Abilene in 1963 from Lubbock. She was a homemaker and was a member of First Foursquare Gospel Church.

Survivors include her husband, of Abilene; one son, Darwin Westbrook of Abilene; two daughters, Dois Collins and Hermaleen Widdows, both of Abilene; 11 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.

The body will be at the funeral home's 542 Hickory location until 11 a.m. Saturday.

Juana Medrano

Juana H. Medrano, 83, died Wednesday in a local hospital.

A prayer service will be at 7 p.m. today in Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Gethsemani Spanish Assembly of God with the Revs. Sam Lopez and Orlando Lopez officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park.

Mrs. Medrano was born in Jalisco, Mexico, and moved to Abilene in 1982 from Lamesa. She was the widow of Gonzalo Medrano Sr., whom she married in 1934 in Bremond.

Survivors include six sons, Mike Medrano and Jose Medrano, both of Lubbock, Mauro Medrano of Amarillo, Cipriano Medrano of Wichita Falls, Gonzalo Medrano Jr. of Springfield, Mo., and Antonio Medrano of Raleigh, N.C.; four daughters, Paula Noblin of San Antonio, Mary G. Penney of Abilene, San Juana Medrano of Houston and Guadalupe Barton of Mobile, Ala.; 39 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

H.P. Lilly

H.P. Lilly, 94, died Thursday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Hamby Church of Christ with Willard Tate officiating. Burial will be in Hamby Cemetery, directed by North's Funeral Home, 242 Orange.

Mr. Lilly was born in Nacogdoches and grew up in Throckmorton. He lived in Taylor County for many years and moved in 1927 to Hamby, where he farmed for more than 30 years. He moved to Abilene in 1954 and worked at Foremost Dairy until retiring in 1968. He was a volunteer at the Abilene Community Theater. He was a member of the Church of Christ and was the widower of Jewel Gertrude Bryant Lilly, whom he married in 1926 in Throckmorton; and Emma Jewel Townsend Lilly, whom he married in 1967 in Abilene.

Survivors include six daughters, Olivia Wood of Lawn, Flora Yawn, Donna Ramos and Dorothy Bullard, all of Clyde, Frances Copher of Euless and Brenda Lathrop of San Angelo; two sons, Loy Lilly of Arlington and Cleburne Lilly of Abilene; one sister, Vera Moore of Snyder; 24 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 6-7:30 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Maudie Lee Dunklin

AVOCA -- Maudie Lee Dunklin, 91, of Denver and formerly of Avoca, died Wednesday in a Denver nursing home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Orient Street Church of Christ in Stamford with Chad Massey officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park in Abilene, directed by Tankersley Funeral Home of Stamford.

Mrs. Dunklin was born in Denton and married H.H. Dunklin in 1956 in Abilene. She worked as a secretary for Christian Broadcasting in Abilene for many years until retiring and was a homemaker. She was a member of Home Extension Club in Avoca and Church of Christ.

Survivors include her husband, of Athens, Texas; one stepson, Keith Dunklin of Athens, Texas; two stepdaughters, Elva Anderson of Athens, Texas, and Ruth Klufa of Tonkawa, Okla.; one brother, Cled Berry of Grand Prairie; one sister, Audie Bowers of Midland; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Jeff Fox

BROWNWOOD -- Jeff E. Fox, 68, died Wednesday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Heartland Funeral Home Chapel in Early with Sam Tomlinson officiating. Burial will be in Cross Plains Cemetery.

Mr. Fox was born in Cross Plains and worked as a welder. He married Margaret Jean Graham in 1997 in Brownwood and was a Pentecostal.

Survivors include his wife, of Brownwood; two sons, Garland Ray Fox of Abilene and David Earl Fox of Arlington; two stepsons, Michael D. Nick of Brownwood and Kevin L. Nick of Corsicana; one stepdaughter, Kelly E. Madrid of Brownwood; 13 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Juanita Reed

ASPERMONT -- Juanita Reed, 74, died Thursday in an Abilene hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Central Baptist Church with the Rev. Sam Earp officiating. Burial will be in Aspermont Cemetery, directed by McCoy Funeral Home.

Mrs. Reed was born in Ramonsville and was a homemaker. She was a Baptist and was the widow of James Reed, whom she married in 1941 in Dickins.

Survivors include three daughters, Jo Ann Travino of Big Spring, Yvonne Stanle of Clyde and Jane Vanhouten of Aspermont; one son, James L. Reed of Abilene; three brothers, Dee Pena of Lubbock, James Pena of Aspermont and Chris Pena of Hamlin; two sisters, Ann Ledesma of Aspermont and Allene Castro of Lubbock; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

W.J. Booth Jr.

BRECKENRIDGE -- W.J. Booth Jr., 86, lifelong Stephens County resident, died Thursday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Melton Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Tom Anthony and David Mallory officiating. Burial will be in Shady Grove Cemetery.

Mr. Booth was born in Harpersville and was a farmer and rancher. He was a member of Farm Bureau.

Survivors include two daughters, Rosa Lee Plott of Breckenridge and Rena Mae Shack of Moran; two sons, Bobby Rector of Moran and Archie J. Booth of Eolian; 11 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels and left at the funeral home.

Marshall Tolbert 'M.T.' Mullis

ASPERMONT -- Marshall Tolbert "M.T." Mullis, 86, died Thursday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Aspermont Church of Christ with Bob Phillips officiating. Burial will be in Aspermont Cemetery, directed by McCoy Funeral Home.

Mr. Mullis worked in the oil field and was a farmer. He was the widower of Jessie Emma Wiser Mullis, whom he married in 1932 in Aspermont. He married Thelma King in 1996 and was a member of the Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife, of Aspermont; two sons, Marshall Don Mullis of Aspermont and John Neal Mullis of Dickinson; two sisters, Mattie Frank Kebil of Arlington and Velma Irene Norris of Odessa; six grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Luene Smith

BROWNWOOD -- Luene Smith, 84, lifelong local resident, died Wednesday in a local hospital.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Davis-Morris Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. R.J. Elkins officiating. Burial will be in Greenleaf Cemetery.

Mrs. Smith was born in Oklahoma City and was a homemaker. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and was the widow of Walter R. Smith, whom she married in 1938 in Tucumcari, N.M.

Survivors include one son, Randel Smith of Brookesmith; two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Visitation will be from 6-7 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Lavada Johnson

COLEMAN -- Lavada C. Johnson, 72, co-owner and operator of Johnson Garden Center for many years, died Thursday at her home.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Walker Funeral Home Chapel with Sam Wilson officiating. Burial will be in Gouldbusk Cemetery.

Mrs. Johnson was born in Arkadelphia, Ark., and lived in Coleman County most of her life. She married Sam H. Johnson in 1942 in Coleman and was a member of Hillcrest Church of Christ.

Survivors include her husband, of Coleman; one daughter, Earlene Dockery of Trickham; two sons, Sammy Johnson of Cleburne and Thomas Johnson of Clyde; two brothers, John Fulbright of Coleman and Nolan Fulbright of Canton; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Memorials may be sent to Brownwood Hospice, 125 S. Park, Suite A, Box 2344, Brownwood 76804.

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

Eddie Hicks

BROWNWOOD -- Eddie K. Hicks, 62, of Lake Brownwood, died Thursday in a Lubbock hospital.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Lake Brownwood First Baptist Church with the Rev. Bill Wells officiating. Burial will be in Zephyr Cemetery, directed by Davis-Morris Funeral Home.

Mr. Hicks was born in Kilgore and was a U.S. Air Force veteran. He married Myra Nell Driskill in 1959 in Mount Calm and moved to Lake Brownwood in 1987. He was a retired oilfield worker and was a member of Lake Brownwood First Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, of Lake Brownwood; one son, Myron James Hicks of Tyler; one daughter, Carla J. Hicks of Plano; three sisters, Ruby Yates of Groesbeck, Lessie Scott of Clute and Edith Hickman of Angleton; and five grandchildren.

Ruth Yantis

DUBLIN -- Ruth C. Yantis, 87, owner of Roy Yantis & Co. Hardware and Auto Parts Store for more than 25 years, died Thursday in a local nursing home.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Harrell Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with the Rev. David Leach officiating. Burial will be in Dublin Liveoak Cemetery.

Mrs. Yantis was born in Stephenville and was a homemaker. She was a member of Dublin Garden Club and Methodist Women's Guild at First United Methodist Church and was the widow of Roy Otho Yantis, whom she married in 1928 in Hamilton.

Survivors include two sons, James Yantis and Richard M. "Dick" Yantis, both of Dublin; one daughter, Phyllis Salyer of Pecos; one brother, Harvey Collins of Stephenville; one sister, Marguerite Chambers of Gustine; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Dublin First United Methodist Church.

Mario Lomas

Mario Lomas, 39, died Thursday in a Fort Worth hospital. Services are pending with North's Funeral Home, 242 Orange.

Juanita Mathers

Juanita G. Mathers, 83, died Wednesday in a local hospital. Services are pending with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory.

Delores Olin

BROWNWOOD -- Delores L. Olin, 68, died Wednesday in a local hospital. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Heartland Funeral Home Chapel in Early.

Mozelle Horton

ROSWELL, N.M. -- Mozelle Horton, formerly of Sweetwater, died Tuesday in Roswell. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in South Park Cemetery, directed by Ballard Funeral Home.

Kenneth Kilgore Duncan

BROWNWOOD -- Kenneth Kilgore Duncan, 79, died Nov. 2 in Brownwood. Graveside services will be at noon Saturday in Greenleaf Cemetery, directed by Edwards Funeral Home of Eastland.

Gussie Insall Dowell

DE LEON -- Gussie Insall Dowell, 85, died Thursday in a local hospital. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Nowlin Funeral Home Chapel.

Mary Elizabeth 'Libby' Saunders

BIG SPRING -- Mary Elizabeth "Libby" Saunders, 88, died Wednesday in a local nursing home. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in St. Mary's Episcopal Church, directed by Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home.