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William ‘Bill’ Lathem Sr.
ODESSA — William “Bill” Lathem Sr., 86, of Odessa passed away Sunday, Jan. 27, 2002, at Brownwood Regional Hospital after a brief illness. He was born Sept. 24, 1915, in Brownwood.
Mr. Lathem came to Odessa in June 1952. In 1979, he retired as an operator foreman from Phillips Petroleum Co. He was a graduate of Howard Payne University in Brownwood. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Odessa since 1952.
He was preceded in death by Lizzie B. Harris.
He is survived by Joyce Lathem of Odessa; sons, Bill Lathem Jr. and wife Mary of Odessa and Dusty Lathem and wife Lois of Odessa; daughters, Barbara Jane Cates and husband Phil of Odessa and Nancy Jean Tatum and husband Don of Bartlesville, Okla.; and seven grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2002, at Sunset Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Bill Heggemeier officiating.
Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.
Bee Smith Williams
BROWNWOOD — Funeral services for Bee Smith Williams, age 83, of Abilene, formerly of Brownwood, will be held at 1 p.m. today, Jan. 29, 2002, at the Davis-Morris Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Jeff Reid officiating. Interment will follow at Eastlawn Memorial Park in Early. Mrs. Williams went to be with her Lord on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 26, 2002, at the Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene.
Mrs. Williams was born July 1, 1918, in Byrds to William Howard and Lena Rosa Newton Smith. She was a homemaker and a member of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church in Abilene, formerly a member of First Baptist Church in Brownwood and longtime member of First Baptist Church in Andrews. She had lived in Abilene since 1994, was formerly of Brownwood and had been a longtime resident of Andrews.
She married
Frank Williams on Sept. 4, 1938, in May.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Williams in 1997; her parents, William Howard and Lena Rosa Newton Smith; and two brothers, Alton and Austin Smith.
She is survived by her loving family, which includes two daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and husband Jerry Robinson of Odessa and Betty and husband Robert McKelvy of Abilene; three grandsons, Brad and Tracee Robinson of Odessa, Paul and Treva McKelvy of McKinney and Michael and Becca McKelvy of McKinney; four great-grandchildren, Chelcee Robinson of Odessa, Zachary Robinson of Odessa, Kyle McKelvy of McKinney and Kaylee McKelvy of McKinney; sister, Donnie Smith of Odessa; and a number of nieces, nephews, cousins and other friends.
The family requests that memorials be made to the Second Baptist Church in Odessa.
Davis-Morris Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Gay Neill Benefield
BRADY — Former Odessa resident Gay Neill Benefield died peacefully during her morning nap Sunday, Jan. 27, 2002, in Amarillo. She was 101.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2002, at Live Oak cemetery in Brady with Larry Barber presiding. Arrangements are under the direction of Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors in Amarillo.
Gay was born Dec. 26, 1900, in Gorman, the tenth child of Nancy Hones and John Thomas Neill. After graduating from Gorman High School, she attended Texas Wesleyan College in Fort Worth. On Nov. 6, 1920, Gay married
Malcolm Jefferson Benefield, who later became the manager of the Chambers of Commerce in Brady and Odessa. While raising her three children in Brady, she supported her husband’s many civic activities and served as the Gallup Poll representative for the region. Her Gallup polling assignments were on topics ranging from politics and railroads to socialized medicine.
After the unexpected death of her husband in 1948, Gay became Odessa’s Welcome Wagon Hostess. For 12 years she welcomed Odessa newcomers with gifts and information and founded an Odessa Newcomers Club. In 1952, she was named First Lady of Odessa, a yearly honor bestowed on a woman for her outstanding work for the betterment of Odessa. In the 1950s, she became certified as a master Goren Bridge teacher, and she taught hundreds of Odessans to play bridge in small group classes. She continued to teach bridge until she was 80 years old, and bridge playing led to many wonderful relationships with a large group of very special Odessa women.
She was a lifelong member of the Methodist church. In 1995, Gay authored an autobiographical book, “The 20th Century as I’ve Lived It,” which describes her life expriences during the Depression and two world wars, and the many technological advances she saw during her lifetime.
Thanks to the help of good friends and neighbors, Gay was able to live on her own in her Odessa home until the age of 96. In recent years, she received very special care at Sears Methodist Retirement System facilities in Amarillo and Abilene.
She was preceded in death by her husband, 10 brothers and sisters, three grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Survivors include her children, June Benefield Hinckley and husband Kenneth of Austin, Malcolm Jefferson Benefield and wife Peggy of Amarillo and Jack Benefield of Abilene; as well as seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, a great-great-grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews.
Gifts in her memory may be made to Sears Methodist Foundation, 3233 South Willis, Abilene, Texas, 79605.
Cheaney Harris Browning
ODESSA — Respected West Texas businessman and civic leader Cheaney Harris Browning died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2002, in Odessa. Browning was a leader in the insurance business for 40 years and was active in numerous civic and service organizations.
Browning was born April 8, 1925, on a peanut farm in Ranger. His parents, Leander and Annabelle Harris Browning, now deceased, were longtime residents of Goldsmith. Browning graduated from Iraan High School after living in Crane, McCamey and Bakersfield. He was an M.P. in World War II and served in the Battle of the Bulge. He married
Rosemary Miller of Odessa in July 1947. After graduating from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1950, he worked shortly for Pan American Oil Co. in Goldsmith. He started Browning Insurance Agency in the early 1950s and remained active in the insurance business in Odessa until shortly before his death.
Browning was a member of the Odessa Chamber of Commerce, the Chuck Wagon Gang, Lions Club, Oddfellows and Masons. He led Odessa’s March of Dimes drive in the early 1960s. He served on the boards of directors of Odessa Country Club, Western National Bank and several insurance associations. He had been an active member of First Baptist Church and Lutheran Church of the Risen Lord.
An avid sportsman, he enjoyed hunting and golf and besting his friends at gin rummy and dominoes. He traveled extensively with his wife, Rosemary. Cheaney was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be missed by his family and his many friends.
He is survived by his wife, Rosemary Miller Browning of Odessa; his sons and his daughters-in-law, Rick and Barbara Browning of Odessa and Steve and Susan Browning of Long Beach, Calif.; his grandchildren, Benjamin Browning and Andrew Browning of Odessa, Jefferson Dolan and Stephanie Dolan of California; and a great-grandson, Lucas Dolan of California. His surviving siblings are Juanita Shaw of Riverside, Calif., Nancy Ann Sutphen of Fort Worth, Leonard Browning of Smithville and Eugene Browning of Fort Worth.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2002, at Lutheran Church of the Risen Lord. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. today at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Jim Bryant, Bill Browning, Glen Hunt, Jay Kelly, Naylan Vencil and Gary Whitehead.
Memorials may be sent to Lutheran Church of the Risen Lord in Odessa or to a favorite charity.
Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.
Eddie V. Hutchings
ODESSA — Eddie V. Hutchings, 80, went to be with God on Friday, Jan. 25, 2002. She was born July 17, 1921, in Highbank.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James L. Hutchings; her father, Nick Maxwell Jr.; and her mother, Emma Steward.
She is survived by her sons, Albert Arnold Jr. and Tay Arnold, both of Odessa; daughters, Sharon Denise Hutchings and Shantell Hutchings, both of Minneapolis, Pamela Ruth Jackson and Cherri Jackson, both of Odessa; brother, Author Maxwell of Houston; sisters, Johnie Brown of Waco and Hattie Hamlett of Odessa; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and Wednesday at Martinez Funeral Home Chapel.
Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, 2002, at St. James Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. R.T. McNeil officiating. Burial will be at Ector County cemetery.
Willie Burrell
ODESSA — Willie “Vee” Burrell, 81, of Odessa, a homemaker, died Friday, Dec. 21, 2001, at her residence.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Odessa Funeral Home Angeles Memorial Chapel with the Rev. John Williams and James Barnes officiating. Burial will be at Rose Hill cemetery. Arrangements by Odessa Funeral Home Angeles Memorial Chapel.
She was born in Waxahachie. She was Christian.
SURVIVORS: Sons, Andrew Carter and Ernest Carter, both of Lubbock, Stanley Carter and L.A. Carter, both of Odessa, and Ronnie Carter of Austin; daughters, Willie Mae Carter of Monahans, Sammye Crosby and Linda Carter, both of Odessa; 12 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Raquel Lopez
SHEFFIELD — Raquel E. Lopez, 95, of Sheffield, a homemaker, died Sunday, Dec. 23, 2001, at Pecos County Hospital in Iraan.
Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Good Shepherd Catholic Church with the Rev. Henry Laenen officiating. Burial will follow at the Sheffield cemetery. Arrangements by Shaffer-Nichols Funeral Home.
She was born in Mexico. She was Catholic.
SURVIVORS: Sons, Ramon E. Lopez of Sheffield and Rudy E. Lopez of Crane; brothers, Octavio Estrada and Refugio Estrada, both of California, and Ramon Estrada of Mexico; sister, Abigail Estrada of Mexico; seven grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Lois Salas
PECOS — Lois C. Salas, 76, of Pecos, a retired housekeeper, died Saturday, Dec. 22, 2001, at her residence.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Mount Evergreen cemetery. Arrangements by Pecos Funeral Home.
She was born in Grapeland and was a resident of Pecos since 1949. She was Baptist.
SURVIVORS: Husband, Patricio Salas of Pecos; daughter, Helen Rodriguez of Mesa, Ariz.; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Robert Smith
ODESSA — Robert “Skip” Smith, 54, of Odessa, a shop foreman, died Friday, Dec. 21, 2001, at his residence.
Memorial services will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday at First Assembly of God Church with the Rev. Paul Thompson officiating. Arrangements by Odessa Funeral Home Angeles Memorial Chapel.
He was born in El Paso. He was a Navy veteran. He was Christian.
SURVIVORS: Son, Robert Allen Smith of Odessa; daughters, Lisa Smith and Heather Norman, both of Odessa; and eight grandchildren.
Joe G. Urias
ODESSA — Joe G. Urias, 76, of Odessa, passed away Friday, Jan. 25, 2002, at Medical Center Hospital.
He was born June 30, 1925, in Fort Stockton. He married
Paula A. Prado on May 14, 1943, in Fort Stockton. Mr. Urias moved to Odessa in 1955 from Fort Stockton. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a retired restaurant owner and a Catholic.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ubil and Concepcion Urias; sisters, Goya Velasquez, Santos Franco, and Margarita Maldonado.
He is survived by his wife, Paula Urias of Odessa; son, Danny P. Urias of Odessa; three grandchildren, Joseph Woods of Irving, Anjanette Loy and husband Brent of Hot Springs, Ark., and Tiffany Urias of Dallas; and great grandson, Dalton Cade Loy of Hot Springs.
A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27, 2002, at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.
Funeral Mass will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 28, 2002, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church with Father James Bridges officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens under the direction of Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.
