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Willie Maude Batie
ODESSA — Willie Maude Batie, 61, a housewife, died Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2002, at Medical Center Hospital. Mrs. Batie lived in Odessa for 37 years and was previously from Corinth, Miss.
She is survived by her husband, Bobbie Batie of Odessa; adopted sons, Dennis Alexander of Memphis, Tenn., and Billie Batie and David Batie, both of Odessa; adopted daughters, Shirley Simon of Odessa and Iris Fryer of Corinth; brothers, Henry Alexander and John Alexander, both of Odessa, the Rev. Terry Alexander of Corinth, Clayton Alexander of Florence, Ala., and Paul Alexander of Memphis, Tenn.; sister, Alice Young of Odessa; and a host of special nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father, Leathan Alexander; and her mother, Nancy Palmer.
She was born Oct. 23, 1940, in Corinth, the daughter of Leathan and Nancy (Palmer) Alexander.
Viewing will be today from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Martinez Funeral Home, and from 1 to 1:45 p.m. at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. There will be no viewing after the eulogy.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. The Rev. Darren Willis will be officiating. Burial will be at Ector County cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Tony Alexander, Larry Batie, Marcus Pacheco, Todd Brogdon, Jimmy Alexander and Michael Alexander.
Carol Evelyn Curry
DAYTON — Carol Evelyn Curry, 57, of Crosby, passed away at her residence on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2002.
Funeral Services were held at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 9, 2002, at Sterling Funeral Home in Dayton. Interment followed at Palms Memorial Park in Dayton.
Carol was born on Sept. 29, 1944, in Quesaltanango, Guatemala. Orphaned, most of her childhood was spent with missionary families. She came to America and became an American citizen with she was 11 years old.
A homemaker, she had lived in Crosby for the last three years after living in Odessa for 23 years. She was an artistically gifted person who enjoyed and excelled at painting, macrame and poetry as well as all other types of arts and crafts. At 4’10” tall, she was short in stature but will be remembered as a giant of a woman. She had tremendous strength of spirit and battled cancer for 10 years. She will be remembered as a private person who chose her friends carefully and had a great, sometimes unusual, sense of humor.
She was preceded in death by her son, Christopher Graham Curry. Carol is survived by her loving husband, James Curry of Crosby; her daughters, April Danielle Anderson of Crosby and Hollee Mignon Erlandson and her husband James of Farmington, N.M.; her foster brothers, John, James, Paul, Samuel and Phillip Hoggatt; her foster sister, Mary Barnett; and her four grandchildren, Stephen and Taylor Jackson and Kacey and Mitchell Anderson. She is also survived by numerous other nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
Sonny Phelps
ODESSA — Sonny Phelps of Missouri City, Texas, loving husband and father and proud grandfather, went home to be with the Lord on Aug. 3, 2002, at the age of 56.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, 2002, at Temple Baptist Church with Dr. Griffin Jones officiating. Graveside services will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Sonny was born Nov. 13, 1945, in Bakersfield, Calif., to Thurston H. Phelps Sr. and Juanita Phelps, but always called Odessa his home. He was a graduate of Odessa High School and Odessa College.
Sonny married
Jerry Thacker on January 15, 1966 and they raised two sons, Thomas and Tony Phelps. Sonny was a fourteen-year veteran of the United States Air Force and was a devoted employee of Chevron-Texaco for the past 22 years. Sonny had a servant’s heart and lived every day devoted to his family while constantly helping others. “PaPa Sonny” or “Pop” also enjoyed spending time with two granddaughters and a grandson, who were the joys of his life.
Sonny was preceded in death by his father, Thurston H. Phelps Sr.; sister, Diana Gail Thacker; fathers-in-law, Lloyd E. Thacker and O.C. “Red” Hartman; and nephew, Chris Alexander.
Survivors include his wife, Jerry of Missouri City; sons, Thomas Phelps of Abilene and Tony Phelps of Denton; daughters-in-law, Stacy Phelps of Abilene and Lisa Phelps of Denton; grandchildren, Toni and Brady Phelps of Abilene and Landry Phelps of Denton; mother, Juanita Phelps of Andrews mother-in-law, Lorene Hartman of Odessa; brother, Eddie Phelps of Portland; brothers-in-law, Jim Thacker of Odessa and Joe Thacker of Snyder; sisters-in-law, Judy Howk of Okemah, Okla., and Jody Phelps of Portland; as well as numerous nephews and nieces.
The family will receive visitors from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.
Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.
Archie Lee Taylor
ODESSA — Archie Lee Taylor, 80, of Odessa passed away Thursday, Aug. 8, 2002, at Medical Center Hospital.
He was born July 15, 1922, in Hendrix, Okla. He married
Iris Ward on June 16, 1945, in London, England.
Mr. Taylor served in the U.S. Air Force from 1942 to 1945. He moved to Odessa in 1941 from Oklahoma. He retired from Yale E. Key Well Service in 1988. He was a member of the Church of Christ.
He was preceded in death by brothers, Leamon and Edmond Taylor; sisters, Thelma Richardson and Ferne Harber; and parents, W.N. and Bertha Ann Taylor.
He is survived by his wife, Iris Taylor of Odessa; daughter, Patricia Ann Faught of Georgetown; brothers, Donald Ray Taylor of Lufkin, Leon Taylor and William Taylor, both of Denison, and Kenneth Taylor of Hendrix; sisters, Gertie Sloan of Sellersburg, Ind., Richie Weger and Ida Delashaw, both of Colbert, Okla., Frances Rice and Mayhew Harrison, both of Odessa, Lawanda Duckworth of Cartwright, Okla., and Marilyn Mitchell of Denison.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Sixth and Jackson Church of Christ with Lynn Money and Roy Smalling officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.
Lillie Mae Graham
Lillie Mae Graham, 97, was escorted by angels to Heavenly Home on Friday, Oct. 4, 2002, at Odessa Regional Hospital.
She was born Sept. 22, 1905, to Charles and Minnie Stephenson in Commanche County, Texas.
A capable, intelligent and virtuous woman, who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels, and her value is far above rubies or pearls.
Charm and grace are deceptive and beauty is vain, but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised, and that is Lillie “Grannie” Graham. She loved Jesus and her home church.
In her lifetime of 97 years, she saw horse carriages to gas power, she heard conversations to telecommunications, coal lamps to electricity, looking at the moon to men on the moon, bathing suits to birthsuits and lived through 17 presidents — Teddy Roosevelt through George W. Bush. But her most prized possession was her Jackie, caregiver of nine years and her granddaughter. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her, especially her Heart to Heart.
Lillie took pride in her occupation as a waitress, earning several certificates of recognition.
Lillie’s favorite day of the week was Sunday because that was the day she would see all of her friends at her home church, Odessa Tabernacle. She was always thankful for the prayers and love that was shown to her. She appreciated everyone who visited her, especially her weekly visits from Martha Herget and Debbie Childers.
Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 7, 2002, at Odessa Tabernacle with the Rev. Doug Hergert officiating. Burial will commence at 4 p.m. at Fairmount cemetery in San Angelo, Texas.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Minnie Stephenson; two sons, three daughters, three sisters and three brothers.
Survivors include her caregivers of nine years, Jackie Kemp, Jaclyn Kemp, Dimples and J.J. Lowery and Sonja Lowery, all of Odessa; two sisters, Juanita Sumpter of Euless and Francis Chapin of Sweetwater; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; six nieces and four nephews.
Services are entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.
Jane Jennings Kraker
COLEMAN — Jane Jennings Kraker, of San Angelo, Texas, formerly of Abilene, Texas, passed away Thursday, Oct. 3, 2002, at a care center in San Angelo.
Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Brookhollow Christian Church in Abilene with Dr. Steven G. Williams officiating. Interment will follow at the Coleman City cemetery. Services under the direction of Walker Funeral Home.
Mrs. Kraker was born Dec. 24, 1916, in Kirk, Texas, to Dr. and Mrs. W.L. Jennings and was raised in Coleman, Texas. In 1946, she married
Albert W. Kraker Sr. in Coleman. Mr. Kraker preceded her in death in March of 1993. Mrs. Kraker was educated at Bryn Mawr University in Philadelphia and did research at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Md. She received her B.A. from Sul Ross State University in 1939 and also her M.A. from Sul Ross in 1954.
Mrs. Kraker was an educator in Texas public schools for 44 years teaching mainly in the Abilene, Lubbock and Odessa school systems. The bulk of her teaching experience involved educating students with special needs, the last 10 years in the classroom teaching-impaired students. Prior to her teaching career, she performed social welfare casework for the state of Texas.
Jane was active professionally and maintained membership in numerous professional organizations throughout her career. Her professional memberships include Who’s Who in American Education, Who’s Who Among Human Service Professionals, vice president of American Businesswoman’s Association, Retired Teacher’s Association, Abilene Garden Club, Beta Sigma Phi, Kappa Kappa Iota, various genealogical societies and Christian Women’s Fellowship. Mrs. Kraker was a charter member of Brookhollow Christian Church in Abilene.
Mrs. Kraker was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and one grandson, James Kennemer. Survivors include one son, Albert William Kraker Jr. of Lubbock; daughters, Martha Paulos and husband Gust of Ford City, Pa., Marilyn K. Ross and husband Van of San Angelo, Nancy Kennemer and husband Robert of San Angelo and Alyce Bartley and husband Mickey of Goldthwaite; six grandchildren, Audri Levering (Craig), Allen Payne, Noel Payne (Liz), Amber White (Tracy), Asenath Bartley and Tyler Bartley; one great-grandchild, Bryce Payne; two brothers, David Jennings of St. Louis, Mo. and Arthur Vollie Jennings Sr. of Coleman; one sister, Marion Whitaker of Alvin; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the dedicated and gracious staff of Sagecrest Alzheimer’s Center of San Angelo.
The Rev. Dr. John Sellers Rasco
ODESSA — Rev. Dr. John Rasco died Oct. 3, 2002, at Medical Center Hospital. He was born Oct. 4, 1912, in Prattville, Ala., to William Austin and Glennie Sellers Rasco.
Dr. Rasco came to Odessa in 1954 from Texarkana, Texas. He was the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Odessa for 24 years.
He is survived by a daughter, Audrey Chartier of Odessa; brothers, Roy Rasco of San Jose, Calif., Tommy Rasco and wife Miriam of Birmingham, Ala., and Harold Rasco and wife Charlotte of Birmingham; three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, John Chartier and his son Zeke of Las Vegas, Nev.; his daughters, Christy and Toni, all of Richardson; Michael Chartier and wife Susan of Wiley; their daughters, Taylor and Heather and son, Kevin Chartier, all of Hurst, and two nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, 2002, at First Baptist Church, with Revs. H. Bailey Stone and Curtis Brewer officiating.
Services have been entrusted to Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors.
Dill (Don) Mervin Teel
PALM BEACH, Fla. — Dill (Don) Mervin Teel, longtime resident of Palm Beach, Fla., passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2002, at the age of 94. His devoted wife, Mildred Rita, preceded him in death.
Don was born in a sod house on a farm near Rexford, Kan., the only child of Brack and Carla Teel.
Don’s aviation career started in 1927 when he was accepted as a cadet in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Brooks Field, San Antonio, Texas. On April 1, 1941, with the full approval of his Draft Board, Don, always the pioneer, joined the Royal Air Force Ferry Command as a civilian and continued with the RAF until Dec. 31, 1945. He delivered bombers to England, high priority supplies to Cairo, Egypt, via the South Atlantic and V.I.P. flights throughout the world. Don made 103 ocean crossings during the war, flew over 5, 000 hours, 4, 500 of which were in B-24 Liberators. He was honored by HRH the King of England with a Commendation for Valuable Service. After the war, he piloted an additional 69 ocean crossings for private industry.
In January 1952, Don was hired by U.S. Steel Corp. to establish and operate an aircraft department for the transportation of their executives with safety, service and dependability second to none. Twenty-one years later, when he retired, U.S. Steel Aircraft Division was considered, throughout the industry, the No. 1 business aircraft operation. Don was retired as General Manager of U.S. Steel Aircraft Division at age 65, on March 31, 1973. Professional Pilot Magazine devoted the February 1973 issue to his retirement. Included are over 60 letters from people whose lives had been touched by him during his long aviation career. He became a corporate consultant to Bell Helicopter in 1973 and traveled extensively for them for several years.
Don was active in the OX5 Club, Quiet Birdman (QB), RAF War Birds, The Liberator Club, The Lotus Club, Wings Club of New York, IOC (International Order of Characters), Good Fellowship Club of U.S. Steel, Kiwanis Club, Pundits of Palm Beach, The Palm Beach Round Table, the International Club of Palm Beach, The Palm Beach Yacht Club and Associate Member of the Early Birds. On Sept. 22, 1993, Don was inducted into the OX5 Aviation Pioneers HALL OF FAME. He donated most of his aviation memorabilia, gathered throughout his long career, to the University of Texas. It is now located in the Love Field Aviation Museum in Dallas, Texas.
Don’s personal philosophy was: “My mother and father taught me, by their examples, the basic qualities of successful life . . . love, honor, self respect, honesty and to respect others. Throw in the Ten Commandments and that is about all you need.”
Don is survived by a daughter, Peggie Don Osgood; grandson, David Osgood; great-granddaughter, Sabrina Osgood of Germany; and many other relatives and friends.
A funeral service will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2002, at E. Earl Smith and Son Funeral Home and Cremation Chapel, 1032 N. Dixie Highway, Lake Worth, Fla. 33460, with the Rev. Lynn Batista officiating. The family will receive friends on Monday, Oct. 7, 2002, from 2 p.m. to 4p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
John R. Wooten
ODESSA — John R. Wooten, of Commanche, Texas, died Friday, October 4, 2002, in the Abilene Regional Hospital at the age of 86 and went to be with our Lord Jesus Christ.
He worked in the Permian Basin oilfields as a mechanic and roughneck, driller and toolpusher and as a business owner. He raised most of his children in the Midland and Odessa area and retired to fish at Lake Proctor where he caught the largest catfish there at that time.
He was preceded in death by his wife and our beloved mother, Flaxie Mae Wilkerson and later married
his wonderful friend and companion, Ozella Wilson, who continues to reside in Commanche. John and Flaxie raised seven boys, John Ray and wife Tommie Gene of Midland, Marvin and wife Nawona of Odessa, Jack Wade of Venus, Edward of Midland, Ronald (deceased), Glenn and wife Donna of Venus and Dean and wife Paula of Midland; 26 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces and many friends. He will be greatly missed.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7, 2002, at Sunset Memorial Gardens with Roy Don Wooten officiating. Funeral arrangements by Hall and Sons Funeral Home of Commanche.
James Roger Garner
ODESSA — James Roger Garner, a servant of God and loving husband and father, has fought the good fight of faith and has taken hold of the eternal life to which he was called (I Timothy 6:12). James passed from this earthly life and into eternal life on Oct. 2, 2002, at the age of 53.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 at Sixth and Jackson Church of Christ with Larry Roberts officiating. Interment will take place at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be John Michael Christopher, Dennis Clay, Craig Echols, Pat Peeples, Craig Petrosky and Johnny Lasiter. Honorary pallbearers will be the elders and deacons of the Sixth and Jackson Church of Christ. Services have been entrusted to Hubbard Kelly Funeral Home.
James was born on Feb. 15, 1949, in Austin to Claude R. Garner and Helen Ruth Harrell Garner. The family moved to Odessa in the early 1950s.
James graduated from Permian High School in 1967. He played on the 1965 Permian High School state championship football team as a defensive end. He later graduated from Rice University, where he attended on a football scholarship.
James married
Deby Scott on Aug. 10, 1969, in Odessa, where the couple eventually raised their two children, Jamie and Jackson.
At the time of his passing, James was an employee of Huntsman, where he worked as a chemical purchasing manager.
James was preceded in death by his father. He is survived by his wife, Deby; daughter, Jamie Lyn Flowers and husband Jody Flowers of Wylie; son, Jackson Scott Garner of Odessa; mother, Helen Garner of Odessa; brother, Richard Garner and wife Montie Garner of Odessa; sister, Kay Robbins and husband Darel Robbins of Abilene; and several other loving family members.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Permian Basin Rehabilitation Center, Hospice House, or Odessa Christian School.
James began the most important part of his life, his walk with God, when he was baptized into Jesus Christ. James loved and served the church faithfully, teaching children’s and adult Bible classes, serving as a deacon, and shepherding as an elder at the Sixth and Jackson Church of Christ, where he was a lifelong member.
James also loved and served his family. Together, he and Deby helped instill in their children a love for God. James spoke proudly of Jamie and Jackson, who are now Christian adults. For example, James loved to tell how Jamie and Jackson, while in Dallas during James’ surgery, reached out and ministered to others around them in the hospital.
Perhaps the unique closeness between James, Deby, Jamie and Jackson is best described by a nurse at Hospice House who said, “I’ve never seen a family who loves each other so much. They care so much for one another.”
Throughout James’ life, and also during his illness, James and his family have clung to the promises of God, such as that found in II Timothy 4:7-8, “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only me, but also to all who have longed for his glorious appearing.”
