System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!
Elpidio Bustos Barrera 1924-2002
Elpidio Bustos Barrera, 78, of Big Lake and formerly of McCamey, departed to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Dec. 10, 2002. Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 13, at the First Baptist Church in Big Lake with the Rev. J.B. Bitner and the Rev. Murray Sauders officiating. Burial will follow in the Glen Rest Cemetery. Mr. Barrera was born to Valentine Barrera and Marcelina Bustos Barrera on Jan. 25, 1924, in Sanderson, Texas, where he grew up as a cowboy and later married the love of his life, Hortencia Gonzales on Feb. 22, 1947. They started a family and he continued to ranch in Terrell and Pecos Counties. His love for ranching gave him a wealth of knowledge and turned him into an excellent horseman. He always treated livestock with such a gentle hand that the animals seemed to understand his language. As his boys grew up, he taught them to ride and shoe horses. In search of more opportunities for his growing family, he went to work for the Texas Highway Department and later with Upton County. After his retirement, he enjoyed having coffee with his friends and sharing humor about everything from cowboying to bulldozing. He was a member of the East Side Baptist Church in McCamey, the Castle Gap Baptist Convention and was an ordained minister. He made several trips with Church groups to minister and deliver much needed goods to people along the Mexican border. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Adelita Barrera Tarin; and grandson, Thomas Christopher Barrera. He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Hortencia Barrera of Big Lake; sons, Pete Barrera of Ozona and Johnny Barrera of Big Lake; daughters and son-in-laws, Lupe Barrera and husband, Jessie, of Big Lake, Elizabeth Cata and husband, Albert, of San Juan Pueblo, N.M., and Eva Benavides and husband, Jaime, of Crane; brother, Didio Barrera of Odessa; two sisters, Alvesa Pardo of San Diego, Calif., and Eustalia Falcon of Toya, Texas; grandchildren, Jennifer Murgia of Crane, Ernest and Jessie Barrera of Big Lake, Emma Barrera of Houston, Melida Barrera of Dallas, Maybelle Carrasco of Big Lake, Jaime and Angenette Benavides of Crane, Regina Munoz of Monahans, Krystal and Melissa Barrera of Alpine, and Tony Gutierrez of Seoul, Korea; great grandchildren, Jordan Munoz of Monahans, Adelita, Felicia and Guadalupe Murgia of Crane, Jeremiah and Shayla Barrera of Big Lake, and Genesis, Geovanna and Freddy Carrasco of Big Lake. Pallbearers will be grandsons and nephews. Arrangements by Shaffer-Nichols Funeral Home
Paul Monroe
Paul Monroe "Shorty" Wilburn, 81, of Big Lake passed away Monday, December 16, 2002 at Reagan Memorial Hospital. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the First Baptist Church with burial in Glen Rest Cemetery. Paul was born July 23, 1921 in Akron, Alabama to William Cleveland Wilburn and Lydia Davis Wilburn. He married Margaret Jane Gay May 3, 1942. Paul enlisted in the United States Navy and served his country proudly during World War II. Paul and Margaret moved to Texas in 1946. Paul started his own business and opened up Paul Wilburn's Garage auto repair shop in 1956. Paul later changed his business and started welding. He continued this business until his retirement. Paul was a member of First Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School for a number of years and was a Sunday School Superintendent up to the time of his failing health. He was a member of the Big Lake Golf Association and was instrumental in the founding and building of the Big Lake Gun Club. Paul is preceded in death by his parents, three sisters and one brother. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Margaret; daughter Carolyn Jean Maddux and husband, Clayton Maddux of Katy, Texas; daughter Nancy Lee Ratliff of Big Lake; son Warren Douglas Wilburn and wife, Janet Wilburn of Big Lake; grandchildren, Caline M. Baggett and husband, Kelly B. Baggett of Big Lake; Christopher Paul "Chris" Ratliff and wife, Amy Jo Ratliff of San Angelo; Lesley L. Casarez and husband, James Casarez of Round Rock; Kendra D. Wilburn of San Angelo; and four great-grandchildren, Brittaney Lee Baggett, Byrson Cole Baggett, McKenna Lissette Baggett and Taylor Madison Ratliff; and numerous nieces and nephews. Serving as pallbearers will be H.O. Allen, Charles Howard, Wade Jones, Wayne Jones, Jack Miller and Dana Slusher. Honorary pallbearers will be Ronnie Baggett, Wilburn George, Norman Guess, Richard Martin, R.L. McKinney, J.D. Poage and Jack Slusher. The family would like to thank the staff at Reagan Memorial Hospital and the Reagan County Care Center and Dr. Willard Perez for all the special care and love shown to our loved one. We would also like to extend our deepest appreciation and thanks to the Big Lake Volunteer Fire Department for all the many times we had to call upon your services. Thanks to our Pastor and special friend J.B. Bitner, Jr. and the wonderful neighbors and friends in our community. Memorials can be made to Reagan County Care Friends, c/o Reagan County Care Center, Big Lake Volunteer Fire Department, or a charity of your choice.
Verel Kuykendall 1938-2002
Verel Kuykendall, 64, of Big Lake passed away December 17 after a lengthy illness. Services will be held at 10:00 am Friday, December 20 at Glen Rest Cemetery under the direction of Johnson's Funeral Home. Verel was born February 2, 1938 in Big Lake, Texas where he lived all of his life. Survivors include his wife Jean of Big Lake; 2 sons Tracy and wife, Annette, Troy and wife, Peggy, and one daughter Cassie Kuykendall all of Big Lake; five grandchildren Michael and wife, Jo Kellie; Matthew, Heather, Adam and Megan Kuykendall all of Big Lake; brothers Allen Kuykendall of Eldorado, James and wife, Norma of Miles, Ray and wife, Glenda of Barnhart; numerous nieces and nephews.
Jack Wayne Kiser 1931-2003
Jack Wayne Kiser, 71, of San Angelo, passed away in San Angelo at his residence. A private family graveside service was held Friday, Jan. 17, in Midway Cemetery. He was born Oct. 3, 1931, in San Angelo, the youngest in a family of ten children. He was Jack Wayne to family and friends. Though odds were not always in his favor, he graduated from Lake View High School and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston. The memories we most have of Jack Wayne Kiser are of a very motivating coach and teacher. He began teaching in 1962, and retired in 1988. We will never truly know the number of lives that were touched and changed during his 26-year career. He was not an overly emotional man, but proved his care and concern through his consistent teaching in having pride, self worth and insistence upon always doing your best and improving on the next round. He was able to instill the importance of humor in all life situations. There was never a dull moment at home or school, and he was never at a loss for words. If a speaker didn’t show for the sports banquet “get Coach Kiser, he can do it” was the general consensus. Although he is no longer with us his legacy will carry on through the lives of those he touched. He is survived by two sons and daughter-in-law, Mitchell and Kelli Kiser and Michael Kiser, all of San Antonio; four daughters and sons-in-law, Debra and Roger Neill of Big Lake, Kathy and David Sewell of Alvin, Karen and Tim Ender of Pittsburg, Texas, and Vicki and Matt Wagner of Corinth; one brother, Bill Kiser of Tyler; two sisters, Naomi Womble of Spokane, Wash., and Ruth Barrier of Fresno, Calif.; grandchildren, Ken and Christy Neill of San Antonio, Leslie Neill of Big Lake, Karly Kiser and Lindy Sewell, both of Alvin, Aylvia Ender, Mattily Ender and Ethan Ender, all of Pittsburg, Texas, Jonathan Kiser and Sara Kiser, both of San Antonio, and Alayna Lise Wagner who will arrive in February; and one great-grandchild, Kendra Neill of San Angelo. Arrangements by Johnson’s Funeral Home.
Gracie Mae Bonnell 1934-2003
Gracie Mae Bonnell, age 68, of Alton, MO, was born April 9, 1934 in Robeline, Louisiana and passed away January 29, 2003 at the Missouri Rehabilitation Center of Mount Vernon, MO. Survivors include her husband, Billy Joe Bonnell of the home, 2 sons, Billy D'Wayne Bonnell and Jerry Walter Bonnell, both of Alton, MO; 2 daughters, Janice Fields of Alton, MO and Grace Jean Beaver of Big Lake, TX; 1 brother, Claudell Leonard of Lafittle, Louisiana; 8 grandchildren, Jerry Don Fields, Danny D'Wayne Beaver, Bonnie Jean Deckard, Darcy Lynn Russell, Mary Grace Bonnell, Johnny Ray Fields, Linda Ruth Jones and Elizabeth Katie Marie Bonnell; 11 great grandchildren, and numerous other relatives and friends. Services were Sunday, February 2, 2003 at 2:00 p.m. in the Clary Chapel with Bro. John Lewis Casey officiating. Interment was in the Huddleston Cemetery under the direction of the Clary Funeral Home of Alton, MO. Visitation was Saturday, 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the chapel.
Katy Estell Gillespie 1915-2003
Katy Estell Gillespie, of Big Lake, was born in Charleston, Arkansas on April 15, 1915 and left for her heavenly home on February 6, 2003. She was a member of the Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Gillespie; her parents, John Flynn and Rosa Anna Woods; her beloved sons, Jerry Dean Weeks, Sr., Paul E. Pelfrey and daughter-in-law, Treva Pelfrey; her brothers, John Flynn and Carl Flynn; sisters, Mae Walls and Onie Rice. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Veda Beth Fanning and Joseph Fanning of Big Lake, TX; her brother and sister-in-law, Ray Woods and wife Irene of Bethany, OK; sister, Maude Duke of Maysville, OK; 4 grandsons, 7 granddaughters, 24 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren. Funeral service was at Church of Christ in Maysville, OK with burial at Wynnewood Oklahoma Cemetery.
Ray Allan Durden 1962-2003
Ray Allan Durden, 72, passed away Friday, February 14, 2003, at Sienna Care Center in Odessa. He was born March 13, 1930, to Kenneth Conley and Jonnie Mae Durden in Fluvanna, Texas. He married Shirley Bandy on July 11, 1962, in Odessa. He was self-employed as a welder for 25 years and a member of the Eagles Lodge in Big Lake. He had also worked in Odessa for Ref-Chem and United Concrete before moving to Big Lake. He was a Baptist. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Weldon Durden. Survivors include his wife, Shirley Durden of Odessa; two sons, Darin Durden of San Angelo, and Allan Durden of Abilene; five daughters, Dana Garcia of San Angelo, Letha Poynor of Big Lake, Kathy Henson of Bullard, Sherry Morris of Brady, and Sherlene Hall of Whitehouse; four brothers, Cleve Durden of Iquita, Peru, Mark Durden of Dallas, Tom Durden of Louisville, and Jim Durden of Brownwood; two sisters, Rena Mae Etheredge of Denton, and Jane Horton of Biloxi, Miss; eighteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Services were at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 18, 2003, at Hubbard-Kelly Chapel with Rev. Bryan Safel of Belmont Baptist officiating. Burial followed at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Arrangements were handled by Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.
