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Sarah Odessa Marguerite Carr Linberg
Sarah Odessa Marguerite Carr Linberg, 95, of Cranfills Gap, passed away quietly on May 7, 2003. She was born on March 4, 1908, at Falls Creek near Fairy, Texas. In 1911, her parents, William Abner and Anna Elizabeth (Bass) Carr moved to Walnut Springs. Odessa was her dad’s shadow and was considered quite the tomboy. She was lovingly referred to as “Little Bill” with her pageboy haircut and big blue eyes. Odessa, along with her six older and two younger siblings, attended Walnut Springs School. Upon Odessa’s graduation in 1928, she was employed as the Walnut Springs telephone operator and had a blind date with a Norwegian boy named Milton J. Linberg from Norse. On April 27, 1930, Milton and Odessa were married
by the Rev. W. Lee Rector in Ardmore, Okla. They returned to the Linberg homestead along with Milton’s brothers to help tend the heritage farm. Odessa, being from a large family, adapted to being a farmer’s wife by providing meals to the thrasher crews who worked the farms. Their first child, Betty JoAnn, would be born while they lived with Mrs. Linberg. After marrying Milton, she became a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church for 18 years. In 1939, Milton and Odessa moved to A.E. Anderson’s Meridian Creek farm. Karen Jean and Janice Elaine were born during the eight years they maintained this farm. In 1948, Milton and Odessa were fortunate to be able to purchase from Alfred Andeson their Mountain Top farm outside of Cranfills Gap that overlooked the Rock Church Valley. Milton, along with his brothers, maintained the original homestead and his own place. Mr. and Mrs. Linberg moved their membership to St. Olaf Lutheran Church, where they remained for the next 55 years. The girls would graduate from Cranfills Gap High School. Odessa was very active in the Bosque County 4-H Club for over 20 years, American Cancer Society for more than 25 years, St. Olaf Quilting Circle, Clifton Friendship Club, Busy Bee Demonstration Club, Clifton Civic Improvement Society, A.L.C.W., and the Garden Club. She, along with her husband, were active participants in the Central Texas Fair and were honored for their 80 years of combined service by being the Grand Marshalls for the 1989 Central Texas Fair Parade. The Youth Fair dedicated the activities to them, and the theme for the year was “Season for Friendship, ” which was selected by the association, for it depicted the personalities of the honorees. Odessa worked in all nine of the Youth Fair home economics categories and encouraged all youths to enter and always lent a hand of encouragement. Odessa was a hard worker throughout her lifetime. In 1955, she began employment as a relief telephone operator at Cranfills Gap for Arnold and Agnes Schibler, a position she held for over 17 years. People remember her dedicated service to the Clifton Lutheran Sunset Home, where she was a caregiver for 10 years, and working with her son-in-law and daughter at the Dairy King in Clifton. Odessa’s favorite pastimes included quilting, making homemade bread and jellies, and, most of all, she loved going fishing with Milton. Odessa and Milton Linberg were blessed with 69 years of marriage. Milton passed away on Jan. 31, 1999. Odessa is survived by her three daughters, Betty JoAnn and husband June Blum of Waco, Karen Jean and husband Bill Dowdy of Waco, and Janice Elaine and husband Bellamy Bertelsen of Clifton; seven grandchildren: Milton Amundson and wife, Renda; Charles and wife, Pamela Dowdy; Jule and husband, Bryan Davis, all of Clifton; Billie-Kay Bell and Chad Dowdy from Arlington; Michelle Blum and husband, Stuart Schuetz, of Sachse; and Brandon and wife, Virginia Bertelsen, from Meridian; 13 great-grandchildren: Sara and Molly Bell from Arlington; Halie and J.W. Dowdy, Evan, and Elaine Davis, Ryan, Ashley, and Erica Amundson, all from Clifton; DeAnndra and Jessica Bertelsen from Meridian; Nathalie and Nicholas Schuetz from Sachse; a brother, Joseph N. Carr and wife, Elizabeth, of Fort Worth; and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her parents, brothers, and sisters: Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Carr, John Garland Carr, William Thomas Carr, Richard Wesley Carr, Phillip Gerald Carr, Elizabeth Carr Dover, Florence Carr Williams, Helen Claire Carr Hanes, and Shirley Mae Carr Jackson. Services and burial were held at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church of Norse, with Pastor Bill Schibler officiating. Norman and Ann Lamb from Waco’s Baylor University Senior Choir, sang two of the Linbergs’ favorite songs, “In the Garden, ” and “Old Rugged Cross.” Kimberly Curtis sang a solo, “How Great Thou Art.” Pallbearers were grandsons Charles Dowdy, Chad Dowdy, and Brandon Bertelsen, grandsons-in-law Bryan Davis and Stuart Schuetz, and great-grandson Ryan Amundson. Clifton Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements and memorials were directed to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church or one’s charity of choice.
L. Boyce Temple
Funeral services were held for L. Boyce Temple, 87, on Thursday, May 15, 2003, at Laurel Land Chapel of Chimes. Temple passed away on Monday, May 12, 2003. Temple was a member of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association, a member of the Arlington Heights Masonic Lodge, and a retired consulting engineer. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 49 years, Arborzine Wright Temple. Survivors include wife, Lela Temple of Clifton; daughters, Bonnie Temple of Fort Worth and Pam Norris of Burleson; son and daughter-in-law, William I. and Ann Temple of Austin; stepchildren, Carol Stone, Kenny Outlaw, Keith Outlaw, and Kelly Outlaw; sister, Corene Temple Toll of Pine Bluff, Ark.; brother, Cloice Temple of Cincinnati, Ohio; 17 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Goodall-Witcher Healthcare Foundation, 101 South Ave. T, P.O. Box 549, Clifton, Texas, 76634-1897. Internment was at Laurel Land Memorial Park by Laurel Land Funeral Home of Fort Worth.
Martha Louise Speegle Heath
Funeral services for Martha Louise Speegle Heath, 81, were held Monday, May 12, 2003, at First Baptist Church of Meridian, the Rev. Richard Creech and Dr. Jerry Smith officiating. Interment
followed in Valley Mills cemetery. She died Friday, May 9, 2003, at a Waco hospital. She was born in Speegleville on Oct. 10, 1921, to Michael Ryan and Alma Cantrell Speegle. Her early childhood was spent in the Speegleville area, where she attended school, later transferring to Highland School. She completed her secondary school work at Valley Mills High School, and attended one year of business school in Waco. During her childhood she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at Shiloh Baptist Church, and was baptized in a creek near the church. She married
Ted Heath on May 27, 1939, and lovingly cared for their four children. She began working outside the home after the children began elementary school. She worked for many years as a bookkeeper at Meridian Hardware, and later, as a rural letter carrier. Her husband, Ted Heath, and their oldest daughter, Janice Dugan, preceded her in death. Heath is survived by a daughter, Joyce and husband Gerald McDowell of Clifton; sons Jim and wife Judy Heath of Allen and John and wife Carol Heath of Carrollton; a son-in-law, Hugh Dugan of Plano; eight grandchildren; four great-grandsons; one great-granddaughter; and her beloved friend, Jean Rosenquist. Pallbearers were six of her grandsons, Scott Dugan, Heath Dugan, Stephen Heath, Andy Slanton, Brian Heath, and T.J. Heath. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Meridian (building fund) or Goodall-Witcher Healthcare Foundation in Clifton. Lawson Funeral Home, Meridian, was in charge of arrangements.
Ethel Akin Canada
Funeral services were held for Ethel Akin Canada, 89, on Saturday, May10, 2003, at First Baptist Church in Cranfills Gap with Rev. Bill Schibler officiating. Canada was born on April 25, 1914, to Orcenith Fisher Akin and Martha Belle Vandiver in Francis, Okla. She passed away on Wednesday, May 7, 2003, in Meridian. From 1914 to 1940, Canada lived in Francis, Okla., where she attended Francis public school, as an adolescent. On Dec. 10, 1935, she married
Woodrow W. Canada in Okla. In 1941 she moved to Fort Worth, and for 10 years Canada worked as a sales lady at Robert Halls Clothes on Camp Bowie. From 1942 to 1980, she lived in Austin. She moved 12 years later to the Cranfills Gap/Meridian area, staying there for 11 years. She worked for various clubs in the community. She was a Baptist, and her hobbies included gardening. Her life was centered around her husband, children, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and 11 brothers and sisters. Survivors include daughter, Joyce Niemeier of Cranfills Gap; son, Larry Canada of Rogers, Ark.; five grandchildren, Charles and Cheryl Niemeier of Cranfills Gap, and Jeffery, Jennifer, and Jessica Canada of Rogers, Ark.; and two great-grandchildren, Zachary and Emily Niemeier of Argyle. Pallbearers were Brady, Charles, and Zachary Niemeier, Carrell and Randy Bryant, and Terry Flory. Internment was at Boggy Creek cemetery in Cranfills Gap under the direction of Clifton Funeral Home.
Ruth Ethel Townley Berry
Funeral services were held for Ruth Ethel Townley Berry, 92, of Irving, on May 2, 2003, at First Methodist Church in Clifton with Dr. Tom Beaty officiating. Berry was born on July 17, 1910, in Clifton to James Walter Townley and Daisy Virginia Brewer. She passed away on April 29, 2003, at Baylor Hospital in Dallas. Berry graduated from Clifton High School and Clifton Junior College. In 1930, she began teaching in rural schools near Clifton. Her first school was Meridian Creek, located on Parks Ranch where she taught four grades. Later, she taught at Cooper and Norse. After earning her degree from North Texas State Teachers’ College in 1937, she was asked to teach in Clifton Public Schools and continued to teach there until her marriage Ray W. Berry on Aug. 24, 1945, in Haywood, Calif. They moved to Corpus Christi where Berry taught for five years. In 1950, a daughter, Peggy Ruth Berry, was born. They moved to Victoria, and Berry resumed her teaching career in 1954 and continued to teach until they moved to Clifton in 1963. She taught two years at Mosheim and in 1965 started teaching again in Clifton until retiring in 1975. After retiring, she enjoyed playing bridge with her friends in Clifton, and traveling. In 1988, she moved to Irving to live with her daughter until her death. Berry was a member of First United Methodist Church, and belonged to the Eastern Star for 50 years, Clifton Civic Society, Retired Teachers Association, and Delta Kappa Gamma. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Mayme Parker (Mrs. E.K. Parker) and Lena Grace Nuckols (Mrs. W.D. Nuckols), and Richard Alyet (Jake). Survivors are daughter, Peggy Ruth Berry of Irving, and brother, John Paul Townley of Kerrville. Pallbearers included Mark Steiner, Tim Outlaw, Ken Holder, Tom Henderson, Bob Harwell, and Robert B. Lane. Internment was held at Clifton cemetery under the direction of Clifton Funeral Home.
J.P. (Jake) Richards
Funeral services were held for J.P. (Jake) Richards, 72, on Wednesday, April 23, 2003, in Mount Olive Chapel. Richards was born July 6, 1930, in Cayote. He passed away on Sunday, April 20, 2003, at a North Richland Hills hospital. Richards graduated from Clifton High School. He attended Weatherford Junior College and graduated from North Texas State University with a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in administration from Texas Wesleyan University. He worked for Birdville Independent School District for 34 years as a teacher and coach. Richards was principal of Haltom Junior High and Snow Heights Elementary School. At Haltom High School, he was principal. For the Birdville school district, he was athletic director and assistant superintendent in charge of finance. Richards was a member of the Amateur Trapshooters Association, the Texas Trapshooters Association, the Fort Worth Trap and Skeet Club, and NRA. He was an avid sharpshooter and sportsman, winning honors throughout the U.S. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Bonnie; daughter, Nila Richards and her friend, James Roden, of Fort Worth; son, Dale Richards and wife, Robin, of Fort Worth; granddaughter, Amanda Gibson, of Fort Worth; sisters, Lillie Payne of Weatherford, Nora Lowe and husband, Bill, of Corpus Christi, and Stella Weaver and her husband, Jim, of Clifton; brother-in-law, Lawrence Herkimer and wife, Vera; sister-in-law, Lenna Chadwick; numerous nieces and nephews; and pets, Brandi and Gizmo. Burial was held at Mount Olive cemetery.
Martha Fountain Arthur
Funeral services were held for Martha Fountain Arthur, 51, of Clifton, on Friday, May 2, 2003, in Vidalia, Ga. Arthur was born on Aug. 22, 1952 to James E. Fountain and Dorothy Jarriel Fountain in Vidalia, Georgia. She passed away on Tuesday, April 29, 2003, at a Clifton hospital. Arthur worked at Bellmead Speedway as a clerk. Survivors include a son, Duke Hullender of Orlando, Fla.; daughter, Kelly Robinson of Forney; five grandchildren; two brothers, Eddie and Larry Fountain of Orlando, Fla.; two sisters, Judy Harmon and Sue Hullender of Clifton; her parents, James and Dorothy Fountain. Pallbearers were James Fountain III, Jerry Hall, James Hall, Milton Fountain, John Lewis Poole, and Nieves Arambul. Internment was held at Pine Crest cemetery in Vidalia, Georgia.
Martha Louise Swenson Aars
Funeral services for Martha Louise Swenson Aars, 90, of Clifton, were held Saturday, May 3, 2003, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Clifton, Pastor Glenn Kramer officiating. Interment
followed at Trinity Lutheran cemetery in Clifton. Aars died April 30, 2003, at Goodall-Witcher Hospital in Clifton. She was born Jan. 1, 1913, on the Questad Place in Norse, the great-granddaughter of early settlers Carl and Sedsel Questad, who settled on the farm in 1854. She graduated from Clifton High School, then attended Clifton Junior College, graduating from North Texas State University in Denton. She was a music teacher and choir director of the elementary grades, and believed to be the last surviving teacher from Pleasant Hill Schools and one of the last from the Norse School. She was also an accomplished pianist, and played for King Olaf of Norway when he visited Clifton. She loved entertaining, painting, traveling, and working in her iris garden. She married
Robert Lester Springer in 1943. He was superintendent of public schools in Rochester, N.Y. when he died in 1963. After moving back to Waco, she began teaching again, and married
Hulen Aars in 1971 in the historic Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Norse. Hulen Aars died in December 2000. Preceding her in death were her parents, Tilden Oscar and Alma Swenson; her brother, Tilden Oscar Swenson, Jr.; her sisters, Mary Ellen Ellingson, Georgana Dekker, and Sarah Dansby; and one son, Robert Lester Springer, Jr., who was killed in Vietnam in 1968. Survivors include her children, James Edward Springer of Bailey, Colo., and Mary Moll Darst and husband Jim Darst of Houston; a brother, Questad Swenson of Fort Worth; grandchildren William Leo Moll, Jr. and wife Mary Moll, Robin Swenson Meagher and husband Bob Meagher, Michael Christian Moll, Heather Springer Griffis and husband Cade Griffis, and Robert Lester Springer III; great-grandchildren Elizabeth Anne Moll, William Stewart Moll, Thomas Leo Moll, Robert Joseph Meagher IV, and Gehrig James Griffis; Hulen Aars’ children Gene and wife Barbara Aars of Clifton, and Peggy and husband Dr. Don Smith of Fort Worth; grandchildren Jay Bryan Smith, Stacy Lee Smith, Kevin Scott Kuisel, and Harold Walter Kuisel III; and great-grandchildren Alexander Michael Kuisel, Steven Scott Kuisel, and Grace Taylor Kuisel. Pallbearers were William Leo Moll, Jr., Michael Christian Moll, Robert Joseph Meagher III, Cade Griffis, Robert Lester Springer, III, Jay Bryan Smith, and Kevin Scott Kuisel. Memorials may be made to the Bosque Memorial Museum or Trinity Lutheran Church, both located in Clifton. Clifton Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Garlon Earl Allen
Funeral services for Garlon Earl Allen, 82, of Clifton, were held Tuesday, June 3, 2003, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Norse. A Military graveside service was also held prior to interment in the Norse cemetery. Allen died Sunday, June 1, 2003. Allen served in World war II in the Army Air Corps. He was a retired carpenter, an active member of the American Legion, and a devoted volunteer at Clifton Lutheran Sunset Home. His passions were his church, music, politics, and gardening. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Allen of Clifton; five sons, Robert Allen of Euless, Adrian Allen of Graham, Mark McLemore of Waco, Ernest H. McLemore, Jr. of Gholson, and James McLemore of Clifton; three daughters, Cynthia Richardson of Blum, Lynda Thomas of McKinney, and Debbie White of Waco; a brother, Billie Joe Allen of Yantis; a sister, Gladys Davis of Dallas; 12 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. In lieu of the usual remembrances, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the charity of the donor’s choice. Clifton Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
