System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!
Lanette S. Ashcraft
Funeral service were held for Lanette S. Ashcraft, 73, of Rockport, on Saturday, Nov. 13, in the Lawson Funeral Home Chapel in Meridian with the Rev. Bill Schibler officiating. A memorial service was held at Coastal Oaks Church in Rockport on Monday, Nov. 15, with Dr. Kevin Mullenburg officiating. Ashcraft was born to the John Wilton an Ruby Jewell Durham Sowders on Feb. 6, 1931. She passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2004, at her residence. She lived in Meridian and in Cranfills Gap for several years before moving to Rockport about eight years ago. She was a member of the Coastal Oaks Church where she served as nursery coordinator. Preceding her in death were her husband, Charles “Chuck” Ashcraft in 1996; granddaughter, Randa Ashcraft, three brothers, and one sister. Survivors include her daughters, Sue Johnson and husband, Michael, of Cranfills Gap, Sharlene Remington of Rockport, Beverly Landon of Rockport; her sons, Kevin Ashcraft and wife, Verna, of Rockport, Keith Ashcraft and wife, Karin, of Rockport, and Randy Ashcraft and wife, Doris, of Whitney; 17 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; sister, Vanita Dauzart of Spring; brothers, Travis and Doyle Sowders, both of Rockport, and Dean Sowders of Morgan; and a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends. Pallbearers were Charles Remington, Bryan Herring, Alan Herring, Geoff Ashcraft, Devon Ashcraft, Andrew Ashcraft, and Matthew Herring. Memorials can be made in her honor to Coast Oaks Church Building Fund. Burial was in the Meridian cemetery under the direction of Lawson Funeral Home in Meridian.
Hazel Louise Halvorson
Funeral services were held for Hazel Louise Halvorson, 86, on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2004, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Clifton. Halvorson was born one of five children to Ludvig and Hannah Ness Iverson on Oct. 27, 1918, in Kenyon, Minn. She passed away on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2004, from complications of a stroke, at Clifton Lutheran Sunset Home in Clifton. She graduated from Kenyon High School as a valedictorian before attending and graduating from Luther College as saludictoran. She was the first female English and Latin instructor at Luther College, and then became the first woman on the Luther College Board of Regents. She began her second career, marrying John V. Halvorson in 1946. She became a loving and dutiful pastor’s wife, mother of six children, grandmother of 16, and great-grandmother to four. Halvorson began her third career, returning to graduate school in 1972, teaching English at SDSU, while completing her Masters Degree. She continued to teach at SDSU, Northern State College, and Odessa College. Upon retiring from teaching, she continued to write, winning state-wide honors in Texas. At the time of her passing, she was surrounded by family. She was the last surviving sibling of her family. In lieu of flowers, send memorials to Clifton Lutheran Sunset Home Endownment Fund, 300 S. Ave. Q, Clifton, TX 76634, in her memory. Burial was in the Trinity Lutheran cemetery in Clifton under the direction of Clifton Funeral Home.
Emma Coward
Funeral services were held for Emma Jo Canuteson Coward, 94, on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2004, at The Good Shepard Episcopal Church. Coward was born to Alma Homerstead and Alfred Severin Canuteson in the Norwegian community of Norse on Sept. 23, 1910, and raised in nearby Clifton. She passed away on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2004, in Corpus Christi. After graduating form Clifton High School, Coward graduated in 1936 from Hermann Hospital School of Nursing in Houston and received in 1937 a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Health Nursing from George Peabody College in Nashville, Tenn. From 1939-1940, she was chief nurse with the Corpus Christi City/Nueces County Health Department. Later she helped organized the mass immunization and eradication of polio in the bay area. She volunteered with the American Red Cross and in 1961 remained in Corpus Christi to help organize volunteer nurses during Hurricane Carla. Active in Lamar Park Garden Club, AAUW, and the Good Shepherd Corner, Coward also held all offices in the Auxiliary to the Nueces County Dental Association. And in 1963-64 she served as State President to the Texas Dental Association Auxiliary. It was at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd on October 13, 1940, that she married
Byron N. Coward, her devoted husband of 64 years. A loving wife and mother, she sewed matching clothes for her daughters when they were young and enjoyed preparing delicious dishes for family and friends. She was an excellent cook and especially liked this time of year: for the couple, it was a time for picking and shelling pecans and freezing them to put in her favorite recipes. Preceding her in death are her parents; her brothers, Elmore Canuteson of Clifton and Alvin Canuteson of Houston. Survivors include her husband, Byron; her daughters, Barbara Anne Monk of Kingwood, Camille Campbell of Corpus Christi, and Noel Rae Coward of Austin; and two grandsons, Noel Campbell of Corpus Christi, and Matthew Monk of Florida. Her daughters are grateful for their father who unfailingly cared for their mother during her long illness. The family expresses deep appreciation to the staff at The Holmgreen Center where she resided for the last seven years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Alzheimer’s Association at 919 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill 60611-1676. A private interment will follow the service with Seaside Funeral Home of Corpus Christi in charge of arrangements.
Tirah Knudson Wallace
CLIFTON - Funeral services for Tirah Knudson Wallace, 88, of Cranfills Gap, were held Saturday, Nov. 6, 2004, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Cranfills Gap. Interment
followed at the St. Olaf Lutheran Rock Church cemetery, where Wallace was buried alongside five other generations of her family. Wallace died Thursday, Nov. 4, 2004, at Clifton Lutheran Sunset Home. She was born Nov. 18, 1915, first child born to Ole Conrad and Sadie Grimland Knudson at Valley View Farm in the Mustang Community. She had five brothers: A.C. (who died during the influenza outbreak of 1919), Wade, Carroll, Milburn, and Gene Knudson. She attended Mustang rural school, and finished her senior year at Clifton High School in 1934. She married
J.M. Wallace of the Cooper Community at St. Olaf Lutheran Church at Cranfills Gap on Dec. 9, 1934. They lived in Clifton and on the Wallace family farm for three years after their marriage. Their daughter, Barbara Ann Wallace, was born in Clifton in 1935. In 1939, they moved to Temple, when he went to work for Austin Bridge Company of Dallas. He was a dragline operator, which required a move to Shreveport, La. She was expecting their second child, and stayed with her parents at Valley View Farm until their first son, John Mark, was born. After Mark’s birth Tirah and the two children joined J.M. in Shreveport. From Shreveport, his work took them to Baldwin, La. After the job was completed in South Louisiana, they moved to Dallas in 1941. He was promoted to Austin Bridge Company shop foreman in Dallas, where they lived for 37 years. She was a housewife, and in 1943, Robert Wayne, their last child, was born. When the kids were older, Wallace sought work outside her home. She managed the concession for the Lone Star Drive-In Theater, worked for McNabb Florist and Velma Mills Beauty Shop, and retired from Drs. Driggs and Cathey Optometry after 12 years. She served as scout den mother, Sunday school teacher, President of the Church Women’s Organization, and served as delegate to the National Convention of Lutheran Women. Wallace was active in PTA and school functions. She took art lessons from several Dallas area artists who helped her develop her own style of painting, and she participated in several art shows. Three of her paintings are on display at the Norwegian Heritage Museum in Decorah, Iowa. After she retired in 1972, she moved to Valley View Farm to care for her parents. Her husband retired the next year, and joined her at the farm. She taught art classes at Cranfills Gap High School through McLennan County College, and also taught private lessons in her studio at Valley View. She was active in the St. Olaf Sewing Circle and other church-related activities. She was a member of the Bosque County Chapter of the Norwegian Society of Texas, and was a supporter of the Clifton Conservatory. She wrote a news column for the Meridian Tribune and later the Bosque County News titled, “News from Mustang, ” for more than 25 years. Son Bob Wallace died in 1987; J.M. Wallace died in 1991. She remained at Valley View Farm for nine years, where she cared for sheep and performed other tasks required of farm living. Wallace moved to the Clifton Lutheran Sunset Home in April 2000 where she found a new life-style. She continued to write a column for the Sunset Home newsletter, “The Sunset Glow, ” and continued to write occasionally for the Bosque County News. Over the years she developed a large following through her writings and her art. She made many new friends and became reacquainted with old friends. She enjoyed playing Skip Bo, bridge, “42, ” and visiting with other residents. She loved music and had a unique talent of playing the piano by ear. She enjoyed memorizing hymns. Survivors include daughter Barbara Epley Lee and husband Gene Lee; son John Mark and wife Jan Wallace; Bob Wallace’s widow, Diana Wallace Hodde and husband Clarence; seven grandchildren, Teresa Epley Saborsky and husband Steve, Renee Epley Barner and husband Rodney, Belinda Epley Prince, Tirah Lea Epley Menger, Matt Wallace and wife Miriam, Brad Wallace and wife Terri, and Whitney Wallace Sears and husband Mark; 12 great-grandchildren, Janet and Alex Saborsky, Adam and Hayley Barner, Jarrod and Barrett Prince, Paige and Cassidy Menger, Jake and Morgan Wallace, Avery Sears, and Hayden Wallace; and one great-great-grandchild, Alexis Barner. Pallbearers were Robert (Chuck) Knudson, Ole Knudson, Butch Knudson, Karl Knudson, Rex Anderson, and Russell Wallace. Honorary Pallbearers were nephews Andy Knudson, Bruce Knudson, Conrad Knudson, Sven Knudson, Larry Wallace, Roland Anderson, P.D. Wallace, Maxie Wallace, Joe Allen Wallace, Walter (Wally) Johnson, Earl Wallace, and Byron Wallace. The funeral was under the direction of Clifton Funeral Home of Clifton. Memorials can be made to the Clifton Lutheran Sunset Home or St. Olaf Lutheran Endowment Fund.
Tommy Rush
Funeral Services were held for Tommy Rush, 63, of Laguna Park on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2004, at 1 p.m., at First Baptist Church Laguna Park with Pastor Doug Evans officiating. Rush was born to Charles Duval and Maggie Ola (Black) Rush on April 19, 1941, in Dallas. Rush grew up in Dallas and moved to the Laguna Park area in 1974 where he had is own carpet business. He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife, Jo Ann Rush of Laguna Park; daughters, Debby Kohutek and husband, Al, of Irving, Susan Pierce and husband, Jerry, of Snook Joyce Tiner of China Spring; son, Mark Rush and wife, Nita, of Leander; step-son, Mike Bellis of Waco; brother, Charlie Rush of Charlotte, N.C.; sisters, Carol Ann Campbell of Dallas and Cherie Rush of Dallas; 16 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren Memorials can be made to the charity of the mourner’s choice. Interment
was held at Smith Bend Coon Creek cemetery in Laguna Park under the direction of Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors of Whitney.
Chris Morris Rohne Hansen
Funeral services for Chris Morris Rohne Hansen, 83, of Cranfills Gap, were held Thursday, Oct. 26, 2004, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Cranfills Gap, the Rev. Terry Atkins and Wayne Rohne officiating. Burial with full military honors by the U.S. Marine Corps Honor Guard, Waco, was held in St. Olaf Lutheran (Rock Church) cemetery. Hansen died Friday, Oct. 22, at Goodall-Witcher Nursing Facility in Clifton. He was born May 4, 1921, in Cranfills Gap, a son of the late Chris C. and Minnie Rohne Hansen. He was raised in Cranfills Gap, graduating from high school there. He attended Clifton Junior College, and later graduated from North Texas State Teachers College in Denton. Hansen enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942. He received his military raining in Quantico, Va. He was a member of the 3rd Marine Division, and was stationed in Guam, where the division invaded to regain possession of the island. He later saw action in Iwo Jima, where he was wounded in a bitter fight that won him the Navy Cross, the Purple Heart, and the Good Conduct Medal. Hansen left the military in 1946. On July 27, 1946, he was united in marriage with Dorothy Brock in Lockney. The couple lived for a short time in Meridian, then moved to Odessa to work for Standolind Oil and Gas Company. He had also lived in Wink, Kermit, and Monahans. Hansen was transferred to Chicago with the Amoco Production Company before again transferring to Trinidad in the West Indies. In 1979, he went to Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, and retired there in 1982 from Amoco International Oil Company, returning to their farm in Cranfills Gap. He was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Cranfills Gap. Hansen is survived by his wife, Dorothy L. Hansen of Cranfills Gap; daughter Jeanne and husband Jim Bayless of Abilene; grandson James Bayless of Abilene; and a number of other relatives and a host of friends. Pallbearers included Terry Sherman, Gerald Nelson, Bellamy Bertelsen, David Tyssen, Jim Bayless, and James Bayless. Honorary pallbearers were Paul Rohne, Fern Wiggins, Harry Polete, Elmo Dansby, Clinton Bergman, Mary Bergman, J.C. Oswald, and Louise Oswald. Memorials may be made to the St. Olaf Endowment Fund in Cranfills Gap or to the Goodall-Witcher Nursing Facility in Clifton. Lawson Funeral Home, Meridian, was in charge of arrangements.
Barbara Bridges
Graveside funeral services for Barbara Faye Guthrie Bridges, 56, of Lake Whitney, were held Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2005, at Gary cemetery, with Brother Ray Featherston officiating. Bridges died Saturday, Jan. 29, 2005, at Lake Whitney. She was born Jan. 23, 1949, in Laurel, Miss., to Orville Quincy and Melba Taylor Guthrie. She graduated from Smiley High School with the Class of 1967, then attended Panola College. She married
Gary Bridges on Dec. 1, 1967, and together they celebrated over 37 years of marriage. Bridges enjoyed playing the piano, crocheting, spending time outdoors working with her flowers, and, most of all, spending time with her family. Bridges was preceded in death by her father. She is survived by her husband, Gary Bridges of Lake Whitney; mother Melba Guthrie of Kingwood; brother Orville Guthrie, Jr. of Kingwood; daughters Terri R. and husband Warren Dahl of Clifton, Tammie and husband Robert Williams of Gary, and Tina M. Bridges of Fort Worth; son Tracy Bridges of Carthage; Lysette Vega of Fort Worth, who she loved like a daughter; grandchildren Travis Williams, Sara Williams, Jared Williams, Kaci Williams, Tyler Dahl, Garrett Dahl, Jordan Bridges, and Bryton Bridges; nieces and nephews Curtis Bridges and son Cody Bridges, Gary Lynn Bridges, Carla Guthrie, and Matthew Guthrie; and a host of other relatives and friends. The family requests memorial donations be made to the Susan B. Koman Cancer Society. Hawthorn Funeral Home, Carthage, was in charge of arrangements.
Christopher Don Grumbine
Funeral services were held for Christopher Don Grumbine, 29, of Clifton on Monday, Jan. 17, 2005, at Clifton Church of Christ with Matt Martin and Steven Bagley officiating. Grumbine was born on Jan. 30, 1975, in Clifton. He passed away on Friday, Jan. 14, 2005 in Waco. He graduated in May 1994 from high school in Clifton where he lived most of this life. Chris loved sports. In high school, he played football and baseball. His junior year, he was honorable, all-district catcher. After graduation, Christ continued his love of sports. He played softball year round and discovered a love of bowling. He loved watching his nephew play sports. He will be greatly missed. He was a mechanic at Standard Transmission for the past eight year. He was affiliated with the Church of Christ. Pallbearers were Shane Keeton, Armondo Ruiz, Chad Olson, Roy Eary, Michael Dansby, Shane Bernhardt, and David Jones. Survivors include his grandmother, Bernice Pierce of Clifton; sister, Lorrie Culver and her husband, David, of Clifton; brother, Dave Grumbine of Harrisburg, Penn.; brother, Donald Lewis of Waco; nephew, Rick Webb of Clifton; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Honorable pallbearers were Rick Webb, Addison Pierce, and Dustin Cessor-Culver. Memorials maybe made to Clifton Baseball Association, where Grumbine learned to love baseball or to the Clifton High Athletic Boosters, who supported him in high school. Arrangements were made through the Clifton Funeral Home. (Note: This obituary is being re-run in this manner at the request of local family members.)
Margario C. Felan
Margario C. Felan, 79, of Groesbeck passed away on Monday, Jan. 24, 2005. Mass of Christian burial was held Thursday, Jan. 27, 2005, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Mexia. Burial will follow at Faulkenberry cemetery. Rosary was cited at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2005, at Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel. Felan was born on October 17, 1925, in Belton, to Matias and Pauline (Guerra) Felan. He was married
to Augustina Gonzales on May 3, 1947, in Meridian. He was preceded in death by his wife, Augustina, on July 28, 1998; his five sisters, Lupe Pina, Maria Meletonia Vasquez, Juana Garcia, Anita Guerra, and Simona Felan; eight brothers, Melquiades Felan, Eustaquio Felan, Geronimo Felan, Jose Felan, Alejandro Felan, Sexto Felan, Placido Rendon, and Pedrito Felan. Survivors include his two sons, Geronimo Felan of Waco and Mathis Felan of Groesbeck; three daughters, Nieves Lopez, Hilda Contreras, and Michele De La Cruz, all of Groesback; four sisters, Preciliana Reyes of Waco, Pauline Villarreal of McGregor, Patricia Gonzalez, and Angelina Felan, both of Whitney; 20 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Arrangements were made through Groesback Funeral Home.
