Huge Marriages Search Engine!
Beckett
Louis Clyde Beckett passed away Sept. 16, 2003 at Alpine Valley Care Center. His son and grandson were at his side.
Mr. Beckett will be laid to rest at Union Hill Cemetery in Johnson County, Texas.
He is survived by three sons, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Harper
Mary Lee Harper, 92, of Marfa passed from this earth to her heavenly home on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2003, at Big Bend Regional Medical Center in Alpine after a brief illness.
Mary Lee was born in Laredo on Aug. 16, 1911 and came to Marfa in 1914 with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Harper, and her sisters, Margaret and Willie Harper.
Mary Lee attended Marfa public schools and graduated valedictorian of her class. After graduation she attended the University of Texas and two six-week summer sessions at Sul Ross College.
She began her teaching career in the school at Ruidosa in 1933 where she taught elementary children for eight years, taking a one year leave of absence.
In September 1942, Mary Lee began teaching fourth grade students in Blackwell school in Marfa and remained there for six years. She worked for the Presidio County school administration for two years while Claude Lee served as county judge.
Later, she taught elementary school in Valentine for five years. After leaving the teaching profession, she worked at the Marfa National Bank for about 15 year before her retirement in 1976.
Her parents, sisters Margaret Harper Mazzeo and Willie Harper, and her brother-in-law Louis B. Mazzeo preceded her in death.
Services were held Friday, Sept. 19, at the First United Methodist Church in Marfa with Rev. Daniel Armstrong officiating. Interment followed at the Marfa Cemetery.
Pall bearers were Carl Robinson, A. R. Roja, Brit Webb, C. C. (Doc) Whitman, Gene West, Will Shannon, Marcos Pena, Ike Livingston, Armando Vasquez and Jesus Santiesteban. Honorary pallbearers were Dr. Jim Luecke, her Marfa Methodist sunday school students, and her students from the Ruidosa, Blackwell and Valentine schools.
Remembrances may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Marfa.
Allison
Guy E. Allison of Midland, formerly of Alpine, passed away Monday, June 7, 2004.
He was born July 12, 1917, to Ora Lee and Emmitt Allison in San Angelo. Guy attended school at Water Valley and McCamey. He served in the Navy during World War II. Guy was an electrician and horseman. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Midland. He formerly lived in Abilene, Lago Vista and Corsicana.
Guy is survived by his wife, Betty Allison of Midland; brother, John Allison of Odessa; sister, Bea Jones of California; niece, Gayle Harding of Mesquite; and other nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were held Tuesday, June 8, at Fairmount Cemetery in San Angelo, with Rev. Charles Wright officiating. A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church in Alpine at a later date. Arrangements were under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home.
Jefferson
Homer Gene Jefferson, 76, of Alpine, passed away Saturday, June 5, 2004, in a Fort Stockton nursing home.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, June 8, at the First United Methodist Church in Alpine. Military burial followed at Elm Grove Cemetery.
He was born to Homer Vernon and Lorena Mae Mulanax Jefferson on Feb. 15, 1928. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Ellis Reed Jefferson; and nephew, Michael Wayne Jefferson.
Homer was a loving and generous husband, father, grandfather and friend. He married Elinor Sublett in the First United Methodist Church in Alpine on Aug. 21, 1953. To this union were born two children, David Gene and Elinor Rita.
Homer was a WWII veteran, serving in the Army Air Force as a radio specialist. He supervised the installation of the Dew Line Warning System in Alaska.
He was a graduate of Weatherford High School, where he was selected Best All-Around Athlete. Homer received a degree from Weatherford Junior College, where he was captain of the football team, and member of the rodeo and boxing teams and was a Golden Glove Champion. He continued his education at Sul Ross State University, where he earned his B.S. and M.E. degrees. While attending SRSU, he played offense and defense for the Sul Ross Lobos. He was also Brand King. Homer was very popular both on and off the field.
Homer's chosen profession was public school education. In his 47 years of service, he was responsible for many young men and women completing their education and reaching their goals in life. He hired numerous SRSU graduates giving them their first teaching positions. Many students enrolled in SRSU because of the influence he had in their lives. His career in education took him through the ranks from athletic director, principal, counselor, superintendent and finally Superintendent of the Year.
Homer is survived by his wife; his daughter, Rita and husband, Jeff Stracener, and his son, Dave, and wife, Kristen Jefferson, as well as his grandchildren, Scott and Shawn Stracener and Michael and Anna Jefferson. He also leaves behind sisters-in-law Davida Martin and Maxena Jefferson; nieces and nephews, Loy and Don Haley, David Martin, Mel Jefferson, Belinda and Marty Diebold, Larry Jefferson, Clint Martin, Megan and Philly Szydloski, David and Daniel Haley; and many, many loving and devoted friends.
Holley
Paul Nelson Holley, Jr., 52, of Alpine, died June 27, 2004 as the result of a traffic accident in Vinton, La.
He is survived by his wife, Kathy Holley of Alpine; his sister, Dawn Holley of Edgewater, Fla., and brother, Tom Holley of Titusville, Fla.
Paul was a land surveyor that grew up in Titusville, Fla., where he owned a land surveying firm before moving to Texas.
A memorial service will be held at his home in Alpine on or about July 17.
In his memory, donations may be made to the Big Bend Youth Club, P.O. Box 421, Terlingua, TX 79852.
Lee
Services for Jerry J. Lee, 63, of Marathon, were held Wednesday, July 7, 2004, at the Methodist church in Marathon with Pastor Robert Frasier officiating. Burial followed in Marathon Cemetery.
Mr. Lee died July 3 at his home. He was born to Guy and Maisie Lee on Dec. 16, 1940, in Marathon. He married Nancy Young on July 28, 1961, in Marathon.
Survivors include his wife, Nancy Lee of Marathon; a son, Jerry Guy Lee of Midland; daughter, Vicki Seidel of Tilden; his mother, Maisie Lee of Marathon; a brother, Ronnie Guy Lee of Seguin; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his father, Guy Lee, and a sister, Janet Garcia.
In lieu of flowers, send donations to Rural Hospice of Crane, Texas.
Portillo
Florentino "Tino" Portillo of Goodyear, Ariz., passed away at Phoenix Baptist Hospital on May 30, 2004. He was born in Alpine on Jan. 28, 1914, to Luis and Elijia (Tercero) Portillo.
A memorial service was held at Valley West Funeral Chapel in Goodyear on June 2.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, July 16, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church with interment of his ashes following at Holy Angels Cemetery.
He was preceded in death by his son, Ruben Portillo; his parents; his brothers, Epimenio, Juan, Jesus and Federico; and his sisters, Maria and Carmen.
He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Eulalia "Lala" Portillo of Goodyear; daughter, Sara Portillo of Denton; sister, Tomasita Hernandez of Ozona; stepchildren, Maria Hernandez and Raul Hernandez of Los Angeles; step-granddaughter, Anna Lisa Bigsby of Phoenix; 10 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and many extended family and friends.
