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Byron E. Lewis, 82
United States Navy during World War II
Byron E. Lewis, 82, of Richland Springs died Monday, June 28, 2004 in Brownwood.
Funeral services were held Thursday, July 1 at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Richland Springs with Dr. Robert Smith officiating. Burial followed at the Richland Springs Cemetery.
The nephews serving as pallbearers were Bert Geeslin, David Geeslin, James Geeslin, Darwin Lewis, Mike Rowell, Charles Christian and David Shropshire.
He was born Nov. 24, 1921, in San Saba County, the son of George M. Lewis and Susie Burleson Lewis. He served his country in the United States Navy during World War II. After Lewis and Georgia Proctor were married, they made their home in San Saba County, where he was a farmer. Georgia preceded him in death.
He was a member of the school board for the Richland Springs Independent School District and a deacon in the First Baptist Church for 25 years.
He is survived by his two daughters and their husbands, Dorinda Lewis Crump and Larry of Plano and Marla Lewis Lampp and Robert D. of Lenexa, Kan., grandchildren, Stephen Crump and April of Austin, Rachael Crump Wehrwein and Chris of Carrollton, Analiza Lampp Carson of Moore, Oklahoma and Robert L. Lampp, of Lenexa, Kan., two great-grandchildren, Christopher Lewis Crump and Carla Thompson; one brother, Robert H. Lewis and his wife Loveta of Richland Springs.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and a sister, Geraldine Geeslin.
The family requests that memorials be made to the First Baptist Church of Richland Springs, the American Diabetes Association, or to the American Cancer Society.
Jewell Surber Tatsch, 90
Jewell Surber Tatsch, 90, died Sunday, Aug. 29, 2004 at the Mason Care Center.
Services were held Wednesday, Sept. 1 at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church with Pastor Bob Cheatheam and Pastor Ray Ash officiating. Burial followed in the Bethel Cemetery at Camp Air.
Serving as pallbearers were nephews, J.C. Surber of Sonora, Dewey Eckert of Camp Air, Jackie Behrens and Rodney Behrens, both of Brady, and Billy Jack Hardin of Fort Worth.
She was born Feb. 5, 1914, to Otto and Maude (Reeves) Surber in Mason County. She was one of seven children and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Mason and of any towns she may have lived in.
She served as cook at the Mason County Hospital, several local cafes and served as a live-in companion to the elderly. She was always ready for a game of 42, playing each afternoon at the Mason Care Center until she was too ill to continue.
Survivors include two sisters, Viltha Cooper of Mason and Mamie Behrens of Brady; a daughter-in-law, Odell Turner of Liberty Hill; three grandchildren; Suzi Holubec and husband, Michael, of Melvin, Paula Ishy of Liberty Hill and Ricky Don Turner and wife, Karen, of Hamilton; five great-grandchildren, Darci Dae Spaeth of College Station, Catrina and Chelsea Ishy of Liberty Hill and Robert and Kandey Turner of Hamilton; and numerous nieces and nephews
She was preceded in death by her only son, Edward Don Turner; her parents' four siblings, Fritz Surber, Woody Surber, Marie Eckert and Bertha Fay Nobels.
Services were under the direction of Mason Funeral Home.
Michael Matthew Morris, 33
Michael Matthew (Matt) Morris, 33, of Mason, died Sunday, Feb. 10, 2002 due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Mason, Rev. Jim McClain officiating. Burial followed at the Gooch Cemetery. Funeral services were under the direction of Mason Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Robert Master-son, Ted Flowers, Tim Flowers, Jeff Schmidt, Bill Fritz Lehmberg and Jay Tedder.
Born Nov. 3, 1968, he was the son of Sam and Linda Morris. Living most of his life in Mason, he was a 1987 graduate of Mason High School. He attended Texas Tech University and graduated in December of 1991 with a bachelor of science in agricultural systems management. He completed his graduate studies in agricultural education in May of 1993. He worked as a vocational agriculture teacher in Dumas and Wall for six years following his graduation.
Later, he was hired by Sure-Fed (Allied Feeds) in Brady as feed store manager. In 1998, he was employed by First Ag Credit in Brady as a loan officer. He joined the Brady Land Bank in 2001 as an assistant vice-president where he was employed up to the time of his sudden death.
He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, hunting and participating in sporting events with his family and friends. One of Matt's greatest joys in life was his niece and nephews who live in Austin. He enjoyed attending their sports activities and teaching them to hunt and fish.
Survivors include his parents, Sam and Linda Morris of Mason; a sister, Lisa Grief and her husband, Gary; two nephews, Garrett and Austin; a niece, Samantha, all of Austin; a maternal grandmother, Hazel Barrington of Mason and several uncles, aunts and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, S.L. Morris and Lola Morris Lackey and maternal grandfather, Madison Barrington.
The family requests that memorials be made to the First United Methodist Church of Mason or the charity of your choice.
Rev. John O. (Joe) Poe, 65
He was a United Pentecostal Church pastor and ministe
Reverend John O. (Joe) Poe, 65, of Zavalla and formerly of Brady, died Monday, Aug. 19, 2002 in a Lufkin hospital.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22 in the First United Pentecostal Church of Zavalla with Rev. Vernon Neely and Rev. R.G. (Bud) Davis, Jr., officiating. Burial followed in the Zavalla Cemetery.
Born April 22, 1937, in Lohn, he was the son of Allie Mae (Turnell) and Calvin Odie Poe. He was a United Pentecostal Church pastor and minister and had served as a minister of the First United Pentecostal Church in Zavalla for the past 18 years.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Berta Poe of Zavalla; two sons, Joe N. Poe of Zavalla and Johnny Poe and wife, DeLaine, of Brady; two daughters, Joyce Sellers and husband, Bobby, of Brady and Jeannie Fuller and husband, Ray, of Zavalla; 12 grandchildren, Kitty, Kandace, Keith, Billy, Roy Dee, Jennifer, Jud, Casey, Blake, Camille, Brittne and Dana; 12 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Fay Carpenter and husband, Tom, of Roswell, N. Mex., and Doris Little and husband, George, of Rowlett; two brothers, Mark Poe of Brady and Jerry Poe and wife, Nell, of Alvin; numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives; and his church family.
Rev. Poe was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and a brother.
Louie and Laverne Mask
Graveside services for Louie and Laverne (Pete) Mask, of Early, will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, 2003 in the Bangs Cemetery under the direction of Davis-Morris Funeral Home of Brownwood.
Louie died Monday, Feb. 17 in a Bangs nursing facility. Laverne died Tuesday, Feb. 18 at their home.
Louie was born on Oct. 12, 1922, in Brady to James Ard and Bessie Foster Mask. He attended Elm Grove schools and served his country in World War II in the U.S. Navy. He was a soil conservation contractor and served as a director from 1962 to 1988 for the Land Improvement Contractors of America.
Laverne was born on Sept. 25, 1923, in Bangs to Jessie and Bessie Lee (McIntire) Martin. She attended Bangs schools, graduating in the class of 1941. She worked as an accountant for John A. Thomason, CPA.
Louie and Laverne were married in Brownwood in 1961.
They are survived by two sons, Jim Witt of Early and James Mask and wife, Jolene, of Amarillo and a daughter-in-law, Virginia Witt of White Settlement; four grandchildren, Dale Witt of Hurst, Clay Witt of White Settlement, Jason Mask of Amarillo and Jalyn Kelley of San Antonio; four great-grandchildren, Duncan Witt, Alexis Witt, Toby Mask and Kaylee Mask.
Louie's brother, Mode Mask, and three sisters, Oleta Rankin, Aneta Doyal and Willene Dunning, as well as a number of nieces and nephews also survive them.
Louie was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Malcolm Mask.
Laverne was preceded in death by her first husband, James H. Witt; a son, Ernie Witt; a grandson, Dwight Martin Witt; two brothers, Bill Martin and Jessie Quinn Martin; and two sisters, Elsie Miller and Ima Mae Boyd.
Bea Bray Wills, 89
Word has just been received of the death of former Bradyite, Bea Bray Wills, 89, of Marble Falls.
She and her late husband, Bob Bray, owned and operated the Brady Herald from 1945 to 1955 when they sold the newspaper to L.B. Smith and Slick Reed, owners of the Brady Standard.
Mrs. Wills died on May 21, 2003. A memorial service for her was held at 2:30 p.m. June 1 at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Marble Falls.
She began her career in journalism during the Depression when she was named a society editor of the Harlingen Valley Morning Star.
She married Bob Bray in 1934.
The couple, along with Bray's brother, founded the McAllen Daily Monitor. They also founded several other Texas newspapers that included ones in Brazoria County, Angleton and Alvin.
After selling the Brady paper, they bought the Highlander in Marble Falls four years later.
Mr. Bray died in 1979, and Mrs. Bray continued to operate the Highlander with her son, Bill. They sold the newspaper in 1990. Mrs. Bray married John Wills in 1980.
Nelson Lenord Lethco
Graveside services for Nelson Lenord Lethco of Cherokee will be held at the Balmorhea Cemetery in Balmorhea on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2003 at 2 p.m. Funeral services are under the direction of the Howell-Doran Funeral Home, San Saba.
The third of six children, was born on October 28, 1919 in Covington to Jesse and Ollie (Neal) Lethco.
Lethco grew up at Whitney and Ding Dong on the Lampasas River. He attended school until the 8th grade when he took a job to help the family during the Depression.
Ranch work with his uncle, Ad Neal, took him to West Texas. He worked at Ad’s Garden City Ranch and the Strauss Ranch near Alpine before settling at the Woulfter Ranch west of Toyahvale.
After serving his country in World War II, he met Ellen Moore of Balmorhea, and they were married June 23, 1949. They made their home at the ranch where Lethco raised sheep, mohair goats, and cattle.
Woulfter Ranch was his pride and joy until he retired to Sunrise Beach on Lake LBJ to pursue his hobby of fishing. Missing ranch life, he bought a ranch near Cherokee where he and his wife raised Crossbred cattle.
He was a Catholic, a veteran of the U.S. Army Infantry, director of Toyah-Limpia Soil and Water Conservation District, and a member of the Balmorhea Independent School District Board of Education.
Survivors include his wife, Ellen, of Cherokee; a son, Lenord, and wife, Carley, of Toyahvale; daughters Nancy, and husband, Bob Hayter, of Fort Stockton, and Marty, and husband, Bobby Burnett, of San Angelo.
Eight grandchildren also survive him, and include: Heather Hayter Balyeat of College Station, John Hayter of Cherokee, Wil Lethco of Austin, Joe Bob Hayter of Fort Stockton, Robert Burnett of Grapevine, Larmer Lethco of Austin, Timothy Hayter of Fort Stockton, and Luke Burnett of San Angelo.
Other survivors include great-grandchildren Connor and Bryce Hayter, Kaylin Balyeat, and Michaela Lethco; a sister, Annie Tucker of New Braunfels; and brothers, A.T. Lethco of Valley Mills, and F.M. Lethco of Ding Dong, along with many nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ollie and Jesse Lethco, and brothers, Ira and A.J. Lethco.
Ruth Sarah Longley, 92
Ruth Sarah Longley, 92, of Brady, died Friday, Dec. 12, 2003 at her residence in Brady.
Funeral services were held Monday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. at Leatherwood Memorial Chapels, Rev. Sheldon Johnson officiating.
Burial followed in Rest Haven Cemetery.
Serving as pallbearers were Charlie Bradshaw, Alton Bradshaw, Dan Lang, Michael Longley, Randy Longley and Merle Taylor.
She was born July 16, 1911, in Claxton, to Eli Howard and Mary "Mamie" (Crump) Howard. She married Edgar Charles Longley on May 7, 1929, in Brady. She was a homemaker and moved back to Brady in 1973. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Brady.
Survivors include a son, Charles Howard Longley and wife, Erlyne, of New Braunfels; a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Bradshaw of Brady; grandchildren, Jeannie Lang and husband, Dan, of San Angelo, Charlie Bradshaw and wife, Tina, of Brady, Randy Longley of League City, Tammy Longley of League City, Lorri Dixon of New Braunfels, Michael Longley of League City, Mark Cook of New Braunfels, Amy Hodgson of New Braunfels, Darren Cook of Virginia Beach, Va.; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her spouse; three brothers, a sister; a son-in-law, Paul Bradshaw; and a great-granddaughter, Melissa Fitzhugh Lopez.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church and/or a charity of choice.
L.A. (Bud) Fowler, 75
L.A. (Bud) Fowler, 75, of Brady, died Tuesday, May 11, 2004 in San Angelo.
Graveside services were held Thursday, May 13 in the Eden Cemetery.
He was born Dec. 7, 1928, to E.C. and Elma Fowler of San Angelo. He married Peggy J. Cook in 1953. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last December.
Fowler worked for his brother-in-law, Loyd Bell, Bell Plumbing in San Angelo until 1963. He then moved to Albuquerque, N. Mex. in 1963 and worked for Star Hill Company as a general superintendent until 1988.
He and his wife moved to Brady in 1992 to be near her parents, the late J.C. and Mabel Cook. He then began his own business, building children's furniture until his retirement in 2001.
He is survived by his wife, Peggy; two daughters, Connie Loring and husband, Lance, of Eden and Sherry Crespin and husband, Dennis, of Albuquerque, N. Mex.; two granddaughters, Kelli Humphries and husband, Chad, and Christy Loring, all of San Angelo; and a great-grandson, Hayden Humphries.
William Parks, 74
William Henry (Bill) Parks, 74 of Greenville, passed away Saturday, Aug. 25, 2001 at his residence in Greenville.
Funeral services were held Thursday, Aug. 30 at 10:30 a.m. at the Howell Doran Funeral Home Chapel in Brownwood. Interment followed in the Richland Springs Cemetery.
Born Jan. 27, 1927 in Richland Springs, he was the son of Robert W. Parks and Bethel Mae Holley.
He served in the armed forces, both in the Army and in the Navy, where he served in China. He was retired from working as a sheet metal mechanic. He was employed with E-Systems for 14 years, and Rockwell International Dallas Love Field for 15 years.
In 1956, he married Lomagene Parks. She preceded him in death in 1976. In 1977, he and Nell Parks were married, and she preceded him in death in 1985. He was a member of the Dixon Baptist Church and the American Legion.
He is survived by a son and daughter, Brett Alan Parks and Lana Ladell Parks, both of Greenville; stepson and stepdaughters, James Paul Dyer, Jr., Paula Moore and Sheilia Mitchell, all of Greenville; nine step-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren; brothers, Bobbie Parks of Garland and Hubert Parks of Arp; sisters, Jeanine Willis and Ruby Lee D'orio, both of Brady; and girl friend, Collene Lumpkin of Greenville.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Woodie Parks in 2000; his first wife, Lomagene Parks in 1976 and his second wife, Nell Parks in 1985.
