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Morris Sheppard Bell
Morris Sheppard Bell of Gatesville, age 94, passed away on July 22, 2007 at a Gatesville hospital.
Services were held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at the First Baptist Church in Gatesville. Burial followed at Restland Cemetery. The family received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Scott’s Funeral Home.
Morris was born on May 6, 1913, in Oakalla, Texas, to Jesse and Julia Bell and was reared in Copperas Cove. After graduating from high school, he attended Weatherford Junior College and Hill Junior College and served in the Civilian Conservation Corps. He received a bachelor’s degree from Southwest Texas State Teachers College in 1936. In 1967, he earned a master’s degree in history from Howard Payne University. After graduating from college, Morris taught in Flat, Texas, for three years before moving to Houston to work for the U.S. Postal Service. In 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. During World War II he served in the Aleutian campaign in Alaska and in the Army Intelligence Division of the War Department in the Pentagon. While in Washington, he met Ama Greene of Deep Gap, North Carolina, and they were married on January 28, 1946. The couple lived in Houston until moving to Gatesville in 1951, where he continued working as a mail carrier. In 1963, Morris left the postal service to return to teaching. He taught history and other subjects at Gatesville Junior High until 1978. After retiring from the public school system, he continued teaching history courses for Central Texas College for several years. An avid history buff, Morris wrote several articles for magazines such as True West and Frontier Times and published a monograph, “The Last Years (24) of Jefferson Davis.” For many years, he did volunteer work at the Coryell Museum and Historical Center and wrote the column “Preserving the Past While Facing the Future” for The Gatesville Messenger. His engaging stories and witticisms will be missed.
He was a long-time member of First Baptist Church where he served in many capacities including deacon and Sunday school teacher. Morris was preceded in death by his parents and by his identical twin brother, Marvin Bell of Tucson, Arizona, and his sister, Katherine Durham of Lampasas, Texas.
He is survived by his wife, Ama Bell; sons, Walter Bell of Gatesville and Wendell Bell and his wife, Lynn, of Austin; grandchildren, Rebecca Bell and Andrew Bell; and sister, Oma Brashear of Longview.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Gatesville or a favorite charity.
Douglas S. White
Douglas S. White died July 30, 2007 in Santa Rosa, CA.
Mr. White was born in 1919 in Gatesville to Harmon and Myrtle White. He was a graduate of Texas A&M University. He served in WWII as a pilot with the United States Navy where he transported the wounded from the South Pacific Islands to the mainland for treatment. He moved to Denver where he worked for the Denver Housing Authority as maintenance and construction director. He worked 25 additional years as development/modernization specialist for 8,000 units of the Denver Housing Authority. Upon retirement, he and his wife moved to northern California. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Sandra; son, Robert Douglas; and son, William III.
Survivors include his wife; three children; 11 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Elizabeth Newland
Mrs. Elizabeth Newland, age 86, of Gatesville passed away Saturday, August 18, 2007 at her residence. Funeral services were held at 9 a.m. Tuesday, August 21st at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Johnny Miller officiating. Burial followed at the Restland Cemetery. The family received visitors from 6-8:00 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Elizabeth was born on May 17, 1921 to the late John and Ellen Beavers Doyle. She attended first grade through high school at Pearl and attended North Texas College in Denton, Texas. She married Robert Newland on December 2, 1943. She accompanied her husband while he served in the Air Force during World War II, then they made their home in Dallas for twenty plus years and in 1969 they moved back to the Gatesville area. She was a long time active member of the First United Methodist Church, especially in the “Upper Room” Sunday School class, children’s programs and the Wesleyan Circle where she served as president and numerous other positions. Other activities she enjoyed were oil painting and was a charter member of the Coryell Art League and the Morris Federation where she served as president and various offices. She liked to help others and willingly chauffeured patients to doctor, hospital and treatment appointments. She also enjoyed Bible study, especially group study where others help in interpreting the words, sewing, cooking and especially making chocolate and caramel meringue pies. She and her husband celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on December 2, 2003 with a reception at the First United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Cleburne Doyle.
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Robert Newland; sister, Evelyn Harris; and a host of special nieces and nephews.
Louis D. Griffin
Louis D. Griffin, 87, of Gatesville passed away Friday, August 17, 2007, at a local nursing center.
Graveside services are scheduled for 10 a.m. today (Saturday), August 25, 2007 at Monahans City Cemetery in Monahans, Texas.
Mr. Griffin was born January 22, 1920 in Van Buren, Arkansas. He was the son of Louis L. Griffin and Janie Patton Griffin. He married Juanita Ashburn on April 11, 1943 in Pyote, Texas. She preceded him in death on February 17, 2007. He worked for Gulf Oil in Wickett, Texas, retiring after 37 years of service. They lived in Wickett,
Monahans and Lake Brownwood before moving to Gatesville in 2002. He was a member of the Gatesville Revival Center. He was also preceded in death by a son, Ray Griffin; three sisters; and one brother.
Survivors include sons, Leo Griffin and wife Jimmie of Springtown, Jackie Griffin and wife Janie of Fort Worth and Ellis Griffin and wife Trini of Arlington; daughters, Evelyn Kennedy and husband Larry of Gatesville and Virginia Britton and husband Don of Odessa; 13 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Gatesville Revival Center building fund.
Durward Edwards
Durward Edwards was born November 23, 1921 in the Clyde Community of Callahan County, Texas to Edward Evert Edwards and Grace May Shelton Edwards. He passed from this life into the arms of God on August 17, 2007.
At an early age his mother and he moved to the Rowden Community of Callahan County in Texas to live on the farm of his grandparents, James W. and Rose Walker Shelton. He attended schools in Rowden until age 14 when his mother remarried. They later moved to California where he received the balance of his education, graduating from Patterson High School in Patterson, California. He entered the Army in 1942, serving in WWII and in Korea. He received several commendations while serving our country until his retirement in1969. He was stationed at Fort Hood a great part of his time in the Army.
He cared for his mother until her death in 1988. They moved from Mineral Wells, Texas to Gatesville, Texas in 1973. He was a shy unassuming man who asked nothing for himself, but to be loved. He leaves to miss him, one sister and her family, Carolyn Ankrom of Lampasas and many cousins, including Ed Shelton of Baird, Texas, Rosemary Martin of Merkel, Texas, Barbara Jackson of Eldorado, Texas and Sandra Konzak of Baird who gave him much pleasure by promoting family reunions. He also leaves good neighbors including, Lois Worley and Leon Ashley who helped him during his illness. Our appreciation for the hospice nurses and Doctor Tim Maynard who cared for him during his final hours. By his request he was cremated and his ashes deposited in the family plot in the Historic Belle Plains Cemetery in Callahan County, Texas. Here he will rest beside his mother, grandparents and other relatives of the Holloway/Shelton descendants. A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, August 27, 2007 at Scott’s Funeral Home.
Dr. Roland H. Hoff
Dr. Roland H. Hoff, 73, of Gatesville passed away on August 27, 2007 at a local care center after a brief battle with cancer. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 30, 2007 at Scott’s Funeral Home with the Rev. Tim Crosby and the Rev. Bill Patteson officiating. Following the chapel service there was a reception at Trinity Baptist Church. Visitation was from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home on Wednesday, August 29, 2007.
Roland was born on May 21, 1934 in Bennington, Nebraska to the late Hans and Luella Schneekloth Hoff. He attended Benson West Grade School and graduated from Benson High School in Omaho. Roland pursued a career in Dentistry at Creighton University School of Dentistry and was president of his graduating class. He practiced dentistry in the Millard area for almost 40 years before retiring in 1997. Roland married Doris Buggy on June 25, 1960 and she preceded him in death in 1997. On June 5, 1999, Roland married Doris Berry Moffitt, whom he met square dancing in Nebraska, and he often said it was the happiest day of his life.
Roland was very active with the Nebraska Dental Association and he served as president, American Dental Association and the American Kennel Club. He was active in his church, Rejoice Lutheran, where he worked with the Lutheran Men in Mission and was also a member of the German-American Club. After moving to Gatesville, he became very active in the Exchange Club, serving as treasurer for 3 years, and Coryell County Square Dance Club, where he held different offices. He was a member of Trinity Baptist Church, where he was ordained as a deacon and helped faithfully with AWANAS. Roland is survived by his wife, Doris of Gatesville; her children, Gwynn Moffitt of Nacogdoches and Bert Moffitt and wife, Loraine of Lubbock and their children, Alyson and Michael Moffitt also of Lubbock; sisters, Arlene Lee of Omaha, NE, Karla Williams and husband, Robert of Lonoke, AR and Darlene Denbeck and husband, Don of O’Neal, NE; brother, Robert Hoff and wife, Ann of Omaha, NE; brother-in-law, James Berry and wife, Wanda of Gatesville and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity Baptist Church, 1506 W. Main Street, Gatesville, TX 76528.
Emil Rudolf Dossman
Emil Rudolf Dossman of Gatesville died Sunday, Aug. 26, 2007. He was 88.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at the Clifton Funeral Home Chapel. Burial followed in Clifton Memorial Park in Clifton.
Mr. Dossman was born April 30, 1919 in the Hurst Springs Community of Coryell County to Rudolf and Annie Schulz Dossman. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was assigned to the U.S.S. Pensacola in the Pacific theater. He married Lillie Littlefield on April 2, 1945. They farmed and raised a family of three sons in Coryell County. He is preceded in death by his wife; brothers, Bennie, Walter and Adolph; and a sister, Hilma.
Survivors include his sons, Kyle Dossman of Crawford, Rusty Dossman of China Spring and Steve Dossman of Gatesville; brother, Earnest Dossman of Gatesville; a sister, Minnie Kettler of Clifton; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
David Roby Chamberlain
Born in Dallas, October 7, 1929, and passed away August 23, 2007. An avid bicyclist, David logged 130,547.0 miles in the last 33.3 years. David was one of the original planners of the Tour d’Italia Bicycle Rally. Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Janette, his son, Timm Chamberlain, his daughter and son-in-law, Teresa and Jerry Branch, and his son and daughter-in-law, John and Elizabeth Chamberlain; five grand children, Taylor & Zachary Branch, Kaitlin Phillips, and Lillian & Augustine Chamberlain; three great-grandchildren, Faith & Ethan Branch, and Anna Phillips; brother & sister-in-law, Gene & Dorothy Chamberlain.
Services were held Sunday afternoon, August 26th, at 2:30, in the Jeter & Son Funeral Chapel. The family received friends at the funeral home Saturday evening from 5-7.
Honorary Pallbearers were members of The Lone Star Cyclists. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that, if you wish, you write a brief memory that you shared with David for the family to reflect on in the days ahead.
David John Barnhill
David John Barnhill, 10, of Gatesville, passed away on Monday, August 27, 2007. Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, August 30, 2007 at Scott’s Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation was held from 6-8 pm on Wednesday, August 29, 2007 at the funeral home.
D.J. was born on November 7, 1997 to Charles and Vickie Renee Smith Barnhill in Temple, Texas. D. J. attended school in Gatesville and was a very loving child. He loved his family and you could always see it in his eyes. He is preceded in death by his siblings, Laurie Barnhill, Gary Barnhill and his grandmother, Vickie Smith.
D.J. is survived by his parents, Charles Barnhill and Vickie Renee Barnhill; sisters, Vickie Sue Barnhill and Shari Lynn Barnhill; brothers, Charles Allen Barnhill and Justin Lee Riddle; grandparents, David Smith and John and Janis Barnhill; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
