Stephen Radford Clayton

STEPHEN RADFORD CLAYTON was born July 6, 1952 in Sweetwater, Texas. Steve departed this life on December 9, 2005. He was a realtor who enjoyed laughter, music, good food, and being a Texan. He often enjoyed relaxing walks at Meyer Park near his home in Spring, Texas. He loved his children and had close friends.

He is preceeded in death by his mother, Mary; and his brother, Dwight. He is survived and will be dearly missed by his father, Radford; his sisters, Pat and MJ; his brother, Rod; his children Eric, Rebecca, and Sean; grandchildren, Lyric and Emily; and numerous other family and friends.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. at the Meyer Park Pavilion on Monday, December 12, 2005. Another service will be held in Sweetwater, Texas on Wednesday, December, 14.

Published in the Houston Chronicle on 12/12/2005.

Ewell E. “Red” Snowden

Ewell E. “Red” Snowden, 80, of Sweetwater died Monday, Dec. 12, 2005, in the Abilene Regional Medical Center.

No services are planned. Mr. Snowden will lie in state at Cate-Spencer and Trent Funeral Home in Sweetwater until Wednesday.

Mr. Snowden was born on April 1, 1925, in Venus, N.M. He was a retired self-employed truck driver and lived in San Angelo for 34 years before moving to Sweetwater. Mr. Snowden was a veteran of World War II and a member of the Lamar Street Baptist Church.

Survivors include his longtime companion, Linnie Adams of Sweetwater; one daughter, Peggy Ewellene Thrapp and her husband, Michael, of Eagle Rock, Mo.; one son, Lowell Wray Abeita and his wife, Carol, of Roscoe; five grandsons, Rickey Snowden and Daryl Lee Caffey, both of Bandinsville, Ill., Christopher Allen Caffey of Eagle Rock, Mo., Brandon Abeita and Noah Abeita; one granddaughter, Tera Trotter and her husband, Michael; one sister, Nedra Lee of Sweetwater; one sister-in-law, Silvia Snowden of St. Paul, Minn.; two nephews, Mark Guelker and Welton Guelker, both of Sweetwater; and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mark Wray and Mabel Frances Snowden; two brothers, Lowell Snowden and Wilbern Ray Snowden; and one sister, Nelda Blaney.

Wesley Wayne Couch

Wesley Wayne Couch, 63, of Sweetwater died Monday, Oct. 3, 2005, in his residence.

Graveside services were held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2005, in the Sweetwater Ceme-tery.

Services were under the direction of McCoy Funeral Home of Sweetwater.

 

Elaine Cecila Johns

Elaine Cecila Johns, 57, of Snyder died Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2005, in Snyder.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, 2005, in the Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ with James Thompson, John Howard and Jerry Moon officiating.

Burial will follow in the Sweetwater Cemetery under the direction of McCoy Funeral Home of Sweetwater.

Mrs. Johns was born on Dec. 31, 1947, in Leander. She married Franklin Claude Johns on Aug. 9, 1965, in Austin. Mrs. Johns lived in Snyder for the past 17 years and was a former resident of Sweetwater. She was a member of the Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ in Sweetwater for 39 years and was a homemaker.

Survivors include her husband, Franklin Johns of Snyder; five daughters, Carol Elaine Johns and her husband, Michael Foster, of Colorado Springs, Colo., Sharon Kay Johns of Snyder, Shelia Maureen Johns Mitchell and her husband, Billy, of Stinnett, Cassandra Renae “Peaches” Johns and her fiancee, Scott Coward, of Snyder, and Michelle Brooke Johns of Snyder; one son, Joseph Jared Johns of Snyder; three sisters, Carolyn Jean Reynolds and her husband, Douglas, of Victoria, Shirley Ann Holder and her husband, Thomas, of Leander, and Sandra Louise Markert and her husband, Martin, of Leander; nine grandchildren and a special friend, Yvette Hernandez and family.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Margaret Smith; one sister, Frances Jewel Pearson; her father-in-law, Clarence Edmond Johns; brother-in-law, Earnest Steve Johns, and nephew, Joshua Johns.

Ernestine “Sue” Brown

Ernestine “Sue” Brown, 79, of Sweetwater died Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2005, in the Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene.

Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005, in the Sweetwater Cemetery with the Rev. Orvel Brantley officiating.

Services were under the direction of McCoy Funeral Home of Sweetwater.

Mrs. Brown was born on Jan. 21, 1926, to Olour A. and Minnie Pearce Glass. She was a Baptist. Mrs. Brown married Jimmie W. Brown on July 17, 1943, in Sweetwater. She attended John R. Lewis Grammar School, John H. Reagan Junior High and graduated from Newman High School in 1943. She graduated from Western Union Telegraph Company School as a multiplex and teletype operator, working in the Sweetwater, Big Spring, San Angelo, Houston and Marfa offices. During World War II, Mrs. Brown held the position of commercial department night manager, bookkeeper and desk clerk in Sweetwater. She was a registered medical secretary and bookkeeper for Drs. Fortner, Price and Hood for 19 years. She retired in 1972. Mrs. Brown was past president of the Texas Medical Assistants Association, Permian Basin Chapter. She was a charter member of the VFW Auxiliary #2479. She was a former member of the Beta Beta Chapter, Beta Sigma Phi. Mrs. Brown was also a volunteer at People for Progress for 25 years.

Survivors include her husband, Jim Brown of Sweetwater; many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant daughter; her siblings, Dortha Collins, G.W. Glass, Bonnie Coy, Albert Leroy Glass and Nina Mae Coffee.

Alicia Torrez

Alicia Torrez, 67, of Sweetwater died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005, in the Abilene Regional Hospital.

A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2005, in the Holy Family Catholic Church with Father Michael Rodriguez officiating.

Burial will follow in the Garden of Memories under the direction of McCoy Funeral Home of Sweetwater.

A rosary will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005, in the McCoy Chapel of Memories.

Mrs. Torrez was born on Feb. 10, 1938, in Baird. She married Benino Torrez on July 20, 1954, in Sweetwater. Mrs. Torrez attended Holy Family Catholic Church and lived in Sweetwater since 1951. She worked for the Sweetwater Independent School District for 32 years before retiring.

Survivors include her husband, Benino Torrez Sr. of Sweetwater; one son, Benino Torrez Jr. of Grand Prairie; four daughters, Delores Cortez of Abilene, Mary Esther Brown and her husband, Mike, of Granbury, Ruth Tomlin and her husband, Tim, of Roscoe, and Sarah Howe and her husband, Chris, of Abilene; two sisters, Lala Rutenburg of San Pedro, Calif., and Felipa Ramirez of Elk City, Okla.; seven brothers, Pete Argumaniz of Sweetwater, Fernando Argumaniz, Ruben Argumaniz and Manual Argumaniz, all of Grand Prairie, Frank Argumaniz, Ben Argumaniz and David Argumaniz, all of Abilene; 11 grandchildren, including granddaughters, Katherine Brown, Kimberly Havins, Jacey Tomlin and Stina Tomlin; and three great-grandchildren, Kristine Brown, Kaylee Brown and Dillon Brown.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 295, Sweetwater, TX 79556.

Catherine Allison

Catherine Allison, age 90, died Wednesday, December 21, 2005 in Abilene, Texas.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Friday, December 23, 2005 at the McCoy Chapel of Memories with the Reverend Jim Drake officiating and directed by McCoy Funeral Home, Inc., of Sweetwater. Burial will be in the Garden of Memories Cemetery.

Catherine was born on November 9, 1915 in Big Spring, Texas. She married George Edwin Allison on August 14, 1937 in Ranger, Texas.

She started her banking career at the age of 17 at the Ranger Community State Bank; she graduated from Ranger High School and Ranger Junior College and attended Southwestern Banking School at SMU; she was the first woman to serve on a financial board in Nolan County. She was employed by First National Bank on July 11, 1954; she had been Executive Vice President of the First National Bank in Sweetwater and started their Trust Department 50 years ago on February 10, 1956; she was a member and secretary of the Board of Directors for the bank from 1980 until 2000; she was an officer for the Texas Banker's Association; lived in Sweetwater since 1945 and was a member of the First Baptist Church. She was a member of the Baptist Memorial Ministry of the Southern Baptist Convention for 26 years and served as chairman several years. She was on the committee that developed Sagecrest.

Survivors include: sister, Elizabeth Ball of Arlington, Texas; several nieces & nephews and several great nieces & nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, George Edwin Allison, on October 6, 1998; two sisters and three brothers.

Pallbearers will be Morris Hinshaw, Bill Hunter, Jr., Bill Hunter III, Patrick N. Gerald, Don Allen and Louis Brooks Jr.

McCOY FUNERAL HOME, INC. / SWEETWATER, TEXAS

Charlie Williams

MERKEL -- Charlie Williams, 47, died Wednesday, December 21, 2005 in a Burleson hospital. Services will be 2:00 p.m., Friday at Starbuck Funeral Home Chapel with Freddy Hunt and Larry Gill officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., tonight at the funeral home.

Charlie was born January 14, 1958 in Merkel to G. H. "Bill" and Lucille Gilmore Williams. He was a member of the Church of Christ. He graduated from Merkel High School in 1976 and worked in the oilfield for thirty years.

Survivors include a son, Jayson Williams and wife, Kristie of Merkel; his mother, Lucille Williams of Merkel; 2 sisters, Brenda Siar and husband, David of Plano, Linda Hunt and husband, Freddy of Merkel; 5 brothers, Lloyd Williams and wife, Patsy of Trent, Bobby Williams and wife, Mary Ann of Oklahoma City, OK, James Williams and wife, Vivian of Sweetwater, Jimmy Williams and wife, Karen of Granbury, Jerry Williams and wife, Gayle of Trent; 2 granddaughters, Jessica and Kristina Williams and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, G. H. "Bill"; a brother, Robert "Buddy"; and a sister, Debra.

Memorials may be made to Emery J. Lilge Hospice House, 301 Medpark Circle, Burleson, TX 76028.

STARBUCK FUNERAL HOME / MERKEL, TEXAS

George Washington Mosley

George Washington Mosley, age 83, died Wednesday, December 21, 2005 at the Nolan Nursing & Rehab Center in Sweetwater, Texas.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday at the McCoy Chapel of Memories with the Reverend Orvel Brantley officiating under the direction of McCoy Funeral Home, Inc., of Sweetwater. Burial will be in the Garden of Memories Cemetery.

George was born on February 22, 1922 in Hilton, Texas. He married Geraldine "Jerry" Ward on April 21, 1946 in Sweetwater, Texas. He was a member of Lamar Street Baptist Church; worked for May Brothers Lumber and then worked for himself as a cabinet maker; attended Newman High School; he was a WW II veteran having served in the Army Air Corp 463rd Division in Italy. He was a lifelong resident of Nolan County.

Survivors include: two sons, Ronnie Mosley and wife, Trudy of Abilene, Texas, and Reggie Mosley and wife, Nancy of Haltom City, Texas; four grandchildren, Jason & Denise Mosley, and Zachary & Staci Mosley; and one great grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jerry, on May 6 2002; son, Rickie, on December 11, 1973; brother, Fred Mosley and sister, Sammie.

McCOY FUNERAL HOME, INC. / SWEETWATER, TEXAS

Muriel Allyne Grubbs

SWEETWATER -- Muriel Allyne Grubbs, 86, died Wednesday, December 21, 2005 at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene. Services are 2 p.m. Saturday in McCoy Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, with Rev. Jason Shuttlesworth and Rev. Orvel Bran-tley presiding, with burial to follow in Sweetwater Cemetery, directed by McCoy Funeral Home. Visitation is 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at McCoy Funeral Home.

Muriel was born November 26, 1919 in Snyder. On July 18, 1940, she married A.J. Grubbs, who preceded her in death on April 20, 2003. She lived in Sweetwater since 1945. Mrs. Grubbs was a homemaker. She was a member of Avondale Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School for many years.

She is survived by: two sons, Don Grubbs and wife Ellaoise of Wichita Falls, and Bobby Grubbs and wife Joy of Brownwood; one daughter, Wanda Walker and husband Keith of Sweetwater; one brother, Rex Woodard and wife Era of Weatherford; one sister, Letha Merritt and husband George of Lubbock; seven grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be: deacons of Avondale Baptist Church, Lowell Williams, Mike Corley, Glen Wilson, Dwight Gunn, Gary Ruffin, T.L. Dickerson, and R.D. Moore.

Memorials may be made to Avondale Baptist Church, 1405 Hoyt Ave., Sweetwater, TX 79556.

McCOY FUNERAL HOME / SWEETWATER, TEXAS

Beatrice Garza

Beatrice Garza, 78, of Sweetwater died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2005 at her son's residence.

A Rosary will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 26, 2005 at Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home Chapel recited by Rufus and Connie Palacios. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2005 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church with Rev. George Varakukala officiating.

Burial will follow in the Sweetwater Cemetery.

Mrs. Garza was born on April 18, 1927 in Carlota, Texas. She married Joe G. Garza Sr. on Dec. 3, 1944 in Ballinger. She was a homemaker. She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.

Survivors include four sons, Henry G. Garza, Domingo G. Garza Sr. and Armando G. Garza Sr., all of Sweetwater, and Robert G. Garza Sr. of Odessa; two daughters, Alesia G. Perez of San Antonio, and Lydia G. Deloera of Roscoe; three brothers, Ezquiel Gallegos Sr. of San Antonio, Merehildo G. Gallegos Sr. of Corpus Christi, and Desidero G. Gallegos Sr. of Carlota; four sisters, Lydia Gallegos and Micaela Brisneo, both of Somerset, Irene G. Pastrano of San Antonio and Cathy G. Carrasco of San Antonio; 15 grandsons, six granddaughters and 14 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe G. Garza Sr. on April 19, 2004; two sons, Joe G. Garza Jr. on July 6, 2004, and Arthur G. Garza on March 15, 1993; and one sister, Emma G. Estrada.