+ + +  OBITUARIES  + + +

Vivian Ann (nee Boyd) Goodman, aged 70 years, passed away in her home on May 9, 2012, in Driftwood, Hays County, Texas, enduring three decades of multiple sclerosis. She was a mother and homemaker to her children. She was a passionate genealogist with published research.

Vivian was born January 20, 1942 to Vivian and Ruby (McElroy) Boyd in Sweetwater, Nolan County, Texas, where she lived until her family moved to Groves, Jefferson County, Texas in 1954. She attended Port Neches-Groves High School. There she met and married Elton Ray Newsome (USAF-Retired). Vivian remarried to Audrey James (AJ) Goodman in Center, Shelby County, Texas in November, 1966 and became a stepmother to his two daughters, Diana Lynn and Teri Ann Goodman.

Vivian is survived by her son, Bryan Douglas Newsome and wife, Portland Beverly (Tanis) Newsome, her grandchildren, Bryan Boyd Newsome and Kylie Paige Newsome, Driftwood, TX.; a step-daughter, Diana Lynn (Goodman) Charron and husband, Robert Jeffrey (Jeff) Charron, The Woodlands, TX, their daughters, Courtney Lynn (Charron) Bearden and husband, Blake Bearden, their daughters Harper Lynn and Addison Ann, Round Rock TX, and Heather Michelle Charron.

Vivian is predeceased by two infant sons, Karl Eric Newsome and Kenneth Wayne Newsome; a step-daughter, Teri Ann Goodman, August, 1986; a sister, Shirley Jane (Boyd) Wilden, December 19, 1994; her father Vivian Boyd, July 27, 1995; her mother Ruby (McElroy) Boyd, December 16, 2001.

Graveside visitation and funeral service to be held 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 in the Sweetwater Cemetery on West Alabama, under the arrangement and direction of Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home, Sweetwater, Texas, Mike Ensminger officiating.

Memorials may be made to Sweetwater Cemetery Trust Fund, P.O. Box 450, Sweetwater, TX, 79556 or to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (www.nationalmssociety.org/donate http://www.nationalmssociety.org/donate).

 

 

 

Ethel DeEtta Musgrove

 

Ethel DeEtta Musgrove, 95, of Carlsbad, N.M., formerly of Sweetwater, died Saturday, Feb. 28, 2004 at Carlsbad Medical Center in Carlsbad, N.M.

Services are pending with McCoy Funeral Home.

Musgrove was born on May 26, 1908 in Nolan County and married L.E. Musgrove.  She was a member of First Christian Church in Sweetwater and a graduate of Sweetwater Newman High School.  Musgrove was a director of city-county Welfare Department and prior to moving to Carlsbad, was a lifelong resident of Nolan County.

Survivors include her sons, Roy D. Samuels and wife, Bessie of Kansas City, Mo., and Dr. Robert Musgrove and wife, Janet of Pine City, N.M.; two daughters, Jane Scott of Snyder and Jean Evans and husband, Wayland of Carlsbad, N.M.; 11 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Musgrove was preceded in death by her husband, L.E. Musgrove.

 

 

Mrs. W. Bardwell
The Sweetwater Reporter
8/27/1939
Rites Today for Mrs. W. Bardwell
Tribute is to be paid at 2:00 o'clock Sunday afternoon at the First Christian Church to Mrs. Weldon Bardwell, 23, who succumbed at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Sweetwater Hospital following a week's illness.

Mrs. Bardwell is survived by her husband and infant daughter, Mary Lou; her mother, Mrs. A.J. Roy of Sweetwater.  Her sisters and brothers are A.J. Roy, Jr., Mrs. F. F. (or E.E.) Smith and Fred Goad of Sweetwater, Mrs. Ed Middleton, Mrs. Ola Roy of Dallas, and Mr. Steven Young of Sacramento, Calif.

As Miss Berta Lee Roy, she was born in Sweetwater on October 21, 1915, and was graduated from Newman High School in 1933.  Following her graduation, she was employed by the city comptroller's office and later with the Community Gas Company.

 

LaNelle (Bartlett) Frazier Evans

LAMESA:  Graveside services for LaNelle Frazier Evans, 86, of Lamesa, were scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, 2005, at Lamesa Memorial Park with Roy bird officiating.  A visitation was held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.  Burial was at Lamesa Memorial Park.

Mrs. Evans died Thursday, Feb. 10, 2005, at her residence.  She was born Aug. 3, 1918 in Sweetwater, Texas.  She married Dr. Sam Frazier.  After he died, she married Ray Evans.  Survivors include daughter, (name withheld for privacy... BB).  She was preceded in death by her parents, Wade and Mattie Bartlett, and her first husband, Dr. Sam Z. Frazier and second husband, Ray Evans.

Mrs. Elizabeth Orr Hunter

Mrs. Elizabeth Orr Hunter, 77, of McKown Road in Douglasville, died Friday, Sept. 26, 2003, at the Wellstar Douglas Hospital following an extended illness.

Mrs. Hunter was born Oct. 22, 1925, in Coweta County to the late Robert Edward Orr and Mary Elizabeth Wheelus Hunter.

She married Murphy Hunter on Dec. 24, 1943. In her early years, she was of the Methodist faith but later became Baptist. A member of Beulah Baptist Church in Douglasville, she was an auditor at Sears and was retired from Shirley of Atlanta. She was a charter member of #289 Eastern Star and was a Swirl with the Sweetwater Shrine.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Hunter was preceded in death by her son, Robert Murphy Hunter; a sister, Hilda O. Johnson; and brothers, Robert Edward Orr Jr., Billy A. Orr and James Orr.

Funeral services for Mrs. Hunter will be held today at 2 p.m. at the Douglas Chapel of Jones-Wynn Funeral Home. Rev. Danny Watters and Rev. Bobby Hunter will officiate. Internment will follow at Sweetwater Cemetery in Paulding County, with Robby Hunter, Stephen Hunter, Robert Taylor, Tim Millians, Dan Meadows and Tommy McGee serving as pallbearers.

The family received friends at Jones-Wynn Funeral Home in Douglas Chapel on Saturday from 3:30 to 5 p.m. and from 6 to 9 p.m.

Survivors include her husband of 60 years, Murphy Hunter of Douglasville; son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Theresa Hunter of Douglasville; sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Jack Millians of Coweta County; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Dewey and Mary Alice Hunter of Austell, Ga., and Irene Meadows of Paulding County, Ga.; two grandchildren, Robby and Shelly Hunter of Douglasville and Stephen Hunter of Douglasville; four great-grandchildren, Brett Hunter, Blake Hunter, Caleb Hunter and Cason Hunter; and several nieces and nephews.

Jones-Wynn Funeral Home, Douglas Chapel, in charge of arrangements, courtesy of McKoon Funeral Home.
 

 

 

Sweetwater Reporter - Thursday, Jan. 10, 1924

Richard H. (Dick) HOWE ...   (original obituary contains more information; edited for space)

 

Pioneer Citizen of County Dies; came to Nolan County in 1876; Was among Organizers of Nolan County and of Sweetwater.

 

On January 1, 1883 he married Mrs. Fannie Otey Pearce.  Six children survive.  Two sons, Richard and Otey, and four daughters, Mrs. Faun Howell of California, Mrs Fern Farquhar of Ranger, Mrs. Bert Mays of Merizon and Miss Mollie Howe of this city.

 

The funeral services were held at the family residence under the auspices of the Masonic Lodge.  Rev. D.B. H--tir officiating

 

Honary pallbearers were composed of old Confederate Veterans.  They were: J.H. Lagow, J.H. Beall, W.T. Hightower, S.W. Crutcher, J.T. Johnson and W.B. Wimberley.  The active pallbearers from the Masonic Lodge were Gus Farrar, Clyde B. Payne. W.E. Wade, Tom -----, J.S. Schooler and Luther Watson.

 

 

 

Sweetwater Reporter - January 15, 1995

Obituary - Johnnie Bernice Whitfield

 

Johnnie Bernice Whitfield, 81, of Roscoe died Thursday at Roscoe Healthcare Center.  Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15, at McCoy Chapel of memories with the Rev. Bill Perkins officiating.  Burial will be in Garden of Memories.

 

Mrs. Whitfield was born Apr. 7, 1913 in Dubberley, LA, and married James Esmon Whitfield on Oct. 15, 1933 in Abilene.  She attended nursing school in Abilene and was an LVN.  

 

Survivors include two daughters, Jo Whitfield and Jan Kennedy, both of Sweetwater; one son Jim Whitfield of Streetman; two sisters, Jean Morris of Ponca City, OK and Lottie Mae Bussey of Minden, LA; two brothers, Connie Perryman of Henderson and Fred Perryman of Cedar Hill; and three grandsons.  Preceded in death by six brothers and three sisters.

 

Pallbears will be, John Meadows, A.J. Scott, Wayne Reeves, leland Bardwell, Weldon Bardwell and Clifton Flynn.  Honorary pallbearers will be, Jim Bob Nations, Pete Frymire, Joe rice, J.C. Fry and Ernest Roberts.

 

 

The Sweetwater Reporter: 4-15-1983

Rev. Lawrence Menefee

 

The Rev. Lawrence Menefee, 64, of 804 E. New Mexico St., pastor of Highland Heights United Methodist Church, died at 4:10 p.m. Thursday at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene after a short illness.

 

Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Roscoe Cemetery.  A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. at Highland Heights United Church with the Rev. Kenneth Ford, pastor of First Untied Methodist Church officiating for both services.  Cate-Spencer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

 

He was born May 9, 1918 in Grandbury and married Ann Cox June 9, 1943 in Abilene.  He attended New Mexico State University, McMurray College and Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.  He had been pastor of Highland Heights United Methodist Church since 1980.

 

Survivors include his wife; one son, Charles Lawrence Menefee of Lake Jackson; one daughter, Glenda Huckabay of Oklahoma City, Okla; three brothers, Clayton of Lovington, NM, Lynn of Almagordo, NM, and Donald of Roswell, NM; one sister, Gladys Burk of Hawthorne, CA, and four grandchildren.

 

 

Sweetwater Reporter - 4/18/1985

Alton Simms

 

Services for Alton Simms, 73, of Sweetwater, a retired roilroad employee who died at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday at Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital, will be at 10 a.m. Fridat at Cates-Spencer Funeral Chapel.

 

Ben Mereness and Eddie Messer, ministers of Fourth and Elm Church of Christ, will officiate. Burial will be in Sweetwater Cemetery, directed by Cate-Spencer Funeral Home.

 

Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Marianne Simms, Peggy Lozano, both of Sweetwater, and Sammie Rae Simms of Denver, Colo.; a son Bill of springfield, Mo.; an aunt, Jewell Mackin, of San Angelo; one granddaughter, Jessica Simms; two stepgranddaughters, Petra Frie and Jennifer Nix; and one grandson, Jason Edward Lozano of Sweetwater.

Submitted by:  Janie Healer Davis

 

 

The Sweetwater Reporter, 8/01/05

Funeral services to be held Tuesday for Paul Cain

Funeral services for Sweetwater civic leader Paul Cain will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, in the First United Methodist Church in Sweetwater.

Cain passed away Saturday, July 30, in the Nolan Rehab and Nursing Center in Sweetwater. He was 96.

A family visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 1, in the McCoy Funeral Home.

Mr. Cain was born on June 19, 1909, in Alba. He married Juancy Hopper on July 8, 1930, in Hamlin. Mr. Cain was the first president of the Knife and Fork Club and was a charter member of the Sweetwater Country Club. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and a 65-year member of the Masonic Lodge #571.

He was a past vice president of the Sweetwater Chamber of Commerce and served on the Nolan County School Board for 15 years. He was a past president of the Board of City Development.

Cain was a banker most of his life. He served as an assistant manager of Sweetwater Production Credit for 14 years and later worked for Farmers and Merchants Bank and First National Bank in Hamlin for seven years.

He was the past vice president and president of Texas Bank and Trust for 23 years. Cain was also a past president of the West Texas Conference of the National Association of Bank and Trust Auditors and Comptrollers.

Cain was named the outstanding citizen of Sweetwater in 1972.  He was a past member of the Sweetwater Area Herford Association. He served on the agricultural committee for District 6. He was also a past president of the Banking Group and received a 20-year certificate.

Survivors include one son, John Paul Cain and his wife, Carol, of Sweetwater; one brother, Robert L. Cain and his wife, Kathleen, of Pueblo, Colo.; two granddaughters, Kellie Cain Longwell and her husband, Larry, of Houston, and Julia Cain of Houston; and two great-granddaughters, Margaret "Meg" Longwell and Molly Elizabeth Longwell, both of Houston.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Juancy Cain, on April 13, 1999.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 309 Cedar Street, Sweetwater, TX 79556.

Submitted by: Janie Healer Davis

 

 

Mrs. Laura E. Hamm, 91, of Sweetwater and a longtime resident of Jayton, died at 4:45 p.m. Saturday at Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital.

 

Services were at 2 p.m. Monday in the Methodist Church in Jayton.  Burial was in Jayton Cemetery.

 

Born March 28, 1885 in Arkansas, she lived in Sweetwater six years and was a member of the First Christian Church of Jayton.

 

Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Grady Cobbs of Sweetwater; two grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

 

Pallbearers were Odell Harrison, Billy John Harrison, Nathan Hoyle, Randy Hoyle, Mitchell Stanley and Randy White.

Etta Mae Toland

 

Etta mae Toland, 88, a longtime resident of Fisher and Nolan Counties died at 5:20 p.m. Tuesday at Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital

 

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at McCoy Funeral Home Chapel of Memories.  Larry Fluitt, minister of Lamar Street Church of Christ will officiate.  Burial will be in Garden of Memories.

 

Born Sept. 2, 1894 in DeWitt County, she married J.L. Toland, Sr. in 1914 in Fisher County.  They famed in the Capitola Community for a number of years.  Her husband preceded her in death.

 

Survivors include two sons Barney and J.L., Jr. both of Sweetwater; a daughter Clara Crump of San Angelo; three sisters, Lucille Montgomery and Helen Absher both of Odessa; and Lillian Jaggers of Hatch, N.M.; two sister-in-law, Mrs. Tom Toland of Sweetwater and Mrs. Iva Hilbun of Austin; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

The Sweetwater Reporter - Wednesday, 6/30/1982

NELL PORTER

Funeral services for Nell Porter, 88, of Sweetwater will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 22, 2007, at Broadway Baptist Church with Rev. James Baker and Rev. Doug Key officiating.


Burial will follow in Sweetwater Cemetery , under the direction of Cate-Spencer and Trent Funeral Home.


She died Friday, Oct. 19, 2007, at Nolan Nursing Rehab Center .


She was born on July 19, 1919 in Roscoe as the youngest of 12 children, and was married to Iland N. Porter April 24, 1943 in Sweetwater. She worked as a nurse for over 22 years before retiring, working as an LVN at Simmons Hospital and Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital . She was a lifetime resident of Nolan County and was a member of Broadway Baptist Church .
Survivors include one son, Richard W. Porter and wife Janie of Sweetwater; one daughter, Shirley Ann Porter of Sweetwater; two grandchildren, Jacob and Linda Gamel; and numerous nieces and nephews.


She was preceded in death by her husband, Iland N. Porter, on March 22, 1995; her parents, Newt and Emma Mae Dodgion; and 11 brothers and sisters.


Pallbearers will be Gary Stracener, Lanny Hall, Morris Jones, Armando Renteria, Dewey Baxter and Tolbert Jaynes.

 

From THE SWEETWATER REPORTER (10/21/2007)