DOWNING CEMETERY OBITUARIES

Compiled by Aline Loudermilk Jones

Web Page 5


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EDGAR ALLEN ADAMS

Funeral services for Edgar Adams, 93, longtime De Leon area farmer and rancher, were held at 10:00 o’clock Monday morning, December 1, at Nowlin Funeral Home, De Leon. Officiating was Minister Payne Hattox. 

Burial was in the Downing Cemetery. 

Mr. Adams died Thursday, November 28, 1991, in a De Leon Nursing Home. 

Born in Downing (25 September 1898), he was a farmer and rancher and had lived in De Leon since 1943, moving from Childress and Hall County. He was a Protestant and the widower of Montie Ray Clements Adams. 

Survivors include one son, Eddie Ray Adams of Saudi Arabia; one daughter, Virginia LaVerne McConathy of Fort Worth; two brothers, Quenton Adams of Stamford and Cecil Adams of Crosbyton; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
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MRS. ELBERT (MONTIE RAY) ADAMS

Funeral services for Mrs. Elbert (Montie Ray) Adams, 86, native of Comanche County and longtime Downing-De Leon resident, were held at 10:30 o’clock Thursday, November 6, 1986 at Nowlin Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating was Rev. David Mosser. 

Burial was in the Downing Cemetery. 

Mrs. Adams was born in Comanche County 24 February 1900 and passed away 4 November 1986, and was a lifetime resident. She was a member of the Downing United Methodist Church. 

Survivors include her husband, Edgar Adams of De Leon; two sons, Eddie Ray Adams of Murray, Kentucky and Wayne Adams of Brownwood; a daughter, Virginia LaVerne McConathy of Fort Worth; three brothers, Jim Clements of De Leon, Ben Clements of Beaumont and Tom Clements of Onalaska, Washington; two sisters, Lela Thompson and Betty Mae Scott, both of De Leon; nine grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.
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MELVIN HOPE ALEXANDER

Funeral services were held for Melvin Hope Alexander in the Assembly of God Church on Sunday, November 8, 1987. Rev. Samuel Koontz and Rev. Marvin Andrews officiated, assisted by Rev. Ray Goodman. Donna Otwell and Rev. and Mrs. Samuel Koontz furnished the music for the service. Burial was in Downing Cemetery directed by Nowlin Funeral Home.

Mr. Alexander, 78, of De Leon, passed away at 9:23 p.m. Thursday, November 5, 1987, in a Dublin hospital. He was born in Hamilton, Texas, on December 3, 1908, to Hugh Hope and Addie Denman Alexander. He was married to the former Velma Inez Kennedy on June 29, 1931, in Marietta, Oklahoma.

He had been self employed in the trucking business and as a service station owner/operator before retirement. He resided in De Leon most of his life and was a member of the Assembly of God Church.

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He is survived by his wife, Velma, of De Leon; a son, Levy Wayne Alexander of De Leon; two daughters, Fonda Sones of De Leon and Fleda Harbin of Dublin; a sister, Mae Christopher of Tulsa, Oklahoma; eleven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother Denman Alexander; a half-brother, Thurman Alexander; three half-sisters, Mattie Alexander Brewer,, Mozelle Alexander Robinson and Eula Hubbard Fuquay.

Serving as pallbearers were Audie Whitehurst, Ray McLearen, D. D. Park, Richard Dodd, Curtis Jones, Clyde Brinson, Jiggs Otwell, Basil Brownlee, and R. D. Walker.
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VELMA INEZ KENNEDY ALEXANDER

Velma Inez Kennedy Alexander, age 90, of De Leon, Texas died on Sunday, September 3, 2000 at the De Leon Hospital.

She was born September 16, 1909 in Langston, Alabama to the late William Davis Kennedy and Mary Alice Holdridge.  On January 29, 1931 she married Melvin Hope Alexander in Marietta, Oklahoma. Mrs. Alexander was a homemaker, owner of Alexander Truck Stop and Cafe for many years, and was affiliated with Assembly of God Church.

Funeral services were Thursday, September 7, 2000 at 10:00 a.m. in the Nowlin Funeral Home Chapel. Burial followed in the Downing Cemetery with George Brazell officiating. Nowlin Funeral Home of De Leon was in charge of arrangements.

Pallbearers were Mile Sones, Tommy Sones, Jerry Fronterhouse, Ray McLearen, Neil Singleton, Terry Fields, and Autry Andress.

Survivors include one son, Levy Wayne Alexander of De Leon; two daughters, Fleda Harbin of Dublin and Fonda Sones of De Leon; 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded by her husband, Hope Alexander on November 5, 1987; brothers, Clarence, Ollie, Homer, Leonard, Henry, Arby, and Frank Kennedy; and one sister, Sovilla Champion.

Nowlin Funeral Home, De Leon (254) 893-2021
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BEULAH BOYD ANDERSON

Mrs. Beulah B. Anderson, 89, of De Leon died at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, August 16, 1981, in a De Leon nursing home.

Funeral services for Mrs. Anderson were at 2 p.m. Tuesday, August 18, in the Primitive Baptist Church, De Leon, directed by Nowlin Funeral Home, De Leon.

Aaron Flowers of Wichita Falls officiated, assisted by Payne Hattox, minister of the Church of Christ.

Burial was in Downing Cemetery.

Born October 8, 1891, in Talatosse County, Alabama, she came to Texas in 1900. She married William Jack Boyd in 1908 in Comanche. He preceded her in death in 1936. She later married R. O. Anderson in 1939. He preceded her in death in 1961. She was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church.

Survivors include one son, G. O. Boyd of Gorman; a daughter, Nathilee Loudermilk of De Leon; three grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
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ANNA REED ATTEBERRY

Anna Reed Atteberry, 78, of Dallas, a Comanche County native, died at 10:55 a.m. Monday in St. Paul’s Hospital in Dallas.

Graveside services for Mrs. Atteberry were at 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, in Downing Cemetery, directed by Nowlin Funeral Home, De Leon.

Rev. Elmer Whitehead officiated.

Born March 16, 1903, in Comanche County, she married H. L. Atteberry in 1947 in Dallas. He preceded her in death in 1963. A housewife, she had lived in Dallas since 1941.

Survivors include a son, Joseph Brown, Jr., of Homestead, Florida; two daughters, Betty Brown Faircloth and Georgia Matthews Estes, both of Dallas; two sisters, Lillie Dendy of De Leon and Sallie Watts of Hylton; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
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JAMES FREEMAN BEATY

(De Leon Free Press, De Leon, Comanche County, Texas, Friday, March 27, 1925)

Freeman Beaty, Downing Citizen, Died Monday. 

The end of a long and useful life came to a good man on Monday morning shortly after nine o’clock, March 23, 1925, when the recorder of the universe closed the record of the earthly life of J. F. Beaty, prominent citizen of the county and a resident of the Downing community for perhaps a quarter of a century or more. Death was produced by organic heart trouble, with complications, his last illness lasting over a period of only a few days. His long life had been blessed with robust health and activity. 

James Freeman Beaty was born in Chambers County, Alabama, on October 4, 1849, being just past seventy-five years of age. He was married on November 1870 to Mary Elizabeth Lassiter, who died about twenty years ago. To them were born twelve children, three dying in infancy, and a daughter, Mrs. J. L. Boatwright, aged 28, died in Alabama years ago. The eight surviving children are Mrs. W. V. Taylor, Akron, Ohio; J. H. Beaty, Loraine, Mrs. C. C. Cadenhead, Shamrock; A. M. Beaty, Martha, Okla; Mrs. J. M. Bruce, Loraine, Mrs. C.O. Hatley, Proctor; H. L. Beaty, De Leon; and Mrs. I. N. Grissom, Proctor. His second marriage was to Mrs. Eugenia E. Lassiter at Downing in 1906, who with his eight children survive his passing. 

Mr. Beaty united with the Methodist Church in the year 1890 and lived and died in this faith, his life and character being clean, wholesome and forceful, ad his influence never exerted on the side of righteousness and Godliness. He gave to the world a heritage of honorable and upright sons and daughters who have been reared to “fear God and keep his commandments,” and who rise up to bless the memory of their honored sire. 

Besides his immediate family, Mr. Beaty has two brothers and two sisters. These are G. L. Beaty of Rialto, Cal; and R. a. Beaty of Durant, Okla; Mrs. W. L. Lee of Comanche, Texas and Mrs. B. F. Cadenhead of Weslaco, Texas. 

The high esteem in which the deceased was held was shown by the vast throng of people who came far and near to pay their last tribute when the flower-draped casket was bourne from the home to the Methodist church at Downing where Revs. Smoot and Neal paid their tribute, comforting the hearts of the sorrowing. Afterward his mortal remains were laid to rest in the Downing cemetery to await the morn of resurrection.
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SUSIE LOUISE BEATY

Mrs. Susie Louise Beaty, 77, of the Downing Community, passed away at 12:40 p.m. Monday, January 11, 1982 in the Western Hills Nursing Home.

Funeral services were at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 14, in the Comanche Funeral Home Chapel.

Rev. Charles McClure, pastor of First United Methodist Church of De Leon, officiated.

Interment was in Downing Cemetery.

She was the daughter of the late Rev. N. E. and Susie Hogan Gardner, having been born Dec 3, 1904 in Searcy, Arkansas.

She married Houston Beaty December 29, 1933. He preceded her in death December 3, 1964.

She was a retired school teacher, and was a member of the Downing United Methodist Church.

Survivors include a niece, Mrs. Elizabeth Halberdier of Kingsville, Texas.
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FRANKIE DRAKE BLAIR

Frankie Drake Blair, age 70 years, 2 months, and 14 days of Comanche, Texas, died Thursday, November 9, 2000 at De Leon Hospital in De Leon, Texas

Funeral services were at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, November 11 at the Comanche Funeral Home Chapel with Minister Sam Starr officiating. Burial is in the Downing Cemetery in Comanche County, Texas with Comanche Funeral Home in charge.

She was born on August 25, 1930, in Midland, Texas to Frank E. Drake and Arrie (Jennings) Drake. She was a Nurse’s Aid at Planters Hospital in Grand Prairie, Texas until her retirement. Mrs. Blair was a member of the Church of Christ.

Mrs. Blair was married to James “Jim” Edward Blair on May 8, 1948, Midland, Texas. He preceded her in death on August 18, 1999.

She is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Vicki and Dalton Morris, Grand Prairie, Texas, daughter and son-in-law, Jamie and Don Welch, Mansfield, Texas; daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Ronny Schweyher, Cedar Hill, Texas; son and daughter-in-law, Joe and Gayle Blair, Grand Prairie, Texas; son, Ward Blair, Grand Prairie, Texas; nine grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; brother Robert Drake, Roscoe, Texas.
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ARCUE TIERCE BOYD

Funeral services for Arcue Tierce Boyd, 69, of Paradise, formerly of Comanche, were held at 2:00 o’clock Thursday afternoon, March 7, 1985, at De Leon Funeral Home.

Rev. Charles McAfee, pastor of the First United Methodist Church, De Leon, officiated.

Burial was in the Downing Cemetery.

Mr. Boyd, a truck driver, was born September 3, 1915, in Comanche. The Boyd family resided in the Downing area for some time.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Lee Hawkins Boyd, his son Adrian Tierce Boyd of Paradise, his daughter, Karen Smith of Tolar;  a brother, Garland Boyd of Proctor;  and four grandchildren.
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EMMA DOYLE BOYD

Funeral services for Emma Doyle Boyd, 75 were held at 3 p.m. Monday, February 13, 1988 at the Higginbotham Funeral Home Chapel in Gorman with Glenn Boyd officiating, assisted by Richard Watson. Burial was in the Downing Cemetery.

She died Saturday, February 11, 1989, at a local hospital.

Born in Rucker, she was a longtime Gorman resident.

She was a homemaker and a member of the First United Methodist Church.

Survivors include her husband, George O. Boyd, of Gorman; two sons, Jack Boyd of Desdemona and William E. “Butch” Boyd of Abilene; three sisters, Christine Lawson of Edna, Billie Conti of Wollaston, Mass., and Shirley Ann Clark of Crowley; five brothers, Gene Gilder of Coleman, Richard D. Gilder of West, Lee Gilder of Lubbock, and Billy Ray Gilder and Herman Gilder, both of De Leon; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
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GARLAND B. BOYD

(Proctor) Garland B. Boyd, 70, died 8 November 1990, at a De Leon hospital.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Nowlin Funeral Chapel in De Leon with Joe McAfee officiating. Burial will be in Downing Cemetery.

Mr. Boyd was born in Downing, was a retired real estate broker and a member of First United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Melba Jean Boyd of Proctor, a daughter, Patricia Marquita Lyle of Arlington; a son, Sidney Dean Boyd of Aledo; a stepdaughter, Linda Lanford of Houston; two stepsons, Tim Lane of Ohio and Jimmy Ray Lane of Paris, Texas; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
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GEORGE ORVILLE BOYD (Gorman)

George Orville Boyd, 84, employed by Birdsong Peanut Co. for 25 years before retiring in 1977, died Wednesday in a De Leon hospital after a long illness.

Services will be at 11 a.m. today (1 Mar 1995) in Higginbotham Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Richard Watson and Terry Colwell officiating. Burial will be in Downing Cemetery near De Leon.

Mr. Boyd was born in Comanche County. He was a Methodist and was the widower of Emma Doyle Gilder Boyd, whom he married in 1931 in Comanche.

Survivors include one son, William E. “Butch” Boyd of Gorman; one sister, Nathilee Loudermilk of Downing; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
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GUYOLA BOYD

(Comanche Chief, 26 June 1980). Guyola was the daughter of Mary Piper & Zepho Boyd. Burial was in the Downing Cemetery.
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MARY PIPER BOYD

Mary Piper Boyd was born in Texas 4 April 1895. She married Zepho Boyd at Brownwood, Texas 29 January 1912.
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ZEPHO BOYD

(Comanche Chief, 22 June 1976)

Zepho Boyd was born in Alabama, and had lived in Comanche County, Texas for 24 years before his death. He was a Methodist and a retired farmer.  Survivors included his wife, son Leland, daughter Guyola, a sister Mrs. Ensie Lightfoot of De Leon, and unidentified younger relatives.
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CASEY BRINSON

Casey Allen Brinson, age 68, of De Leon died Wednesday, December 31, 1986 at 11:55 p.m. in De Leon Hospital of a brief illness.

He was born in Comanche County on Sept. 4, 1918, to Oliver and Betty Gregory Brinson.  He was married on March 15, 1941, to former Avis Pittman, who survives. He was a farmer and rancher and had lived in this county all his life.

Funeral services for Mr. Brinson were held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, Jan. 2, 1987 in the First United Methodist Church. Minister Payne Hattox officiated, assisted by Rev. David Mosser. Music was provided by Kathy Echols of Stephenville. Burial was in the Downing Cemetery under the direction of Nowlin Funeral Home.

Survivors include his wife, Avis; three sons, Anthony Brinson and Jeff Brinson, both of De Leon, and C. A. Brinson of Taylor; his mother, Betty Brinson of Comanche; a brother, Elzo Brinson of Comanche; two sisters, Olene Rackley and Lavelle Jenkins, both of Comanche; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

Pallbearers for Mr. Brinson were Lonnie McDougal, Wayne Clark, Bob Huddleston, Harlon Koonsman, Lloyd Hyles, Mike Carlin, Seborn Golden, and Dean Newton. Honorary pallbearers were Jim Callison, Deryl Johnson, Ray McGinnis and Billy Coleman.
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CLARENCE SPENCER BROCK

Clarence Spencer Brock, 71, of De Leon, a retired Church of Christ minister, died at 11:45 a.m. Friday, March 18, at De Leon Hospital.

Funeral services for Mr. Brock were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 20, 1983 at De Leon Church of Christ, directed by Nowlin Funeral Home, De Leon.

Minister Jim Hall of Early officiated, assisted by Edwin Young of Lometa. Burial was in Downing Cemetery.

Born September 29, 1911, in Cleburne, he served congregations in Olden, Morgan, Bishop, Granado and Stephenville before moving to De Leon in 1972. He retired in 1980.

Survivors include his wife, Lillie Mae Brock; a daughter Arcelle Porter of Fort Worth; two brothers, Ira Brock of Abilene and Preston Brock of Corpus Christi; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
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AUDREY LEOTA BRYANT

Audrey Leota Bryant died 30 August 1976 at Downing. She was born 18 August 1911 to Ollie Volentine and Thelma Gaines Loudermilk.

Graveside rites were held Wednesday, September 1, 1976 at 4.p.m. with Payne Hattox officiating.

Interment in Downing Cemetery under direction of Nowlin Funeral Home, De Leon, TX.
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EULA PEARL BURTON

Eula Pearl Burton, 90-year old resident of Lubbock, died at 10:10 a.m. Saturday, May 13, 1989, in a Lubbock hospital.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Monday in Nowlin Funeral Home Chapel with Mr. A. C. Morris officiating. Music was furnished by a choir from the Church of Christ. Burial was in Downing Cemetery. Pallbearers were R. C. Holcombe, Wayne Broce, Lane Backman, Jerry Hulsey, Steve Snow, and Tom Shcrimsher.

Eula Pearl Hulsey was born in Comanche County on January 20, 1899, to J. A. (Tonk) Hulsey and Cordelia Morrison Hulsey.  She was married to William Brackston Burton on December 24, 1929, in Oklahoma. She was a retired school teacher and a member of the Church of Christ.

Survivors include two brothers, Gaylon Hulsey of Claude, and Charles Hulsey of Olton; a sister, Mattie Morris of Odessa; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a brother, James, and three sisters, Dorine Hafford, Mamye Backman, and Audie Kennedy.
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BRACK BURTON      

Funeral services for William Brackston Burton were held in Nowlin Funeral Home Chapel at 2:00 p.m. Friday, Jan 22, 1988. Mr. A. C. Morris officiated and music was provided by a choir from the De Leon Church of Christ. Burial was in Downing Cemetery under the direction of Nowlin Funeral Home.

Brack Burton, age 80, died in the De Leon Hospital at 2:45 p.m. Jan 20, 1988, after a short illness. He was born in Erath County, Texas, on November 2, 1907, to Charles F. and Ethel Anna Willoughby Burton. He was married to the former Eula Pearl Hulsey on Dec. 24, 1929, in Oklahoma. He was a retired service station attendant and came to De Leon in 1974 from Crosbyton, Texas. He was a U.S. Army veteran and a member of the Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife, Eula, of De Leon; four sisters, Ethel Lenora Jones and Mildred Anna Schreiner, both of Burleson, Emma Lee Snow and Bessie Elora Kirk, both of Waco. He was preceded in death by a brother, Allison Elmer Burton.

Pallbearers for Mr. Burton were Steve Snow, All Schreiner, Mark Schreiner, Tom Schrimsher, R. C. Holcombe and Lane Bachman.
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JERRY ALVIS BUSH

(De Leon) - Jerry Alvis Bush, 69, a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, died Friday, Jan 24, 2003, at a Dallas hospital.

Funeral: 2 p.m. Tuesday at De Leon First Baptist Church. Military graveside service: to follow in Downing Cemetery, Comanche County.

Memorials: Ark House, P.O. Box 833656, Richardson, Texas 75083-8656 or Youth Fund, First Baptist Church, 125 S. Houston, De Leon, Texas 76444.

He was retired executive director of Cross Timbers Health Clinic in De Leon.

Survivors: Wife, Loretta, sons, Jerry Brent Bush, Chuck Alvis Bush, Rickey Don Brinson and Danny Joe Brinson.

(Nowlin Funeral Home, De Leon (254)893-2021)
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RUBY LENETA BUSH

Mrs. Ruby Leneta Bush, 80, De Leon, died Saturday, July 24, 1993 in De Leon Hospital.

 Funeral services for Mrs. Bush were held at 10:30 o’clock Tuesday morning, July 27, in the First Baptist Church, De Leon. Officiating was George Sutton assisted by Jackie Auvenshine. 

Burial was in Downing Cemetery under the direction of Nowlin Funeral Home, De Leon. 

Born April 20, 1913 in Gorman, she was married to the late Joseph Floyd Bush in Morgan on August 1, 1931. He died October 23, 1978. She had been a resident of De Leon since 1935. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in De Leon. 

Survivors include a son, Jerry Bush of De Leon; 2 daughters, Ann Weaver of De Leon and Judy Calvert of Downing; 2 sisters Mattie Lane of Meridian and Anna Ladd of Dallas; 11 grandchildren; and 12 great grandchildren.

OSCAR CHAFIN

Graveside services for Oscar Chafin, 64, of Stephenville were held at 2 p.m. March 10, 1983, at Downing Cemetery near De Leon, under the direction of Stephenville Funeral Home. Max Tarbet of Hillcrest Church of Christ in Stephenville officiated.

Mr. Chafin died at 11:30 p.m. Monday, March 7, 1983 at his home in Stephenville.

Born January 5, 1919 in Erath County, he married Dortha Bunch February 12, 1941 in Dublin. He had lived in LaMirada, California, for the past 25 years, where he was with the public relations department of Certified Wholesale Grocers. A Navy veteran of World War II, he was a member of the Christian Church.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Mrs. Rita Leslie of LaMirada, California, and Mrs. Martha Holcomb of Corona De Mar, California; a brother J. R. Chafin of Lubbock; and four grandchildren.
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CLARENCE WOODROW COAN

Clarence Woodrow Coan, 69, of Waco and formerly of De Leon, died at 11:30 p.m., Thursday, July 19, 1984, at the Veterans Hospital in Temple.  Graveside services were at 2 p.m. Saturday at Downing Cemetery, directed by Conley-Compton Funeral Home. Local arrangements were made by De Leon Funeral Home.

The Rev. Joe Cranfield, a Waco pastor, officiated.

Born Oct. 19, 1914, he was a retired policeman. He was working for Texas Power and Light Co. at the time of his death. He was a Baptist.

Survivors include three daughters, Barbara Jean Moore of Rosebud, Twala Hughes of Waco, and Edwina Green of Penelope; his mother Maggie O’Neil of De Leon; a brother, Loyd of Eastland; a stepbrother, Doyle O’Neil of Hico; three sisters, Ira Cogburn of New York, Lera Walker of  De Leon, and Bernece Ottwell of De Leon; 10 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild..         

*Veteran
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CRYSTAL GAYLE COGBURN

Crystal Gayle Cogburn, day-old daughter of Brent and Lydia Cogburn, died at 3:12 a.m. Tuesday at Fort Worth Children’s Hospital.

Graveside services were held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday at Downing Cemetery, directed by Nowlin Funeral Home.

Rev. Mike Patterson, pastor of Northside Baptist Church, officiated.

Survivors include her parents; two brothers, Jason and Donal, both of the home; maternal grandparents, Lillie and Joe Jiminez of Amherst and Santego and Trinidad Perez of De Leon; paternal grandparents, Sharon Lewis of Breckenridge, Mr. and Mrs. Donal Farrow of Rising Star, Mrs. Madilene Cogburn of De Leon, and LaRue Farrow of Cascade, Idaho.   
 

BERTHA CORNELIA SMITH COTTRELL

(De Leon) - Funeral services for Bertha Cornelia Cottrell, 87, of De Leon will be at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Nowlin Funeral Home.

Burial will be at Downing Cemetery near De Leon, with Payne Hattox officiating.

Mrs. Cottrell died Sunday at De Leon Hospital January 5, 1986. She was born February 6, 1898 to Charlie and Inez Hulsey Smith. She married John (Jack) Alford Cottrell in Comanche.

She was a member of the Church of Christ of De Leon.

Her husband, Jack Alford Cottrell, died in October 1952.

Survivors include a son, Billy Jack Cottrell of Alvin; two daughters, Norma Jean Hodges of Stephenville and Dorothy Brashear of Euless; a sister, Ruby Simpson of De Leon; eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
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EVA LEE DAWKINS  

Eva Lee Dawkins, 77, a lifetime resident of Desdemona, died at 9:45 a.m. Saturday, 1 Oct. 1983, at De Leon Hospital. Services were held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday at Nowlin Funeral Chapel.

The Rev. Darrell Dossey, pastor of First Baptist Church in Gorman, officiated. Burial was in Downing Cemetery.

Born Dec. 12, 1905, in Downing, she married G. C. Dawkins Aug 24, 1926, in Downing. He died in April 1974. She was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church in De Leon.

Survivors include two sons, G. C., Jr., of Desdemona and Troy of Abilene; a daughter, Margie Harrison of Waco; a brother, Danny Morris of Glen Rose; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Music was by C. L. Mohon, Pearl Spruill, Wayne Chambers, Tim Skaggs, and Claude Underhill.

Pallbearers were Lyndell Coan, Bob Huddleston, Sam Yancey, Dean Pounds, Wendell Pounds, and Roger Pounds.
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OMA MAYE LOUDERMILK ELLISON

Oma Maye Loudermilk Ellison, age 72 of Dublin, passed away Sunday, October 12, 1997 in the Dublin Nursing Center.

Mrs. Ellison was born March 13, 1925 in Downing, Texas. On May 6, 1943 in Anson, Texas, she married Phillip
Woodward Ellison. She was a retired bookkeeper for Lacy Construction Company. She was a member of the
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Graham Street Church of Christ in Stephenville, and had lived in Dublin since 1983.

She is survived by her husband, Phillip Woodward Ellison of Dublin, two sons, Edward Ellison of Quinlan and Phillip Ellison of Garland; two daughters, Eva Rhodes of Sunnyvalle and Mary Sanford of Aledo; one step-daughter, Marie Iacono of Houston; one step-son, Tom Ellison of Houston; 16 grandchildren; and 21 great grandchildren.

Mrs. Ellison was preceded in death by two brothers, Elvin and Verteree Loudermilk.

Graveside services were held Tuesday, October 14 at 3:00 p.m. in the Downing Cemetery with Roger Weems officiating. Services were under the direction of Nowlin Funeral Home of De Leon.
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MAMIE ERA EVANS

Mamie Era Evans passed away January 20, 1981, at age 81.
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ELSIE CLYDE GOOCH      

Elsie Clyde Gooch, 81, De Leon died at 4:15 a.m. Friday, May 7, 1982, in the Brownwood Regional Hospital after a long illness.

Graveside services were held Saturday in the Downing Cemetery. Payne Hattox, a Church of Christ Minister, officiated.

Born March 1, 1901, at Downing, he married Clara Belle Rogers, who preceded him in death. He was a member of the Downing Methodist Church.

Survivors include a son, Roger, of Hobbs, New Mexico, and a granddaughter.

Services were under the direction of the De Leon Funeral Home.
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DAVID WAYNE VALENTINE GRANTHAM
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GERALD DAVID GRANTHAM

Graveside services for Gerald David Grantham, 48, of 2517 Pearl, Fort Worth, were held at 2:00 o’clock Saturday afternoon, February 23, 1985, at the Downing Cemetery, Comanche County.

Officiating was Tommy Johnson, minister of the North Pearl Street Church of Christ, Comanche.

Arrangements were by Comanche Funeral Home.

Mr. Grantham was pronounced dead on arrival at St. Joseph Hospital, Fort Worth at 7:12 o’clock Wednesday night February 20, 1985.

Son of the late Alfred B. Grantham and Myrtle La Boone Grantham, he was born July 15, 1936, in Fort Worth. His father preceded him in death April 30, 1963.

Mr. Grantham, a security guard, was married May 24, 1974, in Comanche to Claudia Joe Edwards, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Edwards, 1018 N. Lane, Comanche.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Grantham is survived by a son, David Grantham of Fort Worth; and his mother, Myrtle Grantham of Fort Worth.
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OTIS GRIZZARD

Otis Grizzard, 67, of the Graford community in Palo Pinto County, a retired government employee and former De Leon resident, died at 4:16 p.m. Sunday, November 7, 1982, in Resort Lodge in Mineral Wells. Services were at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday at De Leon Funeral Home.

The Rev. Mike Patterson of Northside Baptist Church officiated. Masonic graveside rites were held at Downing Cemetery.

Born September 27, 1915, in Campbell, he married Belva Lee Boyd on May 6, 1939, in El Paso. He had worked for the Bureau of Reclamation. An Army veteran of World War II, he was a Baptist and a Mason.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Jannefier Lee Smith of Panama City, Fla., and Debra Ann Parr of Mineral Wells; a brother, Odwin of Azle; three sisters, Mamie Floyd of Eunice, N.M., Pauline Hodges of Arlington, and Dorothy Shepherd of Dallas; and five grandchildren. Masons will be pallbearers.
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ALFRED T. HAFFORD

Alfred T. Hafford, 93, of De Leon, retired Downing barber, died at 10:05 Monday night, April 25, 1983 in a De Leon Nursing Home.

Funeral services for Mr. Hafford were held at 3:00 Wednesday afternoon, April 27, at De Leon Church of Christ, with Jimmy Cantwell officiating.

Burial was in the Downing Cemetery. Nowlin Funeral Home, De Leon, was in charge of arrangements.

Born April 18, 1890, in Navarro County, Mr. Hafford had lived in the De Leon - Downing area most of his life. He married Alma Loudermilk in December 1908, in Downing. She died in 1966. He married Dorene Hulsey in 1967. She died January 1, 1975. He was a member of the Church of Christ.

Survivors include a son Alvin Hafford of Brownwood; a stepson, R. C. Holcomb of Erath; a daughter Myrtle Lee of Levelland; a step-daughter, Jane Anderson of Lubbock; a sister, Emma Vaughn of De Leon; a grandchild; and two great-grandchildren. 
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HOLLIE HAFFORD

Hollie Hafford, 87, of De Leon, a retired grocer, died at 2:45 p.m. Saturday, June 5, 1982 at De Leon Hospital.

Funeral services for Mr. Hafford were held at 2:30 p.m. Monday, June 7, at First United Methodist Church in De Leon.

Rev. Charles McClure, pastor of First United Methodist Church in De Leon, officiated.

Burial was in Downing Cemetery, directed by Nowlin Funeral Home in De Leon.

Born September 1894 in Corsicana, Mr. Hafford married Maude Heath December 16, 1914, in De Leon. He was a Methodist.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Joylene.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Jimmie Lois of De Leon; a brother Alfred Hafford of Downing; and a sister, Emma Vaughan of Durant, Okla.
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This page was updated on August 12, 2007
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