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Mrs. (Theo) Hazel Mae Griffis died Wednesday, November 19, 1997, at 12:30 p.m. at Holiday Hill Nursing Home in Coleman.  Services were Friday at 10 a.m. an Walker Funeral Home chapel with Rev. Jeff Robinett, pastor of Shared Life Ministry, First United Christian and Presbyterian Church, officiating.  Burial was in the Valera Cemetery under direction of Walker Funeral Home.

Mrs. Griffis was born September 29, 1900 in Coleman to the late Lester and Mary Marcus West.  She married Thea Griffis November 28, 1923 in Coleman and he preceded her in death in 1980.  Hazel lived all her life in Coleman and Coleman County, was a ranch lady and a member of First Christian Church of Coleman.  An active member of the Home Demonstration Club of Coleman County, she held many offices in the club.  She was a member of the Breeder-Feeder Association, taking part in stock shows and youth programs.  Mrs. Griffis served as president of the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Ladies Auxiliary for two terms, traveling extensively to promote the industry from a lady’s point of view.  A charter member of the Circle C Cow-Belles of Coleman County she received fist place honors in the United States competition for submitting the most interesting background history in the cattle industry.  She will be remembered for her "Ladies" Corner, a popular recipe program heard on KSTA radio for fourteen years during the time the station was operated by her son, Bob.

Survivors are two sons and one daughter-in-law, Mark and Mary Griffis of Valera and Bob Griffis of Abilene; one brother, Marcus West of Kingsland; one granddaughter, Connie Whitney of Midland; two great-grandchildren, SuJo McKee of Lubbock and Ricka McKee of Snyder; one niece, Mary Beth Bender of Kingsland; and two step-grandchildren, Matt Hausenfluke of Des Maine, Iowa and Wendy McGuire of Graham. A daughter, Adelia, preceded her in death.

Pallbearers included Ross Jones, Jackie Home, Rick McKee, Bill Sneed, Wayne McClure and David Watson.  Honorary pallbearers were Bob Tyson, Gene Larson, Jim Caldwell, C. M. Huckabee and Shiloh Harris.

Mrs. Maudie Etta Stephenson, age 56, of Talpa died Thursday, November 20, 1997 at 7:45 p.m. in Shannon Hospital of San Angelo.  Services were held Saturday, November 22, 1997 at 2:00 p.m. in the Walker Funeral Chapel with Mr. Lloyd Hopper officiating.  He was assisted by Rev. Lakan Mariano, pastor of College Height Baptist Church of San Angelo.  Burial followed in the Rockwood Cemetery under direction of Walker Funeral Home, Coleman.  Memorials may be made to Rockwood Cemetery or Voss Baptist Church.

Mrs. Stephenson was born December 8, 1940, in Coleman to George and Estaleen Ferguson Steward.  She married Bill Stephenson on January 12, 1964 in Leaday.  Mrs. Stephenson lived all her life in Coleman County and worked for the Postal Service for over seventeen years.  She was a member of Voss Baptist Church.  Two brothers, Bill and Don, preceded her in death.

Survivors include her husband, Bill Stephenson of Talpa; her mother, Estaleen Steward of Mozelle; one daughter, Mitzi Stephenson of Talpa; one son and daughter-in-law, Rex and Stacy Stephenson of San Angelo; one grandson, Joshua Stephenson of San Angelo; and one sister, Maureen Davidson of Talpa.

Mrs. Jane (Lou) Ruth Banta, age 81, of Coleman, died Friday, November 21, 1997, at 5:58 p.m. at Holiday Hill Convalescent Home.  Graveside services were held Sunday, November 23, 1997, at 2:00 p.m. at the Cleveland Cemetery with Rev. Joseph Haynes of Gonzales, Texas officiating.  Pallbearers were Steve Barnett, Ronny Bates; Tonnie Barr, John Herman, Stony Strength, and Jerold Cordell.

Mrs. Banta was born June 16, 1916, in Trickham, Coleman County, Texas, to Augusta and Rose Martin Genz.  She married D. J. “Red” Banta on January 23, 1935, in Santa Anna.  He preceded her in death in 1993.  Mrs. Banta was a housewife, and she lived
all her life in Coleman and Coleman County.  She was a member of North Coleman Baptist Church.

Survivors include two daughters and one son-in-law, Janie Lou Banta of Coleman and Rosa Lou and Alton Bates, of Andrews; five sisters; and five grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Holiday Hill Convalescent Home, Coleman, Texas or to Hospice of the Big Country, 3113 Oldham Road, Abilene, Texas 79602.

Mrs. Frances Ann Crenshaw Bates, age 61, of Dallas died in Dallas on Saturday evening, November 22, 1997.  Services will be Wednesday, Nov. 26, at 2:00 p.m. in Walker Funeral Home chapel officiated by Rev. Gary Boyd, a retired Baptist minister.  Burial will be at Silver Valley Cemetery directed by Walker Funeral Home of Coleman.  Pallbearers will be members of Mrs. Bates’ family.  Visitation will be at Walkers tonight, Tuesday, from 7 to 8 p.m.

Born June 18, 1936 in Coleman County to the late Q. T. and Essie Barefoot Smith, she spent her early life in Coleman and was a Baptist.  She married Jimmie Bates in Coleman on July 4, 1955.

Survivors are her husband of Dallas; two daughters and sons-in-law, Juanita and Gregg Shaw of Desoto, Patricia and Michael Ashmore of Mesquite; three grandchildren, Steven Shaw, Billy Bates and Amanda Ashmore.  One brother, Raymond Crenshaw, preceded her in death.

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lnez Rainsbarger passed away at her home in Napa, California on Wednesday, November 26, 1997 at the age of 80.  Private Entombment was at Tulocay Mausoleum, Napa.

Inez was born in Glen Cove, Texas on September 6, 1917 and married in Talpa, Texas on April 20, 1946.  She resided there until 1947 when she moved to Fairfield, California and moved to Napa in 1964 where she had lived ever since.  Mrs. Rainsbarger worked as a Chief Telephone Operator for A.T.&T. from 1951 until 1956.  She was active in league play at the Napa Bowl until ill health forced her to give up bowling.

Survivors include her husband, Bill Rainsbarger of Napa; her daughter and son-in-law, Shirley and John Azevedo of Napa; three sisters, Lois Williams of Houston, Texas, Doris Ransberger and Minnie Lee Huey, both of Sweetwater, Texas; two grandsons, Willie Azevedo and Robbie Azevedo, both of Napa and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Kaiser Hospice, 875 Sereno Drive, Vallejo, California 94589, the American Diabetes Association, 631 Howard Street #520, San Francisco, California 94501 or the American Lung Association, P. O. Box 1482, Santa Rosa, California 95402.

Mr. William Donald Williams, age 83, of Brownwood, Texas died Thursday, November 27, 1997, at 7:02 p.m., at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Temple.  Services for Mr. Williams were 2 p.m. Saturday at the Rockwood Baptist Church with Rev. Jeff Dean officiating.  Interment followed at the Rockwood Cemetery, under the direction of Henderson Funeral Home of Santa Anna.

He was born to the late William George Williams and Mellie Frances Taylor in North Zurich, Texas on October 4, 1914.  He graduated from Santa Anna High School.  Mr. Williams was a resident of Rockwood before moving to Brownwood in 1953.  William married Lillian Harper on January 10, 1953 in Brownwood, Texas.  He was a member of the Methodist Church and worked in construction as a home builder.  He was a veteran of World War II, and was a Master Mason.

Survivors include his wife, Lillian, of Brownwood; one son, Donald Lynn Williams of Lake Hills, Texas, a brother, Blake Williams of Rockwood, two sisters, Ruth McGill of Pasadena and Doris Richardson of Hillsboro; and two grand daughters, Christine Williams and Kimberly Williams of Lake Hills.

Richard "Dick" Lee Henning, age 69, of Coleman, died Friday, November 28, 1997, at 9:29 p.m. at Coleman County Medical Center.  Memorial services will be held Wednesday, December 3, 1997, at 2:00 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home, Coleman, with Rev. Jeff Robinett, pastor of Shared Life Ministry First Christian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Coleman, officating.  Mr. Henning’s remains were cremated.

Mr. Henning was born May 22, 1928, in Miamiburg, Ohio, to Ralph and Lucinda Henning.  He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, a retired laborer, and a member of the Baptist Church.  Mr. Henning had lived in Coleman County since 1993.  Mr. Henning was preceded in death by one sister.

Survivors include four sisters, Beverly Math of Coleman, Charlotte Kay Speelman of Portland, Oregon, Peggy Joe Henning of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Cynthia Lou Henning of Santee, California; and one brother, Todd Henning of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ina May Pricer, age 90, longtime Coleman and Brown County resident, died Saturday, November 29, 1997 at Providence Hospital in Waco.  Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday (December 1) at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Charles Sheffield officiating.  Burial followed at Coleman Cemetery, under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.  Pallbearers were Len Clawson, Michael Gray, Johnny Pricer, William R. Black, Jerome Smith, Bobby Hart, Claud Hart, and Tommy Hart.

Ina May Pricer was born May 10, 1907 in Holder, Brown County, Texas, the daughter of the late Josiah Juan Smith and Fannie Hassentine Gammon Smith.  She grew up in Brown County and attended school at Holder and received a teaching certificate from Daniel Baker College (now Howard Payne University).  On February 9, 1940, she married Joe Bailey Pricer in Coleman and he preceded her in death on February 7, 1989.  She taught school for 13 years at Carnal, New Central, Anderson, Whon, Indian Creek, Williams and Scranton.  She lived in the Anderson community in Coleman County and moved to Burkett in 1949 and to Bangs in 1971.  In 1990, she moved to Crawford.  In later years, Mrs. Pricer was a cashier at Piggly Wiggly in Santa Anna and worked at nursing homes in Coleman and Bangs.  She was a past member of the Holder Quilting Club and the Home Demonstration Club.  Mrs. Pricer was active in church where she was a song leader and taught Sunday School.  She was a member of Canaan Baptist Church in Crawford.

Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Sandra and Walter Bruton of Coleman; one son and daughter-in-law, John and Carolyn Pricer of Crawford; three grandchildren, Len (and wife Tracy) Clawson of Coleman, Tessa (and husband Michael) Gray of Coleman and Johnny (and wife Jeanene) Pricer of Fisk; four step-grandchildren, Charles Bruton, Walter Bruton, Jr., Lawrence Bruton and Howard Bruton; four great-grandchildren; 10 step- great- grand children.  She was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Johna Pricer in 1981 and one great-grandson, Christopher Gray in 1986.

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