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Harold Vernon Woodard (Coach Woodard) went to be with his Lord on Sunday, November 6, 2005, after a lengthy illness.  He resided at Seabury Nursing Facility in Odessa for the past 6 years.  Harold was born on November 26, 1924 in Coleman to Allen and  Bessie Lou Woodard who preceded him in death.

After graduating from Coleman High School in 1943, Harold served his country in the Navy during World War II.  He then received his Bachelors and Masters degrees from Hardin-Simmons University.  During his career, he taught algebra and coached track, football and basketball in the Abilene, Coleman and Odessa schools before retiring in 1985 from the Ector County Independent School District.  After retiring from teaching, he returned to the carpentry trade taught to him by his father.  Homes in Odessa and Abilene display his precise and beautiful handiwork.

Harold cherished his family.  In 1947, he married the love of his life, Billie Jean Jackson.  He loved his kids:  son, Steve;  daughter-in-law, Teresa; grandson, Jim William Woodard, age 13;  and granddaughter, Katherine Bess Woodard, age 3; all of  Abilene.  His dear brother, Robert Lee Woodard,  and sister-in-law, Norma, live in Marble Falls, Texas.  He treasured spending time with them, as well as with his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews.

He was an enthusiastic member of Temple Baptist Church since 1967 and he couldn't wait to see his friends in the Harvester's Sunday School Class each week.  Most of all, Harold loved his Lord and Savior.  His hope and favorite scripture was 2 Chronicles 7:14:  “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Services will be under the direction of Wilson Funeral Home in Odessa with Temple Baptist Church Pastor, Griffen Jones  officiating.  Services will be Wednesday, November 9th at 1pm at Temple Baptist Church.  The family will welcome visitors between the hours of 6 pm and 8 pm on Tuesday, November 8th at Frank Wilson Funeral Home, 4635 Oakwood.  Pallbearers will be Albert Adams, David Boatright, Ray Christopher, Cotton Davis, Gene Fisher, Lyndon Fisher, Mourice Houze, Sam Rice, Roy Smotherman, and Jack Springer.

A second visitation will be held in Coleman, Texas between the  hours of 11 am and 12:30 pm on Thursday, November 10th under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.  Burial will follow at the Coleman Cemetery. 

Memorials may be made to the Temple Baptist Church “Possess The Land” building fund, P.O. Box 2778, Odessa, Texas 79760 or to  Home Hospice at 516 North Texas Avenue, Odessa, Texas 79761.  The Woodard family would like to thank all the medical professionals, the kind and supportive staff at Seabury Nursing  Home, and our great Home Hospice nurse and social worker for helping Harold during his illness.  Thanks also to our dear friends and church members who have held us up along this journey.  We will forever be grateful.

Judy Marie Jacobs, 59 years of age, of Alice, Texas, went home early on November 6, 2005 surrounded by her family.

She was the daughter of Henry H. and Eula E. Person, born September 3, 1946 in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, She had lived in Alice and surrounding towns most of her life.  She was a Baptist.  She had worked in the food/restaurant industry, and owned her own business for a while.  She grew in Sapulpa, Oklahoma and as a teen moved to Texas.  She enjoyed dominoes, card games, John Wayne movies, dancing, country music, and spending time with her family and friends.

Survivors include three sons, Ernest Kohler and girlfriend Phyllis of Alice, Texas, Vernie Lee Hunt of Beeville, Texas, and Robert Goodman of Manor, Texas; three daughters, Eula Ann "Annie" and husband Greg Williams of Rockwood, Texas, Wynette Jacobs of Skidmore, Texas and Brenda Lee and husband Rex Hunter of Santa Anna, Texas; one sister, Barbara Ann Podest of Victoria, Texas; and one brother, Henry C. Person of Gonzales, Louisiana. Also surviving are 14 grandchildren, D. D., L. T., Colleen, Annaette, Jon, Chris, Micah, Makayla, Lisa, Loni, Ashley, Kyla, Mark and Danielle; two great-grandchildren, Isaac and Carrigan; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and longtime friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents; and one brother, Burl Bradford Person.

June Novelle Woodard, age 83, long-time Coleman resident, died Monday, November 7, 2005 in a Corsicana nursing home.  Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church with Dr. Jeff Miller officiating.  Burial will follow in the Coleman City Cemetery under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.

June Novelle Woodard was born December 13, 1921 in the Junction community of Coleman County, the daughter of Thomas J. DeArmon and Beulah Ellen Post DeArmon.  She grew up in Coleman County, attending school at Junction and Coleman.  On September 5, 1938 she married Wilburn K. Woodard in Brownwood and he preceded her in death on April 21, 1998.  Novelle was a housewife and, along with her husband, owned and operated Texaco and Conoco service stations and Woodard Grocery in Coleman.  She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Coleman where she worked as a Sunday School teacher and Superintendent in the Children’s Division for 30 years.  She also operated the Methodist Clothing Room for 15 years and was a faithful member of the United Methodist Women, serving as District President and as Treasurer for the local unit for 31 years.  Novelle was also a member of the Home Demonstration Club and the Hospital Auxiliary.  Due to ill health, she moved to Corsicana in July 2004.

She is survived by two sons, Gaylon Cordell Woodard and wife Maureen of Torrance, California and Gregory Van DeArmon of Arlington, Texas; one daughter, Dorinda Coursey and husband Bud of Corsicana, Texas; one brother, James DeArmon of Santa Rosa, California; four grandchildren, Lisa and husband Steve Barnes, Doug Coursey, Jr., Ashley and husband Matt Bull, Cordell Woodard; six great-grandchildren.

Family visitation will be held on Tuesday from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Stevens Funeral Home in Coleman.  Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 852, Coleman, Texas 76834, the United Methodist Women, the First United Methodist Church, 300 N. 15th Street, Corsicana, Texas 75110 or the donor’s favorite charity.

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Luke Evan Gallagher, 26, of Jasper, Alamaba died Thursday, November 10, 2005 at his residence.  Luke graduated from Coleman High School in 1998 and was attending the University of Alabama at Birmingham at the time of his passing.

He is survived by his fiance, Layla Vernier; father, John Gallagher and his wife, Beverly, of Curry, Alabama; mother, Debra Grant of Louisa, Virginia; grandmothers, Dorothy Gallagher of Midland, Texas and Ina Dillard of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; brothers, Cpl. Joshua Gallagher of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Isaac Gallagher and Matthew Gallagher, both of Curry, Alabama; sister, Amee Gallagher of Curry, Alabama; stepbrothers, Joshua Smith and Jeremy Smith; and a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins.

The family requests memorial donations be made to the Luke Gallagher Scholarship Fund at Coleman County State Bank, P. O. Box 940, Coleman, Texas 76834.

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Sue Crossland Whitley, 69, of Abilene and former Coleman County resident, died Sunday, November 13, 2005 at Hendrick Medical Center.  Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 16 at Beltway Baptist Church, 4009 Beltway South, Abilene with Rev. David McQueen officiating.  Burial will be at 4:00 p.m. in the Gouldbusk Cemetery in Coleman County.  Services are under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home. 

She was born June 7, 1936, in Santa Anna, Texas, the daughter of Jack Crossland and Geneva Christine Copeland Crossland Beaty.  Sue grew up in Coleman County, graduating from Mozelle High School in 1953.  She attended San Angelo Junior College.  She had lived in Abilene since 1976 where she was the owner and operator of Sue’s Touch.  Sue was a member of Beltway Baptist Church where she was active in a Bible Study group.  She was also a member of the Red Hat Society. 

She is survived by five children, Ginger and husband Donny Davis of Pasadena, Texas; Gary and wife Barbara Hagler of Abilene, Texas, Jennifer Ferguson of North Richland Hills, Texas, Terry and wife Angie Hagler of Abilene, Texas and Terry Don and wife Laurie Whitley of Joshua, Texas; thirteen grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; a niece and nephew, Nikki Waltrowski and Tommy Rylee; and a dear friend, Carole Worden of Abilene, Texas. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Billy Jack Crossland, and a granddaughter, Megan Hagler.  Family visitation will be held on Tuesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene, Texas. 

Former Coleman resident Mary Kathryn (Bullock) Stroop Staples died November 13, 2005 in Eugene, Oregon after a brief illness.  She was 84.  The family will hold a private burial at Grove Hill Memorial Park in Dallas, and conduct a memorial service in Bedford.  Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the American Heart Association or American Diabetes Association.

Born March 21, 1921, Kathryn was the only child of Leroy Franklin Bullock and Anna Mary Colgin Bullock.  She met her first husband, Joseph E. Stroop, in college.  They were married in Santa Ana, California on October 7, 1942, and reared three sons.  The family lived in Coleman from 1955 until 1962 when they were relocated to Abilene, where Joe Stroop died November 6, 1964.  Kathryn married Richard A. Staples, in April 1966 and, after traveling the world, they settled in Estes Park, Colorado.  Staples died in December 2003 and she moved to Oregon to be near family.

Survivors include her three sons, Joseph E. Stroop III of Bedford, Texas, Robert Eugene Stroop of Austin, Texas and James David Stroop of Eugene, Ore.; and two grandchildren, Jeremy Paul Stroop of Fort Worth and Emily Rebekah Stroop of Bedford.

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Mike Andrade, age 78, life-long Coleman resident, died November 20, 2005 in Austin, Texas.  Services were held Wednesday, November 23, 2005 in Austin with burial in the Austin area.  A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 3, 2005 in Stevens Funeral Home Chapel in Coleman with Rev. James Posey officiating and assisted by Rev. Marvin Hale.

Mike Andrade was born June 5, 1927 in Coleman, Texas, a son of Francisco and Eulalia Rosales Andrade.  He grew up in Coleman and attended school here.  Mike worked at Taylor Motor Company, the Chevrolet House, South Ward Elementary and the last 28 years at Coleman County Medical Center.

Survivors include sons and daughters-in-law, Salvador and Alice Andrade of Abilene, Jimmy and Elly Andrade of Mineral Wells, Richard and Timorah Andrade of Coleman, Mike Andrade of Coleman; Mary Andrade of Coleman; one brother and sister-in-law, Johnny and Alicia Andrade of San Angelo; one sister and brother-in-law, Elia and Raul Perez of Coleman; seven grandchildren, Michele Andrade Perkins, Zachary Andrade, Erin Andrade Monroy, Charlie Andrade, Evan Andrade, Elizabeth Andrade Rousseau, Erica Andrade; 10 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a son, Sammy Andrade, and his parents.  Memorials may be made to the donor’s favorite charity.  Honorary pallbearers:  Michele Perkins, Zachary Andrade, Erin Monroy, Charlie Andrade, Evan Andrade, Elizabeth Rousseau, Erica Andrade, Jimmy Hemphill, Howard Childress, Raymond Carnes, Eddie Beal, Marvin Hale, Nance Campbell, Jim Gill, Ted Boatright.

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Odis J. Johnson, age 96 of Gouldbusk, died Tuesday, November 22, 2005 at Coleman County Medical Center.  Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, November 26, 2005 at Gouldbusk Baptist Church with Rev. Ronnie Skaggs officiating, assisted by Rev. Alan Wallace.  Burial will follow in the Gouldbusk Cemetery, under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home, Coleman, Texas.

He was born Odis James Johnson on May 30, 1909 in Deweyville, Texas, the son of William Thomas Johnson and Hattie Lloyd Johnson.  He grew up and attended school in Taylor County.  On December 19, 1937, he married Mary Laura Insall in Elmdale, Texas.   He was a director of Farmers Home Administration and a director of the Soil Conservation in Taylor County for several years before moving to Gouldbusk 35 years ago.  He was a member of the Gouldbusk Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Laura Johnson of Gouldbusk; one son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Gayle Johnson of Gouldbusk; one daughter and son-in-law, Mary Beth and James Marchant of Ochoee, Florida; one brother, George Johnson of San Antonio; one sister, Carrie Mae Peairs of San Antonio; four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by three brothers and one sister.  Family visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.  Memorials may be sent to Gouldbusk Baptist Church, Gouldbusk, Texas 76845.

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Lester McClellan, age 89 of Coleman, died Friday, November 25, 2005 at Sears Methodist Center in Abilene.  Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, November 27, 2005 at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. John Stanislaw officiating.  Burial will be in the Hill Cemetery, under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.

He was born Lester Archer McClellan on May 4, 1916 in Gouldbusk, the son of Elijah Shanklin McClellan and Beedie Frances Archer McClellan.  He grew up in Gouldbusk and attended school in Gouldbusk and Mozelle.  He married Eunice Lee Rumfield on December 23, 1933 in Coleman.  She preceded him in death on August 13, 1998.  He was a life-long resident of Coleman County, owned McClellan Radio and T.V., member of the Coleman Chamber of Commerce and a member of First Baptist Church.

Survivors include one daughter, Carolyn McClellan of Coleman; two sons and daughters - in - law, Billy and Joy McClellan of Waco, Charles and JoAnn McClellan of Abilene; one sister, Bernelle Pittard of Austin; six grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, four brothers, Jack McClellan, Clyde McClellan, Don McClellan, Pat McClellan and three sisters, Lottie McClellan Cozart, Lena McClellan Bowen and Jewel McClellan McMinn.

Family visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.  Pallbearers will be grandsons and great-grandsons: Russell McClellan, Stanley McClellan, Les McClellan, Robb McClellan, Barry Russell, Chuck Roach, Matthew McClellan, Chad McClellan, Jason Russell, Colton McClellan, Lee Martin and Elijah Carl McClellan.  Memorials may be sent to the Hill Cemetery Association, 800 CR 252, Gouldbusk, Texas 76845.

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Ray S. Epperson, 75, died Tuesday, November 29, 2005 at a Robert Lee nursing home.  A private family graveside service will be held today (Thursday), December 1, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. at the Coleman City Cemetery Pavilion.   Arrangements are by Shaffer Funeral Home of Robert Lee.

Survivors include his sons, Woody Ray Epperson and Oscar Epperson; his daughters, Linda Gatlin and Betty Fae Conner; a step-daughter, Susie Cox; a brother, Bobby Epperson; and sisters, Fae Koska, Jean Bruce, Evalyn Wilkinson and Ruth Beal.

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