OBITUARIES
Hood Jones
1935-2004
Hood William Jones, longtime Snyder resident, died
Thursday, April 1, in Cogdell Memorial Hospital.
Service for Mr. Jones, 68, is set for 2 p.m. Saturday in
the First Baptist Church Chapel with the Rev. Mike Henson, pastor, officiating. Burial
will be in Hillside Memorial Gardens under the direction of Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral
Home.
Born June 8, 1935 in Granbury, he married Mary Ann
Leonard on June 17, 1955 in Big Spring. She died Feb. 18, 2002. He also was preceded in
death by his parents, A.O. and Lila Jones,
Mr. Jones moved to Snyder in 1956 and then to Kermit in
1958. He returned to Snyder in 1974 and was retired from Baker Service Tools. He currently
was a crop insurance adjuster and a member of the First Baptist Church.
Survivors include two daughters and a son-in-law, Karon
Keller of Snyder and Cindy “Sam” and Ed Peet of Tulsa, Okla.; two sisters and
brothers-in-law, Imogene and Harley Grant of Quitman, Miss., and Sue and Don Reed of
Chico; one brother and sister-in-law, Pete and Shirley Jones of North Richland Hills;
three grandchildren, Smanatha Keller and Jessie Keller, both of Snyder and Jason Grantham
of Tulsa. Pallbearers will be Bruce Benham, Stan Benham, Rick Grant, Freddie Leonard,
Jerry Leonard, Charlie Reed, Todd Reed and John Harper.
Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 8 this evening at
the Funeral Home.
The family suggests memorials to the American Cancer
Society or to the First Baptist Church.
Opal Davidson
1922-2004
Opal Alene Davidson, a former resident of Scurry County,
died Tuesday, March 30, in Hobbs Healthcare Center in Hobbs, N.M.
Funeral service for Mrs. Davidson, 81, is set for 2 p.m.
Saturday in the Faith Baptist Church in Snyder with the Rev. Larry White, pastor, and the
Rev. LaVoid Ford, pastor of Temple Baptist Church in Hobbs, officiating. Burial will
follow in Hillside Memorial Gardens under the direction of Wright Colonial Funeral Home.
Born Nov. 2, 1922 in Hermleigh, she married James
Davidson in 1984. He died in November, 1999. A homemaker, Mrs. Davidson was a member of
the Temple Baptist Church in Hobbs.
Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Steve
and Karleen McMahan of Hobbs and David R. and Sheri McMahan of Castaic, Calif.; a sister,
Lee Lam of Winnsboro; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
John Trussell
1910-2004
Graveside service for John Henry Trussell of Bangs,
formerly of Scurry County, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Snyder Cemetery with the
Dr. Tommy Culwell, pastor of Colonial Hill Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are
under the direction of Englunds Funeral Service in Slaton.
Mr. Trussell, 93, died Tuesday, March 30, in Bangs.
He was born Aug. 28, 1910 on the J. Wright Mooar Ranch in
Scurry County. He was in the Army infantry during World War II serving in the European
Theatre and the Battle of the Bulge. He was employed with the RS&P Railroad before
moving to Slaton in 1962 where he worked for the Santa Fe Railroad in the track
maintenance department, retiring as a section foreman.
Mr. Trussell married Lora I. Wood on Jan. 1, 1936 and she
preceded him in death on Sept. 24, 1979. He also was preceded in death by a son, Morris
Wood Trussell; a sister, Pauline Scrivner; and a brother, Ambrose Trussell.
Survivors include two sons and a daughter-in-law, Travis
and Libby Trussell of Bushland and Tommy Trussell of Lubbock; two grandchildren, Kelly
Schaffer and Calvin Schaffer, both of Groom; and three nieces, Shirley Miller, Kathy Hall
and Elois Pruitt, all of Snyder.
A. J. White
1927-2004
A. J. White, a resident of both San Angelo and Menard,
died Tuesday, March 30, in a San Angelo hospital.
Graveside service for Mr. White, 77, is set for 11a.m.
Saturday in Hillside Memorial Gardens in Snyder.
Viewing is today at Robert Massie Funeral Home in San
Angelo.
Mr. White was born March 18, 1927 in Fort Worth to Archer
and Nellie White. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.
Mr. White worked 34 years for Southwestern Bell, many of
those years in Snyder, and after retirement he enjoyed working in his shop and
motorcycling. He also worked with the Boy Scouts for several years.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia Kathlyn White of
Menard and San Angelo; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Bob and Betty White of San
Angelo, Jim and Margaret White of Pampa and Danny White of Menard; a grandson, Chris White
and wife Kelly of Kennesaw, Ga.; two granddaughters, Jenny White of Pampa and Becky
Mohling and husband Jim of San Angelo; and a cousin, Katherine Taylor of Carrollton.
In lieu of flowers the family request that memorials be
sent to the West Texas Rehabilitation Center.
Dorothy Savage
1918-2004
Dorothy Anne Beall Savage has left a wonderful legacy of
children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren who love God and serve Him.
Born in Ladonia, Texas on May 18, 1918, Dorothy was the
youngest of five children. Her father was a barber and her mother was a homemaker. She
grew up in Ladonia. Dorothy went to beauty school after graduating from high school. On a
trip home from beauty school, she met her husband, Travis. She married Travis Farris
Savage on June 15, 1941 in Ladonia.
They celebrated their honeymoon at the world-renowned
hotel, The Adolphus, in downtown Dallas. This exclusive hotel, located on Commerce Street
opened in 1918. The Adolphus Hotel remains the site where the Adolphus- Neiman Marcus
Children’s Parade begins each Christmas.
Travis was one of nine children from Ladonia and worked
on the railroad for many years. They returned and lived in Ladonia.
They had three children Mary Ann, Paul and Barbara Grace.
Travis’ primary profession was a farmer on the Johnson Ranch in Scurry County. He
farmed cotton and loved playing dominoes with his friends. Dorothy was a farmer’s
wife who enjoyed cooking, baking, canning vegetables, and raising her children.
We also wanted to share that our Granny was a hopeless
romantic with a deep love for our Grandpa. She took such great joy introducing her
granddaughters to the gilded age of Hollywood. Our first viewing of Hollywood classics
with Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, Deborah Kerr, or Maureen O’Hara were with Granny. Her
grandchildren loved watching movies like “An Affair to Remember,”
“Imitation of Life,” “ His Girl Friday” and a variety of John Wayne
movies long before they became popular in modern culture.
Because she was such a romantic, our family had so much
joy hosting an anniversary party for her celebrating her marriage to Travis. Over 70
friends and family gathered at their home to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. In
a small service, her son, Paul, an ordained minister and graduate of Southwestern Seminary
in Fort Worth, officiated a memorable renewal ceremony with her grandchildren serving as
bridesmaids and groomsman. Her original wedding suit was in mint condition and was worn by
her daughter-in-law, Kathy Savage.
Our granny was the consummate grandmother, when you
entered her home, you immediately felt comfort and love. She always had a warm meal
prepared for our arrival. Her walls were aligned with photos of her family, which
demonstrated a place where we as grandchildren were valued and loved. Their home was a
place of childhood adventures, family softball games, and joyous Christmas celebrations.
She and our grandpa took great pleasure in taking us to church, fun trips to the rodeo at
the Snyder Coliseum, Vacation Bible School, and shopping. Other warm childhood memories
were at the Snyder Park watching fireworks, visiting the prairie dogs, feeding the ducks
and having picnics with our family.
Dorothy was active in WMU at Greenhill and First Baptist
Church of Snyder. She supported state and international mission projects. Her church
family was a vital part of her life. While Travis was a deacon, she was active in her
Sunday school class. She was grateful for the support that her Sunday School Class at
First Baptist, and the Snyder community provided her when her Travis died.
In her ‘7os, she traveled to Africa to visit her son
Paul, daughter-in-law Kathy and grandchildren Charlotte and John. She traveled with her
good friends Doyle and Peggy Chandler. She was featured in the Snyder Daily News for her
trip.
As Parkinson’s became challenging, she lived in
Midland with her daughter Mary Ann and Bill Harless, and then her daughter Barbara Grace
and Butch Cearley in Tyler. Her family rejoices that she is in Heaven after a long battle
with Parkinson’s. She and Travis taught their children and grandchildren to love
Christ and demonstrated that their purpose in life is to serve Him. This verse
demonstrates the legacy; Dorothy has left in the hearts of her children and grandchildren.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, Come,
you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you
since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was
thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.”
Matthew 15:34-35.
Through the years, her children and grandchildren have
served our country in various aspects of public service in the United States and overseas.
She and Travis have left a legacy of children and
grandchildren who have served in the military, ministry, social service, medical, and
education. Her son, Paul and her two son-in-laws, Bill and Butch, served in active
military duty in the Army during the Vietnam War. Her daughter’s families, the
Cearleys and the Harless have been active in church ministry in Midland and Tyler. Her
son, Paul and daughter-in-law Kathy have spent several years serving as Southern Baptist
Missionaries in Tanzania, Africa. The Savages are grateful for their lifelong friends at
Greenhill and First Baptist, Snyder who have prayed and supported Paul, Kathy, Charlotte
and John.
In, addition, her two grandsons and grandson-in-law,
Michael Harless, Travis Cearley and Robert Fortune are Marines. Michael is a Texas State
Trooper and on active duty as Sergeant in the Marine Corps. Michael is now serving in
Iraq. Michael’s wife, Carla, is in Odessa raising the children. Travis is now a
police officer in Tyler, Texas. Robert served as Corporal in Operation Dessert Storm. Her
granddaughters Kimberly, Charlotte, Jennifer, and Melissa, and Stacy all have professions
in medical, social service, education, and childcare that help strengthen children and
families. Her grandson, John Paul owns a construction company in Sugar Land, Texas. Her
grandson-in-law, Byron is a minister with the Henry Baptist Association in McDonough,
Georgia.
Her great-grandchildren include Amber, Alyssa, and Lauren
in Tyler, Texas. Ethan and Jack Smith in Jenkinsburg, Georgia; Brandon Fortune and Avery
Atchely in Frisco, Texas; Hillary, Bronte and Brody Harless in Odessa, Texas.
Our family is grateful for your love and support through
the years. To leave a message for any of our family this week, you may call Bill’s
parents, Jack and Thadine Harless of Snyder at 573-0035. They will gladly connect you with
our phone numbers all over Texas, the nation and the world.
Mrs. Savage, 85, died Wednesday, March 31, in Greenbrier
Nursing Home in Tyler.
Funeral service for Mrs. Savage is set for 2 p.m. Sunday
in the First Baptist Church Chapel in Snyder. The Rev. Allan Cartrite, retired Baptist
minister, and the Rev. Paul Savage, a son, will officiate. Burial will follow in Hillside
Memorial Gardens under the direction of Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the
funeral home.
Paid Obituary
Warder Novak
1918-2004
ABILENE – Warder K. Novak, the first minister for
the 37th Street Church of Christ in Snyder, died Thursday, April 1, in Abilene after a
lengthy illness.
Funeral service for Mr. Novak, 85, is set for 3 p.m.
Sunday in the Hillcrest Church of Christ. Arrangements are under the direction of
Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home.
Born Dec. 28, 1918 in Wichita, Kan., he was a minister
for more than 50 years and lived in Snyder from 1953-55. He also taught at the Nashville
School of Preaching. Abilene Christian University honored Mr. Novak in 1992 for his years
of service.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Lottie Novak of
Abilene; four daughters, Kay Hawkins, Cheryl Ginnings, Carolyn Jones and Reci Schmellick;
two sisters, Frances Stivers and La Vera Leopard; a brother, Willard Novak; eight
grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
The family suggests memorials to the Hillcrest Church of
Christ, Hospice of the Big Country or to a favorite charity.
