Reeves
Co. Obituaries
If you have
any obituaries for Reeves Co. residents, please send them in and I will post them here.
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W. L. Ross Funeral
The funeral services of the late William L. Ross were
conducted last week, Thursday, September 9, 1915, at the residence, Rev. J. Burkett, of Abilene,
assisted by Prof. Sandifer, President of Simmons' College at Abilene. Rev. Burkett was one of Mr. Ross' most intimate
friends as was also President Sandifer, Mr. Ross having been one of the directors of the
College.
W. F. Johnson, who for many years had been one of his closest
neighbors in the ranching business, was called upon to say a few words and very feeling
Mr. Johnson spoke of their long friendship, of his friends' noble character and his many
deeds of kindness to those in distress.
The Masonic Lodge
then took charge of the remains and conveyed them to Fairview Cemetery where they were
laid to rest with beautiful and impressive ritualistic rite of the order.
The honorary pall
bearers were Messrs. W.W. Camp, Joe Seay, Chris Ritz, Sid Kyle, Morgan Livingston, Joe
Hudgens, John DeRacey, A.E. Pinkston, Brawley Oates and Ben Pate, who carried the floral
offerings, which were numerous and very lovely.
The active pall bearer were T.H. Beauchamp,
Will Johnson, Dr. Jim Camp, Steve Ward, W.A. Hudson and T.B. Pruett.
The procession to the
cemetery was the longest ever seen in Pecos and showed the high regard in which Mr. Ross
was held by the people of Pecos and the surrounding country. There were Masonic brethren and friends from
nearly every station on the Texas & Pacific between Van Horn and Abilene and also from
Fort Stockton, Alpine, Marfa and other points.
Ben Davis Pate worked as a
cattlehand on the: Bill Ross Ranch in Pecos, Texas They were very good friends as well
and the obituary was found in the Pate Family Bible is possession of Ben Pruett of Orange,
CA.
Contributed by: Grace Kayser -
granddaughter of Ben Davis Pate
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"Pecos Pioneer Dies
Following Long Illness"
J.C. Wilson, prominent Pecos area resident who had been Texas Pecos River Commissioner
since 1949, died about noon Wednesday at his ranch home near Balmorhea. The
73-year-old rancher had had a lengthy illness.
Wilson, who was called by many West Texans "Mr. Pecos River", was a leader in
obtaining the desalinization plant at Malaga Bend, N.M.; the federal salt cedar
eradication program started along the Pecos River and many other programs, including
several large irrigation projects.
Graveside rites will be held at 6 p.m. today in Balmorhea Cemetery. Pecos Funeral
Home is in charge of arrangements.
Wilson was born Jan 10, 1895 in Oak Grove, La., and moved to Pecos in 1917 from Carlsbad,
N.M., where he had lived four years.
In Pecos, Wilson joined the Pruitt Co., parent organization of Pecos Mercantile. A
veteran of World War I, Wilson served overseas with the 90th Division. After the
war, the Pecos man worked for the Mercantile firm until the late 1940's, when he started
farming full time. He owned cantaloupe and cotton farms in the Presidio, Pecos and
Grandfalls areas.
Wilson was instrumental in getting much early cotton legislation through Congress, which
later was beneficial to West Texas producers.
Wilson is also given credit for building the Pecos Basin area into one of the largest
cotton growing areas in the nation. He was first president of Texas Cotton
Industries, which operated a cottonseed crushing plant at Marfa and a string of nine gins.
That organization later taken over by the West Texas Cottonoil Co., a
subsidiary of Anderson, Clayton and Co.
He was also a founder of the Big Bend Gin Co., which operated two gins in the Presidio
area in 1924.
Survivors include his wife, Hope of Balmorhea and Pecos; a son James Charles Wilson Jr.,
new state director of Colorado Drafting Office at Denver; and three grandchildren.
Memorials may be given to Wilson's favorite charity which was Cal Farley's Boys Ranch or
to the First Presbyterian Church Building Fund."
End of Article
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Note: Since the newpaper article does not mention the date of death, may I add the
fact that James Carter Wilson died August 21, 1968. His parents were James Carter
Wilson and Minnie Beatrice Johns who married December 20, 1877 in West Carroll
Parish, LA. Minnie Beatrice (Johns) Wilson is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, West
Carroll Parish, LA.
Donated by Hank Johns
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Moore, James Jeffery "Jeff"
58
year old Pecos, Texas born resident of Glendale, CA passed away at home on May 13
after a long fight with various illnesses. He is survived by his life partner, John
Oliver, many friends, aunts and uncles, cousins and other relatives. He has touched many
lives and will be missed by many.
A service to
celebrate his life will be held on Tuesday, 5:00 p.m. May 24, at Fukui Mortuary 'Chapel in
the Garden'., 707 E. Temple Street, Los Angeles, with Rev. Dawn Wilder officiating.
Casual attire,
preferably colorful Aloha attire is requested for all
service attendees.
Published in the
L. A. Times May 18, 2005
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Butcher, Kenneth V. (76)
A valley of the sun painting contractor and World War 11 naval veteran, died January 1,
2005 at his Scottsdale, AZ residence. He was born in Grand Falls, TX and moved to
the valley from Wilmington, CA 40 years ago. He is survived by his wife, Ida May;
daughters, Verna Neal, Karen Corneil, Dixie Globes and Daisy Lee Marten; son, Ken Butcher,
Jr., 10 grandchilddren and 3 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by
brothers, James and Charles Robert (Bob) Butcher.
Funeral
services will be 9:00 AM Saturday, January 8, 2005 at Green Hills Mortuary Chapel in
Rancho Palos Verdes. Doors will open at 8:00 AM for viewing.
Published in the
L. A. Times
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Orozco, Manuel
Born March 28, 1914 in Pecos, Texas. Passed away in Santa Monica August 26, 2004. He
married Mary Lopez in Carlsbad, NM on November 02, 1933. He was retired from his position
of35 years as the Chef at the Riviera Country Club.
He is
survived by his son, Richard; daughter-in-law, Belinda: two sisters, Celia and Bertha: two
brothers, Ruben and Paul: six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in
death by his parents, Isabel Luna, Celestino Orozeo; his loving
wife of 70 years, Mary, two
sisters and two brothers.
A visitation
will be held Monday, August 30, 4-8 p.m. with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. in the mortuary
chapel. Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, August 31, at the Chapel of
theRisen Christ at Holy Cross Cemetery, Interment to follow.
Published in the
L. A. Times Aug. 29, 2004
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Dyer, Thomas C.
Longtime educator, Dr. Thomas C. Dyer died peacefully in his sleep September 26, 2003 at
the age of 91. Tom was born on February 8, 1912 in Pecos, Teas, the seventh child of
George and Laura Dyer. After moving to Los Angeles in 1924, Tom
graduated from UCLA in 1935
where he was President of the Junior Class. He went on to earn his Masters and Doctorate
at USC. Tom stayed in L. A. becoming Principal at Van Nuys High, Roosevelt High and
Narbonne High Schools before retiring in 1971. While at Roosevelt, in 1963, he helped
establish the first
Kiwanas club in the East Los
Angeles area.
During WW 11, Tom joined the Army rising to the rank of Major in the Inspector
General's Office while serving in NewGuinea and the Philippines. He was married to his
first wife, Mildred Dunn for 51 years until her death in 1992. At the timeof his death he
was residing in Oceanside with his second wife of 8 years, Lois Wiess. He is survived by
his wife, two daughter,Tina and Cheryl, grandson, Trevor and two stepdaughters Tinaand
Diane.
Services will
be held at the Lesneski Chapel in San Clemente on Saturday, October 4 at 11:00 AM.
Donations are suggested tohe San Diego Education Fund, which provides scholarships to
college students who wish to become teachers, at 3963 Lamont St. San Diego, CA 92109
Published in the
L. A. Times Oct. 1, 2003
Above 4 obits
contributed by Eleanor E. Borkenhagen
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