Elmer Lester Venable

Graveside services for Elmer Lester Venable, age 93, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 7, 2004, in the Claude Cemetery with Kent Watson, Minister of the Claude Church of Christ, officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Venable died Sunday, December 5, 2004, in Claude.  He was born June 1, 1911, in Huckaby, Erath County, Texas.  He was a resident of Bovina before moving to Claude almost 30 years ago.  He married Viola Lee “Polly” Malone on November 24, 1930, in Lovington, NM.  He had worked much of his life as a trucker, and he had worked for Parmer County for several years as a heavy equipment operator before his retirement.  He was a member of the Claude Church of Christ.

He was preceded in death by his wife on December 4, 2002; a daughter, Patricia Ann Venable in 1933; a son, Elmer Stanley Venable in 1995; two brothers, Vester Cleatus Venable in 1976 and Chester Cirby Venable in 1994.

Survivors include a daughter, Betty Jean Salmon and husband Don of Claude; a daughter-in-law, Dannie Lovina “Tessie” Venable; one brother, Elton Radford Venable of Bovina; two sisters, Vila Mae Wilkerson of Corpus Christi and Sara Marie Wilkerson of Amarillo; five grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; and two great great grandchildren.