This Week

Funeral services for Mary B. Pierce were held at 9:15 a.m. on Friday, Graveside services for Lilly Estell Thomas, age 78, were held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 27, 2000, in Citizens Cemetery with Brian Gochenour, Minister of the Clarendon Church of Christ, officiating.  Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc.

Mrs. Thomas died Tuesday, October 24, 2000, in Aurora, Colorado.  She was born September 16, 1922, in Altus, Oklahoma.  She was a Clarendon resident for 20 years before moving to Denver, Colorado, five years ago.  She married William Lloyd Thomas on September 7, 1940, at Plainview, Texas.  He preceded her in death on March 14, 1992.  She had worked as a nurse’s aide at the Plainview Nursing Home.  She was a homemaker and a member of the Childress Church of Christ.

Survivors include two sons, Jerry L. Thomas of Bloomfield, NM, and Ralph L. Thomas of Denver, CO; one sister, Florence Pillow of Seagraves, Texas; six grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.

Funeral services for Thomas Lynch “Jack” Roach IV, age 19, were held at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 29, 2000, at the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon with Rev. James Ivey Edwards, Pastor, and Don Williams, officiating.  Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funereal Directors, Inc.

Mr. Roach died Friday, October 27, 2000, in Clarendon.  He was born August 26, 1981, in Amarillo where he lived until moving to Clarendon six years ago.  He was a freshman student at WTAMU in Canyon.  He was a 2000 graduate of Clarendon High School, where he participated in football, was in the Bronco Band, and competed in UIL events.  He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon.

Survivors include his father and step-mother, Mr. and Mrs. Tom L Roach, III, of Clarendon; his mother, Rosemary Willis Roach of Amarillo; his grandmothers, Rosemary Allen Roach of Amarillo and Marilyn Willis of Dallas; one sister, Katherine Ashley Roach of Amarillo; one brother, McCullough Johnson Roach of Clarendon; aunts and uncles, Linda Pope of Dallas, Mr. and Mrs. Scott Brosier of Amarillo; and cousins, Ben Brosier, Brennan Brosier, Channing Brosier, Travis Higgins, Sarah Pipes, and Melissa Pipes.

Honorary bearers were Clarendon High School Class of 2000.

The family respectfully requests that memorials be made to the Jack Roach Memorial Fund, Attn: Larry Jeffers, Clarendon High School, Clarendon, Texas 79226.

Helen Noble, age 62, went home to be with the Lord on October 24, 2000. She was born December 30, 1937, in Chamberlain, Texas, to Theodore and Ella (Tucker) Perry, and graduated from Dalhart High School in 1956.

An Arlington resident for five years, Mrs. Noble previously lived in Rockwall County for 17 years and in Clarendon for three years.  She was a member of the Celebration Worship Center.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Bruce Perry, in 1997, and by her parents.

Mrs. Noble is survived by her husband, Ike Noble, of Arlington; sons, Don Noble of Grand Prairie, and Kevin  Noble and Mark Noble, both of Arlington; sister Glenda Albright of Arlington; four grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 28, 2000, at Rest Haven Funeral Home – Rockwall Chapel with Pastor Bill Hysell officiating.  Interment followed in Rest Haven Memorial Park.

Graveside services for Aubert J. “Al” Newberry, Jr., age 82, were held at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 26, 2000, in the Goodnight Cemetery, with Rev. Truman Ledbetter, Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Clarendon, officiating.  Memorial services were held at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel of the First Baptist Church in Corpus Christi.  Burial was in Goodnight Cemetery in Goodnight under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc.

Mr. Newberry died Tuesday, October 24, 2000, in Corpus Christi.  He was born December 17, 1917, in Tulia, Texas.  He was afflicted with Cerebral Palsy and was unable to walk.  It was originally believed that he would not survive until age 5.  Mr. Newberry’s grandfather was Mr. Hardin whom Hardin Simmons University was named for.  Mr. Newberry graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hardin Simmons University and then attended the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas Medical School.  He lived near Premont, Texas, for 28 years where he owned a record shop, a furniture and appliance business, and model dairy.  He was a member of the Lions Club, the Dairy Improvement Assn., the Premont Chamber of Commerce, the Jim Wells County Red Cross, and recently joined the Costal Area Computer Club where he was recently honored.  He served in the Premont and Corpus Christi Baptist churches. He was the psychologist and personnel officer for Goodwill Industries in Corpus Christi.  He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Corpus Christi.

Survivors include many friends and several distant cousins.

Funeral services for Ruby Ann Bullard Lowery, age 89, were held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 26, 2000, in Robertson Chapel of Memories in Clarendon with Rev. Truman Ledbetter, Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Clarendon, officiating.  Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc.

Mrs. Lowery died Saturday, October 21, 2000, in Tucson, Arizona.  She was born October 10, 1911, in Lelia Lake, and was resident of Wills Point for 13 years, then Clarendon for five years before moving to Willcox, Arizona, two years ago.  She married Ray Franklin Lowery on July 6, 1936, at Los Angeles, California.  He preceded her in death on August 15, 1999.  She was employed at Buckner Orphans Home for several years before her retirement.  She was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church in Clarendon.

Survivors include one son, Dr. Kent Lowery and his wife, Suzanna, of Willcox, Arizona; three sisters, Melba Leathers of Clarendon, Dean Angel of Canyon, and Jessie Cruse of Claude; two grandchildren, Mike Lowery of Willcox, Arizona, and Holli Lowery Broyles of Bridgeport, California; and two great grandchildren, Mackennea Broyles and Rhiannon Broyles.

Casket bearers were Mike Lowery, Kevin Brown, Johnny Floyd, Troy Ritter, Kenny Angel, and Bennie Cruse.

Dorothy Wallace Grace Ferdig, age 85, died Monday, October 23, 2000, in Wichita Falls.

Funeral services were conducted on Monday, October 30, 2000, at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel of Hampton Vaughan Crestview, with Rev. Merwin Turner, officiating.  Interment followed at Crestview Memorial Park under the direction of Hampton Vaughan Crestview.

The daughter of the late Raymond E. Wallace and Candace Wallace, she was born September 8, 1915, in Muncie, Indiana.  She moved from Loveland, Colorado, to Wichita Falls where she has been a resident for the past twelve years.  Mrs. Ferdig enjoyed gardening, serving, and cooking.  She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Colorado and United Methodist Women’s Group in Loveland, Colorado.  She worked in department stores in cosmetics and ladies’ fashions.

She was preceded in death by her husband, W.E. Ferdig in 1983, two brothers, and three sisters.

Survivors include her sister Ruth Mills and her husband Melville of Clarendon; her nieces, Frances Jenne and Virginia Turner both of Wichita Falls, Betty Freeman of Collinsville, Oklahoma, Sharon Thomas of Clarendon, Sandra Pruitt of Indiana; her nephews, Doug Miller of Vernon, Roger Wallace of Georgia, William Wallace of Indiana, and Ray Mills of Dallas.

For those desiring, the family suggest that memorial contributions be made to Intentional Caring Unit of Floral Heights United Methodist Church, 2214 10th St., Wichita Falls, Texas 76309 and Grant Street United Methodist Church Building Fund, 2800 Hollywood, Wichita Falls, Texas 76309.

October 13, 2000, at Southside Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Mario Ramos, officiating.  Interment was held at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery under the direction of Southside Funeral Home in San Antonio.

Mrs. Pierce died on Saturday, October 7, 2000.  She was born April 2, 1913, in Gainesville, Texas.

Mrs. Pierce was the youngest of three brothers and two sisters.  She lived in Donley County where she met and married Guy S. Pierce, the Sheriff of Clarendon.  At the age of 17, Mary B. Pierce was the youngest jailer in the United States.  During their 10-year tenure as Sheriff, there were several occasions when Mrs. Pierce was instrumental in capturing runaway criminals.  During Mr. Pierce’s term, both children, Joy and Coy, were born in the jailhouse at the city square.  After the war the Pierces settled in Devine, Texas, where they operated a family lumber business.  Their move to San Antonio was in 1944.  Mrs. Pierce was active as a homemaker and was in retail sales.  Later she became a Real Estate Representative and spent her career working for Henley Realty.  Mrs. Pierce was active in South  San Baptist Church for the past ten years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Guy, and daughter, Joy. 

Survivors include her son, Coy and wife Mary; granddaughter, Sheri Maki and her husband Mark Maki; great grandchildren, Kerrin, Oriana, and Barrett Maki, all of whom live on the central coast of California; nephew, John Pierce and wife Evelyn of Boerne; and a host of family and friends from San Antonio and Clarendon.