Obituaries for week of January 25, 2010

Donald R. Lamb
1931-2009
MERKEL – Mr. Donald R. Lamb, age 78, of Merkel and formerly of Westbrook, died Saturday morning in an Abilene hospital. Services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Christian Fellowship Church with Revs. Pat Jacks and Claudine Chaney officiating. Burial followed in the Colorado City Cemetery under the direction of Kiker-Seale Funeral Home.

Mr. Lamb was born March 5, 1931 in Van Zant County to Gus F. and Zora A Shackleford Lamb. He moved to Mitchell County in 1939. He married Bess L. Rhodes on February 12, 1951 in Snyder. He was retired from the global oilfield business. For the past 18 years he and Bess had been working for US Army Corps of Engineers at various parks throughout the state of Texas. They had recently moved back to Merkel.

He is survived by his wife, Bess Lamb of Merkel; three daughters; Susan and husband, Lanny Skelton of Big Spring, Barbara and husband, Larry Casey of Skiatook, OK, and Vickie and husband Kenneth Briggs of Abilene; one son; Michael Lamb and wife Suzan of San Angelo; seven grandchildren; Jeff Skelton and wife, Becky of Bryan, Gregg Skelton and wife Paige of Midland, Chad Casey and wife Anne of Pflugerville, Cody Casey and wife Misty of Midland, Marissa Briggs of Lubbock, and Malarie Briggs of Stephenville, Tabor Lamb of Lubbock and 11 great-grandchildren. Also survived by four brothers and one sister and one sister-in-law; Gus F and Este Lamb of Junction, Frances Lamb of Colorado City; Gerald and Cindy McCain of Graham, Jerry McCain of Colorado City, John and Carrolyn  McCain of San Antonio, Sharon and Don Burnett of Loraine, and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by one brothe, S.O. Lamb and one sister, Lela Beth McCain.

The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m.  Monday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the Bronson Revival Center in Bronson, TX 75931.

Howard Hendrix
1943-2009
COLORADO CITY – Mr. Howard Hendrix, age 66, of Colorado City, died Sunday, January 24, 2010 at his mother’s residence. Services were held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, January 27, 2010 in the Westbrook Methodist Church with Kenneth Rogers officiating. Burial followed in the Westbrook Cemetery under the direction of Kiker-Seale Funeral Home.

Mr. Hendrix was born September 1, 1943, in Snyder to Price and Lois Newton Hendrix and had been a resident since 1984. His dedication to the well being of his mother for many years has been a blessing. He was a Methodist and a member of the Masonic Lodge.

He is survived by his mother, Lois Hendrix of Colorado City; a daughter, Lorianne and husband, Patrick Toombs; two grandchildren, Brien Toombs of San Angelo and Bethany Toombs of Colorado City.

The family requests memorials are made to the First Methodist Church of Westbrook.

Lydia Franco Alvarez
1929-2009
LORAINE -- Mrs. Lydia Franco Alvarez, age 80, passed away January 19, 2010, at Shannon Hospital in San Angelo.  Rosary was held at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 20 and Thursday, January 21 at the funeral home.  Mass of Christian Burial was held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 22, 2010, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Colorado City, with Father Michael Udegunam officiating. Burial followed in the family cemetery northeast of Colorado City. Services were under the direction of Kiker-Seale Funeral Home.

Lydia was born on September 3, 1929 to Jose Franco and Josefa Alvidrez Franco in Colorado City and was a longtime resident of Loraine and member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church.

She is survived by her husband, Anastacio Alvarez, Sr. of Loraine; children, Anastacio Alvarez,  Jr. and wife, Alice of Snyder,  Daniel Alvarez and wife, Mary of Sugarland, Sammy Alvarez and wife, Delia of Sweetwater, Mary Ann Alvarez of Loraine, Delores  Montoya of Frisco, Robert Alvarez and wife, Mary of Breckenridge, David Alvarez of Loraine, Richard Alvarez of Loraine, Mike Alvarez and wife, Karen of McKinney, Rene Alvarez and wife, Tonia of Mesquite, Margie Villarreal and husband, Catarino, Jr. of Miles, Helen Guerrero and husband, Andrew of San Antonio, Patrice Gibson of Loraine, Charles Alvarez of Loraine, Cheryl Herny of New Port Ritchey, Florida, Gerald Joe Alvarez and wife, Renee of Menifee, California and Fabian Alvarez and wife, Heidi of Bowling Green, Kentucky;  53 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren; sisters, Golla Rivera and Eliova Arispe; brothers, Felix, Refugio, Jesse, Luis, Richard, Alfredo, Israel and Roy Franco.

Lydia is preceded in death by one son, Gabriel James Alvarez and brothers, Salomon and Teodoro Franco

Family and friends can give their condolences at www.mem.com.