E.V. Murphy of Lubbock Texas, formerly of Brownfield Texas Passed away December 16, 2020 at his home surrounded by his family. Services will be held Monday December 21, 2020 at First United Methodist Church in Brownfield at 2:00 pm.
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Merejildo Cruz went to be home with the Lord on Friday, December 11, 2020. The family of Merejildo Cruz will honor his life of 80 years with a Prayer Service at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 17, 2020, at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers, followed by a time of fellowship and remembrance from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Celebration services will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, December 18, 2020, also at the Chapel. Merejildo was born to Armando and Anita Cruz on April 13, 1940, in Georgetown, Texas. He married the love of his life, Carolina Orosco Cruz in Brownfield on November 16, 1957, and they were married for over 63 years. A fourth-grade education did not stop Merejildo, he was an intelligent man, self-driven and self-taught with an attention to detail and strong work ethic. Merejildo was a hard worker and a good provider for his family. He farmed for over 36 years in Meadow, Texas. He was given the gift of working with his hands and after his retirement, he enjoyed spending time in his welding shop building and fabricating smokers, grills, and trailers. He was also a classic car enthusiast. He loved taking on new projects and restoring cars. Merejildo was the patriarch of his family, had a big heart, and loved his family dearly. He lived life for his wife, children, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren. He created a legacy of love and friendship that his family will continue to carry on. Survivors include his loving wife, Carolina Cruz, their three children Betty Fuentes, Laura (David) Ponce, and Ruben (Sandy) Cruz; four grandchildren: Mark (Victoria) Cruz, Crystal Ponce, Ryan (Danielle) Cruz, and Candace Fuentes; three greatgrandchildren: Luke, Malachi and Isaiah; and a beloved nephew that he considered his brother, Paul Cruz. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Carolina Cruz, his parents, and his siblings, Elvira Gamino, Juan Cruz, Pedro Cruz, Manuela DeLaRosa, Trinidad Flores, Bernabe Cruz, Consuela Orosco and Manuel Cruz. Seating is limited to 65 seats, face coverings are mandatory, and the staff will enforce social distancing in compliance with state regulations. These precautions are to ensure that the family, staff, and our community are safe. The service will be live-streamed at www.memorialdesigners.net, where you are encouraged to sign the virtual guestbook and share memories and expressions of sympathy.
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Funeral services for Eddie Cecil Cooper were held 2 p.m. Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at Brownfield Funeral Home with Dale Matlock officiating. Eddie passed away Monday, December 7, 2020 in Brownfield. He was born on August 27, 1935 in Hamlin, Texas to Ollie and Maggie Cooper. He served in the United States Army. Eddie married Bettie Sue Proctor on December 31, 1960 in Juarez, Mexico. Eddie worked as a custom harvester for over 60 years. He loved his pets and was always making a joke or pulling a prank. Recently, Eddie loved spending his time with his great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his sister, Olliefay Stuart and brother, Tommy Cooper. Eddie is survived by his wife, Sue Cooper; three children, Roger Pendley and wife, Kay of Brownfield, Kitha Tankersley and husband, Brad of Brownfield, Eddie Joe Cooper and wife, Sheila of Brownfield; four grandchildren, Melinda Barrett of Fort Worth, Jo’Shae Worley and husband, Jerry of Brownfield, J.R. Ferguson and wife Kayla of Lubbock, Brit Shaw and husband, Dillon of Brownfield; eleven great grandchildren; and two brothers, J.W. Cooper of Lubbock, and Richard Cooper of Milsap.
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Mildred Maurine Minter Caswell was born on March 24, 1926 to James Herbert and Ida Elizabeth Minter. She was the fourth child of eight. Her family moved around a lot, looking for work during the depression years. In one of those moves, they ended up at Meadow, Texas. It was at Meadow, hoeing in the cotton fields, that she met Cletus Caswell. Cletus always said she was the one “who makes my heart go round and round and makes my socks roll up and down.” They met at the end of the rows, with her hoeing in one field, and he in another. Pretty soon they would just hoe long rounds together. Cletus could not summon the courage to ask this pretty young thing out on a date, so he traded his best rooster to his little brother Neal, so Neal would ask her. Maurine said no. She would not go out with him until he could ask her himself. Rather than risk going out of the chicken business, Cletus finally did ask her out. They decided they were going to get married when they were both 17. The went to several places to try to find one that would marry them at that age. Finally, one man told them to tell the next judge they were 18. Cletus, not wanting to lie about it, when asked how old they were replied, “We were told to tell you we were 18.” So the judge married them and Cletus didn’t have to lie. They married on October 16, 1943. It wasn’t long afterward that duty called, and Cletus had to leave to serve his country. Maurine used to talk about hearing that train whistle taking him away. She said every time she heard a train; her heart would break all over again. He finally came home and they began to farm at Meadow. Two little girls were born into their lives. Debbie first in 1953 and Gina in 1955. It was around this time that they both began to feel God’s call on their lives. Maurine had been saved at the little old church in Meadow. They rededicated their hearts and lives to Jesus in their bedroom, kneeling together on the floor. Soon afterwards, Cletus surrendered to the ministry. They lived in Plainview while he went to Wayland. Before long they moved to Union where Cletus served as pastor of the Union Baptist Church and Maurine served faithfully in her role as the pastor’s wife. She worked so hard at the church, doing whatever was needed, even to the point of being the janitor at the church for a time. She taught so many classes and loved all the kids. They later served at the Woodrow Baptist Church, before moving back to Union. Maurine loved sports of all types. She loved to watch the old Saturday night black and white wrestling matches on TV and loved watching the Cowboys back in the heyday when the Cowboys were America’s Team. She was a subscriber to the Dallas Cowboy Weekly. Cletus would remind her when she would be yelling at the television, “Mother! They can’t hear you.” She made sure he always knew when the Cowboys had the noon game on Sunday, so he would be through preaching in time. She loved watching her girls play basketball, tennis or whatever they were doing. She minced no words if she thought her own daughters were not playing their best. They remember hearing her yelling at them from the stands, or rather, yelling at the coach. “If she isn’t going to play any better than that, then take her out!” But she never missed a game if she could help it. Later in life, she became mother to another little girl, Josie. This little girl was 15 and needed a home and she found one with the Caswell family, for sure. She was always just like their own daughter. Maurine enjoyed watching Josie play sports also, and yelled at her just like she did Debbie and Gina! She was serious about doing your best! Maurine also worked at Anthony’s Department Store for many years and had so much fun laughing with the people with whom she worked. Cletus went home to be with Jesus in 2015. Maurine said she knew that God would come get her when He had her house finished. As time went on, Maurine was heard to say, “Well, I know my house is going to be a lot nicer than Cletus’s. God has been working on mine a whole lot longer.” Finally, she did get to see her home in heaven and we are grateful for that promise fulfilled. Maurine was preceded in death by her husband Cletus, her son-in-law Mike Kelly, a granddaughter, as well as her parents, and brothers Ralph and Jack, and sisters Era Lea, Gertie, and Linda. She leaves behind her daughters - Debbie Caswell, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Gina Kelly, of Brownfield, and Josie Alvarez and husband Bobby, of Midland. She also leaves grandchildren - Kristy and Jesse Garcia, Kyle and Carol Kelly, Caleb Caswell-Levy and Madison Allen Caswell-Levy, Noah Caswell-Levy and Stephanie Busby, Sarah Alvarez and Macy Alvarez. And great grandchildren Tabitha Garcia, Ariana Garcia, Ein Martinez, Kenneth Martus and Braylon Bruno. She also leaves brothers Rick Minter and wife Wendy, and Dickie Minter and wife Delores, as well as sisters-in-law Ladoyce Caswell, Rowena Caswell and Norma Carol Caswell. And many, many nieces and nephews. The family wants to thank Patty Ward and the wonderful staff at Cottage Village for their care these last few years. She could not have had a better final home or better care. Also, thanks to Legacy of Love Hospice for their awesome care. And certainly, Tomasa Longoria who cared for Maurine at home until she had to move to Cottage Village. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to First Baptist Church, Brownfield.
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Edward Royce Aldridge, “Eddie,” was born August 31, 1954, in Kermit, Texas, to T.R. and Betty Aldridge. Eddie grew up in Loop, Texas. He graduated from Loop High School in 1973. He married his high school sweetheart, Peggy Heathcoat, on June 21, 1975 at Calvary Baptist Church in Brownfield. He went on to serve his country as an E-4 Specialist in the United States Army at Ft. Hood through 1978. Eddie worked loyally for Hess Corporation for 27 years. He was a lifelong learner with certifications and degrees in Mechanics, Diesel Mechanics, and Petroleum Technology. Eddie was a loving husband to Peggy, a proud father of his two daughters, Randi Souter and Kaci Brown, and a devoted Papaw to Pyper and Koby Souter; and Royce, Kyle, and Trey Brown. He was a humble man who loved his wife, his family, his country, and gold-panning. Most importantly, he loved Jesus. He continued his studies with our Heavenly Father on Saturday, December 5, 2020. He was greeted in Heaven by those preceding him in death: his mother and father, Betty and Ralph, and his triplet sons, Keith, Kyle, and Kevin. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Peggy, daughters and sons-in-law, Randi and Bryan Souter of Lubbock; Kaci and Matt Brown of Wylie; sister and brother-in-law, Jackie and Timmy Smith of Loop; and brother and sister-in-law, Dennis and Gerry Aldridge of Magdalena, NM. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Eddie Aldridge, by check, to Immanuel Baptist Church of Brownfield at P.O. Box 265, Brownfield, TX 79316.
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Graveside service for Concepcion Garcia were held on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 2pm at Brownfield Cemetery with Father Jose Kochuparambil officiating. Rosary was held on Monday, December 7, 2020 from 6pm to 8pm at Brownfield Funeral Home. Concepcion passed away on December 4, 2020 in Lubbock. She was born on February 26, 1942 in Asherton, TX to Teofilo and Felipa Cortez. Concepcion married Guadalupe Garcia on May 29, 1964 in Crystal City, TX. She was a hardworking, strong, beautiful woman. Concepcion was a loving and caring mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother with a heart of gold. She was a character who could always make you laugh. Concepcion is preceded in death by her husband, Guadalupe Garcia; parents, Teofilo and Felipa Cortez; grandson, Christopher Garcia; brothers, Pedro Cortez and Christoval V. Cortez. Concepcion is survived by her daughter, Ramona Martinez; two sons, Juan Garcia and wife Sally, Guadalupe Garcia Jr. and wife Silvia; grandson Frankie Garcia and wife Victoria; grandchildren, Joe Victor Garcia, Bobby Garcia, Ashley Garcia, Roland Martinez, Jason Martinez, Timothy Martinez, Tiffany Martinez, JJ Garcia, Stephanie Garcia; and 25 great-grandchildren.
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Forever remembering the life of Bobby Glen Trent,(77) who passed away on December 3, 2020. As the son of Julian Marcus Hazel Trent, he was born in Odessa and raised in Denver City, TX. He graduated Denver City High School class of 1961. Bobby was the owner of Mustang Country Chevrolet Buick in Denver City, where you most likely met his smiling face sometime in the last 50 years or more, always wishing everyone a Happy Day! He just couldn’t hide that Trent Pride! As a pillar to his community and friend to many, everyone alike is extremely proud of his accomplishments, to include his other businesses: Trent Motor Co. Inc, Trent Estates, Farmers Insurance Agent, Bobby T Investments LLC, Bobby T Construction LLC, also DBA: Bobby Trent Properties and RV Parks, Circle T Construction, Circle T Spread-Circle T Ranch. He is survived by his wife Charlene Trent of Denver City. His sisters: Mary Ann Carter of New Braunfels, Patricia Culpepper of Friendswood, and Jean Dolloff of Brownwood, TX. Children: Christi Reddick of Conroe, Mark and Rhonda Trent of Malaga, NM, Ron and Candy Hatfield of Granbury, and Gary Melonee Hatfield of Paris, TX. Also 13 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. Visitation Thursday, December 10, 2002 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Ratliff Funeral Home Chapel. Bobbys funeral service is Friday, December 11, 2020 at 11am: First Baptist Church, 519 W. 4th St, Denver City, TX. Graveside service to follow at Denver City Cemetery.
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LaNora Tanner Welch – A private family graveside service for LaNora Welch, 85, of Brownfield, Texas, will be held 2:00 P.M. Monday, December 7, 2020, at Gaines County Cemetery, Seagraves, Texas. Officiating will be Rev. David Welch. Services under the direction of Ratliff Funeral Home of Brownfield. LaNora was born July 25, 1935, to the late Lonnie and Nora Parrish Tanner in Willow Wells, Texas. She went home to be with her Lord December 2, 2020, in Lubbock, Texas. She attended Seagraves public schools until she married Jack Welch in June of 1950, in Seagraves. Jack was a farmer and LaNora was fully involved. Together they raised their four sons as a farm family. She loved everything about that life. Later she earned an associate’s degree from business school and worked in varying agri-businesses. Later in life she moved to Brownfield and became a member of Calvary Baptist Church. Her faith was important to her, having placed her faith in Christ as a teenager. Her legacy of strength and resilience is honored by all her family. And they will cherish every hand-stitched quilt, every crocheted blanket, every hand-sewn apron. She was preceded in death by her husband Jack in 1986. She is survived by her sons, Billy Welch and his wife Debra from Seminole, Texas; Bobby Welch from Meadow, Texas; David Welch and his wife B.J. from Houston, Texas; and Dale Welch from Arkansas City, Kansas. She is also loved and missed by her nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
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