Friends We’ll Miss

Robert c. adams ’62 of Snyder, Texas, died September 27, 2007. catherine L. Jones Baldridge ’32 of Austin, Texas, died November 1, 2007. Tommye M. Boothe of Abilene, Texas, died October 31, 2007. clara Brown of Abilene, Texas, died September 25, 2007. Shane a. Brue ’90 of Big Spring, Texas, died November 10, 2007. James caswell of Dallas, Texas, died October 22, 2007. Geneva R. Davis of Amarillo, Texas, died August 4, 2007. Joye a. arey Dyess ’39 of Tampa, Florida, died July 31, 2007. Mamye Germann of Abilene, Texas, died October 11, 2007. Betty L. Holle Griffin ’62 of San Antonio, Texas, died September 27, 2007. charline Ely Harless ’36 of Bedford, Texas, died August 24, 2007. John a. Harris ex ’57 of Amarillo, Texas, died September 6, 2007. Elizabeth Parker Hogsett of Marble Falls, Texas, died August 27, 2007. Wanda Lou yarbrough Holland of Lubbock, Texas, died November 26, 2007. Sara G. Greer Kimble ’62 of Granbury, Texas, died September 14, 2007. George Leitner, of Abilene, Texas, died November 22, 2007. Iva Dell conway Lively of Clyde, Texas, died January 4, 2008. Gene McGehee ’43 of Manvel, Texas, died December 29, 2007. Margaret Smith Medley ex ’31 of Abilene, Texas, died August 2, 2007. Kristin R. Mitchell ’04 of Abilene, Texas, died December 2, 2007. charles H. Mote ’57 of Mineral Wells, Texas, died August 7, 2007. Blake alan Nichols of Midland, Texas, died July 31, 2007. Margaret Oliver died November 16, 2007. Jim L. Pierce ’76 of Roswell, New Mexico, died September 6, 2007. John W. Polk ’53 of Abilene, Texas, died September 12, 2007. Kent Potts of Clyde, Texas, died November 13, 2007. Gene Shackelford ’71 of Giddings, Texas, died December 15, 2007. Mary c. Daniel Stone ex ’46 of Abilene, Texas, died November 12, 2007. Frances M. carr Thomas of Abilene, Texas, died December 24, 2007. Ginger Thornton of Abilene, Texas, died December 25, 2007. Ruth Wells of Dumas, Texas, died August 15, 2007. carol Weyant of Odessa, Texas, died December 19, 2007. Winston a. Whitt ’87 and Zenaida Miras Whitt of Lubbock, Texas, died October 19, 2007. charles W. Wilkinson ’63 of Freeport, Texas, died August 25, 2007. Ruth M. Wilson ’62 of Abilene, Texas, died January 2007. Gusolyn yarbrough ’44 of Abilene, Texas, died August 10, 2007.

Obituaries

Clara Brown

Clara Seher Brown of Abilene passed away on Tuesday, September 25, 2007. Mrs. Brown was born March 18, 1914, to Margaret and Jacob Seher of Fresno, California. Clara and Robert Brown were married on November 11, 1938 in Abilene, Texas. Preceding Clara in death were her husband in February 1994 and her five brothers: Jake, Ray, Edward, Floyd and Walter.

Clara and Bob Brown spent their early years of marriage on the family ranch just north of Tye, Texas. In 1950, they moved to Abilene where they were active members of St. Paul United Methodist Church. Clara was a long-time member of the Abilene Woman’s Club, Abilene Garden Club and P.E.O. Her heartfelt sense of responsibility and commitment to fully giving herself in everything she did will always be remembered by those whose lives she touched. Clara loved both travel and the environment, which she endeavored to protect and cherish.

Clara Brown is survived by her daughters, Barbara Miers and husband, Bynum, of Abilene and Nancy Brown of Arroyo Grande, California; as well as grandchildren, Bobby Miers and wife, Sarah, Jay Miers and wife, Kim, and Shannon Miers and wife, Jamie; and great-grandchildren, Robert Miers and wife, Samantha, Jeremy Miers and fiancée, Cindy, Samuel Miers and wife, Chelsea, Alyssa Miers and Landon Miers. She is also survived by a sister, Lillian Seher of Ventura, California; two brothers, Roy Seher and wife, Pat, of Eureka, California, and Clarence Seher and wife, Madge, of Salmon, Idaho; and sister-in-

FrIENDS WE’LL MISS

law, Mary Ann Seher Doyle of Tacoma, Washington.

Clara and Bob Brown were longtime friends and supporters of McMurry University, the West Texas Rehabilitation Center, Sears Methodist Retirement System, Abilene Garden Club, P.E.O. Noah Project and many other charitable institutions.

George Leitner

George Newton Leitner died November 22, 2007. George was the husband of Tommye Ann Leitner, who currently serves on the McMurry University Board of Trustees. George was born November 3, 1926 in Arcadia, Florida. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, in June 1948, and was a fighter pilot in the Korean War, flying 100 missions. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

George moved to Abilene from Dallas in 1958 to open Abilene’s first NYSE brokerage firm, Schneider, Bernet and Hickman. He retired from Merrill Lynch in July 2000. He married Peggy Winfrey in June 1948 and had four children. He married Tommye Ann Moore in October 1988. He is preceded in death by one daughter, Marian Leitner Schmidt. He is survived by his wife, Tommye Ann; one son, George William Leitner and wife, Pam, of Santa Fe, New Mexico; their children, Nick and Julia; a daughter, Garrie Leitner of East Greenwich, Rhode Island; a daughter, Susan Blume and husband, Arthur, of East Greenwich, Rhode Island; their children, Joshua and Zachary; a step-daughter, Mara Barham and husband, Brett, of Odessa, Texas; their children, Nick, Cooper and Molly; a step-son, Doug Moore and wife, Stormy, of Sunnyvale, Texas.

Mary C. Daniel Stone ex ’46

Mary Corinne Daniel Stone was born on October 25, 1918, to Robert Walter and Clara Olive Barber Daniel in Cisco, Texas, and died Monday, November 12, 2007.

Mary graduated from Abilene High School. She married the Rev. Dr. Richard Cyril Stone ’46 whom she met at St. Paul United Methodist Church while they were still students at McMurry College, now McMurry University. While he pursued his education, she settled in to rear a family in a series of parsonages and added to her education as the opportunity came, studying at Texas Western University (now University of Texas at El Paso) and Southern Methodist University.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her four brothers: Paul, Rankin, Charles C. and Judge J. Neil Daniel. Also preceding her were two sisters, Fern, who died in infancy, and Laura Daniel Brashear.

Besides her husband, she is survived by their seven children: Martha Jeanne and husband, Graham Bridges, Elizabeth Ann and husband, Girvin Harkins, Mary Frances and husband, Walter Bains, Richard Cyril Stone Jr. and wife, Carol, Robert Edward and wife, Cynthia, Sarah Margaret (Sally) and husband, Phillip Sneed, Russell David and wife, Sheryl. There are 10 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and a loved sister-in-law, Frances Hill (Weeze) Daniel.

Hazel Hamilton Weaver ’28

Hazel Hamilton Weaver, age 98, of Lewisville, Texas, died February 5, 2007.

Hazel Hamilton Weaver was born August 30, 1908 in Dexter, New Mexico to the late Ulysses S. and Edith O. (Starr) Hamilton. She attended public schools in Carlsbad, New Mexico, and Abilene, Texas. She graduated from Abilene High School and received degrees from McMurry College (1928) in Abilene and Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls. In 1930 she and Joe Weaver were married in Abilene, Texas. He preceded her in death on June 29, 1982.

Joe and Hazel had two children: M.J. Jr. and Helen Irene. Helen (Weaver) Elrod died in 1977. After Helen’s death, Joe and Hazel were blessed to raise Glyn Elrod, their grandson.

Hazel was a teacher for 32 years and held positions

in Ballinger, Tahoka, Seymour, Cisco, and Olney. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and was very active in several organizations. She was a member of the Music Club, the Beta Sigma Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, the Hamilton Hospital Auxiliary, the Altruistic Club and a teacher of the Bryan-Drum Sunday School Class for many years. After retiring from teaching, she was the church secretary in the Cisco United Methodist Church for two years. Upon returning to Olney, she was assistant secretary of the First United Methodist Church in Olney and in 1982 became secretary, retiring in 1991.

She is survived by one son, Joe Weaver, and wife, Pat, of Hurst, Texas; a grandson, Glyn Elrod, and wife, Cindy, of Lewisville, Texas; four other grandchildren, Rick Weaver, Randy Weaver, Terry Suagee and Penni Penick; eleven great-grandchildren; and five great-great grandchildren.

Carol Weyant

Carol E. Weyant of Odessa passed away Wednesday, December 19, 2007. Carol was the wife of David Weyant ’70, who is a former member of the McMurry University Board of Trustees and the mother of Amy Weyant ’95, who previously served as Director of Admissions at McMurry University.

She was born on December 2, 1942, in Aitch, Pennsylvania, to Allen R. and Olive Grove. She married David Weyant on December 19, 1964 in Alexandria, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Juniata Valley High School. With her husband, she lived in communities in Pennsylvania including Clearville, Bloomsburg and White Haven. They came to Texas in 1977 and worked at churches in Iraan, Kermit, Odessa, Monahans, Wickett, El Paso as well as Hobbs, New Mexico. She worked for Rye Supply Company in Iraan and for Permian Mack/Bruckner’s Truck Sales and Services in Odessa for 15 years. She was a member of the Dorcas Circle at Highland United Methodist Church, sang in the choir and enjoyed jigsaw puzzles.

She is preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Allen R. Grove Jr. and Elwood Grove. She is survived by her husband, David Weyant of Odessa; daughters, Janet Weyant of Odessa and Amy Weyant of Fairfax, Virginia; brother, Warren Grove of Odessa; sisters-in-law, Sarah Grove of Odessa, Donna Grove of Alexandria, Pennsylvania, Lori and husband, Rick Maki, of Denver, Colorado, Jane and husband, Rudy Deutschmann, of Boulder, Colorado, and brother-inlaw, Tom Weyant, of Holland Patent, NY. 

CORRECTION

The McMurry University Alumni Relations Office would like to sincerely apologize to Connie Parmelly Petree ’65. In the Fall 2007 issue of the Chieftain, we incorrectly noted her death. We sincerely apologize to Connie and her family for this error.

FrIENDS WE’LL MISS

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Please contact the Office of Admission to volunteer today!

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Thank you to all these alumni who have given their time to spread the McMurry spirit across Texas!

Cort Arthur Carrie Bierck Lane Boyd Tamra Boyd Adam Burns Mike Carr Bo Evans Holland Evans Orland Gilbert Bob Gillette John-Paul Huber Meredith Jacobsen David Johnson K.O. Long Gene Maxwell Janet May Chris Montoya Sandy Pappas Staci Pappas Derrell Patterson Bobby Ramage Jennifer Ross Nicole Salerno Travis Smith Jesse Suffield Jana Vise

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