Obituaries for week of November 6, 2011

L.C. Devorce

1930-2011
COLORADO CITY -- L.C. Devorce, 81, passed away Monday, November 7, 2011. Funeral Services will be on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at House of Hope Church in Colorado City. Reverend Floyd Green will be officiating services. Family visitation will be at Kiker-Seale Funeral Home on Friday, November 11, 2011, from 6 to 7 p.m. Interment will be at Mitchell County Cemetery.

L.C. was born on March 23, 1930 in Red River County to parents Ellis and Corine Devorce. L.C. married Verna Scott in Colorado City on October 29, 1949. He was a member of House of Hope Church.

L.C. served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict and was in law enforcement for many years, served with police and sheriff departments.

Survivors are his wife, Verna Devorce; sons, Carl Devorce of Elk City, Oklahoma, Charles Johnson of Denver, Colorado and Larry Johnson of Denver, Colorado; daughters, Floyda Collins of Snyder and
Rhonda Williams of Dallas; brothers, Joe Devorce of Phoenix, Arizona, Howard Devorce of Amarillo and Gilbert Devorce of Oakland, California; sister, Diane Devorce of Phoenix, Arizona; 17 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Russell Banks, James Green, Ty Stanford, Mickey Williams, John Johnson, and Demetres Randle.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Carl L. Devorce Jr., Ivy Johnson, Robert Shoals, Isaiah Dawson, Terrance Green, and Timothy Green.

Louella Hall

1923-2011
COLORADO CITY -- Louella Byrne Hall lost her long fight with cancer November 4, 2011; she is at peace with her Lord and Savior. Louella was 88 years, 25 days young. She was born October 10, 1923, in Mertzon to Lottie Stedham Davenport where she lived till moving to Mitchell County. She joined the First Christian Church at the age of 12 and was an active member. She was an active member in the Colorado City church and raised her family there as well, but she attended the First Methodist Church of Colorado City, then the Westbrook church with her daughter.

She was a single mother with three young children, Robert Haley, Ronald Haley, and Sharon O’Neal. She worked as a telephone operator in Mertzon. She was introduced to Bruce Byrne Jr. by a girlfriend on the next ranch over. They married in August of 1951 and moved to the ranch south of Colorado City and became a family.

In 1954 along came a surprise, one more son, Byron B. Byrne III, and then in 1960 along came another surprise, one more daughter, Datha C. Byrne

She was active in several groups in Mitchell and Scurry counties. She was classroom mother for all the kids’ classes, went on senior trips as sponsor, 4-H trips, camp and was stock show mother. She joined the Looney Club Home Demonstration in 1951.

She served in offices at both the county and district level for some 60 years. She also joined the Eastern Star, some 28 years ago, and was an active member in Scurry and Mitchell counties until they closed both chapters. She served on the board of directors at Lone Wolf Electric from 1974-1979.

“Maga” was what the grandkids and great-grand kids, as well as a fair amount of people that were connected to her through the family and friends, called her. She always had cookies made with “Maga dust”. If it could have been bottled, she would have made a small mint. (We know that it was the love she added, but the kids say otherwise.)

She always had hot sauce, banana muffins, and some chocolate chip cookies made when you went to her house. At holidays, the Maga apple and pecan pies were always made. If you wanted some other kind, it was your turn to make it. We all think our mother’s cooking is the best, but we all know that if you had the privilege to eat her cooking, you know that she was wonderful.

After the passing of Byron Bruce Byrne Jr. in October 1977, she worked as a checker at E-Z Way Grocery until she met N.F. “Punk “ Hall and later married him in November 1984. She moved to Hermleigh where she lived until the passing of Punk Hall in March 1994. She returned to the ranch, south of Colorado City.

She is survived by one brother, Buster Davenport of Midland; one sister, Lucille Covey of Mertzon; five sons, John D Hall of Hermleigh, Robert Haley of Austin, Ronny and Laura Hall of Hermleigh, Ron and Betty Haley of Garden Dale, Byron and Phyllis Byrne of Colorado City; three daughters, Donna Hall Beavers of Lubbock, Nikki Westcott Haley Wilson of Las Lomas Ranch in the Hill Country, Datha Byrne and Curtis Johnson of Colorado City; 28 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; two nieces, and one nephew.

The family wishes to celebrate her life. Graveside services were held Sunday, November 6, 2011, at 2 p.m. at the Colorado City Cemetery. Please, in lieu of flowers, make gifts to favorite charity in her name or Hendrick’s Hospice or the Hendrick’s League House.

Julian Reyes

1933-2011
COLORADO CITY -- Julian Lopez Reyes, 78, passed away, Saturday, November 5, 2011 at Mitchell County Hospital. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church. Father Michael Udegbunam will officiate. Rosary was held at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at Kiker-Seale Funeral Home.

Julian was born on July 20, 1933 in Sonora to parents Guillermo and Sophia Reyes. He married Gregoria Reyes on August 21, 1955 in Colorado City. Julian work most of his life with heating and cooling systems repair. He was a member of the Saint Ann’s Catholic Church, where he was a Guadalupano.

Survivors are his sons and daughters, Julian Reyes Jr. of Amarillo, Diana Acuña of Sweetwater, Judith Rivera of Colorado City, Danny Reyes of Overton, Arthur Reyes Sr. of Odessa, Lupe and Alice Gamez of San Angelo, Charles Reyes of Colorado City, Miguel and Carmen Rivera of El Paso, Manuel Reyes of Colorado City, Anthony and Maria Macias of Irvine, California, Christopher Reyes of Colorado City; 22 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Enrique and Ophelia Garcia of Bridgeport, Santos Reyes Sr. of Colorado City; numerous nieces and nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by the late Sylvia, Cynthia and Tracy Reyes; brothers, Guillermo Reyes, Ismael Reyes, Macedonio Reyes; and sister, Olga Reyes.

Pallbearers will be Julian Reyes III, Jacob Reyes, Benjamin Gomez, Jose Acuña, Christopher Reyes Jr., Jesse Gamez, Miguel Rivera III, and Santos Reyes Jr.

All services are under the care and direction of Kiker-Seale Funeral Home.

Kenneth Hamilton

1957-2011
NORMANGEE – Funeral services for Kenneth Hamilton were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at First Baptist Church in Normangee. Burial followed in the Wealthy Cemetery in Normangee. Arrangements were under the direction of Cozart Funeral Home in Normangee.

Kenneth Hamilton was born August 7, 1957, in Monahans to Ottis Hamilton and Elizabeth Mosier, and died Friday, October 28, 2011.
He was well-loved by all his friends and family, the type of person who found good in everyone and never met a stranger. Kenneth was a classic car man, who loved to ride his motorcycle and spend time fishing with his grandchildren. He had a big heart and took great joy in spending time with his children and grandchildren who were the light of his life. Kenneth cared deeply about the community and would donate his time and equipment to help out anyone.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ottis Hamilton and Elizabeth Mosier and a grandson, Payton Kidd.

Survivors include his son, Jeremy Kidd; his daughter, Serina Otts; six step-children, Jack Eastland, Judge Eastland, Ricky Cook, LaJuana Kelly, LaDonna Hebbe and Michelle Crouch; three sisters, Debbie Garrett, Kathy Hamilton and Sharron Hamilton; 25 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Leonard G. Porter

1936-2011
COLORADO CITY – Leonard G. “Leo” Porter, 75, formerly of Big Spring, died on Saturday, October 29, 2011, at his residence. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, November 12 at the pavilion at the Big Spring State Park in Big Spring.

Leo was born on February 23, 1936, in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in North Carolina and came to Big Spring when stationed at Webb Air Force Base. He was an aircraft mechanic for the United States Air Force and later became a pumper in the oilfield, retiring from Tameric Peteroleum.

Survivors include one daughter, Jennifer Wilcox and husband, Steve of Midland; two granddaughters; one grandson; and two sisters, Margaret Toburen of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Doris Jones of Alpharetta, Georgia.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Margaret (Nungesser) Porter.

The family suggests memorials be made to Home Hospice of Big Spring, 111 E. 7th St., Suite A, Big Spring TX 79720.

Arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Big Spring. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com.