Obituaries for week of December 18, 2011

Oneta Sanderson
1921-2011
COLORADO CITY -- Oneta Ruth Franklin Sanderson, 90, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 16, 2011 after a long and blessed journey. A celebration of her life was held on Tuesday, December 20 at 11:00 a.m. at Oak Street Baptist Church with interment following at the Colorado City Cemetery.

Oneta was born on July 13, 1921, to Samuel and Fannie Franklin in Howard County. After growing up in and around Big Spring, she joined the war effort during World War II working as a “Rosie Riveter” in Fort Worth. She married the love of her life, James Luther “Toby” Sanderson, shortly thereafter and spent 49 wonderful years by his side prior to his death. They spent 17 of those years running a small business, Sanderson Jewelry, before retiring in 1981. After retirement, Oneta was an active volunteer with the Root Memorial Hospital’s Pink Ladies Auxiliary where she logged over 2,000 hours helping others.

Oneta’s passion and joy was her love for Jesus Christ. She was a precious woman who tried to love all of those around her like Jesus loved. Through multiple trials and tribulations throughout her life, Oneta was able to find joy and strength and always exuded the patience, love, kindness and joy that could only come through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Oneta was a Sunday school teacher, a Girl’s Auxiliary Leader, and a Girl Scout Leader. She was an active member of Oak Street Baptist Church serving in many capacities during her 55 years of membership.

Oneta leaves behind her precious family of one sister, Zelda Abbe of Big Spring; three children, David Sanderson and wife Ann of Richmond, Virginia, Ken Sanderson and wife Mary Ann of Lubbock, and Leada Sanderson Wood and husband Don of Colorado City. Her legacy includes eight grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Cancer Society or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Coach Russell Coffee
1925-2011
AUSTIN – Coach Russell Coffee whose prolific coaching career spanned an important era of high school and college football in Texas died on December 12th, in Austin. His outstanding ability to inspire, motivate and befriend his players has been a hallmark to his life.

Russell Weldon Coffee was born to Ira M. and Mary Ruth Coffee in Colorado City on April 27, 1925. After graduating from Loraine High School, he joined the U.S. Navy in 1942 and was stationed in the Atlantic and Pacific Theatres, and also China.

After the war, Russell attended and graduated from Abilene Christian College, lettering in football, baseball, tennis and track. In 1949, his first coaching job was at San Angelo. Coffee also received his MS from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene.
After coaching at Llano High School and Lamesa High School, where his teams won multiple district championship titles, he moved to Weatherford and served as Athletic Director and head football coach at Weatherford High School.

Coffee then moved to the University of Texas as an assistant coach to Darrell Royal from 1959 until 1967. While Russell was an assistant coach, the university won four Southwest Conference Championships, a National Championship and played in seven bowl games.

During 1968-1971, as head coach of Garland High School, he was twice named “Coach of the Year” in the Dallas area. From 1972-73, Coffee coached at Texas Christian University as the offensive coordinator.

He is survived by his longtime companion, Ginny Harper; his three children and daughter-in-law, Rusty and Maribeth Coffee of Tool, Craig Coffee, Kay Lynn Coffee Watson of Austin; his sisters, Mara Lee Nichols of Whitney and Jane Sandlin of Austin and his 10 grandchildren.

A “Celebration of Life” memorial service will be held after the first of the year.

Rick Whatley
1951-2011
DAYTON -- Rick Whatley, 60, of Dayton, went to his heavenly home Friday, December 16, 2011, at the San Jacinto Methodist Hospital in Baytown.

Memorial services were held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, December 18, 2011, at the Pace-Stancil Funeral Home Chapel in Dayton.

Rick was born February 3, 1951 in Hico, to Dale Whatley and Dorothy Turner, a former resident of Colorado City and Midland. He has resided in Dayton for the past 28 years. He was a graduate of the Colorado High School class of 1969, veteran of the US Army, a Product Coordinator for Enterprise Products of Mt. Belvieu with 28 years of employment, and member of the P.G.A. of America. He also enjoyed playing golf, taking his children and grandchildren fishing, riding motorcycles, and Friday night dinners with family. He will be remembered as a loving husband, dad, papaw, son, brother, friend, and patriot.

Mr. Whatley was preceded in death by his father, Dale Whatley; mother, Dorothy Turner Motley; and brother, Jerry Dale Whatley. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Joyce Orrell Whatley of Dayton; son, Ryan Whatley of Dayton; daughters, Jill Dumont and husband Chris of Dayton and Tamra Christiansen and husband Corey of San Antonio; father, Bob Motley of Colorado City; sisters, Alice Anderson of Midland and Patty Roberts of Dallas; parents-in-law, Luke and Jaurie Orrell of Ft. Worth; sister-in-law, Luanne Jay of Dayton; grandchildren, Dyllan, Lauren, Collin, Joslynn, and one on the way; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

In lieu of usual floral remembrances, the family requests donations be made to the American Heart Association at 10900-B Stonelake Blvd. Suite 320; Austin, TX 78759.

Doris Nell Hooks
1926-2011
ODESSA -- Doris Nell Hooks passed away Monday, December 19, 2011 in Odessa.

She was born April 28, 1926 to Emmett and Hattye Belle Parrish Blassingame in the Buford community in Mitchell County. She attended Buford School and graduated from Colorado High School in 1943. She then attended the Dallas Methodist Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in September 1946. She worked as an RN at Root Memorial Hospital in Colorado City. She was married to Jay Allen Hooks on March 15, 1947 at Buford Methodist Church where they were both members. Jay and Doris had known each other all of their lives. They had three daughters and farmed for almost 10 years near Colorado City and near Stanton where Doris was a Martin County school nurse.

The family moved to Odessa in 1956 and joined St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. They were active in the church, in the Christopher Sunday School Class and in the men’s and women’s groups. They served on several committees and boards at the church and were recognized for their service to the United Methodist Women and the church. Doris took part in PTA and scouting with her daughters and was a 4-H Leader as well as a Permian Band Booster. She was also active in the Ector County Home Demonstration Club.

She volunteered in the community delivering Meals on Wheels and at Interfaith where for 25 years she helped young women to become more self-sufficient by teaching them to sew for their families. She also worked as a VISTA Volunteer at the Food Bank of the Permian Basin. She loved to sew and knit and made much of the clothing her children and grandchildren wore as they grew up.

Jay and Doris loved to travel, going to Hawaii three times, Europe twice and visiting all but three states. After their retirement, they split their time between their home in Odessa and their home near Cloudcroft, New Mexico where they relaxed, gardened, visited with friends and attended Cloudcroft United Methodist Church.

Survivors include daughters, Cheryl Chancellor and husband Stan of Fort Worth, Elaine Stephens and husband Mike of Odessa, and Joni Holdridge and husband Don of Odessa. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Cristina Chancellor and Ryan Chancellor of Euless, Nathan Stephens and Paul Stephens of Odessa, Bernadette Thornton and husband Matt of Houston and Tori Marshall and husband Rob of Odessa. She is also survived by her sister, Martha Hamilton of Friona and her sisters-in-law, Blanche Hooks Turner Hext of Dallas and Jan Blassingame of Colorado City; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by Jay Hooks, her husband of over 60 years, her parents, and her brothers Don, Frank, J.W. and Murrell Blassingame. Jay and Doris also enjoyed the companionship of their beloved cat, Gato, for 15 years.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, December 21, 2011 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home. Services will be held at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church of Odessa on Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 11:00 a.m., and will be officiated by Rev. Brad Bennett of St. Luke’s and Doris’ nephew Rev. Gary Turner of First United Methodist Church of Euless.

Memorials may be directed to St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Sunset Funeral Home. To sign the guest book, go to our website at www.sunsetodessa.com.