Ellis Funeral Home-Midland

Francis Loreta Park Hodges went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Thursday, October 26, 2023. She was born on January 15, 1927 to Minnie Mayhew Park and W.J. Park, Jr. near Winters, Texas. Loreta moved to Ballinger at the age of three with her grandparents, Lula and Will Park, Sr. She attended Ballinger schools and graduated in 1944. While at Ballinger High School she was a member of the Bearcat Band and was also on the tennis team and yearbook. She attended San Angelo Business College and worked at Goodfellow Field. In 1946, Loreta married Rufus C. Hodges of Ballinger and raised four sons and one daughter. They lived in Menard, Ballinger, Alpine, Marfa, Fresno California,...

James Gregory ("Greg") Keys, 89, left this life on October 23, 2023 to be reunited with his beloved wife, Dorothy, in the presence of their Lord Jesus Christ. Greg was born on November 8, 1933 to Ruth Ann and Hollis Keys in Pampa, Texas. He lived in Pampa through High School where he graduated in May 1951. He then moved to Lubbock to attend Texas Tech University, where he met the love of his life, Dorothy Clements, in September 1952. They dated exclusively until their graduation in May 1955 and marriage in June 1955. While at Texas Tech, Greg was a member and Treasurer at his fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon and graduated with Honors with a BBA degree. Upon his graduation, he joined the...

Wanda Jayne (Holder) Saxon was born on January 3, 1929, in Winnsboro, Texas, to Adophus Doc Holder and Cora Ellen (Reeves) Holder. She went on to marry the love of her life, Bryant William Saxon Sr., in Marshall, Texas, and they settled down in Midland, Texas, in 1964. Wanda passed away on October 10, 2023, in Midland at the age of 94. All those who were around Wanda will miss her smile, her magnetic personality, and her love for ladybugs. Wanda graduated from North Texas State University in August of 1968. She then taught for thirty years with MISD until 1998. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Midland and the Midland Retired Teachers Association. She is preceded in death...

Barbara Lynn Ezell (Page) was born on October 28, 1950, in Abilene, TX to Peggy Marie Morgan and Oscar Page. She graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Midland, Texas. Barbara was a co-owner of B&W Chemical Toilets alongside her sons. She married the love of her life, Thomas W. Ezell, on Valentine's Day 1992. Barbara was a wife, mother, sister, quilter, reader, avid collector, Pokemon Go enthusiast and, above all, a giver. Her greatest joy was seeing the faces of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren lite-up when she presented them with gifts. Barbara was surrounded by a large loving family. She is survived by her husband, Thomas W. Ezell; sister, Sandy Gamblin...

Betty Beckham Smith, age 88, of Midland, Texas passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, October 2, 2023. She was born in Ardmore, Oklahoma on May 24, 1935 to Finley and Bernadine Beckham. She was the oldest of three children. Betty attended school in Oklahoma; Rankin, Texas; and her senior year in Whitesboro, Texas, where she graduated. She did attend business college in Dallas and Midland and majored in bookkeeping. She met and married Gay Dean Ragsdale in 1953 to start their life together. They had two children and one on the way when Gay unexpectedly passed in 1960. She later found love again in 1968 and married Foy Lee Smith. They enjoyed many years of family vacations and...

"Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure. You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure." Maria "Mitzi" Schmid passed away peacefully in her home during the evening of September 30th surrounded by family after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's. Mitzi, known to many for her pretzels and by those close to her as Omi, was born in Sudetenland on September 12, 1937, to Franz and Hermine Weis. She and her family resettled in Leonberg, Germany when she was a young child. While in Germany, she met her husband, Karlheinz Schmid, and gave birth to her first son Klaus. In 1962, the small family boarded a ship in Le Harve, France and set sail for America, first settling in...

Donald Lee (Don) Turner entered into eternal life on September 10, 2023, following an illness. We who remain are grateful for the life we shared with our husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Don was born December 12, 1929, near Shamrock in Wheeler County Texas to Thomas Jack Turner and Nona Pearl Alexander Turner. Don was a graduate of Abilene High School, and he attended Odessa College. He was proud to serve our nation in the US Army during the Korean War, attaining the rank of Corporal. He was honorably discharged and returned home to Texas where he worked for Borden as a milkman before going into business for himself. Don was the long-time owner of Don's Deli on Midkiff....

Alice Marie Anderson was born on September 21, 1943 in Post, TX. She went to be with The Lord on Friday, September 8, 2023. Some of you know her as Alice Stewart, some Alice Brown, some friends LadyBug, and family know her as Grandma. She is preceded in death by her mother Ruth Ann Stephens, father Bill Stewart, stepfather Warner Stephens, first love Earl L. Brown, daughter Sandra Brown, and her second love Buster Anderson, grandson Justin Brown, great-grandson Aiden Brown, and a couple of great grand angel babies. She is survived by her son Bobby Brown Sr. of Stephenville, TX, daughter Sara Speed & son-in-law Lonnie Speed of Odessa, TX, 5 grandchildren and spouses (Robin Sercu,...

Bruce Carroll Lendrum, age 78, of Andrews, Texas passed away on Friday, August 25, 2023. Bruce Carroll Lendrum of Midland, Texas passed away on Friday, August 25th at the age of 78. Bruce earned a B.S. in Botany from Tarelton State University, a B.S. in Pharmacology from the University of Texas, and an M.B.A. from Tarelton State University. Bruce was a pharmacist for over 30 years working for Walgreens of Midland, Hendrick Medical Center of Abilene, and Medical Center Hospital of Odessa. He enjoyed activities with his son and daughter-in-law. His interests included growing plants, computers, financial markets and modern art. He is preceded in death by his parents John Lendrum Jr. and Ruth...

Shirley Ann (Norris) Pendleton went home to be with the Lord on Friday, August 25, 2023. She was born on August 21, 1952, in Levelland, Texas, but was raised in Goldsmith, Texas. The Norris family moved to Odessa, Texas where Shirley attended and graduated from Odessa High School in 1970. Shirley married the love of her life Stephen Pendleton on June 4, 1994. They were a match made in Heaven, and were married for 21 happy years. Steve always loved to remind her that she would always be older than he was. As a couple, they loved to spend time with friends and family, travel, and play golf at many different courses all over the US. After retiring from Minihan Oil & Gas, Shirley was...

Shirley Ann (Norris) Pendleton went home to be with the Lord on Friday, August 25, 2023. She was born on August 21, 1952, in Levelland, Texas, but was raised in Goldsmith, Texas. The Norris family moved to Odessa, Texas where Shirley attended and graduated from Odessa High School in 1970. Shirley married the love of her life Stephen Pendleton on June 4, 1994. They were a match made in Heaven, and were married for 21 happy years. Steve always loved to remind her that she would always be older than he was. As a couple, they loved to spend time with friends and family, travel, and play golf at many different courses all over the US. After retiring from Minihan Oil & Gas, Shirley was...

Dorothy Teague, age 89, of Midland, Texas passed away on Sunday, August 20, 2023. Dorothy Jean Rudd was born December 2, 1933 in Krum, Texas to David M. Rudd and Sydda Chism Rudd. Although she was an only child she enjoyed a great number of cousins that she remains close to today. She had interesting jobs growing up: her parents ran the telephone exchange in Krum and part of her job as a child was to ride her bike delivering messages to citizens letting them know that they had a phone call and needed to come to the office to take the call. She made a nickel for each delivery. She graduated as Salutatorian of Krum High School in 1951, where she played basketball and was involved in the...

Joe Zarate, 68, of Midland, TX passed away on Saturday, August 19, 2023. He was born to Paul and Trinidad Zarate on October 12, 1954 in Midland, TX. He graduated from Midland High School and worked most of his career as a grocery manager at Albertsons. He married Sharon Thompson on December 21, 1974, and they would have celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary this year. Together they have 3 kids. His greatest joy was being Grandpa to his 12 grandkids and later Pop Pop to his great-grandkids. He loved family gatherings and traveling with the grandkids, especially to Disney. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, brother Rudolfo Zarate, nephew Rudolfo Zarate Jr., niece Payzlee Zarate,...

Marvin L Zoller, age 98, of Boerne, Texas passed away on Thursday, August 17, 2023. Marvin was born the middle son of Irvin E. and Beulah B. (Shipman) Zoller in a farmhouse on the Guadalupe River, Guadalupe County, Texas, a few miles west of Belmont, Texas. He was raised mostly near Corsicana, Texas and in Van, Texas where he graduated from high school in 1942. After graduation, Marvin attended Texas Technological College for one year until he enlisted in the Army Air Force during World War II. He served in the Army for thirty months and one day, stateside. After the war ended and Marvin was discharged from the Army, he returned to Texas Tech where he completed his degree in petroleum...

Margaret (Peggy) Slevin of Midland TX passed away peacefully with her daughter Linda Hill and granddaughter Kristin Danley by her side on Saturday, August 12, 2023. She was 91. Peggy was born on December 8, 1931 in Philadelphia PA to Margaret and Martin Kersse. She became a Registered Nurse, graduating from St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing class of 1953. She married John (Jack) Slevin on September 7, 1957 and served proudly alongside him as a United States Air Force wife for 22 years and 6 months. In addition to being a military wife, she worked as a nurse in Philadelphia PA, Brownsville NJ, Oscoda MI, Abilene TX and Austin TX, serving for 37 years and retiring in 1990. She was...

Phillip "Phil" Atnipp of Midland, Texas, passed away on August 10, 2023. The Celebration of His Life will be Monday, August 28, 2023, at 11:00 A.M. at First Baptist Church Worship Center in Midland, Texas, officiated by Dr. Darin Wood and Dr. Daniel Vestal. Phil was born April 18, 1978 in Houston, Texas to Mike Atnipp and Myra Dickson Atnipp. He graduated from Midland High School in 1996. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Texas Tech University in 2002. Following graduation, he returned to Midland to begin a career as an independent Petroleum Landman. He worked for a brokerage firm, lawyers, and independent oil companies. Phil worked alongside his dad...

Joan Bechtel, age 89, of Midland, Texas passed away on Wednesday, August 2, 2023. Joan Bechtel was born in San Antonio 89 years ago. She married Robert Bechtel in 1955 and received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Oklahoma that same year. She was active in the Midland Naturalists and the Midland Quilters Guild. Survivors include her husband Robert Bechtel of Midland; her children Dr. Amy Bechtel of Rio Rancho, New Mexico and Dr. Susan Root of Kenesaw, Georgia; and her grandchildren Margaret Root of Los Alamos, New Mexico and William Root of Seattle Washington. Services have already been held.

Raymond Duard Barron died peacefully in his home in Midland, Texas on July 27, 2023, and was surrounded by his family. Ray was born March 6, 1947 to C. Raymond Barron and Iris King in Pittsburg, CA. In 1967, he graduated from Midland High School and married the love his life, Evelyn Ruth Schumann. Together, they built a loving home, large family and enjoyed 54 years of marriage. In the early years, he worked at Connor's Grocery and roofed houses. Soon, he gained employment at Texas Electric/TXU/ONCOR, where he worked for 42 years. Ray went on to teach lineman school in Odessa. He was very proud of his work through the years and made many lifelong friends along the way. Ray was a man of...

Violet Lee Owens went to be with her Lord and Savior on July 21, 2023. She was born July 18, 1934 in Sparenberg, TX to the late Henry and Virgil McNew. She was the youngest of 8 and is survived by a sister, Faye Archer. Violet was married to Gary Glenn Owens who preceded her in death along with their son, Greg Owens. They had 4 other children: Michael Owens and wife Becky, Pat O'Donnell and husband Dennis, Teresa Bustamante and husband Roy, and Glenn Owens and wife Ande. She had 10 grandchildren: Drew, Jon, Austin, Megan, Jessica, Ashley, Erika, Darby, Jacob and Zack, along with 18 great grandchildren. Her favorite color was purple and she adored butterflies, bluebonnets and windmills....

Evangeline "Vangie" Theis Lindsey passed into heaven on June 29, 2023 at the age of 92. Vangie was born December 29, 1930 as the third child of Anton Phillip and Olga Wanda Theis. She was delivered into the world by her maternal grandfather, Dr. J. A. Leggett, in Menard Texas. Her two older sisters liked to say "we were all born in the same bed on the same day of the week, Monday." The Theis family moved to Midland in 1939 when Anton became the Mobile Oil Consignee. Vangie graduated from Midland High School and went off to Texas Tech University at the tender age of 16. She transferred to Baylor University in her Sophomore year and enjoyed many activities and honors prior to her graduation...