WILKIRSON HATCH BAILEY FUNERAL HOME

Barbara McLeod Santos passed away Thursday, October 13, 2022. Services will be Friday, October 21, at 1:00 p.m., with Dr. Randall Perry officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, October 20, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. Barbara was born in Crossett, Arkansas, to Larche Bryant McLeod Sr. and Vera Brooks McLeod. She grew up in Crossett, graduated from Crossett High in 1956, and was an accomplished vocalist and pianist. She went on to study nursing at Baylor University and completed her nursing degree at St Paul's Nursing School in Dallas. While at Baylor and helping with Friday night missions Barbara met Ruben Santos whom she...

Abel often said, "I should have been dead before I was 21 because of a series of events." But at age 23, he asked Jesus into his heart. That night, he dreamed he was in St. Anne's auditorium playing his guitar when he saw a bright, white figure float down, which he knew was God. God said, "Abel, I want you to sing for me." Abel answered, "But God, why do you want ME to sing for you when you have people like Elvis?" And God said, "Abel, I want you to sing 'How Great Thou Art.'" As Abel began to sing, God floated back up. Abel said that's when he knew God had called him to sing for Him. And that he did?to thousands. God was merciful to give Abel 51 more years of life, even though the last six...

Andrew Taylor Ford, 36, passed away on October 3, 2022, at his home in San Antonio. A private gravesite service was held on Friday, October 7, at Oakwood Cemetery in Waco. With his broad smile, infectious laugh and energetic personality, Andrew was a friend to everyone. He was always there for friends in need. Andrew faced setbacks in life with courage and determination and came back from each stronger than before. Andrew was born and raised in Highland Park, Texas, and graduated from Highland Park High School. Growing up he played baseball, basketball, soccer, and lacrosse. He loved all things outdoors-especially hunting at the family ranch, fishing, and jet skiing. Andrew was a fitness...

Charles Edward Gamble passed away Thursday, September 22, 2022. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, November 5 at 1:30 at First Presbyterian Church in Waco, 1100 Austin Avenue.

Merritt Leon Rapp, 95, passed away at home Monday, August 15, 2022. Visitation will be held at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, 6100 Bosque Blvd., Waco, Texas, on Sunday, August 21, 2022, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Burial will follow on August 27, at Beaver Union Cemetery, Beaver, Ohio. Merritt Rapp was the eighth of nine children born to Jacob and Bertha Rapp in Beaver, Ohio. He attended Beaver schools and graduated from Ohio University. He loved his hometown, visited every year, and followed local news in his hometown paper. He served in the Navy at the end of WWII and as a public school teacher for three years. He married Wanda Lee Maggard on May 20, 1951. He worked as an office manager for...

John K. Hatchel passed away Thursday, July 21, 2022. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, July 25, at Woodway First United Methodist Church, with Rev. Tom Robbins officiating. A Reception will follow at the church. John was born November 5, 1942, in Oklahoma City, Okla., to Byrd and Vivian Beazley Hatchel. He married Linda Lowes Hatchel in Canyon, Texas. Their daughter, Barbara Elaine, was born in Abilene. John graduated from West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M) in Canyon, Texas, with a degree in music and planning to be a band director. However, a government professor inspired him to look into city management, a new field at the time. He found his...

John K. Hatchel passed away Thursday, July 21, 2022. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, July 25, at Woodway First United Methodist Church, with Rev. Tom Robbins officiating. A Reception will follow at the church. John was born November 5, 1942, in Oklahoma City, Okla., to Byrd and Vivian Beazley Hatchel. He married Linda Lowes Hatchel in Canyon, Texas. Their daughter, Barbara Elaine, was born in Abilene. John graduated from West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M) in Canyon, Texas, with a degree in music and planning to be a band director. However, a government professor inspired him to look into city management, a new field at the time. He found his...

Vincent Donald Neuhaus peacefully entered the presence of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, July, 16, 2022. He was born August 22, 1942, in Murphysboro, Illinois to Edgar and Ruth Neuhaus. Vincent was baptized in 1942 at Christ Lutheran Church, Jacob, Illinois and he confirmed his Christian Faith at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Mercedes, Texas on March 25, 1956. After moving to Waco, Texas he faithfully attended and served at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bellmead. Wherever Vincent was, he loved and invested in those around him because he knew that he, an imperfect man, was first loved and redeemed by Jesus. Whether it was in business, serving on various community and church...

George Cleveland Witt, Jr. found peace Saturday, July 13, 2022, after years of battling disease. Services will be held graveside at the Oakwood Cemetery (2124 S. 5th St., Waco, Texas) Saturday, July 30, at 10 a.m. While small in stature, Cleveland was a giant to family and friends who knew of his deep Christian faith and his lifetime of service to others. Cleveland attended Baylor University on an ROTC scholarship. He earned his living expenses in college by working two jobs while carrying a heavy course load so that he could complete his education in three years instead of the usual four. Cleveland served twenty-one years as an officer in the United States Air Force including a tour in...

Our beloved Dad, Donnie Ray McArthur, went home to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, on July 12, 2022. He passed peacefully in the presence of his two daughters at his residence in Waco, Texas. He was 83 years old. A celebration of Donnie's life will be held on Saturday, July 23, at 10:00 am at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey funeral home in Waco, Texas. Pastor Roger Huff will officiate. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will precede the service from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Donnie was born on May 17, 1939, in Woodward, Oklahoma, to Everett and Mattie Darden McArthur. He was the youngest of their five children. He spent his early years in Sharon, Okla., and Mangum, Okla. Eventually, his...

Joanne Johnson Lemley, 86, passed away June 23, 2022, at The Delaney on Lake Waco. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 6, at Crossroads Fellowship Church with Irena Vlajnic officiating. Burial will follow at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery at 2 p.m. Born and raised in the sunny panhandle town of Claude, Texas, Joanne met and married Otis Lemley, an airman from Huntsville, Alabama, in 1954. Together they raised three children, all born in Amarillo. She cultivated a nurturing household despite tight budgets in several locations before settling in southwest Fort Worth for 47 years. In 2019, she and Otis transitioned to The Delaney on Lake Waco. He preceded her in death earlier...

Sarah Swift Harrison Voyles, 90, died Monday, June 20, 2022, unexpectantly yet peacefully in her home in Houston. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, June 26, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church at 515 Columbus Ave., Waco, Texas. All are invited to the reception after the service. Visitation will be Saturday, June 25, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Wilkirson Hatch Bailey Funeral Home in Waco. Sarah was born September 8, 1931, in Cameron, Texas, to Frances Brown Dossett Swift and Stanley Hill Swift. She attended school in Cameron until her father joined the Naval Reserve as a Lieutenant in 1942. She attended All Saints School in Vicksburg, Mississippi, the Baldwin School in Bryn...

Deacon James "Jim" Porter Poole, age 84, of Hewitt, passed away Wednesday, June 1, 2022, at his son Dave's house in Burkburnett, Texas. The Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 AM, Saturday, June 18, at Saint Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, "St Mary's", located at 1401 Washington Avenue, Waco, Texas 76701, with Father Joe Geleney officiating. Interment will follow the mass at Holy Cross Cemetery in Waco. Visitation will be 6 PM Friday, June 17 at St Mary's, followed by a Rosary and Vigil Service at 7 PM. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home is providing arrangements. Deacon Jim was born in Vandalia, Illinois, on July 26, 1937. He met his future bride, Eugenia Charlotte "Bonnie"...

Carol Page Rice was born December 22, 1935, at what is now Providence Hospital in Waco, Texas, the daughter of artists, Evelyn Gay Wilson and Dustin Rice. In one of the many serendipities of her long and full life, Carol was delivered by her future father-in-law, Dr. Robert Wilson Crosthwait. Carol's mother, Evelyn Gay Wilson Rice, and her family were close to the Aynesworth family. Dr. K. H. Aynesworth was supposed to deliver Gay's baby, but he was at a Christmas party and sent his son-in-law instead. At age 2, Carol met the love of her life, Dr. K.H.'s grandson, Robert Wilson ("Bobby") Crosthwait Jr. Friends at first, they grew up riding horses in Cameron Park. Raised by her...

Dr. Don Edwards, 85, passed away at Wesley Woods Care and Rehab Center after a long battle with dementia. He was born in Columbia Missouri to Hope and Harold Edwards on September 7, 1936. His younger sister, Sharon Drake, currently lives in Kansas City, Missouri. Don is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, Mary Aileen Faurot Edwards; his sons, Jeffrey and wife, Lori, of Laguna Hills, California and Charles and wife, Melissa, of Canton, Georgia. His grandchildren are Alec and Sara Edwards and Amelia Boddy. Don will be memorialized as a great father, coach, mentor, and role model to his sons. Don will be missed by his many friends in Waco and other family members and friends across...

Bruce Wuollet, 77, passed away with Judy at his side, April 19, 2022. A Celebration of Life will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 25 at Meadowbrook Baptist Church in Robinson, with David Cozart officiating. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service and on Sunday, April 24, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. He will be laid to rest at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery. Bruce was born in Berkeley, California, April 12, 1945. He lived in Sunnyvale, California, until 1958, when his family moved back to Minnesota. Bruce and Judy were married May 13, 2000. Bruce was a school bus driver and custodian in the Robbinsdale School District of Robbinsdale,...

Brenda Kay Smith Bullock met her Lord and Savior on March 21, 2022, in Waco, Texas, at the age of 82. Born December 22, 1939, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, she is survived by her two sons, Jefferson B. Bullock of Humble, Texas, and Bradley H. Bullock and wife, Shannon, of Waco; three grandchildren, Olivia Bullock, Charlotte Bullock, and Andrew Bullock; sister and brother-in-law Ralph and Jimmy Bee Bohannon of Tyler, Texas; niece and nephew, Kelli Fitzwater husband Mike, and Mitch Bohannon and wife, Noelle. She was preceded in death by her parents, James B. and Leona May (Pat) Smith; and sister, Evva Smith of Lake Charles, Louisiana. Brenda graduated from Lake Charles High School (1957) and...

Richard Maxwell Grandy, age 76, of Woodway, passed away at his home peacefully surrounded by his family Monday, March 21, 2022. Visitation will be held from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm Sunday, March 27, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am Monday at St. Jerome Catholic Church with Msgr. William Brooks and Father James Ekeocha officiating. Burial will be at St. Patrick Mount Hope Cemetery in Croswell, Michigan at a later date. Richard was born February 13, 1946 in Croswell, Michigan where he was also raised. He graduated from Cros-Lex High School and then Michigan State University with a Bachelor's degree. He married Barbara Westbrook Grandy,...

Dr. John A. Wood, passed away peacefully at his home in Waco, TX on March 15, 2022 surrounded by his family. A memorial celebration is scheduled at the First Baptist Church of Waco, on Saturday March 26th at 2:00pm with Dr. O.S. Hawkins officiating. A visitation will be held before the service from noon until 2:00pm at the church. John was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 30, 1930, the son of Frank Marion Wood and Doris Jeannette Wolfe Wood. He graduated from Polytechnic High in 1949 where he was a Letterman in football and track. John attended Baylor University from 1949-1953 and received his Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Bible and minors in English, History, and...

Nancy Ratchford, 93, passed away on February 15, 2022, in Waco, Texas, after a short illness. A graveside service will be held Friday, February 18, at 2:00 p.m. at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Beaumont, with the Rev. Dan Darby officiating. Nancy Mockford was born in Greenville, Texas, to Lynna and Phil Mockford. She was the eldest of three siblings. She showed aptitude for many things, including science and music. She attended Baylor University and graduated in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science in medical technology. While training in Dallas during her senior year, she met Winston McCall, the cousin of her roommate. They were married in 1951, then were later joined by their three daughters,...

Michael "Mike" Jones was born on November 29, 1951, in Ottumwa, Iowa, to Harold Jones and Helen Estes Jones. Mike's early years were shaped by his loving parents, as well as being the middle child, and only brother, to four wonderful sisters. Two of Mike's greatest life decisions came in 1974. The first was on April 15 when he met Jesus in a powerful and radical way, and self-professed to never being the same again. The second was when he married the fiesty Linda Sue Worth on May 4, 1974, which almost didn't happen because Mike warned her that if the ceremony took more than thirty minutes, he was leaving. Their wedding ceremony lasted twenty-eight minutes; their commitment was evident...