reporternews.com Thursday, August 3, 2017 5A Obituaries David Benjamin Higgins ABILENE, TX David Benjamin Higgins was born at home in Narcis- so, Texas on August 14, 1926. He was born the second son of Robert Ernest and Willie Mounce Higgins, the grandson of Robert Benjamin and Nancy MacDonald Higgins of Rob- ert Lee, Texas. He grew up a cowboy on the Swenson Ranch west of Paducah, Texas. He served as a soldier in Italy during World War II. He returned from World War II to become a husband to Peggy Wainscott of Hamlin, Texas.
That marriage lasted sixty-eight years until his death. He was the father of two sons, Carl and Stormy. He was an employee of Humble Oil Refining Com- for 31 years. David was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Willie, and his brother, Bob Higgins. He is survived by his wife and sons.
He was a father- in-law to Kacey Higgins; a grandfather to John and Monica Higgins of Lubbock, and Amy and Brandon Forrest of Abilene; and also great-grandfather to Emily, Kate, Luke, and Olivia. David died peacefully at home in Abilene, Texas, August 2, 2017, he was 90 years old. His soul departed peacefully to return home to God after serving him as a faithful disciple. His earthly remains will be buried at the Texas Veterans Cemetery at Friday August 4, 2017. A visitation with the family will be held at at Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut prior to the graveside service on Friday.
The family requests that donations be made to Hospice of the Big Country or the West Texas Rehabilitation Center, 4545 Hartford St, Abilene, TX 79605. Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com Dorothy Gabbert DEL RIO, TX Dorothy Vivian (Shelnutt) Gabbert passed away July 30, 2017. Dorothy was born June 05, 1921 in Atoka County, Okla- homa to Lonzo F. and Lela (Jones) Shelnutt. She married J.
E. Gabbert August 10, 1940 in Clyde, Calla- han County, Texas. They moved to Del Rio, Texas in 1943 where they lived out the remainder of their lives. Dorothy was active in the community and she was involved in the Del Rio Art League for many years. She enjoyed serving in the North Heights School P.T.A, as well as other organizations involving her children.
She was a self taught seamstress who enjoyed teaching sewing when she worked at the singer store. She often sewed for and she made most of the clothes that her children wore. Dorothy especially treasured the many years spent working for Dr. Portales and often referred to that period of her life when speaking with oth- ers. She and her husband, Jay loved to travel in their early years and they enjoyed many hours spent with friends and family.
She attended the First Christian Church of Del Rio. Dorothy is survived by two daughters; Darlene Jolly and her husband, Roy, and Carole Ann Baiarrio; five grandchil- dren, Jeffery Lynn Jolly and his wife, Kathy, Lisa Gayle (Jolly) Sykes and her husband, Bobby, Mark Randall Jolly, Anthony Baiarrio, Brady Baiarrio and his wife, Desere; 9 great-grand- children, William Reed Sykes and his wife, Megan, Nathan West Sykes, Grant Thomas Sykes, Courtney ann (Jolly) Fonda and her husband Zachery, Joshua Roy Jolly, Toby Baiarrio, Braden Baiarrio, Logan Baiarrio, and Isabella Rose Baiarrio. She is also survived by her brother, Eston Shelnutt and his wife Nell, her sister, Wilma Beasley, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Mrs. Gabbert was preceded in death by her husband, J.
E. Gabbert; her parents, Lonzo and Lela Shelnutt, as well as one son, Lonnie Jay Gabbert. In lieu of usual remembrances, Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church of Del Rio, Texas or a charity of your choice. Honorary Pallbearers will be her grandsons and great grandsons. Visitations will be held on Friday, to August 4, 2017 at G.
W. Cox Memorial Funeral Home. Graveside service will be held on Saturday, August 5, 2017 at Sunset Memorial Oaks Mauso- leum, entombed with her husband of sixty-nine years, J. E. Gabbert who died November 06, 2009.
Officiating will be Reverend John Cary. Funeral arrangements with G. W. Cox Memorial Funeral Home, of Del Rio LTD, 114 Fletcher Drive, Del Rio, Texas. 78840, Ph: 830.775.2000 Obituaries Dora Frances (Eubanks) Hounshell BAIRD, TX Dora Frances (Eubanks) Hounshell, 88, passed away August 1, 2017, at Homestead Care Center in Baird following a lengthy illness.
Services will be at 10AM August 3, 2017, at the Parker Funeral Home Chap- el in Baird, TX, followed by burial in the Admiral Cemetery, officiated by Bobby Lovell. Dora was born December 13, 1928, to George and Dora (Smith) Eubanks in the Admiral community. She graduated from Baird High School in 1945. Following graduation, she worked for Baird ISD, Contel, and proudly served the citi- zens of Callahan County as the Deputy Tax Assessor-Col- lector and later as the County Treasurer, for many years. She was very humbled by the grace and trust shown to her each time she was re-elected.
On May 21, 1955, she married Charlie Hounshell of Cross Cut, TX, and made their home in Callahan County. They divorced in June of 1987. She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother and sister-in-law, James and Laurie Eubanks. Dora is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Frances and Tim Williams of College Station, several nieces and nephews, as well as a supportive extended family and many close friends. Pallbearers will be Mike McWilliams, Fain McWilliams, Ralph Cummings, Travis Hounshell, Brian Patterson, Randy Walker, Tom Walker, and Rolan Jones.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Eva Black, Charlene Richardson, Connie Chrane, Sheri Poole, and Diane Gunter. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Admiral Cemetery Association, Hospice of the Big Country, or the favorite charity. Jacky Jones OLD GLORY, TX Jacky Kyle Jones, 57, went to be with his Lord Tuesday, August 1, 2017, at an Abilene hospital. Funeral and grave- side services will be held Friday, August 4, 2017, in the Old Glory Cemetery offi- ciated by Rev. Mickey Wag- goner under the direction of Giles-McCoy Funeral Home of Aspermont.
Jacky was born in Haskell, Texas June 19, 1960, to Jack and Euna Delle Baitz Jones. Jacky worked in the oil field and helped his father farm and ranch in Stonewall County. Jacky is survived by his father, Jack Jones, of Old Glory; a daughter: Lacy Jones of Ft. Worth; two sons: Larkin Jones and Colby Jones of Clyde; a sister: Kara Grant and husband Craig of Abilene, and a brother: Kenneth Jones of Abilene. Jacky was preceded in death by his mother.
Family visitation will be held from to this Thursday evening at Giles McCoy Funeral Home. Bobby Mack Moody ABilene, TX Bobby Mack Moody, went to be with his Heavenly Father on Sunday, July 30, 2017. He was 85 years old. Graveside services will be Friday, August 4, 2017 at at Elmwood Memorial Park, directed by Starbuck Funeral Home. Bobby was born to the Rev- erend James M.
(J.M.) and Sue A. Moody on June 30, 1932. He has lived in Abilene all eighty- five years of his life, graduating from Abilene High School in 1951 and attending McMurry College. Later on, he went into the insurance business alongside his dad for many years. Most recently, he was employed by Abilene Professional Services for the last twenty-seven years until his death.
Bobby was a lifetime member of First United Methodist Church and would always be in attendance whenever he could be. He is survived by a sister, Pat Buckley; a niece Suzanne Davis and husband, Matt; a nephew Rusty Buckley and wife, Paula; great-nephews Blake Fuller and Hunter Fuller, Bryan Buckley and wife, Nichole; and great-niece, Heather Davis and husband Kevin, and Maddye and Allye Davis. He also was survived by four great-great nephews. Psalm 23:4 thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort Obituaries Michael Baird ABilene, TX Michael Bruce Baird, 61, passed away on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 in Abilene, Texas. Michael was a wonderful son, brother, and uncle and will be dearly missed.
A memorial service will be held at Broadview Baptist Church on Friday, August 4, 2017 at with Brother David Cason and Brother Wes Terry officiating, under the direction of Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut Street. Michael was born August 7, 1955 in Fort Hood, Texas, to Bruce Henry Baird and Wanda Long Baird. He lived in Texas, Michigan, and Germany. Michael graduated from Abilene High School and moved to Austin to work as a carpenter. He was an avid reader and chess player.
Michael is survived by his devoted mother, Wanda Wil- burn; his stepfather, Ewell Wilburn; his nephew, Steve Baird; and a great-niece and great-nephew. He is preceded in death by his father; brother, Stevan Baird; and nephew, Christopher Baird. No visitation is scheduled, and internment will be at a later date. Contributions may be made to Broadview Baptist Church. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.
pbfuneraldirectors.com Death Notices Patricia Uranga ABILENE, TX Patricia Uranga, 72, passed away Wednesday, August 2, 2017. Arrangements are with Girdner Funeral Home in Abilene, Texas. Nara Bahadur Chawan ABILENE, TX Nara Bahadur Chawan, 68, passed away Tuesday, August 1, 2017. Services are pending with Girdner Funeral Home in Abilene, Texas. Michael Innes ABILENE, TX Michael Innes, 71, of Abilene passed away Thursday, July 27, 2017.
A mass will be held in Holy Family Catholic Church at Friday, August 4, 2017 with Monsignor Fred Narwaskas presiding. Burial will follow in the Texas State Veterans Cemetery, under the direction of Funeral Home, 242 Orange Street. Online condolences may be made at www.northsfuneralhome.com Warren Wyatt HAWLEY, TX Warren Wyatt, 71, passed away Wednesday, August 2, 2017. Services are pending with Girdner Funeral Home in Abilene, Texas. Luther Lanier McPherson Jr.
ABILENE, FORMERLY OF JONES COUNTY, TX Luther Lanier McPherson 43, passed away Sunday, July 30, 2017. Arrangements are with Girdner Funeral Home in Abilene, Texas. Teahoga Glover ABILENE, TX Teahoga Glover, 31, passed away Thursday, July 27, 2017. Visitation will be to Friday, August 4, 2017 at Faith Deliverance Community Church, Hwy 277 Abilene, Texas. Funeral service will be Saturday, August 5, 2017 at Faith Deliverance Community Church, under the direction of Girdner Funeral Home in Abilene, Texas.
Robert Perryman EASTLAND, TX Robert Perryman, 85, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, August 1, 2017. Services will be Saturday, August 5, 2017, at the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. His visitation will be held from to Friday, August 4, 2017, at Edwards Funeral Home Eastland. Marilyn Cogdell STAMFORD, TX Marilyn Cogdell, 74, passed away Monday, July 31, 2017. Services are pending with Girdner funeral home in Abilene, Texas.
Toby Morris De Leon Toby Morris, 57, passed away July 31, 2017. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 5, 2017, at at Gorman First Baptist Church. Interment will take place at Comyn Cemetery, and visitation will be Friday, August 4, 2017, to at Nowlin Anders Funeral Home in De Leon, TX. Condolences may be offered online at www.nowlinander- sfh.com. Wallace Johnson CLYDE, TX Wallace Johnson, 82, passed away Tuesday, August 1, 2017.
A graveside service will be held at Saturday, August 5, 2017, at the Oplin Cemetery under the direction of Bailey Howard Funeral Home of Clyde. Tuesday morning, ready for another day of prep and practice. Think "Dear Evan Hansen," a recent Broadway hit. The story line goes like this: Spencer is a pre-pubescent teen who is eager to hit puberty. He wants his voice to get lower and maybe grow a beard like all the Major League ballplayers have now (or not).
He has a chat about this with God, who makes a deal with Spencer: Become a comedian, and you're good to go. "The problem is," Westman said, "Spencer isn't funny." The good news, though, is that when he fails miserably at being funny, his stuttering and nervousness make him funny. But there's more to the musical than Spencer's stammering stab at stand-up. "It's more about the people around him and how his actions affect them," Westman said. Peeling the onion a bit more, it's also about acceptance people want to change themselves to fit in but "some- times you have to learn why you are who you are.
It's for a reason," Westman said. The onion comparison is appropriate because Westman constructed The On- ion Garden, a small restaurant, for his show. (We already have an Olive Garden) The musical will cover about two hours, more than a dozen songs and in- strumentals, and includes 10 actors in ad- dition to Westman. He considered some- one else playing Spencer but the charac- ter is born of him if not totally like him. "Spencer doesn't know how to go for it.
He's scared someone is going to put him down," he said. Westman, on the other hand, is undaunted. He did a stand-up act for a friend last summer and, well, no one from Comedy Central called. It's just easier for Westman to step into this character he created than some- one else. It is a challenge even for Hollywood veterans to direct and star in their own work.
Plus, he spent many late hours recit- ing the lines to hone the script. The origi- nal Spencer, he said, was paralyzed and wanted to walk. That was a bit heavy and "possibly offensive," Westman said. More than once he tweaked the end- ing to "Spencer." Nine months ago, he was inspired to compose music that then inspired him to create a stage work. "It has been a bit like giving birth," he said.
He relied on older brother Josh, a sen- ior at Hardin-Simmons, for honest criti- cism. Sometimes hard criticism, but what he needed. Friends wouldn't tell him what he needed to hear, and certain- ly not his parents, Rob and Lanie. "Their jobs as parents are to cheer- lead," he said, changing his voice. "'Oh, that's wonderful, Jess "He was honest with me," Westman said of his brother.
If he didn't like some- thing, he'd say it. And if he liked it, well, that was high praise. "I think I took criticism well," Jess Westman said. "And I also did what I felt." Jess was seen and heard by many ear- lier this year at Abilene High's produc- tion of "Footloose." He was "the silly cow- boy Willard," the sidekick to star Ren. That role was played by Jackson Taylor, who last summer presented his own work, "The Love Hour." Taylor also wrote the story and music.
In addition to recruiting Jones, a bud- dy from Pioneer Drive Baptist Church who was Tevye in Cooper High's musical "Fiddler on the Roof," Westman sought great musicians. He landed Gerard Lara on cello, Ernesto Mendoza on violin, the greatly respected Marc Sanders on pi- ano and one of the best drummers in Abi- lene his brother. "I use music to redeem the story," Westman said. "The music really tells the story. I'd walk out if there wasn't any." Westman still was working this week to pull his show together, though his troupe had been working off and on since the start of July.
Being on stage, being at the back of the theater, being back on stage as director has been a challenge. "I think I've come across as a jerk," he said. Laughing, a little. "It's hard in the summer," he said of dealing with everyone's vacation sched- ule. "We're kinda close.
I still have quite a few lines to memorize but it'll come to- gether, I know it will." Westman has aspirations to study theater and see where it takes him. "I love acting and performing, but I'm not a dancer," he said. And what did Jess and Spencer learn from this challenge? "It's not about you," he said. "That's why I still have friends." Twitter: Jaklewicz Continued from Page 1A If You Go What: "Spencer: A New Musical" When: 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 2 p.m.
Sunday Where: Abilene Community Theatre, 809 Barrow St. Tickets: $5 general admission, sold at the door..
