Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 112, No. 161, Ed. 1 Sunday, May 23, 2010 Page: 3 of 16
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Sweetwater Reporter
Sunday, May 23, 2010 ■ Page A3
Obituaries
MARY GRACE CRAIG
MARY GRACE "GRACIE" MAY CRAIG
Mary Grace "Grade" May Craig, age 85 of Abilene
(former longtime resident of Sweetwater), passed away
on Thursday, May 20, 2010 at her residence.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday,
May 23, 2010, at First Presbyterian Church with Rev.
Lance May officiating. Burial will follow at Garden
of Memories under the direction
of Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral
Home.
Mary Grace "Grade" May Craig
was born on July 28, 1924 in
Roby, Texas. Her parents were Ed
F. and Grace Jay. Gracie married
S.J. May in 1941, in Sweetwater.
They opened May Bros. Lumber
Bin after World War II with his
brother Bill May. Gracie designed
many of the houses built by May
Bros, in Sweetwater. During this
time she served on the board of
directors for West Texas Girl Scout
Council and American Red Cross.
She also served as troop leader for
Girl Scouts and Den Mother for Boy
Scouts. She was active with Camp Booth Oaks. She was a
large influence on the lives of many high school students
in the 1950's. In 1970, she purchased the Trammel home
on Ave. D and Newman and started the renovation of
this historic home. In 1971, she married Floyd Craig in
Sweetwater. She was known in town for her elaborate
Christmas decorations. Children of all ages would come
numerous times during the season to see them. Snoopy
was one of the characters present on the lawn. This led
to her participation in Trail of Lights in later years.
She worked for Jack Harris CPA, Harris, Williams &
May, and May & Hrbacek CPA until her retirement. She
also worked at KXOX for Jeff after his mother passed
away and was also a partner in Hailey Street Depot.
She was an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of
which she was a member from the time she was in third
grade. She was an active member of American Business
Women's Association where she enjoyed the work and
interacting with all her friends. She was a china painter.
She was a Life Master in duplicate bridge and spent
much time playing with many partners that will miss her
greatly. She played regularly and still attended tourna-
ments.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ed F. and
Grace Jay; and husbands S.J. May and Floyd Craig.
She is survived by her brother, James L. Jay of
Abilene; her children are Bette Byrd and husband
Richard of Abilene, Jay May and wife Vickie of Brady
and Peggy Solsbery and husband Nelson of Lohn.
Grandchildren are Melissa Stutts and husband Vernon,
Michael Franks, Eric Byrd and wife Chervl, Brian
May, Lance May and wife Charla, Justin Solsbery and
wife Laney, Jana Solsbery, Connie Mundell, Sheila
May, Wendy Winkler, Shelly Wheeler and husband
Alan and Jackie Espinosa and husband P.J. Great-
grandchildren are Tommy Maitland and wife Michelle,
Kristy Maitland, Miranda Stutts, T.J. Mundell Franks,
Erica Byrd, Christopher May, Jayton May, Logan May,
Ethan May, Callie May, Abigail Solsbery, Joe Paul
McMurtrey, Travis Tuckness, Tayler Tuckness, Rylee
Morris, Tiarra Lopez, Jacque Wheeler, Alissa Wheeler,
David Carpenter, Lacey Carpenter. She has six great-
great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and
cousins as well as so many friends that will miss her
cheerful loving support.
Pallbearers are Justin Solsbery, Eric Byrd, Tommy
Maitland, Christopher May, T.J. Franks Mundell, Logan
May, Ethan May, Jayton May and Travis Tuckness.
Honorary pallbearers will be Michael Franks, Joe
McMurtrey, Vernon Stutts and Brian May.
Family will receive friends at the funeral home on
Saturday, May 22, 2010 from 6-8 p.m.
Funeral services
Monday, May 24,
MARGARET FLYNN
MARGARET FLYNN
Margaret Flynn, age 88 of Sweetwater, passed away
on Friday, May 21, 2010, at Nolan Nursing & Rehab.
will be held at 10:30 a.m. on
2010, at Fourth & Elm Church
of Christ with Dewey Howard
officiating. Burial will follow at
Sweetwater Cemetery under the
direction of Cate-Spencer & Trent
Funeral Home.
Margaret was born on Nov. 9,
1921, in Fisher County, Texas. She
married Clifton Flynn on Aug.
3, 1940, in Colorado City. She
worked for Russell's Department
Store for many years and then
worked as a veterinary assis-
tant for Sweetwater Veterinary
Hospital. After retirement, she
worked for the Pioneer City-
County Museum. She was a mem-
ber of Fourth and Elm Church of
Christ, PTA President,
and a Sunday school Teacher.
She is survived by two daughters, Virginia Taylor
and husband Robert of Altus, Okla. and Fran Frizzell
and husband Larry of Sweetwater; daughter-in-law,
Nancy Flynn of Monroeville, PA; adopted grandchil-
dren, Melanie Mills of Lubbock and Dalton Flynn of
Brownwood; 10 other grandchildren, Kevin Burns,
Christi Anderson,
Daryl Taylor and wife Melissa, Angela Howard and
husband Dewey, Jeanna Parks and
husband Pache, Tracey Daniel, Sean Frizzell and
wife Shannon, Susan Pelletier and husband Eddie,
Michelle Flynn and Michael Flynn; 24 great-grand-
children, three great-great-grandchildren, two nieces
and two nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Francis
O'Keefe and Maude Elizabeth Logan; her husband
Clifton Flynn; two daughters, Diana Seabaugh and
Shonna Lawhorn and one son, Michael Loy Flynn.
Pallbearers will be grandsons and great-grandsons.
Family will receive friends at the funeral home on
Sunday, May 23, 2010, from 7-9 p.m.
DONNA MARIE
BOEN
Funeral services for
Donna Marie Boen,
87, of Abilene and for-
merly of Sweetwater,
will be held at 10 a.m.
on Monday, May 24,
2010, at McCoy Chapel
of Memories with Rev.
Steve Davis officiat-
ing. Burial will follow
at Garden of Memories
under the direction of
McCoy Funeral Home.
Boen died Friday,
May 21, 2010, in
Abilene.
Latimers to perform at
Lighthouse Assembly
THE! LATIMERS
The Latimers start-
ed singing Southern
Gospel music as a
family trio in 1990.
The ministry of this
trio has grown into
a full-time calling on
their lives. They take
their ministry very
seriously and don't
go anywhere to enter-
tain, but to share the
Word of God through
the songs they sing,
and to see lost souls
come to know the
Jesus Christ they
serve. This trio has
a strong, life-long
background in the
local New Testament church: thus, the majority of their
ministry is directed toward the church. They made a com-
mitment to God to take the Word of God through music,
anywhere lie opened the door. During the service, you will
laugh a little, cry a little and hopefully go away blessed and
uplifted by the Spirit of God that these folks bring with
them to the church.
The Latimers from Burleson, TX will be in concert,
Sunday morning 10 a.m. at the Lighthouse Assembly of
God, 412 Newman Street in Sweetwater. Everyone is invit-
ed to come and be blessed with some good ole southern
gospel singing. A love offering will be taken.
Hartman
Continued from page A1
next door to my grandparents —we'll all be right at
home." Hartman continued.
Hartman was the executive comment editor of the
Texas Tech School of Estate Planning Journal while
working toward his law degree and has already pub-
lished a paper on Wind Energy Rights for land owners
and the heirs of land owners and has presented his work
at the Corpus Christi Estate Planning Council Seminar
in Corpus Christi, TX earlier this month and at an estate
planning seminar in Lubbock, TX in 2009.
"Chris brings a new and different perspective to our
firm," Young continued, "his knowledge of wind energy
rights and his work in that area of the law will compli -
ment our firm's dedication to representing folks accused
of criminal conduct in State and Federa l Courts across
Texas. Chris' strong academic background will be a great
asset to our firm and the clients we represent."
Hartman, 29, is a 1999 graduate of Sweetwater High
School and graduated from Texas A&M University in
2004. He received his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from
Texas Tech School of Law earlier this year. "It is a real
blessing to be able to return to my home to begin my
legal career, said Hartman, "I look forward to working
hard to try to give a little back to the communities in the
Big Country that have given so much to me as I grew up
here."
RC&D
Continued from page A1
Evans nor Warner had the time to devote to active
ranching. They turned over operations to Baldy Oliver
and Dave Nail. Alfred Rowe worked at Spade for a time
before he started his own RO Ranch. It is unknown
who designed the ranch's distinctive brand. The brand,
which resembles a shovel or "spade," was first used on
a cattle herd that Evans and Warner had gathered in
Larimer County.
The wranglers trailed the cattle to the open grasses of
the Panhandle and turned the herd loose near Saddle
Creek.
In October, the ranch shipped 6,000 three-year-old
steers and another 5,200 the following spring in a sec-
ond roundup. By 1926, about 80 percent of the north
land had been sold. By 1938, El I wood Farms, as the
conglomerate was called, had sold off about 189,000
acres, most was being used for farming in the years that
followed. By 1947, the sale of the former Spade land was
completed. The Ellwood family retained only 21,754
acres in Hockley County. In the early 1980s, Spade
cattle were still being run from the nearby Renderbrook
Ranch by some of Eflwood's heirs.
With a history so distinct and etched into the lives of
several West Texas families, it was an easy selection for
this year's tour to highlight the work currently being
done at the Mitchell County location.
Big Country RC&D coordinator, Riley Kitchens,
played a key part in obtaining funding for the tour and
planning all activities. "This area of the state has a rich
ranching heritage filled with history. One of the most
overlooked aspects of that history is the knowledge
early immigrants learned through experience," Kitchens
said". "Conservation, though never mentioned much in
the history of the area, was the most important lesson
learned by early ranchers. This lesson was well learned
on the "Spade" and it is evident in the operation today.
Nothing has changed in the area and tours like this
provide area ranchers with more tools to address their
needs."
After completing morning tours, the attendees
returned to Colorado City for lunch and afternoon pre-
sentations offered by both DuPont and Dow Chemical.
To close out the day, a tour was also offered to show the
biological control of salt cedar in the area.
"A single large salt cedar can absorb 200 gallons of
water a day. Salt cedar's high water consumption can
result in lower water tables and cause springs to dry up.
Biological control of salt cedar is an economical method
to manage salt cedar and make that water available for
native plant species and wildlife," Shrode said.
For more information about future tours or local area
assistance, please call the Big Country RC&D, located
at 119 East Third, Suite 304, at 325-235-4300 or visit
www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov.
University Place
SUMMER ROUNDUP
■OPEN HOUSEH
Health Fair
Prize Drawings
Bar-BQue
Tours
Tuesday, June 8
2pm-7 pm
Call us or visit our website
for a complete schedule of events
The Wagon
Wheelers & Friends
Square Dancing
Gatclaw Greek
Old-time String Music
(325) 676-9946 • 1250 EN 10th St., Abilene, TX 79601 • UniversityPlaceSeniorLiving.com
Banks
Continued from page A1
these awards are associated with USITT, the United States
Institute of Theatre Technology.
Elizabeth Banks is better known locally as "Liz" - and
as the numerous characters she played in Sweetwater
and McMurry theatre productions. A few examples are
the lovable and hilarious "Wicked Witch" (Wizard of
Oz - 2000), "Ado Annie" (Oklahoma - 1999), "Dotty"
CNoises Off - 2005), "Chastity" (Anything Goes - 2004 ),
"Monica (Present Laughter - 2004), "Kate" (The Cover of
Life - 2003), "Moon" (The Real Inspector Hound - 2003),
"Venticello #1" (Amadeus - 2003) and "Whitney" (A Piece
of My Heart - 2002).
Theatre Three in Dallas, Texas, recognized Banks' versa-
tility; there, she played assorted roles in Myth it Up (2005)
and served as a light and sound technician.
Liz credits Sweetwater theatre mentor and instructor
Melody Copeland with much of her extraordinary success
in the fields of design, acting, and directing, and joins a
host of Copeland's former students who continue to exhibit
both personal and theatrical excellence during and since
graduation from Sweetwater High School.
After her graduation from Sweetwater in 2001, Liz
attended McMurry University in Abilene, Texas; was
a member of the University Honors Program and was
Director and Scenic Designer for both You Can't Take it
With You and Red Herring, before graduating Summa
Cum Laude in 2005, with double major Bachelor degrees
in Psychology and Theatre.
Next, Banks attended Bowling Green State University
with a Graduate Assistantship, and was awarded her
Master of Arts in Theatre in 2007.
While attending the University of Kansas with a Graduate
Teaching Assistantship, Ms. Banks taught classes, and con-
tinued to excel in all areas. Returning from KU this month,
Ms. Banks will continue teaching at the university level.
She recently accepted a Visiting Assistant Professorship at
Austin College in Sherman, Texas.
In her "spare time" between classes, Liz broadened her
horizons with photography, playwriting, carpentry and
acquiring her license as a Pyrotechnician. In the Summer
of 2007, she returned to McMurry as Managing Director
for the Summer theatre season while utilizing her skills in
scenic design and painting.
Elizabeth Anne "Liz" Banks is the daughter of former
SISD teacher Dr. E. Dawn McRae and the granddaughter of
author and Nolan County native Bettye Martin-McRae. Ms.
Banks's father is Mr. David Banks of Dallas.
In related news: Ms. Bank's mother, E. Dawn McRae,
after teaching at Sweetwater High, and having undergradu-
ate degrees in Theatre and Speech at UTA - Arlington,
attended Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, where
she was graduated with a Master of Education in 2003 in
Counseling and Human Development.
After acceptance into the doctoral program at Regent
University in Virginia, Ms. McRae was awarded a Doctor of
Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision in May
2009. She received her Licensed Professional Counselor
credentials in June, and has a private counseling practice
in Richardson, Texas. A Christian Parenting Paradigm,
authored and presented by Dr. McRae in the Dallas area, is
well-received by pastors, parents, and grandparents.
When this reporter asked Ms. Banks how she felt about
her mother launching out to complete academic goals at
the same time as her own, her response was a broad smile,
and an energetic, "It's great!"
Dr. McRae when asked what possessed her to return to
university academics with her daughter grown and out of
the nest, she replied:
After happily focusing on parenting for 18 years, it was
time to dust off some dreams of my own. Once Liz was
settled at McMurry, I was encouraged by Drs. Dorothy
and Robert Barnes and began my studies at the cross-
town rival Hardin-Simmons University. Continuing the
momentum, I was accepted at Regent, since complet-
ing a PhD was also a long-time dream. The disserta-
tion is hereby dedicated to my mom, Bettye Martin-
McRae; my daughter, Liz Banks; my sister, Sallie Smith;
Melody Copeland; my online friends; and my mentor in
Richardson, Martha W. Brock. Counseling is extremely
fulfilling and it is an honor and a privilege to help others
during transitions in their lives.
Dr. McRae commutes between Dallas and the family farm
near Sweetwater, which she co-manages with her mother,
Bettye Martin-McRae, and other family members while
also serving as an educational consultant in the area.
©Bettye Martin-McRae
bunkhouse@wtconnect.com
(University of Kansas, McMurry University, Dr. E.
Dawn McRae, and Liz Banks contributed to this report)
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Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 112, No. 161, Ed. 1 Sunday, May 23, 2010, newspaper, May 23, 2010; Sweetwater, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth229172/m1/3/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Sweetwater/Nolan County City-County Library.