Obituaries

Nellie Gifford, 88, passed away Monday, Sept. 27 in Graham. Graveside funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29 at Rock Creek Cemetery in Jack County. Arrangements are with Morrison Funeral Home.

Nellie was born June 9, 1933 in Bryson to the late Martha Bennett Hill and Jess Sanderson. She married Ben Nolan “Blackie” Gifford. He preceded her death in 1982. Nellie and Blackie operated the Phillips 66 Station in Jacksboro for many years. Nellie was a lifetime resident of Bryson.

Rita Fay Hutto was born Feb. 12, 1948 in Olney. She was the daughter of William Arthur and Vivian Alice (Hendrickson) Forbus. Rita was married to the late Richard Hutto.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, son, William Kirk Rich, and her siblings.

Rita is survived today by her daughter, Gloria Rich and wife, Jeanette Marie; grandson, John Wayne (DUKE) Rich; daughters, Karen Wickham and Tracy Wickham Gray; and family.

She is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and extended family.

John Forrest Johnson passed away Saturday, Sept. 18, at his home in Mineral Wells. He was 65 years old. He was born on Sept. 8, 1956 in Alamogordo, N.M., to Charles and Francis Johnson.

John married Carolyn Hawkins on Sept. 23, 1974 in Big Spring. Together they raised three daughters. He was a member of the Bethel Assembly of God and worked many years in the oil and gas industry. John will truly be missed by those who knew and loved him.

He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Milton and Ernest Johnson.

Tonya Diann McBryde, “Diann”, went to be with our Lord on Wednesday, Sept. 1, at the age of 57. Diann was born in Odessa on Oct. 26, 1963 to Joe and Brenda Alvarez. Her family moved to Liberal, Kan. where she attended grade school through high school and met her husband of 39 years, Mark McBryde.

Dr. Lendon Dale Dutton passed away on Feb. 21, 2021.

Lendon was born on Aug. 18, 1932, to Troy Dutton and Allie Mae Luckie Dutton in Hamilton. He grew up in Indian Gap and graduated from Pottsville High School. Lendon attended the University of Texas for two years and then attended the University of Texas Dental School in Houston. He graduated in 1956, with his doctorate in dentistry.

Mattie Marie Creswell, 83, of Brownfield, died peacefully in her home on Monday, Sept. 13. We celebrate her life knowing she now walks on streets of gold singing her praises.
Visitation was held from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the Coker Funeral Home in Jacksboro. A funeral service was held at 2:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17 at Coker Funeral Home Chapel in Jacksboro, with burial following at Long Hollow Cemetery.

Daniel Heath Kirk, 31, unexpectedly passed from this earth Monday, Sept. 6. Daniel Heath was born in Mineral Wells on April 13, 1990, to Danny Kirk and Tammy Ogle.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 12 at Bible Baptist Church in Jacksboro.

David Wayne Bivins passed away Thursday, Aug. 26 in Jacksboro at the age of 51. He was born on Aug. 1, 1970 in Taft, Calif. to Orville Jarid (O.J.) Bivins Jr. and Ruthie Marie (Howell) Bivins.

A visitation was held from 10-11 a.m. Monday, August 30 at Christian Mission in Jacksboro, with the funeral service following at 11 a.m. Burial took place at Oakwood Cemetery in Jacksboro.

David is preceded in death by his father; brothers, Jerry Lee Bivins and Glenn Allen Bivins; and sister, Marsha Gayle Bivins Cole.

Jimmy Ray Armstrong, affectionately known as Bobo, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 27 in Mineral Wells. He was born on July 10, 1952 in Jacksboro to R.G. and Ruby Lee (Whitsitt) Armstrong.

A graveside service was held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 28 at Wesley Chapel Cemetery in Jacksboro.

Bo married Peggy Lee Johnson on Oct. 25, 1974 in Fort Worth. Bo was a rancher and member of the County Road Fellowship Church.

Bo is preceded in death by his parents.

Marcille Robinson, 97, passed from her earthly life in Baytown Monday, Aug.16 to her eternal home with her Lord Jesus Christ. She was born in Unity in Henderson County on March 11, 1924 to Burl and Kate Hodges. She attended schools in Murchison and Athens.