Obituaries

Loretta Montgomery, 81, a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2017 in Azle.

Loretta was born Aug. 4, 1935, in Gilliland to T.J. and Vernice Dodd Mayberry. She  married the love of her life, R.D. “Don” Montgomery, March 18, 1950. Loretta was at his side and his rock through almost 66 years of marriage. From his one man construction  company into multiple successful businesses and ventures, she was there until the end.

Ervin Lawrence “Willy” Rich of Jacksboro, Texas passed away on Thursday, January 5, 2017. He was 73 years old. He was born on February 11, 1943 to Bill Thomas and Evelyn (Wooten) Rich in Lampasas, Texas.

Willy married Gaylon Joyce Jeffrey on September 28, 2011 in Jacksboro, Texas. He was a cattle rancher and a former prison guard. He will be dearly missed.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

Bob Welch, husband of Burelene Wells Welch formerly of Jacksboro and son in law of Margaret and Burel Wells, passed away Monday, December 19 of a heart attack at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. He was 80 years old.

Welch was born in Philadelphia and lived briefly in New Jersey before moving to Dallas, where his father had taken a banking job. Welch was a dishwasher for Highland Park Pharmacy and attended North Dallas High School, dropping out in the 10th grade.

Reave Royce Norvill passed away on Tuesday December 27, 2016. He was 81 years old.

He was born on September 28, 1935 to Thomas Benjamin and Aldora (McKinzie) Norvill in Peacock, Texas.

Royce will always be lovingly called “Chicken.” That is what people knew him as. He was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church in McCamey and retired from owning his own welding business. He was a loving and kind father, grandfather, brother, and friend. He will be missed.

Billy Earl Williamson passed away on Christmas Eve in Fort Worth, Texas. He was 71 years old.

He was born on December 14, 1945 to William Allen and Wilma (Cowger) Williamson in Jacksboro, Texas.

Billy was a 1964 graduate of Jacksboro High School and was a member of the 1962 State Football Championship team. He served his country proudly in the United States Navy, completing two tours of duty in Vietnam. He was a air traffic controller for the Federal Aviation Administration. 

LaVerne Bilderback Monroe passed to her eternal reward Monday, Dec. 5, 2016 in Graham, Tx. 

LaVerne was born January 29, 1929 to Buena and Andrew Bilderback. She grew up in Munday, Holliday, Chillicothe, and Goree. LaVerne became the beautiful bride of Rex Monroe on August 31, 1950. 

LaVerne graduated from Chillicothe High School and later earned her nursing degree at Hardin College in Wichita Falls in 1949. She was a surgical nurse at Wichita General and St. David’s in Austin. 

John Leonard “Johnny” Callan, of Jacksboro, Texas, was born February 2, 1999 in Fort Worth, Texas. He was tragically taken from his family and his many friends Saturday, November 26, 2016 in Palo Pinto County, Texas. He was 17 years old.

On November 14, 2016, Bill G. Armstrong moved on to join the many loved ones who have passed before him into Heaven. 

Bill was born in Graham, Texas May 25, 1942 to Obie and Fannie Armstrong. 

Elvis Herman Brown passed away at his home at Truce, Texas on November 4, 2016 at the age of 82. 

He was born May 18, 1934 in Truce Texas to Archie and Georgia Ann (Dove) Brown. 

Elvis Herman retired from 35 years of service from the Texas Department of Transportation and afterwards, was employed by Rhone Engineering as an inspector followed by 21 years as a course certification instructor for the Texas Asphalt Pavement Association.