S - OBITUARIES, OAKWOOD CEMETERY

Alfred J. Schmidt, 82, died Feb. 8, 2004 at a local hospital. Funeral services will be held Feb. 11 at the First United Methodist Church in Hamilton. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Hamilton.

He was born Aug. 9, 1921 in Bexar County, the son of Hugo and Mary Schmidt. He was married to Ellen Kreder on May 11, 1943 in Hamilton. She preceded him in death in 1990. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the Navy. He was a carpenter by trade and a member of the First United Method-ist Church in Hamilton.

Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Garry and Dennis Connelly of Stephenville; a sister, Lena Hein of Dallas and two grand-daughters, Amanda and Kelly Connelly of Stephenville.
Lacy Funeral Home

SCHNEIDER, ESTHER EMMA (MAAS)

Esther Emma Schneider, 84, died Oct. 24 at Hamilton General Hospital. Services were Oct. 26 at St. John Lutheran Church with Pastor Timothy Carr and Pastor Paul Hartfield officiating. Burial was at Oakwood Cemetery.

Mrs. Schneider was born Aug. 11, 1915 at Lyons, the daughter of Adolph and Albertina Huse Maas.

She was married to B.A.O. Schneider on Dec. 1, 1935 in Hamilton. She was a retired medication aid, having worked at area nursing homes, and an active member of the St. John Lutheran Church where she served in various positions.

Her husband; her parents; a daughter, Bernada Ann Pryor; one sister and five brothers precede her in death.

Survivors include her daughter, Kathleen (Kay) Overton of Colleyville; four grandchildren, Jonathan and Cynthia Overton and Natachia and Andrea Pryor.

Pallbearers were W.O. McCollum, Doug Forrest, Darman Wagner, Billy Lawson, Doyle Roberts and Gary Schoen.

Memorials may be made to the Lutheran Hour in care of St. John Lutheran Church, Hamilton.

Pallbearers were Charles Smith, Bob Campbell, Ramon Haile, Darrell Wright, Charles Perkins, Ryan Newton and Jerry Newton.

SELLERS, ANNIE ETHEL (McGUIRE)

Annie Ethel Sellers, 91, of Hamilton, died Saturday, march 14, at Hamilton General Hospital following an extended illness. Funeral services were held Monday, March 16 at the Riley Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Wesley Jones officiating. Burial was in the Oakwood Cemetery.

Mrs. Sellers was born Jan. 21, 1901, in Troy to John Franklin and Sarah Stewart McQuire. She married Lester Carson Sellers Oct. 4, 1924. She was a homemaker and a member of the First United Church of Jonesboro.

She was preceded in death by her husband; five sisters; and three brothers. Survivors include one son, Wayne Sellers of Waco; two sisters, Ella Glover of Fort Worth and Kate Stevens of Hamilton; three grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild.

Pallbearers were Raymond Glover, Shelby Stevens, Christopher Sellers, Mark Marraceini, Justin Witty, and Darrell Sellers.

SELLERS, DEWEY MAYHON

Services were Monday, Dec. 7, in the Riley Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Micah Knapp officiating. Burial was in the Oakwood Cemetery.

Mr. Sellers was born Feb. 20, 1913, in Coryell County, the son of Norman S. and Cora Elizabeth Mayhew Sellers. He was married to Lillian Cates on Oct. 3, 1936, in Hamilton. She preceded him in death on July 23, 1976. He later married Eunice Lykins on Nov. 23, 1978, at Hamilton. He was a lifetime resident of Hamilton County, a retired rancher and a member of Providence Baptist Church where he was a deacon for many years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife, two sisters and a brother.

Survivors include his wife, Eunice Sellers of Hamilton; a stepson, Mitch (M.T.) Lykins of Hamilton; four sisters, Stella and John Anglin of Lubbock, Norma and Wesley Jones and Prudence Jones, all of Lanham, and Joy Wilson of Houston; a brother, Carl and Charlene Sellers of Fairy; a sister-in-law, Jewell Sellers of Hamilton; a brother-in-law, Norman Thompson of Hamilton; two step-grandchildren; and four step-great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Bobby Sellers, John Alexander, Donald Ray Jones, Kenny Craig, Willie Frank Thompson and Don Bullard.

SELLERS, JOHN EMMETT

John Emmett Sellers, 86, of Altus, Okla. died June 8 at Jackson County Memorial Hospital after an extended illness. Funeral services were held June 10 at Lowell-Tims Chapel with Dr. Jeff Moore officiating. Mr. Sellers' brother-in-law, Rev. Clyde Berkley, assisted with funeral services in Altus and conducted graveside services in Hamilton. Burial was in the Oakwood Cemetery in Hamilton on June 11.

Mr. Sellers was born Jan. 26, 1918 in Jonesboro, the son of Joel Neel Sellers and Ella Lee (Bankston) Sellers. He was married to Wanda Dean Berkley on June 6, 1947 at Robert Lee. He was a World War II Army Veteran. He served in the European Theater in the D-Day Invasion and Battle of the Bulge. He was wounded and was given a medical discharge at McClosky Hospital in Temple on Oct. 4, 1945.

Mr. Sellers lived around Hamilton and had "The Wagon Wheel Café" there after his discharge. He moved his family to Altus, Okla. In 1959 where he owned and operated a furniture upholstery shop for many years.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Altus, a lifetime member of the DAV and a past member of the Optimist Club.

Mr. Sellers was a hard-working family man and a good Christian who was looking forward to Heaven. He was preceded in death by his father, Joel Neel Sellers; his mother, Ella Lee Sellers Neal; his step-father, Boyd Neal; two brothers, Lee Neal Sellers and Jerry Audine Neal; a step-brother, William Neal and a nephew, Gary Sellers.

Survivors include his wife of the home in Altus; two daughters and a son-in-law, Connie Parks of Edmond, Okla. and Gayle and Bill Meyer of Tulsa, Okla.; a brother, Leonard Sellers and wife Judy of Abilene; a sister, Estelle Michael of Wylie; four grandchildren, Heather Marie Parks Seabourn and husband Don, Ashley Michelle Parks, Steven Higgs and wife Dorothy and Ryan Higgs and wife Miranda; a great-grandchild, Jacob "Jake" Higgs; a brother-in-law, Clyde Berkley and wife Ann, sister-in-law Christine Garcia and husband Jess, sister-in-law Dorotha Everitt and husband Jim as well as many nieces and nephews.
Lowell-Tims Funeral Home

SHAW, MARGIE LOUISE (COLLIE)
The Hamilton Herald-News February 24, 2005

Margie Louise Collie Shaw, 79, left this life surrounded by her loving family on Feb. 19, 2005 in Hamilton. A celebration of her life was held on Feb. 20, 2005 at First Baptist Church in Hamilton. Burial was at Oakwood Cemetery.

Mrs. Shaw was born on Feb. 26, 1925 and raised in Brownwood, the daughter of Malcolm and Mae (Fletcher) Collie.

She worked at Camp Wood during WWII and helped at the USO with her mother. She had a career as a medical secretary at Mast Clinic in Midland as well as Halliburton Oil. She was legal secretary for Andrew Campbell, James Crouch, and Andy McMullen all of Hamilton for more than 30. She was well-known for being the fastest typist around. She and her husband owned two restaurants and an office supply store.

She was married to Marvin Luther Shaw on Nov. 6, 1948 in Brownwood. They lived in Abilene and Midland before making Hamilton their permanent home. For the last three years Mrs. Shaw lived with her daughter Jackie and husband Gary Christian.

After retirement in 1995 Mrs. Shaw enjoyed spending time with friends at the Senior Center and Special Care Clinic. She spent many happy hours with her church family and friends playing Skip-Bo and Chicken foot. She was a loving and caring friend with a wonderful sense of humor. She was a wonderful loving Christian mother and friend. She will be missed greatly by her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Marvin Luther Shaw and parents L.M. Collie and Ethel Mae Fletcher Collie and her brother Jack Horace Collie.

Survivors include her daughters, Jackie and husband Gary Christian of Hamilton and Cindy Shaw of Houston; grandchildren, Stacey and Kris Owens, Miranda and Abbie of McKinney, Stephen and Amanda Christian and Avery of Cedar Park, Mandy and Sheldon Blackwell and Garrison of Hamilton, Haley Christian of Stephenville, and Amey and James Foust and Heather and Trevor of Lewisville. Also surviving are Evelyn and Allen Hatcher of Hurst and their families as well as a host of cousins and many wonderful friends.

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intent of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming, “WOW – what a ride!” The family suggests memorials be made to First Baptist Church children’s and nursery department, Hamilton Senior Center, Hamilton Public Library or Huts for Mutts.
Riley Funeral Home

SIMMONS, MARIE FRANCES (WILLIAMS)
The Hamilton Herald-News 05/12/2005

Marie Frances Simmons, 85 died May 3, 2005. Funeral services were held May 6 at Bean-Massey-Burge Funeral Home in Grand Prairie with Bro. Dave Malone officiating. Burial was at Oakwood Cemetery in Hamilton.

She was born Feb. 1, 1920 in Gatesville, the daughter of Willis Warren and Kate Williams. She was married to Olen E. Simmons on Jan. 22, 1938. He preceded her in death on June 6, 1990. The couple began their lives together in the central Texas Hamilton and Mills County areas. They moved to Grand Prairie more than 50 years ago where Marie was a homemaker.

She was active in the Golden Age Club, LTV UAW, Nutrition Center and a longtime member of Turnpike Church of Christ.

She was preceded in death by her brothers, U. D. Williams and Alton Williams; a sister, Winnie Billingsley and a sister-in-law, Virgie Williams.

Survivors include her sisters, Jewel Bankhead of Grand Prairie and Jean Karnes of Stephenville; a brother, Herschel Williams and sister-in-law, Lois Williams.
Ben-Massey-Burge

SMITH, ZORA PAULINE "PAULA"

Zora Pauline (Paula) Smith, 30, of Hamilton died July 20, 2003. Graveside funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Oakwood Cemetery.

She was born August 4, 1972 at Abilene, the daughter of Charles Edward Smith Jr. and Patricia Williams Smith. She was a devoted mother and companion. She was a Certified Nursing Aid working in the care of the elderly.

Her companion James Headley of Hamilton, children David Edward Smith, Tiffany Foster, Brandon Wayne Smith, step-children Tiffani Headley and Brad Headley all of Hamilton survive. She is also survived by her father, Charles Edward Smith; her mother Patricia Williams of Hamilton; maternal grandfather, J.L. Williams; maternal great-grandmother Eunice A. Williams; a sister, Patricia Busch of Junction; two brothers, Charles Edward Smith of Waco and Wilton Richard Smith of Hamilton and by a number of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

Riley Funeral Home Motor cycle accident claims life of local woman Sunday

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- Two separate motorcycle accidents Sunday afternoon and Monday morning left one person dead and three injured. DPS Trooper Steven Schwartz said the fatality accident happened just after 4 p.m. Sunday on Farm Road 1241 near Blue Ridge. Paula Smith, 30, of Hamilton was pronounced dead at the Hamilton General Hospital emergency room at 4:36 p.m.

Smith was a passenger on a motorcycle driven by Jimmy Headley, 43, also of Hamilton. Headley was hospitalized with broken ribs.

Trooper Schwartz said that Headley failed to negotiate a sharp corner and lost control of the motorcycle. Schwartz cited unsafe speed as a factor in the accident, but charges are also pending against Headley.

An obituary for Smith can be found on Page 8 of this week's paper.

SOMMERFELD, LEOTA MYRELEN (RUSSELL)

Leota Myrelene Sommerfeld, 64, died Sunday, May 23, at Harris Methodist Hospital in Stephenville.

Services were Tuesday, May 25, at Riley Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Kevin McDonald officiating. Burial was in Oakwood Cemetery.

Mrs. Sommerfeld was born July 16, 1934, in Ropesville, the daughter of Abb and Audie Pointer Russell. She was married to Clarence Alfred (Fritz) Sommerfeld on Dec. 24, 1958. He preceded her in death on Aug. 25, 1971. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Hazel Ruth Garrett.

She was a licensed beautician for 40 years and was the owner of Myrelene’s Beauty Shop in Hamilton. She was a member of First Baptist Church.

Survivors include two daughters, D’Linda Sommerfeld and D’Andra Sommerfeld, both of Stephenville; two nieces, Rebecca L. Minton of Anthony, N.M., and Judy Ann Garrett of Lancaster, Calif.; and a nephew, Russell Garrett of West Port, Conn.

Pallbearers were Don Pointer, Donald Parrish, Bryan Parrish, John Parrish, Dennis Connley and David Frederick.

SOMMERFELD, PAUL OTTO

Paul Otto Sommerfeld, 93, died June 6, 2004 at Hamilton. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. June 9 at St. John Lu-theran Church with Rev. Russell Nebhut and Vicar Keith Reich officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery.

Mr. Sommerfeld was born May 5, 1911 in Hamilton, the son of Max and Josephine Kraemer Sommerfeld.

He was baptized June 11, 1911 and confirmed April 19, 1925 at St. Paul Lutheran Church at Shive. He was married to Meta Alwine Heptner on August 24, 1941 at Shive. Paul was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a good farmer and a hard worker, retiring in 1988 and moving to Hamilton. He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Hamilton. Survivors include his wife Meta Alwine Sommerfeld of Hamilton; three children, Joyce Sommerfeld of Hamilton, James Sommerfeld and wife Sheryl of Hamilton and Billy Paul Sommerfeld and wife Fan of Fairland, Okla.; two grandchildren, Gregg Sommerfeld and wife Natalee and Tamra Sommerfeld and one great- grandchild Austin Sommerfeld.

He is preceded in death by by his parents and four brothers, Bennie, Alex, Herbert and Rude Sommerfeld.

Pallbearers will be Curtis Heptner, Marvin, Martin Seider, Oscar Melde, Joe Sommerfeld and Randy Sommerfeld.

Riley Funeral Home

SOMMERFELD, RUDOLPH RALPH "RUDE"

Rudolph Ralph Sommerfeld ("Rude"), 80, of Austin, died Oct. 24, 2002. Funeral services were conducted Oct. 28 at the Cook-Walden Rockwood Lane Chapel with Pastor Karl Gronberg officiating. Burial was at the Oakwood Cemetery in Hamilton.

He was born in Hamilton on March 27, 1922 and lived and farmed there until 1954. From Hamilton he moved to Giddings where he worked for two years before moving to Austin in 1956. He worked for the City of Austin for 24 years before retiring in 1980. After his retirement, Mr. Sommerfeld enjoyed his hobby of restoring 1950 model Chevy cars.

A World War II veteran, he served in the Infantry for two years in Germany.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances C. Sommerfeld and brothers Benny, Alex and Herbert Sommerfeld.

Survivors include his sons, Bobby Sommerfeld and wife Frances, Randy Sommerfeld and wife Peggy; grandchildren, Stefanie Jordan and husband Keith, Shawn, Katrina and Samantha Sommerfeld, and Kim Hyde; great-grandchildren, Kourtney and Colton Jordan, and brother Paul Sommerfeld.

Pallbearers were Keith Jordan, Shawn Sommerfeld, Rodney Avery, Charles John, Jason Jackson and Matt Law. Memorials may be made to Gethsemane Lutheran Church.
Cook-Walden Rockwood Lane

Rudolph Ralph Sommerfeld was a son of Max Sommerfeld and Josephine Bertha Kramer. He married Frances C. Tiemann on June 8, 1949, Hamilton County Marriage Record Bk. 11, p. 221.

SPENCER, LYLE R.

Services were Monday, May 3, in the Riley Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jim Clifton officiating. Burial was in the Oakwood Cemetery.

Mr. Spencer was born March 17, 1938, in Torrington, Wyo., the son of Iver Forrest and Florence Henderson Spencer. He was married to Martha Dorton on Sept. 26, 1953, in Stanton. During their first 12 years of marriage, he worked in Texas as a seismograph shot-hole driller before moving to Libby, Mont., where he and his family lived from 1965 to 1981. They then moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, where they lived for nine years. He worked on the Alaskan pipeline until retiring to Hamilton eight years ago. He was a mechanic and retired from Operating Engineers and a member of Libby Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Martha Spencer of Hamilton; four children, Lyle A. Spencer of La Mirada, Calif., Kathy Gale Fenison of Toledo, Wash., Forrest Joe Spencer of Rochester, Wash., and Byron Lee Spencer of Fort Worth; his mother-in-law, Marcella May Dorton of Hamilton; two brothers-in-law, James and Dennis Dorton, both of Hamilton; four brothers, Harry Spencer of Billings, Mont., Earl Spencer of Meridian, Idaho, Ray Spencer of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Carl Spencer of Odessa; and 10 grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Randy Conner, Bill Gardner, Wayne Walls, Richard Weinkauf, Carl Dorton, Don Scroggins and Edgar Etheridge.

STANFORD, BERRY LOYD

Berry Loyd Stanford, 92, died Tuesday, Sept. 29, at Azle Manor Nursing Home in Azle.

Services will be Thursday, Oct. 1, at 2 p.m. at Riley Funeral Home Chapel with Gerald Stanford officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.

Mr. Stanford was born Jan. 7, 1906, in the Stanford Valley community of Hamilton County, the son of J.C. and Nannie Pearl Scoggins Stanford. He was married to Maddie Jeweline Giese on Sept. 4, 1930, in Hobbs, N.M. She preceded him in death on May 8, 1996. He was also preceded in death by two sisters and a brother.

Mr. Stanford spent his early years in Hamilton County and later moved to Plainview for 25 years. He had also lived in Azle for eight years before moving to Hamilton. After his wife?s death he returned to Azle to be near his daughter. He was a retired farmer and a member of the Baptist church.

Survivors include four children, Loyd Wayne Stanford of Springtown, Doris Evelyn Harris of Azle, Charles Milford Stanford of Moore, Okla., and Daryl Ross Stanford of Rosenburg; 14 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Lucy Huse of Jonesboro and Faye Anderson of Waco; and a brother, Elmer (Buster) Stanford of Clifton.

STANFORD, DARYL ROSS

Daryl Ross Stanford, 60, died Sept. 11 at the Poly Ryon Hospital in Rosenburg. Services were Sept. 14 at the Riley Funeral Home Chapel in Hamilton with Rev. Gerald Stanford officiating. Burial was at Oakwood Cemetery.

Mr. Stanford was born May 26, 1939 at Cranfills Gap, the son of B. L. and Madie Giese Stanford.

He was a heavy equipment operator working in construction for many years. At the time of his death, he was manager of a mobile home park in Rosenburg. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Rosenburg.

Survivors include his twin children Monty Stanford of Rosenburg and Tammy Stanford of Alton, Okla; a sister, Doris Harris of Azle; two brothers, L. W. Stanford of Springtown and C. M. Stanford of Moore, Okla.

Pallbearers were R. L. Harris, Guy Bronson, Terry Farley, Loyd Stanford, Carl Hopkins, and Milford Stanford.

STEPHENS, VIOLA GERTRUDE (BERKLEY) (HARGROVE)

Viola Berkley Hargrove Stephens, 88, formerly of Hamilton, died Oct. 16 at her home in Hockley County. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Oct. 19 at the Riley Funeral Home Chapel in Hamilton with Rev. Syl Moore and Rev. Wesley Jones officiating. Burial will be at the Oakwood Cemetery in Hamilton.

She was born Oct. 15, 1913 in Goodwill, Okla., the daughter of Herbert Berkley and Leona Berry Berkley and was married to Leonard Hargrove on Jan. 23, 1932. He preceded her in death in 1986.

She was married to Marvin Stephens on Nov. 3, 1987. He preceded her in death on Jan. 21, 1996.

Mrs. Stephens had worked at an aircraft factory during World War II. She was a hairdresser, rancher and homemaker. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Abernathy and a Sunday school teacher. She played piano for the First Baptist Church in Hamilton. She was a member of the Silver Streak Club.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands and three sisters.

Survivors include her three step-children, Darrell Stephens, Verna Lee Salmon and Reginal Stephens and their families; her nieces, Helen Patterson, Danell Barnett, Sandy Beard and Rita Joyce Blackwell and their families; a host of grandchildren and great-grand-children.

STEPHENS, WILLIAM ANDREW "BILL"

William Andrew (Bill) Stephens, 89, of Hamilton, went home to be with our Lord Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2003, after a year of courageously battling his illness. A celebration of his life service was held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Riley Funeral Home with Rev. Kevin Cude officiating. Internment was at the Oakwood Cemetery of Hamilton.

Bill was born Nov. 19, 1913 at Weinert, Haskell County. He was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Jackson Stephens. He was joined in Holy matrimony on July 10, 1938 to Winnie Pickering at Stamford.

Sharing these 64 ½ years of life together was complimented with his service to his country in the Army Air Corp during World War II. He was a farmer and was widely known for his specialty of repairing and restoring saddles and tack. He was a member of the D.A.V. of Hamilton and the Grace Pentecostal Church of Hamilton.

Bill was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. His Savior and family were the most important aspects of his life, followed closely by his love for his donkeys. His belief in the power of prayer, faith and love were paramount in his life.

A gentle, caring man, he was always available to any need. He never met a stranger and always found the good in all and every situation. His legendary sense of humor, his love, support and creative resourcefulness will be missed. These legacies will forever live in many hearts and many old, tired saddles will ride a great while longer.

His wife, Winnie, three daughters, Sue Stephens Kunkle, Patsy (Stephens) and husband, Gary Fields, and Carolyn (Stephens) and husband, Rick Nichols survive as well as eight grandchildren, Lisa (Kunkel) Lowe, Robi Kunkel and wife Liz, Natalie Kunkel and our devoted friend Nancy Lozano, Paula (Fields) and husband Tony Benz, Jon Fields and wife Jodi, Jae Bills and Fiancee Lacee Rasberry, Jena (Bills) and husband Kyle Cushman and Justin Nichols. Also surviving are seven great-grandchildren, Leslee Lowe, Jesse and Catherine Kunkel, Bryan, Megan and Courtney Benz of Arlington and Bailee Fields of Temple; one sister, Lela Stephens, McClure and one brother, J.D. (Doc) Stephens and a host of nieces and nephews as well as many friends.

Pallbearers were Murlin Bottlinger, Moorman Crumrine, Tom Moore, Alvin Terrell, Gary Fields, Rick Nichols, Dent Bills and grandsons, Robi Kunkel, Jon Fields, Jae Bills, Tony Benz, Kyle Cushman and Justin Nichols.

Memorials may be made to the church ministries, which were the winds beneath our wings: Grace Pentecostal Church and First Baptist Church, both of Hamilton.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished my race, I have kept my faith." Ref: II Timothy 4:7
Riley Funeral Home

Jessie D. Stevens, 73, of Hamilton died May 30, 2005 at the Forrest Ridge Nursing Home. Graveside services were held June 2 in the Oakwood Cemetery in Hamilton.

He was born Oct. 7, 1931 in Cranfills Gap, the son of Wil-liam D. and Ellen Blansit-Stevens. He was married to Nancy Tweeter on April 24, 1952 in Big Spring.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, C.Y. and Cleo Stevens and a sister, Ruby Vickers.

Survivors include his wife of Hamilton; two sons, William Stevens and wife Kitty of Hamilton; Jessie Lee Stevens and wife Bridget of Lewisville; a daughter, Debra Kay Eisen and husband Johnny Glen of Hamilton; a sister, Joyce Anglin of Hamilton; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.