For the Week of November 3 - November 9, 2019

Funeral Mass for Jhovita Lara, age 55 of Seminole, Texas will be celebrated Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church with Father Jose DeDios Gonzalez officiating. Rosary will be held at St. James Catholic Church on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. All services are under the direction of Boyer Funeral Home.

Jhovita Lara was born November 8, 1963 in Okeechobee, Florida to Emma (Herrera) and Geronimo Lara. She was a Catholic and worked in the Hospitality industry. Jhovita was a huge Dallas Cowboys fan and enjoyed cooking for her family, crocheting, and playing loteria.

Jhovita Lara passed away November 2, 2019 at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas. She is preceded in death by her parents and one brother. She is survived by one son, Donte Gomez and partner Monica Alvidrez of Seminole, Texas; two brothers, Anselmo Gomez and wife Carmen of Seminole, and Albert Gomez and wife Lucinda of Seminole, Texas; two sisters, Lisa Foresman and husband Jeff of San Antonio, Texas and Joanna Valdez and husband Ty of Seminole, Texas; two grandchildren, Donavyn Gomez and Delilah Gomez; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for David Knelsen, age 76 of Seminole, Texas will be held Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at Old Colony Mennonite Church with Bishop Neil Fehr officiating. Burial will follow at Gaines County Cemetery. All services are under the direction of Boyer Funeral Home.

Mr, Knelsen was born November 26, 1942 in Mexico to Margaret (Hamm) and Frank Knelsen. He married Aganetha Wieler in Mexico on June 21, 1964. He was a farmer and a member of the Old Colony Mennonite Church. David Knelsen was an honest and hard working man.

David Knelsen passed away at his home in Seminole on Saturday, October 12, 2019. He is preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, four sisters, and one son. He is survived by his wife, Aganetha Knelsen of Seminole; two sons, David Knelsen and wife Anna of Seminole, and John Knelsen and wife Susan of Seminole; one brother, Diedrich Knelsen and wife Margaret of Mexico; one sister, Aganetha Friesen and husband Abe of Brownfield, Texas; twelve grandchildren, and twenty-eight great-grandchildren.

A private memorial will be held for Nedra Searsy, age 95 of Denver City, Texas who passed away at Shinnery Oaks Nursing Home on Thursday, October 10, 2019. All services are under the direction of Boyer Memorial Chapel of Denver City, in association with Boyer Funeral Home of Seminole, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to New Mexico Christian Children’s Home, 1356 NM 236, Portales, NM 88130.

Mrs. Searsy was born in Tennessee Colony, Texas to Clarence and Lola Seagler on June 15, 1924. She graduated from high school in Roosevelt, Texas at the age of 16 in 1940. She married Hubert Searsy on November 2, 1941. Hubert enlisted in the Navy and both she and Hubert worked for Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego, California for six years. They returned to Texas and lived in Idalou for several years operating a service station. In 1952 they moved to the Arnett community to farm cotton, then in 1982 the couple moved to Denver City, Texas where they retired from farming. She was a member of the Church of Christ and loved her friends there.

Nedra Searsy was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Hubert Elmer Searsy; one daughter, Pamela Jo Searsy Owen; five brothers, and three sisters. She is survived by her children, Kathy Searsy Pellette and Lynn Searsy and wife Patrice; her grandchildren, Jeffery Owen and wife Dawn, Barry Owen and Gregory Blackledge, Clay Searsy and wife Misty, Drew Searsy, Erin Mensch and husband Hans; and by seven great-grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces.

The family would like to acknowledge and express sincere gratitude for the many acts of kindness by neighbors, the Denver City police department, EMS, Home Health Care, doctors and nurses at Yoakum County Hospital, Shinnery Oaks caregivers, and Hospice.

 

Funeral services for Frank Thiessen, age 75 of Seminole, Texas will be held Saturday, October 5, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at Reinlander Mennonite Church with Pastor John Loewen officiating. Burial will follow at Reinlander Mennonite Cemetery. All services are under the direction of Boyer Funeral Home.

Mr. Thiessen was born May 28, 1944 in Durango, Mexico to David and Maria Thiessen. He married Maria Knelsen on May 15, 1966 and they were happily married for fifty-three years. He was a member of Reinlander Mennonite Church and was retired from his welding job he loved. He also enjoyed playing the accordion and guitar and being outdoors; but he especially enjoyed every moment with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. 

Frank Thiessen passed away at his home in Seminole October 1, 2019. He is preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, and one son, Peter Thiessen. He is survived by his wife, Maria Thiessen of Seminole, Texas; three sons, Dave Thiessen of Plainview, Texas, Frank Thiessen and wife Tina of Dallas, Texas, and Aron Thiessen and wife Tina of Seminole, Texas; four daughters, Margie Fehr and husband John of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Mary Padilla and husband Lucas of Seminole, Texas, Helen Rivas and husband Joey of Lamesa, Texas, and Annie Neufeld and husband Pete of Seminole, Texas; one brother, Henry Thiessen and wife Lisa of Mexico; three sisters, Helen Harms of Seminole, Texas, Mary Bergen and husband David of Mexico, and Anna Bartch of Andrews, Texas; thirty-one grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life service for Francis “Aileen” Hester, age 81 of Longview, Texas and formerly of Seminole will be held Saturday, September 28, 2019 at the First Assembly of God Church in Seminole, Texas at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Ken Morgan officiating. All services are under the direction of Boyer Funeral Home.

Mrs. Hester was born September 5, 1938 in Lindsay, Oklahoma to Mildred Faye (McMillian) and Flake Ebenezer Lambert. She married Gayle Hester in Seminole, Texas on May 4, 1957. She was a member of the First Assembly of God and a homemaker. Aileen loved attending church, listening to music, playing the piano, guitar, and violin, and singing. She was also involved in the “Promised Land” Gospel Group. She loved her family and friends dearly, often spending hours talking to them about the Lord and Gospel music.

Francis Aileen Hester passed away Monday, September 23, 2019 at Longview Hill Nursing Home in Longview, Texas. She is preceded in death by her parents, Flake and Mildred Lambert; her husband, Gayle Hester; stepmom, Nettie; and one sister, Betty Fisher. She is survived by one daughter, Linda Morgan and husband Ken of Longview, Texas; three brothers, Earnest Lambert and wife Diane of San Angelo, Texas, Randy Lambert and wife Brenda of Snyder, Texas, and Glen Lambert and wife Emma of Fayetteville, Arkansas; four sisters, Mary Faye Cox Powell of Tennessee, Coleen Wagner and husband Carl of Waldron, Arkansas, Anita Goolsby and husband Junior Jimenez of Seagraves, Texas, and Mary Meeks and husband Stan of Chillicothe, Texas; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services for Emmett C. Mills, age 80 of Denver City, Texas will be held Saturday, September 7, 2019 at First Baptist Church at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Kyle Streun officiating. Burial will follow at Denver City Memorial Park. Family will host a visitation at First Baptist Church on Friday, September 6, 2019 from 6 to 7 p.m. All services are under the direction of Boyer Memorial Chapel of Denver City, in association with Boyer Funeral Home of Seminole.

Mr. Mills was born August 24, 1939 in Brownwood, Texas to Bobbie Sikes. He married Edna Lavada (Thomas) Mills in Big Spring, Texas February 6, 1960. He was a member of the First Baptist Church and worked in the oil field. Emmett loved his church dearly and was always a very warm, caring, honest and humble man; Emmett never met a stranger and had a great sense of humor. He always wanted to be involved with his children’s sports and activities; he also was involved in Little Dribblers Basketball. In his spare time he enjoyed playing golf. Emmett Mills was an exceptional husband, father, and grandfather.

Emmett Mills passed away Tuesday, September 3, 2019 in Brownfield, Texas due to an auto accident. He is preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Ernie Mills. He is survived by his wife Lavada Mills of Denver City, Texas; one son, Steven Mills and wife Freinde of Sugarland, Texas; one daughter, Suzanne McMahan of Denver City, Texas; one brother, Curtis Joe Mills and wife Connie of Winter Haven, Florida; three grandchildren, Steven Inabnet of Midland, Texas, Braxton Mills of Austin, Texas, and Alexander Mills of College Station, Texas.

Funeral services for Donnie Wren Parker, age 62 of Denver City, Texas will be held Thursday, August 22, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church with Pastor Ricky Mitchell officiating and Pastor John McClean assisting. Burial will follow at Denver City Memorial Park. All services are under the direction of Boyer Memorial Chapel of Denver City, in association with Boyer Funeral Home of Seminole. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Denver City Fire Dept, United Fund of Denver City, and the YCH Foundation.

Mr. Parker was born February 25, 1957 in Lubbock, Texas to Eula Nadine (Dixon) and H.O. Parker, Jr. He married Marsha Suzanne Kidd in Denver City January 24, 1975. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and worked as a master electrician. Donnie started working for Denver City Fire Department in 1975 and retired in 2000.He also was an electrician and part owner of Electric Motor Repair until he retired in 1997. He was involved in Cub and Boy Scouts; he was also a coin collector and an avid lottery player. Donnie was a motorcycle enthusiast and proudly rode a Harley. In his spare time he enjoyed scuba diving; he had always wanted to go to Australia to swim in the barrier reef and with the sharks. He loved his grandchildren dearly and they all called him “D-Pa.” 

Donnie Parker passed away at his home in Denver City, Texas August 20, 2019. He is preceded in death by one brother, Terry Lynn Parker. He is survived by his wife Suzie Parker of Denver City, Texas; two sons, Joey Parker of Austin, Texas and Joshua Parker and wife Shannon of Denver City; one daughter, Becca Floyd of Denver City; one brother, Rodney Parker and wife Davela of Denver City; one sister, L’Dena Mitchell and husband Ricky of Caldwell, Texas; one sister-in-law, Stephanie Parker of Denver City; and four grandchildren, Ashton Floyd, Aniston Floyd, Morgan Parker, and Collin Parker.

Funeral services for Francisco Harms, age 51 of Seminole, Texas will be held Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at Old Colony Mennonite Church in Seminole. Preacher John Hiebert will officiate, with burial to follow at Gaines County Cemetery. All services are under the direction of Boyer Funeral Home of Seminole.

Francisco was born April 16, 1968 in Mexico to Katharina (Neufeld) and Franz Harms. He married Margarita (Friesen) on September 27, 1987 in Zacatecas, Mexico. Mr. Harms was a member of Old Colony Mennonite Church. He worked as a welder for J&L Steel. Mr. Harms loved fishing. He was always happy and smiling and never met a stranger. Mr. Harms will be greatly missed by his family, especially his wife who was his best friend.

Franciso Harms passed away July 27, 2019 at Seminole Memorial Hospital. He is preceded in death by his parents. Franciso is survived by his wife, Margarita; three brothers, Abe Harms and wife Margaret of Bolivia, John Harms and wife Tina of Mexico, and George Harms and wife Tina of Canada; four sisters, Susana Brown and husband John of Mexico, Elizabeth Harms and husband Jacob of Mexico, Tina Guenther and husband Isaac of Mexico, and Helena Froese and husband John of Canada.

Funeral services for Dessie Dale, age 83 of Seminole, Texas will be held Saturday, August 3, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church with Pastor Roy Smith officiating. Burial will follow at Gaines County Cemetery. All services are under the direction of Boyer Funeral Home.

Dessie Dale, more affectionately known as Big Mama, was born February 29, 1936 in Stranger, Texas, and raised in Marlin, Texas. Dessie attend Marlin Public Schools in Marlin Texas, and she began her work in the restaurant industry. She met and married the love of her life, Odessie Dale, in 1955; they were married for 68 years. The majority of her years were spent raising her children and grandchildren. She attended True Light Baptist Church in Seminole, Texas where she was a faithful member. Dessie entered into eternal rest on Saturday, July 27, 2019.

Dessie had a smile that was solemn and true. Her heart was as big as all outdoors; it was filled with love, generosity and trust. She never met a stranger and anyone that knew her would never forget her great personality. She lived her life to the fullest and loved her family and friends unconditionally.

She is preceded in death by her father Elijah Kirk (Bo); her mother, Willie Kirk; her brothers, Elijah Kirk, Jr. and Harvey Kirk; her sisters, Elmira Kirk and Elvira Barnes; her grandsons, Michael Deshawn Adkison and Paul Glenn Adkison III; her granddaughter, Daquisha Dale; and her son, Odessa Dale, Jr. 

Those left to cherish her memory include her devoted husband of 68 years, Odessie Dale of Seminole, Texas; four daughters, Kasteen (Freddy) Jones of Seminole Texas, Jeraldine Hawkins of Austin Texas, Naquita (Daniel) Melton of San Antonio Texas, and Lavern Edwards of Austin, Texas; six sons, Shelton Dale, Sylvester (Karen) Dale, Craig Dale (Keisha), and Grady (Chiketa) Dale, all of Dallas Texas, George (Diana) Dale of Andrews, Texas, and William Earl Dale of Austin Texas; one sister, Mary Barnes of Dallas, Texas; three sisters-in-law; over 40 grandchildren and a host of great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.