James Vernon Martin was born Nov. 22, 1931, near the community of Duffau, Texas, in the southeast part of Erath County to Lanham Martin and Anna Jones Martin.

James grew up on the Overton Ranch which is a division of the Lambshead Ranch near Albany, TX. Upon graduating high school at Albany, he entered Texas Tech and studied Agriculture. During his senior year at Tech, James was drafted into the Army and served from Nov. 23, 1952, until Oct. 28, 1954, attaining the rank of Sgt-E5. He was in the Combat Engineers.

Tammi Taggart  Titsworth of Lubbock, age 60, died Nov. 6, 2021 at her home. A memorial service will be held at the Moran Community Center on Nov. 21 at 1:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to help celebrate the life of Tammi Taggart Titsworth. 

She was born June 23, 1961 in Toronto, Ohio to Harold Wayne Taggart and Gwen Burton-Gates. She married Paul Titsworth June 16, 2002 in Eastland, TX.

She graduated from Moran High School and worked for The Albany News. She also played on The Albany News softball team for several years.

Robert Scott Brittingham, known to many as “Jigger,” died Nov. 6, 2021 in Albany, Texas.

He was born in Cleveland, Ohio on Oct. 28, 1932 to Lucile Matthews Brittingham and Harold Hixon Brittingham.

After graduating from Yale University, he worked for Doubleday Bookshops, wrote copy for Bantam Books, sold some short stories, and held executive positions at Lambs­head Ranch and Lumber Industries.

He always said the two things in life he was good at were poker and swimming.

After a severe stroke on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021, Judy McAllister, also known as “Aunt Judy” to her family, age 65 of Albany, passed away Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 13 at Morehart Mortuary with Jeff Pleasant officiating. Services are entrusted to Morehart Mortuary.

Lee Hail, age 64 of Albany, passed away Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 6 at the United Pentecostal Church in Albany with Jeff Leverton, Cynthia Tollett, Eldon Roland, and BJ Kennimer officiating. Interment will follow in the Albany Cemetery under the direction of Morehart Mortuary. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5 at Morehart Mortuary of Albany. 

John Morrow, age 62 of Throckmorton, passed away Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 14 at Happy Wife Happy Life Events Venue with Pastor Paul Johnston. Burial will follow in the Albany Cemetery under the direction of Morehart Mortuary. Visitation was planned from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 13 at Happy Wife Happy Life Events Venue.

John Horton Morrow was born June 13, 1959 in Abilene, Texas to Wayne Morrow and Frances Free Morrow. John worked for WTU and later for AT&T for over 20 years until he retired. 

Stanton Dow Liles, III, was born Sept. 13, 1946, in Seymour, TX, and passed from this life on Oct. 8, 2021, in Wichita Falls, TX. A graveside service was held at the Throckmorton Cemetery Tuesday, Oct. 12, followed by a memorial service at First United Methodist Church, Throckmorton, TX, with Rev. Jay Gage officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Smith Family Funeral Homes, Throckmorton. 

Michael Turner, age 31 of Albany, passed away, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Graveside services were held Monday, Aug. 30 in the Albany Cemetery with Jeff Turner, Jr. officiating. Services were entrusted to Morehart Mortuary.

Michael Ryan Turner was born Feb. 26, 1990 in Snyder, Texas to parents, Jeff Turner and Lana Britton. He found his home in Snyder, Midland, and Albany, Texas. 

Catherine Ann Cornelison, 55, of Abilene died Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021, at her home. Graveside services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, Sept. 3, at the Albany Cemetery in Albany, Texas, with her brother, Rev. Mark Cornelison, officiating. 

 Services are under the direction of Bailey Howard Funeral Home in Clyde. Visitation will be Thursday from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at the funeral home.

Bette Lu Linahan, 65, passed away on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 with her family by her side in Abilene, Texas. A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m.  Saturday, Aug. 28, at the Round Mound Cemetery under the direction of Bailey Howard Funeral Home of Clyde. 

Bette was born Aug. 24, 1955 in Albany, Texas to Ann and Ben Carlile. Bette grew up in Albany, Texas and graduated from Albany High School in 1973. She attended Western Texas College and Angelo State University.