Julia Elizabeth Putnam, 77, a resident of Albany, Texas, departed this life on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in an Abilene hospital. She was born in Abilene, Texas, on Oct. 10, 1943, to Joseph Carrol Putnam and Margaret Elizabeth Sheers Putnam. Julia lived on the family’s Camp Cooper Ranch in Throckmorton County before they moved to Albany in 1947. The Putnams moved back to the ranch in 1955. Julia attended Albany schools and graduated from high school in 1962.

Jimmie Ray Wheeler, age 70, of Sulphur Springs, passed away on Jan. 16, 2021, at Christus Mother Frances Hospital. He was born Apr. 25, 1950, in Abilene, Texas, the son of Jimmie Joshuay Wheeler and Neta Fae Aston Wheeler. 

Jimmie graduated from Breckenridge High School in 1968 and received an associate degree from Cisco Junior College. He worked for Frito-Lay approximately 20 years and then worked for Coca Cola and United Food Stores. He retired in 2013 from C.D. Harnett where he had been in sales. 

Eugene (Gene) B. Creech, 79, of Abilene, formerly of Woodson, died Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021 in an Abilene hospital. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, at the Woodson Church of Christ with Tommy Wade and Foy Owens officiating under the direction of Bailey Howard Funeral Home of Clyde. Burial will follow in the Woodson Cemetery with Vernon Buse officiating.  

 Eligio “Lee” Rodriguez Garcia, age 78 of Albany, passed away Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021. A private family-only funeral mass will be held at 9:30 a.m., Friday, Jan. 22 at Jesus of Nazareth Catholic Church with Father Prakash Dias officiating. Interment will follow at 10:45 a.m. at Albany Cemetery under the direction of Morehart Mortuary. 

Nadine Boland, age 80 of Albany, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. Graveside funeral services were held Saturday, Jan. 16 at the Albany Cemetery with Kyle Viertel officiating. Interment followed under the direction of Morehart Mortuary. 

Merle Nadine Adams was born Nov. 9, 1940 in Granger, Wyoming to Roy and Idonna Hereford Adams. She married Billy Boland in Kemmerer, Wyoming on May 9, 1963. 

Thomas Dale Steddum, age 86, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021 in Odessa, TX. He was born in Haskell County, TX on Feb. 18, 1934 to Ocie Lee and Sammye (Cox) Steddum.  He married Geraline Bothe in 1976 Odessa, TX and they shared 34 years together until she passed in 2011.

Leona Martyn, age 97 of Albany, passed away Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, Jan. 22 at First United Methodist Church of Albany with Rev. Tim Trimble officiating.  Interment will follow in the Albany Cemetery under the direction of Morehart Mortuary. 

Leona Riley was born Aug. 23, 1923 in Woodson, Texas to Dewey Riley and Villa Stubblefield Riley. On Aug. 7, 1945, she married R.E. “Bob” Martyn in Abilene, Texas. 

John Louis Kazda, age 78 of Albany, passed away Sunday morning, Jan. 3, 2021 at home with his family by his side. Services were held Friday, Jan. 8 at Jesus of Nazareth Catholic Church in Albany with burial following at Kirk Ledbetter Cemetery in Throckmorton County. 

John was born Jan. 27, 1942 in Waco, Texas, the son of Louis and Mary Pavlas Kazda. He was a 1960 graduate of Abbott High School and a 1964 graduate of Texas A&M University where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Education.

Elgin Ray (Punk) Jones, age 93, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021 at his home in Mentone, TX. He was born Sept. 25, 1927 in Coleman County to William Lafayette and Oddie Martha (Snedegar) Jones. Elgin married Mary Belle Steddum on June 7, 1950 in the Ibex Community and they shared 70 years together.

William Prestridge Hallman, Jr. (“Bill”), a beloved husband, devoted father, benevolent curmudgeon, respected lawyer, and incomparable friend, died from complications of cancer at home surrounded by family on Nov. 30, 2020. 

He left with no regrets, having lived a life of love, friendship, travel, meaningful work, and generous service. His steadfast moral compass and excellent judgment were invaluable to many people and organizations in the Fort Worth community and beyond.