July 29, 2010 Obituaries

Jana Lou Goodwin Floyd

Memorial services for Jana Lou Goodwin Floyd, 67, of Canyon, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, July 26, 2010, at the University Church of Christ, in Canyon, Texas, with private interment in Dreamland Cemetery by Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon & Happy.

Jana Lou Goodwin Floyd was born February 10, 1943, to Ross and Captola Goodwin in Muleshoe, Texas. She was the only girl of four children, including two older brothers, Bobby and Richard Goodwin, and one younger brother, Bill Goodwin.

Jana was raised on a cotton farm outside Muleshoe, in Bailey County, Texas, saying it was the best childhood anyone could have ever experienced. She spent all of her school years in the Muleshoe schools and graduated from Muleshoe High School in 1961, proudly proclaiming herself a Muleshoe Mule.

After high school, Jana moved to Lubbock, Texas, where she attended nursing school at Methodist School of Nursing. While in nursing school in Lubbock, she met and married, Gerald Floyd, of Friona, Texas, in April 1963. Jana graduated with her associate degree in nursing in 1964.

Gerald and Jana lived in Friona after finishing school. While living in Friona, Jana worked as a nurse at Parmer County Community Hospital from 1964 to 1970. Gerald and Jana had their first child, Jason, in April of 1967. In 1970, they moved to Elkhart, Kansas. In October 1974, they had a second child, Sarah.

The Floyds lived in Elkhart for 29 years, where they raised both Jason and Sarah. Jana worked as an R.N. at Morton County Hospital and devoted herself to every patient, ensuring each one was given the highest quality of care. During her service at Morton County Hospital, she served as Director of Nursing where the staff commented on the fact that she was not only a good nurse, but a great teacher.

Jana went back to school and received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from West Texas A&M University in 1990 and a Master of Science in Nursing in 1998. After graduating with her master’s degree, Jana worked at the Amarillo Veteran’s Administration Outpatient Clinic as a nurse practitioner for seven years. She always loved and cared for her patients with respect and dignity.

After Jana was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in October 2005, she made the decision to retire from nursing. She battled cancer for five years. Jana even enjoyed a few good years of remission. Jana spent her retirement by traveling with family and friends, and being a loving Mia to her three grandchildren, Jaylee (12), Wes (7), and Kolin (5).

Gerald and Jana were members of the University Church of Christ in Canyon, where Jana was involved in various types of church service. She talked until the end about returning to Ladies Bible Class. Jana also devoted her time and energy to Princess Warriors, a gynecological cancer survivor support group, and was an inspiration to many.

Jana conquered this life on July 22, 2010. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ross and Cap Goodwin.

She is survived by her husband, Gerald Floyd, of Canyon; son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren, Jason, Leslee, Jaylee, Wes, and Kolin Floyd of Dalhart, Texas; daughter, Sarah Floyd of Lubbock; brothers, Bobby Goodwin of Monument, Colorado, Richard Goodwin of Denton, Texas, and Bill Goodwin of Celina, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to Camp Blue Haven, P.O. Box 92156, Southlake, TX 76092, or visit http://www.campbluehaven.com/ for more information.

You may sign the online guest registry at www.brooksfuneral.com.

Stella Varner

Stella Varner, 91, of Glen Rose, Texas, formerly of Friona, died July 23, 2010, in Glen Rose. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 27, 2010, at 2:30 p.m. at the Union Congregational Church in Friona, with Rev. Buck Malone, Pastor, officiating. Burial followed in the Friona Cemetery by Blackwell Funeral Home.

Mrs. Varner was born February 3, 1919, in Bogata, Texas, to Franklin Monroe and Minnie Ola Shirey Mauldin.

She married James Russell Varner October 7, 1939 in Clarksville, Texas. He died October 1, 1998. She was a homemaker and a member of the Methodist Church.

She was also preceded in death by a son, Stanley Ray Varner.

Survivors include two daughters, Martha Marie Sheppard of Granbury Lake, Texas, and Elizabeth Gail Trevison of Fayetteville, North Carolina; two sons, James Thomas Varner of Phoenix, Arizona, and Phillip Eugene Varner of Colorado Springs, Colorado; one daughter-in-law, Martha Lynn Fregia of Wells, Texas; 10 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Thomas A. O'Brian

Funeral services for Thomas A. O’Brian, 95, of Dimmitt, were held at the Friona United Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m., on July 27, 2010, with Ron Colwell officiating. Burial followed at the Friona Cemetery by Blackwell Funeral Home of Friona.

Tom was born November 23, 1914 in Medford, Oklahoma and died at his home in Dimmitt on July 24, 2010. His parents were Thomas Allen and Mabel Fones O’Brian. The family came to Texas in 1928, settling in the Lakeview Community southeast of Friona, and farmed there for many years.

Tom married Noreen Ball, of Bovina, on September 5, 1939. She died on August 24, 1987. He married Barbara Armstrong, of Friona, on June 15, 1996.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Kenneth and Russell O’Brian; two sisters, Marian Larke and Julia Fairchild; one grandson; one great-grandson; and one great-great grandson.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara, of Dimmitt; one son, Roy O’Brian and his wife Paula of Friona; one daughter, Barbara Mason and her husband Tom of Friona; one step-son, Alan Armstrong of Tripp, South Dakota; and one step-daughter, Susan Patterson and her husband Darrell of Dimmitt. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; 4 step-grandchildren; and 6 step-great-grandchildren.

Michael DeWitt Parsons

Mike Parsons returned “Home” on Friday morning, July 23, 2010. Although his life was short, he lived more in 57 years than most people can fit into 100. Every moment counted and he wasted none. He loved his family, his friends, and his God, and the choice of others to love God as they chose. He hated “showy religion” and believed one should live it more than talk about it. He was a founding and active member of Bee Creek United Methodist Church.

Mike was born on June 29, 1953 in Post, Texas, to Percy and Margaret Parsons. The family moved to Olton, Texas five years later. Mike graduated from Olton High School in 1971, Southern Methodist University in 1975, and Texas Tech School of Law in 1978, with high honors in all. If he did something, he did it well. Nothing was done halfway. Mike had the rare and enviable combination of natural talent and tremendous work ethic in athletics, the classroom, and work.

His accomplishments and contributions are too many to mention. Mike practiced corporate and securities law in Dallas for 24 years and was able to move to the lake in 2002 to work as general counsel for Fired Up, Inc. He was an avid reader and loved living by the water. Mike married J Carol Criswell in 1975 and they had two sons, Blair and Michael.

Mike was preceded in death by his father, Percy, a few weeks ago.

He is survived by his wife and sons, as well as his mother, Margaret, brother Dale Parsons and his wife Amal, sister Rhonda Murphree and her husband Jim, as well as nieces and nephews: Adrian Pritchett, Adam Parsons and Evan Parsons, Amy Hand, Brenda Turrubiarte, Stacy Murphree, Anna Murphree, Maddie Murphree, Seth Murphree, and grand nephews Cash and Boston. He is also survived by in-laws, Robert J. and Pat Criswell, sister and brother in law, Ann and Grant Taylor, nephews, Bryan and JPatrick Shuey, and niece JoRobin Taylor.

Memorial services were held at Bee Creek United Methodist Church on Monday, July 26, 2010, at 2:00 p.m., followed by a reception at Angel’s Icehouse, benefiting the Mike Parsons Wellness Center. Arrangements were by Harrell Funeral Homes of Austin.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the Mike Parsons Wellness Center. c/o Marbridge, P.O. Box 2250, Manchaca, TX 78652.