Dec. 20 Obituaries

Image
Body

Jimmy Ballard
1954-2016
Jimmy Ballard, 62, of Snyder, died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016 in Snyder.
Funeral arrangements are pending at Miller Family Funeral Home.

Roy Baze
1921-2016
Roy Allen Baze passed peacefully from this life to heaven on Dec. 16, 2016 after a long and happy life.
He was born on Nov. 9, 1921 in Snyder, the only child of Velma Hester and Albert Allen Baze. 
Preceded in death by his parents, he is survived by his beloved wife of 72 years, Geleska Jean Baze. Other survivors include his sons, Robert and his wife, Margaret, and Ben; one granddaughter, Elizabeth Baze Berzin and her husband, Edward; one grandson, Benjamin Baze and his wife, Cia; his great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Isabelle, Jacqueline and Samantha Berzin and Roy and Charles Baze; one brother-in-law, Don Harless; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
Throughout his life, Roy remained devoted to his faith and family. He was a longtime Sunday school teacher and served on lay leadership boards in many of the churches his family attended in the various cities where they lived.  
This active and continuing engagement in spiritual life was fully matched by his love of family. He was particularly proud of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. “Papa” was always available when help or counsel was needed and shared his wisdom and support in a uniquely loving and positive manner. He took great interest and pride in family events and accomplishments. Roy’s life was one of service — to his family, to his country and to his church.  His abiding faith and love were evident in all he did and his family appreciated both his wisdom and the wonderful stories he could tell.
Roy graduated as valedictorian from Snyder High School in 1939 and entered the University of Oklahoma to study petroleum engineering. By the time he earned his degree in 1943, he had attained the ROTC rank of cadet colonel.  Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Field Artillery and assigned to a new eight-inch howitzer battalion, then preparing for overseas deployment. Before he left, he married his soulmate, Geleska Jean Harless, on Feb. 28, 1944. Roy sailed to Europe on the Queen Mary in late 1944 and immediately went into combat in France and later Germany as a forward observer with an artillery battalion assigned to Gen. George Patton’s Third Army. He earned a Purple Heart during the war and remained in Germany until being discharged as a captain in 1946.
After being discharged, Roy began work as a reservoir engineer with Humble Oil and Refining, later known as Exxon. Over the course of his 34-year career, he held a wide variety of interesting and increasingly responsible leadership positions in Exxon’s domestic and corporate organizations.
The work took him to many parts of the world and engendered an abiding interest in other cultures and international affairs. He was a registered professional engineer in the State of Texas and member of a number of professional societies. He served as a director of a number of oil and gas industry associations, as well as National Junior Achievement and the National Association of Manufacturers. In 1980, he retired as a senior vice president of Exxon Company USA in Houston.
Upon retirement, Roy and Geleska returned to their hometown of Snyder to care for his widowed mother and to be close to Geleska’s siblings. Retirement offered the opportunity to pursue other interests, like gardening, and to volunteer in the community. Roy served on the boards of the Snyder Chamber of Commerce, Scurry County Republican Party, Western Texas College, Scurry County Museum Association, Scurry County Historical Association, Development Corporation of Snyder and Ritz Community Theatre. He led the successful Snyder State Prison Project from 1986-89. Numerous state and local awards recognized his contributions in these civic activities.
In 2004, Roy and Geleska moved from Snyder to a retirement community in Abilene, then returned to Houston in 2010 to be closer to their children.
Roy’s family is very grateful to Dr. Jay Davis, Maddie Bunch, RN, the Houston Hospice staff and caregivers Eucharia Muofe, Sabrina Holler, Michelle Calvin, Crystal Jones, Nicole Tolbert, Wallace St. Hillaire and Stacy Sam for their thoughtful and compassionate help over the past year. 
Funeral service for Mr. Baze will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home Chapel with Byron Smith officiating.
Visitation will be held from 6-7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Benjamin Baze, Bill Harless, Marcus Harless, Gary Harless, Mark Harless, David Reed, Jeff Reed and Steve Tyler. 
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Roy’s honor to Bethany Christian Church, 3223 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77098 or to a charity of choice.
Online condolences may be posted at www.bellcypertseale.com.

Melvin Boatman
1937-2016
Melvin Leon Boatman, of Snyder, died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016 at the age of 79.
A private family service will be held in Oklahoma at a later date. Arrangements were under the direction of Combest Family Funeral Home.
Mr. Boatman was born on Jan. 9, 1937 in Marlow, Okla. to the late James and Callie (Shurwood) Boatman. Melvin grew up in Marlow and worked as a warehouse supervisor in Lovington, N.M. and Snyder. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. Melvin married Betty Matney on July 7, 1999 in Lovington.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Betty of Snyder; his children, James Boatman of Midland, Melvin Boatman Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla. and Terry Kubena of Snyder; his siblings, Harvey Boatman and Lorene Roach, both of Oklahoma; four grandchildren, Tyson Kubena, Tiffany Dean, Tara Kubena and Mason Boatman; and three great-grandchildren.
Online condolences may be posted at www.combestfamilyfuneralhomes.com.

Lila Dempsey
1942-2016
Lila Dempsey, 74, of Snyder, died Monday, Dec. 19, 2016 in Midland.
Funeral arrangements are pending at Miller Family Funeral Home.

Johnny Roddy
1920-2016
John Henry “Johnny” Roddy, 96, of Snyder, died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016 in Snyder.
Funeral service for Mr. Roddy will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home with the Rev. Neely Landrum officiating. Burial will follow at Fluvanna Cemetery.
Mr. Roddy was born on Dec. 1, 1920 in Honeygrove to Jim and Maggie (Cobb) Roddy. He married Juanita Lindsey on March 16, 1949 in Snyder. Mr. Roddy was a Pearl Harbor survivor, having served in World War II. He was enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and the Navy, serving 21 years of active duty. After retiring, Mr. Roddy returned to Fluvanna to farm and ranch.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife, Juanita Roddy of Snyder, and many nieces and nephews.
Online condolences may be posted at www.bellcypertseale.com.

Shery Tuttle
1948-2016
Shery Lyn Tuttle, 68, of Snyder, died Monday, Dec. 19, 2016 in Snyder.
Graveside service for Mrs. Tuttle will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Hillside Memorial Gardens with Deacon John Bane officiating. The service will be under the direction of Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home.
Visitation will be held from 6-7 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Born on Oct. 6, 1948 in Rochester, Ind. to Paul and Maxine (Hayes) Miller, she married Leroy Tuttle on March 4, 1967 in Las Vegas, Nev. She was a longtime nurse, good cook and funny and nice person. She enjoyed sewing and quilting.
She was preceded in death by her father and brother, Michael Miller.
Survivors include her husband, Leroy W. Tuttle Sr. of Snyder; two daughters, Wendy Lyn Prince and her husband, Scotty, of Snyder and Jill Gayle Boothe and her husband, Jeffrey, of Tyler; two sons, Leroy W. Tuttle Jr. of Bellvue, Wash. and Jeffrey Paul Tuttle of Snyder; her mother, Maxine (Hayes) Brodt of Snyder; and seven grandchildren, Michael Varela, William Varela, Elizabeth Varela, Rex Tuttle, Cameron Tuttle, Ethan Tuttle and Zella Tuttle.