Frances Cummins
1926-2018
Frances Lilian Cummins, 92, died Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018 in Colorado City.
Graveside service for Mrs. Cummins will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Loraine Cemetery with Pete Garcia officiating. The service will be under the direction of Miller Family Funeral Home.
Judy Hays
1924-2018
Julia Mae “Judy” McDonnell Hays, 94, died Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2018 in Snyder.
A private graveside service for Mrs. Hays will be held at the Hays Ranch Cemetery with the Rev. Danny Williams officiating. The service will be under the direction of Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home.
Julia Mae “Judy” McDonnell Hays was born in Fort Worth on Oct. 30, 1924. Judy was the adopted daughter of Tommy and Mamie McDonnell. She was a native of Scurry County, growing up 10 miles northwest of Snyder near Deep Creek.
Growing up as an only child, Judy never lacked attention by her parents or her adopted grandfather, J. Wright Mooar, who would ride stick horses with her on the porch of his home built near the sight of his famous white buffalo kill in 1876. Judy, at 12 years of age, also rode proudly alongside her grandfather in the centennial parade in Snyder. Judy and her mother lived in town during the months school was in session. Needless to say she looked forward to the weekends when they could return to the ranch and wide open spaces she loved.
After graduating from Snyder High School, Judy attended Hardin-Simmons College becoming a member of the Six White Horses Parade unit which is still a school tradition.
She was an original founder of the Girls Rodeo Association serving as vice president and was one of the 1952 champions of the national Girls Rodeo Association who competed in the first all-girl professional rodeo in Snyder in May 1953.
Judy married S.D. Hays on Dec. 12, 1942 in Snyder. With their combined love of ranching and working side-by-side, they acquired ranches in Snyder, Dickens and Grenville, N.M.
Judy, one of the first members of the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), was a professional horsewoman, becoming one of the first women to successfully show top halter horses, and was internationally known as a breeder of quarter horses. Many grand champions came out of Judy’s barn.
Her love of horses brought home innumerable trophies and awards that filled her home and show barn.
Judy was involved in several quarter horse associations and served as president of the West Texas Quarter Horse Association from 1972-73.
Judy was a member of Union United Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by the grandfather she adored, county pioneer J. Wright Mooar; her adopted parents, Tommy and Mamie McDonald; her husband of 61 years, S.D. Hays; and one granddaughter, Shanna Hays.
Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Randy and Jessie Jo Hays of Snyder; one grandson and his wife, Shawn and Tammy Hays of Nocona; two great-grandsons, Bryce Hays and Hunter Hays, both of Nocona; and many nieces and nephews.
Online condolences may be posted at www.bellcypertseale.com.
Adan Ramirez
1932-2018
Adan C. Ramirez, 86, of Snyder, died Monday, Dec. 24, 2018.
Funeral mass for Mr. Ramirez will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with Father Raj Arokiasamy officiating. Burial will follow at Snyder Cemetery under the direction of Miller Family Funeral Home.
A rosary will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Mr. Ramirez was born on Sept. 8, 1932 in Sabinal to Gregorio and Eulalia (Sanchez) Ramirez. He grew up shearing sheep with his dad. He married Corina Alvarado in Sabinal. After serving in the United States Army, Mr. Ramirez traveled the country for the Equal Rights Activist Movement. He was a devoted member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church and had a passion for reading his Bible.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Corina; one daughter. Anita Ramirez; and four siblings, Gregorio Ramirez Jr., Elida Yruegas, Narcissa Ramirez and Eudelia Ramirez.
Survivors include his eight children, Adelita Staker and her husband, Gaylen, of Heyburn, Idaho, Adan Ramirez Jr. of Portland, Ore., Ramiro Ramirez and his wife, Becky, of Pocatello, Idaho, Maria Banna Ramirez of Burley, Idaho, Eudelia Ramirez of Gerome, Idaho, Corina Ramirez and Mark Anthony Ramirez, both of Boise, Idaho, and Dianna Ramirez of Anchorage, Alaska; and nine siblings, Mario Ramirez of Weatherford, Stela Herrera, Josephine Hinojos, Andrew Ramirez and Linda Hinojos, all of Snyder, Eva Mufly of Sweetwater, Greg Ramirez III of Tyler and Gilbert Ramirez and Robert Ramirez, both of Odessa.
Online condolences may be posted at www.millerfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Carol Sawyer
1964-2018
Carol Sawyer, 54, of Gail, died Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2018.
Funeral arrangements are pending at Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home.
David Thompson
1958-2018
David Thompson, 60, died Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018 in Houston.
No services are planned at this time. Arrangements are under the direction of at Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home.