Stanley F. Davis
Stanley F. Davis, 105 years old, passed away on Sunday, November 16, 2003, at 8:40 a.m. at his home in Lafayette, Louisiana, after a short illness.
Mr. Davis is survived by his two daughters and sons-in-law, Wilma and Francis Dartez, Emma and Red Lerille; grandchildren, Phyllis and Steve Bost, Cynthia and Jimmy Walker, Douglas and Kim Dartez, Tom and Prissy Dartez, Mark and Jacquie Lerille, Kackie and Kurt Matte, Christine and Geoffery McGill and Stanley and Tonia Lerille. He is also survived by twelve great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and two very special friends, Thelma Trahan and Joan Stears, that he called his adopted daughters. He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, four brothers and two sisters.
Stanley, as he preferred to be called by his friends, was born on September 1, 1898, in Bristol, West Virginia, to Stephen Jesse and Emma Fox Davis. His ancestors had emigrated from New Jersey to the wilderness of Virginia (now West Virginia) shortly after the end of the Revolutionary War, and were among the founders of the Seventh Day Baptist Church in Salem, West Virginia. He still has many relatives living in the area.
At the age of 6, he and his family moved to Fouke, Arkansas. He attended Alfred University at Alfred, New York. During WWI he worked on his father's farm, taught school and worked in a bank in Kansas City. Knowing that he did not want to be a farmer, school teacher or banker, in July 1919 he found employment in Eastland, Texas, with the Gulf Oil Company. Thus began his career in the oil industry. In 1921, he accepted an assignment in South America with an exploratory drilling company. For the next 25 years, he helped to pioneer and develop the petroleum industry in Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. During his employment in South America, Stanley married a beautiful Colombian girl, Blanca Livia Va'squez. She predeceased him in 1997.
Returning to the United States in 1944, he opted to make his home in southwest Louisiana. He opened and operated NAPA stores in Abbeville, Crowley, Rayne and Kaplan, and later sold them and retired. In the 1950s he moved to Lafayette and again worked in the oil industry in Lafayette, Louisiana.
During retirement, he and Livia traveled in an Airstream trailer to all the states in the USA, Alaska, Canada, Mexico and all the way down Central America on the Pan American Highway to the Panama Canal.
Stanley was a lifelong member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Fouke and Texarkana, a member of the Masonic Order of Fouke, Arkansas, Crowley and Lake Charles, Louisiana, the Evangeline Habib Shriner's Temple in Lafayette, the Pioneer Oilfield People Club (POP), the Exxon Annuitants Club and a closeknit group of friends known as the "little oilfield group."
At his request, the following epitaph will be chiseled on his tombstone, "I have done the best I could with what I had to work with."
Funeral services will be at Martin Castille Funeral Home, Tuesday, November 18, 2003, at 11 a.m. Visiting hours and a short eulogy by Steve Pierce, his nephew, and a reading by Joan Stear will be from 10 a.m. to service time.
Interment will be in the Fouke Community Center in Arkansas. At the graveside there will be a brief burial service Wednesday at 12 noon, conducted by the Reverend Minor Soper, Seventh Day Baptist Church in Texarkana and Fouke, Arkansas and a brief eulogy by his nephew, Steve Pierce. There will not be a formal Masonic funeral, but Masons in full regalia will be welcomed.
Pallbearers are Mark Lerille, Stanley Lerille, Douglas Dartez, Ken Davis, Jimmy Smith, David Smith and Dick Smith. Honorary pallbearers are Sam Guillet, Bill Goodson, Norman "Pete" Salter, Dallas Broussard and Joe Drewry.
Wilma and Emma would like to thank our caregivers, Janet Wright, Marge Lafleur, Margery and Earl Fredrick, Angie Crouch, Pat Breaux, Aline Gaudin, and Hospice of Acadiana for the loving care they gave our Dad.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston Street, Suite 200, Lafayette, Louisiana 70503 or to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 52884, Lafayette, Louisiana 70505.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Martin & Castille Funeral Home Inc. of Lafayettte 337-234-2311.
Sandy Lyle DeMark Sr.
Sandy Lyle DeMark, Sr., age 91, of Mt. Clare, departed this life Saturday, November 15, 2003, at the Fairmont General Hospital following an extended illness. He was born April 18, 1912, a son of the late Joseph DeMark and Catherine Spadafore DeMark. His wife, of 67 years, Lorraine Wilson DeMark, survives.
Also surviving are one son, Sandy Lyle "Bud" DeMark Jr., and his wife Linda, of Nutter Fort; three daughters, Catherine Olsheske and her husband, Robert of Mt. Clare, Karen Sue Cooper, and her husband, James, of Quiet Dell, and Dottie McClain and her husband Larry of Lost Creek. Also surviving are 12 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great granddaughter.
In addition to his parents, Mr. DeMark was preceeded in death by three sisters and several brothers.
Mr. DeMark was a member of the Center Branch Baptist Church. He was formerly the head of the Elk Creek Water Pollution Association for many years. Mr. DeMark's motto was "Save Our Streams," and there are numerous signs of this throughout the community. He assisted in the incorporation of the City of Stonewood, and was one of the founding fathers of the Stonewood Volunteer Fire Department. Along with these great accomplishments, Mr. DeMark assisted or built many of the homes in the City of Stonewood. He was the former owner and operator of Sandy's Hardware from 1956 until 1983. He was also a member of the West Virginia Civilian Conservation Corps.
Family and friends will be received at the Davis Funeral Home, One Olen Thomas Drive, Rt. 98, Clarksburg/Nutter Fort, on Monday from 6-8 p.m. and Tuesday from 2-8 p.m. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday at the funeral home at 10 a.m. with Reverend Mason Bennett presiding. Interment will follow in the Stonewall Park Cemetery, Stonewood, West Virginia.
Davis Funeral Home, www.davisfunerals.com (register book/ obituary), has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Walter J. White
SHINNSTON -- Walter J. White, 94, of Davisson Run Road, passed away Friday, November 14, 2003, at United Hospital Center.
He was born August 17, 1909, at Clarksburg, the son of the late Edward Roscoe White and Lora Washburn White.
He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Mary E. Clark-White.
In addition to his wife, Mr. White is survived by three sons, John A. White and wife Rev. Delores of Erie, David R. White and wife Sheila of Idamay, and James W. White and wife Alice of Squim, Washington; one daughter, Sharon R. Slider and husband George of Clarksburg; 20 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; one daughter-in-law, Jewel White of Kentucky; one brother, Hansford White of Romney, and one sister, Alice White Stokes.
Mr. White was preceded in death by six brothers, James, Harry, Carl, Clarence, Jack and Paul White; two sisters, Naomi White-Martin and Ruth White-Cowgill; two sons, Rev. Paul W. White and Daniel L. White.
Mr. White built and pastored the First Church of the Lord Jesus Christ at Hepzibah for 35 years, where he baptized over 500 people. Mr. White was employed at Clinchfield Coal Co., where he retired with 48 years of service. After his retirement, he went on to form a 150-acre farm at Kincheloe. Mr. White was also a member of The Way of Holiness Church in Buckhannon.
Family and friends will be received at the Dorsey Funeral Home, 701 South Pike Street, Shinnston, from 2-9 p.m. Monday. Services will be held at The Jewel City Church at 1 p.m. Tuesday, November 18, 2003, with Pastor Jerry Murrell, Pastor Steve White and Pastor Robert Shingleton officiating. Mr. White will lie in state one hour prior to services at the church. Interment will follow in the Shinnston Masonic Cemetery.
Dorsey Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.dorseyfuneralhome.com.
