Colonel (Ret.) Evans “Grant” Stephens, 99, of San Angelo went to be with the Lord on Thursday, July 25, 2019 in San Angelo. Grant was born September 21, 1919 in Ardmore, OK to Evans and Flora Stephens. After grade school, he attended the Oklahoma Military Academy and graduated from there in 1940. He enlisted in the United States Air Force (then called the U.S. Army Air Corps) that same year and attended Primary Flying School in Santa Maria, CA. He was then sent to Goodfellow Air Force Base and then Kelley Air force Base and graduated in 1942. He was initially assigned as a second lieutenant pilot with the 40th Pursuit Squadron, 31rst Pursuit Group at Selfridge field, MI. Grant served his country bravely and honorably during WWII and the Korean War. He participated in over 736 hours of single engine combat time, which was considered among the highest in the U.S Air Force and participated in the first jet to jet aerial combat while flying in Korea. He retired from the United States Air Force on October 1, 1968 having achieved the rank of Colonel and received numerous decorations for his meritorious service. Grant married Anna Tharp and they raised two sons, Joe and Tom Stephens. She preceded him in death in 1988. Sometime later, he married Vera Westerman, and she preceded him in death in 2013. He held numerous positions and engaged in some private flying after his retirement from the Air Force. In his spare time, Grant loved hunting, fishing, gardening and golfing. He was also very handy with a variety of hobbies, including jewelry making and model airplane crafting. He remained an active crossword puzzle and soduku solver until his last days. He was the epitome of a true patriot, not just professing it, but backing it up with his incredible history of fighting for and protecting the United States of America! Grant was preceded in death by his grandmother, who raised him, Rebecca Stephens, his parents, his wife Anna and later his second wife Vera, two sons, Joe and Tom Stephens and one grandson, Greg Kiser. He is survived by his stepdaughter, Alice L. Kiser, of San Angelo; his grandchildren, Alice Stephens-Bibeau and her husband Brett, Eric Stephens, Paul Stephens, Melissa Stephens, and Jennifer Kiser; his great grandsons, Dylan and Cody Bibeau; his cousins Kathleen Vogt and her husband Bob; and his loving caregiver Dee Garcia. A graveside memorial service honoring the life of Colonel Stephens will be at 11:00 A.M., Friday, August 30, 2019 at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens with Rev. Scott Bradford officiating.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Alice Kiser and Dee Garcia for all of their loving care and support.

Donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, The American Cancer Society or a charity of your choice.

Gary Wayne Huey, 74, of Irving, Texas passed away on July 29, 2019.

Gary was born in Brady, Texas to Adrian Wayne Huey and Imogen Ruth Jackson on September 29, 1944. Gary grew up in various towns around West Texas and graduated from Lubbock Monterey in 1963. While at Monterey, Gary played shortstop for the Plainsmen baseball team. He attended Rice University, Odessa College and Texas Tech, before graduating from The University of Texas at El Paso in 1970. He was a first team collegiate All-American in baseball. Gary worked for Pepsi Cola Bottling Group until 1994.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Adrian and Imogen Huey.

Gary is survived by his children, Gray Wayne Huey, and his wife Lindsay; Gaynor Huey Senyszyn and her husband Adrian; Brothers Bill (Nada) Huey, and Dickie (Mary) Huey; and sisters Ara (Rex) Rayfield and Sara (Dale) Sumrall and numerous nephews and nieces. He was a devoted, fun and loving Grandad to Theo and Miles Senyszyn and Cole Huey. Gary’s best friend, Keller Smith, was a loyal and faithful friend throughout his life.

Gary is remembered for his sense of humor, work ethic, loving heart and devotion to his family. He was also a loyal fan of the Texas Rangers. He will be sorely missed and is forever in our hearts.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, August 30 at 11:00 am at Johnson Street Church of Christ, 2200 Johnson Ave, San Angelo, TX 76904. A luncheon in the fellowship hall will follow the service.

Memorials may be given to the American Heart Association in his honor.

David Thomas Crites passed away August 21, 2019, at the age of 73. He was born January 16, 1946, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The family moved to West Texas and David graduated from McCamey High School. He attended Sul Ross University. He served 22 years in the US Army and was a Vietnam Veteran. His duty stations included Vietnam, Panama, El Paso, and Germany. He retired in 1990 as a Sargent First Class.

He and his family moved to San Angelo in 1991.

He is survived by his wife, Alicia, his loving care giver. They were married 45 years. His sister, Janice Erwin and family of Fredericksburg and his brother Alan Crites of El Paso, as well as Alicia’s sister Nadia and family in Brooklyn, New York, and Alicia’s family in Panama.

He was preceded in death by his son, Glen Thomas Crites, his parents, Glen and Margaret Crites and his brother, Norman Crites.

Funeral service is on Tuesday, August 27, 2019, at 10:00AM at St. Margaret Church. He will be interred immediately following the service at Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

David and his son are together again.

Alicia wishes to thank Dr. Sun and Dr. Rivera for their wonderful care of David and Solaris Hospice for their love, care and kindness.

On Tuesday, August 20, 2019 at 2:43 pm our Beautiful Precious Baby Girl Avianna Xoimara Torres was born sleeping. She weighed 7lbs 3.6oz & 20 inches long. Our precious baby girl we have loved you since the day we found out we were pregnant with you. Not a day had passed that Mommy, Daddy & your Brother fell more deeply in love with you. We anxiously waited for your arrival, which seemed like an eternity. We could hardly wait to meet you, the anticipation was unbearable. We often wondered if you would look like mommy, daddy, or would you have beautiful colored eyes like your brother. The day finally arrived for us to meet you baby girl, only to find out that you were no longer with us, but now our Guardian Angel in Heaven. We will always think about you during our days and nights. Our Beautiful Precious Baby Girl. You will always be remembered forever and always. Avianna Xoimara we Love You with all our Hearts, Until we meet again our Beautiful Princess.
Mommy, Daddy & Brother

The family will receive friends for visitation from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Sunday, August 25, 2019 at Harper Funeral Home. The Funeral Service will be 10:00 A.M., Monday, August 26, 2019 at Harper Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens.

Brenda Elaine Burleson, 71, of Houston went to be with the Lord on Friday, August 16, 2019 in Houston, TX. Brenda was born April 19, 1948 in Winters, TX to William Thelston Howard and Deulah Elaine Colburn Howard. She grew up in San Angelo and graduated from Central High School and then Angelo State University. Brenda became a teacher in the Houston area, teaching History and Physical Education. She loved teaching but was known to be very strict and always pushed her students to work hard. Her students always let her know how much they appreciated her ability to teach them well. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading and collecting frog figurines. Brenda was a loving sister, wife and mother who enjoyed being with her family and goofing around by pinching them on visits. She will be dearly missed by all who loved her! Brenda was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband John Shattuck and her second husband Jerry Burleson, one stepdaughter Julie Burleson and one stepson Jack Burleson. She is survived by her sons, A.J. Burleson and Jake Burleson, both of Houston; and her sisters, Barbara Bradford and her husband Dennis, of Blanco, TX and Denise McDonald and her husband Gary, of San Angelo and best friend Catherine Bryant. The Graveside Service will be 10:00 A.M., Saturday, August 24, 2019 at Mertzon Cemetery in Mertzon, TX.

Phillip Travis Payne passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 at the age of 86. He was born November 25th, 1932 in Watonga, Oklahoma to Rose Tyler Sallee and Edgar A. Payne. He graduated from Marietta High School in May of 1950. When the Korean War broke out, he was informed that the Oklahoma 45th Division of which he was a member would probably not activate so he asked for and received a discharge and joined the Air Force. Phillip served four years in the Air Force as a ground and airborne radio operator. He served in Alaska, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and in Biloxi, Mississippi as a Radio School instructor. In 1953 he met and married Peggy June Sitton in Houston, Texas. Phillip was discharged in 1954 with the rank of Airman First Class. Four children were born· of the union with Peggy; Debra Lynne, Daniel Clay, Edgar Travis, and Dehaven. As Director of Food Services, Phillip was employed by Shannon Hospital, San Angelo, St. Mary’s Hospital, Port Arthur, Scott and White Hospital, Temple, and West Houston Medical Center, Houston, Texas. After a long battle with cancer, Peggy passed away in 1984. Phillip married Patricia Ann Gardner in 1987. He retired from the hospital field in 1988 and joined his brother-in-law, Charles Sitton in the home construction and home remodeling business in Houston, Texas. In 2002, Phillip retired for good and after looking over numerous secluded sights in the Hill Country for a place to build his final home, he purchased a building site on Spring Creek in Irion County, Texas. He said later that he always knew that one day he’d return to the San Angelo area and that spending a year looking around the Hill County had been a waste of time. His only complaint after settling in his new home was that in his forty-year absence too many good and treasured friends had passed away, but then added that West Texas being what it was, it didn't take long to make new friends. Phillip was a member of the First Christian Church in Lampasas and after moving to Mertzon, he attended the First Methodist Church of Mertzon as long as he was physically able. Phillip's number one passion was to spend time with his children and grandchildren on the ranch in Lampasas County, or anywhere else he could get them together. His number two passion was to partner with Charlene Stokes and beat Jerry and Patricia at forty-two. They seldom did. Phillip was an avid reader of history and always said that his favorite of the many thousands he had read was still the Holy Bible. Phillip was preceded in death by his beloved wife Peggy June, a son Daniel Clay, his parents, two brothers, Edgar R., and Jack Clay, and sisters, Muriel Ann, and Nancy Lou. He is survived by his loving wife and soul mate, Patricia Ann of the home, daughter Debra Lynne Marinelli, of Houston, sons Edgar Travis Payne of Houston, and Dehaven Payne and wife Jeannie, of Portland, Texas. Grandsons Jacob Dehaven Payne, and wife Kristen of Houston, Michael Hodges of Montgomery, Quentin Sintel Payne of Portland and Granddaughter Shelby Sallee Payne of Port land, and Great Grand Daughter Charlotte Avery Payne of Houston A brother Charles Sallee of Oklahoma. A special brother-in-law and wife, Charles and Susie Sitton, of Tow, Texas. Last and by no means least, two special nephews, Nathan Payne of Roswell, New Mexico, who comes down from the mountains once a year for supplies, and Patrick Payne of Oklahoma. Burial will be in the Payne Family Cemetery on the ranch in Lampasas County. Phillip asked, "If anyone should ask the cause of my demise, just tell them I flat ran out of young!!"

Janie Mejia, 72, of San Antonio, TX (formerly San Angelo) passed away, Tuesday, August 21, 2019. Janie was born in Crowly CO on April 6, 1947 to Esteban Montano(deceased) and Faye Montano Aguirre. Janie had a career in Nursing for over 20+ years and was currently enjoying retirement, living with her daughter, Nancy Montano and son David Mejia in their home in San Antonio, TX close enough for her Son Steve and beloved daughter in law Katherine Mejia to visit often from Del Rio. She had a passion for her family from her mother Faye Aguirre, brothers Gilbert (Sherrie)Montano and brother Jerry Montano to her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and many wonderful friends. Including her very best friends of over 40 years Rosie Tavarez, Cruz Subia and Mary (Magoo) Flores. Janie is survived by her mother, brothers and children as well as many handsome grandsons Adam(Echo) Garcia, Jordan(Hannah) Garcia, Stephen(Chrystine) Mejia, Gerald Mejia, Brandon Mejia, Jaron Fields, Corey Joe (Carla) Green, Christopher Montano and Matthew Montano. Also, only granddaughter Erica Harding. Special Sisters in law Betty Montano, Sylvia Ney and Rosie Montano. And her adored nieces and nephews who remain to remember her wit and charm. Janie was pre-deceased by her daddy, Esteban Montano, brothers Joey Montano, Steve Montano and Ernest Montano. Paternal grandparents Jose Leon and Virginia Lucero Montano and maternal grandparents Reyes and Juanita Montelongo. Funeral arrangements will be held at 2:00 p.m. at Johnson’s Funeral Home on Saturday August 24, 2019 with burial to follow in Johnson’s Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens where she will be laid to rest next to her Neto. The family requests that this should be a celebration of her life which was filled with joy and love and laughter. Dress comfortably, bright colors preferred and ladies if you had a favorite hat please share it with us. To leave an online condolence to the family, please visit our website at www.johnsons-funeralhome.com.

FAMILY

• Esteban Montano, Father (deceased)
• Joey Montano, Brother (deceased)
• Steve Montano, Brother (deceased)
• Ernest Montano, Brother (deceased)
• Jose Leon Montano, Grandfather (deceased)
• Virginia Lucero Montano, Grandmother (deceased)
• Reyes Montelongo, Grandfather (deceased)
• Juanita Montelongo, Grandmother (deceased)
• Janie is survived by her mother, brothers and children as well as many handsome grandsons Adam(Echo) Garcia, Jordan(Hannah) Garcia, Stephen(Chrystine) Mejia, Gerald Mejia, Brandon Mejia, Jaron Fields, Corey Joe (Carla) Green, Christopher Montano and Matthew Montano. Also, only granddaughter Erica Harding. Special Sisters in law Betty Montano, Sylvia Ney and Rosie Montano. And her adored nieces and nephews who remain to remember her wit and charm.