Our beloved father, grandfather, and friend, Lee Murzel Elder, went to be with his Heavenly Father on May 13, 2016 in San Angelo.

Lee Murzel Elder was born as the first child of six on November 4, 1923, in Kress, Texas, to Prentice and Velma (Cunningham) Elder, who lived in the rural Texas Panhandle where his grandfather was a working cowboy on the Goodnight Ranch. When Lee was very young, the family moved to Clifton, Texas. As he grew, he helped with the family chicken hatchery, learned carpentry from his dad, participated in sports, began his coin and stamp collecting, was a Boy Scout, and started his college career at Clifton Junior College. He served our country during World War II from 1943-1946 in the Army Air Corps as an airplane mechanic in Sioux City, Iowa. Upon his discharge in 1946, he finished his degree at Clifton Junior College and continued his education at North Texas State University, graduating in 1948 with a BBA degree-Accounting Major. 

As a child his nickname was "Flunky," because he was the one his family sent on errands to get needed materials. He loved to relive his memories spent in Clifton and in the military in Sioux City, Iowa, on the flight deck, or off on weekends dancing the jitterbug as he was quite the champion dancer. 

Lee fell in love at first sight on a downtown corner in Clifton, Texas, where he saw the new girl in town, Joyce Hundley, talking with a group of young men. He went right over, and after visiting awhile, he asked Joyce for a date the next day, which was her birthday. He gladly bought a present for his "five foot two, eyes of blue" beauty. Six months later on August 31, 1946, they were married in a double wedding ceremony with his sister, Oleta, and her fiancé, Herb Lubke. Lee and Joyce were happily married for 69 years.

Lee first worked for the Hobbs Public Schools (1948-1949), then he and Joyce settled in Denison, Texas, to raise their four children where he worked as the Denison ISD Business Manager until 1963. The family moved to San Angelo when the school district hired Lee as Business Administrator until his retirement in 1982. He was a member of the Texas Association of School Business Officials for many years and served as president. Lee was proud to be in the field of education, as were many in his family. 

He was an avid bowler in leagues in Denison as well as San Angelo, bowling a perfect score one time. He also was a dedicated golfer from his college days for many years. He always loved to tell the story of playing golf with the pro golfer, Byron Nelson, in Denton, Texas, and he would watch golf every Sunday on TV. He got a big kick out of telling people he was the other Lee Elder, not the famous pro golfer with the same name.

After his retirement in 1982, Lee used the carpentry talent that he acquired from his father to build his own house in the country and to do the Lord's work by helping to build 21 churches with the Texas Baptist Men's building ministry. Lee also loved to travel with Joyce in their RV around the country. Many summers were spent in Ruidoso in a permanent spot at a trailer park, where they played card and domino games every evening and made numerous friends

Lee was a faithful long-time member and Ordained Deacon of First Baptist Church in San Angelo for 51 years, serving on many committees. He came from a long lineage of Baptist preachers, deacons, and faithful followers. He was known for passing out pocket crosses with prayers to many people that he met.

Lee had been a Kiwanis member since August 1, 1955, and was honored by receiving a 60 years perfect attendance award in the fall of 2015. He served as President in 1959 in Denison, TX, and was President of the Downtown Kiwanis in 1969, and served two terms as Texas Kiwanis Lt. Governor, first in 1975, and again in 1982. He also served as Secretary for several years, named Kiwanian of the year, and named a Hixson Fellow. In 1983, he and Joyce attended the Kiwanis International conference in Vienna, Austria. Besides the many hours spent with Kiwanis projects and coordinating the Salvation Army Christmas bell ringing for over 35 years, Lee, along with Al Reary and Elmer Edgington documented the history of the club from 1921 to 1996. Lee was instrumental in shaping the course of the San Angelo Downtown Kiwanis Club for many years and along with friend, Hugh Epps, started a Kiwanis Club in Ruidoso, New Mexico.

Lee compiled the Elder Genealogy book which is very extensive and goes back to Peter Elder, his earliest ancestor to come to America in the 1650s. Many of the Elder families throughout the US have added information to this book and obtained a copy of it from Lee. He was a member of the San Angelo Genealogy Society and faithfully attended the meetings. He always loved to tell people that his first cousin was Ruth Elder who was the first woman aviator to attempt to fly from the US over the Atlantic in 1927. 

Lee will always be remembered for making people laugh by telling jokes at Kiwanis meetings and was known as "the good-humor man" at the San Angelo Retired Teachers' meetings for always having a joke to read at every meeting. He was a faithful member and became the club president in 2003-2004. He was also known for pulling his nose whistle out of his pocket and playing it for everyone he met. He would order big batches of whistles and give them out to people hoping they were brave enough to whistle through their nose. 

Beloved family who passed on before Lee include, his parents, Prentice and Velma Elder, parents-in-law, Harry and Leafy Hundley, Sr., his brother, Amos and wife, Alta Lee Elder, brother-in-law, Herman Barrs, brother-in-law, Harry Hundley, Sr., and wife, Jan, brother-in-law, Roy Briggs, and son-in-law, Gordon Stout. 

Survivors include his children: Kenneth Elder of Austin, Deborah Stout, Donna Aylor (Don), Tim Elder (Debra) all of San Angelo. Also surviving are 8 grandchildren: Deon Aylor, Carrie Stout Gartman (Stephen), Dara Aylor Hurt (Rob), all of San Angelo, Lindsay Stout Kirking (BJ) of Round Rock, Dustin Aylor of Austin, Deja Elder of Georgetown, Carson Stout of San Angelo, Kate Latham of San Angelo, and 8 great-grandchildren: Weston and Tanner Fesperman, Laura and Joshua Gartman, Tawny Hurt, Sydney, Jenna and Wyatt Kirking, and 2 great-great grandchildren: Taylen and Damian Fesperman; sisters, Oleta Lubke, Dorothy Davis (Perry), Betty Barrs, and Mary Davis (Duane), many nephews and nieces; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Memorials may be made to Meals for the Elderly and San Angelo Retired Teachers Scholarship Fund c/o Sue Taylor, 3214 Forest Hill Dr., San Angelo, Texas 76904. 

The family will receive visitors from 4:00-6:00 p.m.on Sunday, May 15, 2016 at Johnson's Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, May 16, 2016 in the First Baptist Church, San Angelo. Dr. James Hassell will officiate. Dustin Aylor, Tanner Fesperman, Weston Fesperman, Stephen Gartman, BJ Kirking, and Carson Stout will serve as pallbearers. 

Our precious mother, Margaret Anne Boyer Jones, 91, of San Angelo, TX went home to be with the Lord on May 12, 2016. She was born in Bedford, TX on August 23, 1924. Anne attended Texas Women's University. She was married to James Theodore Jones, Sr. on December 9, 1953. Anne was a member of Johnson Street Church of Christ, and had a passion for children, gardening, reading, and loving the Lord. She was preceded in death by her husband James. Survivors include her children, Teddi Bass, Jimmi Green (David), Cydni Henson (Roger), Dorri Jones, James Theodore Jones, Jr. (Cindy), and Richard Jones; grandchildren, Danalle Green, Kasey Jones (Jill), Kayanne Ratay (Chris), Karis Jones, Tiffany Ellwanger, Christina Archer (Josh); sisters, Jane Twedt and Freda Whiteside, and many great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. We want to thank the staff and nurses at Baptist Memorials for the loving care for our mom the last seven years. A visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday, May 16, 2016 at Johnson's Funeral Home. Graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 17, 2016 in Belvedere Memorial Park.

Matt Alan Nelson, 46, passed away on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at his home in San Angelo. He was born to Byron Alan and Mary Kathleen (Kathi) Nelson on Friday, January 23, 1970 in Irving, Texas. Matt, the ultimate computer guru, owned and operated N2 Systems and MAN Enterprises. He has been described as funny, loving, generous and a professional. Matt was someone you remembered when you met him. His open heart and warm spirit made him easy to love. Matt was a music lover, especially of metal rock and classic rock alike. He loved playing the guitar and piano. He also enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing and watching sports of all kinds. Matt served in the United States Army during Desert Storm. Matt married Shirley Prince on March 3, 2016 in San Angelo. He was of Christian faith. Matt will be missed greatly by all who knew and loved him. He was preceded in death by his father. 
Survivors include his wife, Shirley (Prince) Nelson; children, Austin Nelson, Dustin Nelson, Justin Nelson, Kayla Moore and husband, Jay, Karlee Brown, and Kourtney Brown; grandchildren, Jaxon and Kasen Moore; mother, Kathi Silva and husband, Mike; brother, Ryan Nelson; nephew, Ryland Nelson; and a host of other relatives and friends. 
A celebration of his life will be held at 3:00 PM on Sunday, May 15, 2016 at Paul Ann Church, San Angelo.

Richard Harold Farr passed peacefully on May 7, 2016. He was born on December 14, 1954 in Killeen Texas to Dudley Harold and Martha (Beene) Farr. He lived in Brownfield for a few years, but spent most of his life in San Angelo.
He started working at a young age. He mowed yards, worked at Neff’s Amusement Park, Denny’s, and started his career as an entrepreneur at a young age when he started selling Grit Magazines. As an adult, he worked at GTE, Young Paint, Concho Carpet, and owned several businesses. The businesses he owned and managed included Best Yards by Farr, a Borden Potato Chip distributorship, Farr’s Southwest Florist, and most recently Sunset Mini-Warehouses. He thought that was the best job in the world. He enjoyed getting to meet new people and hear their stories.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, David. He is survived by his wife Debbie. Also, his son Jake and wife Sadie, and his daughter Jill, all of Fort Worth. He was so proud of his children and was looking forward to his first grandchild in July. Also, his mother and father-in-law, Bill and Sherry Fryrear of Sand Springs, his brother and sister-in-law, Ken and Cindy Fryrear of Midland, and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Richard was a patient listener, and he could turn any story into something funny. He saw the humor in the most mundane activity. There was always laughter when you were with him. Consequently, he is survived by many, many friends. He enjoyed reconnecting with friends the past few months, and the time spent with friends and relatives. Their support made this difficult time not so difficult. We will all miss his laughter and quick wit.
The family would like to thank everyone who made the past few months so enjoyable for Richard. Your cards, the food you brought, and especially the time you gave to us were appreciated. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to your favorite charity.
A memorial service will be held at 11 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. A celebration of life will immediately follow at one of Richard’s favorite places – The Twisted Stick, located at the end of Buckskin Drive. Lunch will be served. Please dress casually for the memorial service and the celebration.

Michael Dwaine Gassiot went to be with his Lord on May 3, 2016. He was born June 19, 1954, in San Angelo, Texas, to William Zan (Bill) and Bettie Calley Gassiot. Mike graduated from Central High School (1972 ) and Angelo State University(1977). He was honored to have served as a Freemason. He worked as a Criminalist VI with the Texas Department of Public Safety for 33 years. Being retired afforded Mike the opportunity to finally do what he loved the most. He spent those days working alongside his brother, Billy, and with their co-partner, John Bass, ranching, farming, and hunting on the Crows Nest Ranch. It was here that he was his happiest.

Mike enjoyed life, lived it on his own terms, and felt blessed for every waking morning. He leaves behind many lifelong friends, golfing partners, and fishing buddies.

A loving husband, son, brother, father and uncle, Mike is survived by his wife, Susan, sons Rode Biggs and wife Jennifer of San Angelo and Kristopher Biggs of San Antonio, mother Bettie Gassiot of San Angelo, sister Vicki Gassiot Ford and husband Bill of Christoval, brother Billy Don Gassiot and wife Jean Ann of San Angelo, grandchildren Kayleigh Biggs, Jillian Biggs, Jackson Biggs, Sutton Biggs, and Sadie Biggs. He is also survived by special nephews Will Logan Ford, Zan Aaron Gassiot, Heath Jared Gassiot and fiancé Katy Murray, and special niece, Eve Ford Nelson, and husband Matt, and their children Claire, Natalie, Paul and Russell. He was preceded in death by his father, Bill. 

A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 5, at 10 A.M. at Southland Baptist Church with Mills Caraway officiating. Visitation will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to West Texas Boys Ranch or West Texas Rehab.