Mary Francis Waldrop, 71 years old, passed away on Friday, May 23, 2014, in San Angelo Community Medical Center. Mary loved fishing, swimming and spending quality time with her family. She was the best "Gamma" her grandchildren could ever want. She will be missed and loved by all her family. Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Detley C. Waldrop; her son, Daniel Nichols; and grandson Robert Kielpinski. She is survived by three daughters, Elizabeth Kidd, Kathy Crosby and Sarah Nichols; a daughter-in-law, Patricia Kielpinski; three sisters, Pearline Moore of Henrietta, Texas, Linda Patterson of Bellevue, Texas, and Patricia; and two brothers, Billy Ray Sanders of Broomfield, Colorado, and Cecil Wayne Sanders of Henrietta, Texas. Mary is also survived by three grandchildren, Daniel and Patricia Kielpinski and Noah and Gage Smith; and five great-grandchildren, Aiden, Cody and Camden Kielpinski, Michael Adams and Amethyst Carroll. Services will be private. Funeral arrangements were handled by Johnson's Funeral Home of San Angelo. 

An angel left this earth on Sunday, May 25, 2014, to heaven. She was born Jan. 5, 1952, as Deborah Jayne Simpson in San Angelo, Texas. She attended Lake View High School and graduated with the Class of 1969. She was employed by the Education Service Region XV as the computer terminal supervisor. She is survived by her son and his wife, Breck and Megan Hale of Wichita Falls, Texas; her husband, David Breck Hale of San Angelo; and her mother Gevena Simpson, also of San Angelo. We thank the Lord for allowing us to share our lives with her. If you wish to make contributions make them to multiple sclerosis research or an animal rescue organization.

Wynta (Lovell) Dixon, 80, of San Angelo, and formerly of Marfa, passed away Thursday, May 22, 2014, from Parkinson's disease and Parkinson's dementia in Medical Center Hospital in Odessa. She was born in Eastland County, Texas, on Oct. 31, 1933, to Omer D. Lovell and Wynta Lydia (Lowe) Lovell. She graduated from Reagan County High School in Big Lake, Texas, in May 1951. She married Lynn E. Dixon Dec. 1, 1952, in Midland, Texas. Lynn was employed as the foreman of the U Bar Ranch at Marfa, Texas. The couple made their home on the ranch, which was 15 miles west of town. Mrs. Dixon was a homemaker. In the 1960's, she was active in the Marfa school district's PTA. She served as president during the 1961-1962 school year. She was also an active member of the Century Culture Club as well as Cowbelles, which eventually became the Texas Cattlewomen's Association. Marfa, Texas, celebrated its 100th birthday of the town's origin in 1983. One of the major events of the celebration was a fashion show called "A Century of Style" featuring major American fashion of this period. Wynta organized the event, wrote the script and was the emcee. Many in attendance considered it to be the highlight of the celebration. Lynn and Wynta became good friends to George and Audrey Mimms. Much of the northern border of Marfa was formed by the Mimms Ranch. Mr. Mimms had left instructions before his death for his family to hire Lynn as their foreman if he was interested in the job. As a result, the couple moved to Marfa and lived at the Mimms Ranch Headquarters starting in 1974. Lynn operated both ranches for the next decade until he lost his battle with cancer in July 1984. During that decade, Wynta's parents moved from Mertzon, Texas, to Marfa where their daughter cared for them. Wynta continued to live in Marfa after her husband's death. She moved from Marfa to San Angelo in May 2001. In 2006, the doctors diagnosed dementia and strokes, which had progressed and exhibited themselves for many years. Service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 28, 2014, in Johnson's Funeral Home chapel with Paul Shero from Southgate Church of Christ officiating. Burial will follow in Mertzon Cemetery. She was preceded in death by her parents, Omer and Wynta Lovell; her husband Lynn; and her sisters, LaVerne Whitely and Virginia Bean. Survivors include her son, Jim O. Dixon and wife Tana of Odessa; her daughter, Jennifer Lynn Simon and husband Marc of San Angelo; two grandchildren, James O. Dixon of Houston and Jessica Lynn Simon of San Angelo; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Pallbearers will be family and friends. Open viewing began Monday morning at Johnson's Funeral Home. All family and friends may sign an online guestbook at johnsons-funeralhome.com. If desired, memorials may be made to New Mexico Christian Childrens Home, 1356 NM 236, Portales, NM 88130; San Angelo Christian Academy, 518 Country Club Road, San Angelo, TX 76904; or Parkinson's Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Ste. 1509, New York, NY 10018.

Lucille Covey, 92, of Mertzon, died Saturday morning May 24, 2014, at Park Plaza Nursing Home in San Angelo. Lucille was born May 9, 1922, in Fredonia, Texas, Mason County to Lottie and Grant Davenport. Lucille married Lee Roy Covey, May 18, 1939. They enjoyed 69 years together. They made a great team together. Lucille and Lee Roy were in the grocery business for 32 1/2 years. While Lee Roy was Justice of the Peace, Lucille was in the office with him every day. Lee Roy and Lucille served on the Mertzon Cemetery Board of Trustees. Her family and friends were very special gifts to her. Lucille was a faithful member of the First Christian Church of Mertzon and a lifetime member of the Eastern Star. Lucille was preceded in death by her husband, Lee Roy Covey; mother and father, Lottie and Grant Davenport; grandmother Media Stidham; and one sister, Louella Hall. Lucille is survived by daughter Sue Ann Swaringin and husband Howard; three grandchildren, Beverly Jeffrey and husband James; Bonnie Robinson and husband Eric; Ron Swaringin and wife Victoria; five great-grandchildren, Brandon Arnold and wife Lacy, Tye Jeffrey, Trista Jeffrey, Reann Robinson, Colby Robinson; four great-great-grandchildren, Taylor Jeffrey, Jimmie Kniss, Wyatt Kniss and Andrew Arnold; one brother, Buster Davenport; along with several nieces, nephews, and very special friends. The graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, May 30, 2014, at Mertzon Cemetery with Dennise Bloomquist officiating. The family would like to express sincere gratitude to Dr. Charles M. Jones and all the nurses and staff at Park Plaza Nursing Home who provided very special care. Memorials may be sent to the Mertzon Cemetery Association, Box 782, Mertzon, Texas, 76941 or to your favorite charity . Family and friends may sign an online register book at www.johnsons-funeralhome.com.

Stephen Dale Burpee was born to Scott and Jan Burpee in Juba, South Sudan, where they worked as missionaries for World Concern. Steve and his family moved to to the Seattle area in October 1982, and moved to St. Maries, Idaho, in January 1986, where Steve grew up and was active in the Nazarene church. He entered the early enlistment program in his junior year at St. Maries High School. He met his future wife, Rikki Duke, there. After graduation Steve spent the summer fighting forest fires for the Idaho Department of Lands before joining the Army in October 2001. Steve married Rikki in May 2002. He was trained as a firefighter and was deployed to Iraq in 2003, and 2005. In 2007 and 2014, Steve served at Goodfellow Air Force Base as an instructor at the firefighter academy. On Oct. 11, 2006, Steve and Rikki became the proud parents to Trevor Joel Burpee. Steve loved the Army, his men and his family. Steve is survived by his wife and son of San Angelo, Texas; his parents of Pocatello, Idaho; and his brother, Allan Burpee, of Juba, South Sudan.