Rains County Leader
August 1908

Mrs. T.V. Prather Dead
Mrs. Ruby Prather, wife of Mr. T.V. Prather, who lives about one mile east of Emory, died last Tuesday morning after a short illness, leaving an infant only two days old. She was only 18 years old, loved and highly respected by all who knew her. Her husband, father and family have the deepest sympathy of all in their sad bereavement. Her remains were interred in the Pilgrim's Rest graveyard Wednesday morning.

Rains County Leader
April 9, 1909
The death angel entered the home of Mr. J.F. and Maggie Ross and claimed for its own, their darling 8-months-old babe. Weep not dear sister for Jesus said suffer little children to come unto me for such are the Kingdom of Heaven. Its remains were interred in the Pilgrim Rest cemetery Friday evening. Pastor C.M. Martin conducting the last sad rites. Thou art gone my precious darling, Never more well see they face; But will meet thee up in Heaven, In that eternal resting place.

( Note: This may be Mathes B. Nelson, s/o Mr. & Mrs. O.D. Nelson)
east section
row 12
Rains County Leader
Nov 19, 1909
Pilgrim Rest Items
Yesterday morning about 5 oclock the death angel called home the little 2-year-old boy of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson. His remains will be laid to rest in the Pilgrim Rest cemetery today

Rains County Leader
December 15, 1911
Another Sudden Death The Grim Monster has again visited Emory and this time claimed little Jimmy, the 10-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Amis. He was only sick from Monday until about 8 o'clock Tuesday night when the death angel came and relieved him of his intense suffering and his spirit waited away in the realms of peace and happiness. His malady was pronounced meningitis by the attending physicians. Jimmy was a quiet, unassuming, sturdy and energetic little fellow, and not only will he be sorely missed by the family, but by his playmates as well, for he had won a warm place in the hearts of all with whom he came in contact. Funeral services were conducted at the Baptist church Wednesday evening at 1 o'clock by Bro. Garvin. School was dismissed and there were between 250 and 300 children present at the service. His remains were laid to rest at the Pilgrim Rest graveyard about 4 o'clock. We deeply sympathize with the bereaved parents and brothers and sisters in this great hour of adversity.

(In earlier listing of Old Obits, baby was listed as being buried in Pilgrim Rest Cem)
Rains County Leader
Dec 3, 1920
Little Aubrey Rylant Dead
The little 4-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. L.D. Rylant gently fell asleep Nov 18, 1920 and an angel awakened him.
For the golden day was done,
Through the closing portal,
Child and garden flower and sun -
Vanish all things mortal.
His parents wish to thank the friends who were so kind and helpful. Also, our physician, Dr. L.T. Waller, who was so thoughtful and attentive during the little son's illness and death. They wish to express their gratitude to the first and second grades and other friends for their beautiful floral offerings.
Mr. and Mrs. L.D. Rylant

east section
row 15
D.A.W. Yandell
Rains County Leader
June 26, 1925
"Uncle" Don Yandell Passes Away
The death angel visited the home of Miss Dollie Yandell, of near Pilgrim Rest community, and claimed for its victim her father, Mr. Yandell, better known as "Uncle" Don. "Uncle" Don was born October 6th, 1842 and passed from this natural realm into that of the spiritual on June 22nd, 1925. To know him was to love him. He was devoted to Christ and His cause. It is our earthly loss but his heavenly gain. He was doubtless prepared by God's divine grace to meet his Lord. Everything that loving hands could do was done but in vain, for He Who doeth all things for the best said, "It is enough; come up higher." Mr. Yandell had lived a life of 79 years in this vicinity, where he made a host of friends, which was due to his life of unselfishness. In summing up his life we would say that he lived a life of service to his loved ones. He leaves behind him to mourn his departure, a host of sorrowing relatives and friends. But we can say to those who weep, to weep not for him as one that has no hope, for he left the blessed assurance that he has gone to be with Jesus. Jesus consoled his disciples before He left this world, that, "I go to prepare a mansion for you, that where I am there may ye be also." So we have the assurance that he is asleep in Jesus to await the resurrection morn. His remains were laid to rest in the Pilgrim Rest cemetery. Impressive funeral services were conducted by Rev. Clate Martin and Bro. Smith. May God bless and comfort the sad hearted loved ones.---Lois McKeown

Pilgrim Rest Cem
west section, row 12
The Rains County Leader
October 28, 1965
Former Resident Dies October 18th
Mrs. Mattie M. Wall, 94, a resident of Wichita Falls 24 years, died at 7 a.m. Monday at her residence, 2700 Wenonah. She was a former resident of Rains County. She was born April 8, 1871 in Murray County, Ga. She was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene. Services were held at 9 a.m. Tuesday in Owens-Brumley Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. W.M. Dorough, pastor of First Church of the Nazarene, officiating. Burial was in Pilgrim Rest Cemetery. Graveside services were held at the cemetery at 3 p.m. Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Mae Usry of Dallas, and Mrs. Myrtle Echard and Mrs. Vera Connor, both of Wichita Falls; two sons, James T. Wall of Downey, Calif.; and Henry Wall of Wichita Falls; 24 grandchildren and some great-grandchildren.

Willie Mae Hass
1918 - 2003
Services for Willie Mae Hass, 85, of Alba were held at 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, at Wilson-Bartley Funeral Home Chapel of Alba with Mr. Delton Alexander officiating.
Burial was in Pilgrims Rest No. 1 Cemetery near Emory. Pallbearers were T.J. Hass, Ricky Harvey, Rusty Sherwood, Scott Lyles, Ferrell Dean Harvey and David Brown.
Mrs. Hass died Monday, Nov. 24, in a Mesquite Hospital. She was born July 8, 1918, in Wood County. She lived most of her life in Alba. Mrs. Hass was a homemaker and a member of the church of Christ.
Survivors include son and daughter-in-law, Harl and Virginia Hass of Alba; daughter and son-in-law, Shirley and Don Ince of Mesquite; three grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, O.L. and Bessie Thedford Harvey; husband, Harl Hass; three sisters, Marie Hass, Tina Sherwood and Peggy Brummett; two brothers, Leon Harvey and O.L. Harvey Jr.; and one grandson, Todd Hass.

The Rains County Leader
January 27, 2004
Gene Kolb
1943 - 2003
Graveside services for Gene Kolb, 60, of Alba were held Saturday, January 24, at 2:00 p.m. at Pilgrim Rest No. 1 Cemetery in Emory with Bro. Robert Stovall officiating.
Burial followed. Pallbearers were David Kolb, Sam Schwed, Chris Ussery, Kenneth English, Billy Nipp, and Micah Kolb.
Mr. Kolb died Wednesday, January 21, at ETMC Tyler.
He was born July 31, 1943, in Oklahoma City, Okla. He lived in Alba since 1974. He was a member of the Lutheran church, and was employed as a shipping coordinator. He served in the Air Force during the Vietnam era.
Survivors included his mother, Jacqueline Kolb of Quitman; one son and daughter-in-law, Micah and Jennifer Kolb of Alba; one brother, David Kolb of Quitman; one sister, Linda Williams of Mesquite; and one grandchild.
Mr. Kolb was preceded in death by his father, Roy Kolb, Jr.
Services were under the direction of Wilson-Bartley Funeral Home of Alba.

Charles H. Hass
1921 2003
Funeral services for Charles H. Hass, 82, of Alba, will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, November 26, 2003, at the Wilson-Bartley Funeral Home Chapel in Alba with Rev. Waymon Shorty Hass officiating. Burial will be in the Pilgrim Rest #1 Cemetery near Emory. Pallbearers will be Junior Staley, John Staley, Jackie Staley, Drew Henson, John Reid, Tony Grisham, and Raymond Hass.
Mr. Hass died Monday, November 24, at Hospice of East Texas Homeplace in Tyler.
He was born July 26, 1921 in Rains County to Isaac Bowie and Bertie Mollie Whitehurst Hass, who preceded him in death.
Mr. Hass was a lifelong resident of Alba, a member of the Assembly of God, a former member of the Alba Fire Department and was a farmer.
Survivors included his wife of 63 years, Lela Attaway Hass of Alba; two sons and daughters-in-law, Henry and Helen Hass of Alba, and Waymon and Frances Hass of Prosper; three daughters and sons-in-law, Gail and Steve Nichols of Tyler, Verdie and Perry Henson and Kay and Randy Blackford all of Whitehouse; eight brothers, Odell Hass of Springtown, Harris Dee Hass, Douglas Hass, and W.C. Hass, all of Alba, Joe Dell Hass and Randy Hass both of Golden, Isaac Andrew Hass of Point and Danny Hass of Mesquite; three sisters, Nellie McKenzie, Darlene Hays and Dianne Wright, all of Alba; 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by his step-mother, Nellie Adair Hass Johnson; four brothers, Edward Bowie Hass, R. Acey Hass, Howard B. Hass, and Bobby Wayne Hass.
Family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday, from 6-8 p.m.

West section, row 3
Rains County Leader
September 1, 1998
Services for Michael Todd Hass, 33, of Alba were held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday August 29, 1998 at Wilson-Orwosky Funeral Home Chapel in Emory with Rev. Jim Parker and Rev. William Potts officiating. Burial was in Pilgrim Rest #1 Cemetery with Scottie Lyles, Jerry Scott Adair, Brian Bradshaw, Brandon Hass, Kenny Briggs and Brett Ince serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Steve Potts, Jon Ralph, Rusty Sherwood and Sunny Hass. Mr. Hass died August 26, 1998 at his home in Alba. He was born in Bonham on July 9, 1965 to Harl Dean and Virginia Rogers Hass. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and worked in construction. He was a Baptist. Survivors include his father and mother of Alba; grandmothers, Willie Mae Hass of Mesquite and Annie Rogers of Greenville; sister and brother-in-law, Tracy and Timothy Raymond of Quitman; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends.

Rains County Leader
March 23, 2004
Dorothy Martin
1910 - 2004
Funeral services for Dorothy Martin, 93, of Roswell, N.M., will be at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 23, at Pilgrim Rest No. 2 Baptist Church in Golden, with Bro. Louis Strehlow officiating. Burial will be in Pilgrim Rest No. 2 Cemetery under the direction of Wilson-Bartley Funeral Home of Alba. Pallbearers will be Larry Hughes, Darrell Galyean, Kenny Ruelas, Jim Spurgeon, Will Holland, and Ronnie Galyean. Mrs. Martin died Friday, March 19, 2004, at Eastern New Mexico Medical Center, Roswell, N.M. She was born June 22, 1910, in New York City, N.Y. She spent her childhood in Kansas, and lived most of her life in Roswell, N.M. She lived four years in the Alba/Grand Saline area before moving back to Roswell in 1989. She was a homemaker and a member of Pilgrim Rest No. 2 Baptist Church in Golden. She is survived by sons Adelbert Martin of Dallas, and Michael and Linda Martin of Alba; daughter, Loretta Marker of Dallas; 13 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her adoptive mother, Katherine Bergman; husband, Adelbert Martin; son, Jerry Martin; two daughters, Patricia Martin and Lei Latner.

Rains County Leader
March 30, 2004
Jackie A. Miller
1937 - 2004
Graveside services and burial for Jackie A. Miller, 66, of Cleburne will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, April 1, at Pilgrims Rest #1 Cemetery, with Wilson-Orwosky Funeral Home in charge of services. Mr. Miller died Sunday, March 28, at Osteopath Hospital of Ft. Worth. He was born October 2, 1937, in Hope, Ark., to Joe C. and Fay E. McKay Miller. He was a construction roofer, and a Baptist. He is survived by sons, Gary Miller, Frank Miller, and Gary Frank Miller, all of Cleburne; sister, Peggy Cordova of Eagle Nest, N.M.; brothers, Tony Miller of Chaparral, N.M., and Roger Miller of Emory; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Garry William Prather Sr.
1951 - 2004
Funeral services for Garry William Prather Sr., of Emory, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 25, at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church with Rev. David Kendricks and Rev. Royce Cembell officiating. Burial will follow at Pilgrim Rest Cemetery. Pallbearers are Steve Land, Hubert Anderson, Mackie Jacobs, Jerry Valentine, Phillip Cason, Brandon Gowin, Trey Bodiford, Garry Prather Jr. and Rusty Rankin. Mr. Prather died Friday, May 21, at his residence in Emory. He was born in Dallas on May 31, 1951, to George W. and Billie Hyde Prather. He married Paula Kay Bridges in Mineola on December 4, 1976. He was a member of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife; a son, Garry William Prather Jr. of Emory; two daughters, Kelly Kay Prather of Rockwall and April B. and husband Kam Emig of Emory; one grandchild, Lynn Emig; a sister, Leverne Castleberry of Benton, Ark.; and his mother, Billie Prather of Seagoville. Mr. Prather was preceded in death by his father in 1998 and a brother in 2004. The family requests that donations in lieu of flowers be sent to Wilson-Orwosky Funeral Home in Emory.

Rains Co. Leader
July 20, 2004
Lena Mae Spence
1920-2004
Funeral services for Lena Mae Spence, 84, of Emory will be held at Wilson-Orwosky Funeral Home Chapel, at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 20, with Rev. David Hendricks officiating. Burial will be in Pilgrim Rest Cemetery #1. Pallbearers will be Randall Spence, Ronald Spence, Kevin Martinez, Kerry spence, and Justin Spence. Mrs. Spence died Saturday, July 17, 2004, at Green Acres Nursing Home in Emory. She was born Feb. 2, 1920, in Rains County to Jay and Minnie Mae Hass Williams. She was a nursing assistant. She is survived by a son, Jimmie Spence and wife Edna of Emory; grandchildren, Sherri Burnside of Greenville, Randall Spence of Alba, Ronald Spence of Dallas, and Jerry Spence Jr. of Dallas. She was preceded in death by her parents and three sons.

Rains County Leader
April 5, 2005
Ernest Ray Watson
1943-2005
Funeral services for Ernest Ray Watson, 61, of Emory will be at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 6, at Wilson-Orwosky Funeral Chapel with Rev. Eddie Paul Stanley officiating. Burial will be in Pilgrim Rest Cemetery #1. Pallbearers will be Harold Kizer, Randy Watson, Gerald Raines, Jarred Massie, Tommy Watson and James Wheeler. Mr. Watson died Saturday, April 2, at Trinity Mother Frances Health Center. He was born April 25, 1943, in Fruitvale to Henry and Rosy Brown Watson. He married Doris Slatter April 14, 1991, in Emory. He was a retired machinist and a member of the Assembly of God Church. He is survived by his wife, Doris Watson of Emory; daughter, Tammy Kizer of Sulphur Springs; step-daughters, Patricia Massie of Alba and Vickie Weatherford of Sentinel, Colo.; brothers, Eugene Watson of Canton, and L.J. Watson of Fruitvale; grandchildren, Taylor Cliffton, Justin Kizer, April Lures, Jarred Massie, Carlie Weatherford, and Cimmie Weatherford. He was preceded in death by two daughters, Tina Suzanne Watson and Kandy Lynn Watson; one son, Jeffery Ray Watson; one sister; and three brothers. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 at Wilson-Orwosky Funeral Home.

Rains County Leader
June 7, 2005
Glenda Fritz
1946-2005
Funeral services for Glenda Fritz of Emory were held at 12:00 noon Friday, June 3, at Wilson-Orwosky Funeral Chapel with Pastor Tony Clawson officiating. Burial was in Pilgrims Rest Cemetery. Mrs. Fritz died Monday, May 30, at East Texas Hospice in Tyler. She was born in Emory on October 31, 1946, to Raymond E. and Verba Mae Richardson Spence. She married James Harold Fritz on May 12, 1965, in Dallas. She was assistant director of maintenance and transportation for Rains ISD. She was of the non-denominational faith and was a member of East Texas Road Runners. She is survived by her husband, James Harold Fritz; mother, Verba Mae Spence; sons, Michael W. Fritz of Dallas, and David A. Fritz of Emory; daughter, Tracy Field of Emory; brothers, Roy Spence of Emory, and Carl Spence of Mesquite; sister, Janet Blanton of Emory; and six grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father, Raymond Spence.

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