Gloria Riojas 77, passed away on Sunday September 19, 2021.  Funeral services will be at Calvary Baptist Church, 506 N Runnels, Merkel, Tx at 10am Friday the 24th. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery directed by Starbuck Funeral Home. Gloria Riojas was born April 8, 1944 in Anson, Tx to Eugene & Luciana Cortez. She was a housewife and evangelist. Known to travel far and wide to preach at prisons or to whomever needed her. Enjoyed visiting friends, traveling with her daughters and...

Doris W. Wells, age 86, passed from this life on her birthday. She was born September 16, 1935 in Weinert, Texas raised in the community and attended school there. She married Jesse Layne Wells on May 30, 1953. They moved to Trent, TX in 1964. She attended Draughon’s Business College in Abilene, and worked for North’s Funeral Home and later worked for Texas Rehabilitation Commission. She retired in 1995. Doris loved to bake and decorate cakes for family and friends. She loved to...

Otis Lee Davis, age 76, passed from this life on September 16, 2021 at Hendrick Medical Center South. He was born on November 15, 1944 in East Liverpool, OH. He was retired and worked as a City Water Manager in Trent for many years and was also the Chief of the Trent Volunteer Fire Department for over 18 years. Otis, also known as “Oddie” or “PaPa”, was a loving and caring family man who always put family first and foremost. He was very giving and generous and had a...

The Lord needed another good Cowboy to tend to his cattle in heaven when he called Jerry Don Byrd home on Wednesday September 15, 2021. Riding horses through the clouds, and herding cattle along God's green acres is where we will find our Papaw Jerry when we too are called home by our Lord and Savior. Jerry Byrd was born on December 6th, 1937 to Alvin (Shorty) and Sarah Hassey Byrd at their home in Stith, Texas. From a young age, his love of the outdoors and animals was seen and felt....

Roger Lee Burfiend, 91, received his angel wings on Sept. 14, 2021 at 11:11a.m. at a local hospital.  Known to everyone as simply "Grandpa", he was a man like no other. Grandpa was born on Sept. 21, 1929 in Jones County to Pete & Belle Burfiend. Grandpa grew up in Noodle where he attended school, graduating in 1946. He trained horses in his younger years & spent 10 years working on the ranch. He worked at the warehouse at Dyess Air Force base for 6 years, was a postal...

James Earl Cannon, age 71, passed from this life on September 14, 2021 at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene, TX. He was born on November 4, 1949 in Abilene, TX to Andrew Cannon and Edith (Rister) Cannon. He was a very talented welder.  James could fix anything and was a jack-of-all trades. He had a passion for rebuilding cars and one of his pride and joys was his “COE”. He was an amazing fabricator and has many metal art pieces to show for it. He was a mentor and father to...

Ricky Joe Campbell (63) was born on April 14, 1958 to Joe and Margaret “Ringwald” Campbell. He grew up in Amarillo, Texas and then later moved to Abilene, Texas in the mid 70’s where he then met his wife Delinda DarLene Watkins and got married in 1977.  The couple was happily married for 43 years. In 1990 they moved to Merkel, Texas where he then had many ventures in running business and owning business such as Rick’s Auto. He spent many years building cars...

Joseph Dean “Big Joe” Castillo, age 59, passed from this life on August 29, 2021 at his residence in Merkel, TX. He was born on May 22, 1962 to Frank D. Castillo and Ruth (Guevara) Castillo. He was a self-employed flooring contractor. Joseph was not only an extremely hard worker, he took the knowledge he had learned from his dad and mentored many younger kids on how to properly lay flooring.  He devoted his time to helping many people and even took the role of caring for...

Jo Ann Malone, age 82, passed from this life on August 28, 2021 at Hendrick Hospice in Abilene. She was born on November 2, 1938 in Merkel, TX to Robert Thomas Malone and Opal Maxine (Buzbee) Malone. Jo Ann was a homemaker for much of her life, but also worked as a substitute teacher in Merkel and was also a volunteer at the Betty Hardwick for the Suicide Prevention program.  In her younger days, Jo Ann enjoyed golfing and swimming.  She had a huge heart and touched many lives...

Carroll Nell Loring Warren, 94 of Trent Texas passed away at her residence August 26, 2021. Carroll was born to C.W. and Minnie Loring in Nocona, Texas on Feb. 10, 1927. Carroll met and then married the love of her life Willis Andrew Warren in Wheeler, Texas on September 18, 1943. Willis and Carroll were married for 69 years before his passing in 2012. Carroll worked many years and retired from the Kirby Vacuum Cleaner Factory in Andrews, Texas. She loved working with her hands outside...