2019 Journal Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist

Memoirs Memoirs 2019 Journal Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church K Memoirs SECTION K Memoirs Deceased 2018-2019 Clergy Rev. Joe Dan Adams Rev. William Byron Boyett Rev. Earl Howard Dawson Rev. Buford Wayne Finley Rev. Kenneth Bernard Green Rev. Ira Leon Grissom Rev. Ralph Harold Hale Rev. George Melvin Hancock Rev. Dale Darro Horton Rev. Noel Lawrence Lark Rev. Gregory Howard Rogers Rev. Gerald Eugene Stitt Rev. Wayne Luther Taylor Rev. John Roy Tyler Rev. Ann Nicholson Worrell K - 1 Memoirs Spouses Betty Preston Boling, spouse of Rev. Blaine A. Boling, Sr. Lucille Broach, spouse of Rev. L. B. Broach, III Effygene Bull, spouse of Rev. William Floyd Bull Lena G. Davis, spouse of Rev. Elvis C. Davis H. Sparks Dorris, spouse of Rev. Karen Dorris Grace Lee Dowden, spouse of Rev. John Chester Dowden Ruth Dunnam, spouse of Rev. Spurgeon Murray Dunnam, Jr. Lola Dell Fosburgh, spouse of Rev. Robert Fosburgh Shirley Ruth Goad, spouse of Rev. Stanley Goad Clara Townsend Hayes, spouse of Rev. Charles K. Hayes Janet Lynn Jackson, spouse of Rev. Jimmie James Jackson Audrey Adams Jones, spouse of Rev. Harold Randle Jones Martin Earl Jones, spouse of Rev. Karen Lee Koch Jones Helen C. Langham, spouse of Rev. Robert B. Langham, Jr. Robbie Lee Neff, spouse of Rev. James T. Neff Maxine Mae Negrin, spouse of Rev. Leonard Negrin Dorothy Patricia Nelson, spouse of Dr. J. Robert Nelson Lorraine A. Perkins, spouse of Rev. Charles H. Perkins Edna K. Starbuck, spouse of Rev. Robert P. Starbuck Maree Atkins Waters, spouse of Rev. Sylvan Merle Waters Sara Louise Haliday Williams, spouse of Rev. Kelly Bob Williams K - 2 Memoirs Clergy Joe Dan Adams The Reverend Joe Dan Adams passed into the arms of our Lord on July 23, 2018, at the age of 85 years and three days, in Houston, Texas. Dan was born at home in Dallas, Texas, on July 20, 1933, to Rev. Fred F. Adams (North Texas Conference) and Lola Dunafan Adams (of Frisco, Texas). He was the third of four generations of Methodist Pastors. He grew up in parsonages across North Texas and graduated from Dallas Sunset High School in 1950. Dan attended college at Lon Morris College and Southern Methodist University prior to his enlistment during the Korean War, serving in the US Army. He served with distinction as a “Tanker” in the US 8th Army, 3rd Infantry Division, receiving the Purple Heart, the Korean Citation Ribbon (presented to him, personally, by Korean President Seman Ree), and the 18- Month Combat bars. After the war Dan returned to Texas to complete his studies winning the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Economics from East Texas State University (1956) and the Master of Theology degree from SMU’s Perkins School of Theology (1959). He later pursued post-graduate work at Yale University, Loyola University (in Rome), and St. George’s College (in Jerusalem). Joe Dan Adams was ordained Elder of the Methodist Church by Bishop William C. Martin during the North Texas Conference session on June 4, 1959. As a student pastor Dan served the Methodist congregations at Lake Dallas, Texas, and Highwood, Montana. After graduation from Perkins he served the following appointments: Prescott, Carl Circuit, and Coralville (Iowa Conference); Dallas Munger Place (Associate) and Arapaho (as Founding Pastor) (North Texas Conference); Houston East (Texas Conference); Eldorado-Christoval; San Angelo FUMC (as Associate Pastor) (Southwest Texas Conference); Wesley- Alexander, Willis, Cypress Trails, and Epworth-Parker (Texas Conference). In 1992, Dan retired from the Texas Annual Conference with 35 years of service. In retirement he served Robert Lee and Mertzon (Southwest Annual Conference). Dan enjoyed his retirement years living near San Angelo, Texas, and traveling around the country with Dee Ann, his wife of 44 years, in their travel trailer. He was an avid photographer, writer, and poet. Together they had 4 children, eight grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren. Submitted by Rev. Dr. Mark G. Adams, son William Byron Boyett Byron surrendered to the call to preach when he was thirteen years of age. With that goal in mind, he started his undergraduate studies at Stephen F. Austin while he served the five- church Geneva Circuit. He earned a master’s degree from Perkins School of Theology, followed by a master’s degree from Stephen F. Austin in counseling. Byron served in several districts in the Texas Conference. He completed 35 years of active ministry at Wesley McCabe in Longview. After retirement he returned to Geneva UMC where he began his ministry as a student pastor. Byron enjoyed making people laugh and often defused a tense situation with a funny story; consequently, he was usually sent to churches that needed healing. He looked forward to enjoying his many interests, skills and talents, including photography, carpentry, mechanics, traveling and writing. He wrote several short stories and had started a novel on King David. Byron was married to Lurlene Franks Boyett for 61 years. To their union were born three beautiful and talented daughters: Rebekah and her husband Gary Johnson, have a teenage daughter, Sarah; Deborah and her husband-minister Dr. Keith Tilley, have two teenage sons, Lucas and Josiah; Diana and her husband Lynn Stanford, have three sons. Daniel and Jacob are in the military, Michael is a student at Stephen F. Austin. Daniel and his wife Savanna have a delightful baby named Raelynn. Submitted by Lurlene Boyett, spouse K - 3 Memoirs Rev. Earl H. “Howdy” Dawson Howdy Dawson loved life. He was a kind and generous man, always ready with words of encouragement and understanding for the tired and weary. He shared his treasure with those in need. When challenged by life’s trials and tribulations, he confronted them as adventures which he explored and examined and from which he gleaned new rules for living. Earl H.”Howdy” Dawson was born in Crockett, Texas, September 22, 1940 to F. D. Dawson, Jr. and Dorothy Dawson. Preaching was in his blood. His father, grandfather and great grandfather were all Methodist preachers in the Texas Conference. Howdy, his two brothers F. D. Dawson III and Von Dawson each became Methodist ministers, the fourth generation of Dawsons in the Texas Conference. When he came of age, Howdy enlisted in the United States Navy where he served for the next four years. After discharge he married the love of his life Tommie Joyce White. Upon receiving his license to preach he began his career serving the Jefferson Circuit, Texarkana District. At the same time, he attended Centenary College where in 1967 he received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. The next step found Howdy and Joyce in Dallas where he attended Perkins School of Theology. Following ordination, he and Joyce set out on a path through the Texas Conference that found them serving churches at Normangee/Flynn; Somerville/Lyons; Houston/Cokesbury; Beaumont-Forest Park; Longview/Winterfield; Athens/First; Katy/First; Missouri City/First; Orange/First; Marshall/First; then on to the Texarkana District as DS and finally retirement in 2006. Along the way a daughter was born Michelle “Shelly.” She in turn would bear them a grandson, Dawson, who is the apple of their eye. While in Somerville Howdy engaged in an experimental “Ministry to People in Leisure.” Every weekend, in a motorboat furnished by the District, wearing a clerical shirt and bathing suit, Howdy would travel the shoreline of Lake Somerville from campsite to campsite ministering to those in need. Howdy never feared death, looking at it as life’s biggest adventure. His lifelong favorite poem is one by World War One poet Alan Seeger, Rendezvous with Death. It reads in part: “But I’ve a rendezvous with Death When Spring trips north again this year, And I to my pledged word am true, I shall not fail that rendezvous.” Howdy kept his rendezvous the night of February 17, 2019. He is loved and is missed. Submitted by Joyce Dawson, spouse Buford Wayne Finley Buford Wayne Finley was born December 31, 1932 to Buford and Lois McKinney Finley in Marlin, Tx. He passed away on September 11, 2018 in Dallas, Tx. Buford was a graduate of Marlin High School, Stephan F. Austin State University and Perkins School of Theology at SMU. Buford served 18 churches in the Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church during his ministry, which spanned 48 years. He and Mary Ann retired to Nacogdoches, Tx in 1997; moving to Dallas in 2002 to be nearer to family. Buford is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mary Ann Terry Finley: their children, Robert Finley, wife Debbie and Diane Finley Mayor, husband Steve. His grandchildren: Rochelle Finley, Sarah Finley Rich; husband Nick, Matt Elenniss, Rachel Elenniss, Alec Mayor, Jake Mayor and Ella Mayor. He has one great-granddaughter Kasen Rich. Buford was preceded in death by his sister Eugenia Finley Brooks and his brother Charles David Finley. K - 4 Memoirs Kenneth B. Green Rev. Kenneth B. Green died at the age of 50 on September 18, 2018 in his home town of Marlin, Texas. Kenneth was born on November 5, 1967 to Ethelene Sherman Green and Leo Green. After graduating from High School in Marlin, Texas in 1986, he attended Prairie View A&M University and received a degree in English. Kenneth attended seminary at Perkins School of Theology and received his Master of Divinity in 1997. He was ordained Deacon in the Texas Annual Conference in 1995 and Elder in 2000. Kenneth served as a United Methodist minister for 25 years. He served Davis Chapel UMC in Marlin, the Wesley Foundation @ Texas Southern University in Houston, TX, Trinity East UMC in Houston, First UMC in College Station, TX, St.

Load more