Obituaries

Ellen Buren Melvin left us and joined our Lord in the early morning hours of Wednesday, September 6. Ellen was born on July 28, 1961, in Marfa to Paul and Joan Thomas Buren.

Martha Kathleen Sleeper, 75, died Monday after complications from surgery. Cremation will be by BorenConner Funeral Home in Bullard; family services will be later at Oakwood Cemetery in Waco.

Sammy Q. Morales, 58, of Alpine, passed away on Tuesday, August 22, in Fort Stockton.

We are grieved to announce, Morgan “Marcus” Lee Osborne (17 years old) was killed the afternoon of August 15, in Midland County. The bereaved survivors include his stepfamily in Midland, Carla Ianet Gonzalez (stepmother), Kelis Salgado (step-father), Alexanndrea Winstead (sister), and Brianna Gatlin (sister).

On August 3, Robert Cloman Clanton passed away peacefully with his wife of 66 years by his side. Robert is lovingly known as Bobby by his friends, Dad by his five children, and Granddad by his nine grandchildren. Robert was born on April 22, 1936, in Alpine, to Lucile Cloman Perry and John Arthur Clanton. He was raised in Alpine with many fond memories that he often shared with friends and family. Robert graduated from Alpine High School. Robert married

Roger William Pinckney died in Marathon on August 3 of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Born July 12, 1945, in Austin, to John M. Pinckney and Mary Reed Pinckney, he spent his childhood on the Eastside in Austin. He attended Palm and Pease Elementary schools and graduated from St. Edward’s High School in

John Nixon Blackman III passed away on July 27 at the age of 88. He was married to Margaret for 66 years and they raised three sons. He is survived by his wife Margaret and brother Jim Blackman, and son Mark and son Matt and wife Melanie and daughter in law Keri Blackman. His grandchildren

It is with our deepest sorrow and heaviest of hearts, we share the news of the passing of our beautiful Aida Elisa Flores, beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, sister and friend, whose presence graced our lives in countless ways.

Janice “JJ” Lerich passed away peacefully at her home in Carlsbad, NM surrounded by family and friends on July 17 after a battle with cancer. JJ was born December 17, 1956, in Fort Worth, to Richard Carlous Jones and Gloria Jean Lewis Jones, while her father was serving in the US Air Force at Carswell AFB. As a young girl, JJ lived with her parents in Kyllberg, Germany until she and her mother moved back to the U.S. due to the Cuban Missile Crisis. The family came to Alamogordo, NM when JJ’s father was stationed at Holloman AFB where he served as an air traffic controller. JJ graduated from Alamogordo High School in 1974. She married Klad Zimmerle and they had a daughter, Desiree Sunshine. JJ met the love of her life, Scott P. Lerich, in Orogrande, NM in 1993 and they were married in May 1994 in San Antonio. Grandson Dean Anthony “Bubba” Thatcher was born in Anchorage, AK in 1997.

With a warm heart and a profound sense of gratitude, I am pleased to inform you that our beloved mother, Ernestina Hagy (Valenzuela), has peacefully joined the Lord, July 20, at 3:08 p.m. We find solace in knowing that she has found eternal happiness in the embrace of our Heavenly Father.