Obituaries
• Dollie Ruth Neal Ballenger of Midland died Jan. 10, 2007. She was born June 8, 1919 on the Neal Ranch in Garden City to Ike Neal and Jewel Gollihar Neal. She was reared and educated in Garden City, San Angelo and Midland and attended Texas Christian University until she was a junior.
Preceded in death by her parents, she is survived by her daughters, Francys Ann Ballenger, Angelika Lamar, Barba Sue Ballenger Keene and Lynda Glass; four grandchildren, Fred Squire, Scarlett Squire, Jeff Glass and Robert Glass, and ten great-grandchildren.
• Jerry Currie, 76, of Big Spring, died Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2007, and was buried at the Garden City Cemetery. He was born Jan. 12, 1931, in Big Spring. He married Delores Howard Bash on Feb. 19, 1983 in Big Spring.
Jerry was the son of William James “Bill” and Maud Currie, a pioneer ranching family in Glasscock County, He graduated valedictorian from Garden City High School, was an Eagle Scout and a member of the Order of the Arrow. He attended Texas Tech and the University of Texas and served in the United States Navy.
He ranched all of his life in Glasscock and Oldham counties and enjoyed racehorses. He served on the Big Spring ISD Board of Trustees, was a member of First United Methodist Church and the Texas Southwest Cattle Raisers Association.
Survivors include his wife, Delores Currie of Big Spring; a son, Bill Currie of Big Spring; a step-daughter, Nicole Bash of Dallas; a granddaughter, Natalie Nichols Stroup and husband, Kayne of San Antonio; a grandson, Will Currie of Big Spring; a sister, Barbara Currie Ratliff of Garden City and several beloved nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his stepmother, Marie Currie; a daughter, Diana Currie Nichols and a son, Jerry Jon Currie.
The family requests memorials be made to the Diana Currie Nichols Scholarship Fund at Howard College, 1001 Birdwell Lane, Big Spring, Texas 79720; Relay For Life, c/o Diane Wood, 3200 Greenbrier, Big Spring, Texas 79720, or the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 15186, Austin, TX 78761.
• Dana Hillger Cook, 36, of Garden City, died Feb. 1, 2007 at her home and was buried in Garden City Cemetery. Born March 17, 1970 in Big Spring to Dale and Jo Ann Hillger, she was a sixth generation Hillger to live in Glasscock County. She was raised in the St. Lawrence community and graduated from Garden City High School. She attended Sul Ross State University and Angelo State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a minor in special education.
A loving and devoted wife and mother, Dana was also a teacher at Garden City Elementary School, where she was loved by her students and by fellow faculty members. She was a member of the St. Lawrence Catholic Church where she enjoyed singing in the choir and served recently as an officer of the St. Theresa Altar Society. She coached Garden City teams in the Big Spring YMCA Basketball League.
Dana inherited her beautiful smile from her Daddy and always kept it on her face, just like her Daddy. She loved her brothers dearly and was so proud of her nephews with all their accomplishments – she was their cool aunt.
Survivors include her children, Marcus Ryan Cook and Britni Ann Cook; her mother, Jo Ann Hillger; two brothers, Mike Hillger and wife Nancy, Scott Hillger and wife Andrea; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Omer and Jade Cook, all of Garden City; two sisters-in-law, Sheila Draper and husband Tooter and Ann Beaver and husband Cannon; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, one niece and very special friends, Kenny, Vicki and Leslie Batla and Candy Jones.
She was preceded in death by her father, Dale Roy Hillger and her grandparents.
The family suggests memorials be sent to Garden City Lions Club – Cook Children, in care of Glasscock County Bank, P.O. Box 90, Garden City, TX 79739.
• Brian Christopher Cook, 37, of Garden City, died Feb. 1, 2007 at his residence and was buried in Garden City Cemetery. He was born Dec. 18, 1969 in Midland and married Dana Erin Hillger in 1991 in St. Lawrence. He graduated from Rankin High School and attended Sul Ross State University. He worked as a field supervisor for Mariner Energies and was a member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church.
Survivors include a son, Marcus Ryan Cook; a daughter, Britni Ann Cook; his parents, Omer and Jade Cook, all of Garden City; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Sheila and tooter Draper of Ranger and Ann and Cannon Beaver of Odessa; his maternal grandmother, Jackie Ward of Stanton; his mother-in-law, Jo Ann Hillger of Garden City; two brothers-in-law, Mike Hillger and wife Nancy and Scott Hillger and wife Andrea, all of Garden City, and several nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.
The family suggests memorials be sent to Garden City Lions Club – Cook Children, in care of Glasscock County Bank, P.O. Box 90, Garden City, TX 79739.
• Edward ‘Eddy Lee’ Avery of Midland died Feb. 7, 2007 at Midland Memorial Hospital and was buried at Resthaven Memorial Park. He was born Dec. 3, 1940 to Lottie Blackerby and Ogal B. Avery.
He graduated from Stanton High School and for most of his career, worked in the oilfields of Texas and Louisiana as a production superintendent, and for the past eight years, worked with his son Brad at Hotlline Utility Construction and Lawson Equipment. He was a member of Christian Church of Midland, where he served as a deacon for many years. He was known for his quick wit and wonderful culinary creations.
He is survived by his wife, Judith Allison Avery; six children, Lauri Avery Barber and husband Kelly of Covington, LA, Bradley Robert Avery and wife Linda of Garden City, Michael David Pelletier and wife Sheri of Lafayette, LA, Jeffrey Lewis Pelletier and Ginger of Lewisville, Melissa Avery Thompson and husband Mark of Palmer, AK, and Charles Bennett Pelletier and wife Andrea of Lafayette, LA, 14 grandchildren, his mother-in- law, Gladys Allison, sisters Yvonne Hrbacek of Odessa, Lonita Crocker of Weatherford, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and two sisters.
The family suggests memorials to St. Mary’s Training School, P.O. Drawer 7768, Alexandria, LA, 71306.