Obituaries

Johnnie Bethany

Johnnie Hugh “Jay” “Hank” Bethany, 71, died April 27, 2003 in Brownwood.

He once owned and was editor and publisher of the Ranger Star and editor of the Ranger Times. He also taught and was a media specialist at Ranger Junior College.

Jerry Bittle

Jerry Bittle, 53, died April 7, 2003 of a heart attack while scuba diving in Honduras.

Bittle’s comic strip “Geech,” based on small-town Texas life, appeared in newspapers nationwide for 21 years. He also created “Shirley and Son.” He was the first editorial cartoonist for The Albuquerque Tribune. He also worked at the Wichita (Kan.) Eagle.

Wilton Fair

Wilton “Hal” Fair, 53, died April 11, 2003 in Tyler.

He was editor of the Pearsall Leader from 1985-94 during the period when the newspaper joined with the Dilley Herald and Cotulla Record to become the Frio-Nueces Current. He first joined the Leader in 1975 and worked as reporter, photographer and sports editor.

Henry Jackson

Henry Allen Jackson, 89, died April 17, 2003 of lymphatic cancer at a convalescent cent in Farmington, N.M. He was one of the last living grandchildren of Dallas Morning News founder George Bannerman Dealey.

Margaret Mick

Margaret Bridges Mick, 94, died April 2, 2003.

She and husband Chester published weekly newspapers in Gonzales and Kennedy before moving to Smithville in 1946 where they purchased The Smithville Times. Chester Mick died in 1967 but she continued to publish the newspaper until 1972. Both were lifelong members of South Texas Press Association and won numerous awards.

Margaret was STPA historian from 1966-97 and in 1986 she was awarded the lifetime membership in STPA and in 1995 received the Chester Evans award.

She was executive director of the Smithville Chamber of Commerce for 18 years and was named Smithville Citizen of the Year in 1982.

Lexie Nall

Lexie Marlin Nall, 100, died Jan. 5, 2003 in California.

She was women’s editor of The Beaumont Enterprise starting in 1921. During the Depression she was laid off but returned to the newspaper in the 1950s and worked until retirement in 1967 when her husband died.