07:02 AM CST on Friday, March 31, 2006

Brooks “Hoot” Brown

Sept. 28, 1989 – March 24, 2006

TELLURIDE, Colo. — Telluride is in mourning for one of its young, most beloved sons. Sixteen-year-old Brooks “Hoot” Brown died tragically on Friday, March 24, as the result of an accident on the ski mountain. This popular Telluride High School teenager, as so many of his young friends, was passionate about skiing. The son of longtime Telluride residents Dee Pearce and Banks Brown, Hoot, who excelled as a slope-style free-skier, recently made it to the Nationals where he was ranked 20th in his age group. A member of the Telluride Ski & Snowboard club and a “free rider,” he also competed in Young Guns (a slope-style competition) and always went to the X-Games, for which his sister, Lauren Roche, worked. Hoot participated in every competition he could find, almost none of which his mom Dee ever missed. For the past couple of years he also attended High North Ski Camp in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada.

He planned for a future in skiing and recently expressed his love of living and skiing in Telluride and stated that his wish was to live and ski here for the rest of his life. Ironically, that wish was to be realized all too soon in a cruel twist of fate.

Born in Montrose, Colo., Hoot lived both in Ridgway and Telluride, except for one year in elementary school when he lived with family in Lake Dallas, Texas. For the golden-haired, handsome youth, it was all about the snow. Starting out as a boarder, Hoot quickly gave up the snowboard for skis and never went back. He recently started playing lacrosse which he considered basically a bridge between ski seasons.

In addition to skiing, Hoot was a huge music fan and a talented artist. One of his favorite songs was “Road to Zion” by Damian Marley, which served as the accompaniment to Hoot’s ski performance in a yet-to-be-released film. Hoot was also featured in an earlier ski film, “Ridiculed” which was created by Hoot’s friend Luke Kirsch. The title referring to the perception of free skiers, the film was almost an anti-ski ski movie. As an artist, Hoot loved to draw and created many ski-themed sketches as well as designing T-shirts. Not to limit his many talents and abilities, he also enjoyed knitting ski caps as did many of his friends.

Immensely popular and well-loved by his peers, Hoot made friends with everyone and adored his family.

“He was the most comfortable kid I’ve ever seen.” — Layton Hebert

“I can’t recall one time he has ever been cruel or taunted another kid.” — Ryan Jaeger.

“He was my best friend. He never said anything bad about anyone. He would walk into a room and fill the place with charisma.” — Gus Kenworthy.

“I have never met anyone with a better smile or who cared about other people more than himself.” — Madison Ward.

“Eva lasting Solacei, Ja’, Rastafari, Boy’ Boy’” — Kolby Ward

Hoot Brown is survived by his mother, Dee Pearce; father, Banks Brown, and stepmother, Laura Cattell Brown; sister Lauren Roche, daughter of Dee; sister Brianna and brother Wynton, children of Banks and Laura Brown; maternal grandmother, Patricia Pearce Gassaway of Denton, Texas; step-grandparents Barbara and Herry Cattell; aunt and uncle Gay and David Floyd of Denton, Texas; aunts Laura Taylor and Caroline Drozd and uncle Dean Drozd, all of Lake Dallas, Texas; uncle John Pearce and his wife Rebecca of Fort Worth, Texas; great-uncle Robert Walker of Denton, Texas; uncles Scott Brown, brother of Banks, Todd Cattell of California and Doug Cattell of Washington, D.C.; and cousins James and Will Floyd, Katie Taylor, Natalie Harrison and Dylan Drozd, all of Texas, Kate Pearce of Washington, D.C., and Ian Brown and Tai Brown of Pennsylvania.

A celebration of Hoot’s life was held Tuesday, March 28, in the Telluride Conference Center, followed by a potluck at the Elks. All are encouraged to bring photos, poems, stories and any other memorabilia to the Conference Center where a magnet board will be set up to display shared memories.

Paid Obituary

Travis Stanford

AUBREY — Travis Stanford, 68, of Aubrey, died Wednesday, March 29, 2006, at Denton Regional Medical Center.

Mr. Stanford was born Dec. 23, 1937, in Dallas to Travis Martin and Jewel Louise (Vail) Stanford. He was married to Joy Bothwell on Aug. 8, 1997 in Las Vegas, Nev. He owned and operated Travis Trucking. He was a member of the Canyon Creek Baptist Church.

A funeral service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, April 1, at Gateway United Baptist Church. The Rev. Buddy Owens will officiate the service. Interment will follow at Allen Cemetery, Allen. Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, March 31, at Gateway United Baptist Church.

Pallbearers will be Walt Davis, Carlos Marquez, Todd White, Delton Stewart, Charles Barber and James Grubbs.

Survivors include his wife, Joy Stanford of Aubrey; daughter, Michelle Morales of McKinney; sons, Marty Stanford of McKinney, Mark Stanford of Channelview and Marlon Stanford of Aubrey; stepson, Tracey Gibson of Denton; sisters, Joyce Harlin of Athens, Peggy Headen of Corinth and Betty Spearman of Chandler; brother, Donald Stanford of Plano; grandchildren, Rodney Stanford, Sarah Stanford, Megan Morales, Markus Stanford, Mason Morales, Mikayla Stanford and Trevar Stanford; step-grandchildren, Holden Smith, Tanner Weeks and Taylor Weeks; mother-in-law, Dorothy Bothwell; and brother-in-law, Richard Bothwell. He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Stephanie Stanford.

Mulkey-Mason, Jack Schmitz and Son Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Paid Obituary

Bonnie Pauline Vermillion

Bonnie Pauline Vermillion went to be with her Lord on Monday, March 27, 2006, five days before her 101st birthday. She passed away peace­fully in her sleep.

The sixth daughter and seventh child of Samuel Bell Vermillion and Theodocia Ernest (“Docia”) Dunn Vermillion, she was born in Altoga in Collin County April 1, 1905. Her public schooling was at Altoga and in Denton. She received a bachelor’s degree in 1936 and her master’s in 1946 from North Texas State Teachers College, now the University of North Texas.

At age 16, she gained her certificate and started teaching. She continued teaching 40 years, teaching in the winter and attending summer school to earn her degree.

She taught nine years in rural schools in Collin County, Gladewater, Honey Grove, Denton, Pittsburg, Kilgore, White Oak, Conroe, Wylie and Texas City. Her last position, before retirement in 1971, was at MacArthur High School in Irving.

Her nieces and nephews remember that she would teach them while out of the classroom as well, helping them with their math as she had occasion to instruct and encourage them. She lived in the house just west of Flow Hospital for more than 50 years, even while teaching. She was widely known in Denton as the “flower lady,” tending her beautiful yard and giving flowers to anyone and everyone who happened to come by. Always friendly, she enjoyed visiting with those who came by to admire her flowers and she gave them not only a flower, but a word of encouragement for their day.

Always active in the Baptist church wherever she lived, she was a charter member in 1949 and continued involvement in Grace Temple Baptist Church in Denton. She gave generously of her time and efforts there, serving on the building committee for the church’s first sanctuary.

She was the remaining child from the 11 children born to her parents. Three of her siblings lived in the Denton area for many years — Oren Vermillion, Wilma V. Stiff and Leta V. Howard.

She is survived by a host of relatives and friends.

A funeral service will be held on her birthday, Saturday, April 1, at 1 p.m. at Grace Temple Baptist, 1100 W. Oak St., with the Rev. Al Camp officiating. Burial will be at 4 p.m. in the Altoga Cemetery in Collin County. At her request, the service will be a celebration of praise.

The family will be at the funeral home for visitation from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, March 31. Pallbearers will be family members, representing her siblings’ families.

Memorials may be made to the Perpetual Care Fund at Altoga Cemetery, c/o Dick Dunn, 2905 Medina, Garland, TX 75041-3348, or Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, P.O. Box 199300, Dallas, TX 75219-9842.

Mulkey-Mason, Jack Schmitz and Son Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Paid Obituary

Alfred “Jake” Taylor Thomas

Dec. 19, 1919 – March 28, 2006

Jake Thomas, a man of many words, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on March 28, 2006. He was 86 years old.

The second of four sons, Jake was born Dec. 19, 1919, in Denton to Odle and Mary Lee Thomas. On May 31, 1941, he married the love of his life, Oleta Lucille Hollis.

Meeting people and fellowshipping with his friends was a favorite pastime. For 13 years he and Oleta met with a group of friends for breakfast at the McDonald’s in Albany, Ore. Over the years, he created many a poetic notion and his love of music filled hour after hour. Jake had a deep devotion to his God and a great love for his family.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 65 years; a son and daughter-in-law, Alton “Butch” and Fran Thomas; daughters and son-in-laws, Dona and Al Lanz and Sherry and John Cooper, all of Scio, Ore.; a brother, Billy Joe of Gribble Springs, Texas; six grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, James Ernest and Odle Jr.

My time on earth is finished, but life’s legacies live on undiminished.

Viewing will be Friday from 1 to 7 p.m. at AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home in Albany. A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 1, at Scio Baptist Church where he was a member. Interment will be at Miller Cemetery in Scio. Contributions may be made to Scio Baptist Church or Samaritan Evergreen Hospice of Albany. AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling the arrangements (www.aasumfuneralhome.com).

Paid Obituary

Dr. Thomas B. Williams Jr.

Dr. Thomas B. Williams Jr., 75, died March 29, 2006, at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He was born on Nov. 6, 1930, in Bessmay, Texas, to Thomas and Neva Williams.

He finished Kirbyville High School, served four years in the U.S. Air Force, and graduated from Lamar University with bachelor of science degrees in mathematics and electrical engineering. After working several years in the electronics industry in Dallas, he moved to Houston where he earned his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Houston.

Dr. Williams was a professor of electrical engineering at Louisiana Tech University from 1968 through 1988. One of his greatest pleasures was keeping in touch with his former students and watching their personal and professional accomplishments.

In addition to Louisiana Tech University, he worked at Collins Radio, the University of Houston, E Systems and NASA. His expertise in the engineering field was communications.

Dr. Williams is survived by his wife of 47 years, Dr. Iris Cole Williams; and daughters, Amy Lynn Hall and her husband Michael, and Ann Laura Caddell and her husband Shannon. He was “Papa Buddy” to six grandchildren, Madeleine and Gracie Hall, and Avery, Grant, Mia and Dean Caddell. He is also survived by one sister, Charline Richardson.

Dr. Williams was a member of the Church of Christ. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 31, 2006, from 5 through 8 p.m. at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston, La. Services will be held at the Buna Church of Christ on Sunday, April 2, at 2 p.m. with burial at the Antioch Cemetery in Buna, Texas.

Paid Obituary