BILLY WAYNE BURTON, 68, father of five, chemist and military veteran, went to his heavenly home on Wednesday, February 19, 2014. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Sunday, February 23, 2014 in the chapel of Starrett Funeral Home, with Rev. Rick Preston officiating. Interment will follow in the Fairland-Littlejohn Cemetery in Paris.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home for one hour prior to the service.
Bill was born on June 23, 1945 in Texas as the youngest of three children to Melvin and Ollie Mae Johnson Burton. He was a graduate of Paris schools, then earned a degree in Biology from Prairie View A&M University. Bill served his country faithfully in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War as a Medic, then returned home to make a living as a Chemist, working in Indiana before making his way to Wichita, Kansas to work for Koch Industries. He was somewhat of a renaissance man, pursuing his career in chemistry while enjoying fishing, visiting zoos, cooking, baking, gardening, camping, riding his motorcycle, and taking his family on Sunday drives.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his two brothers, Melvin Burton, Jr. and Charles Burton; and a sister, Ola Faye Woods. Bill was the proud father of five children; Warren, Erica, Kandra, Patrick and Alex and was grandfather to Nile, Noah and Adrian.
Honorary pallbearers are Warren Burton, Patrick Burton, Alex Burton, Nate Hinson and Newton Woods, Jr.
If desired, memorial contributions in Bill’s memory may be made to the Sedgwick County Zoo, 5555 Zoo Blvd., Wichita, Kansas 67212, www.scz.org. Friends may register in Bill’s Book of Memories at www.starrettfunerals.com .
LEONARD THOMAS MOLARIS, 73, of Paris, died at 2:45 AM, Thursday, February 20, 2014 at Paris Regional Medical Center. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM, Monday, February 24, 2014 at the Gospel Lighthouse with Rev. Chris Kelley officiating. Fry & Gibbs Funeral Home has charge of cremation arrangements.
Leonard was born April 27, 1940 in Adin, California to Frank and Elizabeth Garcia Molarius. He served in the United States Navy and was retired from Alhambra Water Corporation.
He is survived by the mother of his children, Gloria Shadwell; five children, Tammy Somers and husband, Mark, Kimberly Exline, Melissa Poole and husband, David, Leonard Molaris Jr., and Randy Molaris; eleven grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; one sister, Irene Gaikowski and husband, Frank; and one brother, Frank Oliver and wife, Coy. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Art Oliver.
The family would like to give a very special thank you to his granddaughter, Stephanie Somers for all the care and attention she gave her grandpa during his time of need. Also, a special thanks goes to his longtime friend and caregiver, Michelle LeClaire.
Online condolences may be made to the Molaris family by visiting www.fry-gibbs.com.
Patricia Ellen Moore, 72, of Paris, passed away Tuesday, February 18, 2014, at Paris Regional Medical Center following a brief illness. Cremation was under the care and direction of Bright-Holland Funeral Home. The family will schedule a memorial tribute at a later date.
Mrs. Moore, the daughter of Guy Richard & Mabel Harmon Stratton, was born Oct. 9, 1941, in Queens, NY.
She graduated from Arlington Heights High School in Arlington, TX and attended Arlington State University. Patricia was Miss Downtown Ft. Worth in 1961. When the family lived in Hot Springs, AR, she was President of the Toast Mistress Club and worked as a teller for Arkansas Bank & Trust. Her career in the Emergency Department of U. T. Southwestern Medical School spanned a number of years before her retirement.
Survivors include a daughter, Erin Moore Barker of Paris (formerly of Telephone), two grandchildren, Jessie Barker & Daltry Barker, a sister, Michele Royal & husband Ronnie of Lockhart, a niece, Mary Lowrance of Ft. Worth, a nephew, Guy Rucker of Mathis along with a host of friends.
To leave a message or tribute for the family please visit www.brighthollandfuneralhome.com.