Frances Elmyra Safley VanDyke passes away

Frances Elmyra Safley Van Dyke, 77, of Florence died in a Temple hospital Feb. 2. Services were held Feb. 5 at First Baptist Church of Salado with Rev. Bob Van Dyke and Rev. Steve Baker officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Val­ley Cemetery. She was born Oct. 26, 1922 in Pendleton to James and Mary McGee Safley. She was a lifetime resident of Bell County. She married Anderson Van Dyke on Jan. 3, 1941 in Salado. She was member of the Cedar Val­ley Baptist Church.
Survivors are her hus­band, of Florence; two sons, Bobby Van Dyke of Spring; Richard Van Dyke of Conroe; three daughters, Sue Hall of Grand Prairie; Debra Bingham of
Gatesville; and Joyce Baker of Zephyr; two sisters, Bessie Owen of Belton and
Minnie Boutwell of Califor­nia; 33 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, six siblings and one grandson.

Memorials can be made to Willingham Springs Bap­tist Church. 51 CR 231, Florence,TX 76527.

Harper-Tarasek Funeral Home of Salado is in charge of arrangements.

Bernice Mclaughlin passes away Jan 14

Bernice McLaughlin, age 72, died Friday at her home in Salado. Funeral services were held Jan. 17 at the Heartfield Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Billy Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in the Salado Cemetery. 

Bernice was born Oct. 25, 1927 in Temple to Monroe and Myrtle Crawford Lasiter. She married Jack McLaughlin Sept. 2, 1943 in Belton. She was a homemaker.

Survivors include her husband Jack McLaughlin of Salado; six sons; Rich­ard McLaughlin and wife Susan of Salado, Russell McLaughlin and wife Jan of Morgans Point, Jessie McLaughlin and wife Martha of Little River, Pee Wee McLaughlin and wife Francie of Salado, Travis McLaughlin and wife Lori of Belton, Kenneth McLaughlin and wife Tarrah of Weir; Daughters, Barbara Stephens and hus­band Phil of Gatesville, Sherry Kay Fellers and hus­band Wayne of Moody, Debra Hancock and hus­band Butch of Alabama, Callie Ratliff and husband Danny of Maine, Dena Dowling of Georgetown; sister, Royce Hawkins of Liltle River-Academy; 31 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.

Billy Lon Culver died Jan. 4

Billy Lon Culver, of Salado, died Jan. 4, 2000. A gathering celebrating his life was held at the family home place on Jan. 7.

He is survived by his Shirley. He is also survived by their son, Russell Culver and wife Michele, of Los Angeles, their daughter LonAnne Magnuson and husband Josh, of Austin, and four grandchildren, Mason and Madison Culver and Thomas and William Magnuson. Other survivors include his mother LaVern Will­iams and her husband, Jud of Waco, his father Elbert Horton and his wife Yida of Seminole, his sisters Pam Downing and husband Ron and family of Kingsland, Cecilia Loftis and husband Bo and family of Gastonia, North Carolina and Kathy Benton and family of Com­merce. 

His wife's family, grandmother Maggie Johnston of McLean, par­ents Bettye and Jack West of Groom, sisters Alice Wells and family of Salado, Margaret Hardin and hus­band, Rodney and family of Cedar Park, and brother Jim West and wife Carol and family of Victoria. 

Bill was born in Clarendon on Feb. 9, 1946. He graduated from Groom High School and attended West Texas State Univer­sity in Canyon before be­ginning his thirty-two year career with Santa Fe Rail­road. 

He was a cowboy and a member of the Salado United Methodist Church. 
The family requests that memorials be made to Book-Friends, Inc., PO Box 913, Salado, Tx 76571. 

Ruth L Jones, 80, Salado

Services for Ruth L. Jones, age 80, of Salado, were held Jan. 4 at the Harper-Talasek Funeral Home Chapel in Salado with Reverend Billy Johnson officiating. Burial followed in the Cedar Knob Cemetery west of Salado. Mrs. Jones died Dec. 31 in a Temple Hospital.

She was born on Oct. 12, 1919 in Brookhaven to Willjam Columbus and Johnnie Belle Lynch. Mrs. Jones lived in Salado all of her life and was an em­ployee of the Stagecoach Inn for 35 years where she was still employed as "The Pastry Chef." 

Survivors include three daughters Betty Fuentes of Lott, Peggy Chesnutt of Round Rock, Linda Bunte of Austin, and five grandchildren. 

Memorials may be made to the Cedar Knob Cem­etery Association c/o Jackie Goodnight, Rt. 3 Box 3568, Belton, Texas 76513 or to the Charity of your choice. 

Ray Ross Copeland, 79, Bertram

Ray Ross Copeland, age 79, of Bertram, Texas passed away on Jan. 1.
Mr. Copeland was born on June 20, 1920 in Liberty Hill, Texas the son of Marshall Copeland and Lena Whitehead. He was self employed in plumbing. 

Survivors include his wife, Mary Copeland of Bertram; 2 daughters, Darlene Higgins of Austin and Linnie Johnson of Bertram; 2 sons, David Copeland and John Copeland of Bertram; I brother, Jack Copeland of Liberty Hill; 2 sisters, Mattie Lee Staton of Georgetown; and Ruby Taylor of Bertram. Also 9 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. 

Services were held on Jan. 4 at Clements-Wilcox Chapel. lnterment was held at Bear Creek Cemetery.