After a long and courageous battle with cancer, Cyril Donovan “Donnie” Findley Jr., age 69, passed away from this life at his home on Thursday, November 17, 2011.

Donnie will be remembered for his love of family, his love for his hometown, Bangs, and his passion for the Bangs Dragons and NASCAR racing. But most importantly, he will be remembered for his love of people, his generosity, and his one-and-only brand of humor.

Donnie married his childhood sweet heart, Barbara Jean Lewis, on October 7, 1960. They were blessed to share fifty-one wonderful, fulfilling years together. As the owners of the Bangs Thrift Mart, he worked side by side with Barbara for forty-one years.

Donnie was preceded in death by his parents, C.D. and Velma Findley and one sister, Vickie Findley, all of Bangs.

Graveside services for Donna Lynn Tipton, 45, of Brownwood, will be held at 3 PM on Sunday, November 20, in the Varga Cemetery at Bowser in San Saba County with Pastor Jeff Pieprzyca officiating. Interment will follow, under the direction of Netherton Funeral Home. No visitation has been planned at this time.

Ms. Tipton passed away on Thursday, November 17, at a local nursing facility in Brownwood.

Donna Lynn Tipton was born on February 21, 1966, in Dallas Texas to Guy Tipton and Beverly Williams Tipton. She loved helping people, listening to music and making people laugh. She had lived in Brownwood for the last eight years, moving here from the Dallas area.

Those left behind to cherish her memory are her husband, Freddie Collins of Brownwood; her parents, Guy Tipton of Brownwood and Beverly Breitung and husband Wade, of Brownwood; two aunts, Sharon Fontenot of Denton and Joyce Baxter and husband Larry, of Greenville; cousins, Dana Turner, Cheryl Anderson, James Baxter, Alan Baxter and Callie Bartlett. She is also survived by her dog Brenda and her cat Sebastian.

Funeral Services for Billy Glyn Lee, age 78, of Lewisville, formerly of Brownwood will be held Friday November 18, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at Rocky Creek Baptist Church in Brown County with Rick Justice officiating, interment to follow at Rocky Creek Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday evening at Davis-Morris Funeral Home. Billy Glen Lee passed away on November 14, 2011, in Dallas, Texas, with his family by his side. Mr. Lee was preceded in death by his wife of 47 year, Glynda Lee, his parents Olin and Onis Lee, 2 brothers; Gayland Lee, and Charles Lee, and 1 sister; Onita Lee.

He was born on October 23, 1933; he was a United States Air Force veteran and was an electrician by trade. He worked at Pecan Valley Electric for over 30 years. He is survived by 2 brothers; Otis Lee, and Jimmy Lee, also 1 sister, Nelda Pool. 3 children; Kathy Allgood and her spouse Charles Allgood, Ronald Lee and his partner Lindy Lindeman, Kelly Hildreth and her spouse Jose Dealacon. 4 grandchilden; Amy, Billy, Michael, and Braxton; 5 great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews.

Elva Kirk, a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother passed away peacefully on November 15, 2011 surrounded by her family at the age of ninety-four. Funeral services will be held at 10:00am, Friday, November 18, 2011, at the First United Methodist Church of Brownwood. Burial will follow in Greenleaf Cemetery.

Elva Jane Shell was born June 13, 1917 to Oliver and Clemi Ida Shell in Sylvester, TX. She grew up in Gorman Texas.

She had two older brothers, Wilbur and Melvin. She graduated from Gorman High School. She attended John Tarleton College in Stephenville. In Gorman, Elva was a member of the First Methodist Church. She began playing the piano for church Sunday school at the age of ten and she would continue playing for church, weddings, and other church activities for the next thirty-six years.

Funeral services for Michael D. Jones, age 54, of Huntsville, Alabama and formerly of Brownwood are pending with Netherton Funeral Home & Cremations.

Robert “Ray” Dean passed away on Sunday, November 13, 2011 due to heart failure.  He will be missed by many, but our grief is lightened by the knowledge that he is once again able to walk the pastures he loved so much with God at his side.  Ray was born on February 15, 1930 in Coleman County, Texas to Albert and Rubye Dean. He served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1948 – 1952 during the Korean War. He married Bobby June Windham of Bangs, Texas on October 25, 1952.

Always a proponent for education, Ray was the first in his family to attend and graduate from college.  He graduated from Texas A&M in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree.  He was a member of the Tau Beta Pi and the Theta Kappa Nu Fraternities.  The majority of his professional career was spent in the Dallas area with Ling Temco Vought, Inc. (LTV) and Standard Manufacturing Company.  Ray retired from Standard Manufacturing Company in 1991 and returned to the Brownwood area, to the land he loved so much.  Ray began a new career as a cattle rancher with the brand of Lightning D.

Funeral services for Christopher Michael Joneswill be held 2:00 PM, Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at Early First Baptist Church with Reverend Eddie Ailshie officiating. The family will receive friends 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at Heartland Funeral Home.

Chris Jones was born May 20, 1987 in Katy, Texas the son of Melinda Warren and Mike Jones. Chris had lived in Brownwood since the fourth grade; he was attending Howard Payne University as a full time student. He enjoyed music, especially percussion. Chris worked in the chemistry lab at HPU and was planning on going to Baylor University for his doctorate. He was in the HPU marching and symphonic band. Jones other hobbies included air soft, motorcycle riding, golf and martial arts. He was a member of Early First Baptist Church. Chris married Kayla Kuykendall on April 8, 2011.

Graveside services will be 10:00 AM, Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at Eastlawn Memorial Park with Chaplain Dick Williams officiating. The family will receive friends 6 to 7:00 PM, Monday, November 14, 2011 at Heartland Funeral Home.

Berta was born August 18, 1919 in San Saba, Texas to Robert and Myrtle Rawls. She was one of thirteen children. She married John Elvie Deeds in San Saba on August 30, 1934. They were married for 29 years until his death in 1963. Together they raised 6 children.

Berta worked at the Brownwood Feather Factory for 30 years and cared for children in her home until she was in her 80’s. She lived in Early for 65 years and was a member of the Church of Christ in Early.

James "Dale" Harlow, age 88, of Brownwood, Texas, passed away peacefully in Plano, Texas, Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, after a brief illness.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011, at Heartland Funeral Home Chapel, with Keith Simpson officiating. Interment will follow in Locker Cemetery. The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, 2011, at Heartland Funeral Home.

Dale Harlow was born Aug. 26, 1923, in Valley Springs, Texas, and was one of eight children born of the late Charles and Eva Harlow of Llano. He was married to Dorothy Jewel Henry of Mason, Texas, on April 7, 1945, and together they had six children

Dale attended Butler University in Indiana and honorably served as a pilot and aircraft electrician in the U.S. Air Force from August 1945 until March 1947 where he received an Army of Occupation Medal. After leaving the Air Force, Dale and his growing family moved to Richland Springs where he began a long career as a Texas rancher. While living in Richland Springs, Dale served as a respected member of the Richland Springs school board. He also operated a movie theater in downtown Richland Springs where he charged $0.10 for admission. In 1969, Dale moved his family to Brownwood and continued his career in ranching and enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren. In his golden years, Dale loved listening to old time country music, taking care of his many animals and enjoying life. There was never a race that he felt he could not win and he spent his entire life searching for the next big venture. He was a member of the Church of Christ.