SSG Ronald O. Beckon (US Army Retired), lovingly known as Ron by friends and family, passed away on December 27, 2024, at the age of 94 in Opelika, Alabama. Born on November 8, 1930, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Ronald was a beacon of kindness and faith throughout his life.
Ron proudly served his country in the United States Army for 20 years, a tenure that included his valiant participation in the Korean War. His dedication to service was a testament to his strength and character, qualities that he carried into every aspect of his life. Following his military career, he was employed with Ansell until his retirement. He attended The Bridge Church in Cusseta.
On November 6, 1953, Ron married the love of his life, Sarah Helen Jackson Beckon. Together, they built a family foundation strong in love and faith. Ronald’s legacy continues through his children, Ronnie Beckon (Dee) of Ariton, Alabama; Mike Beckon (Rachel) of Guin, Alabama; and Debbie Bryan (Bill) of Cusseta, Alabama. He was a pillar of strength and a source of wisdom for his numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and was joyfully anticipating the arrival of a great-great-grandchild.
Those who knew Ron will remember him as a loving and kind man, whose faith-filled life was a source of inspiration. He approached each day with a gentle heart and a generous spirit, touching the lives of many with his quiet acts of kindness and his unwavering belief in the goodness of others.
Ron’s passing leaves a void in the hearts of all who were fortunate to know him. Yet, we are comforted by the memories of his compassionate nature and the example he set as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. His influence will continue to be felt by the many lives he touched, and his spirit will live on in the cherished moments shared with family and friends.
As we bid farewell to Ronald “Ron” Beckon, we celebrate a life well-lived, full of love, service, and faith. His journey on earth may have concluded, but his legacy will endure through the generations that follow. Ron’s memory will be carried forward in the stories told, the values instilled, and the love that will forever connect us to him.
A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered. We take solace in knowing that Ron is now at peace, and we honor his memory with gratitude for the time we were given to share in his extraordinary life.
A funeral service will take place at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, in the chapel of Sunset Funeral Home. Family and friends are invited to gather for a time of visitation, beginning one hour prior to the service. Following the service, a burial with military honors will be held at Sunset Memorial Park.
Luis Aguinaga Balderas de Slocomb falleció el viernes 27 de diciembre de 2024 en su casa. Tenía 79 años.
Los funerales se llevarán a cabo a las 14:00 horas. el martes 31 de diciembre de 2024, en la capilla de Sorrells Funeral Home en Slocomb con el Pr. Felix Baez, el Reverendo Timothy Bedsole y el Reverendo John Gunter oficiando. Seguirá el entierro en el cementerio de la ciudad de Slocomb.
La familia recibirá a los amigos en el tanatorio el lunes de 18.00 a 20.00 horas.
Luis nació el 2 de octubre de 1945 en México, hijo del fallecido Luis Aguinaga y Ernestina Balderas. Fue empleado de su amigo Nathan Mathis durante más de 29 años. Disfrutó pasar tiempo con su familia y lo extrañaremos mucho.
Le sobreviven su amada esposa durante 23 años, Ma Inés Maldonado Carrera; hijo, Ernesto Aguinaga González; hermana, Juana Balderas, sobrina, Debby Cano; otros familiares y amigos.
Los portadores del féretro serán Susano Castillo, Camerino Hernández, Ageo Hernández, José-Luis Rivas, Ismael Knok y Pablo Ruiz.
Luis Aguinaga Balderas of Slocomb passed away Friday, December 27, 2024, at his home. He was 79.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, in the chapel of Sorrells Funeral Home in Slocomb with Pr. Felix Baez, Rev. Timothy Bedsole, and Rev. John Gunter officiating. Interment will follow in the Slocomb City Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m.
Luis was born October 2, 1945, in Mexico to the late Luis Aguinaga and Ernestina Balderas. He was employed by his friend Nathan Mathis for over 29 years. He enjoyed spending time with his family and will be dearly missed.
Survivors include his loving wife of 23 years, Ma Ines Maldonado Carrera; son, Ernesto Aguinaga Gonzales; sister, Juana Balderas, niece, Debby Cano; other extended family and friends.
Pallbearers will be Susano Castillo, Camerino Hernandez, Ageo Hernandez, Jose-Luis Rivas, Ismael Knok, and Pablo Ruiz.
Mrs. Melba Ruth White Rush of Dothan went home to be with the Lord Friday, December 27, 2024, at her home. She was 80.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 2, 2025, in the chapel of Sorrells Funeral Home in Slocomb with Rev. Kevin Knight officiating. Interment will follow in the Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to service time.
Mrs. Rush was born June 21, 1944, in Geneva County to the late Lummie and Mary Ruth Leddon White. Melba was a great woman of faith and member of the Dothan First Church of the Nazarene. She enjoyed collecting, especially angels, and loved to decorate. Melba was a loving wife, and adoring mother, and grandmother and will be dearly missed.
In addition to her parents, siblings: Jossie Oyle White, Johner Eldridge White, James Franklin White, and Kenneth Lamar White, all preceded her in death.
Survivors include her husband of 61 years, Ronnie Franklin Rush; children: Sheila Louise Byrd (Darin), and Robert Franklin Rush; five grandchildren: Phillip Arons, Thomas Arons, Jessica Arons, Anthony Cain, and Macie Rush; four great grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, other extended family friends, and her loving husky Dakota.
Mrs. Betty Thompson Davis, a resident of the Bertha Community of Dale County, passed away Friday, December 27, 2024, in Flowers Hospital. She was 88 years old.
Funeral services for Mrs. Davis will be 1:00 P. M. Monday, December 30, 2024, from the Reformation Church (formerly Ozark Presbyterian Church) with Reverend Chris Thomas officiating. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Memory Gardens, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. The family will receive friends Monday in the church from 12:00 Noon until service time.
Mrs. Davis was born March 25, 1936 in Brewton, Alabama to the late Wade Benjamin Thompson and Amelia Marguerite Thompson. She graduated from Fairhope High School in 1954 and worked in Mobile as a Legal Secretary. She met and married the late Houston Lamar Davis, Sr. They moved to Ozark where she worked as an Administrative Secretary with the Alabama Aviation and Technical College. Betty and her husband owned and operated the Depot Restaurant at the Greyhound Bus Station in Ozark. Later she worked as a seamstress and was well known for her Christening and Heirloom gowns. Betty was a member of the Ozark Presbyterian Church where she was one of the first women to become a deaconess. She loved to read and was a Master Gardener and Crafter. Betty loved her family, especially her grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 33 years, Houston Lamar Davis, Sr.; and her son-in-law, Michael Marotta.
Survivors include two sons, Houston L. Davis, Jr. (Angela), John C. Davis (Prudence) all of the Bertha Community; one daughter, Daphne Davis Marotta of Hopkinsville, Kentucky; two brothers, Harold Thompson (Brenda) of Fairhope, Alabama and Douglas Thompson (Jeannie) of Robertsdale, Alabama; grandchildren, Heather Joseph (Anthony), Nick Davis (Jordan), Garrett Davis (Callie), Lexie Davis and Carlie Davis; great grandchildren, Landon Joseph, Kaylie Joseph, Lawson Joseph, Hamp Davis, Noah Davis, Knox Davis, Ford Davis, Romah Davis, Randi Kate Davis and Griffin Davis. Several nieces and nephews.
Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made in her memory to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, 26 Broadway 14th Floor, New York, NY https://www.jdrf.org
KINSEY. . .Martha Baxter Raley, a resident of Kinsey, died early Friday afternoon, December 27, 2024, at her home. She was 96.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, December 30, 2024, in the Kinsey Baptist Church with Reverend Joel Laseter and Chaplain Kevin Kelly officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 A.M. Monday in the church sanctuary. Graveside services will be at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday in Gardens of Memory. Holman-Headland Mortuary & Cremations is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Kinsey Baptist Church, 6745 Walden Drive, Kinsey, AL 36303.
Mrs. Raley was born and reared in Headland, daughter of the late Terrance Moran Baxter, Sr. and Annie Genie Avant Baxter. She was a 1946 graduate of Headland High School. Mrs. Raley lived in Webb before moving to Kinsey in 1950. She was a member of Kinsey Baptist Church where she served as a Sunday School teacher and was active in Vacation Bible School and was also a member of the Beatrice Sunday School Class. Mrs. Raley was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Edward “Pat” Raley, Sr., her brothers, Jim Baxter, Franklin Baxter and Moran Baxter, and her sisters, Betty Fairchild, Louise Carswell and Leah Durkee.
Surviving relatives include two daughters, Evelyn Raley Laseter, and Jo Anne Raley Decker (Charles), all of Kinsey; a son, Harold E. Raley, Jr. (Cheryl), Kinsey; grandchildren, Shea Calhoun (Jason), Hal Raley, III, Chris Raley (Lisa), Allison Raley Williams (Jay), John Laseter (Amanda), Rachel Exum, Reverend Joel Laseter (KrisAnn), Corey Decker and Patricia Decker; thirteen great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Serving as active pallbearers will be the grandsons.
The family would like to express their appreciation to Gentiva Hospice and also sitters, Judy McArdle Hough, Valerie Underwood, Marianne Chapman and the Geraldine Bennett sitting service for the loving care and kindness shown to Mrs. Raley during her illness.
William Thaxton Lewis, a stalwart and cherished member of the Houston County community, passed away peacefully on December 26, 2024, in Dothan, Alabama. William was born on October 15, 1929, in Houston County, Alabama.
Graveside services will be held at 2 P.M. Monday, December 30, 2024 at Memory Hill Cemetery with Chaplain Eddie Biss officiating and Ward Wilson Funeral Home directing.
William was brought up by his loving parents, Charles and Beulah Lewis. He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife, Opal Lewis, his brother, Wade Lewis, Sr., and his sister, Vassie Benefield.
He is survived by his children, Susan Morrison (Edward), Dennis Lewis (Sheryl), and Anthony Lewis, grandchildren Kelley Atwell (Mike), Ashley Sunday (Brandon), Ben Meredith, Holly Keefe (John), Keith Lewis, Amanda Nichols (John), and Andy Lewis (Annie), and several great-grandchildren.
