Charles Wesley Deats, Jr., 77, of Lubbock, formerly of Big Spring, died on Friday, October 3, 2003, in a Lubbock hospital. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Tuesday, October 7, 2003 at the St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Big Spring with Rev. Jim Liggett, pastor, officiating, and assisted by Dr. Richard Deats and Rev. Harland Birdwell. Interment will follow at Trinity Memorial Park, Big Spring. He was born on July 8, 1926, in Dalhart, Texas and married Mary Louise Davis on August 21, 1948, in Big Spring, Texas. Mr. Deats was a graduate of Big Spring High School in 1943, a member of the first graduating class at Howard College in 1947, and a graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas Tech University in 1949. He earned a Master of Theology Degree from the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in 1956, and did additional graduate study in Pastoral Care at the Institute of Religion at Texas Medical Center in Houston. He was a partner in the John Davis Feed Store until Mr. Davis retired, and then was owner until his retirement in 1989. His hobbies included dog obedience training, golf, reading, motor cycle riding, gardening, and music. Wesley served in the United States Marine Corps from July 8, 1943 to October 18, 1945. He served on the USS Minneapolis CA-36 from December 19, 1943 to March 16, 1945. His Pacific Campaign included the Marshall Islands, the Carolina Islands, the Marianna Islands, New Guinea, Truk, Siapan, Tiaian, Guam, Philippines, Leyte, and Palau. He attended Officer Training School at Yale University. He was a life member of the USS Minneapolis CA-36 Association. He joined St. Mary's Episcopal Church in 1963, was a member of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, served on the Vestry and as Junior Warden. Mr. Deats was a long time member and past president of the Big Spring Downtown Lions Club and moved to Lubbock in July 2001, where he became a member of the Lubbock Lions Club. He was a member of the Carillon Ambassadors at the Carillon Senior Living Center in Lubbock, Texas. He was a member of the Boy Scout Troop 5, played trumpet in the Texas Tech band and the Howard College jazz band, and also played basketball. Survivors include his wife, Mary Deats of Lubbock; one son, John Deats and wife, Carol of Midland; one daughter, Annabeth Miller and husband, Drew of Omaha, Nebraska; one brother, Dr. Richard Deats of Nyack, New York; and three granddaughters, Abigail Deats, Caroline Deats and Annaclarice Miller. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. and Mrs. C. W. Deats, Sr. The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM Tuesday at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to: St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 10th and Goliad, Big Spring, Texas 79720; St. Jude's Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee, 38105-1905; Joe Arrington Cancer Research and Treatment Center, 4101 22nd Place, Lubbock, Texas 79410; or Big Spring Humane Society, P.O. Box 823, Big Spring, Texas 79721-0823. Arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Big Spring. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com,
