Minnice Aaron Damron, 93, died on Monday, May 5, 2003, at Midland Memorial Hospital. Graveside funeral services will be at 10:00 AM Thursday, May 8, 2003, at Trinity Memorial Park with Ralph Anderson, minister of Birdwell Lane Church of Christ, officiating. He had been a member of the Birdwell Lane Church of Christ from its beginning. Aaron was born on February 1, 1910 in Midland, Texas to Minnice Godsey and Goldie Melton Damron, who had come from Montague County. His first job was with the Highway Department, maintaining the road from Midland to Stanton using mule-drawn graders. He shoveled many a ton of gravel during that time. The Highway Department transferred him to Pecos where he met his future wife, Ellen Lanehart. They were married on September 28, 1931 in Carlsbad, New Mexico. They had lived in Crane, where his father had ranching interests, until 1944 when they moved to Silver City, New Mexico. He hauled lumber for sawmill owner, Otto Fowler and drilled water wells. Throughtout his life he used baling wire to dowse for water and never failed to find it. In August 1948, they moved to Big Spring and lived at 1608 Donley until 1998. He worked for his brother running a seismograph rig in Utah until he broke his neck in a car wreck. He then went to work for the city of Midland until he retired. He and Ellen always combined camping and visiting relatives for their vacations. They spent their weekends at his place northwest of Midland where they worked many years improving the property. When she died in 1999, he moved to the place to enjoy what time he had left tending his cattle, burros, miniature horses, chickens and guineas. He made pets of them all, as well as the numerous cottontails and roadrunners around. He loved youngsters – human and animal. No grandfather ever enjoyed his grandkids more than Aaron and no pets were ever more spoiled than his. His old burro, Maggie, now nearly thirty years old, will surely wonder where her friend has gone. Although his body began to fail two years ago, his mind and spirit remained unimpaired until his hospitalization Monday a week ago. He could not have stayed on his place as long as he did without the assistance of his friends, Lucia Nunez and Reyes Lara. Aaron always had a teasing line for everyone and was generous to a fault with his family and friends. A hard worker all his life, he is now at rest. Survivors include two sons, John R.,
