Waldon Ray Bass

CORDELL, Okla. Waldon Ray Bass died Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2004, in Cordell, Okla. He was 42.

Mr. Bass was a native of Oak Grove and had lived in Knoxville, Tenn., for 12 years and in Vicksburg for 27 years. After graduating from Warren Central High School in 1979, Mr. Bass worked at LeTourneau as an electrician and at Tyson Food Company in maintenance. He also worked for a heating and cooling company in San Francisco, Lay’s Packing Co., in Knoxville and Neighbor Oil Co., in Elk City, Okla. He was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church.

Mr. Bass is survived by his wife, Karen M. Bass of Knoxville; three daughters, Alison Rae Lee, Taylor Sorah and Kendall Bass, all of Knoxville; his parents, Walter and Katie Montgomery, both of Vicksburg; two brothers, Chris Montgomery of Austin, Texas and Stephen Montgomery of Vicksburg; and one granddaughter, Lily Sorah of Knoxville.

Frank J. Fisher Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Joseph H. Derivaux

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. Dr. Joseph H. Derivaux died Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2004, in Huntsville, Ala. He was 77.

He was a native of Vicksburg and practiced ophthamology in Huntsville, from 1963 to 1992.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Michelle Derivaux and a grandson, Donny Derivaux.

He is survived by his wife, Valera Derivaux; three daughters, Desiree Harris, Denise Gillespie and Andree Grondin; a son, Dr. Donald Derivaux; nine grandchildren; and two brothers, John Allen Derivaux and the Rev. Don Derivaux.

Services will be at 10 a.m. today at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Huntsville with the Rev. Don Derivaux officiating. Burial will follow at Maple Hill Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, Donny Derivaux Memorial Fund Dialysis Emergency Drug Fund, 2325 Pansy St., Suite B, Huntsville, AL 35801 or the St. Vincent DePaul Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

Faye O. Ellison

Faye O. Ellison died Thursday, Oct. 28, 2004, at Promise Specialty Hospital. She was 75.

Born in Vicksburg, Mrs. Ellison attended St. Francis Xavier Academy and was a graduate of Culkin Academy. She was an art teacher for years and was a retired secretary for Waterways Experiment Station. She was a member of First Baptist Church.

Her father, Robert Marion Oliver, preceded her in death.

Survivors include her husband, Dave A. Ellison Jr. of Vicksburg; a daughter, Shirley Faye Tracey of Lake Elsinor, Calif.; a son, Dave A. Ellison III of Vicksburg; her mother, Willie E. Oliver of Vicksburg; and four grandchildren.

Riles Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Willie Henry Smith

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Willie Henry “Big Hue” Smith died Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2004, at Matron of Forest Hill in Grand Rapids, Mich. He was 54.

A native of Vicksburg, Mr. Smith had lived in Grand Rapids for a number of years.

He was preceded in death by his father, Claude Smith Sr.; and his mother, Sammestein Brown.

Survivors include his stepfather, Willie Brown of Vicksburg; two brothers, Claude Smith Jr. of Byram and Don Smith of Vicksburg; a sister, Vera Smith Patterson of Vicksburg; and other relatives and friends, including Mary Ann Whitley, Margaret Chriss and Garfield Wright Sr., all of Vicksburg.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Brown Funeral Home in Grand Rapids.