Olen Bernie Halbert

ODESSA Olen Bernie Halbert, age 94, a longtime resident of Odessa, passed away Tuesday, June 30, 2009, at Seabury Nursing Center. He was born Dec. 2, 1914, in Milam, Texas, to Ferman and Mertie Halbert. He was raised in Attoyac, East Texas, and attended schools in Attoyac and Nacogdoches.

Olen accepted Christ as his Savior many years ago at the Attoyac Baptist Church.

In January of 1937, Olen moved from East Texas to El Paso to work and save enough money to go back to college at Stephen F. Austin. While in El Paso, he met his wife of 71 years, Lucille Crutcher, and they were married on Nov. 20, 1937. They had two daughters, Sandi Halbert Yerby and Pamela Halbert Gatlin. His daughters were the light of his life. He was so proud of them and loved them both dearly.

Olen worked for El Paso Natural Gas Company, El Paso Electric Company and owned Tugua Air Condition and Heating. In 1961, he moved to Odessa and went to work for Ref Chem at the El Paso Products Company until his retirement at age 71. Olen never really retired. He loved working and continued working out of the home as an electrical contractor until age 90 and only quit then because of a hip injury.

He is preceded in death by his father, Ferman Halbert; his mother, Myrtie Halbert; his sister, Evelyn Thacker; and his daughter, Sandi Yerby.

He is survived by his wife, Lucille Halbert; daughter, Pam Gatlin and husband Ed of Odessa; granddaughters, Kelli Blanco and husband Hugo of El Paso, Courtney Gatlin Mohesky of Odessa; grandsons, Jeff Yerby and wife Susie of El Paso, Mike Yerby  and wife Cheryl of Albuquerque, N.M., Todd Gatlin & wife Nikki of Midland, Cory & Chris Gatlin of Odessa; great-grandchildren, Vinnie & Sara Blanco, Carol Anne & Jamie Yerby, two great-great-grandchildren, Mariah & Junior & many nieces, nephews & cousins.

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 3, 2009, at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Dr. Weeks DuBose officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.