Henry Abbott

Henry Abbott, 83, died May 9, 2003 of pneumonia.

He worked in the composing room of The Dallas Morning News for 39 years, retiring in 1988, and helped convert the newspaper’s production to computers.

Dan Collins

Dan H. Collins, 72, died April 16, 2003, in a Wichita Falls hospital.

He retired as production supervisor of the Vernon Daily Record after a 45-year career with the newspaper.

Mack Cooper

Mack Cooper died May 7, 2003 of an apparent heart attack at his Corsicana office.

He was a Sunday columnist for the Corsicana Daily Sun where he had contributed columns since the 1980s, and at one time on a twice-weekly schedule. He owned Cooper’s Finance.

Claire Eyrich

Claire Eyrich, 90, died May 23, 2003 in Austin.

She was a writer for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and was best known for reviews of mystery novels and coverage of the Fort Worth social scene. She retired from the newspaper in 1986 but continued as a freelancer.

She started with the Fort Worth Press in the 1960s but soon moved over to the Star-Telegram.

Nona McPherson

Nona Gibson McPherson, 72, died April 23, 2003.

She was a contributor to the San Saba News and Star where she covered the Richland Springs area.

Jerri Martin

Jerri Whan Martin died May 13, 2003 in Dallas.

She wrote for 27 years for the Austin American-Statesman where she covered politics and was a radio commentator. She was one of the original members of the Texas Women’s Political Caucus.

Bruce Meador

Bruce Barnes Meador, 92, died May 7, 2003 at his San Antonio home.

He was appointed general manager of Harte-Hanks Publishing Group in 1945. He kept an office at the San Antonio Express-News while the company owned the newspaper from 1960-73. He served on the company’s executive committee before retiring in the late 1970s.

Bonnie Merriman

Bonnie Merriman, 90, died April 26, 2003.

She was city editor of the Amarillo Times before it merged with the Amarillo Globe. She worked as copy editor, assistant city editor and city editor before being named associate editor.

She edited the Pulitzer Prize-winning column “Turnstile” by Thomas Thompson. She retired in 1974. She and husband John owned and operated weekly newspapers before she came to the Amarillo paper in 1942.

Peggy Mobley

Peggy Mobley, 71, died May 14, 2003 at an Arlington hospital.

She was a former editor of the Cedar Hill Chronicle and helped start the Cedar Hill Citizen. She also worked at the Midlothian Mirror and contributed to other newspapers.

Mark Murphy

Mark Murphy, 69, died May 6, 2003, of complications from cancer.

He held several posts with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram during the 1990s, including metropolitan editor and assistant managing editor for features.

He also worked at the Hartford Courant, Los Angeles Times and Salt Lake Tribune.

Frances L. Potts

Frances L. Green Potts, 84, died May 7, 2003 of natural causes.

She worked 30 years for The Dallas Morning News, where she started as advertising clerk in 1953 and retired in 1983 as dispatcher.

Gordon Rose

Gordon Arthur Rose, 79, died May 13, 2003, of congestive heart failure.

He was editor of the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung from 1949-1955. He also was general manager of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce for 28 years starting in 1962.

Bea Wills

Bea Weathers Bray Wills, 89, died May 21, 2003 at Cornerstone Hospital in Austin following a brief illness.

She worked almost 50 years for newspapers and started as society editor of the Valley Morning Star in Harlingen. In 1934, she married Bob Bray and together with Ralph Bray they founded the McAllen Daily Monitor.

Before buying The Highlander in Marble Falls the couple owned weekly newspapers in Brazoria County, Angleton, Alvin and Velasco. They owned and operated The Brady Herald from 1945-55 and helped found the Austin Tribune, which folded in the 1930s. They also operated The Eagle in Bryan College Station and San Marcos Record for a short time.

With their son Bill they owned and operated The Highlander for 30 years, selling in 1990. She married John Wills in 1980 after Bob Bray’s death in 1979.