Levi Weldon Price Jr., Baptist missionary, pastor and seminary professor, died Feb. 19. He was 83. He was born on Christmas Day 1941 in Gorman and grew up in a pastor’s home, moving to several places throughout his childhood. He graduated from high school in Monahans in 1960 and married the love of his life, Luethyl Dawkins, on May 28, 1962. He earned his undergraduate degree from Baylor University in 1964 before serving in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1964 to 1968. As a combat engineer in Vietnam, he achieved the rank of captain and received a battlefield commendation for his service. In 1976, he earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Golden Gate Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, Calif. He was pastor of churches in Richmond, Fresno and Milpitas, Calif., before serving as a missionary in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, through the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. His ministry then led him to El Paso, where he was pastor of First Baptist Church for 17 years. During his time there, he launched outreach initiatives to serve the community. He founded a businessmen’s lunch for men who worked downtown, creating a space for fellowship and spiritual growth. Later, he became a professor of Christian ministry at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary, a role he cherished as he mentored future leaders in the church. In retirement, he served as an interim pastor for churches in Lorena, Gatesville, Clifton, Crawford and Waco and in Las Cruses, N.M. One of his greatest joys was Paisano Baptist Encampment near Alpine. His connection to the camp spanned nearly his entire life—first attending as a boy, then working in the cook shed as a teenager, and later preaching there while in college. He returned as a guest preacher before serving as its president 20 years. He is survived by his wife of 62 years Luethyl; son Timothy Levi; daughter Sara Gloria Welshimer and husband Mark; and seven grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to Paisano Baptist Encampment, P.O. Box 973, Alpine, TX 79831, or Methodist Children’s Home, 1111 Herring Ave., Waco, TX 76708. Private family graveside services with Marine Corps honors will be at Hemmeline Cemetery near Gatesville. Memorial services are scheduled at 1 p.m. Feb. 28 at First Baptist Church in Waco.

J. Melburn Sibley of Grapevine, a Texas Baptist pastor and denominational worker, died Dec. 16. He was 89. He was born Sept. 12, 1935, in Perryton to J.M. Sibley Sr. and Iva Crutcher Sibley. He attended Hardin-Simmons University before earning both an undergraduate degree and a Master of Arts degree at Baylor University. He also earned a Master of Divinity degree at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. During college and seminary, he was pastor of Little River Baptist Church in Cameron. From 1961 to 1967, he was pastor of First Baptist Church in Karnes City. He became superintendent at South Texas Children’s Home in Beeville in 1967, serving there until he was called as pastor of First Baptist Church in Eagle Lake in 1973. From 1990 to 1995, he was a vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention Stewardship Commission in Nashville, Tenn. He later worked as a consultant with Cargill Associates in Fort Worth and as an interim pastor of several churches. Sibley served on the Executive Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and on the BGCT Committee to Nominate Institutional Board Members. He also served on several library boards and was the past president of three Rotary Clubs. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Martha Sibley; daughter Michele Riddle and her husband Ken; son Michael Sibley and his wife Hanna; two granddaughters; and one grandson. Memorial gifts in his memory can be made to Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary or First Baptist Church of Keller.

Jerry R. Stratton, a Texas Baptist minister, associational director of missions and retired U.S. Army officer, died Jan. 18. He was 91. He was born Jan. 4, 1934, in Boone County, Ark., to John Robert and Lola Pearl Stratton. While attending Ouachita Baptist University, he met, fell in love with, and married Dotse Mae Benson in 1954. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He later earned a Master in Education degree from Baylor University. His military career as an officer and aviator spanned 30 years, from 1954 to 1984. His assignments included service stateside and in Panama, two tours in Vietnam, two tours in Korea and in Germany. His honors and achievements include Master Aviator Wings, Jump Wings, 24 Air Medals, two Bronze Stars and numerous other service medals. In 1986, He sensed and answered God’s call to vocational ministry. He served as minister of education and administration at First Baptist Church of Copperas Cove and was director of missions for the Tri-Rivers Baptist Area, working with 65 churches in Central Texas. In this role, he helped churches plan mission projects, organized training for church leaders and assisted churches in calling new pastors. He also served in pastoral roles for several churches including Adamsville Baptist Church and Buchanan West Baptist Church. He wrote Bible devotions that eventually were published in three volumes, God’s Daily Word. He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years Dotse Mae Stratton and by his sister Barbara Stratton Sutton. He is survived by daughter Laura Nolen and her husband Michael; son Larry Stratton and his wife Kimberly; six grandchildren; five great grandchildren; and his brother David Stratton.

Melissa Kaye Yeary Wells, children’s Sunday school teacher and daughter of one Baptist pastor and wife of another, died Feb. 4 in Houston. She was 59. She was born Jan. 5, 1966, in Louisville, Ky., to Dan and Melinda Yeary. Missy made her profession of faith and was baptized at South Main Baptist Church in Houston in 1974, when her father was on staff as minister to single adults. Shortly after, the family moved to Coral Gables, Fla., where her father was pastor of University Baptist Church. In 1984, Missy traveled back to Texas to attend Baylor University, where she was president of Pi Beta Phi and eventually reigned as Homecoming Queen in her senior year. After graduation, she returned to her alma mater in 1989 to lead the Baylor Student Foundation. She met Steve Wells in her first week in that work, and they married a few days shy of a year later. She returned to South Main in 2003 when her husband became the congregation’s pastor. She served South Main in countless ways, particularly as a Sunday school teacher of 2-year-olds, making it her mission for young children to know and love Jesus and his church as she did. She is survived by her husband of 34 years Steve; daughter Rachel Lawrence and her husband Blake; sons Ben and Josh; grandchildren Fischer, Lila and Shepherd; her brother Wes Yeary and his wife Erica and their four children; and her brother Doak Yeary and his wife Amy and their three children.

Harold Wayne Temple of Plainview, longtime professor at Wayland Baptist University and onetime pastor of Old Rock Baptist Church in Somerset, died Jan. 27. He was 86. He was born Nov. 2, 1938, in Corpus Christi to Ralph Lee and Maudie Christine Ashley Temple. After graduating from Bishop High School in Bishop, he spent a summer working on a bee farm in North Dakota before enrolling at Southwest Texas State College, where he earned both his bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a master’s degree. While in college, he met Audrey Jean Bosak, and they were married in Old Ocean on Sept. 2, 1960. They soon moved to Arlington, where she taught elementary school and he taught at Arlington State University while working on his Ph.D. at Texas Christian University. After receiving his doctorate in 1969, the Temples moved to Beaumont, where he worked for Dupont Chemicals. Deciding corporate life was not what he aspired to do, the family moved to Pleasanton, where he continued his teaching career at Pleasanton High School. While they lived in Pleasanton, he was pastor of Old Rock Baptist Church in nearby Somerset. In 1976, the Temples moved to Plainview, where he was a professor of chemistry at Wayland Baptist University. During his time at Wayland, he taught every chemistry course in the curriculum—as well as other science courses—and was dean of the graduate program from 1983 to 1988. More than half of his students went on to attain post-graduate or professional degrees, including three who went on to become chemistry professors at Wayland. In addition, he taught at Wayland campuses in Lubbock, Wichita Falls and Anchorage, Alaska. In 2007, at his retirement, he was named emeritus professor of chemistry. He served as a guest preacher at many churches in South and West Texas. He and his wife taught Sunday school classes for young married couples and were involved deeply with the students at Wayland, mentoring them and hosting them at their home. Temple also was involved with foreign missions and befriended Southern Baptist missionaries throughout the world. He was a member of the Hi-Plains Gem and Mineral Society and loved searching for rocks, arrowheads, gems  and minerals. He was an active member of the Lion’s Club for many years and volunteered with Meals on Wheels in Plainview. He was preceded in death by his brother Herman Temple and his sister Opal Zamzow. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Audrey Temple; daughter Joli Temple Storm and her husband Greg; son Ladd Temple and his wife Robin; seven grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. A celebration of life is scheduled at 10 a.m. on Feb. 15 at Harral Memorial Auditorium on the Wayland Baptist University campus in Plainview. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Harold and Audrey Temple Endowed Scholarship at Wayland Baptist University.

Salvador Castorena Bernal of Vernon, pastor of Primera Iglesia Bautista in Lockney, died Jan. 19 in Wichita Falls. He was 64. He was born Dec. 25, 1960, in Tepezala, Aguascalientes, Mexico, to Luis Bernal and Francisca Castorena Reyes. He married Dalia Luna on Dec. 5, 1981, in Lockney. He was ordained as a deacon March 25, 1984, at Primera Iglesia Bautista in Lockney. He subsequently felt God’s calling to preach and was ordained to the gospel ministry June 14, 1998, at Iglesia Bautista “La Trinidad” Church in Quitaque, where he was pastor eight years. He served six years as pastor at Primera Iglesia Bautista in Altus, Okla., before he was called to Primera Iglesia Bautista in Lockney in 2022. He was preceded in death by his father Luis Bernal; a brother, Jose Luis Bernal; and a granddaughter, Taya Marie Davis. He is survived by his wife Dalia Bernal; daughter Angelica Salazar and her husband Tony; daughter Lucy Hernandez; daughter Cathy Bernal; son Salvador Bernal Jr. and his wife Raquel; son Caleb Bernal; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and nine siblings. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. on Jan. 24 at Primera Iglesia Bautista in Lockney. Memorial gifts can be made to the American Cancer Society, Hospice of Wichita Falls, Rathgeber Hospitality House and Texas Oncology of Wichita Falls.

Margie Ann Mines, long-time Southern Baptist missionary, died Dec. 29. She was 89. She was born April 10, 1935, in Fort Worth to J.T. and Genevieve DeLoach. After graduating from Stephen F. Austin High School in Houston, she earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and English at Baylor University. She met her future husband, Donald Mines, when they went on a blind date to see a movie. Despite the fact Friendly Persuasion was on the screen that night in 1956, the first-year seminary student later recalled his date would not let him hold her hand. However, she did invite him to be her guest at a Baylor student dinner. They dated for a year before marrying at North End Baptist Church in Beaumont, where her father was pastor. The Mines served in churches in Southeast Texas before they were appointed in 1965 as Southern Baptist missionaries to Argentina. They served in Córdoba, Bahía Blanca and Buenos Aires until 1997. She was active in the work of the Baptist Women’s Union. In later years, she was involved in an English-language Bible study group that extended her ministry to families from around the world. She often said moving to Argentina was one of God’s most gracious gifts in her life. After 33 years in Argentina, the Mines retired and settled in Pflugerville in 1998. In retirement, Margie Mines was active in prayer and Bible study groups at both First Baptist Church in Austin and First Baptist Church in Round Rock. She was preceded in death by daughter Danna, who was killed in a vehicle accident in 1981. She is survived by her husband of 66 years Don; son Steve; son David and his wife Melissa; granddaughter Sarah; grandson Benjamin; and brother Roy. Memorial gifts in her honor can be made to Children At Heart Ministries or No More Violence/No Mas Violencia.

Todd Condell Hamilton Sr., retired missionary and pastor, died Dec. 17 in Houston. He was 96. He was born Oct. 11, 1928, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Perry E. Hamilton and Adeline Condell Hamilton. He attended Baylor University, where he met his future wife, Doris Winn Hamilton. He later went on to earn a doctorate in education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He spent the first 15 years of his ministry serving churches in Louisiana before he and his wife answered God’s call to international mission work. He served 27 years at the Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary in Baguio City. As a professor, his teaching focused on preparing men and women for church work, and he also wrote many training materials used by individuals who did not have the opportunity to attend seminary. His ministry in the Philippines also included spending most Sundays visiting small barrio churches, advising and counseling the local pastors. He participated in baptisms in nearby rivers or the South China Sea, taking seminary students and often one of his children with him. When the Hamiltons returned to the United States from the Philippines in 1989, he continued his ministry, serving first as pastor at Southern Hills Baptist Church in Copperas Cove. He also was interim pastor at several Houston area churches, taught part time at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary extension in Houston, and finally served as the English-language pastor and acting senior pastor of a Chinese congregation. Until his death, he was a frequent volunteer at University Baptist Church, serving in programs such as Vacation Bible School and GriefShare. The last five years, he sang “Happy Birthday” by phone to hundreds of University Baptist Church members on their special day. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 65 years, Doris; a sister, Cara Wingert; and a brother, Perry Hamilton. He is survived by son Todd Hamilton Jr. and his wife Carol; son Scott Hamilton and his wife Mendy; daughter Ginger Westley and her husband Michael; daughter Joy Bradbury and her husband Robert; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Jan. 19 at University Baptist Church, 16106 Middlebrook Drive in Houston, with a reception following in the church’s chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts to the Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary, mailed to James D. Chancellor, 1230 Garvin Place, Louisville, KY 40203.

Marci Lynn Parrott Chaddick of San Marcos, a pastor’s wife and former missionary to Ethiopia, died at home Jan. 4 after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 53. She was born March 4, 1971, in San Antonio to Dennis and Myra Parrott. Soon thereafter, her family moved to Tyler, where her father was on staff at Green Acres Baptist Church. She graduated from the University of Texas-Tyler with a degree in elementary education and from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a master’s degree in religious education. She was appointed by the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board to teach missionary children in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. After a year in Ethiopia, she returned to the United States to serve on staff in Texas Baptist churches, first in Lake Jackson and then in Denton. While she was working as the preschool minister at First Baptist Church of Denton, she met Chad Chaddick through an online dating site. They were married nearly 21 years. Her greatest joy was to be a stay-at-home mom and home-school mother to their daughter Mia. She also found great joy in playing her flute, serving with the music ministry at First Baptist Church of San Marcos. She often said playing the flute was her offering of worship to God. She is survived by her husband Chad; daughter Mia; parents Dennis and Myra Parrott of San Marcos; and her brother Keith Parrott and his wife Kristy of Birmingham, Ala. A memorial service is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 25 in the chapel at San Marcos Baptist Academy. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the missions fund or music ministry fund at First Baptist Church of San Marcos.

Robert Owen Rachuig, Texas Baptist pastor and home missionary, died Dec. 19 in Garland. He was 85. He was born Feb. 24, 1939, in Clifton to A.W. and Lurlyne Coker Rachuig and spent his early years in Fairy on the Duncan ranch, where his father served as manager. After he graduated from Fairy High School, he began preparing for ministry by attending the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor before transferring to Howard Payne University, where he met Joyce Ruth Pesnell. The two married on Aug. 7, 1959. He became pastor of Mosheim Baptist Church while continuing his education at Baylor University and working as manager of a grocery store. In 1982, the Rachuigs were appointed as missionaries with the Southern Baptist Convention Home Mission Board. He helped establish churches in Bullhead City, Ariz., and Elephant Butte, N.M., and also was a pastor in Oberlin, Kan., and at Westwood Baptist Church in Palestine. In his later years, he lived at Abba Care Assisted Living in Garland, where he preached regularly and ministered to other residents. He was a member of South Garland Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Joyce Rachuig; daughter Sheri Hein and her husband Layton of WaKeeney, Kan.; son Russell Rachuig and his wife Missy of Dallas; daughter Dawn Bowers and her husband Rick of Rowlett; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and a sister, Gale Hicks. Memorial gifts may be made to Abba Care Assisted Living at 1201 High Grove Dr., Garland, TX 75041.

EuGene “Gene” Euell McLain of Plainview, Baptist deacon and former trustee of Wayland Baptist University, died Dec. 25, 2024. He was 89. He was born July 25, 1935, in Fox, Okla., to Woodie Albert and Blanche Shrader McLain. While growing up, his family moved between Oklahoma, Texas and California. He made his profession of faith in Jesus Christ during a tent revival in Bakersfield, Calif., and was baptized in a nearby irrigation canal. He graduated from Chillicothe (Texas) High School in 1956. He and classmate LaNeta Morris married April 19, 1957. After a brief time in Dalhart working at a Ford dealership, the couple moved to Plainview in 1962 to join LaNeta’s brother Ronald in the cottonseed delinting business. The McLains eventually owned Plainview Acid Delinting, where he was president of the business until they retired and closed the operation in 2007. They continued to warehouse the seed for farmers for another decade. The McLains were members of College Heights Baptist Church in Plainview, where he was the most longstanding member of record and a deacon. For decades, he also was the church treasurer, served on numerous committees and taught Sunday school. He served four terms as a trustee of Wayland Baptist University from 1981 to 1989, including a term as secretary of the board. “Gene McLain was a man of exceptional faith, integrity and humility,” said Wayland President Donna Hedgepath. “He brought a quiet strength to the board of trustees and an abiding dedication to advancing Wayland’s mission of Christian higher education. His impact is woven into the fabric of this institution, and his legacy of service will continue to inspire us all.” He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, LaNeta Morris McLain; and brothers Caril Andrew, Larry Earl and Waylan Alvin McLain. He is survived by son Jeffery; son Kevin and his wife Lana; daughter LaGena Horak and her husband Paul; five granddaughters; six great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter. Memorial gifts may be made to the Gene and LaNeta McLain Scholarship at Wayland Baptist University. Contributions can be sent to 1900 W. 7th Street, CMB 1295, Plainview, TX 79072, or online at give.wbu.edu.