The country music world mourns the death of Kitty Wells, 92, dubbed the “Queen of Country Music” decades ago. Fellow Christians remember a woman of faith who was a member of the Goodlettsville Church of Christ in Tennessee and a longtime supporter of Goodpasture Christian School in Madison, Tenn., which is associated with Churches of Christ.

In the remote mountain village of Aquiles, Mexico, Jose Lucio’s decision many years ago to become a Christian led to the conversions of countless souls. Lucio died Friday, July 6, at age 96.

More than a decade ago, while serving as religion editor for The Oklahoman, I was blessed to hear — and tell in print — the incredible life story of Avis Duncan, mother of my friend David Duncan.
“God had a purpose for us,” Avis Duncan said as she reflected on surviving two of the largest tornadoes ever to hit the nation’s heartland. This week, I joined David Duncan, now pulpit minister for the Memorial Church of Christ in Houston, and his family in celebrating the life of Avis Duncan, who died Sunday, July 8, at age 83.

Dr. Neale Pryor, former Harding University vice president for academic affairs and Bible professor, died Sunday, Sept. 25, at the age of 75. His funeral was held Wednesday, Sept. 28, in the Benson Auditorium. Born in Mayfield, Ky., on Oct. 5, 1935, Pryor was a student at Freed-Hardeman College before transferring to Harding College during his junior year. An English major with a minor in Bible, Pryor went on to study at Vanderbilt University, Harding School of Theology and New Orleans Baptist Seminary.

Mike Nix, pulpit minister of the 800-member Beltline Church of Christ in Decatur, Ala., since 1998, died suddenly Saturday. He was 55. Church leaders reported that Nix apparently developed a blood clot after a recent leg surgery.

Southwestern Christian College is mourning the death of Guss Dunn Farmer Sr., who served as head of the Bible department and taught Bible and Greek during his 56 years with the historically black Christian college in Terrell, Texas. Farmer died Wednesday at age 95. Funeral services were planned Saturday at White Rock Church of Christ in Dallas.

Funeral services were conducted Saturday, Feb. 5, at the White Station Church of Christ in Memphis, Tenn., for Earl Irvin West, a prominent author, minister and Christian university professor. West, a professor of church history emeritus at Harding University Graduate School of Religion in Memphis, died Friday, Feb. 4. He was 90.

York College in Nebraska is mourning the death of a longtime business professor and church elder.