Rehearsals for "Dearly Departed," a play to be staged in Lometa, are under way, directed by Janie Potts. The Part-Time Players is a group of Lometa citizens and Lometa High School graduates who make up the cast of "Dearly Departed," a comedy by David Bottrell and Jessie Jones, set Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. in the Lometa School auditorium.

This year, playing the part of Raynelle, the deceased's wife, is Tico Hicks, owner of Clip 'N Curl in Lometa. The part of Ray-Bud, her oldest son, is John Hines, owner of Areawide Locksmith in Lampasas. Kathy Duncan, a white-tail deer breeder, plays Ray-Bud's wife.

Veteran local actor Shad Hill and his wife, Shawna, play Junior and Suzanne Turpin, another son and daughter-in-law. The blustery aunt, Marguerite, is played by Doris Conradt, a local veteran actress and retired school teacher, and Royce, her son, is being played by Lampasas County Constable Camron Brister. Retired County Judge Tommy Honeycutt ap- pears in the production as Bud Turpin.

Other cast members include Teresa Stewart as Delightful, the daughter who still lives at home; Robert Oliver as the Rev. Hooker; Elizabeth Dickison as Veda, an elderly woman; Larry Morrison as Norval, Veda's husband; Ben Leggett as Clyde, Ray-Bud's boss; and Jamie Garrett as Juanita, a cousin by marriage.

The Hairston Sisters, Billie and Cindy, will provide music for the radio show as The Joy of Life Singers. They will be accompanied by Merlene (Kathy Gibson) on the piano.

Tickets, at $20, include a steak dinner and are on sale at Hodges & Sargent Pharmacy, Shooting Star and Gifts, Clip 'N Curl, Denim Angels or from any Lometa Garden Club member. They also are available by phoning Mrs. Potts at 752-3544 or Mrs. Hicks at 752-3383.