Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 21 Dec 1996 Copyright, http://www.amarillonet.com/ ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Thanks to the Amarillo Newspapers for allowing us to place their online obits in the USGenWeb Archives ==================================================================== Amarillo HARRIS Ruby Lee HarrisRuby Lee Harris, 95, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Dec. 18, 1996. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with the Rev. Robert Bennett officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Harris was born in Marietta, Okla. She moved to Amarillo from Springfield, Ill. She retired as a nurse's aide at St. Anthony's Hospital after 17 years. She was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ at Springfield. She was preceded in death by her husband, John C. Harris, in 1965, and a daughter, Mary Lou Woodward, in 1996. Survivors include three sons, Elmer Nichols of Amarillo, William Nichols of Wilson, Okla., and LeRoy Nichols of Brazoria; four daughters, Allene Chambers and Martha Wright, both of Amarillo, Nellie Lubeski of Pensacola, Fla., and Wynona Laaker of Springfield; 42 grandchildren; 88 great-grandchildren; and 33 great-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. Robert Hunter PattersonRobert Hunter Patterson, 26, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Dec. 17, 1996. Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle, with the Rev. Rick Webb, pastor of Christ's Church, officiating. Cremation was by the funeral home. Mr. Patterson was born in Sweetwater and had lived most of his life in Amarillo. He was a cook at Cafe Americana and Fenderz Bar and Grill. Survivors include his mother, Pat Dunaway of Amarillo; his father and stepmother, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Patterson of Oakton, Va.; two sisters, April Ann Carvatt and Alisia Ann Scott, both of Denver; his grandmother, Dorthea Oakes of Amarillo; and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Patterson of Abilene. The body will not be available for viewing. McREYNOLDS Robert N. McReynoldsRobert ``Bob'' N. McReynolds, 64, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Dec. 19, 1996. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Paramount Terrace Christian Church with the Rev. Bob Murphy and the Rev. Richard Holloway, both of the church, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. McReynolds was born in Amarillo and had been a lifetime resident. He was owner and operator of All Pro Pest Control and had previously owned and operated the Blue Front Cafe and Pork and Hops Restaurants. He was a charter member and an officer in the Golden Spread Pest Control Association and a member of Texas Pest Control Association and National Pest Control Association. He was also a member and served as an officer in the Panhandle Apartment Association and the Panhandle Restaurant Association. He was a charter member of Paramount Terrace Christian Church. Survivors include his wife, Bobbie McReynolds, of the home; four daughters, Melody Maekawa of La Palma, Calif., Angela Ashworth of Claude, Robin Moss of Whitehouse and Susan Webb of Amarillo; two sons, Rob Dahl and Michael Dahl, both of Amarillo; his mother and stepfather, Rubye and Ben Beck of Amarillo; and 11 grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas, 79176-0001 or Paramount Terrace Christian Church Building Fund, 4000 Mays, Amarillo, Texas, 79109. FARMER Royal L. FarmerRoyal L. ``Farmer'' Farmer, 71, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Dec. 18, 1996. Services will be at 2 p.m. Sat-urday in N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors Pioneer Chapel, 2615 Paramount Blvd., with Windell Taylor, chaplain at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mr. Farmer was born in Alamosa, Colo., and was raised in Westville, Okla. He married Opal Groves in 1947 at Borger; they had been married 49 years. He worked as a mechanic and was a volunteer ham radio operator for the Potter County Civil Defense Control Center. He had served in the Navy for four years during World War II. He worked as a supervisor at Bell Helicopter for 13 years. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Diana Lindvay of Amarillo; two sons, Ronnie Farmer and Rodney Farmer, both of Amarillo; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Elsewhere George Edward AllenLUBBOCK - George Edward Allen, 72, died Tuesday, Dec. 17, 1996. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in Indiana Avenue Baptist Church with the Rev. Jim Gerlt, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Park by Resthaven Funeral Home. Mr. Allen was born in Tahlequah, Okla. He was a former Floydada resident and moved to Lubbock in 1993 from Canyon. He had served in the Navy during World War II. He was zone service manager for Chevrolet Motor Division for 13 years, service manager for Modern Chevrolet for seven years then service manager for Ray Jones Chevrolet, at Amarillo, for 15 years. He was a member of Top Ten Service Managers Club with General Motors and Indiana Avenue Baptist Church. He married Martha Barrett in 1946 at Albuquerque, N.M. Survivors include his wife; a son, Glenn Allen of Lubbock; a daughter, Rhonda Thompson of Lubbock; two brothers, Whetsel Allen of Cortez, Colo., and Shelley Allen of Paris, Texas; a sister, Fern Alsobrook of Cortez; and four grandchildren. Oklahoma Benjamin Adam King Andrew Alexander KingGUYMON, Okla. - Benjamin Adam King and Andrew Alexander King, infant sons of Doug and Lula King, died Wednesday, Dec. 18, 1996, at Liberal, Kan. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Grace Southern Baptist Church with the Rev. Jimmy Pitson officiating. Burial will be in the Elmhurst Cemetery by Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home. Survivors include their parents; three brothers, Jeremy King, Casey King and Mark King, all of Guymon; and grandparents, Orville Stanley and Velma King, all of Guymon. Dale Leroy RobertsHOOKER, Okla. - Dale Leroy Roberts, 69, died Tuesday, Dec. 17, 1996, at Kansas City, Kan. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Hooker Church of Christ with Don Nelson, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Hooker Cemetery by Roberts Brothers Funeral Home of Hooker. Mr. Roberts was born in Camp. He attended country schools and graduated from Hooker High School. He was a Navy veteran of World War II. He married Martha Jane Oliver in 1948 at Altus. He and his brother, Ray, established Roberts Brothers Funeral Home at Hooker in 1949. He was an active member of the Hooker Church of Christ, an Eagle Scout, a Scout leader, a Red Cross instructor, a member of the Hooker American Legion and Hooker Lions Club. He also was active in barbershop singing. Survivors include his wife; four children, Suzanne Littell of Lansing, Kan., Robert D. Roberts of Guymon, Rodney K. Roberts of Hooker and Jolyene Hodges of Hooker; a brother, Ray Roberts of Hooker; two sisters, Wanda Gantt of Tulsa and Nelda Witt of Flagler, Colo.; and five grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Hooker Cemetery Fund c/o Hooker City Hall or the Roberts Brothers Funeral Home, P.O. Box 745, Hooker, Okla. 73945. Lela Ruth PhillipsDURANT, Okla. - Lela Ruth Phillips, 81, died Tuesday, Dec. 17, 1996. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Restland Cemetery at Roswell, Okla. Arrangements are by Dalton-Holmes Funeral Home. Mrs. Phillips moved to Durant in 1994 from Amarillo. She attended Draughon's Business College. She had worked in the credit department at Levine's, at the Amarillo Credit Bureau, Senior Citizens, Moose Lodge, Veterans Administration and St. Anthony's Hospital. She was a member of Sanborn Baptist Church in Amarillo. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas H. Phillips and a daughter, Kay Fondren Seymour. Survivors include a son, Jackie L. Phillips of Shawnee, Okla.; a daughter, Janet L. Hamon of Irving; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Area Agnes E. HomerGROOM - Agnes E. Homer, 81, died Thursday, Dec. 19, 1996. Rosary was recited at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church by the Rev. Raymond Crosier, pastor. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Mrs. Homer was born in Groom, where she was a lifelong resident. Her husband, Paul Homer, died in 1983. She was a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and Christian Mothers. She was a member of the Groom Senior Citizens Center. Survivors include a daughter, Susan Littlefield of Houston; a son, Bill Homer of Groom; a sister, Helen Harne of Vancouver, Wash.; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Groom Ambulance Service. Joyce WillinghamPAMPA - Joyce Willingham, 58, died Wednesday, Dec. 18, 1996. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with the Rev. Rick Parnell, associate pastor of the Central Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Mrs. Willingham was born in Weirton, W.Va., and moved to Pampa 40 years ago from California. She married Max Willingham in 1953 at Las Vegas. She was a homemaker and attended Calvary Baptist Church. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Danita Morrow of Amarillo and Toni Silva of Pampa; a son, Bill Willingham of Pampa; her mother, Helen Poole of San Bernardino, Calif.; two sisters, Darlene McGowan of Wellsburg, W.Va. and Marilyn Patterson of Weirton; a brother, George Myers of Weirton; and five grandchildren. Norma Marie Thetford WilliamsPAMPA - Norma Marie Thetford Williams, 61, died Wednesday, Dec. 18, 1996, at Lubbock. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in the First Baptist Church with the Rev. Norman Rushing, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Jacksboro, officiating. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Doxey Cemetery at Sayre, Okla., by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mrs. Williams was born in Snyder, Okla., and had lived in Pampa over 40 years. She married D.P. ``Corky'' Williams in 1955 at Berlin, Okla. She had been a member of the Central Baptist Church for 36 years and was a volunteer for the Pampa Meals on Wheels. She was a former co-owner and manager of the Gwendolyn Apartments. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Lisa Marie, in 1960. Survivors include her husband; a son, Randall Williams of Pampa; three brothers, Melvin Thetford of Sayre, Joyce Thetford of Elk City, Okla., and Truman Thetford of the Berlin Community, Okla.; and a grandson. The family suggests memorials be to Central Baptist Church Building Fund. Dola Mae LackeyFLOYDADA - Dola Mae Lackey, 89, died Wednesday, Dec. 18, 1996. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today at Floyd County Memorial Park with the Rev. Clark Williams, pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home. Mrs. Lackey was born in Fullbright and was a lifelong resident of Floydada. She graduated from Floydada High School. She married Hayes O'Neal in 1923 at Floydada. He died in 1962. She married Jack Lackey in 1967 at Floydada. He died in 1987. She was a housewife, a member of the Order of Eastern Star and the First United Methodist Church. Survivors include a son, Royace O'Neal of Lubbock; a daughter, Vickie Rainer of Fredricksburg; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Anna Marie StedjeGRUVER - Anna Marie Stedje, 74, died Wednesday, Dec. 18, 1996. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Oslo Lutheran Church at Oslo with John Chandler, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Oslo Cemetery at Oslo by Henson-Novak Funeral Directors of Guymon, Okla. Mrs. Stedje was born west of Gruver. She attended Gruver schools and graduated from Gruver High School in 1939. She married Gordon Raymond Stedje in 1940 at Gruver; he died in 1992. They moved to Gruver in 1970, where they ranched and farmed in the Oslo community. She received her elementary education degree from Panhandle A&M College at Goodwell, Okla. She taught at Gruver Elementary, retiring after 10 years. She was a member of Oslo Lutheran Church. She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Beverly Arlene Stedje. Survivors include a son, Dennis Stedje of Gruver; two daughters, Diane Battles of Duncan, Okla., and Barbara Wise of Tucson, Ariz.; her mother, Jessie Spivey of Gruver; a sister, Ada Joyce Stedje of Gruver; a brother, Hix Spivey of Gruver; and six grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Anna Marie Stedje Memorial for the Gruver Public Library or Oklahoma Panhandle State University Foundation at Goodwell, in c/o Henson-Novak Funeral Home, Box 1306, Guymon, Okla., 73942. Ramona Murillo BuslerPLAINVIEW - Ramona Murillo Busler, 28, died Monday, Dec. 16, 1996. Prayer services will be at 7 p.m. today and 10 a.m. Saturday in Ellis Funeral Home Chapel at Muleshoe. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in the funeral home chapel with Felix Cadena, pastor of Spanish Assembly of God Church at Muleshoe, and Richard Rodriguez, pastor of Assembly of God Church at Clovis, N.M., officiating. Burial will be in Muleshoe Memorial Park Cemetery at Muleshoe. Mrs. Busler was born in Plainview and had lived in Muleshoe until returning to Plainview in 1992. She was a 1982 graduate of Muleshoe High School. She married Joel Busler in 1988 at Muleshoe. She was a homemaker and a member of Spanish Assembly of God Church at Muleshoe. Survivors include her husband; a son, Dylan Arthur Busler of Plainview; a daughter, Amanda Alexis Busler of Plainview; her parents, Arturo Murillo and Marianna Murillo, both of Muleshoe; three brothers, Ralph Sanchez and Danny Sanchez, both of Muleshoe, and Art Murillo of Austin; and her grandmother, Ramona Sanchez of Muleshoe. John Thomas JohnstonDALHART - John Thomas Johnston Jr., 72, died Monday, Dec. 16, 1996. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday in Memorial Park Cemetery at Dalhart with the Rev. Rodger Johnson, pastor, United Pentecostal Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Hass Funeral Home. Mr. Johnston was born in Akron, Ohio. He married Joy Stewart in 1965 at Clayton, N.M. Survivors include his wife, Joy Kelly Johnston of Northglenn, Colo.; two stepsons, Sam Kelly of Denver, and Bill Kelly of South Carolina; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Jerrick Brooke EscobarBORGER - Jerrick Brooke Escobar, infant daughter of Alfredo and Jossette Escobar, died Thursday, Dec. 19, 1996. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in Westlawn Memorial Park's Babyland Garden with the Rev. Art McAninch, pastor of Fairlanes Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Minton-Chatwell Funeral Directors. Survivors include her parents; a sister, Jordan Holland of the home; her grandparents, Joe and Susan Holland, Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Escobar of Borger and Debbie Brown of Enid, Okla.; and her greatgrandparents, G.W. and Margie Long of Borger, Van and Dorothy Holland of Norman, Okla., and Troy and Betty Dickson of Enid, Okla. Dennis Lee FletcherDALHART - Dennis Lee Fletcher, 38, died Wednesday, Dec. 18, 1996. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dan Fultz, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery at Dalhart by Hass Funeral Home. Mr. Fletcher was born in Amarillo and raised in Dalhart. He attended schools in Dalhart and joined the Marines in 1976. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. Survivors include two sons, Jerrod Fletcher and Tyler Fletcher, both of Dalhart; his mother, Doris Fletcher of Dalhart; a brother, Wallace Fletcher Jr. of Philadelphia, Pa.; and two sisters, Jackie Ferguson and Mary Campbell, both of Amarillo. Freida SwennFOLLETT - Freida Swenn, 86, died Sunday, Dec. 15, 1996. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in St. Paul Lutheran Church at Darrouzett with Michael Gabby, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Fairmont Cemetery, near Follett, by Mason Funeral Home of Shattuck, Okla. Mr. Swenn was born in Shattuck and was raised near Shattuck until the age of 8. She then lived east of Lipscomb, where she attended Willow Creek Country School. She married Henry Swenn Jr. in 1930, southwest of Follett, where they lived and her husband ranched and farmed. They moved into Follett in 1984. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in 1995. She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church at Darrouzett. She moved to Denton in April after her husband's death. Survivors include a son, Jerry Lee Swenn of Enid, Okla.; a daughter, Evelyn Florain Henry of Denton; two sisters, Amelia Schafer of Escondido, Calif., and Esther Schafer of Monticello, Utah; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Sharon Lee QuisenberryFLOYDADA - Sharon Lee Quisenberry, 46, died Wednesday, Dec. 18, 1996. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. J.D. Young, minister of Bethany Baptist Church, officiating, and the Rev. Howell Farnsworth, pastor of First Baptist Church, assisting. Burial will be in Floyd County Memorial Park by Moore-RoseWhite Funeral Home. Mrs. Quisenberry was born in Lockney. She graduated from Floydada High School and then attended South Plains College for one year. She had worked as the city secretary for many years and was a member of Bethany Baptist Church. She married George Quisenberry in 1970 at Floydada. She was a member of South Plains Chapter of Texas, the International Institute of Municipal Clerks and the Municipal Clerks Association Inc., serving as vice president in 1993 and 1994 and secretary-treasurer in 1995 and 1996, and on various other committees in the chapter. She became a Texas registered municipal clerk in 1992. She was scheduled to be the Election Law Seminar coordinator for 1997 and was to be the Resolution Committee chair for TMCA, Inc. for 1997. She was a past board member on the Housing Authority Board. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Chad Quisenberry of Devine and Monte Quisenberry of Floydada; and three brothers, Gary Fuller and Rick Fuller, both of Floydada, and Ray Fuller of Zavalla. The family requests memorials be to Bethany Baptist Church, 601 W. Lee, Floydada, Texas 79235, or to the Sharon Quisenberry Scholarship Fund, c/o West Texas National Bank, P.O. Box 239, Floydada, Texas 79235. Nelson Howard PattersonHEREFORD - Nelson Howard Patterson, 73, died Thursday, Dec. 19, 1996. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Gililland-Watson Funeral Home Rose Chapel with the Rev. H.W. Bartlett, of Temple Baptist Church, officiating. The body will be cremated. Mr. Patterson was born and attended school in South Glastonbury, Conn. He moved to Deaf Smith County in 1961 from Brownsville. He married Elva Flores in 1961 at Brownsville. He had served with the Army during World War II. He was a farmer and an Episcopalian. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Patricia Piller of Amarillo; a son, Livado Patterson of Brownsville; a brother, Richard Patterson of Clarendon; two sisters, Ann Goodrich and Frances Phelps, both of Connecticut; three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Ruth Kathleen HudginsPLAINVIEW - Ruth Kathleen Hudgins, 86, died Sunday, Dec. 15, 1996. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Plainview Cemetery with Dr. Max Browning, pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Wood-Dunning Funeral Home. Mrs. Hudgins was born in Oklahoma. She married R.C. Hudgins and they were owners and operators of Pioneer Steak House, No-Name Cafe and Triangle Restaurants for many years. They moved to California in 1964. She was a member of St. John's Methodist Church, Eastern Star No. 118 and the Rebekah's No. 309. She enjoyed fishing, swimming, crocheting, bowling and crafts. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1975. Survivors include two sons, Frank Hudgins of Laguna Beach, Calif., and Richard Hudgins of Vacaville, Calif.; a daughter, Mona Gantt of Lake Forest, Ill.; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Alzheimer's research. Joe Weldon BensonDIMMITT - Joe Weldon Benson, 85, died Thursday, Dec. 19, 1996. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Rusty Dickerson, pastor, and Bonnie Dunnsworth, pastor of Wesley United Methodist, officiating. Burial will be in West Park Cemetery by Gililland-Watson Funeral Home. Mr. Benson was born in Comanche, Okla., and moved to Dimmitt in 1944. He married Gladys Jones in 1962 at Clovis, N.M. He was a member of First United Methodist Church and a Texaco wholesaler. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Myrna Kay Benson, in 1949. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Susan Royal of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands; a granddaughter. The family requests memorials be to Kings Manor or Westgate Manor.