Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 24 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 Maria DiazMaria Diaz, 62, of 804 S. Pittsburgh St., died Sunday, Dec. 22, 1996. Vigil services will be at 6 p.m. today in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Thursday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church by the Rev. John Valdez of the church. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery East. Mrs. Diaz was born in Grand Falls. She lived in Midland most of her life before moving to Amarillo in 1978. She married Luis Diaz Sr. in 1954 at Midland. He died in January. She was a homemaker and a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Survivors include two daughters, Norma Morales and Irene Salgado, both of Amarillo; a son, Luis Diaz Jr. of Amarillo; a sister, Elvira Alarcon of Merced, Calif.; a brother, Manuel Garcia of Monahans; and 10 grandchildren. The family will be at 804 S. Pittsburgh St. Oklahoma Eva Mae BaldwinGUYMON, Okla. - Eva Mae Baldwin, 65, died Saturday, Dec. 21, 1996. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Charles Gibson, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Hugoton Cemetery at Hugoton, Kan. Arrangements are by Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home. Mrs. Baldwin was born in Pineville, Mo. She lived in Goodwell for 13 years before moving to Guymon in 1988 from Lefors, Texas. She graduated from Rolla High School at Rolla, Kan., and from Panhandle State University at Goodwell in 1973 with a degree in elementary education. She was an elementary school teacher, teaching at Straight, Hooker, Guymon, Liberal, Kan., and Lefors. She was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church and No Man's Land Senior Citizens Club. She married Harrison Franklin Baldwin Jr. in 1955 at Clayton, N.M. He died in 1968. Survivors include a son, Perry Baldwin of Amarillo; a daughter, Nancy Dickenson of Amarillo; two sisters, Yvonne Moore of Marlow and Kathrine Rawlins of Tempe, Ariz.; six brothers, Gene Myers, Warren Myers and Warren Myers, all of Rolla, Bill Myers of Liberal, Kan., Kenneth Myers of Siloam Springs, Ark., and Jimmy Myers of Haviland, Kan.; and two grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to No Man's Land Senior Citizens Club c/o Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1112, Guymon, Okla. 73942. Margaret L. Palmer-WhiteOKLAHOMA CITY - Margaret L. Palmer-White, 102, died Sunday, Dec. 22, 1996. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Turpin United Methodist Church at Turpin with the Rev. Bill Smith and the Rev. Fred Palmer officiating. Burial will be in Kismet Cemetery at Kismet, Kan. Mrs. Palmer-White was born in Barber County, Kan. She married Elmore H. Palmer in 1912 at Meade, Kan. He died in 1938. She then married LeRoy White. He died in 1977. She moved to Seward County in 1903 and later moved to Liberal in 1929. She attended Liberal High School and worked at the Annex Cafe, the government office for the Blue Bonnet Courts, the Red Cross and the Medical Arts. She was a member of Western Avenue Church of Christ, the Rebekah Lodge and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary. When Mrs. Palmer-White became a centenarian she appeared on the Phil Donahue Shoe and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno featuring her athletic accomplishments as being the oldest shot-put person. She also was a guest of honor at the Susan B. Anthony Women's Suffrage Celebration at Dallas in 1994. She was inducted into the Oklahoma Centenarian Club in 1994. Survivors include three sons, Donald Palmer of Topeka, Kan., Earl Dean Palmer of Oklahoma City and Wendell Palmer of Pampa, Texas; five daughters, Clara Griggs of Duncan, Eunice Pool of Amarillo, Margaret Parmelee of Turpin, Edna Olinger of Hugoton, Kan., and Florence Herring of Waskom, Texas; 25 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to a favorite church or the Turpin United Methodist Church Building Fund, Box 68, Turpin, Okla. 74950. New Mexico Gerald Ray Greathouse Sr.ROSWELL, N.M. - Gerald Ray Greathouse Sr., 79, died Sunday, Dec. 22, 1996. Services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street in Amarillo, with the Rev. Blaine Barber of Agape Baptist Church of Potosby, Mich., officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery at Amarillo with military graveside rites by the local chapter No. 36 of the Disabled American Veterans. Local arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. New Mexico arrangements were by LaGrone Funeral Chapel. Mr. Greathouse was born in Amarillo and moved to Roswell in 1988. He married Adalene Snow in 1941 at Hereford, Texas. He served in the Army Air Corps from 1943 until 1945. He had been a butcher for the civil service for 20 years working at the Air Force Base in Amarillo, the Navajo Army Depot at Flagstaff and at Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis until his retirement. He was a member of the Amarillo chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a Baptist. Survivors include his wife; a son, Gerald Ray Greathouse Jr. of Roswell; four daughters, Gaye Lynette Keaton of Canyon, Texas, Cheryle Lynn Pybus of Dimmitt, Texas, Ira Jean Fendley of Flagstaff, Ariz., and Jo Ellen Rush of Clovis; a brother, Myrle E. Greathouse of Abilene; two sisters, Nettie Campbell of Amarillo and Betty McKinney of Decatur, Texas; 12 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family suggests memorials be to the Roswell Hospice. The family will receive visitors at 10 a.m. Thursday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, in Amarillo. Elsewhere Bobby Ray ReadBOWIE - Bobby Ray Read, 68, died Sunday, Dec. 22, 1996. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Central Baptist Church with the Rev. Paul A. Henderson, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Lindale Cemetery by Burgess-Fry-Owens-Brumley Funeral Home. Mr. Read was born in Boyd and had lived in Bowie for 47 years. He retired as a gauger for Amoco Pipeline after working there for 47 years. He was a lifetime member of the Reddy-McClellan Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 8789 and also of the American Quarter Horse Association. He served in the Army in the 25th Signal Company. He married JoAnne in 1950 at Bowie. She died in 1995. Survivors include five sons, Bobby Lynn Read of Austin, and Randall Ray Read, Larry Don Read, Ronnie Dale Read and Rusty Don Read, all of Bowie; a daughter, Gatha Lanelle Read of Amarillo; his mother, Zelma Graves of Levelland; two sisters, Nola Belle Graves and Arlene Nations, both of Levelland; a brother, Dale Graves of Levelland; and eight grandchildren. Arved Freeman GregoryMOSCOW, Kan. - Arved Freeman Gregory, 53, died Saturday, Dec. 21, 1996, at Amarillo. Services were at 10 a.m. Monday in United Methodist Church. Burial was in Mountain View Cemetery at Logan, Okla., by Paul's Funeral Home. Mr. Gregory was born in Beaver, Okla. He moved to Moscow 16 years ago from Amarillo. He had been a supervisor for Pan Handle Eastern Electrical and an inspector for Williams Brothers Pipeline. He was a volunteer fireman, served on the recreation board and was involved with minor league baseball and youth basketball. He served on the city council at Moscow. He married Alice Marie Laub in 1974 at Beaver. Survivors include his wife; a son, David Allan Gregory of Moscow; two daughters, Julia Kay Gregory and Sarah Ann Gregory, both of Moscow; his mother, Daisy Gregory of Beaver; a brother, Larry Gregory of Amarillo; and two sisters, Shirley Cole of Beaver and Judy Adams of Booker, Texas. E. BurroughsIDAHO FALLS, Idaho - E. Burroughs, a former Canyon, Texas, and Borger, Texas, resident, died Tuesday, Dec. 17, 1996. Memorial services were at 2 p.m. Friday in the Methodist Church at Idaho Falls. Mr. Burroughs graduated from Canyon High School at Canyon. He served in the Army Air Corps as a B-24 bomber pilot during World War II where he was a first lieutenant. He flew more than 20 missions over Germany. He received a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from West Texas State College in 1946 and a master's degree in 1949. He played trumpet in the orchestra and band. He was a member of Pi Beta Gamma and was listed in Who's Who of American Colleges and Universities. He was a chemist for Phillips Corp., and lived in Borger for many years where he was a member of the Methodist church. He was transferred to Idaho Falls in the early 1960s and worked for Phillips at the Atomic Energy Reactor Station just west of Idaho Falls. He was a longtime member of and sang in the choir at Idaho Falls Methodist Church. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy; two daughters, Diane of Spanish Fork, Utah, and Carol of Seattle; two sons, Blair of Seattle and Steve of Boulder, Colo.; a sister, Lilly Beth Burroughs Armstrong of Phoenix; 14 grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. The family suggests memorials be to the American Cancer Society. Mary Evelyn FowlkesODESSA - Mary Evelyn Fowlkes, 93, died Sunday, Dec. 22, 1996. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Resthaven Memorial Park at Lubbock with the Rev. Sol Rosen officiating. Arrangements are by Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors. Mrs. Fowlkes was born in Wolfe City, Hunt County. She lived in Dodd City and Windom in Fannin County and moved to the Sunnyside community near Dimmitt in 1945. She lived in Lubbock and Plainview before moving to Odessa in 1988. She was preceded in death by three husbands, Ray Painter, Sidney M. Taylor and Houston Fowlkes. She was active in the church and was a song leader, a Sunday school teacher and a member of WMU. Survivors include a daughter, Allene Nance of Odessa; a sister, Beulah Avery of Dallas; four stepchildren, Nelle Hankis of Arlington, Tom Taylor of Phoenix, Jo Behrends of Odessa and Willie Mae Fowlkes Sadler of Dimmitt; two grandchildren; 14 stepgrandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and many step-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Calvary Baptist Church Building Fund, 8202 Aberdeen, Lubbock, Texas 79424. Russell Lee Reeder Jr.CARTHAGE - Russell Lee ``Rusty'' Reeder Jr., 49, died Sunday, Dec. 22, 1996. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Jimerson Funeral Home Chapel with David Cochran, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Jimerson Restland Memorial Park. Mr. Reeder was born in San Angelo. He was a longtime resident of Carthage. He was a self-employed master plumber and also trained Arabian race horses. He was a Navy veteran and a member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the La Porte Chamber of Commerce, the Texas Arabian Breeders Association and the La Porte Worship Center. Survivors include his wife, Glenda Reeder; children, Randal Lee and Karrie Reeder, both of La Porte, and Richard Leslie Reeder of Carthage; his mother, Mary Louise Reeder of La Porte; a sister, Sandra Fuller of La Porte; and a granddaughter. Area Billy Wade LanhamCHILDRESS - Billy Wade Lanham, 69, died Sunday, Dec. 22, 1996. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Childress Church of Christ with Johnny Lott and Charles Jones officiating. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery by Johnson Funeral Home. Mr. Lanham was born in Childress. He married Oleta Leach in 1948 at Vernon. He retired from Burlington Northern Railroad and later worked for Murray Security Guard Service. He was a veteran and a member of the Church of Christ. Survivors include his wife; five sons, Bill Ray Lanham of Childress, Marks Dale Lanham of Rusk, Marks Antonio Lanham of Lubbock, and Mason Bryan Lanham and McKay Chant Lanham, both of Amarillo; two daughters, Stacy Lahera of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Devra Kay Lanham of Oklahoma; and seven grandchildren. Lottie HumphreysBORGER - Lottie Humphreys, 93, died Monday, Dec. 23, 1996. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in First Assembly of God Church with Jim Loper, pastor of Cornerstone Church, officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of Hope at Highland Park Cemetery by Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mrs. Humphreys was born in Colgate, Okla., and moved to Borger in 1928. She was a homemaker and a member of First Assembly of God in Borger. She was preceded in death by her husband, Loyd Humphreys, in 1964; and a daughter, Nita Jennings, in 1994. Survivors include a son, Clyde Smith of Midland; a daughter, Joyce Luman of Fritch; nine grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren. Erla Walton VallasterBORGER - Erla Walton Vallaster, 70, died Sunday, Dec. 22, 1996. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in Mason Funeral Home Chapel at Shattuck, Okla., with the Rev. Harry Stevenson, pastor of Shattuck First Christian Church, officiating. Burial will be in Shattuck Memorial Cemetery. Local arrangements were by Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mrs. Vallaster was born north of Shattuck. She attended Stoney Point Country School and graduated from Shattuck High School. During World War II she worked on a shell assembly line at Pantex. She married James Wilson Vallaster in 1946. They lived in Shattuck for several years. They moved to Pampa in 1956 and later moved to Fritch in the late 60s. Her husband died in 1984. She was a member of First Christian Church of Fritch. Survivors include three sons, James Wilson Vallaster of Granbury, John Joseph Vallaster of Morton and Samuel David Vallaster of Sanford; two daughters, Lela Charleene Ray of Pampa and Mary Katherine Haskins of Amarillo; 13 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Sharon Kae JacksonSUNRAY - Sharon Kae Jackson, 51, died Monday, Dec. 23, 1996. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Hass Funeral Directors Chapel at Dalhart with the Rev. Wynes Manney, pastor of First Assembly of God Church, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery at Dalhart. Mrs. Jackson was born in Dalhart. She married S.D. Jackson in 1966 at Clayton, N.M. She lived in Dalhart for many years before moving to Sunray. She was a member of First Assembly of God Church. Survivors include her husband; three brothers, Virgil Gene Cagle of Phoenix, Leroy Cagle of Lubbock and Daryl Cagle of Prescott, Ariz.; and a sister, Barbara Ward of Dalhart. Curney AllenTULIA - Curney Allen, 85, a former Tulia resident, died Sunday, Dec. 22, 1996, in California. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Wallace Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Don Auten, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Mr. Allen was born in Bowie. He attended school in Post and graduated from Post High School. He farmed around the Muleshoe area for several years. He worked for Crow Chevrolet in Muleshoe until 1949 when he moved to Amarillo. While in Amarillo he worked for Plains Chevrolet until 1953. He moved to California in 1953 and worked for various auto dealers until retiring in 1974. He moved to Tulia in 1974 and lived there until returning to California in 1984. He lived in Salton Sea Beach, Calif., and was a member of the Los Angeles Boat and Ski Club. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Pauline Allen. He married Moneta Burrow in 1948 at Clovis, N.M. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Leta Walker of Bullhead City, Ariz.; a stepdaughter, Syglenda Ford of Antioch, Calif.; two sons, Marion F. Allen of Amarillo and Paul Allen of Roff, Okla.; two stepsons, John Johnston of Cathedral City, Calif., and Curt Johnston of Phoenix; and 25 grandchildren. Stella M. BoothePADUCAH - Stella M. Boothe, 91, died Sunday, Dec. 22, 1996. Services will be at 1 p.m. today in Paducah Church of Christ with Pat Phelps, son-in-law and elder with Faith Village Church of Christ in Wichita Falls, officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery by Seigler Funeral Home. Mrs. Boothe was born in Indian Territory and spent most of her childhood in Garza County. She married S.E. Boothe in 1929 at Post. He died in 1965. She also was preceded in death by a son, William Robert Boothe, in 1930. She had lived in Paducah since 1948. She owned and operated the Ben Franklin Variety Store in Paducah from 1948 to 1966. She also had been employed by Isbell Drug Co. She was a longtime member of the Church of Christ. Survivors include two daughters, Ernestine Wilson of Paducah and Lucy Phelps of Wichita Falls; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Anna Bell LindseyHEREFORD - Anna Bell Lindsey, 80, died Sunday, Dec. 22, 1996. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Gililland-Watson Funeral Home Rose Chapel with Tom Bailey, minister of Central Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in West Park Cemetery. Mrs. Lindsey was born in Collingsworth County. She married Harvey Lindsey in 1938. She was a home health care giver and a member of Central Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Berta Mae Dodd, in 1987. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Dale Lindsey of Amarillo and Gerald Lindsey of Hereford; a daughter, Patricia Stevens of Hereford; three brothers, Leonard Johnson of Hereford, Carl Johnson of Amarillo and Perry Johnson of Phoenix; a sister, Bernice Waits of Hereford; 15 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Cancer Society. Genevieve CessnumDALHART - Genevieve Cessnum, 79, died Monday, Dec. 23, 1996. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Thursday in St. Anthony's Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2 p.m. Friday in St. Anthony's Catholic Church with the Rev. Dale Guidry, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Hass Funeral Home. Ms. Cessnum was born and raised in Dalhart and graduated from Dalhart High School in 1935. She began working for First National Bank in 1936 and retired as vice president and cashier in 1982. She was active in the Beta Sigma Phi sorority and held many sorority offices through the years. She was past president of the Beta Sigma Phi city council. She was a member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church and was active with the Legion of Mary at the church, serving as president twice. Survivors include two sisters, Ita Cessnum and Evelyn Phillips, both of Dalhart. Nancy Jane BlankenshipFRITCH - Nancy Jane Blankenship, 71, died Monday, Dec. 23, 1996. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. today in the Montague private plot with Bishop Schramn of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officiating. Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Directors. Mrs. Blankenship was born in Lizz, Ky. She was a homemaker and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was preceded in death by her husband, Colonel Blankenship. Survivors include a son, Bob Blankenship of Norfolk, Va.; four daughters, Nancy Montague of Fritch, Kathy Lehman of Charlestown, Ind., Terry Paris of Collegeville, Pa., and Tammy Lehman of Pascagoula, Miss.; two brothers, Junior Muncy of Florida and Perry Muncy; and a sister, Amelia Muncy of Jacksonville, Fla.