Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 2 Aug 1997 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 ==================================================================== Last updated; Saturday, August 2, 1997, 6:34 AM Amarillo Sarah R. Allen Sarah R. Allen, 75, of 4201 Rhine St., died Thursday, July 31, 1997. A prayer vigil will be at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Rector Funeral Home Chapel, and Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Mary's church with the Rev. Ken Keller officiating. Burial will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St. Mrs. Allen was born in Yell County, Arkansas, but she attended elementary and high school in Roaring Springs. She married Oland Dale "Boots'' Allen in 1941 at Plainview, and they moved to Amarillo in 1944. The couple owned and operated Allen Welding and Machine until 1979. She was a former member of Sacred Heart Cathedral and a member of St. Mary's Church. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Theresa Allen Oombes, of Amarillo; three sons, Michael Dale Allen and Gregory Martin Allen, both of Amarillo, and George Wesley Allen of Fort Worth; two sisters, Theresa Irene Harp of Amarillo and Lois Pacello of Dardanelle, Ark.; two brothers, Charles Patrick Alvey and Michael Wayne Alvey, both of Amarillo; 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. The family will be at 4201 Rhine St. and requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. Lena Copeland Lena Copeland, 79, of Amarillo, died Thursday, July 31, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with the Bishop John Hunt officiating. Additional services will be held in Texarkana. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mrs. Copeland was born in Corley and had lived in Amarillo the past 16 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Benjamin Newt Copeland, in 1966. She was a housewife and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Survivors include a son, Joe Edward Copeland of Maud; a daughter, Gloria Dean Dodd of Texarkana; a sister, Elba Adams of Amarillo; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Crown of Texas Hospice. Mildred Middleton Mildred Pearl Middleton, 83, of Amarillo, died Friday, Aug. 1, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Trinity Fellowship Chapel, with Phil Mercado officiating. A private burial ceremony will follow. Arrangements are by Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon. Mrs. Middleton was born in Haskell. She had lived in Lubbock and Canyon, and in Amarillo for the past 14 years. She worked at KFYO radio station in Lubbock for 20 years, and she was a member of First United Methodist Church of Canyon. Survivors include a brother, Jack Middleton of Happy, and a sister, Maxine Black of Amarillo. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. Kenneth Ray Branum Sr. Kenneth Ray Branum Sr., 53, of Amarillo, died Thursday, July 31, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel, with the Rev. W. Bryan Knowles, pastor of Martin Baptist Church in Clarendon, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors. Mr. Branum was born in Pampa and had lived in Amarillo since 1970. He graduated from Panhandle High School and attended West Texas State University. He was a truck driver for Big E Industries. He also was a member of the Lions Club and a former member of the Moose Lodge. He attended Forest Hill Assembly of God Church. Survivors include four daughters, Kristy Christopher of Clarendon, Tonya McCoy and Alicia Branum, both of Amarillo, and Denise Trevino of Brownsville; three sons, Ricky Meaker of Wichita Falls, Kenneth Ray Branum Jr. and Jack King, both of Amarillo; a sister, Norma Ruth Shackelford of Panhandle; seven grandchildren; and two special friends, Karen Williams and Brandon Williams, both of Amarillo. The family will be at 1708 Pecos St. and 308 N. Mississippi St. The family requests memorials be to the American Heart Association, 2404 W. Seventh Ave., Amarillo, Texas, 79106; or, to the American Diabetes Association, 9430 Research St., Suite 300, Austin, Texas, 78759. Canyon Geneva Norwood Geneva Norwood, 75, of Canyon, died Friday, Aug. 1, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at First Baptist Church of Canyon, with associate pastor, the Rev. Gayle Bowen, officiating, assisted by Dr. Charles Price, pastor. Mrs. Norwood was born in Fox, Okla.. She lived in Lubbock for 31 years, where she taught preschool Sunday school before moving to Canyon in 1983. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Canyon. She married Bryce Norwood in 1941 at Chickasha, Okla. Survivors include her husband; three daughters, Rebecca Goebel of Abernathy, Glenda Wilkerson and Suzan Norwood, both of Canyon; four sisters, Leona Goldsmith of Cement, Okla., Louise Harmon, Nadean Chambers and Hazel Trotter, all of Chickasha, Okla.; a brother, Curtis Smith of Colorado Springs, Colo.; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Lupus Foundation of America West Texas Chapter, 1717 Ave. K, Suite 127, Lubbock, Texas, 79401; or First Baptist Church Library Fund, 1717 Fourth Ave., Canyon, 79015; or a favorite charity. Jimmy Williamson Jimmy Williamson, 47, of Canyon, died Thursday, July 31, 1997. Services will be 10 a.m. Monday at Southwest Baptist Church in Amarillo, with Ray Crawford, the Rev. J. Alan Ford, the Rev. Terry Burke and the Rev. Bobby Meyers, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Arrangements are by Brooks Funeral Directors. Mr. Williamson was born in Littlefield. He graduated from Tucumcari, N.M., High School. He married Kaye Reno in 1969 at Tucumcari. He had been a resident of Canyon since 1977 and was the parts manager for John Chandler Ford for 20 years. He was a member of AMBUCS. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Amy Williamson of Canyon; a son, David Williamson of Amarillo; a brother, Gene Williamson, of Murkle; and his parents, Julian and Lela Mae Williamson of Bullard. The family requests memorials be to Morning Star Hostel, 2501 W. Sixth Ave., Amarillo, 79106. David Eugene Keele David Eugene Keele, 34, of Canyon, died Wednesday, July 30, 1997. Cremation was Thursday and was arranged by Holley Funeral Home Inc. Mr. Keele had lived in the Canyon area about three months and was an electrician by trade. He was born in San Diego. New Mexico Joe E. Covington CLOVIS, N.M. - Joe E. Covington, 69, died Thursday, July 31, 1997. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens, with Veterans' of Foreign Wars Post - Ledbetter-McReynolds No. 3015 and Clovis Masonic Lodge 40 AF&AM officiating. Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Mr. Covington was born in Slaton. He served in the Merchant Marines and the Navy. He worked for Santa Fe Railway, retiring after 37 years. He was a 32nd Degree Master Mason and a life member of Clovis Masonic Lodge 40 AF&AM and a member of the Scottish Rite and Clovis Temple of the Shrine. He established the first scuba diving school at Clovis. Covington married Lanora Pierce McNeill in 1970 at Clovis. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Brett Covington of Los Lunas, N.M., and Michael McNeill of Wilmington, N.C.; four brothers, Bill Covington of Belen, Ross Covington, of Huntsville, Ala., Albin Covington of Shelbyville, Mo., and Tommy Covington of Granbury; a sister, Marie Studstill of Granbury; and a granddaughter. The family suggests memorials be to the Transportation Fund of the Clovis Shrine Club. Area Mildred Virginia Slough DICKENS - Mildred Virginia Slough, 79, died Wednesday, July 30, 1997, at Lubbock. Services were at 10 a.m. Friday in Dickens Baptist Church with the Rev. Robert Fields of Amarillo and the Rev. Darrell Blevins of Plainview officiating. Burial was in Dickens Cemetery by Campbell Funeral Home of Spur. Mrs. Slough was born in Afton. She was a homemaker and a clerk in the Dickens County Tax Office for several years. She was a member of the board of directors of the North Dickens County Senior Citizens Association and was a Baptist. She married Fay Slough in 1938 at Clovis, N.M. He died in 1979. Survivors include two sons, Paul Slough of Dickens and Dewey Slough of Amarillo; two sisters, Nell Baxter of Lake Elsinore, Calif., and Sue Formby of Spur; and three grandchildren. Naomi R. Kirbie PAMPA - Naomi R. Kirbie, 84, died Thursday, July 31, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with the Rev. Darrell Monday, pastor of Central Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Mrs. Kirbie was born in Ochiltree County and had lived in Pampa since 1934. She was a member of the Central Baptist Church. She married John T. Kirbie in 1934 at Clayton, N.M. He died in 1964. Survivors include two sons, Burl Kirbie of Calgary, Alberta, Canada and Bill Kirbie of Fort Worth; two daughters, Shirley Chapman of Clyde and Vivian Dykes of Pampa; seven grandchildren; 11 stepgrandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and 10 stepgreat-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Central Baptist Church Building Fund. Gloria Shields Comeau HEREFORD - Gloria Shields Comeau, 61, died Wednesday, July 30, 1997. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. today in the Rix Funeral Home Chapel with Denzil Pulliam of Central Church of Christ officiating. Mrs. Comeau was born in Samnorwood and had lived in Hereford most of her life. She was a member of Central Church of Christ. She had been an employee of Hereford Regional Medical Center as a ward clerk for the past 20 years. She was preceded in death by a son, Terry Northcutt, and a daughter, Brandy Batenburg. Survivors include a daughter, Judy Curtsinger of Hereford; a son, Ricky Bob Northcutt of Plainview; a brother, Travis Shields of Hereford; two sisters, Rose Legion and Joe Bob Johnson, both of Friona; and her mother, Verla Muse of Hereford. Mildred Rogers MEMPHIS - Mildred M. Rogers, 76, died Thursday, July 31, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, with the Rev. Austin Ridley officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Arrangements are by Spicer Funeral Home. Mrs. Rogers was born in Clarksville and moved to Memphis in 1924. She married Othe Rogers in 1945 at Memphis. He died in 1972. She was active in the Order of the Eastern Star and did volunteer work with Meals on Wheels. She was a Baptist. Survivors include five sons, Garfield Williams, Harry Rogers and Loral Rogers, all of Memphis, L.D. Rogers of Altus, Okla., and William Rogers of Dallas; three daughters, Georgia Dickson and Opal Means, both of Memphis, and Debbie Louis of San Angelo; 20 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. Tom Greer MORTON - Tom Greer, 86, of Morton, died Friday, Aug. 1, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Bobby Lewis Fred of Denver City officiating. Burial will be in Morton Memorial Cemetery. Arrangements are by Ellis Funeral Home. Mr. Greer was born in Ralston and moved to Morton in 1946 from Sundown. He graduated from Loco High School. He was a member of the Morton Masonic Lodge and was a farmer. He married Maurine Vaughn in 1932 at Hollis, Okla. Survivors include his wife; a son, Richard Greer of Morton; a sister, Juanita Chaudoin of Batesville, Ark.; four grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to First Baptist Church of Morton. Mary H. Jennings MULESHOE - Mary H. Jennings, 83, died Thursday, July 31, 1997. Services will be at 11:45 a.m. Monday at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, Calif. Arrangements are by Ellis Funeral Home. Mrs. Jennings was born in Barstow and had lived in Muleshoe since 1993, after moving from Hereford. She was a member of a Presbyterian Church in Long Beach, Calif., and was a homemaker. She married Joe Jennings in 1949 at Carlsbad, N.M. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Dale Craig Jennings and Gary V. Jennings, both of Sacramento, Calif.; and three grandchildren. Katherine "Dixie'' Becton IDALOU - Katherine "Dixie'' Becton, 86, died Friday, Aug. 1, 1997. Services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday in Idalou United Methodist Church. The Rev. Darren L. Skinner will officiate, with assistance from church elder George Johnson. Arrangements are by White Funeral Home. Mrs. Becton was born in McKinney and moved to Estacado in 1917. She married A. Mack Becton Jr. in 1927 at Old Emma. He died in 1971. The couple were city managers of Petersburg for several years when they lived there. She was a member of Idalou United Methodist Church. Survivors include a son, A. James Becton, of Idalou; two daughters, Maxine Spencer of Littlefield, and Cleta Bell Shults of Clarendon; a brother, J.A. Foy of Brownfield; a sister, Marcine Turiello of Fort Worth; eight grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Texas Boys Ranch in Lubbock or the Methodist Children's Home in Waco.