Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 2 May 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 ==================================================================== Area Valta Earl Tarbet SHAMROCK - Valta Earl Tarbet, 89, died Tuesday, April 29, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in the Church of Christ with Sid Smith, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Shamrock Cemetery by Wright Funeral Directors. Mr. Tarbet was born in Rule. He moved to Shamrock by covered wagon in 1916. He attended Shamrock High School and graduated with the class of 1928. He married Eunice Grogan in 1929 at Sayre, Okla. She died in 1982. He farmed, mowed the highway rightof-way and helped his family operate a dairy. He was a member of the Church of Christ in Shamrock as well as being a deacon for five years and an elder for 25 years. Mr. Tarbet was recognized as Citizen of the Year in 1988 by the Shamrock Chamber of Commerce. Survivors include a daughter, Frances Sonka of Kemp; five sons, Earl Tarbet of Pampa, Cottie Tarbet of Shamrock, Eddie Tarbet of Colleyville, Gaston Tarbet of Kampala, Uganda, and Clell Tarbet of Mesquite; 22 grandchildren; and 34 greatgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Church of Christ Building Fund. Orvil Bennett PANHANDLE - Orvil Bennett, 74, a former Amarillo resident, died Monday, April 28, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, Bell Avenue Chapel, 5400 Bell St., in Amarillo, with Robert Bennett officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mr. Bennett was born in Alfalfa, Okla. He lived in Amarillo for 37 years before moving to Panhandle five years ago. He married Elizabeth Neale Baker in 1991 at Amarillo. He worked for Randall County Road and Maintenance. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Claude. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Della Bennett, in 1989; and by a son, Robert Bennett, in 1970. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Bennie Bennett and Eldon Bennett, both of Amarillo, and Richard Bennett of Ponca City, Okla.; two daughters, Pat Winder of Huntsville and Deanna Arend of Amarillo; a stepson, Richard Baker of Amarillo; a stepdaughter, Marilyn Thomas of Dimmitt; three brothers, Leo Bennett of El Reno, Okla., George Bennett of Oklahoma and Ralph Bennett of Oklahoma City; a sister, Floy Pitt of Hydro, Okla.; 13 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials in lieu of flowers be to Freedom Baptist Church, 900 Alta Vista St., Amarillo, Texas 79106; or a favorite charity. Doris Maxine Pinson PAMPA - Doris Maxine Pinson, 80, died Monday, April 28, 1997, in Burleson. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in First Christian Church with the Rev. Jim Hodson, associate pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mrs. Pinson was born in Guymon, Okla. She moved to Pampa from Elk City, Okla., in 1926. She married Dale Pinson in 1938 at Sayre, Okla. He died in 1990. She was a member of First Christian Church and Pampa Chapter No. 65 of the Order of the Eastern Star. Survivors include three sons, Gary Pinson of Mansfield, Lynn Pinson of Farmers Branch and David Pinson of Amarillo; a brother, Leymond Hall of Pampa; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 1 to 5 p.m. today at 609 Bradley Drive in Pampa. They suggest memorials be to First Christian Church. Floyd Colson DUMAS - Floyd "Catfish'' Colson, 74, died Thursday, May 1, 1997. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in Sixth and Meredith Church of Christ with Allen Kramer, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Dumas Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mr. Colson was born in Wellington and had been a Dumas resident since 1954. He was a boiler operator for Diamond Shamrock before retiring in 1986. He was an Army veteran of World War II and a member of Sixth and Meredith Church of Christ. He married Claudia Beard in 1947 at Wellington. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Sue Colson of Fort Worth and Judy Pendley of Dumas; a son, Phil Colson of Mangum, Okla.; a brother, Loyd Colson of Hollis, Okla.; two sisters, Velma Rainey of Wellington and Ella Boyce of Seagraves; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family will be at 609 Pear. They request memorials be to Memorial Hospice, 224 E. 2nd, Dumas, Texas 79029. Laura Rachel Whiteley WHEELER - Laura Rachel Whiteley, 91, of Alamogordo, N.M., a former Wheeler resident, died Thursday, May 1, 1997. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in Wheeler Church of Christ with Bill Morrison, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Kelton Cemetery by Wright Funeral Home. Mrs. Whiteley was born in Johnson County, Ark. She married Charley Whiteley in 1928 at Shamrock. They lived in Wheeler County for 55 years. Mr. Whiteley died in 1983. Following the death of her husband, Mrs. Whiteley moved to Alamogordo and had lived there for the past 14 years. She was a homemaker and a member of Wheeler Church of Christ. Survivors include a son, Kenneth Whiteley of Hurst; a daughter, Reba Smith of Alamogordo; a brother, A.E. Carothers of St. Louis; a sister, Sarah Knight of Cabot, Ark.; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Rebecca R. Wells WELLINGTON - Rebecca R. Wells, 85, of Duncanville, a former Wellington resident, died Wednesday, April 30, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Adams Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. James Haney of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Childress officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Mrs. Wells was born in Dalhart and graduated from Dalhart High School in 1929. She married J.W. Wells in 1935 at Childress. He died in 1957. She lived in Wellington until moving to Canyon in 1978. She moved to Duncanville in 1992. She was a former member of the hospital auxiliary and a member of the Episcopal church. Survivors include a son, Jennings W. Wells of Duncanville; a sister, Flora James of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and a brother, Milton H. Robinson of Boise City, Okla. The family requests memorials be to the Wellington Cemetery Association. Louise Crawford PERRYTON - Louise Crawford, 73, died Thursday, May 1, 1997. Services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery. Ms. Crawford was born in Ada, Okla. She had lived in Perryton for 30 years, moving from California. She was a restaurant waitress. Survivors include two sisters, Sue Bocox of Perryton and Jo Ann Marshall of Amarillo; and two brothers, Sonny Smith and Johnny Smith, both of Perryton. Mary Richards BOVINA - Mary Richards, 89, died Thursday, May 1, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Neely Landrum, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Bovina Cemetery by Ellis-Blackwell Funeral Home of Friona. Mrs. Richards was born in Haskell County. She had lived in Bovina since 1929, moving from Floydada. She married Earl "Possum'' Richards in 1930 at Clovis, N.M. He died in 1989. She was a retired school teacher and a member of First United Methodist Church and the Dorcas Circle Class. She also was a member of the Bovina Women's Study Club. Survivors include a son, Leon Richards of Hereford; two daughters, Janice Richards of Bovina and Patsy Brewer of Guthrie; a brother, Price Brookfield of Pinehurst, N.C.; a sister, Edith Fleming of Linwood, Calif.; five grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to First United Methodist Church or a favorite charity. Pia L. Tucker PLAINVIEW - Pia L. Tucker, 66, died Wednesday, April 30, 1997. Rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. today in Lemons Funeral Home Memorial Chapel. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Alice Catholic Church with Monsignor Tim Schwertner, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park. Mrs. Tucker was born and raised in Great Barrington, Mass. She attended school there and graduated from Searles High School in 1948. She received an RN diploma in 1951 from St. Luke Hospital School of Nursing in Pittsfield, Mass. She married James "Mick'' Tucker in 1954 at Great Barrington. She was a practicing RN for 44 years. She had worked as an operating room supervisor, an ICCU supervisor, a school and clinic nurse and general staff nurse in Massachusetts, Kansas, Alabama and Texas. She retired in 1995 from Hi-Plains Hospital in Hale Center after serving as a supervisor for five years. Mrs. Tucker was a member of the ANA, ACCN and St. Ann's Altar Society at St. Alice Catholic Church. She also was a charter member of the Daughters of Isabella, Scott City, Kan., chapter. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Linda Tucker of Amarillo and Suzanne Griffin of Plainview; two sons, Jeff Tucker of Lubbock and David Tucker of Dallas; two sisters, Giovanina Magadini of Great Barrington and Catherine Gagliardy of Marietta, Ga.; five grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. The family requests memorials be to The Lupus Foundation. New Mexico John Ed Roberts PORTALES, N.M. - John Ed Roberts, 78, died Tuesday, April 29, 1997, in Amarillo. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Llano Cemetery at Amarillo with the Rev. Harry Gray of Clovis officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle, in Amarillo. Mr. Roberts was born in Elida. He had lived in Portales for 30 years and operated his own certified public accounting office. He was a member of the New Mexico Society of Public Accountants, the Portales Masonic Lodge and the Gospel Lighthouse Church. He served with the Army Air Corps during World War II. Survivors include a daughter, Sherry Phillips of Grand Junction, Colo.; a sister, Mary Butler of Amarillo; a brother, Paul R. Roberts of San Antonio; and two grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson St., Amarillo, Texas 79101. The body will not be available for viewing. Charles E. Vandervoort CLAYTON, N.M. - Charles E. Vandervoort, 81, died Sunday, April 27, 1997. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Clayton Memorial Cemetery with Louis Montoya officiating. Arrangements are by Hass Funeral Directors. Mr. Vandervoort was born in Clayton and had been a lifetime resident of Clayton. He graduated from Clayton High School in 1935. He married Kathryn Hodges in 1935 at Clayton. He built and operated the original Hi Ho in Clayton in 1957. He sold it in 1960. He then built and operated Grand Motors, which was a garage, wrecker service, junk yard and body shop, from 1961 until 1980. Mr. Vandervoort also was a used car dealer and a past member of the Clayton Lions Club. He was preceded in death by a son, Charles E. Vandervoort Jr., in 1937. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Nana Lou Pense of Clayton; a granddaughter; and four great-grandchildren. Mary Roberts MELROSE, N.M. - Mary Roberts, 72, died Thursday, May 1, 1997. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in First Methodist Church with the Rev. Kevin Bushart officiating. Burial will be in Melrose Cemetery by SteedTodd Funeral Home. Mrs. Roberts was born in Wellington, Texas, and moved to Melrose in 1928. She married Lloyd Roberts in 1939 at Clovis. He died in 1974. She also was preceded in death by a son, Freddie Joe Roberts, in 1968. She was the last Gold Star Mother of Melrose. She was a member of First Methodist Church of Melrose and the Clovis Fraternal Order of the Eagles No. 3245. Survivors include a son, Deral Roberts of Melrose; a daughter, Laura Faye Gleasner of Albuquerque; a brother, Wiley Andrews of Melrose; three sisters, Betty Reece of Viselia, Calif., Eula Mae Morey of Roswell and Fay Rogers of Lubbock, Texas; and five grandchildren. The family requests memorials in lieu of flowers be to the Methodist Church Youth Group or a favorite charity. Amarillo William Harry Wheeler William Harry Wheeler, 82, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, April 29, 1997. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Amarillo Federation of Women's Clubs. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by SchoolerGordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Mr. Wheeler was born in Hartley. He married Gayneyl Eby in 1936 at Stillwater. He built cowboy "Tex Randall'' in Canyon in 1960. He was president of the Amarillo Arts Association. He was a piano teacher and a member of Amarillo Music Teachers Association. He was also a Phi Kappa Phi at the University of Michigan. He was a member of United Methodist Church. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Michael Noel Wheeler of Amarillo and John Eby Wheeler of Dallas; twin daughters, Judy Evelyn Kingsberry of Denver and Carolyn Jeanne Roy of Amarillo; a brother, Selby M. Wheeler of Denver; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Teresa E. Malacara Teresa E. Malacara, 52, of 2109 Mirror St., died Wednesday, April 30, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street, with the Rev. Ronnie Tucker of Friendship Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Malacara was born in Raymondville. She lived in Othello, Wash., for eight years and graduated from Othello High School in 1964. She married Daniel Malacara in 1966 at Othello. She moved to Amarillo and had lived here for the past 31 years. She attended Draughon's Business College and Amarillo College. She was a member of Friendship Baptist Church, the Texas Library Association, the Amarillo Garden Club and the Golden Spread Day Lily Society. She also was a member of Friends of the Amarillo Public Library, where she had worked for nearly 15 years before retiring in 1990. She was preceded in death by a son, Daniel Malacara Jr., in 1988. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Tammy Malacara-Rios of Amarillo; a sister, Ruth Malacara of Amarillo; five brothers, Tony Escamilla, Dale Escamilla, Tom Escamilla and Paul Escamilla, all of Amarillo, and Santos Escamilla of Othello; and six grandchildren. The family will be at 1710 S. Van Buren St. They request memorials be to the Big Sky Kids, Big Sky Eagle Mount Center, 6901 Goldenstein, Bozeman, Mont., 59715. Edith Fields Edith Fields, 82, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, April 30, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in San Jacinto United Methodist Church with the Rev. William Fitzgerald officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Mrs. Fields was born in Lea County, N.M., and had lived in Amarillo for 57 years. She was a member of San Jacinto United Methodist Church and was secretary and treasurer of the Wesley Comrades Class for 30 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Fields, in 1964. Survivors include a son, Jimmie Fields of Amarillo; two daughters, JoAnn Jolley and Pearl Jeffers, both of Amarillo; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to San Jacinto United Methodist Church, 505 S. Tennessee St., Amarillo, Texas 79116. Oklahoma H.R. Helms GOODWELL, Okla. - H.R. Helms, 74, died Tuesday, April 29, 1997, in Albuquerque, N.M. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in the Living Word Fellowship at Guymon with the Rev. Leon Lothman and the Rev. Jim Wiggin officiating. Burial will be in Hartville Cemetery by Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home of Guymon. Mr. Helms was born in Waskom and grew up in Atlanta, Texas. When he was 15 he traveled the country working odd jobs before joining the Army at age 17. He served in World War II and received a Purple Heart at Normandy. After the war, he sold magazines in the West and Northwest before returning to the Texas Panhandle, where he worked on farms. He married Namona Miller in 1951 at Hardesty, Okla. Mr. Helms built houses in Guymon. He was a member of Pentecostal Holiness Church in Guymon and the church board and was past president of the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship. He served on many boards and building projects in the Guymon area. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Hue Helms of Goodwell and Howard Helms of Austin; three daughters, Linda Servatius of Texaco, N.M., Priscilla Helms of Amarillo and Wanda Royce of Floresville; three brothers, Nathan Helms of Longview, Glen Helms of Redwater and Everett O. Helms of Maud; a sister, Velera Brown of Texarkana; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Living Word Fellowship or the Pentecostal Holiness Church, both of Guymon. Memorials may be left at Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home, Box 1112, Guymon, Okla., 73942. Loren E. Gribble GUYMON, Okla. - Loren E. Gribble, 69, died Tuesday, April 29, 1997. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. today in Victory Center Memorial United Methodist Church with the Rev. Mike Chaffin, pastor, and the Rev. Don Taylor officiating. Burial will be in Barden Cemetery by Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home. Mr. Gribble was born in Guymon and had been a lifelong Guymon resident. He attended Guymon High School. He married Melba June Gault in 1945 at Liberal, Kan. He was a self-employed farmer before retiring in 1987. He was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, a member of the Straight Christian Church and a former member of the Guymon Elks Lodge and Guymon Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was preceded in death by a son, Mike Gribble. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Nancy Weeks of Guymon and Valerie Huddleston of Texhoma; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch or a favorite charity. Memorials will be accepted at Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1112, Guymon, Okla., 73492. Elsewhere Florence Cooper Allums RATCLIFF - Florence Cooper Allums, 72, died Wednesday, April 30, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Pentecostal Church with the Rev. M.D. Lamon and the Rev. D.W. Dykes officiating. Burial will be in Oaklawn Memorial Park by Mangum Funeral Home of Center. Mrs. Allums was preceded in death by her husband, Truman Allums; and a daughter, Joyce Davis. Survivors include two sons, Frank Allums of Amarillo and Danny Allums of Crockett; a daughter, Ollie Howell of Huntington; a sister, Ollie Whittington of Nacogdoches; 19 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. Sharon Alberta Westerby Perales FORT WORTH - Sharon Alberta Westerby Perales, 48, died Sunday, April 27, 1997. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Tyson Cemetery. Arrangements are by Memorial Funeral Home. Ms. Perales was born in Amarillo. She was a bakery clerk. Survivors include a son, Juan Perales of Fort Worth; two daughters, Pamela Cothron of North Richland Hills and Elena Perales of Fort Worth; parents, Charles and Wilma Westerby of Amarillo; two brothers, Charles Westerby and Kenneth Westerby, both of Amarillo; and three grandchildren. Ronald Thomas Lusk LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. - Ronald Thomas Lusk, 54, died Sunday, April 27, 1997. Funeral Mass was celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Our Lady of the Presentation Catholic Church. Arrangements were by Langsford Chapel. Mr. Lusk was born in Milwaukee. He was a member of Our Lady of the Presentation Catholic Church. He managed and owned the Seafood Cafe Restaurants. He was employed for 10 years with Fairmount Zarda Dairy. He was a member of the Local 552. Survivors include his wife, Judith; two daughters, Gina Beasley of Lee's Summit and Kim Shea of St. Joseph; two sons, Steven Lusk of Los Angeles and Nick Lusk of Lee's Summit; a brother, Larry Lusk of Amarillo; and eight grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Cancer Society. Lummie Joye Lane Clark SANGER - Lummie Joye Lane Clark, 90, died Saturday, April 26, 1997. Memorial services will be at a later date in Amarillo. Arrangements were by Coker Funeral Home. Mrs. Clark was born in Rome, Ga. She moved to Clarendon in 1908 and completed high school at Clarendon College Academy. She attended Clarendon College and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. She married Everette H. "Rusty'' Clark in 1928 at Amarillo. They traveled the country for several years doodle-bugging. Her husband preceded her in death. In the early 1940s, Mrs. Clark earned a master of science degree in library science and remained in that field until retiring. At one point in her career she was the law librarian at the University of Tulsa. She also had worked in the field of legal relations between the United States and the Cherokee Nation. Survivors include a sister-in-law, Alta Lane of Canyon. The family requests memorials be to the American Cancer Society, the Texas State Library for the Blind or a favorite charity.