Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 4 April 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 ==================================================================== Amarillo Helen Anna Elder Helen Anna Elder, 82, a former Amarillo resident, died Sunday, March 30, 1997, at Paso Robles, Calif. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Llano Cemetery Mausoleum with the Rev. Bill Fitzgerald of San Jacinto United Methodist Church officiating. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mrs. Elder was born in Amarillo and moved to California in 1942. She worked for the Kern County School in Bakersfield, Calif., for 25 years. Her husband, Clarence Elder Sr., died in 1985. After his death, she moved to southern California. Survivors include a son, Clarence E. Elder Jr.; a brother, Harmon Fansler; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Johnnie Carol Mezzell Johnnie Carol Mezzell, 53, of Oklahoma City, a former Amarillo resident, died Monday, March 31, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Central Baptist Church of Amarillo. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery of Amarillo. Arrangements are by Vondel L. Smith & Son Mortuary of Oklahoma City. Mr. Mezzell was born in Houston. He married Karole Hubbart in 1984 at Amarillo. He was the owner and operator of U.S. Delivery. He was a veteran of the Army. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Darrell Jayroe of Bethany, Okla., and Tim Jayroe of Amarillo; two daughters, Renee Mezzell of Dalhart and Sharla Jones of Irving; his mother, Sybil Mezzell of Amarillo; two sisters, Kay Brewer and Margie Gregory, both of Amarillo; a brother, Troyce Mezzell of Graham; and six grandchildren. Les Standridge Les Standridge, 38, of 12407 San Saba, died Wednesday, April 2, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, Bell Avenue Chapel, 5400 Bell St., with the Rev. Dr. Stan Coffey of San Jacinto Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mr. Standridge was born in Amarillo and had lived here all of his life. He married Vickie Holland in 1990 at Amarillo. He worked for Owens Corning for 16 years. He was an outdoor sportsman. Survivors include his wife; a son, Jarrod Allen Standridge of Amarillo; a daughter, Amanda Kay Standridge of Amarillo; a stepdaughter, Heather Donn Fessler of Gage, Okla.; his mother, Billie Standridge of Amarillo; three brothers, Jim Eastep of Colby, Kan., and Sam Standridge and Mike Standridge, both of Amarillo; three sisters, Lani Greise of Lake George, Colo., Bonita Standridge of Cripple Creek, Colo., and Kay Holland of Amarillo; and his grandmother, Vera Hutson of Clarksville, Ark. The family will be at 304 S. Belleview St. The body will not be available for viewing. New Mexico Marguerite R. Lewis ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Marguerite R. Lewis, 96, a longtime Panhandle area resident, died Tuesday, March 18, 1997. Cremation and private memorial services were held in Albuquerque by French Mortuary. Mrs. Lewis was born in Cowles, Webster County, Neb. She lived in Phillips, Texas, from 1942 until 1980 when she moved to Albuquerque. She was one of the founders of the "Texas" production at Palo Duro Canyon. She was preceded in death by her husband, John P. Lewis and two sons, Perry Lewis and Bob Lewis. Survivors include numerous nephews, grandnephews and grandnieces. L.A. Gordon CLOVIS, N.M. - L.A. Gordon, 84, died Wednesday, April 2, 1997. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Eagles Lodge. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in SteedTodd Funeral Home Chapel with Cecil Bunch officiating. Burial will be in Mission Garden of Memories Cemetery by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Mr. Gordon was born in Spaulding, Okla. He married Flossie Mae Whitener in 1934 at Clovis. He worked as a labor foreman for Santa Fe Railway for 33 years and was a member of Fairview Nazarene Church. He served with the Army and was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He was preceded in death by two infant sons. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Larry Gordon of Bremerton, Wash., Garry Gordon of San Antonio, Texas and Jerry Don Gordon of the home; five daughters, Ladonna Finney of Spur, Texas, Loretta Lancaster of Liberal, Kan., Lois Sadler of Alvin, Texas, Betty Dixon of Clovis and Debra Carswell of Clovis; 18 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. Augustin Peralez PORTALES, N.M. - Augustin Peralez, 88, died Wednesday, April 2, 1997. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday in Sacred Heart Catholic Church at Clovis. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Sacred Heart Catholic Church with the Rev. Carlos Chavez officiating. Burial will be in Floyd Cemetery at Floyd by Muffley Funeral Home of Clovis. Mr. Peralez was born in Paso Real Ranch, Willacy County, Texas. He grew up in Saniguitas, Texas. He married Margarita Garza in 1934 at Savestan, Texas. They moved to New Mexico in 1954. He worked as a ranch foreman in Tucumcari, McAlister and Portales from 1954 to 1978. They settled in Portales in 1956. After retiring he was a volunteer grandfather for the ENMU handicap program in Portales. He also was member of the Senior Citizen's Kitchen Band of Clovis. Mr. Peralez was preceded in death by his wife, Margarita; his second wife, Erlinda Peralez; and three sons, Pedro Peralez, Chico Peralez and Abel Peralez. Survivors include three sons, Augustin Peralez Jr. of Colorado Springs, Colo., Margarito Peralez of Clovis and Tommy Peralez of Castle Rock, Colo.; four daughters, Jane Peralez, Mercedes Belez, Elisa Dixon and Phyllis Peralez, all of Clovis; 24 grandchildren; and 47 greatgrandchildren. The family will be at 104 Herb St. in Clovis. Henry Archie CLOVIS, N.M. - Henry Archie, 82, died Monday, March 31, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Church of God in Christ with W. Charles Green, bishop, officiating. Burial will be in Mission Garden of Memories by Muffley Funeral Home. Mr. Archie was born in Groesbeck. He married Lorene Riggins in 1940 at Groesbeck. She died March 20. They moved to Clovis in 1953. He was a farm and ranch laborer and also worked in construction. He was a member of the Joylight Church of God in Christ in Albuquerque. Survivors include a son, Vincent Johnson of Fort Worth, Texas; a daughter, Hester England of Clovis; three brothers, Joseph Archie of Clovis, Edgar Archie of Houston and Babe Ruth Archie of Odessa, Texas; three sisters, Inez Wess of Dallas, and Idena Miller and Edna Fields, both of Odessa; four grandchildren; and a greatgrandchild. Bill Williams TUCUMCARI, N.M. - Bill Williams, 85, died Wednesday, April 2, 1997. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in Dunn Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Bob Miller, minister of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Tucumcari Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Williams was born in Oklahoma and had been a longtime resident of Tucumcari. He was the Pepsi-Cola franchise dealer for the Tucumcari area at the time of his retirement. Prior to moving to Tucumcari many years ago, he was active in the construction business. He helped build many dams including the Conchas Dam north of Tucumcari. Before being the Pepsi-Cola franchise dealer, he worked with the Borden Dairy Co. and owned and operated two filling stations. He was a member of First Assembly of God Church. Survivors include his wife, Telulah Williams. The body will be available for viewing at the funeral home this afternoon until time for services. Elsewhere Pearl Johnston AURORA, Colo. - Pearl "Penny" Johnston, 56, died Monday, March 31, 1997. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Gateway Christian Church. Cremation will be by Choice Cremation and Funeral Services. Mrs. Johnston was born in Clarksville, Ind. She was the owner of Penn's Sales and Service Inc., retiring in 1995. Survivors include her mother, Rosette Phipps of Cortez; three daughters, Nancy Mierkey of Federal Heights, Debra Kay Bordner of Thornton and Beverlee Fields of Deer Trail; a sister, Mildred Riggs of Amarillo; 14 grandchildren; and a greatgrandson. The family suggests memorials be to the Children's Hospital. Janice Bagwell-Hillhouse PHOENIX - Janice Bagwell-Hillhouse, 41, died Monday, March 31, 1997. Services will be today in the Christian Life Center. Burial will be in Louis B. Hazelton Cemetery at Buckeye. Arrangements are by Buckeye Funeral Home. Ms. Hillhouse was born in Brownfield, Texas. She attended Brownfield High School and Coronado High School in Lubbock, Texas. She graduated from Amarillo College with a degree in accounting. She was an account manager for the Discover Card Service. Survivors include a daughter, Kathy Hillhouse of Phoenix; two sons, Thomas Hillhouse of Amarillo and Robert Hillhouse of Phoenix; her father, Wayne Bagwell of Lubbock; a sister, Pauline Taylor of Lubbock; and two brothers, Donal Bagwell of Texarkana, Texas, and Eugene Bagwell of Lubbock. France Barton MATADOR - France Barton, 78, died Wednesday, April 2, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Felton Gilmore, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in East Mound Cemetery by Seigler Funeral Home. Mr. Barton was born in the Flomot community of Motley County. He had been a lifelong resident of Motley County. He was a farmer and a stockman. He was a veteran of World War II. He married Eugenia Garrison in 1940 at Spur. He was preceded in death by a son, Mike Barton, in 1980. Survivors include his wife; a son, Coke Barton of Midland; two daughters, Dixie Campbell of Matador and Briged Brooks of Amarillo; two sisters, Mollie Burleson of Floydada and Mary Ellen Barton of Flomot; nine grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176; or the East Mound Cemetery Association. Area Elmer Bryan Bockmon LEFORS - Elmer Bryan "Shorty" Bockmon, 100, a former Samnorwood resident, died Wednesday, April 2, 1997. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Plymouth Cemetery with the Rev. Dean Driver, pastor of the Samnorwood Baptist Church, and the Rev. Lewis Ellis, pastor of First Baptist Church of Lefors, officiating. Arrangements are by Adams Funeral Home of Wellington. Mr. Bockmon was born in Cleburne. He moved to Collingsworth County with his family in 1902 from Cleburne. He married Esther Clement in 1941 at Sayre, Okla. He farmed on the family farm until retiring in 1976. He moved to Lefors in 1996. He was a Baptist. Survivors include his wife; a son, Russell Bockmon of Lefors; a daughter, Mary Ann Witt of Amarillo; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Plymouth Cemetery. Matthew Rodney Poole BORGER - Matthew Rodney Poole, 17, died Monday, April 1, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Don Hill, pastor of Central Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Lane Garden at Highland Park Cemetery by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Matthew was born in Borger and had been a lifetime Borger resident. He was a junior at Borger High School. He worked at United Grocery Store as a sacker. He played golf his freshman and sophomore years. He worked on hot rods. Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Tania and Roy Tadlock of the home; a sister, Rachel Poole of the home; a stepsister, Jacquelyn Tadlock of Stinnett; his father and stepmother, Rodney and Debby Poole of Fritch; grandparents, Linda and Rainey Cox, Max and Wilma Poole and Jack and Jean Tadlock, all of Borger, and Hank and Linda Smith of Eastland; and great-grandparents, Leon Barbour, Rubye Cox and Babe Guilliams, all of Borger, and Essie Davis of Electra. The family will be at 203 Skycrest and 406 California. Margaret Brandenburg PLAINVIEW - Margaret Kenady Brandenburg died Thursday, April 3, 1997. Burial will be at 2 p.m. today in Jayton Cemetery at Jayton. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Drew Travis, pastor, officiating. Arrangements are by Wood-Dunning Funeral Home. Mrs. Brandenburg was born in Cottonwood and graduated from Jayton High School. She attended Hardin-Simmons University before moving to Plainview and attending Watson's Business College. She worked in the business office of Harvest Queen Mill for 12 years. She was a pianist with the Logan Largent Orchestra for many years. She lived in Santa Fe, N.M., until moving back to Plainview in 1972. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, the NON Study Club, the Hale County Historical Commission and the Hobby Club. She married Loyd Brandenburg in 1947 at Moriarty, N.M. He died in 1958. Survivors include a stepdaughter, Pat Billington Brandenburg of Santa Fe; and a grandson. The family requests memorials be to the Mission Outreach Fund at First Presbyterian Church. Marion Clark Kendrick GROOM - Marion Clark Kendrick, 76, died Thursday, April 3, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. R. Bryan Richardson of the church officiating. Burial will be in the Groom city cemetery by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street, in Amarillo. Mrs. Kendrick was born in Groom and had been a resident of Groom most of her life. She graduated from high school in 1936 at Groom and from West Texas State College in 1939. She taught school in White Deer, Levelland, El Paso and Groom. She was instrumental in the development of the Groom Community Center. She was a charter member of the Brush and Pallet Club. She also was a member of the Needle Club, the Order of the Eastern Star, First Baptist Church and the Ruth Sunday School class. Mrs. Kendrick lived on a farm north of Groom. Her parents and grandparents had moved there from Iowa in 1910. She married Meredith Kendrick in 1940 at Amarillo. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Janis Ann DeLoach of Lubbock; two sons, William D. Kendrick of Duncan, Okla., and Robert Arlin Kendrick of Montgomery; three sisters, Bernice Hartzog of Farwell, Mable Beardsley of New Castle, Wyo., and Lucille Smith of Mesquite; 12 grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren. The body will be available for viewing Saturday from 10 a.m. until service time at the church. The family will be at the family home in Groom. They request memorials be to the Groom Volunteer Ambulance Service, Crown of Texas Hospice or Ware Memorial Care Center. Vera Lorene Crossland SHAMROCK - Vera Lorene Crossland, 77, died Wednesday, April 2, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Shamrock Cemetery with the Rev. Joe G. Jernigan, pastor of Calvary Christian Fellowship Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Wright Funeral Directors. Mrs. Crossland was born in Winnsboro. She married Delmer Crossland in 1948 at Albany. She had lived in Shamrock since 1957. She was a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include her husband; a son, Delmer Ray Crossland of Shamrock; two daughters, Glenda Ann Ferguson of Winnsboro and Freida Gayle Coon of Seattle; a brother, J.B. Mills of Hot Springs, Ark.; seven grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren.