Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 4 Dec 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; Thursday, December 4, 1997, 7:04 AM Area Richard L. Bullock FLOYDADA - Richard L. "Pat" Bullock, 93, died Tuesday, Dec. 2, 1997. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Wendell Horn, pastor, and the Rev. Lupe Rando, pastor of Primera Iglesia Bautista, officiating. Burial will be in Floyd County Memorial Park by MooreRose-White Funeral Home. Mr. Bullock was born in Egan. He attended school in Hall County. He married Mary Lou Cardwell in 1928 at Matador. They lived in Wheeler County from 1928 to 1951 and then moved to Floydada. Mrs. Bullock died in 1991. Mr. Bullock retired from farming in 1968. He worked as a car salesman for many years at City Auto. He was a member of Masonic Lodge No. 712 and First United Methodist Church. Survivors include a daughter, Judy Biggs of Panhandle; a sister, Minnie Barton of Amarillo; and two grandsons. The family requests memorials be to First United Methodist Church, 203 W. Kentucky, Floydada, Texas 79235; or Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176. Ava Mae Wages EARTH - Ava Mae Wages, 88, of Wolfforth, formerly of Earth, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1997, in Lubbock. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Earth United Methodist Church with the Rev. Mark McMillian of First Baptist Church of Wolfforth officiating. Burial will be in Earth Memorial Cemetery by Parsons-Ellis Funeral Home. Mrs. Wages was born in Scurry County. She moved from Earth to Brownwood in 1981. She had lived in Wolfforth since 1995, moving from Brownwood. She worked as an LVN. She married Clarence Wages in 1926 at Klondike, Delta County. He died in 1968. Survivors include a daughter, Betty McAlpine of Brownwood; a sister, Rosie Herring of Brownwood; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a greatgreat-grandchild. Joe Frank Rives BORGER - Joe Frank Rives, 78, died Monday, Dec. 1, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Faith Covenant Church with the Rev. Ken Sheppard, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of Serenity at Westlawn Memorial Park by Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mr. Rives was born in Stephenville and had been a Borger resident since 1926. He received his bachelor of science degree in engineering at Texas Tech University. He retired as vice president of the flow-control division at Huber Corp. He served with the Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a member of First Baptist Church. He was a past president of the Borger Country Club and a past member of the Borger Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Rives married Celestine Wheeler in 1950 at Tulia. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Joe Frank Rives Jr. and David Rives, both of Houston; two brothers, Wayne W. Rives of Gaithersburg, Md., and John P. Rives of Toronto, Canada; and six grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. Julian C. Aguilar Sr. FRIONA - Julian C. Aguilar Sr., 57, died Tuesday, Dec. 2, 1997. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Calvary Baptist Church in Friona with the Rev. David Alvarado of Hereford and the Rev. Isidro Jimenez of Friona officiating. Burial will be in West Park Cemetery in Hereford by Ellis-Blackwell Funeral Home. Mr. Aguilar was born in Eagle Pass. He moved to Friona in 1977 from Hereford. He was a plumbing contractor. He owned and operated J.R.'s Plumbing for many years. He was a member of Templo Marantha Church in Friona. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Yolanda Aguilar, in 1981. He also was preceded in death by a daughter, Yolanda Ann Aguilar, in 1982; and by a son, Luis Aguilar, in 1968. Mr. Aguilar married Arminda Balli in 1988 at Friona. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Julian Aguilar Jr. of Fort Worth and Isaac Aguilar of Friona; three daughters, Janie Aguilar and Faith LaDawn Aguilar, both of Friona, and Annabell Aguilar of Amarillo; four brothers, Inocencio Aguilar Jr. of Bakersfield, Calif., Daniel Aguilar of Costa Mesa, Calif., and Samuel Aguilar and Jose Chapa, both of Uvalde; six sisters, Esther Ruiz of Maywood, Calif., Elizabeth Hernandez of Blue Lake, Ill., Teresa Rivera of Van Horn, Maria Ramirez and Perez Susana, both of Uvalde, and Sally Avila of San Antonio; three stepchildren, Richard Garza of Garden City, Kan., and Omar Garza and Raquell Trevino, both of Friona; and a grandchild. Celia Johnson WELLINGTON - Celia Johnson, 97, died Tuesday, Dec. 2, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Fairview Cemetery with the Rev. Harry Stallings, retired Baptist minister, officiating. Arrangements are by Adams Funeral Home. Mrs. Johnson was born in Mansfield and moved to Wellington in 1902. She moved to Amarillo in 1990 to be near her family. She married L.A. Johnson Sr. in 1916 at Wellington. He died in 1971. She also was preceded in death by two sons, Jimmy Johnson and L.A. Johnson Jr.; and by a daughter, Florence Johnson. Mrs. Johnson was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include three sons, J.B. Johnson of Lubbock, Larry Johnson of Big Sandy and Charlie Johnson of Aztec, N.M.; two daughters, Ruby Farrar of Amarillo and Jean Brownlow of Wellington; two sisters, Willie Steele of Galt, Calif., and Tressie Garbouy of Hebbronville; 26 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandson. Virgil Eugene Blakney TURKEY - Virgil Eugene "Buck" Blakney, 80, died Tuesday, Dec. 2, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Melvin Clinton, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery by Myers-Long Funeral Directors. Mr. Blakney was born in Buffalo Flats, where he farmed and ranched all of his life. He was a member of First Baptist Church. He donated many hours to the Texas Farmers Union and the Texas Farmers Union Green Thumb. He was one of many who were instrumental in acquiring a van for the Turkey Green Thumb. Mr. Blakney was involved at the grass-roots level in securing funding and services for the senior citizens of his community. He was a longtime member of the Texas Farmers Union programs for the rural elderly. He also was on the board for the Texas Department of Aging. He was a 32nd Degree Mason for 25 years. Mr. Blakney served on the President's White House Council for the Aged. He was involved in eight Washington fly-ins lobbying for farmers. He married Edna Christian in 1940 at Memphis. They were honored as Pioneers in Texas by the Farmers Union in 1990 at the state convention. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Anna Landrun of Lubbock; and a grandson. The family requests memorials be to Hospice Hands of West Texas, P.O. Box 1118, Lockney, Texas 79241; or First Baptist Church of Turkey. Nellie Gillespie WELLINGTON - Nellie Gillespie, 86, of Veradale, Wash., a former Wellington resident, died Monday, Dec. 1, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Adams Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Mrs. Gillespie was born in Oklahoma. She moved to Wellington in 1915 with her family. She attended school in West Ward, Wellington and Saltfork. She graduated from Wellington High School in 1929. She married Frank Gillespie in 1930 at Wellington. They moved to Quitaque, where she owned a bakery. They later moved to Dallas, where they owned and operated movie theaters for 25 years. They retired and moved to Missoula, Mont. She was preceded in death by her husband. Mrs. Gillespie was a former member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Survivors include a daughter, Kay Block of Spokane, Wash.; and a granddaughter. Amarillo Ida Molina Ida Molina, 66, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Dec. 2, 1997. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors Pioneer Chapel, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with the Rev. Michael Colwell officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Molina was born in Tucumcari, N.M., and had lived most of her life in Amarillo. She moved to California in 1964 and returned to Amarillo in 1988. She was a homemaker and a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. She married Max Molina in 1951 at Amarillo. Survivors include her husband; a son, Carlos D. Molina of Riverside, Calif.; three daughters, Sylvia Molina and Juanita Molina, both of Amarillo, and Vera Aguilar of Yucaipa, Calif.; a sister, Anita Alcala of Amarillo; and a grandson. The family will be at 3420 S. Hill St. They request memorials be to the American Diabetes Foundation. Leonardo B. Alvarez Leonardo B. Alvarez, 87, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Dec. 2, 1997. A prayer service will be at 7 p.m. today in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Martin Road Chapel, 1505 Martin Road. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Christian Life Center with the Rev. Alfred Vargas of Christian Life Center officiating. Burial will be in Llano East Cemetery. Mr. Alvarez was born in Las Cruces, N.M., and had lived in Amarillo since 1924. He served with the Army during World War II. He retired from Western Builders in 1973. He also was a wrestling instructor. He married his wife, Vivian, in 1936 at Clarendon. Mr. Alvarez was preceded in death by a daughter, Josephine, in 1945; and by a son, Leonardo, in 1996. Survivors include his wife; six sons, the Rev. Alvino Alvarez Sr., Frank Alvarez Sr., Danny Alvarez and Ricky Alvarez, all of Amarillo, Tino Alvarez Sr. of Lubbock and Isidro Alvarez of Austin; four daughters, Anita Ruiz, Mary Castellanos and Gloria Rosas, all of Amarillo, and Geneva Garcia of Dallas; 49 grandchildren; 66 great-grandchildren; and 14 great-great-grandchildren. The family will be at 1218 N. Nelson. They request memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson St., Amarillo, Texas 79101. Trava L. Berry Trava L. Berry, 31, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Dec. 2, 1997. Services will be at 4 p.m. Friday in Paramount Terrace Christian Church with the Rev. Jay Graham, singles minister, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Ms. Berry was born in Amarillo and had lived in Amarillo all of her life. She graduated from Texas Tech University and received a master's degree from West Texas A&M University. She also attended Amarillo College. She was a teacher and a counselor at Palo Duro High School. She also had taught at James Bowie Middle School. She was active in tutoring and in the PTA. She attended Paramount Terrace Christian Church. Survivors include her parents, Keith and Melva Berry of Amarillo; two sisters, Juton Buescher of San Antonio and Renee Stapp of Midland; and her grandmother, Elva Richards McDavitt of Amarillo. Jimmy Harlan Price Jimmy Harlan Price, 53, of Amarillo, died Friday, Nov. 28, 1997, in Colorado. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Saint Stephen United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jim Smith, pastor, and the Rev. Glen Stocker, pastor of Bible Believers Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Price was born in Borger. He was an artist and a member of Bible Believers Baptist Church. Survivors include two brothers, Ron Price of Amarillo and Milton Price of Houston. Arthur Hale Arthur "Happy" Hale, 91, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Dec. 2, 1997. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are by Warford-Walker Mortuary Inc., 509 N. Hughes St. Mr. Hale was born on March 6, 1906. Survivors include his wife, Cecile Hale of Oakland, Calif.; a son, Arthur Hale Jr. of Grand Rapids, Mich.; two daughters, Sharon Frazier of San Antonio and Charlotte Collins of Oakland; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Chip Gibson Chip Gibson, 25, of Amarillo, died Monday, Dec. 1, 1997. Services will be at 4:30 p.m. Friday in Coulter Road Baptist Church with Dr. Larry Payne, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Gibson was born in Amarillo and was a 1991 graduate of Amarillo High School. He lived in Amarillo for 20 years before moving to Dallas in 1992. At the time of his death, he was employed by Harold's in the Galleria. Mr. Gibson was a member of Coulter Road Baptist Church. Survivors include his mother, Sherry Smith of Amarillo; his stepfather, Brad Smith of Amarillo; three sisters, Heather Smith and Kathy Kirkland, both of Amarillo, and Dawn London of Virginia Beach, Va.; and grandparents, Junetta Smith of Amarillo, and J.W. and Mamye Frederick of Spring. The family requests memorials be to the Office of the Attorney General, crime victim's compensation division, P.O. Box 12548, Austin, Texas 78711-2548. Canyon Lillian Aldora Jones Epps Lillian Aldora Jones Epps, 86, of Canyon, died Tuesday, Dec. 2, 1997. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Amarillo with the Rev. Alan Burkhalter, pastor of Chaparral Hills Baptist Church in Amarillo, officiating. Arrangements are by Holley Funeral Home Inc. Mrs. Epps was born in Turnersville. She was a homemaker and a member of Calvary Baptist Church. She married D.C. Epps in 1934 at Childress. Survivors include her husband; a son, D.C. Epps Jr. of Canyon; a sister, Dema Turner of Longview; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren Mildred Gafford Hickman Mildred Gafford Hickman, 84, of Canyon, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in St. Ann's Catholic Church with Jerry Grossman, deacon, officiating. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery by Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon. Mrs. Hickman was born in Gorman. She married J.B. "Bud" Hickman in 1930 at Clovis, N.M. They ran a dairy east of Canyon for 20 years. Mr. Hickman died in 1980. Mrs. Hickman worked at the West Texas State University bookstore for more than seven years. She also worked at Warren's Department Store and Shell's Pharmacy. She was a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church and helped organize St. Ann's Women's Council, serving as president, secretary and treasurer. Survivors include three sons, Donald G. Hickman of San Antonio, Michael Hickman of Amarillo and J. Pat Hickman of Canyon; a daughter, Sara Jo Kunkel of Amarillo; a sister, Dorothy Bell of Amarillo; 12 grandchildren; and 13 greatgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the WTAMU Foundation, WTAMU, P.O. Box 766, Canyon, Texas 79016; Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176; or a favorite charity. The family will be at No. 11 Bramblewood. Oklahoma Evelyn Alice Wright EVA, Okla. - Evelyn Alice Wright, 83, died Tuesday, Dec. 2, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Victory Memorial United Methodist Church with the Rev. Mike Chaffin, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Pioneer Park of Elmhurst Cemetery by Henson-Novak Funeral Directors of Guymon. Mrs. Wright was born in Cutbank, Mont. She married Scottie Vernon Wright in 1936 at Amarillo. They made their home on the family farm in the Eva community. Mr. Wright died in 1994. Mrs. Wright was a member of Victory Memorial United Methodist Church and the Industrious Homemaker Home Demonstration Club. She was a 55-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star Guymon Chapter No. 419. Survivors include a daughter, Carole Culbert of Wagoner; a son, Gary Wright of the Eva community; two sisters, Edna Engleage and Dot Cannon, both of St. Louis; two brothers, Jesse Thies of St. Louis and Robert Thies of Norman; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Eva Community Center or Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center in Amarillo, c/o Henson-Novak Funeral Home, Box 1306, Guymon, Okla. 73942. The family will be at the funeral home from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today. Elsewhere Diane C. Devoll VERNON - Diane C. Devoll, 49, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Sullivan Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Robert Prince of First Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. in Childress Cemetery at Childress. Mrs. Devoll was born in Childress. She was a graduate of Childress High School and Texas Tech University. She taught school at Dalhart and Childress. In 1981, she moved to Vernon, where she was a fourth-grade teacher at Shive Elementary School. She married A.O. Devoll in 1981 at Lubbock. Mrs. Devoll was a member of First Baptist Church and the Order of the Eastern Star. Survivors include her husband; her mother, Georgia Lee Huddleston of Childress; and two brothers, Eddie Huddleston of Memphis and Jerry Huddleston of Monahans.