Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 4 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 ==================================================================== Amarillo Fern Taylor Fern "Mama'' Taylor, 84, of Amarillo, died Thursday, May 1, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with Thomas Lewis of Lawton, Okla., officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Taylor was born in Mountain View, Ark. She moved to Amarillo in 1946 from Childress. She married Charles H. Taylor at Hollis, Okla. She was a homemaker. Survivors include her husband; a son, Mitch Taylor of Amarillo; three daughters, Donnie Walker and Barbara Simpson, both of Amarillo, and Sherrie Lewis of Lawton; 13 grandchildren; 20 greatgrandchildren; and 12 great-great-grandchildren. Martha Lena Boyd Martha Lena Boyd, 74, of Maple Valley, Wash., a former Amarillo resident, died Monday, April 21, 1997. Services will be at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle, with the Rev. Fred McWhorter officiating. Mrs. Boyd was born in Ochiltree County. She had lived in Amarillo from 1950 until 1995 before moving to Maple Valley, Wash. She was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary and the Washington Avenue Christian Church. She was a homemaker. Survivors include two daughters, Carolyn S. Miller of Maple Valley, Wash., and Sharon K. McWhorter of Amarillo; a brother, Jake Helfenbein of Booker; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family will be at 4311 S.E. 16th Ave. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. James L. Campbell James L. Campbell, 67, of Amarillo, died Friday, May 2, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the Hillcrest Baptist Church, 2901 Martin Road, with the Rev. Larry Stone officiating. Burial will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Arrangements are by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mr. Campbell was born in Gatesville. He had been a longtime resident of Amarillo, Happy and Canyon. He married Blanche Whitaker in 1990 at Amarillo. He had joined the National Guard. He was a technical sergeant in the Sac Command of the Air Force. He was also a member of the Hillcrest Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by a wife, Lois Campbell. Survivors include his wife; a son, Randy Campbell of Canyon; two daughters, Linda Meaker of Panhandle, and Gay Lynn Horn of Amarillo; two stepdaughters, Virginia Toler of Amarillo, and Jody Sibrel of Cincinnati; a stepson, Harold Harbour of Cotton Center; two brothers, Conley Campbell of Houston, and L.G. "Buck'' Campbell Jr., of Amarillo; a sister, Vergnel Campbell of Amarillo; 22 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Cancer Society, care of the Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center, 1500 Wallace Boulevard, Amarillo, Texas 79106. New Mexico Maudie Bural Ross PORTALES, N.M. - Maudie Bural Ross, 85, died Friday, May 2, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Third and Kilgore Church of Christ with Chris Swinford officiating. Burial will be in Portales Cemetery by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales Inc. Mrs. Ross was born in Kent County, Texas, near Girard. She married George Ross in 1927 at Dickens, Texas. In 1936, they moved to Dora in southern Roosevelt County and farmed there until Mr. Ross's death in 1959. Mrs. Ross also was preceded in death by two daughters, Erma Lavelle Ross as an infant and Peggy Ross Victor in 1995. She was a homemaker and a member of Third and Kilgore Church of Christ. After she was 70 years of age she began painting. Survivors include a son, Gary Ross of Clovis; a daughter, Shara "Scooter'' Hays of Lubbock, Texas; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Marcella Meier TUCUMCARI - Marcella Meier, 52, died Friday, May 2, 1997. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in the Dunn Memorial Chapel with Mass of the resurrection being offered at 10 a.m. Monday in the St. Anne's Catholic Church with the Rev. John C. Daniel officiating. Burial will be at the family plot of the Tucumcari Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Meier was born in Garden City, Kan. She had been a resident of Tucumcari since 1960. She had been in Los Lunas with her sister, because of her failing health. She was a homemaker. She was a member of the St. Anne's Catholic Church. Survivors include five brothers, Tom Meier, Nick Meier, Bill Meier and Gary Meier, all of Albuquerque, and Don Meier of Tucumcari; seven sisters, Janette Fay, Darlene Blevins, Sandy Delgado, and Roxann Antonelli, all of Albuquerque, Theresa Hendren of Los Lunas, Jackie Smith and Tina Gordon, both of Tucumcari. The body will be available for viewing at the funeral home until the services Monday at 10 a.m. Senaida A. Martinez CLAYTON - Senaida A. Martinez, 94, died Saturday, May 3, 1997. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Monday in St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church by Deacon Louis Montoya. Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Des Moines, with Father Joseph Kuehner, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at the Folsom Cemetery. Arrangements are by Hass Funeral Directors. Mrs. Martinez was born in Raton. She was a lifelong resident of the Folsom and Des Moines area. She attended school in Folsom and Des Moines, and also Highland University at Las Vegas, N.M. She married Daniel J.L. Martinez in 1944. He died in 1967. She taught school at Folsom, Corrumpa and Atencio. She was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Des Moines. Survivors include two sons, Francis A. Martinez of Clayton, and Thomas I. Martinez of Las Cruces; a brother, Antonio Archuleta of Clayton; a sister, Sara Salaz of San Pablo, Colo.; and two grandchildren. Oklahoma J.P. Montoya GUYMON - J.P. "Lynchie'' Montoya, 79, died Friday, May 2, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in the Texhoma Cemetery with Dyton Owen of the United Methodist Church officiating. Arrangements are by Dawson-Welch Funeral Home. Mr. Montoya was born in Cullison, Kan. He came to Texhoma from Stevens, Texas, with his family in 1922. He attended school in Texhoma. He worked for Texhoma Wheat Grower for 15 years, and for Texas County from 1965 until 1981. He was in the Army during World War II. He married Juanita Toombs in 1946 at Clayton, N.M. She died in 1995. Survivors include a daughter, Bonnie Brooks of Aztec, N.M.; two sons, Danny Montoya of Texhoma, and Tony Montoya of Carrollton, Texas; a brother, Tony Montoya of San Antonio, Texas; 13 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Texhoma Cemetery. Elsewhere Dwight Ferguson SNOWFLAKE, Ariz. - Dwight Ferguson, 69, died Thursday, May 1, 1997. Services will be Saturday in Glendale, Ariz. Arrangements are by Silver Creek Chapel Mortuary. Mr. Ferguson was born in Enid, Okla. He was in the Marine Corps, serving in World War II. Survivors include his wife, Penny Ferguson; three daughters, Chris Wheeler of Michigan, Doireann Mott, and Sarah Mott, both of Mesa; four sons, Brad Ferguson, Michael Ferguson, Clay Ferguson, and Jason Ferguson, all of Texas; a sister, Arlene Brown of Colorado; a brother, Allan Ferguson of Oklahoma; and 11 grandchildren. Canyon Betty Cone Betty "Jo'' Cone, 73, of Canyon, died Saturday, May 3, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in the First Baptist Church with Dr. Charles Price, pastor, officiating. Private Interment will be at Dreamland Cemetery. Arrangements are by Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon. Ms. Cone was born in Canyon. She received a bachelor's and a master's in education at West Texas State University. She taught school and was a counselor at Bonham and Crockett Junior High Schools in Amarillo. Before teaching in Amarillo, she taught school in Lockney and Perryton. Upon retirement from Amarillo Independent School District, she took the required training to be a certified alcohol treatment counselor and served the Care Unit at Palo Duro Hospital until her retirement in 1994. She taught Sunday school and was a member of the First Baptist Church. Survivors include two nieces, Pamela Ashford of Pampa, and Cynthia Pavallard of Bastrop; three nephews, Todd Cone of Cleveland, Stanton Cone of Houston, and Steve Cone of Borger. The family requests memorials be to the Jo Cone Memorial Fund, care of Opportunity Plan, Inc., P.O. Box 1035, Canyon, Texas 79015 or to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176. Area Bernard Harold Losee Jr. STRATFORD - Bernard Harold Losee Jr., 67, of Kamiah, Idaho, was found Wednesday, April 30, 1997. Graveside services will be at 8:30 a.m. Monday in Stratford Cemetery with the Rev. Jerry Steward officiating. Arrangements are by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mr. Losee was born in Charles City, Iowa. He was a cook and had served in the Army during World War II. Survivors include four sisters, Beverly Montgomery and Twyla Roskup, both of Greene, Iowa, Donna Jacobson of Nora Springs, Iowa, and Louise Wagner of Nashua, Iowa. Loveta Brownlow MORTON - Loveta Brownlow, 80, of Lamesa, a former Morton resident, died Thursday, May 1, 1997. Memorial services were Saturday in the First Baptist Church with the Rev. Danny Jackson of the church and the Rev. Clifton Igo of Lamesa officiating. Burial was in the Cochran Memorial Cemetery by Ellis Funeral Home of Morton. Mrs. Brownlow was born in Oklahoma. She married Earl Brownlow in 1932 at Dawson County. They farmed in Cochran and Dawson counties. He died in 1979. She had lived at the Northridge Retirement Center in Lamesa since 1990, moving from Morton, where she lived from 1949 to 1990. She was a nurse's aide at Cochran Memorial Hospital in Morton for 20 years. She was a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include a son, Clyde Brownlow of Amherst; two daughters, Pat DeVore of Lamesa and Bonnie Crow of Morton; three brothers, Frank Harden, W.H. Harden and Don Harden, all of California; eight grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Lung Association, P.O. Box 26460, Austin, Texas 78755; or a favorite charity. Annie M. Ellis PLAINVIEW - Annie M. Ellis, 89, died Thursday, May 1, 1997. Graveside services were Saturday in Plainview Cemetery with the Rev. A.C. Hamilton, retired Baptist minister, officiating. Arrangements were by WoodDunning Funeral Home. Annie Jackson was born in Gunsight. She grew up in Plainview and graduated from Plainview High School. She received a bachelor's degree from Stanford University and a master's degree from Northern Colorado University. She taught elementary school in Lockney and Truth or Consequences, N.M., before retiring in 1970. She returned to Plainview in February, moving from Williamsburg, N.M. She was a member of the Retired Teachers Association and the Hot Springs Women's Club. Annie McWilliams Allen married Homer H. Ellis in 1951 at El Paso. He died in 1990. Survivors include three nieces, Sue Bratcher of Plainview, Dixie M. Williams of Kerrville and Virginia M. Foncille of Alexandria, La. George Venhaus HAPPY - George "Slim'' Venhaus, 87, died Friday, May 2, 1997. Memorial services will be at 4 p.m. today in Wallace Funeral Home at Tulia. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Monday in Holy Name Catholic Church at Happy by the Rev. Ed Sweeney of the church and Monsignor Harold Waldo of Amarillo. Burial will be in Happy Cemetery. Mr. Venhaus was born and raised in Nazareth and attended school there. He married Marie Agnes Hollenstien in 1935 at Umbarger. She died in 1989. He farmed in the Umbarger and Happy areas and in 1954 began Grade A Dairy at Happy, which was the first Grade A Dairy in the Amarillo area to ship milk in the bulk stainless steel tank truck. He was active in the leadership of Holy Name Catholic Church and was a member of Knights of Columbus. Survivors include seven daughters, Dianne Detten of Claude, Annita Sharp and Marilyn Crowell, both of Amarillo, Sister Martha Jane Venhaus of Long Beach, Calif., Rita Stevens of Lubbock, Leona Fangman of Dumas and Dorothy Kleman of Nazareth; four sons, Ed Venhaus and Bernard Venhaus, both of Amarillo, Frank Venhaus of Tulia and Dr. Leonard Venhaus of Tyler; a sister, Helen Backus of Nazareth; a brother, Paul Venhaus of Nazareth; 35 grandchildren; and 10 greatgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center in Amarillo. P.L. Peterman DUMAS - P.L. "Red'' Peterman, 85, died Thursday, May 1, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Scott Willingham, pastor, officiating. Graveside Masonic rites will be in Northlawn Memorial Gardens by Dumas Masonic Lodge No. 1009. Arrangements are by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mr. Peterman was born in Canton, Okla. He had been a Dumas resident since 1968, moving from Canadian. He retired as a contract welder. He was a 32nd degree Scottish Rite and a longtime Mason. He was a member of First Baptist Church and the Dumas Masonic Lodge No. 1009. He married Hazel Wright in 1937. She died in 1987. Survivors include a daughter, Loretta Bonsal of Dumas; a brother, Cecil Peterman of Wichita, Kan.; three sisters, Hazel Griffin and Gladys Peterman, both of Amarillo, and Genevive Stanley of Santana, Kan.; three grandchildren; five greatgrandchildren; and three great-greatgrandchildren. The family will be at 1723 Sunset. They request memorials be to a favorite charity. Jack Dillard BORGER - Jack Dillard, 95, died Friday, May 2, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the First Church of the Nazarene with the Rev. Bill Fowler, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Highland Park Cemetery. Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Directors of Borger. Mr. Dillard was born in Marlow, Okla. He had been a Borger resident for 70 years. He was a retired carpenter for Phillips Petroleum. He was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Nora Dillard, in 1977. Survivors include his wife, Stella W. Dillard; two sons, Bob Dillard of Garland, and Don Dillard of Amarillo; two stepsons, Wilbur Smith of Borger, and David Cochran of Ennis; a daughter, Inez Sandefur of Borger; two stepdaughters, Bobby Ruth Lee of Tyler, and Lucille Bailey of Amarillo; three sisters, Eunice Ingram of San Jacinto, Calif., Helen Moffitt of Glendale, Calif., and Amna Curry of Clovis, N.M.; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. The family will be at 1208 Roberts and 209 Maple in Borger. Billy Joe Woods FRITCH - Billy Joe Woods, 61, died Saturday, May 3, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in the First Baptist Church with the Rev. Ricky Griffin, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at the Garden of Devotion in Westlawn Memorial Park. Arrangements are by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors of Fritch. Mr. Woods was born in Springfield, Colo. He had been a longtime resident of Hutchinson County. He was a retired truck driver. He was a member of Sanford First Baptist Church and Billy Dixon Masonic Lodge. He married Frances McWhorter in 1957 at Sanford. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Rhonda Stephenson of Borger, and Cindy Vilas of Amarillo; a brother, Jimmie Lee Woods of Dallas; and four grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, 200 N.W. Seventh Ave., Amarillo, Texas 79107. Maude Brown PLAINVIEW - Maude Brown, 85, died Friday, May 2, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in the First Baptist Church Chapel with Dr. Travis Hart, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Plainview Memorial Park. Arrangements are by Lemons Funeral Home. Mrs. Brown was born in Sanger. She grew up in Dorchester and graduated from Dorchester High School. She moved to Hale County with her family in 1929. She married L.D. Brown in 1941 at Plainview. He died in 1975 at Plainview. After her marriage, she lived in Plainview. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, the pastor's Sunday school class, and had worked in the church nursery, kindergarten, and served on the food committees. She was a member of the Plainview Knife and Fork Club, the Women's Forum, and served on the Salvation Army Board. She was a past worthy matron of the Order of the Eastern Star and a member of the '57 Supper Club. Survivors include a brother, Glenn Witten of Plainview; and a sister, Juanita Smoot of Plainview. The family will receive friends at the funeral home today from 2 until 4 p.m. The family requests memorials be to the First Baptist Church, Salvation Army or to a favorite charity. Rosa P. Toscano MULESHOE - Rosa P. Toscano, 85, died Saturday, May 3, 1997. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in the Ellis Funeral Home Chapel. Mass will be at 11 a.m. Monday in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with Father Joe Augustin, priest, officiating. Burial will be at Muleshoe Cemetery. Mrs. Toscano was born in Campbellton. She had lived in Muleshoe since 1963, moving from Denver City. She was a homemaker and a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. She married Romolo Toscano in 1928 at Campbellton. He died in 1986. Survivors include six sons, Melicio Toscano of Mathis, Salvador Toscano of Ogden, Utah, Romolo Toscano of Progreso, Frank Toscano, and Ernesto Toscano, both of Muleshoe; two daughters, Maria Basaldu of Fort Worth, and Anita Davila of Levelland; two sisters, Domiga Leal and Trinadad Perez, both of Corpus Christi; a brother, Moses Perez of Houston; 51 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.