Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 5 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 Anna Irene Kourt Anna Irene Kourt, 84, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, April 2, 1997. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Monday in Llano Cemetery with Howard Childers, pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Ms. Kourt was born in Tampa, Kan. She moved to Texas with her family in 1913. She was a secretary for the Santa Fe Railway in the special services department until retiring in 1978. After retiring, she lived in Dumas until 1986, when she returned to Amarillo. Survivors include two nieces, Ann Brown and Shirley Gibbons, both of Amarillo; and a nephew, Jimmy Crabb of Dumas. Andy Lee Cheek Andy Lee Cheek, 35, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, April 2, 1997. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Fairview Cemetery at Memphis with the Rev. Travis LaDuke officiating. Arrangements are by Spicer Funeral Home of Memphis. Mr. Cheek was born in Memphis and had lived in Amarillo all of his life. He was a painter by trade and was employed by Kenneth Cheek of Amarillo. He was a Baptist. He was preceded in death by his parents, Billy and Patsy Cheek, in 1981. Survivors include two sisters, Donna Palmer of Big Spring and Cindy Walling of Midland; an uncle, Kenneth Cheek of Amarillo; and a grandmother, Roberta Moore of Memphis. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. George Pineda George "Micci" Pineda, 39, of Amarillo, died Thursday, April 3, 1997. Cremation and arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mr. Pineda was born in Longmont, Colo., and was a former resident of Denver. He moved to Amarillo in 1993. He worked as a printer in Dallas. Survivors include his father, Alex Pineda of Westminster, Colo.; and three sisters, Lorraine Pacheco and Debbie Trujillo, both of Denver, and Lucy Pineda of Salt Lake City. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center or PASO. Tina Willis Tina Willis, 82, of 3606 Julian Blvd., died Friday, April 4, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street, with the Rev. Bob Murphy of Paramount Terrace Christian Church officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Willis was born in Fort Worth. She moved to Amarillo in 1947. She was a member of Paramount Terrace Christian Church and a longtime employee of Colbert's Department Store. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harlan C. Willis, in 1986. Survivors include a son, Dennis Bruton of the home; a sister, Gwen Shadown of Reno, Nev.; a granddaughter; and two great-grandchildren. The family will be at 3606 Julian Blvd. They request memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. Bertha Johnson Bertha Johnson, 72, of 1945 N.W. 13th Ave., died Thursday, April 3, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Rector Funeral Home Chapel, 2800 S. Osage St., with Elgie Crow, elder at Carter's Chapel Primitive Baptist Church, and Henry Crawford, elder at New Zion Primitive Baptist Church, officiating. Cremation will be by Rector Funeral Home. Mrs. Johnson was born in Bryan. She moved to Amarillo in 1942 from Stanford. She married B.H. Johnson in 1940 at Stanford. He died in 1957. She was a homemaker and a member of New Zion Primitive Baptist Church. Survivors include two daughters, Judia Harris and Doris Stevens, both of Amarillo; 12 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. Canyon Helen Irene Maund Foor Helen Irene Maund Foor, 93, of Canyon, died Thursday, April 3, 1997. Cremation was by Memory Gardens Crematory. Arrangements were by Holley Funeral Home Inc. Burial will be in Monongahela Cemetery at Monongahela, Pa. Mrs. Foor was born in Charleroi, Pa., and moved to the Canyon area in 1947. She was a homemaker and a member of First Presbyterian Church and the Canyon Garden Club. She was preceded in death by her husband, Glen, in 1954. Survivors include a son, Floyd M. Holroyd of Sun City Center, Fla.; two stepdaughters, Reta Roquemores of Ridgecrest, Calif., and Goldie Klein of Palmer, Alaska; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. New Mexico John S. Lyle ALAMOGORDO, N.M. - John S. Lyle, 85, died Wednesday, April 2, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. Rondal L. Killgore officiating. Burial will be in Monte Vista Cemetery by Hamilton-O'Dell Funeral Home. Mr. Lyle was born in McCloud, Okla. He was an engineer in the oil industry for Cabot Corporation at Pampa, Texas, before retiring in 1975. He moved to Alamogordo in 1987. He was an artist and a member of the Artist Guild and First Baptist Church. His wife, Inez A., died in 1980. Survivors include three daughters, Kay Fisher of Alamogordo, Judy Friend of Midland, Texas, and Linda Flippo of Artesia; a son, John S. Lyle Jr. of Amarillo; 11 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. Robert Gene Green TEXICO, N.M. - Robert Gene Green, 58, died Tuesday, April 1, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Pleasant Hill Cemetery at Pleasant Hill with the Rev. Jim Peabody officiating. Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home of Clovis. Mr. Green was born in Portales. He lived in Clovis for many years before moving to Texico three years ago. He served seven years in the Navy as a flight director on aircraft carriers. He was a Baptist and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Survivors include a son, Robby Green; a daughter, Robbin Shook; a brother, John Green of Salt Lake, Hawaii; two sisters, Katy Hatto and Glenda Bailey, both of Lubbock, Texas; his mother, Juanita Morgan of Clovis; and four grandchildren. Jose Inez Chavez CLOVIS, N.M. - Jose Inez Chavez, 88, died Friday, April 4, 1997. Rosary was recited at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Community. Mass will be celebrated at 4 p.m. today in Our Lady of Guadalupe by the Rev. Carlos Chavez. Burial will be in Mission Garden of Memories by Muffley Funeral Home. Mr. Chavez was born in El Alamo. He was a self-employed cement mason and a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Community. He was the foreman for the construction of the present Our Lady of Guadalupe. He also built the Our Lady of Guadalupe shrine at the entrance of the church. He married Erlinda Gallegos in 1937 at Clovis. Survivors include his wife; five sons, Ernest Chavez of Juan de Dios, and Abelino Chavez, Johnny Chavez, Victor Chavez and Freddie Chavez, all of Clovis; four daughters, Julia Baca, Rose Romero, Jane Sanchez and Toni Chavez, all of Clovis; five sisters, Julia Salazar, Eulalia Mirabal, Josie Paiz and Theresa Paiz, all of Portales, and Rita Salazar of Juan de Dios; five brothers, Alfonso Chavez, Juan Chavez, Christobal Chavez and Victor Chavez, all of Clovis, and Salamon Chavez of Fort Sumner; 48 grandchildren; 80 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren. Irene L. Hester MELROSE, N.M. - Irene L. Hester, 74, died Wednesday, April 2, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Coy Brewer officiating. Burial will be in Melrose Cemetery by Steed-Todd Funeral Home of Clovis. Mrs. Hester was born in Trinidad, Colo. She was raised in New Mexico and moved to Melrose in 1971. She married Eugene Hester in 1987 at Farwell, Texas. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Moriarty. She was involved with art, poetry, crafts and carpentry. She was preceded in death by a son, Buzzy Love. Survivors include her husband; three daughters, Leota Greeley, Edna Watkins and Ann Holly; five stepchildren, Jack, Ed, Ella May, Lorieca and Kathy; four brothers, Bobby Johnson, Charlie Hill, Alvin Ray Hill and James Royce Hill; stepmother, Ruby Hill; 16 grandchildren; 10 stepgrandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Elsewhere James Allen Emmerson III TOPEKA, Kan. - James "JAE" Allen Emmerson III, 46, died Monday, March 31, 1997. Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. today in Grace Episcopal Cathedral. Arrangements are by Penwill-Gabel Midtown Chapel. Mr. Emmerson was born in Amarillo and graduated from Amarillo High School in 1969. He attended Washburn University and Amarillo College. He was a member of the Amarillo Little Theater, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church and St. Peter's Episcopal Church, where he was active in youth activities. He also was a member of the Boy Scouts of America and had attained the rank of Eagle Scout. After moving to Topeka, he served with the Kansas National Guard and was a member of the Topeka Masonic Lodge No. 17 AF&AM. He was a Ham radio operator, a professional ski instructor and a computer technician at Best Buy. He also played with the Blues Fusion Jazz Band. Survivors include a daughter, Jessica Lee of Valley Falls; his mother, Taffy Emmerson of Topeka; a sister, Allana Bell of Topeka; and two grandmothers. The family requests memorials in lieu of flowers be to the Stormont-Vail Health Care Foundation, 1500 S.W. 10th, Topeka, Kan. 66606; or a favorite charity. Area Viola Page QUANAH - Viola Page, 76, died Thursday, April 3, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jesse Dea officiating. Burial will be in Quanah Memorial Park by Price-Jackson Funeral Home. Mrs. Page was born in Quanah and had lived there all of her life. She was a retired manager for Sears & Roebuck and a member of First United Methodist Church. She married Floyd Elmo Page in 1939 at Vernon. He died in 1991. Survivors include four sons, Brad Page and Robert Page, both of Quanah, Richard Page of Camby, Ore., and Pat Page of Wichita Falls; a daughter, Judy Ditmore of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; two sisters, Ginger Pechacek of Quanah and Tommie Kay Mashburn of Iowa Park; 13 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Karla Jan Cho PAMPA - Karla Jan Cho, 34, died Wednesday, April 2, 1997, at El Paso. Services will be at 4 p.m. today in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with Lonny Robbins of Trinity Fellowship Church officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mrs. Cho was born in Groom. She graduated from Pampa High School in 1981. She moved to El Paso six months ago from Pampa, where she had been a lifelong resident. Survivors include a daughter, Lindsey Cho of Bakersfield, Calif.; a son, Matthew Cho of Bakersfield; her mother and stepfather, Leona and Robert Ray of Pampa; four sisters, Cheryl Vinson and her twin, Kelly Richey, both of Amarillo, and Terry Searl and Julie Vinson, both of Pampa; and seven brothers, Jeffrey White, Scott Vinson and Hank Vinson, all of Pampa, Tracy Vinson and Jimmy Vinson, both of Austin, David Vinson of Seabrook and Steve Vinson of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. The family will receive friends at 1001 N. Summer and 911 E. Browning. Sue Langston BORGER - Sue Langston, 87, died Thursday, April 3, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Brown Funeral Directors Chapel of the Fountains with the Rev. Leonard Forsythe, pastor of Bible Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Cemetery. Mrs. Langston was born in Childers, Okla., and had lived in Borger for 67 years. She was a homemaker and a member of Fellowship Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, D.E. "Buddy" Langston, in 1994; and a daughter, Retha Langston, in 1970. Survivors include a son, James Wayne Langston of Grand Junction, Colo.; two daughters, Cherri Meek of Gatesville and Janet Langston Peterson of Garland; a sister, Mamie Harrison of Nowata, Okla.; several nieces and nephews including LeAnne Langston of the home; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Euphemia Luzetty LaGrone Byrd WAYSIDE - Euphemia Luzetty LaGrone Byrd, 92, a former Wayside resident, died Tuesday, April 1, 1997, in Elk Grove, Calif. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Wayside Cemetery with Bishop Bruce Tate of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of Canyon officiating. Arrangements are by Andrews & Greilich Mortuary of Sacramento, Calif., and Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon. Mrs. Byrd was born in Lawn Taylor. She married Richard Brown Byrd in 1921 at Bronte. She and her husband lived in Wayside for many years before moving to California in 1948. She was a homemaker and a member of the Church or Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was preceded in death by an infant son, Richard Irving Byrd, in 1934; a daughter, Raye Byrd Morgan, in 1978; and her husband in 1969. Survivors include four daughters, Novalene Byrd Toles of Happy, Juanita Currie of Bennington, Okla., Vyondelle Lee of Elk Grove and Vesta Voigt of Sacramento; 19 grandchildren; 20 greatgrandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Cancer Society. Kay Howard Vandiver DARROUZETT - Kay Howard Vandiver, 44, of Midland, a former Darrouzett resident, died Thursday, April 3, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Darrouzett High School Auditorium with the Rev. Gary McDonald, pastor of First Baptist Church, and Dr. Marcus Adair, director of the Faith Bible Center in Canyon, officiating. Burial will be in the Darrouzett Cemetery by CarmichaelWhatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Ms. Vandiver was born in Beaver, Okla. She graduated from Darrouzett High School and received her bachelor of arts degree from Wayland Baptist University. She later attended Midland College and received her RN degree. She had been a resident of Midland since 1982. She was an RN on the heart surgery team at Midland Memorial Hospital for five years. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Midland and a former member of First Baptist Church of Pampa. Survivors include her parents, Bob and Peggie Howard of Darrouzett; a sister, Janet Giles of Pampa; a brother, Randy Howard of Darrouzett; and a grandmother, Edith Travis of Booker. The family requests memorials be to the American Diabetes Association or First Baptist Church of Darrouzett. The body will be available for viewing at Good Samaritan Funeral Home in Booker from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and until service time Sunday. Novell Smith CHILDRESS - Novell Smith, 86, died Thursday, April 3, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church Chapel with the Rev. Jim McCurley of the church officiating. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery by Johnson Funeral Home. Mrs. Smith was born in Aspermont. She moved to the Alba area when she was 6 weeks old and to Childress at age 11. She lived in the Lonnie / Olympus area before moving to McLean in the early 1940s. She moved to Childress in 1942. She married Will H. Smith in 1930 at Hollis, Okla. He died in 1985. She also was preceded in death by a son, Earl H. Smith, in 1996. She was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include a daughter, Ann Stepp of Amarillo; a son, James Clyde Smith of Childress; eight grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. Alfonzo Davila SUDAN - Alfonzo Davila, 77, died Thursday, April 3, 1997. Rosary was recited at 7 p.m. Friday in Ellis Funeral Home. Mass will be celebrated at 4 p.m. today in Sacred Heart Catholic Church at Littlefield by the Rev. Clarence Huber, pastor. Burial will be in Sudan Cemetery. Mr. Davila was born in Mexico. He married Emilia Gonzalez in 1950 at Carrizo Springs. He had lived in the Sudan area since 1954, moving from Carrizo Springs. He was a farmer and a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Littlefield. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Janie Davila, in 1982. Survivors include his wife; four sons, Armando Davila, Mayo Davila, Alfonzo Davila Jr. and Daniel Davila, all of Sudan; five daughters, Maria Martinez, Minnie Davila and Mary Davila Wood, all of Sudan, and Torivia Davila and Yolanda Rodriquez, both of Muleshoe; two sisters, Amalia Davila of Las Vegas and Lenora Torres of Brownsville; a brother, Domingo Davila of Las Vegas; 27 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Jerry J. Richardson Sr. PLAINVIEW - Jerry Joseph Richardson Sr., 66, died Thursday, April 3, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Roy Johnson of Decatur, former pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park Cemetery by Wood-Dunning Funeral Home. Mr. Richardson was born in Maysville, Okla. He moved to Olton in the 1940s and to Plainview from Littlefield in 1962. He had owned and operated Richardson Sewing Center since 1970. He served with the Air Force during the Korean War. He was a member of First Baptist Church. He married Florence Champion in 1952 at Littlefield. Survivors include his wife; a son, Jerry J. Richardson Jr. of Plainview; a daughter, Cindy Billington of Plainview; three sisters, Joyce Roberts of Amherst, Fern Moore of Van and Doris Pickard of Roswell, N.M.; two brothers, Bud Richardson of Tucumcari, N.M., and Mike Richardson of Azle; and two grandchildren. Bette Earle Vaughn PLAINVIEW - Bette Earle Vaughn, 73, died Friday, April 4, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Llano Cemetery at Amarillo with the Rev. Roger Foote, pastor of Northside Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Wood-Dunning Funeral Home. Ms. Vaughn was born in Plainview. She attended Hockaday School in Dallas and graduated from Amarillo High School. She moved back to Plainview in 1984 from Amarillo. She was an artist and had operated antique shops. She was a Baptist. Survivors include her mother, Belle Wilkins of Plainview; and two friends, Bettye Quisenberry and Vonceil Casey, both of Plainview. Addie I. Scott WELLINGTON - Addie I. Scott, 85, a former Wellington resident, died Thursday, April 3, 1997, in Wichita Falls. Services will be at 3:30 p.m. today in the Church of Christ with Alfred White, retired Church of Christ minister from Claude, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery by Adams Funeral Home. Mrs. Scott was born in Alto. She moved to Wellington with her family in 1922. She married W.O. "Pete" Scott in 1928 at Wellington. He died in 1991. She also was preceded in death by five sons. She was a grocer. She moved to Wichita Falls in 1987 to be near family. Survivors include a daughter, Nelda Aaron of Wichita Falls; a brother, Tip Carter of Sadler; two sisters, Juanita Hornsby of Amarillo and Lily Story of Childress; and three grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Wellington Cemetery Association or the Wellington EMS.