Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 5 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; Friday, December 5, 1997, 8:52 AM Amarillo Ethel May Lemmon Ethel May Lemmon, 91, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1997. Private memorial services will be in San Diego. Cremation and arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Lemmon was born in Sterling, Kan. She lived in El Centro, Calif., and San Diego before moving to Amarillo in 1993. She was a homemaker and a lifelong member of United Methodist Church. She was a member of American Legion Post No. 0006 in San Diego, a past president of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie No. 1559 in El Centro, a partner in La Boutique des Huit Salon 141 Chapeaux et Quarante in El Centro and a charter member of the Bonham Middle School Booster Club. Mrs. Lemmon married Harry F. Lemmon in 1927. He died in 1970. She also was preceded in death by a son, Thomas F. Lemmon. Survivors include two daughters, Betty L. Gelatt and Jeanne Newby, both of Amarillo; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Amarillo Senior Citizens Association, Box 31180, Amarillo, Texas 79120. The body will not be available for viewing. Guy L. Austin Guy L. Austin, 85, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1997. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with Jerry Thomas, pastor of North Beacon Church of the Nazarene, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Austin was born in Humphrey, Okla., and raised in Altus, Okla. He moved to Amarillo in 1945 from California. He was in the CCC Camp in 1935. He was a carpenter and a lifetime member of the Carpenters Union in Amarillo. He was a member of First Church of God. Mr. Austin married Katie Holcomb in 1934. She died in 1935. He married Hazel Pierce in 1937. She died in 1995. Survivors include a son, Jimmy Austin of Panhandle; a daughter, Mary Hunter of Amarillo; a sister, Audrey Haley of Amarillo; six grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. The family will be at 4012 N.E. 10th Ave. They request memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. The body will be available for viewing this morning at the funeral home. Birdie U. Francis Birdie U. Francis, 83, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1997. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. today in Hillcrest Baptist Church with the Rev. Larry Stone of the church officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mrs. Francis was born in Claude. She moved to Amarillo in 1948 from Wellington. She worked for the AISD and later was a cashier for Barnaby's Beanery for 18 years. She was active in the church. She married Floyd E. Francis in 1932. He died in 1977. She also was preceded in death by a son, Loran Ray Francis, in 1956. Survivors include a daughter, Maurice McKeever; four brothers, O.L. Judd of Amarillo, Dick Judd of Wellington, and John Judd and Preston Judd, both of Clarendon; five sisters, Helen Wisdom and Imogene Johnson, both of Amarillo, Juanita Fister of Austin, Janell Standifer of Yukon, Okla., and Betty Linley of Clarendon; eight grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren. Dorothy Covington Dorothy Covington, 81, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Cedar Hill Cemetery at Rusk. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home Inc., 4100 S. Georgia St. Mrs. Covington was born in Dallas and had lived in Amarillo for six years. She was a homemaker and a Catholic. She was preceded in death by her husband, Hubert Thelston Covington, in 1987. Survivors include a daughter, Celia Havel of Grand Prairie; three sons, Robert I. Covington of Amarillo, George Marcus Covington of Grand Prairie and David Paul Covington of Arlington; three sisters, Celia Grady of West End, N.C., Thelma Jones of West University, and Mildred Dallman of Robinson; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family will be at 3507 Vantage Lane. They request memorials be to the American Heart Association, regional office, 2404 W. Seventh Ave., Amarillo, Texas 79106. The body will not be available for viewing. Mayfair Hickman Mayfair Hickman, 76, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. today in Llano Cemetery with Wylie Chaney, minister, officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home Inc., 4100 S. Georgia St. Mrs. Hickman was born in Melrose, N.M. She was a homemaker and a Baptist. She married G.H. "Tommy" Hickman in 1947 at Wichita Falls. They lived in the Dallas area for more than 35 years before moving to Amarillo 14 years ago. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Linda Gail Sanders of Conroe; a brother, L.D. Chaney of Amarillo; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family will be at 2603 Douglas. They request memorials be to the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association, Panhandle Chapter, 2200 W. Seventh Ave., Amarillo, Texas 79106; or Crown of Texas Hospice. Oklahoma John Rhoads GUYMON, Okla. - John Rhoads, 85, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Church of the Nazarene with Rev. Terry Armstrong, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Elmhurst Cemetery by Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home. Mr. Rhoads was born in Texas County. He attended country schools and graduated from Goodwell High School in 1930. He homesteaded near Pagosa Springs, Colo., in 1931. He then moved to the Hardesty area in 1937. He moved to Holly, Colo., in 1950 and returned to Hardesty in 1957. He had farmed most of his life. After retiring in 1970, he moved from Hardesty to Guymon. He was a mill operator for several years for Farr Better Feeds. Mr. Rhoads was a member of the Perryton Mennonite Church. He attended the Church of the Nazarene in Guymon. He married Ruth Kauffman in 1941 at Guymon. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Johnnie Rhoads of Guymon and Bob Rhoads of Carney; four daughters, Adda Sue Nymeyer of Panhandle, Texas, Sherlyn Ketcherside and Roxie Davis, both of Guymon, and Sally Baker of Tucumcari, N.M.; four sisters, Dora Waldrop and Hazel Mannion, both of Amarillo, Mariel Shutt of Canton, Ohio, and Virginia Eyster of Marble Falls, Texas; 18 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandson. Elsewhere Oma Ethel Johnston KINGSVILLE - Oma Ethel Johnston, 77, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Broadview Church of the Nazarene with the Rev. Steve Lord and Ed Abla, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Grady Cemetery by Steed-Todd Funeral Home of Clovis, N.M. Mrs. Johnston was born in Hollene, N.M. She married Maynard Johnston in 1937. They farmed in Socorro, N.M., for more than 20 years. They owned and operated a restaurant in Denver City and a motel in Hereford. They also owned a farm in Two Buttes, Colo., before retiring in 1973. Survivors include two sons, Dr. Bill Johnston of Kingsville and the Rev. John Johnston of Pilot Point; a daughter, Barbara Johnston of Clovis; a brother Hershall Chandler of Hobart, Okla.; a sister, Gail Trussell of Star City, Ariz.; seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Ludmila Burian CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Ludmila "Lula" Burian, 90, formerly of Cedar Rapids, died Saturday, Nov. 15, 1997, in Amarillo. Services were in St. Ludmila Catholic Church. Burial was in St. John's Cemetery. Arrangements were by Teahan Funeral Home. "Speed" Burian in 1929 at Cedar Rapids. Mrs. Burian was a member of St. Monica's Circle at St. Ludmila Catholic Church. She was active in church activities, including the kolache festival and church bazaars. In 1994, she was honored at the annual St. Ludmila Kolache Festival. She was preceded in death by her husband and a son, Paul. Survivors include a son, Richard Burian of Amarillo; four sisters, Marie Havlick, Anne Reif and Sister Mary Christine Elias, all of Cedar Rapids, and Bessie Sasek of Martinez, Calif.; 10 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Notre Dame Sisters Seven Oaks of Florence Low Income Elderly Housing Project, 3501 State St., Omaha, Neb., 68112; or Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center in Amarillo. New Mexico Pablo Benavidez Jr. TUCUMCARI, N.M. - Pablo Benavidez Jr., 75, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1997. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in St. Anne's Catholic Church. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Saturday in St. Anne's Catholic Church by the Rev. John C. Daniel of the church. Arrangements are by Dunn Funeral Home. Mr. Benavidez was born in Montoya and had been a lifetime resident of the Tucumcari area. He was a retired welder. He also was active in ranching. He was a member of St. Anne's Catholic Church. Survivors include his wife, Tillie; three daughters, Mary Quintana and Rita Martinez, both of Tucumcari, and Maxine Benavidez of Amarillo; three sons, Pablo Benavidez and John Benavidez, both of Tucumcari, and Daniel Benavidez of Las Vegas; three brothers, Al Benavidez and Jack Benavidez, both of Tucumcari, and Domingo Benavidez of Santa Fe; two sisters, Amalia Ortiz of Tucumcari and Angelina Martinez of Montoya; 16 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. The body will be available for viewing at the funeral home from this morning until service time Saturday. Rita L. Garcia SANTA FE, N.M. - Rita L. Garcia, 63, died Monday, Dec. 1, 1997. Rosary was recited at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Encino. Mass of Christian Burial was at 1 p.m. Thursday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Encino. Burial was in Encino Cemetery by Chavez Funeral Home of Santa Rosa. Mrs. Garcia was born and raised in Vaughn and attended school there. She married Cristoval Garcia in 1952 at El Paso, Texas. They made their home in Santa Fe in 1955. Mrs. Garcia worked as a grocery store clerk in Santa Fe. She most recently had worked with the Alto Senior Center in Santa Fe. Survivors include her husband; four daughters, Janet Luna and Wanda Ornelas, both of Amarillo, Joann McBroom of Hot Springs, Ark., and Anita Sharpe of Shallowater, Texas; four brothers, Jerry Lopez of Yakima, Wash., Richard Lopez of Albuquerque, Joe Lopez of Chicago and Tom Lopez of Amarillo; a sister, Lita Storey of Amarillo; 15 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren including a great-grandson, Zachery Fouriner. Area Glenn Harrison Williams DALHART - Glenn Harrison Williams, 30, died Tuesday, Dec. 2, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Lincoln Street Baptist Church with J.M. Phillips officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Hass Funeral Home. Mr. Williams was born in Douglas, Ariz. He worked as a carpenter. Survivors include his wife, Maria Williams; his father, R.H. "Dick" Williams of Willcox, Ariz.; his mother, Beth Ross of Elfrida, Ariz.; two sisters, Terry Reedy of Petersburg and Melinda Goodnight of Braggs, Okla.; a brother, Rick Williams of Plainview; and his grandparents, Bob and Mary Langhorne, and Lloyd and Hazel Williams, all of Dalhart. The family requests memorials be to Verhelst house, Tovreaville, Bisbee, Ariz. 85603. James Holly Gray PAMPA - James Holly Gray, 89, died Thursday, Dec. 4, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Christian Church with the Rev. Darrell Evans, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery by CarmichaelWhatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Gray was born in Winchester, Ky. He moved to Pampa in 1930 from Winchester. He was a former co-owner and operator of Grays Trucking Co. He was a longtime Gray County farmer and rancher. He was a member of First Christian Church. He also was a member and past president of the Top O' Texas Rodeo Association. Mr. Gray married Millie Mae Epperson in 1926 at Winchester. She died in 1947. He married Alice Ingrum Cockrell in 1948 at Pampa. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Vivian White of Pampa; three sons, James Gray and Buddy Cockrell, both of Pampa, and Lee Cockrell of Panhandle; two sisters, Christine Castle and Ruby Thomas, both of Winchester; three brothers, Eddie Gray of Pampa, Ernest Gray of Winchester and Aubra Gray of Memphis, Tenn.; 12 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren. The family will be at 1236 Williston. They request memorials be to First Christian Church. Alvin Earl Liles CHILDRESS - Alvin Earl Liles, 73, died Monday, Dec. 1, 1997. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. today in Johnson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jim McCurley officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. in Erick Cemetery at Erick, Okla., with the Rev. Jeff Avery officiating. Mr. Liles was born in Canadian. He retired from the Navy after 20 years as a hospital corpsman first class. He was qualified as an instructor. During his 20 years of service, he served at or on 14 different stations or vessels. Survivors include a brother, Samuel Merle Liles of Childress. A.J. Rose SANFORD - A.J. Rose, 77, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel in Borger with the Rev. Harold James, retired Baptist minister from Boise City, Okla., officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of Serenity at Westlawn Memorial Park in Borger. Mr. Rose was born in Lindsey, Okla. He had been a Sanford resident for four years, moving from Van Buren, Ark. He served with the Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a millwright for Brown & Root Construction Co. He was a member of the Church of Christ. Mr. Rose married Louisa Mae Pitman in 1943 at Clayton, N.M. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Johnny Rose and Joe Rose, both of Sanford, and Jack Rose of Poteau, Okla.; a daughter, Donna Webster of Van Buren; a brother, Monroe Rose of Sweetwater; four sisters, Faye Ford, Winnie Oden, Elva Gorake and Treva Catlett, all of Texas; 22 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Kidney Foundation or the Diabetes Foundation. Lucile Blackburn Lewis SHAMROCK - Lucile Blackburn Lewis, 80, a former Shamrock resident, died Tuesday, Dec. 2, 1997, in Dallas. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Joe G. Jernigan, pastor of Calvary Christian Fellowship Church, officiating. Burial will be in Shamrock Cemetery by Wright Funeral Directors. Mrs. Lewis was born in Shamrock and graduated from Shamrock High School in 1934. She lived in Honolulu until 1960, when she moved to Spearman. She had been a resident of Dallas since 1973. She attended CIA in Denton. She was a store manager for Zale's Jewelry Co. She was a member of Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church. She was a past member of First United Methodist Church in Shamrock and a member of United Methodist Women and the Order of the Eastern Star. She married Winfred M. Lewis in 1936 at Shamrock. He preceded her in death. Survivors include a daughter, Connie Lewis Martin of Dallas; three sisters, Frances Worley of Shamrock, Mary Lee Walker of Amarillo and Dixie V. Martin of Las Vegas; and a granddaughter. The family requests memorials be to the Edna Gladney Center, 2300 Hemphill, Fort Worth, Texas 76110; or the Shamrock Cemetery Association. Robert F. Glass MULESHOE - Robert F. Glass, 75, of El Paso, died Thursday, Dec. 4, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Ellis Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Stacy Conner officiating. Burial will be in Muleshoe Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Glass was born in Antioch, Calif. He married Frances Moore in 1943 at Muleshoe. He served with the Army during World War II. He was a salesman and division manager for World Book and Childcraft Corp. He was a member of the Mineral and Gem Society of El Paso. Mr. Glass was a pitcher for the former Clovis Pioneer Baseball Club. He also was a pitcher for the Borger Gassers. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Tom Glass of Amarillo and Jerry Glass of Denver; two brothers, Jim Glass of San Rafael, Calif., and George Glass of Modesto, Calif.; and four grandchildren. Don Rawdon PLAINVIEW - Don Rawdon, 61, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Garland Street Church of Christ with Karl King, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens by Lemons Funeral Home. Mr. Rawdon was born in Floydada. He grew up in Plainview and graduated from Plainview High School in 1955. He attended Texas Tech University. He joined the Army in 1958 and served in Germany. He was discharged in 1960 and then re-enrolled at Texas Tech. In 1965, he moved to Dallas and attended Metropolitan Computer School, graduating in 1967. He worked with Sears in Dallas for a year. In 1969, he worked with the Army-Air Force Exchange. Mr. Rawdon moved back to Plainview in 1975. He opened the Computer Technology Store in 1985 and operated it until 1995. He also did custom harvesting with his father until 1990 and worked with South Plains Health Provider as head of the computer department. He was a member of Garland Street Church of Christ, where he taught Bible class for junior high. He also was the class chairman for his Sunday school class. Mr. Rawdon married Bobbie Boyd in 1958 at Lubbock. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Kari Rawdon of Arlington; his father, R.L. Rawdon of Plainview; and three sisters, Billie Lou Nelson of Spring, Joe Ann Graham of Longview and Peggy Long of Waco. J.R. Holley PLAINVIEW - J.R. Holley, 61, died Thursday, Dec. 4, 1997. Graveside services were at 2 p.m. Thursday in Plainview Cemetery with the Rev. Roger Foote, pastor of Northside Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Lemons Funeral Home. Mr. Holley was born and raised in Paris, Texas. He attended school in Lonestar. He moved to Lubbock in 1955 and worked as a subcontractor. He moved to Amarillo in 1965 and continued his work as a subcontractor. He became disabled in 1984. Survivors include four daughters; three sons; his mother, Faye O'Conner of Lubbock; a brother, Billy Holley of Roby; five sisters, Delores Swilling of Irving, Goldia House of Lubbock, Dorothea Williams and Norma Holley, both of Shallowater, and Sue Hunt of Amarillo; three half brothers, Cliff Holley of Lubbock, Pat Holley of Paris and Vernon Holley of Wisconsin; and two half sisters, Vera Durrett of Irving and Christine of Sherman. Truett Holland WELLINGTON - Truett Holland, 83, died Thursday, Dec. 4, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with Dr. William L. Hendricks, head of Baptist studies at TCU in Fort Worth, officiating. Burial will be in North Fairview Cemetery by Adams Funeral Home. Mr. Holland was born in Dodson and graduated from Dodson High School in 1931. He attended Texas Tech University and graduated from Wayland Baptist University in Plainview. He married Mary Alice Kutch in 1950 at Amarillo. Mr. Holland was a member of the Wellington Masonic Lodge and had received his 50-year pin. He served with the Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Order of the Eastern Star and the Commandery at Memphis. He was a member of First Baptist Church and originated the Lighthouse Quartet. He had a column in the Wellington Leader called Dodson Memories. Survivors include his wife. Violet Neta Knight WHEELER - Violet Neta Knight, 68, died Thursday, Dec. 4, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Toby Henson, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Wheeler Cemetery by Wright Funeral Home. Ms. Knight was born in Clarksville. She moved to Wheeler County from Lewisville in 1973. She was a licensed vocational nurse and worked at Parkview Hospital in Wheeler from 1973 until retiring in 1990. She was a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include two daughters, Shirley Butler of Plano and Debbie Carpenter of Chickasha, Okla.; a brother, Leonard Gaines of Wheeler; four sisters, Martha Hogan and Gloria Swires, both of Pampa, Loria Jennings of Tulsa, Okla., and Judy Chandler of Amarillo; five grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family requests memorials be to the American Cancer Society.