Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 5 Oct 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; Sunday, October 5, 1997, 9:56 AM Amarillo Vyron Sawyer Vyron "Buz'' Sawyer, 77, of Amarillo, died Friday, Oct. 3, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Christ Lutheran Church with the Rev. Scott Herbert, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mr. Sawyer was born in Durant, Okla., and moved to Amarillo in 1939. He married Catherine Shaffer in 1946 at Amarillo. He had worked as an assembler at the Pantex plant. Mr. Sawyer was a U.S. Army veteran and a member of Christ Lutheran Church. He had been a baseball and softball umpire for 40 years and was inducted into the Texas Amateur Softball Association Umpire Hall of Fame. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Lynn Bezner of Pampa, Larry Bezner of Dalhart and Jerry Bezner of Edmond, Okla.; two daughters, Linda Metcalf and Aletha Sawyer, both of Amarillo; a sister, Loveda Wilkerson of Amarillo; 14 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. Ruby J. Cargill Ruby J. Cargill, 80, of Amarillo, died Friday, Oct. 3, 1997. Services will be at 4 p.m. Monday at BlackburnShaw Memorial Chapel with Lyndon Latham, associate minister of Anna Street Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Cargill was born in Lesley, Ark., and moved to Amarillo in 1951 from California. She married William Cargill in 1953 at Carlsbad, N.M. Mrs. Cargill was a longtime Oklahoma resident. She worked as a beautician for 20 years in the Amarillo area, retiring in 1981. She was a member of Fairlane Church of Christ. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Gerald Okerson of Alexandria, Va., and David Cargill of Taylor; three sisters, Mildred Ledford of Cleveland, Okla., Clyde Martinez of Carthage, Mo., and Jenny Berna of Carnegie, Okla.; seven grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. Juanita Ann Morris Juanita Ann Morris, 67, of Amarillo, died Friday, Oct. 3, 1997. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Memory Gardens Cemetery with the Rev. Dale Bigham, pastor of Arden Road Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Morris was born in Clovis, N.M., and had lived in Amarillo since 1946. She had retired from Safeway after working for the supermarket chain for 35 years. She helped start the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union in Amarillo and served on its board of directors for two years before retiring. She was a life member. Survivors include a daughter, Carolyn Britten of Amarillo; her mother, Jewel Staples of Mesquite; a brother, Charlie Pulliam Jr. of Burkburnett; a sister, Zelma Reagan of Mesquite; and two grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Amarillo Botanical Gardens, 1400 Streit Drive, Amarillo, Texas 79106. Canyon George Brockman George Brockman, 93, of Canyon, formerly of Umbarger, died Friday, Oct. 3, 1997. Vigil will be at 7 p.m. today in Holley Funeral Home Chapel in Canyon. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Umbarger by the Rev. Pat Carathers of St. Hyacinth's Catholic Church in Amarillo and the Rev. Jim Hutzler of St. Mary's Catholic Church. Burial will be in Umbarger Cemetery. Mr. Brockman was born in St. Stephens, Neb. He moved to Nazareth in 1907 and to Umbarger in 1941. He had been living in the Golden Plains Care Center in Canyon. He married Mary Albracht in 1928. Mr. Brockman was a farmer and was the elevator manager for Bunge and Farmer's Elevator in Umbarger. He was a community volunteer and was the pianist and choir director for St. Mary's Catholic Church. Survivors include his wife; a son, Bob Brockman of Amarillo; a daughter, Ormalene Artho of Wildorado; two brothers, Ernest Brockman of Nazareth and Victor Brockman of Midland; three sisters, Sister Jane Frances of Fort Smith, Ark., Martha Woods of Easton, Md., and Mattie Swirczynski of Muenster; 19 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. Maudie Allen Maudie Ethel Keasler Allen, 87, died Saturday, Oct. 4, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Holley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Steven Swint, pastor of Calvary Pentecostal Church in Amarillo, officiating. Burial will be at Rowe Cemetery in Hedley. Mrs. Allen was born in Quinlan and lived most of her life in Canyon. She married Vernon R. Allen in 1929 at Clarendon. She was active in the Pentecostal Church and had worked as a minister. She was a homemaker. Survivors include a son, Cletis Allen of Canyon; a brother, Carl Keasler of Dallas; two grandchildren; and three greatgrandchildren. New Mexico Edna Elms CLOVIS - Edna Elms, 87, died Thursday, Oct. 2, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Central Baptist Church with the Rev. Billy E. Hines Jr. officiating. Entombment will be in Plains Sanctuary Mausoleum in Mission Garden of Memories Cemetery by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Mrs. Elms was born in Era, Texas, and moved from Friona, Texas, to Clovis in 1943. She taught school for 17 years at Highland Grade School, retiring in 1974. Mrs. Elms worked at Central Baptist Church Preschool for 10 years and also played the piano for Central Baptist. She was a member of Central Baptist Church, the American Association of University Women, Retired Teachers Association and Meals on Wheels. Mrs. Elms was preceded in death by a son, Gary Don Elms, in 1960. Survivors include her husband, Virgil; two sons, Duane Elms of Huntington, Conn., and Deryl Elms of Olton, Texas; a sister, Faye Flutty of Amarillo, Texas; and two grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Central Baptist Church Building Fund, 2501 N. Norris, Clovis, N.M., 88101, the Arthritis Foundation or a favorite charity. Virginia Davis CLOVIS - Virginia Ruth "Tootsie'' Davis died Friday, Oct. 3, 1997. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Steed-Todd Chapel with the Rev. Billy E. Hines Jr. and the Rev. Dale Hill officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Davis was born in Cordell, Okla., and had been a Clovis resident since 1948. She also lived on a ranch in DeBaca County with her husband, Floyd. She was a member of Central Baptist Church and the Dorcus Sunday School Class. Survivors include her husband; and several nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to New Mexico Boys Ranch. Elsewhere Agnes Lilly Meyers CROWLEY - Agnes Lilly Meyers, 86, died Thursday, Oct. 2, 1997. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Monday in Memorial Park Cemetery in Amarillo. Arrangements are by Baumgardner Funeral Home. Ms. Meyers was born in Sayre, Okla. She retired as owner of Meyers Interior Decorator and Meyers Real Estate Co. Survivors include a brother, Robert Boynton of Amarillo; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. There will be no visitation. Wesley White SHALLOWATER - Wesley White, 82, a former Clovis, N.M., resident, died Friday, Oct. 3, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Mission Garden of Memories in Clovis with the Rev. Kelvin Copeland officiating. Arrangements are by SteedTodd Funeral Home of Clovis. Mr. White was born in Thayer, Mo. He had lived in Clovis for 30 years before moving to Shallowater, where he lived for the last four years. Survivors include his wife, Jean; a daughter, Gale Smith of Clovis; a son, Wesley White of Shenandoah, Va.; three sisters, Maxine Sanders, Babe Lovelace and Ethel Goodman; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Area Dora Lea Howell HEREFORD - Dora Lea Howell, 78, died Friday, Oct. 3, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Gililland-Watson Funeral Home Rose Chapel with the Rev. Terry Cosby, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Rest Lawn Memorial Park. Mrs. Howell was born in Lynn County. She moved to Deaf Smith County in 1945 from O'Donnell. She married Ray Howell in 1939 at Big Spring. He died in 1988. Mrs. Howell was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary and the Hereford Rebekah Lodge. Survivors include a son, Eldon Howell of Hereford; a sister, Ora Bea Massey of Tyler; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Melvin L. Chandler PAMPA - Melvin L. Chandler, 83, died Thursday, Oct. 2, 1997, in Odessa. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Mary Ellen and Harvester Church of Christ with Glen Walton, minister of North Amarillo Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Chandler was born in Endee, N.M. He was a resident of Pampa from 1948 until moving to Odessa in May. He worked for White House Lumber Co. for several years as a lumberman. He was a member of Mary Ellen and Harvester Church of Christ and served as a deacon there for several years. Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Correne Chandler; three daughters, Pat Lauen of Spavinaw, Okla., Pari Brown of Redding, Calif., and Johnnie Kitchens of Odessa; a sister, Bernice Booth of Portales, N.M.; two brothers, Garvin Chandler of Portales, N.M., and Clinton Chandler of Albuquerque, N.M.; and five grandchildren. Amelia Cook Ramp CANADIAN - Amelia Cook Ramp, 96, died Thursday, Oct. 2, 1997. Services were Saturday in First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Brad Walker, pastor, officiating. Burial was in Edith Ford Cemetery by Stickley-Hill Funeral Directors. In 1907, Mrs. Ramp moved from Hamilton to the Gem community of Hemphill County. She graduated from Canadian High School and received her teaching certificate from West Texas Normal College. She married W.E. "Bill'' Ramp in 1923 at Follett. He died in 1971. She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Peggy Ramp Walker, in 1989. Mrs. Ramp was a member of the Tri-C Club in the Gem community. She also was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Daughters of the American Revolution and First Presbyterian Church. Survivors include a sister, Clata Hoobler of Canadian; two grandchildren, William Patrick Walker of Canadian and Anna Jane Brown of Dallas; and six greatgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Ramp-Walker Scholarship Fund c/o First Presbyterian Church, Canadian, Texas 79014. Mary Loyce Collins FRITCH - Mary Loyce Collins, 62, died Thursday, Oct. 2, 1997. Services were Saturday in First United Methodist Church in Borger with Dr. David Jones, pastor, and the Rev. Leonard Forsythe, pastor of Bible Baptist Church, officiating. Burial was in the Garden of Love at Westlawn Memorial Park by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. Mrs. Collins was born in Wellington and had been a Hutchinson County resident since 1942. She received her bachelor of science degree from West Texas State University. She married Casey Collins in 1984 at Borger. Mrs. Collins retired as an art and English teacher and a high school girls' golf coach. She was a member of the Retired Classroom Teachers Association and First United Methodist Church of Borger. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Deanne Rexroat of Cincinnati and Dana Sigsbee of McKinney; a sister, Sally Hayes of Oklahoma City; and three grandchildren. Doris Vandagriff STINNETT - Doris Vandagriff, 66, died Thursday, Oct. 2, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in First Baptist Church with Orville Rogers, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Cemetery by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. Mrs. Vandagriff was born in Doyle, Okla. She had been a Stinnett resident for 44 years, moving from Wichita Falls. She was a homemaker and a member of Abundant Life Church. She married Claude Vandagriff Sr. in 1949 at Henrietta. He died in 1992. Survivors include a son, Claude Vandagriff Jr. of Borger; a daughter, Deanna Beasley of Amarillo; two brothers, Bill Graham of Anadarko, Okla., and Bob Graham of Lindsey, Okla.; three sisters, Mable Hope of Oakdale, Calif., Christine Adkins of Duncan, Okla., and Jimmie Alexander of Dallas; and a granddaughter. Ruby Leona Edwards BORGER - Ruby Leona Edwards, 70, died Friday, Oct. 3, 1997. Services will be at 4 p.m. Monday in Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel with Richard Kasko, minister of the Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Panhandle Cemetery at Panhandle. Mrs. Edwards was born in Anson. She had been a Borger resident since 1932, moving from Anson. She was a former secretary for the Phillips refinery. She was a member of the Church of Christ. She married Earl Edwards in 1952 at Clovis, N.M. Survivors include her husband; a son, Eddie Edwards of Borger; two brothers, Riley Stroud of Elmore City, Okla., and Mike Stroud of Middleton, Tenn.; a sister, Lena LeMay of Pauls Valley, Okla.; and two grandsons. The family requests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice in Amarillo. Fidel Baca BOVINA - Fidel Baca, 86, died Friday, Oct. 3, 1997, in Friona. Rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. today in St. Ann's Catholic Church. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in St. Ann's Catholic Church with the Rev. Ed Kieran, pastor, and the Rev. Ed Sweeney of Friona officiating. Burial will be in Bovina Cemetery by Ellis-Blackwell Funeral Home of Friona. Mr. Baca was born in Revelto, N.M. He had lived in Bovina since 1931, moving from Revelto. He married Antonia Duran in 1931 at Clovis, N.M. She died in 1981. Mr. Baca retired from the Santa Fe Railway in 1975 after 43 years of service. He was a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church and the Clovis Senior Citizens. Survivors include two sons, John Baca of Friona and George Baca of Amarillo; a daughter, Mary Rose Brito of Bovina; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Doris Boggess FRIONA - Doris Boggess, 76, died Friday, Oct. 3, 1997. Services will be at 4:30 p.m. today in 6th Street Church of Christ with Leon Talley, minister, and Eugene Bandy of Friona officiating. Burial will be in Friona Cemetery by Ellis-Blackwell Funeral Home. Mrs. Boggess was born in Separ, N.M. She had lived in Friona since 1926, moving from Belton. She was a member of 6th Street Church of Christ. She married Eugene Boggess in 1939 at Clovis, N.M. He died in March. Survivors include a son, Joe Ed Boggess of Whitefish, Mo.; a daughter, Robbie Rucker of Midland; five sisters, Martha Bates and Lorraine Welch, both of Friona, Jamie Lu Lillard of Waco, Helen Teague of Cheyenne Wells, Colo., and Macie Hunt of DeSoto; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Naomi Shaw PLAINVIEW - Naomi Shaw, 65, died Friday, Oct. 3, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Lemons Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Larry Veazey, pastor of Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church, officiating. Burial will be in Olton Cemetery at Olton. Mrs. Shaw was born and raised in Olton and attended school there. She married Lewis Earl "Bob'' Shaw in 1952 at Clovis, N.M. After marrying, she lived in Blanchard, Okla. She moved to Olton in 1953 and to Edmonson in 1956. She then moved to Providence in 1965 and to Finney in 1991. Mrs. Shaw was a dollmaker and a seamstress. She attended Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Geneva Tipton of Plainview; a son, Wesley Shaw of Plainview; a brother, Eugene Howard of Waco; and four grandchildren. Joyce Lorene Benge BORGER - Joyce Lorene Benge, 74, died Thursday, Oct. 2, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Minton Memorial Chapel with Richard Kasko, minister of the Church of Christ of Borger, officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of the Good Shepherd in Memory Gardens Cemetery at Pampa. Mrs. Benge was born in Wagoner, Okla., and had been a Borger resident since 1930. She was retired as a secretary for Dr. H.M. Hamra and was a member of the Church of Christ of Borger. Survivors include a daughter, Rita Alexander of Liberty; a sister, Eilene Hampton of Fritch; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Ida Faye Whitten MEMPHIS - Ida Faye Whitten, 79, died Saturday, Oct. 4, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Travis Baptist Church with the Rev. Bob Reid officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery by Spicer Funeral Home of Memphis and Myers-Long Funeral Directors of Quitaque, Turkey and Silverton. Mrs. Whitten was born in Hall County and had lived there all of her life. She married Cecil Whitten in 1933 at Plaska. He died in 1996. She was a homemaker and a Baptist. Survivors include four sons, Raymond Whitten of Livingston, Warren Whitten of Memphis, Bill Whitten of Irving and Randy Whitten of Seymour; two brothers, Clifford Dean of Newcastle, Okla., and Odis Dean of McAllen; a sister, Gladys Auwen of California; nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. The family be be at Spicer Funeral Home from 5 to 7 p.m. today. They request memorials be to a favorite charity. J.B. Chesser DUMAS - J.B. Chesser, 77, died Friday, Oct. 3, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Charles Terpening, pastor of First Baptist Church of Cimarron, N.M., officiating. Burial will be in Lane Memorial Cemetery at Sunray by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mr. Chesser was born in Forestburg and had been a Moore County resident since 1951. He married Josie Wilson Plunk in 1948 at Hereford. Mr. Chesser was retired as a shift foreman for Northern Natural Gas Co. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Cimarron and the Odd Fellows Lodge of Sunray. He had served as a Boy Scout leader in Sunray and was a volunteer firefighter with the Sunray Fire Department. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Sharon Angela Blair of Dumas; two sons, Joel Bryan Chesser and Ricky Dale Chesser, both of Dumas; a brother, Flake Chesser of Maine; a sister, Katie Guess of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and six grandchildren. The will be at 205 Powell and suggests memorials be to the Help Sunray Fund, P.O. Box 390, Sunray, Texas 79086. Ace D. Hooper PLAINVIEW - Ace D. Hooper, 82, died Saturday, Oct. 4, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Lemons Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Roger Foote, pastor of Northside Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park. Mr. Hooper was born in Hale Center and grew up in Mayfield, where he attended school. He married his wife, Mary Lynn, in 1947 at Hereford. She died in 1982. Mr. Hooper was a member of the American Paint Horse Association, the American Quarter Horse Association, the Golden Spread Appaloosa Association and the American Milking Shorthorn Association. Survivors include two daughters, Karen Lee Mogg of Plainview and Kaye Lynn Rockwall of Flower Mound; a son, Rickey Ace Hooper of Plainview; a brother, L.G. Hooper of Plainview; two sisters, Essie Lowe of Plainview and Nita Degrassie of Amarillo; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Nolen LeGate HEREFORD - Nolen LeGate, 72, died Friday, Oct. 3, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Church of the Nazarene in Hereford with the Rev. Ted Taylor officiating. Burial will be in Restlawn Cemetery with Masonic rites by the Hereford Masonic Lodge. Arrangements are by Parkside Chapel. Mr. LeGate was born in Chelsea, Okla. He married Della Lee Couch in 1944 at Vinita, Okla. Mr. LeGate worked as the manager of Oswalt Livestock Products, a division of Heyco Inc., for 47 years. He had lived in Hereford since 1967. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and was a member of the Tyrian Masonic Lodge No. 246 in Garden City, Kan. He also was a member of the Shriners and the Church of the Nazarene in Hereford. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Terrie LeGate, Connie Lance and Barbara King, all of Hereford; a sister, Betty Guy of Fairfield Bay, Ark.; a brother, William Smith of Bucklin, Kan.; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Parkside Chapel, 601 N. Main St., Hereford, Texas 79045; the Medical Fund for Ray Sanders, c/o Firstbank Southwest, 300 N. Main St., Hereford, Texas 79045; the Shriners Crippled Children's Fund, 1402 N. MacGregor, Houston, Texas 77030-1695; the Church of the Nazarene Building Fund; the Nazarene Christian Academy, 1410 LaPlata Drive, Hereford, Texas 79045; or a favorite charity. Gayland Stephens EARTH - Gayland Stephens, 53, died Saturday, Oct. 4, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the First Baptist Church of Earth with the Rev. Bobby Broyles, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Earth Memorial Cemetery by Parsons-Ellis Funeral Home. Mr. Stephens was born in Amherst and had lived in Earth all of his life. He graduated from Springlake High School in 1963 and married Carolyne Gregory that year at Earth. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Earth and the Earth Roping Club. He worked as an assistant manager for the Springlake Feed Yard. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Vonda Cleavinger of Levelland and Sharman Cook of Idalou; his mother, Mary Murrell of Earth; a brother, Donald Allen Stephens of Andrews; and three grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the First Baptist Church of Earth or the Earth Ambulance / Fire Department.