Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 6 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; Saturday, December 6, 1997, 3:17 AM Amarillo Bobby R. Johnson Bobby R. Johnson, 72, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Dec. 4, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in San Jacinto Baptist Church with Dr. Stan Coffey of the church officiating. Burial will be Llano Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home Inc., 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Johnson was born in Amarillo and had been a lifelong Amarillo resident. He retired from Southwest Osteopathic Hospital in 1990. He was a member of San Jacinto Baptist Church and the Pastor's Class. Mr. Johnson married Peggy Tebo in 1956 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Bobby Johnson Jr. and Brad Johnson, both of Amarillo; a brother, Earl Johnson of Amarillo; five grandchildren; and two stepgrandchildren. The family request memorials be to San Jacinto Baptist Church. Warren B. Parsell Warren B. Parsell, 91, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Dec. 4, 1997. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Memorial Park East Mausoleum with the Rev. Rob Lackey, pastoral care director at Park Central, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mr. Parsell was born in Canadian. He graduated from Sul Ross College in Alpine. He was a rancher and a member of the Masonic Lodge. He married Bea Wilson in 1930 at Amarillo. Mr. Parsell was preceded in death by a son, Richard Allen Parsell, in 1952; and by a daughter, Phyllis Rae Hanscom, in 1982. Survivors include his wife. J.D. Pruett J.D. Pruett, 81, of Amarillo, died Friday, Dec. 5, 1997. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Memory Gardens Cemetery with Dr. Charles Jones of Second Baptist Church officiating. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Martin Road Chapel, 1505 Martin Road. Mr. Pruett was born in Reed, Okla., and had lived in Amarillo for 40 years. He served with the Navy during World War II. He owned and operated Pruett Well Service before retiring. He was a Baptist. Survivors include three sons, A.L. Pruett and Richard Pruett, both of Canyon, and Jack Pruett of Slaton; a sister, Loree' Terry of Mangum, Okla.; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a special friend, Nell Blankinship of Amarillo. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176. Ruby Elizabeth Kosechata Ruby Elizabeth "Liz" Kosechata, 60, of Amarillo, died Friday, Dec. 5, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Schooler Funeral Home Brentwood Chapel, 4100 S. Georgia St., with the Rev. Wanda Cole, minister of The Church in Jacksonville, officiating. Burial will be in Vega City Cemetery at Vega. Mrs. Kosechata was born in Amarillo. She was the owner and operator of Liz Kaye Enterprises. She was a drapery designer for more than 20 years. She was a designer and contractor for Don Reed Interior Design. She opened her home to neglected and less-fortunate women and children. Survivors include two daughters, Rhonda Curry and Sue Bellows, both of Amarillo; two sons, Ricky Bellows of Littlefield and Dak Kosechata of Amarillo; her mother, Irene Johnson of Vega; two sisters, Joyce Brewer and Carla McMullen, both of Amarillo; a brother, Bobby Johnson of Vega; 11 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family will receive visitors at 1705 S. Jackson St., and at the Irene Johnson residence in Vega. The family requests memorials be to the Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center. Xavier Balderasx avier Balderas, infant son of Carlos Balderas III and Monica Guillen of 4600 S. Virginia, died Thursday, Dec. 4, 1997. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Memory Gardens Cemetery with the Rev. Michael Colwell of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church officiating. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St. Xavier was born in Amarillo. Survivors include his parents; a brother, Isaac Nathan Cisneros of Amarillo; grandparents, Carlos and Arlene Balderas of Canyon, and Johnny and Olivia Guillen of Amarillo; and great-grandparents, Cruz R. Chavez of Amarillo, Eulalia Balderas of Dimmitt, and Ramona Oliveras, and Juan and Minnie Guillen, all of Hereford. Elsewhere Charles E. Mackey LUBBOCK - Charles E. Mackey, 58, died Tuesday, Dec. 2, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in A.W. Wilson Chapel at Jamison's Funeral Home with the Rev. Johnny L. Barnes officiating. Burial will be in the city of Lubbock Cemetery. Mr. Mackey was born in Taylor. He worked in construction for several years. He was a member of St. Matthews Baptist Church. Survivors include a daughter, Earline Maxey of Lubbock; three brothers, Joe Lee Maxey of Abilene, Johnny L. Maxey of Houston and Harold Maxey of Amarillo; and three sisters, Myrtle Harrington and Elivia Wilson, both of Lubbock, and Verde Mae Lofton of Gatesville. James Sudduth LUBBOCK - James Sudduth, 57, director of bands and professor of music at Texas Tech University, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1997. A concert by the Texas Tech Symphonic Band will be at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, at Hemmle Recital Hall on the Texas Tech campus. Mr. Sudduth was born in Crosbyton. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees at Texas Tech and was in association with the Lubbock schools as music director for several years. He was director of bands at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos and assistant professor of music and director of marching band at Northwestern University. He had been director of bands and professor of music at Texas Tech since 1981. He wrote more than 300 arrangements, transcriptions and compositions for both marching and concert band. Mr. Sudduth served as guest conductor for the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra at performances of Ballet Lubbock's "The Nutcracker." He also conducted the Lubbock Youth Symphony Orchestra and several of the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra Pops concerts. He married Lynda Jordan. Survivors include his wife; a son, Toby of San Francisco; a son, Jason of Houston; and two brothers, David of Muleshoe and Richard of Crosbyton. The family requests memorials be to the James Sudduth memorial fund, Texas Tech School of Music, 806-794-3282. Emily Shields DALLAS - Emily Shields, 72, died Thursday, Dec. 4, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Garden 61. Arrangements are by Laurel Land Funeral Home. Mrs. Shields was preceded in death by her husband, Auldon, in 1966. They originally were from Amarillo. Survivors include three children, Bruce Shields, Patricia Lee and Steve Shields. New Mexico Ella Best Portales, N.M. - Ella Best, 87, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Portales Cemetery with the Rev. Louis Johnson officiating. Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales Inc. Mrs. Best was born in Roosevelt, Okla. She moved to Portales around 1918 and lived in that area until 1943. She married Fred Best in 1929 at Curry County. From 1943 until 1945, the family home was in Sudan. They returned to Portales in 1945. Mr. Best died in 1987. In 1989, Mrs. Best moved to Golden Aces Retirement Apartments. Since 1994, she had been living in a nursing home in Tucumcari and later in Santa Fe. She was active in the Westside Baptist Church until the church disbanded. She then became a member of Calvary Baptist Church. Mrs. Best worked part time as a housekeeper for several Portales families. Survivors include three sons, Delmon Best of Plattsmouth, Neb., Donald Best of Tucumcari and Travis Best of Evergreen, Colo.; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. James Robert Vivian Jr. CLOVIS, N.M. - James Robert "Bob" Vivian Jr., 86, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1997. Services will be at 9 a.m. today in First United Methodist Chapel with the Rev. Dr. Bill Sylskar officiating. Burial will be in Mission Garden of Memories by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Mr. Vivian was born in Clovis. He grew up on his parent's homestead northeast of Clovis until the family moved into town. He graduated from Clovis High School. He married Mildred Christine Day in 1932. She died in 1985. Mr. Vivian was a chief pharmacist in the Navy during World War II. He returned to Clovis after the war and became co-owner of Pawol Pharmacy, where he worked as a registered pharmacist for many years. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, he was active in ranching, farming and raising cattle and horses. During the 1970s, he was a developer for the Country Club Estates subdivision of Clovis. He was a member of First United Methodist Church. Survivors include a son, James Robert Vivian III of Clinton, Conn. The family request memorials in lieu of flowers be to First United Methodist Church of Clovis or a favorite charity. Wanda M. Wilson MELROSE, N.M. - Wanda M. Wilson, 64, died Thursday, Dec. 4, 1997. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday in Melrose First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Kevin S. Bushart officiating. Burial will be in Melrose Cemetery by Muffley Funeral Home of Clovis. Ms. Wilson was born in Marlow, Okla., and had been a lifetime resident of Melrose. She worked for Retirement Ranch in Clovis as a dietitian for 16 years. She also was a home care provider in Melrose. Survivors include three sons, Dean Wilson and Wayne Wilson, both of Melrose, and Richey Wilson of Amarillo; and seven grandchildren. Oklahoma Edward Duval Wallace BOISE CITY, Okla. - Edward Duval "Ed" Wallace, 73, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1997, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the Church of Christ with Harold James and William B. Johnston officiating. Burial will be in Boise City Cemetery by Cimarron Mortuary. Mr. Wallace was born in Knox City, Texas. He attended school in Knox City and Greenville, Texas. After high school, he served with the Army during World War II. During this time, he received several ribbons and two bronze service stars. He was discharged in 1946 and continued to served in the Reserves for several years. He married Ada Marie James in 1948 at Clayton, N.M. They made their home in Denver, where Mr. Wallace began working as a tanker truck driver for Continental Oil Co. Later, he had his own gas, service and towing station with Continental. In 1976, they moved to Boise City. They began farming and ranching. Mr. Wallace also drove a truck, hauling everything from livestock to oil. His wife died in 1991. He also was preceded in death by an infant son. Survivors include two daughters, Joyce Bankston of Boise City and Della Mae Nogrady of Denver; two brothers, Dayton Wallace of Pampa, Texas, and Roy Gene Wallace of Brownfield, Texas; two sisters, Lorene Stephens of Dumas, Texas, and Grace Berg of Nashville, Tenn.; and two grandsons. The family requests memorials be to the Ronald McDonald House in Amarillo. Area Lydia Fierro DIMMITT - Lydia Fierro, 55, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1997. Cremation and arrangements are by Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Home. Ms. Fierro was born in Marathon. She moved to Dimmitt from El Paso in 1982. Survivors include her longtime companion, Chris Melendez; four sons, Marco Valdez of Lubbock, Julio Gutierrez of Dimmitt, Oscar Medilline of Dallas and Victor Medilline of Austin; a daughter, Marisela Fierro of Shamrock; two brothers, Ambrosio Valdez and Sabino Valdez, both of El Paso; five sisters, Eva Rico, Mage Rodriguez, Dalila Rodriguez, Drucilla Valdez and Josefina Garcia, all of El Paso; and eight grandchildren. Evelyn Hudgins PLAINVIEW - Evelyn Hudgins, 76, died Thursday, Dec. 4, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Lemons Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with the Rev. A.C. Hamilton, former pastor of Date Street Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park. Mrs. Hudgins was born in Waxahachie. She moved to Plainview in 1934 and attended Plainview schools. She was a member of Date Street Baptist Church. She married Carmel Hudgins in 1938 at Vernon. They lived in Plainview. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, DeLories Skaggs of Plainview and Joyce Senter of Halfway; three brothers, Charles Taylor of Waxahachie, Don Taylor of Plainview and Wendell Taylor of Amarillo; four sisters, Edith James of Gentry, Ark., Edna Hudgins of Plainview, Bessie Collis of El Paso and Jean Newton of Sulpher Springs; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Ada Francis Mason KRESS - Ada Francis Mason, 92, died Friday, Dec. 5, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Murray Brewer, retired Baptist minister, officiating. Burial will be in Kress Cemetery by Lemons Funeral Home of Plainview. Mrs. Mason was born in Taylor and then moved to Vernon. She attended school at Bug Scuffle and Nocona. She married Percy Mason in 1927 at Vernon. He died in 1984. After marrying, Mrs. Mason lived in Bug Scuffle. She moved to Swisher County in 1937. She was a Baptist and a member of the Home Demonstration Club. Survivors include a daughter, Mary Nell Vineyard of Kress; a son, Charles Mason of Claytonville; two sisters, Gayle Pikle of Bolivar, Mo., and Effie Moon of Banning, Calif.; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Plainview Family Hospice of the Plains or Kress Cemetery. Melva Norton HIGGINS - Melva Norton, 69, died Friday, Dec. 5, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Higgins Cemetery with the Rev. Ryan Burns officiating. Arrangements are by Good Samaritan Funeral Service of Shattuck, Okla. Mrs. Norton was born in Black Dog, Okla. She attended school on an Oklahoma Indian reservation and graduated from high school at Fairfax, Okla. She married James Marion Norton in 1947 at Pawnee, Okla. They lived in the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles. They made their home in Higgins in 1958. Mrs. Norton was preceded in death by her husband in 1992. Survivors include two sons, Jim Norton of Palestine and Greg Norton of Valle de Oro; a daughter, Cheryl Landers of Amarillo; five grandsons; and two greatgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. Thelma Inez Gierhart SHAMROCK - Thelma Inez Gierhart, 96, died Friday, Dec. 5, 1997. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in Eleventh Street Baptist Church with the Rev. Dorian Blasingame of Amarillo officiating. Burial will be in Shamrock Cemetery by Wright Funeral Directors. Mrs. Gierhart was born in Cook County. She moved to Wheeler County in 1917 and was an assistant postmaster in Twitty for several years. She married Milton E. Dick Gierhart in 1919. He died in 1982. Survivors include a son, Milton L. Gierhart of Shamrock; a daughter, Inez Hubbard of Amarillo; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two greatgreat-grandchildren.