Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 9 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; Tuesday, December 9, 1997, 6:35 AM Amarillo Albert L. Wyer Albert "Al" L. Wyer, 74, of 3213 S. Dallas St., died Saturday, Dec. 6, 1997. Memorial services will be at a later date. Cremation was arranged by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St. Mr. Wyer was born in Willshire, Ohio. He moved to Amarillo in 1978 from Ohio. He married Virginia J. Benner in 1943 at Fort Myers, Fla. They also lived in Albuquerque, N.M., for 18 years. He was a first lieutenant in the Army Air Corps. He was a fighter pilot and flew a P-51 Mustang in the European Theater of Operations with the 8th Air Force during World War II. He was shot down and taken prisoner of war on his 10th combat mission. Mr. Wyer was a member of Willshire Masonic Lodge and the American Legion. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Ann Marie Wyer Michel of El Paso; a son, Michael James Wyer of Amarillo; a sister, Elizabeth Rinard of Hamilton, Ind.; a brother, Ivan Wyer of Willshire; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family will be at 3213 Dallas St. They request memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson St., Amarillo, Texas 79101. The body will not be available for viewing. Paul Turner Paul Turner, 59, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Dec. 7, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Brooks Funeral Directors Chapel of Canyon with the Rev. Richard Bales, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Canyon, officiating. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery at Canyon. Mr. Turner was born in Wellington and raised in Tipton, Okla. He moved to Borger, where he attended Borger High School. He also lived in McLean and Borger before moving to Amarillo in 1960. He had been a truck driver for Union Carbide of Amarillo for 20 years. Mr. Turner married Alta Fish in 1960 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; a son, Paul Turner of Amarillo; three daughters, Debbie Reed and Teresa Bowling Farmer, both of Amarillo, and Janice Turner of Texas; his mother, Eline Ash of Canyon; four brothers, Robert Turner of Mountain Park, Okla., Sonny Hawkins of Sulphur Springs, Lawrence Ash of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Thomas Ash of Amarillo; six sisters, Barbara Blastien of Tennessee, Verl Boggs of Vernon, Madie Hutchison of Albuquerque, N.M., Bonnie Lou Day of Hereford, Kay Hester of Canyon and Phyllis Meinieke of Pampa; and seven grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176. Kenneth Lee Sirratt Kenneth Lee Sirratt, 67, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Dec. 7, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Westcliff Bible Church with the Rev. Steven Waterhouse of the church and Gary Calhoun officiating. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mr. Sirratt was born in Hot Springs, Ark., and had been a lifelong Amarillo resident. He was a veteran of the Army. He was a laborer for Bell Helicopter before retiring in 1988. He married Vivian Lee Strahan in 1961. Survivors include his wife of Miami, Texas; a son, Dennis Sirratt of Grand Prairie; a daughter, Penny Sirratt of Amarillo; a brother, Dewey Sirratt of Oklahoma; five sisters, Pearl Rackley of Oklahoma, Katherine Volpert and Ruth Sirratt, both of Arkansas, Peggy Schelier of Iowa and Lagatha Burton of Louisiana; and two grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Georgia Manor activity fund or Crown of Texas Hospice. Fanchion Scott Sandalis Fanchion Scott Sandalis, 99, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Dec. 6, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in St. Peter's Episcopal Church with the Rev. Frank Swindle officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home Inc., 4100 S. Georgia St. Mrs. Sandalis was born in Gibbon, Neb. She married Samuel John Sandalis in 1923 at Chicago, where they owned and operated a restaurant for 15 years. They moved to Amarillo in 1956. Her husband died in 1970. She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Gloria Denko Morgan, in 1990. Mrs. Sandalis was a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church and was active in the development of the church. Survivors include three grandchildren, Madeleine Denko-Carter of Portland, Ore., Kathryn Denko McAfee of Amarillo and John Scott Denko of Austin; two great-grandchildren; and a stepgreat-grandson. The family requests memorials be to St. Peter's Episcopal Church. James Oscar Fritts James Oscar Fritts, 77, of Amarillo, died Monday, Dec. 8, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Martin Road Chapel, 1505 Martin Road, with Cecil Bunch of East Amarillo Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Fritts was born in Samnorwood. He moved to Amarillo from Samnorwood in 1939. He worked for Taylor's Market on Taylor Street. He also worked at a grain elevator and for the city of Amarillo. He married Jessie Alvada Nix in 1945 at Amarillo. She died in 1980. He also was preceded in death by a daughter, Louise Huntley, in 1990. Mr. Fritts was a member of East Amarillo Church of Christ. Survivors include two daughters, Patricia Andrews of Amarillo and Beatrice McKinney of Abilene; a son, Donald Fritts of Los Angeles; two brothers, Ira Lee Fritts and J.C. Fritts, both of Amarillo; two sisters, Ola McDonald of Amarillo and Lois Kite of Tulsa, Okla.; two stepsisters, Betty Bates of Amarillo and Martha Simpson of Los Angeles; 14 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family will be at 1901 N. Marrs. They request memorials be to a favorite charity. Elsewhere Cary Purdy BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. - Cary Purdy, 48, died Saturday, Dec. 6, 1997. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church of Muleshoe, Texas, with the Rev. Stacy Conner, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Muleshoe Memorial Park Cemetery by Ellis Funeral Home of Muleshoe. Mr. Purdy was born in Littlefield, Texas. He moved to Boynton Beach nine years ago from St. Louis. He was a Baptist and worked as a chef. He married Deborah Lewis in 1987 at Muleshoe. Survivors include his wife; his parents, John and Frances Purdy of Muleshoe; and a brother, Bruce Purdy of Muleshoe. The family requests memorials be to the American Heart Association, 3403 73rd St., Lubbock, Texas 79423; or the American Cancer Society, 3411 73rd St., Lubbock, Texas 79423. Melissa Erin McLain POLK CITY - Melissa Erin McLain, 16, died Friday, Dec. 5, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in Ankeny Baptist Church. Arrangements are by Ankeny Funeral Home. Melissa was born in Waco and had lived in Polk City 15 years. She was a student and a member of the Ankeny Baptist Church youth group and F.F. Square Relm Club. Survivors include her parents, Glenn and Susan McLain of the home; a brother Brian McLain; and grandparents, Larry and Louise McLain of Perryton, and Robert and Doris Morris of Coon Rapids, Minn. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. today at the church. The family requests memorials be to the Animal Rescue League. Charles Earl Robison LITTLEFIELD - Charles Earl Robison, 85, died Sunday, Dec. 7, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Hammons Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Steve Buckland, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Littlefield Memorial Park. Mr. Robison was born in Texico, N.M. He had lived in Littlefield since 1936. He was the owner and operator of Robison Upholstery and Sewing Machine Shop before retiring in 1992. He was a Baptist. He married Mary Lucille Mauldin in 1942 at Portales, N.M. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Charles N. Robison of Calhoun, Ga., and Eddie Brent Robison of Littlefield; two daughters, Sherron E. Shore of San Jose, Calif., and Charlotte K. Polvado of Amarillo; a sister, Lucy Robison of Littlefield; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Alzheimer's Association, 2200 W. Seventh Ave., Amarillo, Texas 79106. Roxie Lewis ROARING SPRINGS - Roxie Lewis, 98, died Sunday, Dec. 7, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Don Jones, pastor, and the Rev. Monte Wikes, pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Roaring Springs Cemetery by Seigler Funeral Home of Matador. Mrs. Lewis was born in Joplin, Jack County. She was a graduate of Hedley High School and Hardin Simmons University. She received her master's degree from Texas Tech University. She taught at several public schools including Roaring Springs and McAdoo. She was a Methodist and a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, the Texas State Teachers Association and the National Education Association. She married Willard A. Lewis in 1916 at Hedley. He died in 1957. Survivors include a son, Willard A. Lewis Jr. of Tulsa, Okla.; three daughters, Lunell Jordan of Gadsden, Ala., Jama Capshaw of Boise, Idaho, and Kay Smallwood of La Pryor; a sister, Mabel Stephenson of Amarillo; 11 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and two stepgreat-grandchildren. New Mexico Harvey L. Creed TUCUMCARI, N.M. - Harvey L. Creed, 81, died Friday, Dec. 5, 1997. Graveside services will be at 1:30 p.m. today in Tucumcari Memorial Park Cemetery by Dunn Funeral Home. Mr. Creed was born in Springfield, Ill., and had been a resident of Tucumcari since 1983. He was a member of First Christian Church. He was a Marine Corps veteran of World War II, serving in the Marine Air Wing. He retired from the Marine Corps Reserve, where he held the rank of first sergeant. Mr. Creed retired as a mechanical engineer for the McDonnell Douglas Corp. He was instrumental in designing the U.S. spacecraft Sky Lab. His wife, Ella, died in 1990. He also was preceded in death by a son, Calvin Creed, in 1944. Survivors include a son, Walter L. Creed of Tucumcari; a brother, Bill Creed of Oklahoma City; eight grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren. The body will be available for viewing at the funeral home until graveside services The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. Drusilla Kelley TEXICO, N.M. - Drusilla Kelley, 89, died Sunday, Dec. 7, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Jim Peabody officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Mrs. Kelley was born in Harmony, Palmer County, Texas. She married Homer Kelley in 1929 at Crowell, Texas. In 1945, they moved to New Mexico, where they farmed in the Pleasant Hill area. She was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. Survivors include two sons, J.D. Kelley of Pleasant Hill and Glenn Kelley of Roswell; a daughter, Irma Jo Englant of Bovina, Texas; 12 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren. Bessie Lee Marchbanks LOGAN, N.M. - Bessie Lee Marchbanks, 89, died Sunday, Dec. 7, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Resthaven Funeral Home Chapel in Lubbock, Texas, with L.R. Haistins of Nara Visa officiating. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Park in Lubbock. Mrs. Marchbanks was born in Abilene, Texas, and raised in Littlefield, Texas. She married Ray Milton "Shorty" Marchbanks in 1928 at Olton, Texas. They lived in Lubbock from 1928 until 1952, when they moved to Levelland, Texas. They operated a restaurant in Levelland until retiring in 1972, when they moved to Logan. Mrs. Marchbanks was a member of First Baptist Church of Logan. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1988. She also was preceded in death by a son, W.M., in 1933. Survivors include a son, Maurice of Logan; a sister, Odessa Strawn of Tucumcari; two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandson. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5 to 7 p.m. today. Area Ida Edwards GRUVER - Ida Edwards, 74, died Saturday, Dec. 6, 1997. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in First Christian Church with the Rev. Gary Gumfroy, pastor, and the Rev. Jerry Moore, pastor of Gruver United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Gruver Cemetery. Arrangements are by Henson-Novak Funeral Directors of Guymon, Okla. Mrs. Edwards was born in Chickasha, Okla. She married Roy L. Edwards in 1936 at Duncan, Okla. She moved to Gruver in 1948. She was a member of First Christian Church. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Evalyn Dahl of Gruver; a sister, Betty Clark of Amarillo; and two grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Ida Edwards Memorial at First Christian Church. Tonia Porche PAMPA - Tonia Porche died Sunday, Dec. 7, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with Glen Walton, minister of North Amarillo Church of Christ, and Larry Brown, associate minister of Mary Ellen & Harvester Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Mrs. Porche was born in Kellerville and attended McLean schools. She moved to Pampa in 1932 from Wheeler County. She was a homemaker and a member of Mary Ellen & Harvester Church of Christ. Her first husband, T.A. Buchanan, died in 1956. She married Les Porche in 1961 at Pampa. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Joy Doss of Loveland, Colo., and Linda Kay Martin of Hickory Creek; two sisters, Mae Plummer of Pampa and Opal Glyckherr of Oklahoma City; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to High Plains Children's Home in Amarillo or a favorite charity. Ben Roney HALE CENTER - Ben Roney, 84, died Saturday, Dec. 6, 1997. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Hale Center First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Max Browning, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Plainview, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park at Plainview by Freeman-Abell Funeral Home. Mr. Roney was born in Alvarado and moved to Hale Center in 1922. He graduated from Hale Center High School in 1931 and attended Texas A&M University. He farmed east of Hale Center on the same farm for 50 years before retiring in 1978. He was a member of Hale Center First United Methodist Church. He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving from 1942 until 1946. Mr. Roney married Grace Fischer in 1944 at Baltimore. Survivors include his wife; a son, John Roney of Pampa; two daughters, Anita Slape of Levelland and Cynthia Bain of Duncanville; a brother, Joe Roney of Hale Center; five grandchildren; and a greatgrandchild. Mary Katherine Taylor SHAMROCK - Mary Katherine Taylor, 53, died Sunday, Dec. 7, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. James Conner of Shamrock and the Rev. Joe G. Jernigan, pastor of Calvary Christian Fellowship Church, officiating. Burial will be in Shamrock Cemetery by Wright Funeral Directors. Mrs. Taylor was born in Shamrock. She was a member of Eleventh Street Baptist Church. She married Art Taylor in 1983 at Pampa. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Mike Penny of Lefors and Kevin Conner of Shamrock; a daughter, Susan Edwards of Shamrock; a stepdaughter, Kris Rogers of Carrollton; four brothers, David Woodruff, James Woodruff and Jackie Woodruff, all of Shamrock, and Glenn Woodruff of Dalhart; and four grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Irish Helping Hands, P.O. Box 796, Shamrock, Texas 79079. Samantha Dimas LAKEVIEW - Samantha Dimas, infant daughter of Alberto and Veronica Dimas, died Sunday, Dec. 7, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Sacred Heart Catholic Church with the Rev. Jose Gomez officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery by Spicer Funeral Home. Survivors include her parents; two brothers, Jose Dimas and Noe Dimas, both of Lakeview; and grandparents, Emilio and Blanca Chacon of Eagle Pass, and Patricia Dimas of Mexico. Josephine O. Arellano WHITE DEER - Josephine O. Arellano, 68, died Monday, Dec. 8, 1997. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel in Pampa with the Rev. John Valdez, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church of Pampa, officiating. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Sacred Heart Catholic Church in White Deer by the Rev. James Gurzynski of Amarillo. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Mr. Arellano was born in Newkirk, N.M., and had been a longtime resident of White Deer. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She married Jose M. Arellano in 1954 at Tucumcari, N.M. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Henry Arellano of Houston and Joseph Arellano of Albuquerque, N.M.; two daughters, Margaret Stevens of Pampa and Philippa Mendoza of Hollis, Okla.; a brother, Agapito Ortiz of Tucumcari; a sister, Tillie Benevidez of Tucumcari; and six grandchildren. Frances Ramsey Lyons MIAMI, Texas - Frances Ramsey Lyons, 81, died Monday, Dec. 8, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in First Baptist Church with Dr. Lewis Holland, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Canadian, and the Rev. Wes Wellborn, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Miami Cemetery by CarmichaelWhatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Mrs. Lyons was born in Miami and had been a lifelong Miami resident. She was the Roberts County librarian for 40 years before retiring in 1994. She was a member of First Baptist Church and the New Pioneers Club. She also was secretary for the Miami Senior Citizens Center. She married Charles Lyons in 1936 at Miami. He died in 1959. She also was preceded in death by an infant son, Charles Gerrond Lyons, in 1941. Survivors include two daughters, Karen Hollis of Amarillo and Sue Henderson of Miami; three sisters, Marian Jameson of Pampa, Mabel Wolfe of Canyon and Ruth Morrow of Vega; three grandchildren; and a great-grandson. The family requests memorials be to the Roberts County Library, the Miami Senior Citizens Cemetery or the Roberts County EMT Association. Guadalupe B. Ramirez DIMMITT - Guadalupe B. Ramirez, 61, died Monday, Dec. 8, 1997. A vigil will be at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church by the Rev. Guillermo Morales, pastor. Burial will be in Castro Memorial Gardens by Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Home. Mrs. Ramirez was born in Mission. She lived in Tulia before moving to Dimmitt in 1965. She married Alberto C. Ramirez in 1965 at Littlefield. He died in 1983. Mrs. Ramirez was a dietary aide at Plains Memorial Hospital for many years. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Survivors include a son, Albert Ramirez Jr. of Virginia Beach, Va.; a daughter, Janie Back of Dimmitt; a brother, Abel Basaldua of Tulia; eight sisters, Juanita Garcia of Hemingford, Neb., Tere Mireles, Maria Macias and Jane Guijosa, all of Tulia, Mary Granado of Dumas, Elva Reyna of Lubbock, Mary Lou Casias of Hale Center and Emma Garcia of Roswell, N.M.; and six grandchildren. The body will be available for viewing at the church from 2 p.m. today until service time. Carol Smith EARTH - Carol Smith, 63, died Saturday, Dec. 6, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church of Springlake with the Rev. Stacy Conner officiating. Burial will be in Earth Memorial Cemetery by Parsons-Ellis Funeral Home. Mrs. Smith was born in Dimmitt. She had lived in Earth since 1954, moving from Lazbuddie. She was a clerk at city hall. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Springlake. She married Roney Smith in 1954 at Earth. He died in 1974. Survivors include a daughter, Terri Smith of Earth; a sister, Mitzi Tompkins of Dallas; and two brothers, Jimmy Ivy of Dallas and Ronald Ivy of Dimmitt.