Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 9 May 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 ==================================================================== Area Velma Owen Burke QUANAH - Velma Owen Burke, 85, died Thursday, May 8, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jesse Dea officiating. Burial will be in Quanah Memorial Park by Price-Jackson Funeral Home. Mrs. Burke was born in Carbon. She moved to Quanah in 1934 from Eastland County. She was a homemaker and a member of the First United Methodist Church. She married Dock Burke in 1933 in Eastland County. He died in 1979. Survivors include two daughters, Pat Taylor of Eldorado, Okla., and Judy Cokendolpher of Quanah; two sons, Dock D. Burke Jr. of College Station and Owen Lee Burke of Snyder; a sister, Norma Campbell of Lubbock; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the general fund at First United Methodist Church. Visitation will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today. Denise Newell BORGER - Denise Newell, 42, died Wednesday, May 7, 1997. Services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Gregg Simmons, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Garden of Serenity in Westlawn Memorial Park. Arrangements are by Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. Mrs. Newell was born in Borger. She had been a lifetime resident of Borger. She was a homemaker and member of the First Baptist Church. She graduated from Borger High School in 1973. She married Randy Newell in 1974 at Borger. Survivors include her husband; a son, Ryan Newell of the home; her mother, Wilma Jackson of Amarillo; and a sister, Debbie Demand of Houston. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. Kember Elizabeth Newton FRITCH - Kember Elizabeth Newton, infant daughter of Brett and Dana Newton, died Wednesday, May 7, 1997. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. today in Westlawn Memorial Park with the Rev. Calvin Newton, pastor of First Assembly of God, officiating. Burial will be at Babyland Garden. Arrangements are by Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. Survivors include her parents; a brother, Kolter Newton of the home; three sisters, Kaylee Newton, Kaci Newton and Kindley Newton, all of the home; her grandparents, Jodie and Vicki Potts of Borger, and Calvin and Linda Newton of Borger; her great grandfather, F.E. Newton of Lone Wolfe, Okla. Vera Lee Snow FRITCH - Vera Lee Snow, 86, died Wednesday, May 7, 1997. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in Fritch Church of Christ with Mr. Dick Marcear of Amarillo, officiating. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in Elmwood Cemetery at Bowie, with Mr. A.C. Houston officiating. Arrangements are by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors of Fritch. Mrs. Snow was born in Matador. She moved to Bowie in 1932, and moved to Fritch 11 years ago. She was a homemaker and a member of the Fritch Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Snow, in 1986, and a daughter, Willie Mae Snow, in 1947. Survivors include two sons, Bob Snow of Fritch, and Bill Snow of Amarillo; a daughter, Nellie Nelson of Fritch; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Richard W. Yates BORGER - Richard W. Yates, 79, died Thursday, May 8, 1997. Graveside Masonic services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in Westlawn Memorial Park. Burial will be in Garden of Good Shepherd. Arrangements are by Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. Mr. Yates was born in Princeton, Mo. He had been a Borger resident since 1947. He retired after 30 years, as a shift supervisor for Phillips Petroleum Co. He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, the Order of the Eastern Star, Masonic Lodge No. 1355 and Khiva Shrine. He was a Master Mason in 1957, received Certificate of Proficiency in 1959, Worshipful Master in 1966, District Deputy Grand Master in 1976 and again for the last half of 1977, member of the Texas Lodge of Research in 1979, and recognized by Grand Master for conducting burial service in 1981. He was a member of Scottish Rite in 1963, Royal Order of the Ducks in 1967, President of Tri-City Scottish Rite Association in 1968, Invested 32nd Degree KCCH in 1973, Coroneted 33rd Degree Inspector General Honorary in 1981, York Rite in 1976, Excellent High Priest in 1978, Order of High Priesthood in 1979, District Deputy Grand High Priest in 1981, Thrice Illustrious Master in 1978, and Order of the Silver Trowel in 1979. He was a District Deputy Grand Master in 1980, Super Excellent Master in 1980, Eminent Commander in 1979 and again for 1980, West Texas York Rite College in 1980, KYCH in 1981, Royal Order of Scotland in 1981, A.A.O.N.M.S. in 1977, and president of the Borger Shrine Club in 1979. He was a Membership Chairman Khiva Temple in 1981, President Ceremonial Division in 1983, the Order of the Eastern Star in 1983, received Life Certificate Blue Lodge in 1984, and Endowed Membership in 1989. He was appointed Grand Junior Deacon for 1991, Order of the Silver Trowel Adobe Walls, Present Sovereign Order of the Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine in 1993, Very Eminent Preceptor of the Priestly Order of Holy Royal Knight Templar Priests in 1994, and Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Texas Cornerstone Award in 1995. Survivors include a son, Gary Yates of Sanford; a daughter, Carol Ann McGehee of Norman, Okla.; a brother, Howard Yates of Rogers, Ark.; a sister, Margaret Langdon of Trenton, Mo.; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Khiva Shrine Travel Fund, P.O. Box 328, Amarillo, Texas 79105. David Ray Fricks MCLEAN - David Ray Fricks, 52, died Wednesday, May 7, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Robertson Chapel of Memories at Clarendon, with the Rev. Truman Ledbetter, pastor of the First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be at Citizens Cemetery at Clarendon. Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon. Mr. Fricks was born in Fort Worth. He had been a resident of Clarendon most of his life, before moving to McLean 10 years ago. He had worked in road construction most of his life and was a Vietnam veteran of the Navy, having served on the USS Constellation. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Clarendon. He married Connie Lou Morris in 1989 at McLean. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Michelle Jaramillo of Amarillo, and Amanda Fricks of McLean; a son, Jim Bob Fricks of Elk City, Okla.; his mother, Louise Dickinson of Clarendon; a sister, Wanda Adamson of Perryton; a brother, Bruce Fricks of Amarillo; and four granddaughters. Walter M. Garmon GROOM - Walter M. "Cookie'' Garmon, 82, died Wednesday, May 7, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in United Methodist Church with the Rev. Steve Campbell of Agape Methodist Church in Lubbock, officiating. Burial will be at Groom Cemetery. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home Inc., 4100 S. Georgia St., Amarillo. Mr. Garmon was born in Proctor. He had lived in Groom for over 60 years. He worked in the fire department of Pantex for almost 30 years, retiring in 1976. He married Ora Lea Burgdorf in 1937. He and his wife were members of the United Methodist Church until they moved to Aledo in 1993. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Wanna Sue Garmon of Bartlesville, Okla., and Carol Ann Garmon of Amarillo; five sons, Mike Garmon of Plainview, Dr. John Garmon of Kansas City, Kan., Steve Garmon of McLean, Va., Dr. Robert Garmon of Aledo, and Randy Garmon of Springtown; two sisters, Wayne McCune of Las Vegas, N.M., and Beatrice Schwartz of Cimarron, N.M.; 13 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity or United Methodist Church of Groom. Tina Rawlings DIMMITT - Tina Rawlings, 96, died Thursday, May 8, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Rusty Dickerson, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Westlawn Memorial Park. Arrangements are by Foskey-LilleyMcGill Funeral Homes. Mrs. Rawlings was born in Waco. She had been a resident of Dimmitt since 1936. She was a former resident of Shamrock. She graduated from high school in 1916 at Clarendon. She graduated from Clarendon Junior College in 1918. She received a bachelor's degree in science from Knox College at Galesburg, Ill. She married James Rawlings in 1922 at Clarendon. He died in 1977. She and her husband owned Dimmitt Drug Store until the early 1950s. She managed and later bought Rawlings Hotel. She served as postmaster in 1959 at Dimmitt. She was a member of First United Methodist Church. She was an active member of the Republican Organization of Women, and member of Monday Night Duplicate Bridge Club. She was past president of the board of directors of Westlawn Memorial Park. She was the recipient of the Golden Age Master Award, given by the American Contract Bridge League. Survivors include two daughters, Patricia Rodgers of Midland, and Carolyn Jones of Dimmitt; a brother, Jack SoRelle of Clarendon; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to First United Methodist Church, 110 S.W. Third St., Dimmitt, Texas 79027; or to Plains Memorial Hospital Hospice, P.O. Box 278, Dimmitt, Texas 79027. Minnie Lee Vernon HEREFORD - Minnie Lee Vernon, 84, died Thursday, May 8, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in West Park Cemetery with the Rev. H.W. Bartlett of Temple Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Gililland-Watson Funeral Home. Mrs. Vernon was born in Olney. She came to Deaf Smith County in 1947, moving from Amherst. She was a homemaker. She married W.T. "Shorty'' Vernon in 1947 at Amherst. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1967, and a daughter, Carol Jean Stubbs, in 1994. Survivors include two daughters, Bobbye Ellis of Odessa, and Evelyn Rickman of Kingman, Ariz.; 10 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and nine greatgreat-grandchildren. Amarillo Abigail Brianna Norris Abigail Brianna Norris, 3-day-old daughter of Weldon and Ramona Norris, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, May 7, 1997. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Memorial Park Cemetery with Dr. David Evans of Trinity Baptist Church officiating. Arrangements Schooler Funeral Home Inc., 4100 S. Georgia St. Survivors include her parents; and grandparents, Lewis and Treva Norris and Charlotte Guerra, all of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice. Elsewhere Joe Warren ONTARIO, Calif. - Joe Warren, 70, a former Amarillo resident, died Wednesday, April 16, 1997. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Amarillo Primitive Baptist Church, 914 W. Colorado St., in Amarillo with Elder R.A. Tindall, officiating. His body was donated to Loma Linda University of Science. Mr. Warren was born in Dalhart and lived in Amarillo several years before moving to Ontario about six years ago. While living in Amarillo, he was a cook in several different restaurants. He was a Navy veteran of World War II. Survivors include four brothers, Denver Warren of Sun City, Calif., and Nathan Warren, Wayne Warren and Bob Warren, all of Amarillo; three sisters, Georgia Worley of Amarillo, Mary Duncan of Lawton, Okla., and Barbara Smith of Midland, Texas. Barbara Ellen Lane ARGYLE - Barbara Ellen Lane, 81, died Monday, May 5, 1997. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Westlawn Memorial Park in Borger. Arrangements are by Goen-Hudgens Funeral Home in Denton. Mrs. Lane was born in Avant, Okla. She married A.G. "Red'' Lane. After his death in 1968 she moved to Argyle. She was a homemaker and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was a Baptist. Survivors include her son, Tom C. Lane Sr. of Sapulpa, Okla.; and four grandchildren. Oklahoma Chris Hunt KEYES, Okla. - Chris Hunt, 87, died Wednesday, May 7, 1997, at Boise City. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Jason Kearney and Harold James officiating. Burial will be in Willowbar Cemetery by Cimarron Mortuary of Boise City. Mr. Hunt was born in Lemberg, Saskatchewan, Canada. He attended school in Canada until the eighth grade. In 1926, he moved to Harvey, Ill., where he worked for Buda Motor Co. until the 1930s. While working for Buda Motor Co., he was transferred to Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma Panhandle, to Kansas and Texas where he serviced Rock Island tractors, Woods Bros. Combines and oil field engines. In 1929, he was granted his naturalization papers. He married Grace Hammontree Harding in 1930 at Guymon. They moved back to Harvey where he worked at several jobs such as truck driving, plastering, running concrete and ranching. In 1933, he returned to work at the Buda Motor Co. to build diesel engines. In 1938, he moved to Chicago and worked for International Harvester Co. Truck Division. While working for I.H.C., he moved to Oklahoma in 1942 and purchased a half section of farm land at a state land sale. In 1944, he was transferred from Chicago to the I.H.C. branch in Amarillo, but instead of working for that company, he worked at the old Amarillo Air Base for Williams and Whittle Co. as a truck driver and plumbers helper. He moved back to Cimarron County and worked in a repair shop and farmed, later raising cattle and sheep. In 1952, when the oil and gas well drilling business got under way, he began hauling water to the drilling rigs and later applied for and obtained permits from Colorado, Oklahoma and the Texas panhandles and 49 counties in Kansas. From 1962 until 1983 he served on KMCA oil field fluid carriers division and from 1963 until 1983 served on AMCO field fluid carriers division, and served on the board of director of fluid carriers division. In 1963, the company was incorporated to Chris Hunt Water Hauling Contractors Inc. In 1967, he was elected as a council member of Keyes. In 1968 was appointed mayor of Keyes and held that office for 10 years, resigning 1978. Mr. Hunt was an honorary member of the Keyes Alumni, a lifetime member of the Keyes Odd Fellows and the Keyes Senior Citizens. He was preceded in death by his wife in 1970 and by a stepson, Donald Harding. Survivors include a son, Victor Hunt of Keyes; three grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Keyes Senior Citizens Center or a favorite charity c/o the mortuary. New Mexico Kenneth Edward Smith PORTALES - Kenneth Edward Smith, 56, of Loma Linda, Calif., a former Portales resident, died Tuesday, May 6, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Calvary Baptist Church at Portales with L.V. Ellison officiating. Burial will be at Portales Cemetery. Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary Inc. of Portales. Mr. Smith was born in Clovis. He was reared in Portales and Milnesand. He attended school in Dora, and later at Eastern New Mexico University at Portales. He moved to California in 1960 and remained there until his death. Survivors include his four children, Tonja Smith of Capitan, Sheldon Smith of Alto, Lance Smith of Moreno Valley, Calif., and Bryan Cazares of Fullerton, Calif.; three sisters, Doris Bakos of Houston, Laverna Harris of Petaluma, Calif., and Cecile Kelley of Portales; a brother, Jim Smith of Portales; and four grandchildren.