Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 10 June 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, June 10, 1997, 6:28 AM Amarillo Betty Raef Betty "Aunt'' Raef, 75, of Amarillo, died Saturday, June 7, 1997. Rosary was recited at 7 p.m. Monday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in St. Francis Hall with the Rev. Terry Burke officiating. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery. Mrs. Raef was born in Caw City, Okla., and had lived in Amarillo most of her life. She was a homemaker and a former member of the Sunnyside Club. She was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church. She married George V. Raef in 1941 at the St. Francis community. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Paula Raef of Arvada, Colo.; her mother, Olive Anderson of Amarillo; a brother, Claude Hampton of Amarillo; two sisters, Helen Donaldson of Amarillo and Eva McBroom of Iowa Park; two grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family suggests memorials in lieu of flowers be to St. Francis Catholic Church Building Fund c/o Amarillo National Bank, North Branch, 712 N. Taylor St., Amarillo, Texas 79107. Marian F. Hazelwood Marian F. Hazelwood, 62, of Amarillo, died Saturday, June 7, 1997. The body will be cremated. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mrs. Hazelwood was born in Snyder. She moved to Amarillo in 1970 from Carlsbad, N.M. She worked for MacRoy and Moon Roofing for many years and owned a bookkeeping service for several years. She was a Church of Christ member. She married Marion Hazelwood in 1948 at Hobbs, N.M. He died in 1991. Survivors include two daughters, Sandy Gossitt of Wyoming and Cynthia Hazelwood of Amarillo; a son, Frank Hazelwood of Amarillo; her father, H.M. Hicks of Cassville, Mo.; and four grandchildren. The family will be at 918 N. Mirror St. They suggest memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson St., Amarillo, Texas 79101. The body will not be available for viewing. Richard Dean Gripp Richard "Dick'' Dean Gripp, 60, of Amarillo, died Sunday, June 8, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Southwest Church of Christ with Ben Mereness, pastor, and Chris Webb officiating. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Powell Cemetery at Powell, Okla. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Gripp was born in Pampa. He lived in Panhandle from 1937 until 1972 and graduated from Panhandle High School in 1955. He moved to Amarillo in 1972. He was owner and operator of Plains Transportation and a member of Panhandle First United Methodist Church. He also served on the board of directors for the Texas Motor Transportation Association. He married Jane Devin Ackley in 1969. Survivors include his wife; five daughters, Charresa Manning of Amarillo, Raelene Smith of Hereford, Jaynetta Warren of Plainview, and Jennifer Vasquez and Sharla Trimble, both of Amarillo; a son, James B. Ackley of Amarillo; two sisters, her twin Dorothy Schoenhals of Shattuck, Okla., and Martha Cooper of Amarillo; a brother, John Gripp of Colorado; 18 grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren. The family suggest memorials be to High Plains Children's Home, Powell Church of Christ at Kingston, Okla., or the TMTA Foundation of Austin. Randy Ausburn Randy Ausburn, 36, of Amarillo, died Sunday, June 8, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. Richard Bales, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Canyon, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Ausburn was born in Amarillo and had lived here all of his life. He graduated from Tascosa High School in 1978. He was an activity director for Integrated Health Services and a member of Trinity United Methodist Church. Survivors include his mother, Betty Graves of Canyon; his stepfather, Bob Graves of Canyon; two sisters, Ginger Jackson of Amarillo and Karen Bates of Arvada, Colo.; and a stepbrother, Steve Graves of Hamilton, Va. The family will be at 1406 S. 8th Ave., No. 54, in Canyon. They request memorials be to the building fund at First United Methodist Church, 1818 4th Ave., Canyon, Texas 79015; or a favorite charity. Robbie Lee Thornton Robbie Lee Thornton, of Amarillo, died Sunday, June 8, 1997. Services will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday in Arden Road Baptist Church with Dale Bigham, pastor, officiating. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Kenton Cemetery at Kenton, Okla. Arrangements are by Cimarron Mortuary of Boise City, Okla. Mrs. Thornton was born in Cumberland County, Ky., and attended school there. She lived in Indianapolis for several years. She married Richard Thornton in 1991 at Felt, Okla. She traveled with her sister and later with her husband. She was a homemaker and a member of Arden Road Baptist Church. Survivors include her husband; nine sisters, Ina Wollwine, Nina McDonald and June Hughes, all of Indianapolis, Bonnie Gifford of Yukon, Okla., Ruby King of Sasakwa, Okla., Evelyn Ritter of Harriet, Ark., Emma Gable of Granite, Okla., Linda Sadler of Altus, Okla., and Willie Flemmons of Amarillo; and a brother, Jesse Hughes of Denver. The family requests memorials be to Kenton Cemetery c/o Cimarron Mortuary, P.O. Box 277, Boise City, Okla. 73933. C.C. Gaut Sr. Charles Comer Gaut Sr., 84, of Amarillo, died Monday, June 9, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Bell Avenue Baptist Church with the Rev. Claud Tugwell, retired Baptist minister, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Gaut was born in Amarillo and had lived here since 1912. He spent 36 years as a locomotive engineer for Santa Fe Railway. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and a charter member of Bell Avenue Baptist Church. Survivors include a daughter, Judith Ann Edgmon of Lubbock; a son, Charles Comer Gaut II of Amarillo; a sister, Madge Gaut Burson of Amarillo; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family will be at 9700 Blessen. Ruth Miller Ruth Miller, 85, of Amarillo, died Monday, June 9, 1997. Private family graveside services will be in Llano Cemetery. Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Independence Village with Donna Johnson, chaplain at Northwest Texas Hospital, officiating. Arrangements are by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mrs. Miller was born in Memphis. She was a graduate of Hereford High School. She lived in Hereford for many years before moving to Tulia in 1939. She moved to Amarillo in 1951. She married Roger Vaughn Miller in 1930 at Clovis, N.M. He died in 1978. She was a homemaker and an active volunteer for Amarillo Senior Citizens for many years. She was a Baptist. Survivors include a daughter, Patsy Balliett of Amarillo; a grandson; and a great-grandson. The family requests memorials be to the American Cancer Society or Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. The body will not be available for viewing. Oklahoma William Doris Ansley HOOKER, Okla. - William Doris "W.D.'' Ansley, 91, died Saturday, June 7, 1997, at Amarillo. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Hooker First Baptist Church with the Rev. Tom R. Lee officiating. Burial will be in Hooker Cemetery by Roberts Brothers Funeral Home. Mr. Ansley was born in Brownsboro, Texas. He moved with his family to the Optima area and attended school there. He graduated from Optima High School and began working at Comley Lumber Co. in Guymon. He married Ethel Mae Serfoss in 1927 at Guymon. They lived in Mount Dora, N.M., where he managed a lumberyard. They moved to Adams in 1929. Mr. Ansley ran the lumberyard there for 35 years. In 1964, they moved to Hooker. He worked for Hooker Lumber Co. for six years before retiring in 1962. He was a member of Hooker First Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Pete Ansley of Adams, Duke Ansley of Three Forks, Mont., and Elmer Ansley of LaVeta, Colo.; two brothers, J.B. Ansley of Fort Worth, Texas, and Wilson Ansley of Canyon, Texas; 14 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to First Baptist Church of Hooker c/o Roberts Brothers Funeral Home, Box 745, Hooker, Okla. 73945. Damien Dick TEXHOMA, Okla. - Damien James Dick, 16, died Sunday, June 8, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in First Christian Church with Mike Dumler, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Texhoma, Texas, Cemetery by Dawson-Welch Funeral Home. Damien was born in Dumas, Texas, and had lived in Texhoma all of his life. He completed his junior year of high school in May. Survivors include his parents, Murell and Barbara Dick; a sister, Mandy Bass of Elk City; and grandparents, George and Vosie Frittz of Texhoma, and Lorine Dick of Mesa, Ariz. The family requests memorials be to the Texhoma Educational Foundation. Memorials will be accepted at the funeral home. New Mexico Calvin M. Reid CLOVIS, N.M. - Calvin M. Reid, 76, died Saturday, June 7, 1997. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Mission Garden of Memories with Dr. H.E. Bergstrom officiating. Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Directors. Mr. Reid was born in Hillsboro. He was a longtime resident of Clovis and had ranched in this area since 1934. Survivors include a sister, Betty Beaver of Clovis; and a brother, Bill Reid of Kansas City, Kan. Opal Hunt RIO RANCHO, N.M. - Opal Hunt, 80, died Sunday, June 8, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel in Clovis. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial at Odessa, Texas. Mrs. Hunt was born in Elk City, Okla. She graduated from Oklahoma Lane High School in 1932 and received her bachelor's degree in education from West Texas State University. Her first teaching job was in Alanreed, Texas. She then taught elementary education and secondary art in Texico; Sundown, Texas; and Odessa. She was preceded in death by her first husband, William Miller Widmayer, in 1950. She married A.J. Hunt in 1953. He also preceded her in death. Survivors include a daughter, D. Ann Widmayer of Rio Rancho; three sisters, Golma Habbell of Clovis, Dot Roach of Bovina, Texas, and Mary Cole of May, Texas; two grandchildren; and four greatgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Menaul School, 301 Menaul Blvd., Albuquerque, N.M. Area L.R. Reynolds FRITCH - L.R. "Coondog'' Reynolds, 84, died Sunday, June 8, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, Bell Avenue Chapel, 5400 Bell Ave., in Amarillo. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery at Amarillo. Mr. Reynolds was born in Abilene. He married Mildred Jolley in 1932 at Portales, N.M. They moved to Amarillo in 1942 from Olton. He was a sharecropper in his early years and worked for the Air Force Fire Department during the war. In 1946, he began working for the Amarillo Fire Department. He retired in 1973. Mr. Reynolds was a 32nd Degree Mason and was a member of First Baptist Church of Fritch. He moved to Lake Meredith in 1967. He was preceded in death by a son, Roger Lloyd Reynolds, in 1991. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Pat Stoner of Tulsa, Okla., and Saundra Elaine Skelton of Toronto, Canada; two sons, Verle Lyndon Reynolds of Nashville, Tenn., and Gary Woodrow Reynolds of Austin; a brother, Tom Reynolds of Pagosa Springs, Colo.; a sister, Goldie Reynolds of Pagosa Springs; 17 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Alzheimer's Association Panhandle Chapter, 2200 W. 7th Ave., Amarillo, Texas 79106. Alicia Garza Olivo HEREFORD - Alicia Garza Olivo, 54, died Sunday, June 8, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Rix Funeral Directors Chapel with Ernest Cantu officiating. Burial will be in West Park Cemetery. Mrs. Olivo was born in Rosenberg and had lived in Hereford for the past 35 years. She had worked at Hereford Regional Medical Center for 14 years and was a caretaker for the elderly. Survivors include two sons, Ricardo Olivo and Ruben Olivo, both of Hereford; her parents, Elias and Paula Garza Sr. of Hereford; three brothers, Elias Garza Jr., Abel Garza and Martin Garza, all of Hereford; and a granddaughter. The family suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice in Amarillo. Leona Mae Blazier DUMAS - Leona Mae Blazier, 66, died Monday, June 9, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Scott Willingham, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Dumas Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors. Ms. Blazier was born in Rapelje, Mont., and was a former longtime Stratford resident. She had been a Moore County resident since 1977. She retired from Monfort Inc. in 1993 after 14 years as a meat packer. She also worked for many years as a licensed beautician and nurse's aide. She was a member of First Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by a son, Kenny Blazier, in 1957. Survivors include a son, Jerry E. Blazier of Brenham; three daughters, Terry Lee Stafford of Weatherford, Linda Gail Adams of Ponca City, Okla., and Debra Pendley of Dumas; three brothers, Robert Robuck Jr., Gilbert Robuck and Art Robuck, all of Montana; a sister, Betty Loberg of Stanford, Mont.; 14 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. The family will be at the family home three miles north of Dumas. They request memorials be to Memorial Hospice, 224 E. 2nd, Dumas, Texas 79029. Jose Miguel Perez Sr. HEREFORD - Jose Miguel Perez Sr., 66, died Sunday, June 8, 1997. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in West Park Cemetery with Jonny Cloud, deacon at St. Anthony's Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Gililland-Watson Funeral Home. Mr. Perez was born in San Antonio. He moved to Texas in 1975 from Hicksville, Ohio. He moved to Deaf Smith County in 1978 from Lamesa. He married Lucia Hernandez in 1986 at Finlay, Ohio. He was a manufacturing welder and a member of San Jose Catholic Church. He served with the Marines during the Korean War. He was an active volunteer for the American Red Cross and had portrayed Santa Claus for many years. Survivors include his wife; four sons, Mike Perez Jr. of Hereford, and Jerry Perez, Jose Manuel Perez and Alexander Perez, all of Frio; four daughters, Rosalinda Perez and Novalee Mendoza, both of Frio, Connie Franco of Hereford and Maria DeLaPaz of Dimmitt; his mother, Julia Perez of Lamesa; six sisters; 11 brothers; and 16 grandchildren. Ida Mae Hammond PLAINVIEW - Ida Mae "Loden'' Hammond, 71, died Sunday, June 8, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church Family Life Chapel with the Rev. Ron Brunson, pastor of Plainview New Covenant Church, and the Rev. Jimmy Low, pastor of Muleshoe New Covenant Church, officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Oakland Memorial Park at Terrell. Arrangements are by Lemons Funeral Home. Mrs. Hammond was born in Canton. She grew up in the Lufkin area and graduated from Lufkin High School. She attended East Texas Baptist University and majored in music. She then attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for 11/2 years. She married Frank D. Hammond in 1948 at Terrell. She and her husband did pastorates in Central Texas, Mertens, Whitney and Houston. They moved to Frisco, Colo., and served as home missionaries. They moved to Plainview in 1974 and served with Plainview New Covenant Church. In 1980, Mrs. Hammond began working with the Outreach program at Plainview New Covenant Church, serving nationally and internationally. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Joyce Elaine Wilbanks of Plainview; a foster son, Alfred Lee Dunn of Houston; two brothers, Willard Loden Jr. of Needville and Tom Loden of Tyler; two sisters, Jo Anna Bentley of Longview and Patsy Hopkins of Jacksonville; and a grandson. Elsewhere Rosa Lee Mitchusson ANDREWS - Rosa Lee Mitchusson, 83, died Sunday, June 8, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in The Little Chapel of the Roses at Resthaven Memory Gardens in Oklahoma City with Dr. J.P. Dane officiating. Burial will be in Resthaven Memory Gardens by McNett Funeral Home of Andrews. Mrs. Mitchusson was born in Gilmer. She married Bill Murray Mitchusson in 1931 at Oklahoma City. He died in 1968. She moved to Andrews in 1995 from Oklahoma City. She was a homemaker and a member of Portland Avenue Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. Survivors include a daughter, June Taylor of Andrews; a son, Robert Austin Mitchusson of Amarillo; a sister, Pauline Daughtry of Tyler; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and five greatgreat-grandchildren. Katie Martin James MATADOR - Katie Martin James, 94, died Sunday, June 8, 1997. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in East Mound Cemetery with Dr. Les Griffin, pastor of First Baptist Church of Crosbyton, officiating. Arrangements are by Seigler Funeral Home. Mrs. James was born in Whiteflat, Motley County. She had been a lifelong resident of Motley County. She married G.T. James in 1925. He died in 1933. She also was preceded in death by a son, Raldo James, in 1975. She was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include three grandsons, Jody James of Floydada, Jim James of Tulsa, Okla., and Terry James of LaGrange; a granddaughter, Jamie Bradford of LaGrange; nine great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. Lucille Stangle BURLESON - Lucille Stangle, 86, died Monday, June 8, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Laurel Land Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. John Hennessy officiating. Burial will be in Burleson Memorial Park. Mrs. Stangle was born in Blair, Okla. She had been a resident of Burleson for 11 years. She was a member of St. Ann Catholic Church. She worked for Levine's Department Store for 35 years before retiring in 1972. Survivors include two brothers, James E. Nesbitt of Borger and Paul Nesbitt of Fort Worth; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.