Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 10 Sep 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; Wednesday, September 10, 1997, 6:50 AM Area Pauline Bridges HEREFORD - Pauline Bridges, 72, died Monday, Sept. 8, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Assembly of God Church with the Rev. John Gaston, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in West Park Cemetery by Rix Funeral Home. Mrs. Bridges was born in Pawhuska, Okla., and had lived in Hereford most of her life. She worked for 40 years at Western Union, where she had been a district supervisor. She was a member of First Assembly of God Church. Survivors include her husband, Loyd; a daughter, LaDonna Gilliland of Somerset, Ky.; a son, Loyd Wayne Bridges Jr. of Vernon; five sisters; a brother; and three grandchildren. J. Frank Tirey HAPPY - J. Frank Tirey, 76, died Monday, Sept. 8, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Lonny Poe, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Happy Cemetery by Holley Funeral Home Inc. of Canyon. Mr. Tirey was born in Tulia. He was a member of First Baptist Church, the Happy Senior Citizens Association and the Happy Lion's Club. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and a past master of the Happy Masonic Lodge. He served in the Army during World War II and received the Purple Heart, Combat Ribbons and Good Conduct Medal. Mr. Tirey owned and operated Tirey Hardware Store in Happy and also was a master plumber, electrician and a builder. He married Gracie White in 1940 at Happy. He was preceded in death by a son, George Tirey, in 1991. Survivors include his wife; a son, Bill Tirey of Canyon; two daughters, Judy Shipman and Jeanne Johnson, both of Happy; three brothers, Robert O. Tirey of Albuquerque, N.M., George Tirey of North Falmouth, Mass., and Ray Tirey of Fairfield, Calif.; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the George Tirey 4-H Scholarship or the Happy Alumni Association. Natalie Rasavong DUMAS - Natalie Rasavong, 42, died Saturday, Sept. 6, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Aaron Phangnivong of Laotian First Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Northlawn Memorial Gardens by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mrs. Rasavong was born in Khokkong, Khammouane, Laos, and had lived in Dumas for seven years. She was a homemaker and a member of Laotian First Baptist Church. Survivors include her husband, Phillip; a daughter, Karen Sihanouraj of Dumas; three sons, Frank Rasavong, Jordan Rasavong and Patton Rasavong, all of Dumas; two brothers, Somsanuk Phouthavong of Dumas and Banthom Phomanaphend of Arkansas; and a sister, Somlith Xayachak of Laos. Virgil Walker HEREFORD - Virgil Walker, 85, died Tuesday, Sept. 9, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jordan Groomes and the Rev. C.D. Walker officiating. Burial will be in Rest Lawn Cemetery by Rix Funeral Directors. Mr. Walker was born in Haskell County and had been a Hereford resident since 1937. He had been a farmer all of his life. He was a member of First United Methodist Church and the Lions Club. Survivors include his wife, Ormel Lee Walker; a son, Virgil Dwaine Walker of Hereford; a daughter, Doris Nell Hunter of Dumas; two brothers, the Rev. C.D. Walker of Forney and Hollis Weldon Walker of Colorado Springs, Colo.; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. Jacqueline Alberty Larner DUMAS - Jacqueline "Jackie'' Alberty Larner, 49, died Monday, Sept. 8, 1997. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. Mike Aiken, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Dumas Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mrs. Larner was born in Guymon, Okla., and had been a Dumas resident most of her life. She received her cosmetology degree from the Amarillo School of Hair Design in 1969. She married Chuck Larner in 1979 at Amarillo. She was a homemaker and a member of Calvary Baptist Church. Mrs. Larner was preceded in death by twins, Jennifer and James Miller, in 1970. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Jacky Adam Miller of Lubbock and Joseph Raymond Miller of Amarillo; a stepson, Jim Larner of Lubbock; four stepdaughters, Pamela Van Meter of Carlsbad, Calif., Karen Larner and Tina Homer, both of Dumas, and Renee Hozdic of Atlanta, Texas; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Alberty of Dumas; and a brother, Allen "Pete'' Alberty of Shamrock. The family will be at 708 Bennett. They request memorials be to the American Cancer Society, 211 Zauk, Dumas, Texas 79029. Don Juan Lagos DUMAS - Don Juan Lagos, 58, died Monday, Sept. 8, 1997. Rosary was recited at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Sts. Peter and Paul with the Rev. Richard Scully of the church officiating. Burial will be in Dumas Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mr. Lagos was born in Angol, Chile, South America. He had been a resident of Dumas since 1976. He was a self-employed landscaper. He was of the Catholic faith. He married Lucia del Carmen Lopez Martinez in 1971 at Santiago, Chile. Survivors include his wife; a son, Juan Luis Lagos of Dumas; a daughter, Maria Daniela Lagos of Lubbock; two brothers, Ramon Lagos and Francisco Lagos, both of Chile; a sister, Elsa Lagos of Chile; and five grandchildren. The family will be at 406 Powell. Tracy H. Turk CHILDRESS - Tracy H. Turk, 82, died Monday, Sept. 8, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. Jon Crosby of the church officiating. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery by Johnson Funeral Home. Mr. Turk was born in Red River County and had lived in Childress for 46 years. He retired from the Texas Highway Department. He also was a retired rancher and a member of Calvary Baptist Church. He married Helen Lucille Pratt in 1937 at Blakney. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Delbert L. Turk of Carrollton and Jerry E. Turk of Amarillo; a sister, Lorene Skidmore of Sherman; a brother, Rupert Turk of Paris, Texas; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Calvary Baptist Church building fund. Johnnie Mae Stringer CHILDRESS - Johnnie Mae Stringer, 91, died Tuesday, Sept. 9, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church Chapel with the Rev. Jim McCurley officiating. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery by Johnson Funeral Home. Ms. Stringer was born in Lone Oak and had lived in Childress since 1906. She retired as a telephone operator after working for 39 years with Southwestern Bell Telephone. Survivors include two nieces; a greatnephew; and five great-nieces. Zella E. Owen PAMPA - Zella E. Owen, 82, of Amarillo, a former Pampa resident, died Tuesday, Sept. 9, 1997. Cremation and arrangements are by Colonial Funeral Chapel, 1010 W. Ninth Ave., in Amarillo. Ms. Owen was born in Limestone County. She lived most of her life in Pampa, but had lived in Amarillo for two years. Survivors include a daughter, Tommie Lively of Fritch; a son, Joe Owen of Pampa; eight grandchildren; and three greatgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Arthritis Foundation, 3154 McCart Ave., Fort Worth, Texas 76110; or the Don & Sybil Harrington Cancer Center, 1500 Wallace Blvd., Amarillo, Texas 79106. The body will not be available for viewing. Ethel Holland PLAINVIEW - Ethel "Nanny'' Holland, 85, of Tyler, a former Plainview resident, died Sunday, Sept. 7, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Lemons Funeral Home Memorial Chapel. Burial will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Holland was born, raised and attended school in Hedley. She married W.G. "Bill'' Holland in 1935 at McLean. He died in 1974. She moved to Amarillo in 1938 and to Plainview in 1960. She worked at JC Penney and attended Calvary Baptist Church. Mrs. Holland moved to Tyler in 1996. Survivors include a daughter, Barbara Osborne of Copperas Cove; three sons, Carl Holland of Plainview, Earl Holland of Borger and Dennis Holland of Tyler; two sisters, Alpha Howard of Odessa and Jean Bain of Sunray; 12 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. Caroline Brorman HEREFORD - Caroline Brorman, 94, died Tuesday, Sept. 9, 1997, in Panhandle. Christian Mother's rosary will be recited at 5:30 p.m. today in Parkside Chapel. Prayer vigil will be at 7 p.m. Thursday in Parkside Chapel. Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday in St. Anthony's Catholic Church by Monsignor Orvil Blum, the Rev. Pat Carrathers and the Rev. Bert Horvath. Burial will be in St. Anthony's Cemetery. Mrs. Brorman was born in Langenberg, Germany. After moving to Hereford in 1931, she married Henry Brorman. She was a homemaker and an active member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church and the Christian Mother's Organization. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1986; and a son, Harry, in 1987. Mrs. Brorman had been a resident of St. Ann's Nursing Home in Panhandle since 1991. Survivors include three sons, Joe Brorman and Alphonse Brorman, both of Vega, and James Brorman of Hereford; four daughters, Louise Spinhirne of Dumas, Sister Pauline Brorman of Amarillo, Annie Hebert of Beaumont and Delores Frerich of Vega; 28 grandchildren; 63 great-grandchildren; and four great-greatgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to St. Anthony's Endowment Fund, St. Ann's Nursing Home or Crown of Texas Hospice. Nanalee Brown SPEARMAN - Nanalee Brown, 99, died Monday, Sept. 8, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Russell Pogue, former pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Hansford Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Mrs. Brown was born in Iredell. She had lived in the Spearman area for 48 years, moving from Erick, Okla. She married Joseph Wesley Brown in 1917 at Erick. He died in 1978. She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Lawanda Brown. Mrs. Brown was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include three daughters, Helen Hand of Spearman, Nina Hiller of Stinnett and Wanda Lanham of Fritch; two sons, Wayne Brown of Las Vegas and Ray Brown of Santa Maria, Calif.; a sister, Thelma Williams of Hayesville, Kan.; eight grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society. Ben S. Arthur GRUVER - Ben S. Arthur, 84, died Tuesday, Sept. 9, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Scott Curry officiating. Burial will be in Gruver Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Spearman. Mr. Arthur was born in Erath County. He had lived in the Gruver area for 48 years, moving from Phillips. He married Verna Merle Knapp in 1937 at Canyon. Mr. Arthur was an instrument technician for Phillips Petroleum for 38 years. He was a member of and deacon at First Baptist Church. He also was a member of Gruver Masonic Lodge No. 1326 AF&AM, the Golden Age Senior Citizens and the Keen Agers. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Marilyn Arthur, in 1954. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Gwen Bryant of Dimmitt and Jo Wilson of Fritch; four sisters, Morene Phipps of Stephenville, Oleta Moore of Ralls, and Izora Lee Kritzer and Juanita Perkins, both of San Antonio; three brothers, Philip Arthur of Borger, and Uel Arthur and A.R. "Whizzer'' Arthur, both of Ralls; three grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to First Baptist Church, Box 608, Gruver, Texas 79040. James Knight Hicks SPEARMAN - James Knight "Jimmy'' Hicks, 76, died Monday, Sept. 8, 1997. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Steve Holston and the Rev. Ken Cole officiating. Burial will be in Hansford Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Mr. Hicks was born in Estelline. He had lived in the Spearman area for 57 years, moving from Crowell. He married Vera Beth McClellan in 1942 at Spearman. She died in 1988. Mr. Hicks was manager of R.L. McClellan Grain Co. from 1948 to 1982. He was a Spearman city councilman for more than 15 years. He also was a past president of the Spearman Chamber of Commerce. He served in the Army Air Corps 8th Air Force during World War II. He was a ground crew chief with the 381st bomber group. Mr. Hicks was a Methodist and a member of Hansford Lodge No. 1040 AF&AM. Survivors include two sisters, Christine "Jay'' Ashlock of Garland and Jo Cockrell of Wichita Falls; and two brothers-inlaw, R.L. McClellan and Wilson "Joan'' McClellan, both of Spearman. The family requests memorials be to Hansford Hospice or the Masonic Home and School of Waco. Charles Eugene Robinson WASHBURN - Charles Eugene Robinson, 59, died Tuesday, Sept. 9, 1997. Graveside services will be at 6 p.m. today in Booker Cemetery at Booker with the Rev. Tim Buschman of Perryton officiating. Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors Inc. of Clarendon. Mr. Robinson was born in Armstrong County. He lived in Armstrong County for much of his life except for 30 years when he lived in Lipscomb County. He married Shirley Smith in 1959. Mr. Robinson was a farmer, a livestock buyer and a supporter of the 4-H and FFA programs. He was a member of the Perryton Moose Lodge and the Rolling Plains Wagon Train Association. He was on the Texas Centennial Wagon Train. He was a Baptist. Survivors include his former wife, Shirley Robinson of Booker; a son, Zar Robinson of Booker; three daughters, C.Z. Joann Robinson of WTAMU, Paula Jo Robinson James of Hooker, Okla., and Sue Ann Robinson Holloway of Dumas; a sister, Doris Formway of Cheyenne, Okla.; two brothers, James Robinson of Claude and Fred Robinson of Booker; and four grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Lipscomb County or Armstrong County 4-H programs. Amarillo Lois Cook Lois Cook, 76, of Amarillo, died Monday, Sept. 8, 1997. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with Cecil Burch of East Amarillo Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Cook married Coy Cook in 1946 at Clovis, N.M. She was the owner of Cook's Cleaners. She was a member of the Ladies of the Nile and East Amarillo Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Millie Cook, in 1975. Survivors include her husband; a son, Rob Cook of Amarillo; two brothers, Joe Farris and Dennis Farris, both of Wichita Falls; two sisters, Bernice Thompson of Wichita Falls and Betty Jean Farris of Dallas; and four grandchildren. James J. Johnston James J. "Skeet'' Johnston, 91, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Sept. 7, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in First Baptist Church Chapel with Dr. Howard Batson, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Johnston was born in Weatherford, Okla., and had lived in Amarillo for 86 years. He was a chief clerk for Santa Fe Railway for 47 years. He was a lifetime member of Amarillo Masonic Lodge No. 731 and the International Transportation Union. He also was a member of First Baptist Church, where he was a deacon emeritus. He was preceded in death by his wife, Vera Elaine Sizemore, in 1975. Survivors include a daughter, Kay Lawson of Riverside, Calif.; two sons, Jay Johnston of Chandler, Okla., and Von Johnston of Amarillo; a brother, Albert Johnston of Seattle; two sisters, Lucille McCurry of Dallas and Mary Fulbright of Chandler, N.C.; three granddaughters; and four great-grandchildren. The family will be at 2409 S. Taylor St. They request memorials be to a favorite charity. Elsewhere Alma Colley IRVING - Alma Colley, 84, a former Amarillo resident, died Monday, Sept. 8, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Donnelly's Colonial Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Glynn Beaty officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Llano Cemetery in Amarillo. Mrs. Colley was born in Granite, Okla. She was a former resident of Amarillo and had lived in Irving for four years. She retired in 1978 after working 20 years as a cashier for St. Anthony's Hospital in Amarillo. She was a member of Buchanan Street Baptist Church in Amarillo. Mrs. Colley was preceded in death by her husband, Alga Foye Colley; and a son, Danny F. Colley. Survivors include a son, Gerry Colley of Irving; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Oklahoma Gordie Ferrell TEXHOMA, Okla. - Gordie Ferrell, 87, died Tuesday, Sept. 9, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dane Lemmons officiating. Burial will be in the Texhoma, Texas, Cemetery by Dawson-Welch Funeral Home. Mr. Ferrell was born in Sulphur Springs, Texas. He married Susan Chambers in 1934 at Wilson. They moved to Texhoma in 1950 from Burkburnett, Texas. Mr. Ferrell was a self-employed welder. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Suzanne McMakin of Ruidoso, N.M.; two sons, Monte Ferrell of Texhoma and Rolland Ferrell of Claremore; a brother, King Ferrell of Ada; four grandchildren; five stepgrandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Texhoma Cemetery or a favorite charity.