Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 11 Aug 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; Monday, August 11, 1997, 6:36 AM Area Ygnacia Reyes HEREFORD - Ygnacia Reyes, 78, died Saturday, Aug. 9, 1997. Prayer service will be at 7 p.m. today at New Beginnings Assembly of God Church in Hereford. Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at New Beginnings Assembly of God with Pastor Rafael Rosado officiating. Burial will be in St. Anthony's Cemetery in Hereford by Rix Funeral Directors. Mrs. Reyes was born in Mission and had been a Hereford resident for the past five years. She was a homemaker and a member of New Beginnings Assembly of God Church. She married Magarito Reyes. He died in 1991. Survivors include four daughters, Juanita Ramos of Raymondville, and Manuela Beruman, Quadalupe Bella, and Maria Luisa Cantu, all of Hereford; four sons, Ramon Reyes and Juan Reyes, both of Hereford, and Reynaldo Reyes and Jose Luis Reyes, both of Harlingen; three sisters and three brothers. The body will be available for viewing at the church Tuesday until the time of the service. ]CLAUDE - Verena Puckett, 88, died Saturday, Aug. 9, 1997. Services will be 4 p.m. today at First Baptist Church of Claude with Bill Phillips officiating. Arrangements by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Burial will be in Claude Cemetery. Mrs. Puckett was born in Armstrong County and had lived there much of her life. She married Jowell W. Puckett in 1931 at Claude. He died in 1992. The couple ranched and farmed in Armstrong County until 1946 when they bought a ranch in New Mexico where they remained for 34 years. While in New Mexico, she did volunteer work at Philmont Scout Ranch. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Claude and a worthy matron of the Eastern Star. Survivors include two sisters, Mary Lawson of Lubbock and Hannah Overstreet of Friona. The family will be at 406 Hermosa in Claude. The family requests memorials be to First Baptist Church of Claude or Cal Farley's Boys Ranch. Debbie Kay Carter PANHANDLE - Debbie Kay Carter, 42, died, Thursday, Aug. 7, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Panhandle Cemetery with the Rev. Jim Perkins, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors of Panhandle. Mrs. Carter was born in Lindside, W.Va. She was employed by Thriftway in Clarendon. She had been a resident of Clarendon for 3 1/2 years. She also was a member of First Baptist Church in Panhandle. Survivors include two sons, Shawne D. Muray of Warrenton, Mo., and Jeromey L. Muray of Fritch; her parents, James and Mary Carter of McLean; two brothers, Billy Carter and James N. Carter Jr., both of Amarillo; and three grandchildren. May O. Spring FRIONA - May O. Spring, 86, died Saturday Aug. 9, 1997. Graveside services will be 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Bovina Cemetery with the Rev. Don Boren, pastor of Friona United Methodist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Ellis-Blackwell Funeral Home in Friona. Miss Spring was born in Bovina. She was a graduate of Friona High School and Texas Tech University. She received a master's degree from Texas Woman's University. Miss Spring worked for Harris County Medical Library and was secretary and treasurer of Harris County Medical Society in Houston. She later worked for Texas A&M University library. She then moved to Amarillo and worked as a secretary for the superintendent of Amarillo Independent School District. Miss Spring later retired from the cataloging department of the Amarillo Public Library. She then moved to Friona. She was Methodist. Survivors include two brothers, Frank L. Spring and Paul Spring, both of Friona; and a sister, Lydia Maria Sylvester of Pine Top, Ariz. The family requests memorials be to Prairie Acres Nursing Home or Friona Public Library. Jewell Witherspoon DALHART - Jewell Witherspoon, 86, died Saturday Aug. 9, 1997 in Arlington. Graveside services will be 3 p.m. Tuesday in Memorial Park Cemetery with Chad Barnett, associate minister of First Christian Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Hass Funeral Home Inc. of Dalhart. Mrs. Johnson was born in Tucumcari, N.M., and was raised in Dalhart. She married Lynne Witherspoon. He died in 1979. She was a homemaker and a longtime member of First Christian Church. Survivors include a daughter, Carolynne Castleberry of Arlington. William O. Goodrich SPEARMAN - William O. "Bill'' Goodrich, 52, died Saturday, Aug. 9, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in First Christian Church at Gruver with the Rev. Gary Gumfory officiating. Burial will be in Gruver Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers of Spearman. Mr. Goodrich was born in Clinton, Mo. He lived in the Spearman area for 30 years, moving there from Gruver. He was employed at G&G Foodliner, Ideal, and Thriftway grocery stores. Mr. Goodrich had been employed by Transpetco Oil Producers for the past 17 years. He was a member of First Christian Church of Gruver. Survivors include his parents, Howard and Bernice Goodrich of Gruver; three sisters, Deanna Kenney and Virginia Martin, both of Spearman, and Nell Frame of Longmont, Colo.; and a brother, Eddie Goodrich of Perryton. The family requests memorials be to First Christian Church of Gruver or a favorite charity. Elsewhere W.C. McClurg LUBBOCK - W.C. "Ferd'' McClurg, 87, died Saturday, Aug. 9, 1997. Services will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in Resthaven Funeral Home Chapel with Gary Moore of Vigo Park officiating. Burial will be at 4:30 p.m. in Rose Hill Cemetery in Tulia with J.E. Dean Post No. 1798 officiating. Mr. McClurg was born in Snyder, Okla. He attended school in Arkansas, Greenville, Kress and Flynt. He married Mary Montgomery of Tulia. He established the O.K. Welders in Tulia in 1939. He worked as a custom harvester for 32 years before moving to Lubbock in 1974 and operating McClurg Rentals. Mr. McClurg was a shovel operator in the 21st Sea Bees Naval Construction in World War II. He spent 40 months overseas in the Aleutian Islands, Hawaii, Saipan and Okinawa. Mr. McClurg was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and served as first Life Membership Chairman for Texas. He was past commander of the J.E. Dean Post No. 1798 in Tulia and served in district and state offices. He was a Baptist. Survivors include his wife; six sisters, Odene Helms of Arlington; Marie Sims of Logan, N.M., Clara Seale of Friona, Mertie Formway of White Deer, Johnnie Davis of Olton, and Lola Noyes of Hereford; and a brother, Clarence Ray Payne of Midland. The family requests memorials be to Rose Hill Cemetery Association, Wallace Funeral Home, 305 W. Broadway, Tulia, Texas 79088. Amarillo Douglas E. Stephens Douglas E. Stephens, 64, of Timber Creek Canyon, died Saturday, Aug. 9, 1997. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Dreamland Cemetery at Canyon with the Rev. Windell Taylor, chaplain of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, officiating. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St. Mr. Stephens was born in Amarillo. He attended Amarillo High School and entered the Army at age 16. He served in the Korean War and survived being taken as a prisoner of war. He married Mary Shelnutt Lane in 1983 at Amarillo. He worked as a truck driver for 29 years and was employed by Dallas Mavis Transport for 19 years. He was an alderman and volunteer fireman for the village of Timber Creek Canyon. Survivors include his wife; four daughters, Sherry McKamie of Austin, Renee Stephens and Dawn Donahue, both of Wildflower, Ill., and Leah Stephens of Amarillo; two sons, David Shultz of Minneapolis and Noel Stephens of Los Osos, Calif.; two stepdaughters, Debra Johnson of Amarillo and Janie Martinez of Palmdale, Calif.; two sisters, Wanda Spangler of Bakersfield, Calif., and Johnnie Sibel of Oklahoma City; four brothers, Larry Stephens of San Antonio, Tex Stevens of Fort Smith, Ark., Ross Stephens of Bakersfield, and Edward Stephens of Dumas; 19 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family will be at 127 Wild Plum Drive in Timber Creek Canyon, and requests memorials be to Timber Creek Canyon Volunteer Fire Department, Rt. 7 Box 3-3, Amarillo, Texas 79118. John Oliver Lancaster John Oliver Lancaster, 71, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Aug. 9, 1997. Services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle with Kenneth Lancaster and the Rev. Ray Ellis, pastor of Church of the Restoration, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Lancaster was born in Corsicana and had been a resident of Amarillo since 1975. He was a veteran of the Navy serving in World War II from 1943-1945. Mr. Lancaster had been employed by the Department of Public Safety for 30 years before retiring as sergeant in 1988. He married Dolores Pasch in 1945 at Stockton, Calif. He was a Methodist and a member of Sam R. Hamilton Masonic Lodge No. 1031 and York Rite. He was nominated by Parade Magazine as Outstanding Officer in 1978 when he rescued 91 people from Palo Duro Canyon during the flood. Survivors include his wife; a son, Kenneth Lancaster of Amarillo; a daughter, Jo Anna Hurst of Denton; three grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters. The family will be at 7716 Canode St. The family requests memorials be to the Lung Association or a favorite charity. Gloria Ann Covington Gloria Ann Covington, 45, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Aug. 5, 1997. Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Emmanuel Church of God in Christ with pastor Elisha Demerson officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by WarfordWalker Mortuary Inc., 509 N. Hughes St. Mrs. Covington was born in Amarillo. She attended Hilltop Elementary School and Carver High School. She married Robert Earl Covington in 1981. She also had lived in California. At the time of her death she was employed at a nursing home as a cook. Survivors include her husband; three daughters, Carmer Harris, Deanna Bassett and Lucinda Bassett, all of Amarillo; a son, Lee Victor Bassett of Pittsburgh, Calif.; three brothers, Walter Bassett and Gale Bassett, both of Guthrie, Okla., and Gary Bassett of Amarillo; her mother, Jessie Mae Bassett of Amarillo; and 12 grandchildren. The family will be at 1629 N. Marrs St. and 1416 N. Manhattan St. Ernest C. Gordon Ernest C. "Shorty'' Gordon, 89, died, Sunday, Aug. 10, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in First United Methodist Church of Mobeetie with the Rev. Gary Jahnel, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Wheeler Cemetery by Wright Funeral Home of Wheeler. Mr. Gordon was born in Throckmorton County. As a child, he moved to Wheeler County. He graduated Wheeler High School. He married Goldie Rebecca Williamson in 1948 at Sanford. She died in 1990. Mr. Gordon served with the Army during World War II. He also was a rancher and a member of First United Methodist Church of Mobeetie. Survivors include two brothers, George Gordon of Monmouth, Ore., and Horace Gordon of Toledo, Ohio; and three sisters, Flora Mae Kelley of Mobeetie, Elda Wilson of Pampa, and Lucille Kilbreath of Lubbock. Mary Knorpp Mary Knorpp, 89, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Aug. 9, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Groom Church of Christ with Don Stone, pastor of the Church of Christ in White Deer, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Mrs. Knorpp was born in Range, Okla., to a pioneer family. Her parents were among the first settlers of the Boydston area. She was a former resident of Groom and had lived in Amarillo three years. Mrs. Knorpp was a homemaker and a member of Groom Church of Christ for many years. She married Allen Knorpp in 1926. He died in 1989. She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Laura Jean Craig, and a son, Lawrence Allen Knorpp. Survivors include a brother, Henry Merrick of Groom; a sister, Ivy Clark of Groom; four grandchildren; and a greatgrandchild. The family requests memorials be to the Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer or a children's home. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. New Mexico Rosanna Gutierrez Martinez CLOVIS, N.M. - Rosanna Gutierrez Martinez, 38, died Saturday Aug. 9, 1997. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in the Dunn Memorial Chapel. Mass of the Resurrection will be said at 10 a.m. Tuesday in St. Anne's Catholic Church with the Rev. John C. Daniel officiating. Burial will be in Tucumcari Memorial Park Cemetery by Dunn Funeral Home of Tucumcari. Mrs. Martinez was born in Tucumcari She attended the Tucumcari public schools. She was a member of St. Anne's Catholic Church in Tucumcari. Survivors include her husband, Richard Martinez; a son, Charles Gutierrez of Tucumcari; a daughter, Stephanie Gutierrez of Tucumcari; five brothers, Johnny Gutierrez of California, Jimmy Gutierrez, Michael Gutierrez and Sammy Gutierrez, all of Albuquerque, Felix Gutierrez of Tucumcari; a sister, Georgia Rios of Albuquerque; and stepfather, Ben Sandoval of Tucumcari. Visitation will from Monday morning until Mass on Tuesday at Dunn Funeral Home Chapel.