Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 11 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; Thursday, December 11, 1997, 6:56 AM Amarillo Jane Walsh Jane Walsh, 73, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1997. A vigil will be at 7 p.m. today in St. Mary's Catholic Church. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Mary's Catholic Church by Monsignor Francis A. Smyer of the church and Monsignor Harold Waldow of Baptist St. Anthony's Health System. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home Inc., 4100 S. Georgia St. Mrs. Walsh was born in Quitman and had lived in Amarillo for 51 years. She was a homemaker and had been active with Boy Scouts of America. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and was one of the original founders of the Senior Citizens Nutrition Program. She married Frank Walsh in 1947 at Amarillo. She was preceded in death by a son, Frank E. Walsh Jr. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Dr. Bruce Walsh of New Rochelle, N.Y., and Don Walsh of Amarillo; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the St. Mary's building fund or Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. Orvil D. Land Orvil D. Land, 74, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with the Rev. Dr. Dana Moore of Pleasant Valley Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Land was born in Quanah. He moved to Amarillo in 1951 from Quanah. He was a heavy equipment operator for Pantex. He retired after 37 years of service. He was an Army veteran of World War II and a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1475. He married Wanda Miller in 1947 at California. Survivors include his wife; a son, Robert Steven Land of Amarillo; two daughters, Karen White of Amarillo and Debbie Wheeler of Canadian; a brother, Jim Land of Waxahachie; 17 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family requests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice. The body will be available for viewing this morning. Joe Velasquez Joe Velasquez, 45, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Velasquez was born in Aurora, Ill., and had lived in Amarillo for 40 years. He was a production technician for Pantex. He also owned J&J Aquariums. He was a member of Mannitech. He married Latayne Akens in 1973 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Jana Velasquez of Amarillo; two sons, Jose Velasquez III and Jason Velasquez, both of Amarillo; two brothers, Filiberto Velasquez and Chuck Velasquez, both of Amarillo; and a sister, Elva Velasquez of Houston. Mathew Ford Mathew Ford, 7, of 308 S. Florida St., died Monday, Dec. 8, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Memory Gardens Mausoleum Chapel with Spike Malonado, pastor of New Life Outreach, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Survivors include his parents, Charles and Rosa Ford of the home; a brother, Charles Ford Jr. of the home; a sister, Erica Romelia Ford of the home; grandparents, Pablo and Romelia Rangel of Amarillo, and Searcy Ford of Arkansas; and a great-grandmother, Willie Ford of Arkansas. The family will be at 308 S. Florida St. Faye Tice Murff Faye Tice Murff, 92, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 1997. Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday in Memorial Park East Mausoleum with the Rev. Larry Crumpton of Tenth Avenue United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mrs. Murff was born in Arkansas. She moved to Amarillo in 1945 from Brice. She was a school cafeteria worker and a member of Tenth Avenue United Methodist Church. She married Edwin Murff in 1928 at Hall County. He preceded her in death. Survivors include her children, Sue Colburn of Arkansas, and Bob Murff and Nancy Smith, both of Amarillo; a sister, Wonnielee Barker; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The body will be available for viewing this morning. New Mexico Eula Belle Lanier PORTALES, N.M. - Eula Belle South Lanier, 91, died Saturday, Dec. 6, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in First Baptist Church with Dr. Philip Fike officiating. Burial will be in Portales Cemetery by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales Inc. Mrs. Lanier was born in Elida before New Mexico became a state. In 1908, she moved to Crixer, Okla., and after World War I, she moved to the Portales area. She attended Portales High School, graduating in 1926. She worked for Turner's Department Store for 24 years. She became a member of First Baptist Church shortly after World War I. She moved to Puyallup, Wash., in 1990. She married Arvel Lanier in 1933. He died in 1993. Survivors include a daughter, Billie Rhea Brackeen of Graham, Wash.; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Ledene Sayre CLAYTON, N.M. - Ledene Sayre, 66, died Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Billy Rammage, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Kenton Cemetery at Kenton, Okla., by Hass Funeral Directors. Mrs. Sayre was born in Rolla, Kan. She lived most of her life in Union County. She was a 1949 graduate of Clayton High School. She was the Union County treasurer from 1971 to 1974 and Union County clerk from 1977 to 1980. She served on the board of directors of the Union County medical offices. For the past 11 years, she was the owner and operator of the Phillips 66 Truck Stop in Clayton. She married Shirley George "Buster" Sayre in 1952 at Clayton. He died in 1966. Survivors include two sons, Mark Lauren Sayre of Clayton and Joe Keith Sayre of Aztec; her twin sister, Delene Christian of Dumas, Texas; two brothers, Walter George Perkins of Carlsbad and John L. Perkins of Phoenix; and 10 grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Union County General Hospital, 301 Harding St., Clayton, N.M. 88415. Elsewhere Howard Autry GRANBURY - Howard "Red" Autry, 70, died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 1997. A celebration of life service will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Acton United Methodist Church in Acton with the Rev. Bill Boyd officiating. Arrangements are by Wiley Funeral Home. Mr. Autry was born near Tioga. He married Lessie Taylor in 1948 at Plainview. He served with the Army during World War II. During the time that he was an executive sales manager for Smith International, he lived 25 years in Odessa and 20 years in Denver. After retiring in 1994, the family moved to Pecan Plantation near Granbury. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Carolyn Jeanette Autry and Shirley Lynette Autry, both of Garland; a son, Leslie Ennis Autry of Allen; three brothers, Kenneth Neil Autry of El Dorado, Kan., W.E. Autry of Euphrata, Wash., and Thomas Leonard Autry of San Antonio; two sisters, Anna Sparks of Bedford and Marjorie Fern Taylor of New Braunfels; and three grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Acton United Methodist Church, 3433 Fall Creek Hwy., Granbury, Texas 76094; or Happy Hill Farm Children's Home, HC51, Box 56, Granbury, Texas 76048. Area Frances Ramsay Lyons MIAMI, Texas - Frances Ramsay Lyons, 81, died Monday, Dec. 8, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today 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. Ray Mack Reed MULESHOE - Ray Mack Reed, 84, died Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Ellis Funeral Home Chapel with Jack Tiffin of Earth officiating. Burial will be in Muleshoe Cemetery. Mr. Reed was born in Wichita Falls. He moved to Muleshoe in 1956 from Sudan. He served with the Army during World War II. He was a barber and a farmer. He married Ruby Lillian Thomas in 1956 at Clovis, N.M. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Rosemary Bell of Muleshoe and Gloria LeVeque of Amarillo; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. William Gordon Crocker PAMPA - William Gordon Crocker, 82, died Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Mary Ellen & Harvester Church of Christ with Don Stone, minister of White Deer Church of Christ in White Deer, and Glen Walton, minister of North Amarillo Church of Christ in Amarillo, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Crocker was born in Mobeetie and moved to Pampa in 1918. He was a mechanic for Tom Rose Ford and Harold Barrett Ford for more than 50 years. He married Favette Ray in 1935 at Beaver, Okla. He was a minister and full-time evangelist for nine years in Lubbock, Birmingham, Ala., and Indianapolis. He was active in deaf ministries across the United States. Mr. Crocker was a member of the Deaf Senior Citizens Association. He also was a member of Mary Ellen & Harvester Church of Christ and served as a deacon for 29 years. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Virginia "Ginger" Stone of Clarendon; a son, Donnie Crocker of Los Alamos, N.M.; two grandchildren; and three greatgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Sunset School of Preaching, Deaf Ministry, 3723 34th, Lubbock, Texas 79410. Joe N. Key PAMPA - Joe N. Key, 96, died Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1997. Services will be at 4 p.m. Friday in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with Glen Walton, minister of North Amarillo Church of Christ in Amarillo, and Randy Maness, grandson of the deceased, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Mr. Key was born in Vernon and moved to Pampa in 1945. He married Ruby Pearl Emerick in 1924 at Vernon. He was a self-employed dirt contractor for many years. He served with the Army Air Corps during World War I. Mr. Key was a member of Mary Ellen & Harvester Church of Christ. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Theresa Maness of Pampa; a son, Joe Key of Magnolia; six grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends at 431 N. Sumner in Pampa. They request memorials be to a favorite charity. Mable Lavender TULIA - Mable Lavender, 92, died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 1997. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. today in New Hope Cemetery at Azle with Ronald Huckeby, lay minister from Tulia, officiating. Arrangements are by Wallace Funeral Home. Mrs. Lavender was born in Tarrant County. She moved to Memphis in 1923 and returned to Tarrant County in 1927. She then moved back to Memphis in 1936 and worked as an LVN for Dr. J.A. Odom for 38 years. She moved to Tulia in 1982. Mrs. Lavender was a member of First United Methodist Church in Memphis and the Victory Sunday School class. She also was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She married George Nathan Lavender in 1921 at Azle. He died in 1934. Survivors include a son, William H. Lavender of Tulia; a sister, Ruth Misenhimer of Bakersfield, Calif.; four grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. Wanda Johnson HALE CENTER - Wanda Johnson, 67, died Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Hale Center First Baptist Church with Silas Short and the Rev. Gene Meacham, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park in Plainview by Freeman-Abell Funeral Home. Mrs. Johnson was born in Lockney. She moved to Hale Center in 1939 from Lockney. She married R.S. Johnson in 1948 at Hale Center. He died in 1989. Mrs. Johnson was a member of Hale Center First Baptist Church, the Abernathy Rebekah Lodge, the Lone Star Commanders of Texas and the Hale Center Senior Citizens. Survivors include a son, Wayne Johnson of Las Vegas; a daughter, Kathy Stout of Hale Center; a brother, Marvin Jones of Fort Worth; a sister, Lanell Garrett of Plainview; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Hale Center Library, 609 Main, Hale Center, Texas 79041; or the Hale Center Senior Citizens, 416 W. 2nd St., Hale Center, Texas 79041. William Omar Toney BORGER - William Omar Toney, 93, died Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Leonard Forsythe, pastor of Bible Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of Good Shepard at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Toney was born in Danville, Ark. He moved to Borger in 1941 from Canie, Okla. He retired as a carpenter for Phillips Petroleum. He married Hattie Mae Dodson in 1933 at Stringtown, Okla. He was preceded in death by a daughter, June Lummus, in 1962. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Pat Sue Vaughn of Sherman and Janie Kathryn Price of El Paso; two sons, James Toney and W.L. Toney, both of Borger; 10 grandchildren; and 15 greatgrandchildren. The family will be at 1009 Franklin. Bobby Ervin Smith FLOYDADA - Bobby Ervin Smith, 60, died Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Assembly of God Church with the Rev. J.D. Young, pastor of Bethany Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Floydada Cemetery by Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home. Mr. Smith was born in Bristow, Okla. He attended schools in Texas, Oklahoma and California. He retired in 1990 as a meter-reader for Lighthouse Electric of Floydada. He was a member of Bethany Baptist Church and a former member of Victory Baptist Church. He married Joanne Reeves in 1961 at Floydada. Survivors include his wife; his mother, Ola Smith of Lovington, N.M.; three sons, Bobby Smith of Amarillo, Larry Smith of Floydada and Jeff Smith of Lubbock; a daughter, Gwen Smith of Plainview; a brother, Elmer Wayne Smith of Seattle; three sisters, Dolly Esther Williams of Houston, and Doris Ellen Owens and Linda Kay Boss, both of Lovington, N.M.; and four grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Diabetes Foundation, 8008 Slide Road, No. 12A, Lubbock, Texas 79424. Jessica Franco MORTON - Jessica Franco, 15, died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 1997. Rosary was recited at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Ellis Funeral Home Chapel. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in St. Ann's Catholic Church. Burial will be in Morton Memorial Cemetery. Jessica was born in Lobo's Valley. She had been a lifelong resident of Morton. Survivors include her parents, Jose and Maria Franco of Morton; four sisters, Maria Durango, Erica Franco and Michelle Franco, all of Morton, and Rosemary Marin of Jackson, Tenn.; three brothers, Tony Franco of Moscow, Kan., Miguel Franco of Wolfforth and Jessie Franco of Morton; and grandparents, Thomas and Deloris Lopez of Van Horn, and Isabel Saiz of Lake Arthur, N.M. Giltner R. LaMaster PERRYTON - Giltner R. LaMaster, 84, died Wednesday Dec. 10, 1997. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in First Christian Church with the Rev. Frank T. Springer officiating. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Mr. LaMaster was born in Ochiltree and had been a lifetime Perryton area resident. He was a graduate of Perryton High School and the University of Oklahoma. He married Janice Murphy in 1935 at Norman, Okla. He was an insurance agent. He was an Army veteran of World War II and a member of First Christian Church. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Connie Neelley of Friona; a son, Joe LaMaster of Perryton; four brothers, Walter LaMaster, Phil LaMaster and Pete LaMaster, all of Perryton, and Cy LaMaster of Phoenix; a sister, Pauline Kelley of Perryton; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. Jean H. Close SPEARMAN - Jean H. Close, 71, died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Gruver Cemetery at Gruver with Willie Tolison officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Ms. Close was born in Lowell, Kan., and had been a lifetime resident of the Spearman area. She was a tax assessor employed by Hansford County for more than 30 years. She was a member of the Church of Christ. Survivors include a son, Billy Frank Close of Lubbock; two daughters, Sue Close of Lubbock and Jeanne Close of Spearman; three sisters, Mable Adams of Amarillo, June Adair of Rainier, Wash., and Pat Mott of Pampa; a brother, John Homer Hart of Amarillo; and six grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Hansford Manor, 707 Roland, Spearman, Texas 79081; or the Church of Christ Children's Home, 121 S. Haney, Spearman, Texas 79081. Charles Leonard Williamson BOOKER - Charles Leonard Williamson, 74, died Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Emmanuel Baptist Church in Rolla, Kan., with the Rev. Craig Long, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Rolla Cemetery at Rolla. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Spearman. Mr. Williamson was born in Elkhart, Kan. He lived in Spearman for two years after moving from Okemah, Okla. He also lived in Guymon, Okla., for many years. He had lived in the Booker area for two years. He retired from Swift Co. He married Velda Davis in 1946 at Liberal, Kan. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Ed Williamson of Spearman, Les Williamson of Shawnee, Okla., and Steve Williamson of Guymon; two daughters, Terri Roth of Clay Center, Kan., and Ronda Clinesmith of Weleetka, Okla.; a brother, Gerald Williamson of Canyon County, Calif.; four sisters, Helen Barnes of Elkhart, Betty Eastepp and Frances Richardson, both of Rolla, and Faye Nugent of Quitman, Ark.; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Heart Association.