Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 11 July 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; Friday, July 11, 1997, 8:31 AM Amarillo Allison Hope Thomas-Dodd Allison Hope Thomas-Dodd, 32, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, July 8, 1997. Services will be by Jennings & Ayers Funeral Home of Murfreesboro, Tenn. Local arrangements were by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Thomas-Dodd was born in North Lake, Ill. She had lived in Amarillo for a short time. She was a homemaker. Survivors include her father, James W. Dodd of Murfreesboro; and a sister, Michelle Carter of Woodbury, Tenn. Virginia Rae Hicks Virginia Rae Hicks, 56, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, July 9, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with Dr. Howard Batson, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery at Canyon by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Hicks was born in Oklahoma City and had lived in Amarillo for 16 years. She was a commercial marketing manager for P.I.A. Insurance Co. She was a member of First Baptist Church. She married Ritchey Hicks in 1984 at Amarillo. Survivors include her husband; and her mother, Vivian Stults of Perkins, Okla. The family suggests memorials in lieu of flowers be to CIS, a missionary organization to the former Soviet Union, 1101 Panhandle Blvd., Amarillo, Texas, 79107; or to the Bone Marrow Transplant Program at the Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center, 1500 Wallace Blvd., Amarillo, Texas, 79106. Isidor Rojas Isidor Rojas, 59, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, July 8, 1997. Wake will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today in Warford-Walker Mortuary Chapel of Roses, 509 N. Hughes. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in St. Martin Catholic Church with the Rev. F.R. Crowe, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Rio Cemetery at Rio Grande City. Mr. Rojas was born in Laredo and had been a longtime Amarillo resident. He attended Palo Duro High School. He joined the military and served in the Navy. He worked as a material handler for Pantex until his retirement. Since retiring, he had been living in Rio Grande City. Survivors include his wife, Idolina; two sons, Jeff Rojas and Danny Rojas, both of Amarillo; two daughters, Terri Perkins of Amarillo and Kim Rojas of Kansas City, Mo.; two brothers, Willie Rojas of Arlington and Tony Martinez of Stamwood, Wash.; three sisters, Mamie Zamapirra of Arlington, Frances Hernandez of Oklahoma City and Pauline Rojas of Roswell, N.M.; and seven grandchildren. The family will be at 1011 N. Grant St. Lanna Vannonh Lanna Vannonh, 42, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, July 9, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Martin Road Chapel, 1505 Martin Road, with the Rev. Bouahonn Keomoungkhoune from First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Vannonh was born in Phayao, Thailand. She was an international student from Thailand and graduated from Oklahoma University with a bachelor's degree in business management. She married Chay Vannonh in 1983 and moved to Amarillo, where she had lived since. She was a supervisor at the Homeland store on Northeast 24th Avenue for 13 years. Survivors include her husband; a brother, Inkham Kamking of Thailand; and two sisters from Thailand. The family will be at 5821 N.E. 18th Ave. Alice Fuller Pool Alice Fuller Pool, 89, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, July 8, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Roy Wheeler of Paramount Christian Church officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Mrs. Pool was born in New York City and had lived in Amarillo for 45 years. She was a past worthy matron of the Order of the Eastern Star Bonita Chapter No. 184. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Wayne F. Fuller, in 1936; and her second husband, Byron A. Pool, in 1975. Survivors include a son, David Fuller of Honolulu; two daughters, Judy Boaz of Mount Vernon and Marcia Mudroch of Oklahoma City; a sister, Ruth Morgan of Erie, Pa.; two brothers, Charles McIntosh of Wesleyville, Pa., and Donald McIntosh of Boca Raton, Fla.; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Cypress Basin Hospice in Mount Pleasant or a favorite charity. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Ernest Jack Aragon Jr. Ernest Jack Aragon Jr., 34, of 4215 S. Western St., died Thursday, July 10, 1997. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street, with Dr. Gil Lain of Paramount Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mr. Aragon was born in Dalhart. He graduated from Dalhart High School and Clarendon Junior College. He moved to Amarillo 13 years ago from Clarendon. He worked as a waiter in Amarillo for Ruby Tequila's, Calico County and The Golden Corral restaurants. He was a Baptist and attended Paramount Baptist Church. Survivors include his mother, Josie Aragon of Amarillo; his father, Ernest J. Aragon Sr. of Kansas City, Kan.; two sisters, Sandra Hernandez of Borger and Lucille Aragon of Dalhart; a brother, Steve Wayne Aragon of Dalhart; and grandmother and godmother, Emma Salazar of Dalhart. The family will be at 4215 S. Western St. No. 98. They request memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. Oklahoma Clarence Duncan Alexander GUYMON, Okla. - Clarence Duncan "C.D.'' Alexander, 93, died Wednesday, July 9, 1997, at Amarillo. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Victory Memorial United Methodist Church with the Rev. Mike Chaffin, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Elmhurst Cemetery by Henson-Novak Funeral Directors. Mr. Alexander was born in Wills Point, Texas, and moved with his family to the Oklahoma Panhandle, settling south of Goodwell in 1904. He attended country schools and Goodwell schools and graduated from Texhoma High School in 1922. Mr. Alexander was instrumental in the agricultural and civic growth of Texas County and the surrounding areas. As a cattle and horseman, he was inducted into the Horseman's Hall of Fame. He owned and operated several businesses in the area. Mr. Alexander was the 1983 Texas County Pioneer Day parade marshal. He was a member of Victory Memorial United Methodist Church. He was active in Guymon Lodge 335 AF&AM and was a York Rite Mason and a member of the Scottish Rite Consistory at Guthrie. He also was a member of the India Shrine Temple in Oklahoma City and was active in the Panhandle Shrine Club. He married Sue E. Lindsay in 1927 at Guymon. She died in 1981. He also was preceded in death by an infant daughter. Survivors include a son, Lindsay L. Alexander of Tulsa; three sisters, Lulu Kuhn and Mable Ford, both of Pampa, Texas, and Jewel Davidson of Denver; a brother, Ray Alexander of Harrison, Ark.; a granddaughter; and two great-granddaughters. The family suggests memorials be to a C.D. Alexander Memorial that has been established for the Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children. Memorials will be accepted at Henson-Novak Funeral Home, Box 1306, Guymon, Okla. 73942. Elsewhere Clarence Manuel Hitchcock SHREVEPORT, La. - Clarence Manuel Hitchcock died Tuesday, July 8, 1997. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. today in Forest Park Cemetery with the Rev. Ellen Alston of Broadmoor United Methodist Church officiating. Arrangements are by Osborn Funeral Home. Mr. Hitchcock was born in Texas and had lived in Shreveport for 25 years. He was a member of Broadmoor United Methodist Church. He was a 32nd Degree Mason. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ileta Margaret Petty Hitchcock. Survivors include a daughter, Margaret Hitchcock Glenn of Shreveport; a son, Layden Edwin Hitchcock; six grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to The Shriners Hospital for Children. Liller Garrison MATADOR - Liller Garrison, 93, died Thursday, July 10, 1997. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in East Mound Cemetery with the Rev. Felton Gilmore, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Seigler Funeral Home. Mrs. Garrison was born in Malakoff and moved to Motley County in 1916. She married Dowell Garrison in 1926. They lived in New Mexico from 1946 to 1979, first in Tatum and later in Ruidoso. They returned to Matador in 1979. Mr. Garrison died in 1982. Mrs. Garrison was a member of First Baptist Church and several bridge clubs. She also had been active in home demonstration work. Survivors include two nieces and two nephews. Area Lou Hardin BORGER - Lou Hardin, 63, died Thursday, July 10, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Church of Christ with Gary Bodine, minister, officiating. Burial will be at 4 p.m. in Kirkland Cemetery at Kirkland by Brown Funeral Directors. Mrs. Hardin was born in Childress and had lived in Borger for 44 years. She was a homemaker and a member of the Church of Christ. She married Billy L. Hardin in 1951 at Quanah. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Randy Hardin and Terry Hardin, both of Borger; her mother, Grace Hardison of Hitchcock; a brother, Ronnie Elbert Hardison of Hitchcock; a sister, Marjorie Isbell of Alta Loma; and five grandchildren. Mary Ellen Gowin TULIA - Mary Ellen Gowin, 93, died Thursday, July 10, 1997. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Rose Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Robert Fields, pastor of Parkview Baptist Church in Amarillo, officiating. Arrangements are by Wallace Funeral Home. Mrs. Gowin was born in Pottawatomie County, Okla. She was raised in Oklahoma and attended school there. She married Charles Gowin in 1921 at Perryton. They moved to Briscoe County. She moved from Quitaque to Tulia in 1975 and to Amarillo in 1983. Mr. Gowin died in 1982. She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Reba Wilson, in November; and a son, Jay Gowin in 1988. Mrs. Gowin was a member of Parkview Baptist Church in Amarillo and the Order of the Eastern Star. Survivors include a daughter-in-law, Juanita Gowin of Hale Center; a son-inlaw, Marion Wilson of Pampa; two grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and Affiliates in Amarillo. Luella Jane Edwards TULIA - Luella Jane McBride Edwards, 95, died Wednesday, July 9, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Wallace Funeral Home Chapel with Trey Morgan, pastor of Central Church of Christ, and Curtis Camp, minister from Amarillo, officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Mrs. Edwards was born in Tribbey, Okla. She moved to Forrest, N.M., in 1910, to Quitaque in 1915 and to Tulia in 1920. She married Lawrence Edwards in 1935 at Panhandle. Mrs. Edwards was an auxiliary worker and a nurse's aide at Swisher Memorial Hospital for several years. She also was a professional quilter. She was a homemaker and a member of Central Church of Christ. She and her husband were custodians at Central Church of Christ for 11 years. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Orin W. Fewell, in 1931; her second husband, Lawrence Edwards, in 1990; a daughter, Clara Edwards; and a son, Thomas Edwards. Survivors include two daughters, Christine Horn of Big Spring and Dorothy Nickell of Russellville, Ark.; two sons, Loy Edwards of Aurora, Colo., and Harlie Fewell of Amarillo; three sisters, Mary Pope and Lenora Pope, both of Estancia, N.M., and Cleora Moore of Shamrock; a brother, Artie McBride of Amarillo; 21 grandchildren; 62 great-grandchildren; and 39 great-great-grandchildren. Jean Hanna DUMAS - Jean Hanna, 57, died Thursday, July 10, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Scott Willingham, pastor, and the Rev. Mike Aiken, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Northlawn Memorial Gardens by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mrs. Hanna was born in Wheeler County and had been a Dumas resident since 1957. She married Ernest Hanna in 1957 at Stinnett. Mrs. Hanna was a certified engineer for GTE telephone company before retiring after 34 years of service. She was a member of First Baptist Church and an interim organist at Calvary Baptist Church before becoming ill. She was active in many areas of the ministry including youth, music and English as a second language. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Tammy Rives of Columbus; a son, Mike Hanna of Dumas; two brothers, Neal Kenney of Tampa, Fla., and L.D. Kenney of Clinton, Okla.; a sister, Joann Schultz of Amarillo; and four grandchildren. The family will be at 909 Phillips Drive. They request memorials be to a favorite charity. Luther Rhea Bradley CHILDRESS - Luther Rhea Bradley, 86, died Thursday, July 10, 1997. Services will be at 4 p.m. today in Bible Baptist Church with Don McFarland, pastor of Parkview Baptist Church, and Alan Egerton of Bible Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery by Johnson Funeral Home. Mr. Bradley was born in Hedley. He taught schools in Hardeman and Cottle counties and pastored seven rural churches in the Childress area. He also pastored Central Baptist Church in Denton and Castleberry Baptist Church in Fort Worth. He established Bible Baptist Church in Childress in 1950. He served as its pastor for 36 years before retiring in 1986. Mr. Bradley was preceded in death by his wife, Ophelia, in 1988; and a daughter, Paula Bradley Lewis, in 1986. Survivors include two grandchildren, Stephenia Davis and Renonda Jones, both of Childress; and two great-grandchildren. Robena Whatley HEREFORD - Robena Whatley, 72, died Tuesday, July 7, 1997. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. today in Parkside Chapel with the Rev. Richard Collins officiating. Ms. Whatley was born in Linden. She retired as a dietitian after having worked for West Gate Nursing Center in Hereford for 15 years. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She married William Love Whatley in 1951. He preceded her in death. Survivors include a son, Nicholas Whatley of Hereford; a daughter, Leslie Whatley of Hereford; a sister, Maebell Williams of Richmond, Va.; a brother, S.L. Sanders of Texas; 11 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Sheriff Billy V. Bowen CANADIAN - Sheriff Billy V. Bowen, 58, died Thursday, July 10, 1997. Services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday in the W.S. and E.S. Jones Community Pavilion with the Rev. Andy Taylor, pastor of Trinity Fellowship Church in Sayre, Okla., and Roger Smelser, senior minister at First Christian Church in Canadian, officiating. Burial will be in Prairie Dell Cemetery by Stickley-Hill Funeral Directors. Mr. Bowen was born in Odessa and served in the Navy. He married Carol Powell in New York. He later married Cindy Newton. They moved to Hemphill County in 1980 from Roswell, N.M. While living in Roswell, he was employed by the Chaves County Sheriff's Department and the Roswell Police Department. Mr. Bowen was employed by the Canadian Police Department and served as a deputy for Hemphill County from 1983 until he began serving as sheriff in 1985. He was a member of the Texas Major Crimes Assessment Committee and was director of the Panhandle Regional Law Enforcement Academy. He was serving as director of the Texas Sheriff's Association and president of the Canadian Golf Association. He was a former director of the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission and a member of First Christian Church. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Debra Ward of Lake City, Fla., and Shana Bowen of Canadian; two sons, Billy Box of Artesia, N.M., and Lloyd Box of Houston; and three grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Hemphill County Hospice, 1020 S. 4th, Canadian, Texas 79014; the Don and Sybil B. Harrington Cancer Center, 1500 Wallace Blvd., Amarillo, Texas 79106; or the Sheriff's Association of Texas, P.O. Box 4488, Austin, Texas 78765-4488. Viewing will be at the funeral home from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and Saturday and from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday. New Mexico Ramona Martinez CLOVIS, N.M. - Ramona Martinez, 39, died Wednesday, July 9, 1997. Rosary was recited at 7 p.m. Thursday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Community. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. today in Our Lady of Guadalupe. Burial will be in Mission Garden of Memories by Muffley Funeral Home. Mrs. Martinez was born in Vaughn. She moved to Clovis in 1962 and attended Clovis schools. She had been the owner of Ramona's Sandwich Shop for the past 21/2 years. Before that she worked for The Rusty Sun. She also was a disc jockey for KICA radio station for 10 years. She was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Community. She married Francisco Martinez in 1984 at Clovis. Survivors include her husband; a son, Michael Gallegos of Clovis; two daughters, Diana Gallegos and Elizabeth Griego, both of Clovis; her parents, Salomon and Rosabell Mondragon of Clovis; a brother, Joseph Mondragon of Clovis; six sisters, Angela Lopez, Janet Gallegos and Debbie Mondragon, all of Clovis, Peggy Lopez of Abilene, Texas, Cecelia Samora of Fort Sumner and Gloria Langoria of Texico; grandmother, Juanita Mondragon of Clovis; and three grandchildren. Jennifer Anne Doenges CLOVIS, N.M. - Jennifer Anne Doenges, 17, died Saturday, July 5, 1997, in Las Vegas, Nev. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens. Jennifer was born in Fairbanks, Alaska. She attended North Pole High School at North Pole, Alaska. She had been a resident of Clovis since 1996 and attended Clovis High School, where she completed her junior year. She attended Faith Christian Family Church Youth Group. Survivors include her parents, Karl and Debra Doenges of the home; a sister, Bridgette Doenges of the home; and grandparents, Marika Doenges of the home and Warren Webber of Cheyenne, Wyo. The family suggests memorials be to the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation, 2235 E. Flamingo, Suite 400C, Las Vegas, Nev. 89119. Raymond Torres TEXICO, N.M. - Raymond "Rengo'' Torres, 72, died Wednesday, July 9, 1997. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with the Rev. Tobin officiating. Burial will be in Mission Garden of Memories. Mr. Torres was born in Bakersfield, Calif., and was a longtime Texico resident. He farmed in the Farwell and Texico area until retiring. He served in the Army during World War II and Korean War. He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans. He married Amelia Ancira in 1955 at Texico. He was preceded in death by a son, Joe. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Teresa Cabral of Texico; three sons, Johnny Torres of Farwell, Texas, and Ruben Torres and Andy Torres, both of Clovis; three sisters, Phyllis Cornejo of Portales, Patsy Kennedy of Phoenix and Dolores Navarro of Visalia, Calif.; and four brothers, John Torres and Frank Torres, both of Fresno, Calif., and Joe Torres and Ralph Torres, both of Albuquerque. Kevin G. Black TUCUMCARI, N.M. - Kevin G. Black, 45, died Wednesday, July 9, 1997. Memorial services will be at 4 p.m. today in Dunn Park with the Rev. Gene Morgan, minister of Calvary Apostolic Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Dunn Funeral Home. Mr. Black was born in Black, Mo. He had been a resident of the San Jon and Tucumcari area for more than 30 years. He attended the San Jon and Tucumcari school systems. He was a Yellow Freight truck driver and had been active in the operation of The Rough Country Pawn Shop, a business owned by him and his wife, Roxanna. Survivors include his wife of Logan; two sons, Chad Black and Chuck Black, both of the home; his parents, Oscar and Hazel Black of Roswell; and three sisters, Shirley Pilley of Colcord, Okla., Verla Faye Brown of Bloomfield and Joyce Bogschutz of Roswell. The family requests memorials be to the American Cancer Society.