Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 11 March 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 ==================================================================== Amarillo Frances Joan Greene Frances Joan Greene, 78, died Friday, March 7, 1997, at Tucson, Ariz. Memorial services were Monday at Adair Funeral Home at Tucson. Johnny Sherer delivered the eulogy. Mrs. Greene was born in Dodge City, Kan. She was a graduate of Dodge City High School and Dodge City Community College. She had lived in Amarillo since 1943 and was a retired secretary for the Amarillo Independent School District. She was a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. She married the Rev. S. Greene in 1939 at Dodge City, Kan. Survivors include her husband; a son, Jeff Greene of Tigard, Ore.; her daughter, Corinne Diven of Tucson; a sister, Jackie Sherer of Mullinville, Kan.; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The body will not be available for viewing. The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, memorials be to Carondelet Hospice Services, 1802 W. St. Mary's Road, Tucson, Ariz. 85745. Bill W. McClendon Jr. Bill W. McClendon Jr., 78, of Amarillo, died Sunday, March 9, 1997. Services will be at 4 p.m. today in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle, with Dr. Chester O'Brien, retired Baptist minister, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. McClendon was born in Claude and had lived in Amarillo most of his life. He graduated from Amarillo High School and the University of Texas. He had been a pharmacist for the past 55 years and was the owner/operator of McClendon Pharmacy, as well as several other pharmacies in the area. He was a member of all local and state Pharmaceutical Associations and the Northwest Texas Hospital board of managers from 1970 to 1978. He was a Paul Harris Fellow of the Downtown Rotary Club, a member of the Texas Ex-Students Association and the First Baptist Church. He had been married to Lorelle for 55 years. He was preceded in death by a son, Toney McClendon in 1978. Survivors include his wife; a son, Bill McClendon of Amarillo; three sisters, Rhoda Savage of Sun City, Calif., and Margaret Sumner and Thelma Brockmeyer, both of Amarillo. The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, memorials for the restoration of the First Baptist Church, 13th Avenue and Tyler Street, Amarillo, Texas 79101-4296. The family will be at 1611 S. Bonham St. Douglas Lee Robbins Douglas Lee Robbins, 47, of Amarillo, died Sunday, March 9, 1997. Services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Schooler Funeral Home, Brentwood Chapel, 4100 S. Georgia St., with the Rev. Roy S. Wheeler, pastor of Paramount Terrace Christian Church officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Robbins was born in Amarillo and had lived here most of his life. He graduated from Amarillo High School in 1968. He received an All American Football Scholarship and graduated from Texas A&M University in 1973. Survivors include a daughter, Heather Robbins of Grove, Okla.; his mother, Doris Robbins of Lindale; a sister, Janet Coffman of Amarillo; and grandmother, Pauline Barron of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials in lieu of flowers be to Home Place Hospice of East Texas, 3800 Paluxy Ste. 560, Tyler, Texas 75703. Artie Lee Foster Matejko Artie Lee Foster Matejko, 85, of Amarillo, died Sunday, March 9, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Bykota Southern Baptist Church, with the Rev. Rick Rice officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, directed by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mrs. Matejko was born at Wichita Falls. She was a longtime Amarillo resident. She was a member of the Alamo Lady's Club and of Amarillo Senior Citizens Association. She was a member of Bykota Southern Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by two husbands, William Foster in 1963 and John Matejko in 1989, and by two daughters, Bernice Dupy in 1987 and Anita O'Fallon in 1993. Survivors include two sons, Blackie Foster of Amarillo and Lewis Foster of California; two daughters, Helen Vanover and Joy Gonzales, both of Amarillo; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Lois Bonner Shaw Lois Bonner Shaw, longtime volunteer and supporter of the Amarillo Museum of Art and the Amarillo Symphony, died Sunday, March 9. She was 81. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at St. Andrew's School gymnasium, with the Rev. Stuart H. Hoke and the Rev. William D. Nix Jr. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery, directed by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Shaw was born and raised in Dallas. She had lived in Amarillo for 50 years. After finishing high school in Dallas she attended Amarillo College and West Texas State University. She was a charter member of the Amarillo Symphony Guild and a member of its board of directors, serving as president from 1958 to 1959. She also was a member of the board of directors of the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra. Her service spanned almost 30 years. Mrs. Shaw had served on the executive board of Amarillo Symphony Inc. In 1967, she was elected as the first woman in Texas to represent Texas on the board of the National Women's Council, an auxiliary group to the American Symphony Orchestra League. In 1985, she was named to Texas Arts Alliance board of directors. She was a founding board member of the Amarillo Museum of Art. She was a member of the original planning committee and served 17 years on the board of trustees. She was a charter member in the founding of the Art Center Docents. She served as a member and officer of the Amarillo Art Center executive board of trustees. She also was president of the Amarillo College Art Force in 1991 and was a three-term past president of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce Arts Committee. She was the founder / originator of the Golden Nail Awards in 1983. She received the Distinguished Volunteer Award from the Golden Nail Awards Committee in 1992. She co-chaired the Suzuki Strings Gala in 1990. She also was active in the Amarillo Little Theatre Guild, the Junior League of Amarillo and Montessori Academy. She held leadership roles in the Episcopal church, locally and in the Northwest Texas Episcopal Diocese. She was senior warden of St. Philip's Episcopal Mission. She served two terms as president of the International Club and also served on the BRAVO! board, the support group of Amarillo Opera. She was named a 1994 Achiever by the American Association of University Women. She received a Presidential Citation from Amarillo College for being nominated as the alumna of the year for 1996. She was president of the High Plains Poetry Society. Survivors include her husband, Edward Carrington Shaw; a daughter, Susan Shaw of Brooklin, Maine, and New York City; a son, Stephen Shaw of Liberty Hill; a son, Stuart Shaw of Austin; and five grandchildren. The family suggest memorials be made to the Art Force in care of Mrs. Orland Lacer for the Lois Bonner Shaw scholarship fund. Edwin L. McKee Edwin L. "Spider" McKee, 70, of Amarillo, died Sunday, March 9, 1997. Services will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Polk Street United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Jim Garrett, senior pastor, and Dr. Harold Daniel, associate pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery, directed by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. McKee was born at Follett and had lived in Amarillo since 1949. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He married Margurite Brown. For 39 years he was a salesman for Clowe & Clowe & Wheeler Municipal Supply. He was a graduate of West Texas A&M University and a member of the Alumni Association. He served on the board of directors of West Texas Food Bank, and was a volunteer for Christmas in April, the Salvation Army and Faith City Mission. He was a member of Polk Street United Methodist Church and secretary-treasurer of the McDavid Sunday School Class. Survivors include his wife; a stepson, Sam Walker of Phoenix; a stepdaughter, Bobbie Faulkner of Amarillo; his mother, Albertha McKee of Wichita, Kan.; a sister, Mary Garren of Wichita, Kan.; six grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials to Polk Street United Methodist Church. Elsewhere Ida Belle Barbera BALLINGER - Ida Belle Barbera, 79, died Sunday, March 9, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Winters. Burial will be March 18 at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery at Gustine, Calif., directed by Rains-Seale Funeral Home of Winters. She was born at Pottsboro and moved from Dallas to San Francisco in 1945. After her retirement in 1975, she lived at Ripon, Calif., until she moved to Ballinger in 1995. Survivors include a son, Bill Cox of Aurora, Colo.; four daughters, Gloria Ann Larrimore of Marion, S.C., June Gerber of Reno, Nev., Dorothy Dahmann of Ballinger and Susan Hennings of San Rafael, Calif.; two sisters, Ruby Kizzare of Chandler, Ariz., and Maud Sowder of Muleshoe; 11 grandchildren; nine greatgrandchildren; and a great-great-grandson. The family suggests memorials to the Alzheimer's Association. Maurine Bagwell Leach LUBBOCK - Maurine Bagwell Leach, 82, died Monday, March 10, 1997. Memorial Services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at St. John's United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Bobby McMillan, pastor, and Ted Dotts, chaplain at Methodist Hospital, officiating. Private burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Park, directed by Resthaven Funeral Home. Mrs. Leach was born at Claude and graduated from Claude High School and the University of Texas. She had been a Lubbock resident since moving from Amarillo in 1938. She married T.L. Leach at Amarillo in 1938. She was a Life Master bridge player. She was preceded in death by a son, Robert L. Leach, in 1993. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Carol Leach Hockmuth of Santa Fe, N.M.; three sisters, Janice Beach of Phoenix, Ariz., Johnnye Doshier of Vega, Texas, and Imogene Bagwell of Amarillo; a brother, Don Bagwell of Amarillo; and two grandchildren. The family suggests memorials to the Texas Tech Foundation for Agriculture Scholarships; or to St. John's United Methodist Church. Area Edna Davis Riley DIMMITT - Edna Davis Riley, 85, died Sunday, March 9, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Fourth and Bedford Street Church of Christ with Harry Riggs, minister, and Ronnie Parker officiating. Burial will be in Hart Cemetery at Hart by Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Homes. Mrs. Riley was born in Mountain Park, Okla. She lived in the Sunnyside community and Hart County before moving to Dimmitt in 1954. She graduated from Littlefield High School and attended Texas Tech University, receiving a teaching certificate. She had taught at Springlake and Hart schools. She was a charter member of the Texas Corn Growers Association, the Church of Christ and the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was a lifetime member of the Texas Congress of Parents and Teachers and was a past chairperson and an 18year board member of the Rhodes Memorial Library at Dimmitt. She was a member of the Dimmitt Garden Club. She married J. Ray Riley in 1933 in Amarillo. He died in 1977. Survivors include two sons, Ray Joe Riley of Hart and Steven Kim Riley of Manchaca; two grandsons; and four greatgrandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Edna Riley Memorial Greenhouse Fund, P.O. Box 250, Manchaca, Texas 78652 or the Marbridge Foundation c/o First United Bank, 201 N. Broadway, Dimmitt, Texas 79027. T.H. Blackstock MORTON - T.H. Blackstock, 77, of Morton, died Sunday, March 9, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at First Missionary Baptist Church, with the Rev. Gordon Renshaw, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Morton Memorial Cemetery, directed by Ellis Funeral Home. Mr. Blackstock was born at Water Valley. He married Juanita Wyatt in 1937 at Lamesa. He moved to Morton from Lamesa in 1948. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He was a farmer and a member of First Missionary Baptist Church. A grandson, Wayne Enos, preceded him in death in 1983. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Harold Blackstock of Morton and Maurice Blackstock of Wolfforth; two daughters, Brenda Kay Enos and Linda Hatter, both of Morton; two brothers, Aubrey Blackstock of Lamesa and Dale Blackstock of Pecos; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; five four step-grandchildren; and nine step-great-grandchildren. Tom Franklin Coffee PAMPA - Tom Franklin Coffee, 68, of Pampa, died Sunday, March 9, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church of Miami, with Dr. Jim Prock, pastor of First Baptist Church of Pampa, the Rev. Darrel Monday, pastor of Central Baptist Church of Pampa, and the Rev. Jerry Arrington, associate pastor of the First Baptist Church of Pampa, officiating. Burial will be in Miami Cemetery, directed by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Mr. Coffee was born at Miami and graduated from Miami High School in 1947. He married Betty Stanford in 1960 at Miami. They lived at Higgins from from 1960 to 1974, and at Pampa for 23 years. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army's 1st Battalion, 8th Regiment, serving during the Korean War. He was cattle inspector for the First National Bank of Amarillo from 1966 to 1971. He was actively involved in ranching at the time of his death. He was a member and past Grand Master of both Miami Masonic Lodge #805 and Higgins Masonic Lodge #820, a member of the Scottish Rite Consistory and a 32nd Degree Mason. He was a member and past president of the Top O' Texas Rodeo Association and a member of the Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. He was a member of the Pulaski American Legion Post of Miami and of the Texas Tech Dads Association. He was a member and deacon of Central Baptist Church, a member of Baptist Men, and taught the church's Pre-School Department. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Walter Clyde Coffee of Pampa and Tom Clay Coffee of Richmond; two brothers, Walter C. Coffee of Miami and C.M. Coffee Jr. of Miles City, Mont.; and five grandchildren. The family will be at 2104 Lea in Pampa. They suggest memorials to the Central Baptist Church Pre-School Department. W. Don DeGeer BORGER - W. Don DeGeer, 72, died Monday, March 10, 1997. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Andrew United Methodist Church, with the Rev. David Purl, pastor, officiating. Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Directors of Borger. Mr. DeGeer was a native of El Dorado, Kan. and was a longtime Borger resident. He attended grade school and junior high at Blackwell, Okla., and graduated from high school at McPherson, Kan. During World War II, he served as a combat engineer in Europe from 1943 to 1945, and in the 95th international Division of the 3rd and 9th Armies. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1949. He was a roughneck for Rowan Drilling Co. and worked as a roustabout and engineer for Globe Oil. He went to work for Phillips Petroleum in 1950. In 1951 he was recalled to service and served for 18 months in the Korean War. He returned to Phillips and worked as a production engineer and a drilling superintendent in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Kansas and Utah. He was preceded in death by a son, William Donald DeGeer III, in 1972, and by his wife, Francis Josephine, in 1978. He married Edith Lorene Sissel in 1983 at Stinnett. In 1985 he retired from Phillips Geothermal Co. and returned to Borger. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Eric Neel DeGeer of Dallas and Bryan Arthur Sissel of Albuquerque; three daughters, Lynn Iris DeGeer of Austin, Capt. Diane Sue DeGeer of Las Vegas, Nev., and Aileen Ann Rios of Corpus Christi; a sister, Bonnie Priebe of Vallejo, Calif.; and two grandchildren. The family suggests memorials to St. Andrew United Methodist Church and First United Methodist Church. James O. Phillips WELLINGTON - James O. "Jim" Phillips, 84, died Sunday, March 9, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in North Fairview Cemetery, with the Rev. Nathan Mulder, pastor of First Baptist Church in Flomot, officiating. Arrangements are by Adams Funeral Home of Wellington. Mr. Phillips was born at Detroit, Texas. He married Dorothy Hulen in 1938 at Blossom. They moved to Turkey in 1942 and to Wellington in 1962. He retired from farming in 1978. He was a Baptist. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Johnny Owen James, and by a greatgranddaughter, Brandi Foster. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Jimmie Owen Phillips of Burkburnett, Bub Phillips and Gary Phillips, both of Wellington; four daughters, Dorothy Staldeman of Burkburnett, Alta Porter and Brenda Barton, both of Wellington, and Judy James of Snyder; two sisters, Seible Gaston and Grace Brandon, both of Comanche; two brothers, Henry Phillips and Pressie Phillips, both of Seagoville; 16 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials to the Wellington Cemetery Association. Howard Melvin Frost MIDLAND - Howard Melvin Frost, 78, of Midland, died Sunday, March 9, 1997. Graveside services were held Monday in North Fairview Cemetery in Wellington, with the Rev. Steve Ulrey, pastor, officiating. Arrangements were by Adams Funeral Home. Mr. Frost was born at Tolbert, attended school at Pettit and graduated from Levelland High School. He served for seven years in the U.S. Army. He married Floy Mae Willis in 1943 at El Paso. They moved to Wichita Falls, where he went into the grocery business. He worked at Sheppard Air Force Base before his retirement in 1980. He was involved in Dale Carnegie International. They moved to Midland in 1990. Mrs. Frost died in 1993. Survivors include a daughter, Pam Flowers of Midland; two sisters, Imogene Miller of Sayre, Okla., and Bobbie Kilpatrick of Big Spring; and two grandsons. The family suggests memorials to the Wellington Cemetery Association or to the Manor Park Endowment Fund, 2208 N. 250 West, Midland, Texas 79707. Oden Lester Hudson WHEELER - Oden Lester Hudson, 80, died Monday, March 10, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in Wheeler Cemetery, with the Rev. Mike Dyer, pastor of the Maranatha Church at Briscoe, officiating. Arrangements are by Wright Funeral Home. Mr. Hudson was a longtime resident of Briscoe. He was born in Childress County, and his family moved to Wheeler in 1925. He married Lois Vaughn in 1933 at Wheeler. He was a self-employed trucking transporter all his life. He was a Methodist and member of the Moose Lodge at Pampa. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Annette Hudson, in 1942, and by a son, Phillip Jesse Hudson, in 1946. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Melvin "Leeroy" Hudson of Arlington and Ray Hudson of Briscoe; a daughter, Sharon Grandstaff of Amarillo; his mother, Mary Hudson of Amarillo; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. The family suggests memorials to Harrington Cancer Center or a favorite charity. New Mexico Warren Burton Wilkinson CLAYTON, N.M. - Warren Burton Wilkinson, 91, died Sunday, March 9, 1997. Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church in Clayton, with the Rev. Andy Husted, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Gladstone Cemetery at Gladstone, N.M., directed by Hass Funeral Directors of Clayton. Mr. Wilkinson was born in Alva, Okla.. He married Ruby J. Taylor in 1932. He ranched southeast of Gladstone, where he had lived since 1930. He was a member of the Methodist Church and was active as a 4H leader for a number of years. He was a member of the school board at Farley, N.M. for several years. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Norwin "Wilk" Wilkinson and Val Wilkinson, both of Clayton, and Eldean Wilkinson of Springer, N.M.; two daughters, LaDonna Woolley of Springer and Deloris Paris of Sublette, Kan.; a sister, Lois Aldrich of Capitan, N.M.; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials to the Gladstone Cemetery Fund c/o S.A. Bennett, Gladstone, N.M. 88422; or to Colfax General Hospital, Springer, N.M., 87747.