Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 12 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; Friday, December 12, 1997, 6:45 AM Amarillo Perna Nalls Strickland Perna Nalls Strickland, 61, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1997. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors Bell Avenue Chapel, 5400 Bell St., with Dick Marcear, minister of Central Church of Christ, and Paul Sneed, also of Central Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mrs. Strickland was born in Kaufman County. She moved to Amarillo in 1976 from Cheyenne, Wyo. She had worked for the state while living in Wyoming. She was a graduate of Adamson High School in Dallas. She also graduated with a bachelor of science degree from Texas Woman's University in 1958 and with a master's degree from West Texas State University in 1981. She married Joe Lee Strickland in 1956 at Dallas. She was the director of economic development for the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission before retiring this year. She also was a certified social worker. She was a member of Central Church of Christ, the Panhandle Social Services Forum and the American Association of Retired Persons. Mrs. Strickland also was a member of the Region VI Business Development Association, the National Association of Development Companies, the Texas Industrial Development Council and Leadership Amarillo. Survivors include her husband; a son, Joe Lynn Strickland of Garland; a daughter, Mollie Ann Broom of Wichita Falls; her mother, Mollie L. Nalls of Mesquite; and three grandchildren, including Brandon Andrew Strickland of the home. Frances Barber Frances "Fran" Barber, 63, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Southwest Baptist Church with the Rev. J. Alan Ford, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St. Mrs. Barber was born in Tahoka. She moved to Amarillo 20 years ago from Dallas. She owned and operated a day care in Amarillo for 15 years. She married Clarence Barber in 1963. He died in 1993. Survivors include a daughter, Tonya Dalrymple of Amarillo; two stepdaughters, Michelle Hightower and Derenda Beasley, both of Lubbock; two stepsons, David Barber and Clarence Wayne Barber, both of Lubbock; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Curtis Dalrymple scholarship fund c/o Bible Heritage School, 4003 S. Bonham St., Amarillo, Texas 79110. Rosie L. Hall Rosie L. Hall, 50, of Amarillo, died Monday, Dec. 8, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in St. John Baptist Church with the Rev. Grover Neal, pastor, and the Rev. Rupert C. Brashears, pastor of Berachah Church of God in Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Warford-Walker Mortuary Inc., 509 N. Hughes St. Mrs. Hall was born in Clarendon and attended public school in Memphis. She had lived in Amarillo for more than 33 years. She worked in private homes. She was a member of Berachah Church of God in Christ. Survivors include a son, Hershel Gardener II of Fort Worth; a daughter, Sandra Gardner of Amarillo; two brothers, Dale Childs of Brownwood and Sticky Childs of Midland; seven sisters, Etta McCampbell, Othella Bowie and Dorothy F. Hawthorne, all of Amarillo, Billie Gaines of Clarendon, Carolyn Childs of Fort Worth, Estella Mae Wilson of Irving and Norma Lee Wilson of Orange; and five grandchildren. The family will be at 315 S. Austin St. Eugene Allen Prince Eugene Allen Prince, 49, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Paramount Terrace Christian Church with the Rev. Roy Wheeler, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Prince was born in Lincoln, Neb., and had lived in Amarillo since 1962. In 1966, he graduated from Tascosa High School. He attended Amarillo College and was self-employed in the insurance industry. He was active in softball and golf in Amarillo. He was a member of Paramount Terrace Christian Church. Survivors include a daughter, Sarah Prince of Amarillo; a son, Seth Prince of College Station; and two brothers, Bob Prince of Broomfield, Colo., and Gary Prince of Arlington. The family will be at 1609 S. Bonham St. They request memorials be to the Gene Prince memorial fund c/o the Amarillo Federal Credit Union, 6100 W. Interstate 40, Amarillo, Texas 79106. J.C. Anderson J.C. Anderson, 81, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Dec. 11, 1997. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Memorial Park Cemetery with Bret Rosser officiating. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mr. Anderson was born in Madill, Okla. He moved to Amarillo in 1951 from Dumas. He was a road construction worker. He was a veteran of the Army. He married Margie Sullenger in 1941. She died in 1994. He also was preceded in death by a daughter, Carolin Sue Anderson, in 1942. Survivors include two sons, Joseph Charles Anderson and David Anderson, both of Amarillo; three daughters, Mary Cox of Orange, Calif., Susan Millar of Seal Beach, Calif., and Rhonda Rosser of Broken Arrow, Okla.; three sisters, Evelyn Leatherman of Weatherford, Buelah Baker of Ralls and Dollie Burgett of Irving; and eight grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Department of Veterans Affairs Hospice. Wanda Hayworth McBrayer Wanda Hayworth McBrayer, 70, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Dec. 11, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with Chester O'Brien officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. McBrayer was born in Clovis, N.M., and had been a lifelong Amarillo resident. She was a homemaker and a member of Buchanan Street Baptist Church and the Rebekah Lodge. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edgar McBrayer. Survivors include three sons, Ronald Leslie Strong of Midland, Bobby David Strong of Sachse and Thomas Steven Strong of Corpus Christi; two daughters, Cynthia Gae Hill and Sheri Elaine Lang, both of Amarillo; a brother, Bob Hayworth of Clarendon; a sister, Dorothy Vaughn of Granbury; 10 grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and a special friend, Bob McSmith. The family will be at 5716 Andover. They request memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. The body will be available for viewing at 10 a.m. today. Wesley B Smith Wesley B Smith, 91, died Thursday, Dec. 11, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church Chapel with Rob Lackey, director of pastoral care at Park Central, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Smith was born in Roswell, N.M. He lived in Lubbock for 50 years before moving to Amarillo 15 years ago. He worked for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal for six years before joining the Rainbow Division of the U.S. Auxiliary. He owned Smith Printing Co. in Lubbock from 1944 to 1972. He was a member of the American Business Club in Lubbock and First Baptist Church in Amarillo. Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his wife, Edna Mae Smith, in 1994. Survivors include two daughters, Diana Stafford of Amarillo and Wanda Lewis of Dumas; a brother, Alfred Smith of El Paso; a sister, Corey Gilley of Amarillo; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family will be at 2301 Teckla. They request memorials be to the Edna Gladney Fund, 2300 Hemphill, Fort Worth, Texas, 76110-9962; or First Baptist Church, 12th Avenue and Tyler Street, Amarillo, Texas 79101. Chuck Schauf Chuck Schauf, 67, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 1997. Military services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Memorial Park East Mausoleum with the Rev. Carl Neal officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mr. Schauf was born in Elva, Okla. He moved to Amarillo in 1969 from Safford, Ariz. He married Phyllis Whited in 1968 at Senora, Mexico. He served active duty in the Navy from 1947 to 1967 and in the Reserves for 10 years. He served on the USS Forrestal during the Vietnam War and had received several medals. Mr. Schauf was a member of Stand Firm Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife; five sons, Clifford Schauf of Liberty, Miss., Keith L. Miller of Amarillo, Darrell Schauf of Charlotte, N.C., Leo Miller of Lockhart and Micheal Schauf of San Diego; five daughters, Glee Cator of Newalla, Okla., Carol Nelson of Kerrville, Holly McCarter of Las Vegas, and Linda Beck and Mary Ratliff, both of Amarillo; two brothers, Larry Schauf of Missouri and Roy Schauf of Del Rio; a sister, Darlene Hoghton of Big Spring; 24 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family will be at 7623 Hermosa. They request memorials be to the Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center. Elsewhere Dorothy Hopper Holbrook AUSTIN - Dorothy Hopper Holbrook, 86, a former Amarillo resident, died Saturday, Nov. 22, 1997. Services were by Austin-Peel and Sons Funeral Home. Mrs. Holbrook grew up in Chicago and attended Northwestern University. In 1935, she moved to Amarillo, where she was a writer and an on-air personality for radio station KGNC. In 1939, she married Raymond B. Holbrook and moved to Dallas, where she owned a direct-mail advertising company. She sold her company and became executive director of the Dallas United Nations Association and Speakers Bureau. She returned to Chicago in 1969 and worked for the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago until retiring in 1975. She moved to Austin in 1996. Mrs. Holbrook wrote short stories, articles and speeches and was a regular contributor to the Amarillo Globe-News, Dallas Times Herald, Chicago Downtown News and Portsmouth Herald. She was a handwriting analyst and contributed her expertise to fund-raising events. Survivors include a son, Winfield Ray Holbrook of Austin; two daughters, Marion Holbrook Gudenrath of Austin and Ann Holbrook Willis of Atlanta; and three grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Dispute Resolution Center, 5407 N. IH 35, Suite 410, Austin, Texas 78723. Oda C. Birchfield MATADOR - Oda C. Birchfield, 101, died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 1997. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. today in Seigler Funeral Home Chapel with Michael Crowley, minister of the Matador Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in East Mound Cemetery. Mrs. Birchfield was born in King County. She moved to Matador when she was a child. She worked as a clerk in a dry goods store in Matador. She was a member of the Church of Christ. She married George M. Birchfield in 1913. He died in 1976. She also was preceded in death by a son, Nenian Birchfield, in 1929. Survivors include a niece, Sylvia Fogerson of Silverton; and a nephew, E.A. Day of Matador. Area Inez Helen Saunders DUMAS - Inez "Aunt Inie" Helen Saunders, 83, a former Dumas resident, died Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1997, in Huntsville. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Morrison Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel with the Rev. B.R. Brummett, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church, officiating. Burial will be in Northlawn Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Saunders was born in Kiowa County, Okla. She lived in Dumas for many years before moving to Huntsville. She and her husband, Bill Saunders, owned and operated Saunders Electric in Dumas since the 1950s. Mr. Saunders died in 1992. Survivors include nieces and nephews including, Lorrene Scott of Huntsville, Glen Cogdill and Marie Mowery, both of Borger, and Fern Graham of Colorado. Colene Speaker DUMAS - Colene Speaker, 27, of Dallas, formerly of Dumas, died Monday, Dec. 8, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Morrison Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Scott Willingham, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Dumas Cemetery. Ms. Speaker was born in Farmington, N.M. She was a Dumas resident for most of her life. She had been a resident of the Dallas area for the past two years. She was a 1988 graduate of Dumas High School and a 1992 graduate of Texas Tech University. She was a clerk for a computer company. Survivors include her mother, Carolyn Foster of Dumas; a brother, Aaron Speaker of Dumas; a sister, Andrea Duby of Dumas; and grandparents, Odelle and Colene McAvoy of Dumas. The family will be at 613 Bailey. They request memorials be to a favorite charity. Duard Washburn PANHANDLE - Duard "Red" Washburn, 86, of Angel Fire, N.M., a former Panhandle resident, died Monday, Dec. 8, 1997. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Panhandle Cemetery with the Rev. Les Hall of First United Methodist Church officiating. Arrangements are by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mr. Washburn was born in Hardin, Ky., and moved to Panhandle in 1962. He was a machinist for 25 years for the Chrysler Corp. and Pantex. He was a member of Carson County Masonic Lodge No. 1167 and First United Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma, in 1991. Mr. Washburn moved to Angel Fire in 1995. Survivors include two sons, Thomas D. Washburn of McKinney and Randolph K. Washburn of Angel Fire; two daughters, Katherine Washburn of Fowlerville, Mich., and Pauline Hamlin of Brighton, Mich.; nine grandchildren; and four greatgrandchildren. Elbert Watts WELLINGTON - Elbert Watts, 91, died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Elvis Pitts, pastor of Faith Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in North Fairview Cemetery by Adams Funeral Home. Mr. Watts was born in Hopkins County. He married Esther Rankin in 1928 at Childress. He was a farmer until retiring in 1990. He was a member of the Khiva Temple of Amarillo and the Masonic Lodge of Wellington. He also was a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Glenda Elain Watts of Amarillo; and a brother, Web Watts of Muleshoe. Luke William Hamby QUANAH - Luke William Hamby, infant son of John W. and Jennifer L. Hamby, died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 1997. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. today in Quanah Memorial Park with the Rev. Clinton Young officiating. Arrangements are by Price-Jackson Funeral Home. Survivors include his parents; and grandparents, William and Utona Hamby, Marie Hamby, Mary Penn, and Mark and Caroline Simmons, all of Quanah, and Christopher M. Harrison of Benbrooke. H.M. Morrison DIMMITT - H.M. "Nigg" Morrison, 76, died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Home Ivey Chapel with the Rev. Charles Jones of Second Baptist Church in Amarillo and the Rev. Howard Rhodes, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dimmitt, officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park. Mr. Morrison was born in Dimmitt. He lived in Montague before returning to Dimmitt in 1947. He married Ara Cantrell in 1942 at Ringgold. She died in 1990. He was a member of First Baptist Church and American Legion Post No. 345. He was a volunteer fireman for 32 years and a former fire chief. Survivors include a son, David Morrison of Deer Park; two daughters, Sharon Epperson of Chandler, Ariz., and Linda McKinney of Amarillo; two brothers, Thomas Morrison of Plainview and Paul Morrison of Mangum, Okla.; his stepmother, Sarah Morrison of Amarillo; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Heart Association c/o First United Bank, P.O. Box 929, Dimmitt, Texas 79027. Encarnacion Ramos TULIA - Encarnacion Ramos, 98, died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 1997. Prayer services will be at 7 p.m. today in Wallace Funeral Home. Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday in Church of the Holy Spirit by the Rev. John Salazar-Jiminez, pastor. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Mr. Ramos was born in San Felipe, Mexico. He worked for Imperial Sugar Plant at Sugarland for several years. He also was a farm laborer. He was a member of Church of the Holy Spirit. He married Sophia Arrendando in 1926 at Karnes City. She died in 1979. He also was preceded in death by a son, Luis Ramos; and a stepdaughter, Josephine Torres. Survivors include three daughters, Lucia Lira of Houston, and Beatrice Cruz and Juanita Cruz, both of Tulia; two sons, Domingo Ramos of Tulia and Santos Domingo Ramos of Lubbock; 59 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. William McKinley Gowdy Sr. LAKEVIEW - William McKinley "Bill" Gowdy Sr., 100, died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jeff Taylor, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery by Spicer Funeral Home of Memphis. Mr. Gowdy was born in Bells. He married Euna L. Payne in 1921 at Lakeview. He retired from farming when he was 76 years old. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Lakeview. Survivors include his wife; three sons, W.M. Gowdy Jr. of Memphis, Jimmy Ray Gowdy of Amarillo and Jerry Lee Gowdy of Abilene; two daughters, Mozelle Richburg of Lakeview and Willa Dean Nivens of Granbury; 12 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Virgil Otis Eckroat PAMPA - Virgil Otis Eckroat, 80, died Thursday, Dec. 11, 1997. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Memory Gardens Cemetery with Dr. Jim Prock, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Eckroat was born in Muncie, Ind. He was a truck driver for SPS for 43 years before retiring in 1988. He was an Army veteran and a Baptist. He married Doris Hall Carter in 1960 at Pampa. Survivors include his wife; a son, Don Carter of Pampa; two daughters, Linda Pappas of The Woodlands and Cynthia Meers of Houston; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Jeremy Joe Morris PAMPA - Jeremy Joe Morris, 20, died Thursday, Dec. 11, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Briarwood Full Gospel Church with the Rev. Lynn Hancock, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Morris was born in Pampa and had been a lifelong Pampa resident. He graduated from Pampa High School in 1995 and was a sophomore at Texas Tech University pursuing a degree in management information systems. He was a member of Briarwood Full Gospel Church. Survivors include his parents, Robert and Cara Morris of Pampa; three brothers, Chris Morris of Pampa, his twin brother Justin Morris of Lubbock and Cory Stone of Lawton, Okla.; a sister, Cami Stone of Lubbock; grandparents, Clyde and Gwen Tidwell, Joe and Faye Morris, and Robbie Summers, all of Pampa; and a special friend, Mindee Stowers of Pampa. The family requests memorials be to the Texas Tech Health Science Center Pediatric Unit in Amarillo or Baptist St. Anthony's Critical Care Unit. Juan de Santiago BOOKER - Juan de Santiago, 38, died Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in United Methodist Church with the Rev. Scott Raef officiating. Burial will be in Heart Cemetery by Good Samaritan Funeral Service. Mr. de Santiago was born in El Porvenir, Mexico. He was raised and attended school in Mexico. He moved to Booker in 1974. He worked as a ranch hand at the Figure One Ranch before going to work in the oil industry as a roughneck. In 1982, he moved to Las Vegas, where he worked in construction. He later worked as a chef. He then returned to Booker and was employed by the Bar S Ranch. He was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church. Mr. de Santiago married Leticia Gonzalez in 1995 at Booker. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Juan de Santiago of Hereford and John Christian de Santiago of the home; a daughter, Gypsy Overstreet of Dallas; two stepdaughters, Anabelle Gonzales and Sandra Gonzales, both of the home; his parents, Idelfonso and Maria de Santiago of Booker; two brothers, Pablo de Santiago of El Paso and Pete de Santiago of Perryton; three sisters, Magdalena Estrada of Perryton, and Rosa Dominguez and Veronica de Santiago, both of Booker; and grandparents, Roman and Maria de Santiago of Fabens, and Ramona Bustamante Hernandez of Arizona. The body will be available for viewing at the church. Reva Burns BORGER - Reva "Pope" Burns, 76, died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 1997. No services are scheduled. The body was donated to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St., in Amarillo. Mrs. Burns was born in Augusta, Kan. She moved to Borger three years ago from Grove, Okla. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob Burns. Survivors include a daughter, LeDona House of Borger; three sisters, June Mixon of Broken Arrow, Okla., Opal Holmes of Sherman and Virginia Atkins of West Columbia; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Katherine Lee McNair HEREFORD - Katherine Lee McNair, 60, died Thursday, Dec. 11, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Rix Funeral Directors Chapel with the Rev. John Gaston and the Rev. Henry Russell officiating. Ms. McNair was born in Matador and moved to Hereford in 1932. She was a Baptist. Survivors include her parents, Bessie and Henry Mathews; and a brother, Melton "Sonny" Lee of Hereford. New Mexico Guy Francis Blevins CLOVIS, N.M. - Guy Francis Blevins, 85, died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 1997. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. J.W. Willis officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens. Mr. Blevins was born in Hobart, Okla. He had been a Clovis resident since 1951, moving from Roswell. He worked for Santa Fe Railway from 1938 until retiring in 1975. He married Leo Fannie Ragsdale in 1942 at Roswell. Survivors include his wife; a son, Gregory F. Blevins of Clovis; two daughters, Barbara Jean Heintzelman of Lansing, Mich., and Frances Hutchins of Mora; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.