Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 12 Jan 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 Ida Hunter Ida Hunter, 89, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Jan. 9, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Martin Road Chapel, 1505 Martin Road, with Harold Bohr, retired from Olsen Park Seventh Day Adventist, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Hunter was born in Limestone Valley, Ark., and moved to Amarillo in 1968. She was a homemaker and a housekeeper for the Herring Hotel. She was preceded in death by her husband, Oral Hunter, in 1993. Survivors include numerous half brothers and half sisters; two grandsons including Raymond Burr of Amarillo and Dewey F. Burr Jr. of Phoenix; two granddaughters, Carolyn Vitela and Cindy Reynolds, both of Amarillo; and seven great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176. Anna J. Bodling Anna J. "Annie" Bodling, 67, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Jan. 9, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Christ Lutheran Church with the Rev. Scott Herbert officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Ms. Bodling was born in Littlefield. She had been a homemaker for most of her life. She had been a member of Christ Lutheran Church for 22 years. Survivors include two sons, Glen Bodling of Leavenworth, Kan., and Robert Bodling of Austin; a daughter, Annette Burgess of Amarillo; two sisters, Lillie Hobratschk and Martha Alford, both of Littlefield; and seven grandchildren. John P. McLemore John P. "Pat" McLemore, 70, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Jan. 9, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Memorial Park East Mausoleum, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with the Rev. Robert Field officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Memorial Park Funeral Home. Mr. McLemore was born in Amarillo. He was a welder for the Texaco refinery and retired after 30 years of service. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and a former exalted ruler of the Elks Lodge. He also was a Navy veteran of World War II. He was preceded in death by his wife, Inez Small, in 1980. Survivors include two brothers, James McLemore and David McLemore, both of Amarillo; and three sisters, Frances Allen of Bakersfield, Calif., Ethel Morris of Trinity and Lee Vandiver of Amarillo. Leona Elver Leona Elver, 78, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Jan. 9, 1997. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Memorial Park East Mausoleum, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with Gil Hiltbrunner, pastor of Trinity Fellowship Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mrs. Elver was born in Spearman. She moved to Amarillo in 1949 from Rotan. She was preceded in death by her husband, O.W. Elver, in 1963. She was a homemaker. Survivors include two sons, Sammy Elver of Canyon and Floyd Elver of Amarillo; a daughter, Alice Silcox of Roosevelt, Okla.; three brothers, Alvin Reed of Fort Worth, Paul Reed of Springtown and Edward Reed of Aurora, Colo.; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Morlex M. King Morlex M. King, 77, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Jan. 11, 1997, in Dumas. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle, with the Rev. Bill Fitzgerald, pastor of San Jacinto United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. King was born in Cisco and had lived in Amarillo since 1946. He was a military police officer in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He had been employed at General Mills before working for Pantex in the explosives division. He was a member of Second Baptist Church. He married Elga Jennings in 1942 at Hollis, Okla. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Don King and Ronnie King, both of Amarillo; a brother, Sewlyn King of Albuquerque, N.M.; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Arthur L. Whisenhunt Arthur L. "Art" Whisenhunt, 71, of Amarillo, died Friday, Jan. 10, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Llano Cemetery with George Haddox, pastor of Cliffside Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mr. Whisenhunt was born in Paducah and had been a Texas Panhandle resident most of his life. He had served in the Army during World War II. He had been in the automobile and truck business for more than 50 years. He worked for Garner Motors, Ryder Truck and Bruckners, retiring in 1988. He was a member of Donna Lodge No. 1136 AF&AM, First Church of God at Loving, N.M., and was a 32nd Degree Mason in the Lubbock Scottish Rite. He married Ola V. Galyon in 1949 at Artesia, N.M.; she died in 1986. Survivors include two sons, Jim L. Whisenhunt and Mike L. Whisenhunt, both of Amarillo; two brothers, Grover Whisenhunt of Levelland and John Whisenhunt of Muleshoe; two sisters, Beatrice Atkins of Amarillo and Mavis Green of Wildorado; and five grandchildren. Canyon Ruby V. Burrus CANYON - Ruby V. Burrus, 86, died Saturday, Jan. 11, 1997. Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday in Brooks Funeral Directors Chapel with the Rev. Gayle Brown, associate pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be private in Dreamland Cemetery by Brooks Funeral Directors. Mrs. Burrus was born in Randall County, was a lifetime resident of Canyon and a graduate of Canyon High School. She married Harley Burrus in 1929 at Canyon; he died in 1984. She was a member of First Baptist Church, Randall County Sheriff's Posse and was an organizer of Canyon Senior Citizens. She was an active member of the King's Daughters Sunday school class. Survivors include two sons, Ray Burrus of Lipscomb and Dennis Burrus of Erick, Okla.; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Canyon Senior Citizens, 1719 5th Avenue, Canyon, Texas, 79015. Elsewhere Frankie Lee Williams KRESS - Frankie Lee Williams, 57, died Friday, Jan. 10, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Church of Christ with Tommy Stewart, associate minister at Tulia Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Kress Cemetery by Lemons Funeral Home. Mrs. Williams was born in Lubbock and grew up in the Lubbock area. She moved to Kress in the early 1960s. She married Clifford Williams in 1959 at Lubbock. She had worked at Andy's Grocery and Market and was a member of Kress Booster Club and Kress Church of Christ. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Amy L. Walker of Kress; a son, Davie L. Williams of Kress; two brothers, Frank Benson of Lubbock and Lloyd Benson of Wolforth; two sisters, Lurlene Roberts and Lora Edwards, both of Lubbock; and a granddaughter. The family requests memorials be to Tiptons Children's Home. Pauline Ranton Herd HASKELL - Pauline Ranton Herd, 90, died Friday, Jan. 10, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Schmitz-Floyd-Andersen Funeral Chapel at Denton with the Rev. John Rasberry officiating. Burial will be in Swisher Cemetery at Lake Dallas. Local arrangements are by Holden-McCauley Funeral Directors. Mrs. Herd was born in New India, Ellis County. She graduated from Ferris High School in 1925. She was a member of First Baptist Church. She married Orin H. "Bob" Herd in 1925 at Ferris; he died in 1969. Survivors include a son, Gene Herd of Wichita Falls; two daughters, Jackie Stockard of Lake Dallas and Bobbie Williams of Haskell; two sisters, Agnes McClean of Amarillo and Eula Norwood of Seagoville; two grandsons; and two great-grandchildren. The family will be at the funeral home in Denton from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. today and requests memorials be to the Alzheimers Association, P.O. Box 3344, Abilene, Texas, 79604. Oklahoma Betty Jo Lewis GUYMON, Okla. - Betty Jo "B.J." Lewis, 66, a former Guymon resident, died Thursday, Jan. 9, 1997, in Enid. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Henson-Novak Funeral Directors Chapel with the Rev. Charlie Gibson, associate pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Elmhurst Cemetery. Mrs. Lewis was born in Oklahoma City. She moved to Guymon from Los Angeles in 1969. She married Robert "Bob" Lewis in 1970 at Dumas, Texas. He died in 1992. She retired from Wal-Mart in Enid. Survivors include a daughter, Robin Loofbough of Woodward; a son, Ross Winkle of Los Angeles; her mother, Frances Bevel of Guymon; three sisters, Jeri Neal of Stigler, Glenda Brantley of Enid and Ila Martinez of Guymon; and 13 grandchildren. Friends may visit the funeral home from 9 a.m. until service time today. Area Robert Martin MULESHOE - Robert Martin, 37, of New Boston, a former Muleshoe resident, died Tuesday, Jan. 7, 1997, in Colombia, South America. Services were at 3 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Stacy Conner, pastor, officiating. Burial was in Muleshoe Cemetery by Ellis Funeral Home. Mr. Martin was born in Muleshoe. He was a graduate of Muleshoe High School and Texas A&M University. He was a commercial pilot for East Inc. He married Cindy Crim in 1982 at Muleshoe. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Brittany Martin and Baylee Martin, both of the home, and Brandy Green of Simms; a son, Bryce Martin of the home; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Martin of Muleshoe; a sister, Sharron Bills of Lazbuddie; a brother, Larry Martin of Bastrop; grandmothers, Fannie May Black of Muleshoe and Gladys Ritchey of Amarillo; and a grandson. The family suggests memorials be to the Robert Martin Children Trust, New Boston, Texas 75570. Fernando Rodriquez Gonzales SHAMROCK - Fernando Rodriquez Gonzales, 82, died Thursday, Jan. 9, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Bible Methodist Church with the Rev. Nina Hervey, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Shamrock Cemetery by Wright Funeral Directors. Mr. Gonzales had lived in Shamrock for the past 40 years. He married Maria Chapa in 1943 at Karnes City. He was a laborer. Survivors include his wife; six sons, Fernando Gonzales Jr. and Ruben Gonzales, both of Ponchatoula, La., Arnulfo Gonzales of Amarillo, Senado Gonzales of Albany, Ga., and Ernest Gonzales and David Gonzales, both of Shamrock; five daughters, Aurora Molina of Wellington, Maria Headley of Alabama, and Felipa Stone, Adela Moya and Elvira Ward, all of Shamrock; 21 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Lois G. Loter CHILDRESS - Lois G. Loter, 80, died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 1997. Services were at 2 p.m. Saturday in Johnson Funeral Home Chapel with Bill Mayes of the Childress Church of Christ officiating. Burial was in Childress Cemetery. Mrs. Loter was born in Childress. She was a homemaker and a member of Childress Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lewis Loter, in 1986; and a daughter, Phyllis Lewandowski, in 1996. Survivors include a son, John Loter of Helena, Mont.; and two grandchildren. Blanche Coggin ABERNATHY - Blanche Coggin, 86, died Thursday, Jan. 9, 1997. Services were at 4 p.m. Saturday in Abernathy First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Russ Byard, pastor, and the Rev. Tommie Beck, pastor of Lockney First United Methodist Church, officiating. Additional services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Caps Methodist Church at Caps. Burial will be in Drummond Cemetery at Caps. Arrangements are by Abell Funeral Home. Mrs. Coggin was born in Abilene. She married the Rev. H.B. Coggin in 1925 at Abilene. They moved to Abernathy from Ralls in 1970. Her husband died in 1995. She also was preceded in death by two sons, Morris Talmon Coggin and James Thomas Coggin. She was a member of Abernathy First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, the Order of the Eastern Star, the Garden Club and Abernathy Senior Citizens. Survivors include a son, Charles Wayne Coggin of Lubbock; a sister, Lee Darby of Caps; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and four stepgreat-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Abernathy Senior Citizens, 717 Ave. C., Abernathy, Texas 79311; or First United Methodist Church, 704 Ave. D, Abernathy, Texas 79311. Jessie Baker EARTH - Jessie Baker, 95, died Friday, Jan. 10, 1997. Services were at 2 p.m. Saturday in Ellis Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Joe Augustine officiating. Burial was in Castro Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Baker was born in Haskell County. She married Carl Baker in 1919 at Amarillo. He died in 1950. She moved from Siloam Springs, Ark., to Dimmitt in 1989. She then moved to Hereford in 1990 and to Olton in 1996. She was a Catholic. Survivors include two nephews, Donald and L.G. Layman of Earth; and three nieces, Arlene Ashley and Jo Jones, both of Earth, and Mary Qualls of Clovis, N.M. Mary Tucker Hooper WHEELER - Mary "Polly" Tucker Hooper, 72, a former Wheeler resident, died Friday, Jan. 10, 1997, in Elkhart, Kan. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in the Country Chapel with the Rev. Rodney Weatherly, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Wheeler Cemetery by Wright Funeral Home. Mrs. Hooper was born in Wheeler and lived in Wheeler most of her life. She moved to Elkhart three years ago. She was a secretary at several places including the city of Wheeler and several years at Parkview Hospital. She was a former member of the Thursday Review Club, the Order of the Eastern Star and First Baptist Church. Survivors include her husband, Marvin Hooper of Beaumont; three sons, Jerry Tucker of Elkhart, James Tucker of Springfield, Colo., and Bill Tucker of Bryan; two daughters, Mary Dell Donelson of San Angelo and Judy Wesson of Belmont, N.C.; a brother, Arnold Jones of Wheeler; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Wheeler Cemetery Association. Winford W. Swain PAMPA - Winford W. Swain, 83, died Friday, Jan. 10, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Home Colonial Chapel with Glen Walton, minister of Bell Avenue Church of Christ at Amarillo, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Mr. Swain was born in Caddo, Okla., and moved to Pampa in 1934 from Childress. He married Lessie Maness in 1935 at Pampa. He was owner and operator of Pampa Parts and Supply from 1964 until 1983. He was a member of Mary Ellen and Harvester Church of Christ and a former member of Downtown Kiwanis Club. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Nelda Patton of Pampa; a brother, D.W. Swain of Clarendon; a grandson; a granddaughter; and three great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Mary Ellen and Harvester Church of Christ Benevolent Fund or a favorite charity. Thelma Gertrude Tucker MEMPHIS - Thelma Gertrude Tucker, 91, died Friday, Jan. 10, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in First Baptist Church Chapel with the Rev. O.K. Bowen officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery by Spicer Funeral Home. Mrs. Tucker was born in Marlow, Okla. She married Floyd Tucker in 1924 at Newlin; he died in 1945. She was a Baptist. Survivors include a daughter, Cecil Crawford of Memphis; a son, Roy Joe Tucker of Las Vegas, Nev.; a sister, Ruth Caskey of Pasadena, Texas; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. Syble Blankenship STINNETT - Syble Blankenship, 83, died Friday, Jan. 10, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Orville Rogers, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Cemetery by Brown Funeral Directors. Mrs. Blankenship was born in Meredith and had lived in the Stinnett area for 47 years. She was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church and Order of Eastern Star No. 811. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Clem Sullivan, in 1950, and her second husband, Ernest Blankenship, in 1981. Survivors include two sons, Stanley Sullivan of Borger and Wayne Blankenship of Kansas City, Mo.; two daughters, Ruby Horton of Stinnett and Lucy Williams of Shelburn, Ind.; 15 grandchildren; and 31 great-grandchildren. The body will be available for viewing until service time on Tuesday at the funeral home. Beulah Veatrice Teague Wade CHILDRESS - Beulah Veatrice Teague Wade, 89, died Friday, Jan. 10, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Ivan Allen, retired from First United Methodist, officiating, and the Rev. Johnny Robertson, pastor, assisting. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery by Johnson Funeral Home. Mrs. Wade was born in Comanche, Okla., and had lived in Childress since 1921. She married Ross Wade in 1933 at Childress; he died in 1971. She was a homemaker and had previously been employed as a presser by Hargrave Laundry and Circle N Dry Cleaners. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, Mabel Hare Sunday school class and Adult Fellowship Group. Survivors include a son, Hugh Darrell Wade of San Diego; a sister, Ozara Simpson of Lewisville; two brothers, Marvin Teague of Monroe, La., and Weldon Teague of Childress; and two grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to First United Methodist Church, Childress, Texas, 79201, or Childress Regional Medical Center Hospice, P.O. Box 1030, Childress, Texas, 79201. Rufus Ward Reed PAMPA - Rufus Ward Reed, 91, died Saturday, Jan. 11, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Memory Gardens Cemetery with Dale Meadows, minister at Church of Christ, officiating. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Reed was born in Wetumka, Okla., and moved to Pampa in 1944 from Pierce, Okla. He was owner and operator of Reed's Garage, retiring in 1967, and a member of McCullough Street Church of Christ. He married Ethel Milum in 1926 at Wetumka; she died in 1986. Survivors include a daughter, Emma Meeks of San Angelo; a son, Don Reed of Pampa; a sister, Irene Jesse of Weleetka, Okla.; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Hospice of the Panhandle, P.O. Box 2795, Pampa, Texas, 79066-2795. A.B. Ramsey Jr. QUITAQUE - A.B. Ramsey Jr., 73, died Friday, Jan. 10, 1997, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Anthony Sisemore, pastor, officiating, and the Rev. Jess Little, pastor of First Baptist Church at Silverton, assisting. Burial will be in Resthaven Cemetery by Myers-Long Funeral Directors. Mr. Ramsey was born in Tecumseh, Okla. He had served in the Army during World War II. He married Marie Duck in 1946 at Silverton. He was a farmer and had served on the Quitaque School Board and the Quitaque City Council. He was a member of the First Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Dale Ramsey of Quitaque and Dwight Ramsey of Silverton; two daughters, Glenna Jameson of Kress and Wanda Chadwick of Amarillo; four brothers, Glenn Ramsey of Quitaque, Doyle Ramsey of Plainview, Charles Ramsey of Eastland and Albert Ramsey of Wellington; two sisters, Cora Lee Taylor of Coleman and Mona McAtee of California; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas, 79176. Marilyn Franco PERRYTON - Marilyn Franco, 58, died Friday, Jan. 10, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. David Marak officiating. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery. Mrs. Franco was born in Perryton, where she was a lifetime resident. She was a clerk at a convenience store. She was a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include two daughters, Marla Kirby of Elkhart, Kan., and Patti Bishop of Canadian; three sons, Mark Patterson of Canadian, Jeff Patterson of Gruver and Joey Patterson of Colwich, Kan.; and 12 grandchildren. Vernon Bell PAMPA - Vernon Bell, 72, died Saturday, Jan. 11, 1997. Services will be at 4 p.m. Monday in Mary Ellen and Harvester Church of Christ with Glen Walton, minister of Bell Avenue Church of Christ at Amarillo, and Marcus Brecheen, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery with Masonic graveside rites by Pampa Masonic Lodge No. 966 AF&AM. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Bell was born in Arlington and moved to Pampa in 1951 from Midland. He married Jo Murray in 1972 at Las Vegas, Nev. He had worked for Hughes Tool from 1951 until 1967, when he formed V. Bell Oil Co., in which he had been owner and operator. He was a member of Mary Ellen and Harvester Church of Christ, Pampa Masonic Lodge No. 966, Khiva Temple at Amarillo, Pampa Shrine Club and the Dallas Scottish Rite Consistory. He was a veteran of the Army Air Corps during World War II. Survivors include his wife; four daughters, Jeanie Bell of Sun Valley, Idaho, Sandy Strickland of Pampa, Sue Bell Dietrich of San Jose, Calif., and Janie Murray of Birmingham, Ala.; three sons, Kerry Bell of Huntington Beach, Calif., Scott Murray of Dallas and Michael Murray of Houston; two brothers, Grady Bell of Houston and Dan Bell of Hico; a sister, Grace Renfro of Cedar Lake; and nine grandchildren. The family will be at 1209 Mary Ellen and 1816 Grape and requests memorials be to a favorite charity.