Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 13 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 ==================================================================== Area Rose Gray BORGER - Rose Gray, 95, died Tuesday, March 11, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in First Baptist Church with Dr. Winfred Moore, the Rev. Gregg Simmons and the Rev. Larry Miller officiating. Burial will be in Highland Park Cemetery by Brown Funeral Directors. Mrs. Gray was born in Home, Kan. She had been a Borger resident for 71 years. She was a member of First Baptist Church and a church hostess for 50 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bert Gray, in 1968; and a daughter, Norlene, in 1975. Survivors include a son, Bud Gray of Borger; 13 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; 20 great-great-grandchildren; and a great-great-great-grandson. Opal M. Guffee FLOYDADA - Opal M. Guffee, 91, died Tuesday, March 11, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Howell Farnsworth officiating. Burial will be in Floyd County Memorial Park by MooreRose-White Funeral Home. Mrs. Guffee was born in Paradise. She attended school at the Grub Hill Country School in Wise County. She married Clarence A. Guffee in 1923 at Bridgeport. They moved to Floyd County in 1926 from Wise County. She was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include her husband; a son, Clarence E. Guffee of Floydada; a daughter, Sonja Ragsdale of Stratford; a sister, Mildred Kelley of Paradise; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. today at the Guffee home at 809 W. Missouri in Floydada. Jack Roark QUANAH - Jack Roark, 81, died Tuesday, March 11, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Price-Jackson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Austin Stewart officiating. Burial will be in Quanah Memorial Park. Mr. Roark was born in Jena, La. He had lived in Quanah since 1920, moving from Dodge. He married Nina Ora Turner in 1932 at Chillicothe. She died in 1955. He was a carpenter and cabinet builder. He was a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include three sons, Daniel Earl Roark of Houston, Douglas Jackson Roark of Cuero and Dale Turner Roark of Red Oak; a daughter, Carolyn Delane Roark Horn of Borger; 12 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Vernon Odell Lewis BORGER - Vernon Odell Lewis, 64, died Saturday, March 8, 1997. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in the Garden of Love at Westlawn Memorial Park with Mark Huval, minister of Victory Church of Amarillo, officiating. Arrangements are by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mr. Lewis was born in Bovina. He had been a Borger resident since 1970, moving from South Haven, Kan. He was a clerk for the Santa Fe Railway. He was Catholic. He was preceded in death by a son, Sam Nelson Lewis, in 1964; and a daughter, Janice Riddle, in 1994. Survivors include two sons, Ricky Lee Lewis and Keith Scott Lewis, both of Borger; a daughter, Judy Hurst of Dodge City, Kan.; four brothers, Leonard Lewis of Dumas, Raymond Lewis of San Angelo, Henry Lewis of Portales, N.M., and S.N. Lewis of Big Spring; and 11 grandchildren. The family will be at 415 Michigan. Oklahoma Maria Guadalupe Rodriguez GUYMON, Okla. - Maria Guadalupe Rodriguez, infant daughter of Carlos and Elizabeth Rodriguez, died Wednesday, March 12, 1997. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in St. Peter's Catholic Church with the Rev. Joe Jacobi, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Elmhurst Cemetery by Henson-Novak Funeral Directors. Survivors include her parents; two sisters, Norma and Marissa Rodriguez, both of the home; and grandparents, Roberto and Relicitas Rodriguez of Gruver, Texas, and Martin and Juana Rodriguez of Guadalupe, Mexico. Amarillo Lila Williams Newberg Lila Williams Newberg, 85, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, March 11, 1997. Private family memorial services will be at a later date. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Newberg was born in San Benito. She was a longtime resident of Burbank, Calif., before moving to Amarillo in 1993. She was a retired school teacher and attended St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church. Survivors include a son, Rue John Williams of Burbank; a sister, Viola Elizondo Ainley of Monterrey, Mexico; five grandchildren including granddaughter, Gina Tartaro-Brooks of Amarillo; and 10 great-grandchildren. David Fansler David "Dave" Fansler, 84, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, March 11, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in San Jacinto United Methodist Church with the Rev. Bill Fitzgerald, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mr. Fansler was born in Amarillo and had been a lifetime Amarillo resident. He was a member of San Jacinto United Methodist Church and the Wesley Comrades Sunday school class. He was an air conditioning worker for the government for 15 years, retiring in 1974. He also worked for V.L. Taylor as a service technician. He married Rowena Lockwood in 1935 at Amarillo. He was preceded in death by a son, David Lockwood Fansler, in 1992. Survivors his wife; three daughters, Clara Fansler, Laura McCreary and Aileen Reeves, all of Amarillo; two sons, Alvin Fansler and Neil Fansler, both of Amarillo; a brother, Harmon Fansler of Evansville, Ind.; a sister, Helen Elder of Paso Robles, Calif.; 12 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to San Jacinto United Methodist Church or Central Baptist Faith Promise Missions. Rosie Lea Stewart Rosie Lea Stewart, 88, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, March 11, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with the Rev. Melvin Suttle of San Jacinto Assembly of God officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery's Garden of the Last Supper. Mrs. Stewart was born in DeQueen, Ark. She moved to Amarillo in 1953 from Portales, N.M. She was a presser for a dry cleaners and a member of the Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee W. Stewart, in 1984. Survivors include a son, Harold Stewart of Amarillo; a daughter, Betty Haynes of Amarillo; 13 grandchildren; 22 greatgrandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. Monroe Loften Wade Monroe Loften "Pokey" Wade, 82, of 1609 W. 35th Ave., died Tuesday, March 11, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, Bell Avenue Chapel, 5400 Bell St., with Tommy Ewing of Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Wade was born in Creighton, Mo., and had lived in Amarillo since 1929. He became a mechanic in 1929 and retired from Bruckners Mack Truck after 35 years of service. He began riding Indian and Harley-Davidson motorcycles in 1939 and that continued to be his hobby. He married Lucille Walker in 1940. She died in 1973. He married Mary Mason in 1974. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Samuel Wade of Amarillo and Jimmy Grimes of Lawton, Okla.; a daughter, Thelma Jo "Chinka" Pace of Fort Worth; a stepdaughter, Raylene Barnes of Amarillo; 12 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. Charles L. Grimes Charles L. Grimes, 59, of Amarillo, was found Thursday, March 6, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Robison Chapel of First Christian Church with Dr. Douglas Skinner, senior minister, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Grimes was born in Oklahoma City and had lived in Amarillo for six years. He was a 1956 graduate of Amarillo High School. He was a teacher. Survivors include his father, Charles Lindsey Grimes of San Antonio; a sister, Gaylene Owens of Amarillo; and a brother, Reggie L. Grimes of San Antonio. Lois K. Smith Lois K. Smith, 70, of 6209 W. Interstate 40, died Monday, March 10, 1997. Memorial services will be at a later date. Cremation is by Memorial Park Crematory. Arrangements are by SchoolerGordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Ms. Smith was born in Bloomington, Ind. She was a veteran of the Women's Army Corps of the United States. She was a homemaker. Survivors include three sons, Michael Smith of Pampa, and Kevin G. Smith and Timmothy Smith, both of San Diego; a daughter, Kathy Wopperer of Amarillo; three sisters, Halen Wahl of Florida, Jacqueline Wilson of Arizona and Mary Jo Wilson of Oregon; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The body will not be available for viewing. Evelyn Reed Evelyn Reed, 78, of 2701 S. Marrs St., died Wednesday, March 12, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Cal Farley's Boys Ranch Cemetery at Boys Ranch with the Rev. Fred Boatman, retired Baptist minister from Logan, N.M., officiating. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mrs. Reed moved to Amarillo in 1959 from New Albany, Ind. She was a dining hall supervisor at Boys Ranch for 12 years. She was a Baptist. She married Joe Reed in 1935 at Indiana. He died in 1987. Survivors include four daughters, Lily Martin of Castroville, Rose Wallace of Lewisville, and Mary Jo Boatman and Wendy Guinn, both of Amarillo; a son, Alfred Reed of Karnack; a brother, Chuck King of DePauw, Ind.; two sisters, Annie Cotner of Corydon, Ind., and Jean Kaiser of Kentucky; nine grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. The family will be at 2703 S. Marrs St. Lloyd Albert Townes Lloyd Albert Townes, 88, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, March 12, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. Ken Keller of St. Mary's Catholic Church officiating. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mr. Townes had been a lifelong resident of Amarillo. He served as a captain in the 485th Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He also was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church. Survivors include a brother, Joe Lee Townes of Cleburne; and a sister, Margaret Radney of Amarillo. The family requests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice. The family will receive visitors from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. today at the funeral home. Gayland E. Hughes Gayland E. Hughes, 60, of Amarillo, died Monday, March 10, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Schooler Funeral Home, Brentwood Chapel, 4100 S. Georgia St., with Windell Taylor, chaplain at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, officiating. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Friday in Kirkland Cemetery at Kirkland with the Rev. Alan Egerton of Bible Baptist Church in Childress officiating. Mr. Hughes was born in Kirkland and moved to Amarillo in 1968. He served two tours of duty with the Army; the second tour was during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was co-owner of Golden Spread Janitorial from 1968 to 1973. He established the City Janitorial Service and had remained as president until recently. Survivors include two sons, Windell Hughes of Amarillo and Jerry Hughes of Plano; a sister, Jean Todd of Abilene; a brother, Reid B. Hughes of Amarillo; and three grandchildren. The family will be at 6415 Hinsdale Drive. They request memorials be to the American Cancer Society, District Office, 3915 S. Bell St., Amarillo, Texas 79109. Elsewhere Juanita Wade Brewster SAN DIEGO - Juanita Wade Brewster, 82, died Tuesday, March 11, 1997. Services will be in San Diego by El Camino Mortuary. Mrs. Brewster was raised in McLean, Texas, and graduated from McLean High School in 1934. She was a beauty operator in Miami, Texas, from 1939 until 1943. She was a member of the Methodist church in McLean. Survivors include her husband, Jack; two sons, Vaughn Brewster and Gerald Brewster, both of San Diego; a daughter, Juanice Brewster of San Diego; and a sister, Bennie McMahan of Washington; five grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. W.I. Pittman LUBBOCK - W.I. "Bill" Pittman, 88, died Tuesday, March 11, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Ford Memorial Chapel of First Baptist Church with Dr. D.L. Lowrie and the Rev. John H. Ballard officiating. Burial will be in Resthaven Cemetery by Rix Funeral Directors. Mr. Pittman was born in Amarillo. He was a graduate of Amarillo High School and Texas Tech University. He was a member of First Baptist Church and taught a Sunday school class there for 40 years. He retired from Borden's after 34 years of service. He was a member of the ABC Club for more than 54 years and had served as its president. He also had served as chairman of the ABC Rodeo. He recently received the Man and Youth award for dedicated service to the Boys and Girls clubs. He was actively involved in several other organizations including the American Heart Association, Meals on Wheels and the Citizen's Traffic Commission. Mr. Pittman married Gene Grady in 1933 at Clovis, N.M. She died in 1996. Survivors include two sons, Dr. Robert P. Pittman of East Lansing, Mich., and Bill Pittman of Rochester, N.Y.; and two grandsons. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home and from 1:30 p.m. until service time Friday at the chapel. The family requests memorials be to Hospice of Lubbock, 4314 S. Loop 289, Lubbock, Texas 79413; or Meals on Wheels, 2304 34th St., Lubbock, Texas 79411. Virdie Lee Askew PLANO - Virdie Lee Askew, 77, a former Fritch resident, died Wednesday, March 12, 1997. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Westlawn Memorial Park at Borger. Arrangements are by Ted Dickey Funeral Home of Plano. Mrs. Askew was living in Plano. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Askew, in 1986. Survivors include a son, Bob Askew of Plano; a daughter, Linda Whaley of Quinlan; eight grandchildren; and four greatgrandchildren. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Itha Hargis LITTLEFIELD - Itha Hargis, 87, died Wednesday, March 12, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Big Sandy Cemetery at Marble, Ark. Arrangements are by Ellis Funeral Home of Sudan. Mrs. Hargis had been a resident of Knights Nursing Home in Littlefield since 1992, moving from Berryville, Ark. She married Bill Hargis in 1925 at Purdy, Ark. She was a member of First Christian Church in Berryville and the Order of the Eastern Star. She was a rural mail carrier for 18 years. Mrs. Hargis was a registered member of the Northern Cherokee Indian Nation. She was preceded in death by a son, Herbert H. Hargis, in 1978. Survivors include two daughters, Hazel T. Phillips of Springdale, Ark., and Mary E. Smith of Sudan; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Heart Association.