Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 14 Aug 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; Thursday, August 14, 1997, 7:02 AM Area Ruth Spearman PAMPA - Ruth Spearman, 93, died Wednesday, Aug. 13, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Todd Dyess, pastor, and Dr. R.L. Kirk, associate pastor of St. Stephen United Methodist Church of Amarillo, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mrs. Spearman was born in Saint Jo. She moved to Pampa in 1923 from Farwell. She married John R. Spearman III in 1923 at Amarillo. He died in 1944. Mrs. Spearman was a longtime homemaker and Gray County rancher. She was a member of First United Methodist Church and the Friendship Sunday School Class. She was a member and past regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was a member of Pampa Chapter No. 65 of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Pampa Fine Arts Association, the Pampa Knife and Fork Club and the Women's Federated Club. She also was a member of several study clubs and bridge clubs. She was a former Gray Lady at Highland General Hospital. Survivors include a son, John Spearman of Pampa; a daughter, Nina Reese of Dallas; six grandchildren; and nine greatgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to First United Methodist Church. Leo Wallie Wilcox BORGER - Leo Wallie Wilcox, 77, died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 1997. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in the Garden of Prayer at Westlawn Memorial Park with Dr. David Jones, pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mr. Wilcox was born in Robstown and had lived in Borger since 1979. He was a retired carpenter. Survivors include a son, Bobby Wilcox of McQueeney; two daughters, Billie Smith of Corpus Christi and Bonnie LeNielsen of Page; and several grandchildren. Connie Lee Dromgoole CLARENDON - Connie Lee Dromgoole, 76, died Wednesday, Aug. 13, 1997. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with Bright Newhouse, minister of the Hedley Church of Christ, and the Rev. Truman Ledbetter, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Citizens Cemetery by Robertson Funeral Directors Inc. Mr. Dromgoole was born in Alvord and had lived in Clarendon most of his life. He married Wanda D. Musgrove in 1949 at Amarillo. He was the owner of Connie's Radio and TV Repair for much of his life before retiring in 1977. He was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. He was a charter member of Clarendon Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7782 and had served as post quartermaster for the past nine years. Mr. Dromgoole was a member of First Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by a son, Connie Leo Dromgoole, in 1996. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Betty Tyler of Wimberly; a son, Tony Dromgoole of Abilene; and three grandchildren. Rafelita Velasquez DALHART - Rafelita Martinez Velasquez, 65, died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 1997. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. (MDT) Friday in St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Clayton, N.M., by Louis Montoya, deacon. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. (MDT) Saturday in St. Francis by the Rev. George Silva. Burial will be in Clayton Memorial Cemetery by Hass Funeral Home of Dalhart. Mrs. Velasquez was born in Pasamonte, N.M. She was raised in Clayton and graduated from Clayton High School in 1949. She married Joe Velasquez in 1962 at Clayton. They moved to Dalhart the same year. Mrs. Velasquez was a member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church. Survivors include her husband; a brother, J.P. Martinez of Albuquerque, N.M.; and three sisters, MaryAnn Willard, Lucy Caves and Margaret Sanchez, all of Albuquerque. The body will be available for viewing today at Hass Funeral Home in Dalhart and Friday at Hass Funeral Home in Clayton. Betty Laura Topper WHEELER - Betty Laura Topper, 85, a former Wheeler resident, died Wednesday, Aug. 13, 1997, in Amarillo. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Wheeler Cemetery with Bill Morrison, minister of the Wheeler Church of Christ, officiating. Arrangements are by Wright Funeral Home. Mrs. Topper was born and raised in Stratford, Okla., and moved to San Francisco at a young age. During World War II, she drove a cab in San Francisco. She married her second husband, Bill Topper, in 1945 at San Francisco. They moved to Wheeler in 1946. Mrs. Topper was a member of First United Methodist Church in Wheeler and the Wheeler Home Demonstration Club. She also served meals at Kiwanis Club for many years. In 1973, they moved to Safford, Ariz., where she was a volunteer at Valley Hospital. Mr. Topper died in 1983. Mrs. Topper moved to Amarillo in 1985 and lived at Amarillo Nursing Center from 1987 to 1997. Survivors include a daughter, Linda Bell of Amarillo; two sons, Bruce Topper of Pampa and Roger Topper of South Carolina; a sister, Billie McGuire of Stratford, Okla.; and six grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176. J.O. Updike BORGER - J.O. Updike, 83, died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in First Christian Church with the Rev. Tom Harrison, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Cemetery with Masonic graveside rites by the auspices of Adobe Walls Masonic Lodge No. 1355. Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Directors. Mr. Updike was born in Fletcher, Okla., and had been a resident of the Borger area for 71 years. He retired as a supervisor at the Phillips refinery. He was a member of First Christian Church and a member and past master of Adobe Walls Masonic Lodge No. 1355. He married Willie Mae Veazey in 1935 at Borger. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Joanne Waight of Borger and Linda Graham of Clemson, S.C.; a sister, Mary Belle Simpson of Arlington; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Maggie Lena Lee McLEAN - Maggie Lena Lee, 89, died Wednesday, Aug. 13, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. David Drennon, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery by Lamb Funeral Home. Mrs. Lee was born in Cord, Ark. She moved to the McLean-Alanreed area from Batesville, Ark., in 1927. She married O.K. Lee Sr. in 1926 at Cord. She was preceded in death by her husband and four sons. Mrs. Lee was a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include five daughters, Willie Carter of Bentonville, Ark., Nadine Turner of Decatur, Ark., Evelyn Street of Reno, Nev., Colene Franks of Amarillo and Mabel Pletcher of Pampa; seven sons, Lawrence Lee, James Lee and O.K. Lee Jr., all of Pampa, Buck Lee and Darel Lee, both of McLean, Paul Lee of Shamrock and Danny Lee of Amarillo; three sisters; a brother; 30 grandchildren; 58 great-grandchildren; and several greatgreat-grandchildren. The family requests memorials in lieu of flowers be to a hospice or favorite charity. Amarillo Helen Brock Roberts Helen Brock Roberts, 86, of El Paso, a former Amarillo resident, died Sunday, Aug. 10, 1997. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Llano Cemetery with her grandson, the Rev. Dan W. Roberts of First United Methodist Church at Bartlett, officiating. Arrangements are by BlackburnShaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mrs. Roberts was a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University and taught in the Amarillo public schools. She lived in Amarillo for more than 45 years and was a member of First Baptist Church. She moved to El Paso in 1983 and was a member of Western Hills United Methodist Church. Her husband, Clifford J. Roberts, preceded her in death. Survivors include two sons, James B. Roberts of San Diego and Clifford J. Roberts of El Paso; and three grandsons. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 5 to 7 p.m. today. Essie Smith Essie Smith, 85, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with Dr. Dana Moore of Pleasant Valley Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Garden of Court of Flowers. Mrs. Smith was born in Tishomingo, Okla., and had been a lifelong Amarillo resident. She was a homemaker and a member of Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. She married Albert A. Smith in 1929 at McLean. He died in 1986. She also was preceded in death by a son, Albert A. Smith Jr., in 1994. Survivors include a son, Jerry Don Smith of Amarillo; a sister, Bonnie King of Amarillo; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the activity fund at Georgia Manor Nursing Home or Gideons International. Lewis Caddell Lewis Caddell, 83, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Aug. 13, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Temple Baptist Church with Richard Dickerson, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon. Mr. Caddell was born in Denton and had lived in Amarillo since 1937. He married Noma Clifton in 1932 at Stillwater, Okla. He was a building contractor and owned Trash and Treasure Antique Shops of Amarillo. He retired in 1977. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Twanna Powell of Amarillo; three sons, Bob Caddell of Canyon, Kenneth Caddell of Amarillo and Jim Caddell of Lubbock; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, 2324 Lakeview, Amarillo, Texas 79109. The body will be available for viewing at Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Selma Guy Willingham Selma Guy Willingham, 83, of Arkansas, a former Amarillo resident, died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. Claud Tugwell, retired Baptist minister, officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Ms. Willingham was born in Pickton. Survivors include four sons, Richard Lynn Willingham of Batesville, Ark., Tommy Dale Willingham and Harold Boyd Willingham, both of Drasco, Ark., and Donnie Ray Willingham of Giddings; two daughters, Barbara Deloris Gardner of Drasco and Wanda N. Skaggs of Leavenworth, Kan.; 18 grandchildren; 31 greatgrandchildren; and three great-greatgrandchildren. Durwood Dean Durwood Dean, 81, of 3018 Curtis, died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 1997. Graveside services will be Friday in Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, N.M. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home Inc., 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Dean was past president of the Amarillo Real Estate Board. He owned and operated Durwood Dean Real Estate Co. He was a life member of the Elks Lodge and a member of Polk Street United Methodist Church. He married Margaret Williams in 1941 at Canyon. Mr. Dean traveled with the Texas Plains Unit of the WBCCI Airstream Travel Club. Survivors include his wife; and four sisters, Daisy Hardin and Deva Duvall, both of Huntsville, Della Ellis of Austin and Ina Mae Wilson of Oklahoma City. The family will be at 3018 Curtis. They request memorials be to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch. Elsewhere Ima Beck YAKIMA, Wash. - Ima "Jewel'' Beck, 67, died Saturday, Aug. 9, 1997. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Stone Church. Burial will be in Terrace Heights Memorial Park by Keith & Keith Funeral Home. Mrs. Beck was born, raised and attended schools in Amarillo. She worked in management at the Holiday Inn in Amarillo for 30 years before retiring. She moved to Yakima in 1987. In 1989, she and her daughter, Phyllis Anderson, purchased Peppermint Patti's Women's Reclothier in Yakima. They operated it until six weeks ago. She was a member of Stone Church. Survivors include four children, Johnny Clayton, Bob Clayton, Phyllis Anderson and Nancy Clayton, all of Yakima; two sisters, Geraldine Gann and Dorothy Phelan, both of Amarillo; a brother, Ernest Brown of Amarillo; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Teen Challenge of Yakima or Yakima Valley Hospice c/o Keith & Keith Funeral Home, 902 W. Yakima Ave., Yakima, Wash. 98902. Oklahoma Martha Frances Pickard GUYMON, Okla. - Martha Frances Pickard, 85, died Monday, Aug. 11, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Leonard Wade officiating. Burial will be in Elmhurst Cemetery. Mrs. Pickard was born in Hemple, Mo. She moved with her family to the Guymon area in 1919 from Cherokee. She graduated from Guymon High School in 1931. She was a homemaker and a member of Victory Memorial United Methodist Church. She had worked as a nurse's aide at the Dunaway Manor. She married Edward O. Pickard in 1931 at Guymon. He died in 1979. Survivors include a son, Everly J. Pickard of Phoenix; two daughters, Patsy Hager of Austin, Colo., and Sue Cogburn of rural Hooker; 10 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and five great-greatgrandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Grace Southern Baptist Church building fund c/o Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1112, Guymon, Okla. 73942. Lorene L. Purdy Chance GUYMON, Okla. - Lorene L. Purdy Chance, 76, died Monday, Aug. 11, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Mike Chaffin, pastor of Victory Memorial United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Elmhurst Cemetery. Mrs. Chance was born in Camargo. She graduated from Camargo High School. She married James C. Purdy in 1938 at Ashland, Kan. He died in 1980. She moved to Guymon from Hooker in the late 1970s. She was a homemaker and a Methodist. Survivors include a son, Curtis Purdy; two daughters, Beverly Critser and Sandra Moore; six grandchildren; and three greatgrandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the American Cancer Society c/o BunchRoberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1112, Guymon, Okla. 73942. New Mexico Bernarda Hernandez CLOVIS, N.M. - Bernarda Hernandez, 74, died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 1997. Rosary was recited at 4 p.m. Wednesday in Muffley Funeral Home Chapel. Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. today in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Community by the Rev. Tobin Hitt. Burial will be in Mission Garden of Memories. Mrs. Hernandez was born in Mexico. She married Gavino Hernandez in Mexico. After her husband died in 1992, she moved to Clovis. She was a homemaker. She was of the Catholic faith. Survivors include a niece, Virjinia Mendoza of Portales; a nephew, Albert Saenz of Midland, Texas; two sisters, Julia Apodaca of Clovis and Maria Gonzales of Andrews, Texas; and three brothers, Jose Tarango of Portales, Jesus Tarango of Candelaria, Texas, and Gregorio Tarango of Mexico. Dorothy Tyson CLOVIS, N.M. - Dorothy Tyson, 85, died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in First United Methodist Church with Dr. Bill Sylskar officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens by Muffley Funeral Home. Mrs. Tyson was born in Chanute, Kan. She married Virgil E. Tyson in 1931 at Chanute. They moved to Clovis in 1983. She was preceded in death by her husband. Mrs. Tyson was a homemaker and a member of First United Methodist Church and the Friends Bible Class. She also had served as president of the Women's Association. Survivors include three daughters, Margie Tyson and Marilyn Tyson, both of Clovis, and Bette Tyson of Albuquerque. The family requests memorials be to the First United Methodist Church building fund.