Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 15 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 Zell Moorhouse Barton Zell Moorhouse Barton, 96, of Amarillo, died Thursday, March 13, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in the Benjamin Cemetery at Benjamin with the Rev. Jim Teeter of First United Methodist Church at Knox City officiating. Arrangements are by BlackburnShaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mrs. Barton was born in Kaufman and moved to Amarillo in 1928. She owned and operated an alteration shop, located in the old Sweetbriar Clothing Shop at Ninth Avenue and Polk Street. She sewed tailormade garments. She packed parachutes at Liberal, Kan., for the government during World War II for crews of the B-24 bombers. She also taught school at Truscott. She was a member of San Jacinto United Methodist Church. Survivors include a daughter, Anne Allen of Amarillo; a sister, Mabel Moorhouse of Benjamin; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a great-greatgrandchild. The body will not be available for viewing. Gene W. Morris Gene W. Morris, 81, of Amarillo, died Thursday, March 13, 1997, at Claude. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. Windell Taylor, chaplain at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, officiating. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mr. Morris was born in New Mexico and moved to Amarillo in 1950. He married Henrietta in 1955. He was a self-employed accountant before retiring. He was an Army veteran of World War II. Survivors include his wife of Claude; two stepsons, Luther C. Fuqua of Sugar Land and James G. Fuqua of Houston; four stepgrandchildren; and a step-greatgrandchild. The family requests memorials be to the American Cancer Society. Elmer Lee Creech Elmer Lee Creech, 68, of Amarillo, died Friday, March 14, 1997. No services have been planned. The body was donated to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Martin Road Chapel, 1505 Martin Road. Mr. Creech was born in Summers, Ill., and had lived in Amarillo for 49 years. He married Ruby "Patty" in 1975 at Amarillo. He was a carpenter for Western Builders and a member of the Carpenter's Local No. 665, the National Rifle Association and the Palo Duro Bow Hunters. He was of the Pentecostal faith. Survivors include his wife; a stepson, Cecil French of Amarillo; a stepdaughter, Penney Ferrell of Graham; and two grandchildren. The family will be at 3028 N. Grand St. The body will not be available for viewing. Beth Nichol Beth Nichol, 61, of 4210 Richard, died Wednesday, March 12, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in SchoolerGordon Funeral Directors, Bell Avenue Chapel, 5400 Bell St., with Brent Adams of Southwest Church of Christ officiating. Cremation is by Memorial Park Crematory. Mrs. Nichol was born in Fort Worth. She married Leonard "Nick" Nichol in 1953 at Amarillo. She was a member of the American Association of Retired Persons and First Christian Church. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Pam Anderson of Amarillo; two sons, David Nichol of Lubbock and Bobby Nichol of Amarillo; and seven grandchildren. The family will be at 4210 Richard. They request memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176-0001. The body will be available for viewing Sunday and Monday. Cremation will be after the service. Golden Sanders Golden Sanders, 88, of Amarillo, died Friday, March 14, 1997. Services will be at Cairn's Funeral Home in Reedley, Calif. Local arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Sanders was born in Snyder. She was a legal secretary in Shamrock for several years. She moved to Amarillo two years ago. She was preceded in death by her husband, Shelby Sanders, in 1989. Survivors include two sons, Sam Sanders of Temple and Bill Sanders of Gympie, Australia; a daughter, Sue Blackmon of Amarillo; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The body will be available for viewing at Boxwell Brothers from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. today. Vicki Lynn Hampton Vicki Lynn Hampton, 41, of Amarillo, died Friday, March 14, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Lawndale Church of Christ with John H. Rowland officiating. Burial will be at 4 p.m. in Memory Gardens Cemetery at Pampa by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Ms. Hampton was born in Borger and had lived in Amarillo since 1958. She graduated from Amarillo High School in 1973. She was a price changer for Target and a member of Lawndale Church of Christ. Survivors include her father and stepmother, Ercy and Louise Hampton of Amarillo; a sister, Patricia McClish of Canyon; a brother, Joe Allen Hampton of Amarillo; and her grandmother, Veda Borger of Amarillo. The family requests memorials be to High Plains Children's Home, Box 7448, Amarillo, Texas 79114. New Mexico Gladys Ashbrook PORTALES, N.M. - Gladys Ashbrook, 95, died Wednesday, March 12, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Third and Kilgore Church of Christ with Chris Swinford and Leroy Thomas officiating. Burial will be in Causey Cemetery by Wheeler Mortuary Inc. Mrs. Ashbrook was born in Madison County, Texas. She moved with her family to Dickens County. She then moved west of Roosevelt County in New Mexico before settling in the Redland community. She attended Third and Kilgore Church of Christ. She married Walter Ashbrook. They lived in the Alley community west of Lingo for many years. In the early 1950s, she moved to Amarillo and lived there until 1985. During the time she lived in Amarillo, she was a housekeeper and baby sitter for a dentist's family. She later was employed at the Silver Grill Cafeteria. She was a member of San Jacinto Church of Christ in Amarillo. In 1985, she moved to Portales and lived at Golden Acres until the time of her death. Survivors include two sons, C.C. Ashbrook and Ray Ashbrook, all of Causey; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren. Mary Beck CLOVIS, N.M. - Mary Beck, 81, died Friday, March 14, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Ben Bedford and Dr. Tom Rush officiating. Entombment will be at Forrest Lawn in Long Beach, Calif. Mrs. Beck was born in Douglas, Ariz. She was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl, in 1978. Survivors include a daughter, Carla Calwell of Laguna Niguel, Calif.; two sisters, Billie Alexander of Clovis and Jewel Hanks of Odessa, Texas; two brothers, Ira Bedford of Sacramento, Calif., and Ben Bedford of Albuquerque; a grandson; and two great-grandchildren. Ursla Beckner CLAYTON, N.M. - Ursla Beckner, 90, died Thursday, March 13, 1997. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Billy Rammage, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Clayton Memorial Cemetery by Hass Funeral Directors. Mrs. Beckner was born in Hutchinson County, Texas. She moved to Union County in 1922 and was the salutatorian of the Clayton High School class of 1924. She married E.H. "Hess" Beckner in 1925 at Clayton. She was a stenographer for attorney H.B. Woodward until 1933. She and her husband lived in Clayton until 1972, when they moved to Amarillo. Her husband died in 1987, and she moved back to Clayton in 1992. Mrs. Beckner was a member of First Baptist Church, where she was a Sunday school teacher and was active in the church choir. Survivors include four sons, Gary Beckner of Georgetown, Texas, Ferol Beckner of Clayton, Everet Beckner of Albuquerque and Weldon Beckner of Waco, Texas; a daughter, Helen Kilburn of Amarillo; 17 grandchildren; and 33 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the First Baptist Church library or elevator fund, Clayton, N.M., 88415. Canyon Sophie Snoga Sophie Snoga, 95, of Canyon, died Friday, March 14, 1997. Rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. Sunday in Brooks Funeral Directors Chapel. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Ann's Catholic Church with the Rev. Phu Phan, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery. Mrs. Snoga was born in Panna Maria and attended school there. She married Sylvester Bednorz in 1920 at Panna Maria. They moved to White Deer to farm. Mr. Bednorz died in 1936. She married Edward Snoga in 1938 at White Deer. He died in 1953. She also was preceded in death by two sons, Edward Bednorz and Mike Bednorz, and a daughter, Mary Bednorz. She moved to Canyon in 1949. She was a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church. Survivors include a daughter, Teresa Paetzold of Hereford; two sons, Alfred "Fritz" Bednorz of Canyon and Charles Bednorz of Torrance, Calif.; 19 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Catholic Family Service, P.O. Box 15127, Amarillo, Texas 79105-5127. Area Troy W. Moon CANADIAN - Troy W. Moon, 90, died Wednesday, March 12, 1997. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in First United Methodist Church with Dr. Lewis Holland, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Edith Ford Cemetery by Stickley-Hill Funeral Directors. Mr. Moon was born in Okfuskee County, Okla. He graduated from Harlingen High School. He attended Texas A&I at Kingsville and received his bachelor of science degree in agricultural science in 1935. He married Bea Cryer in 1941 on a ranch near Clarkwood. They moved to Canadian in 1961 from Ardmore, Okla. He worked for Humble Oil (Exxon) as a seismologist from 1936 until retiring in 1969. He had been a member of First United Methodist Church of Canadian since 1961 and was a member of the Canadian Oddfellows. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Judy Moon of Canadian and Linda Moon of Houston; two brothers, Tom Moon of Navasota and Sam Moon of Corpus Christi; a sister, Nina Elliot of Raymondville; and a grandson. Beatrice Crawford TULIA - Beatrice Crawford, 92, died Thursday, March 13, 1997. Services will be at 4 p.m. today in Wallace Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Charles Davenport, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. MST Sunday in Socorro Cemetery at Socorro, N.M., with the Rev. Carl Russel of First Baptist Church of Socorro officiating. Mrs. Crawford was born in Callahan County and grew up and attended school at Oplin. She married Lawrence Crawford in 1919 at Baird. He died in 1979. She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Violet Hough, and two sons, Van Crawford and Bill Crawford. She and her husband lived in Denton Valley until 1944, when they moved to Pie Town, N.M. She moved to Tulia in 1995. She was a member of the Pie Town Baptist Church. Survivors include a son, Royce Crawford of Tulia; a sister, Doc Pierce of Lawn; two brothers, Dutch Pierce of Dumas and Charlie Pierce of Mesa, Ariz.; 11 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. Jessie L. Culpepper WELLINGTON - Jessie L. Culpepper, 82, died Thursday, March 13, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Victory Temple Full Gospel Church with the Rev. I.H. Patrick of Pampa and the Rev. Kevin Parker of Amarillo officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery by Adams Funeral Home. Mr. Culpepper was born in Carthage. He married Helen Haskett in 1935 at Mansfield, La. They moved to Wellington in 1952 from Carthage. He was a farmer and a member of the Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by a son, Jessie Culpepper Jr. Survivors include his wife; seven sons, Learvis Culpepper of Fort Worth, Calvin Culpepper of Glendale, Ariz., James Culpepper of Flagstaff, Ariz., and Larry Culpepper, Richard Culpepper, Kevin Culpepper and Jay Thomas, all of Wellington; six daughters, Imogene Mallory of Amarillo, Jessie Mae Mays and Debra Kincade, both of Forth Worth, Carrie Shannon and Helen C. Culpepper, both of Wellington, and Dorothy Odoms of Carthage; 40 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Grady L. Tyler QUITAQUE - Grady L. Tyler, 76, died Thursday, March 13, 1997, in Silverton. Services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Les Hall, pastor, and the Rev. Steve Ulrey, pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Wellington, officiating. Burial will be in Resthaven Cemetery by Myers-Long Funeral Directors. Mr. Tyler was born in Brice. He graduated in 1939 from Claude High School, where he was an outstanding athlete. He served with the Navy Seabees during World War II. He married Delene Blair in 1949 at Dallas. He was a farmer and rancher and a member of First United Methodist Church, the Quitaque Lions Club and the Order of the Eastern Star. He also was a 50-year member of Masonic Lodge. Survivors include his wife; a son, Larry Dee Tyler of Lake Worth; a daughter, Gail Simmons of Nolan; four brothers, Miles Tyler of Valor, Colo., Dub Tyler of Clarendon, Frank Tyler of Garland and Gene Tyler of Carrollton; four sisters, Marguerite Taylor of Carrollton, and Hazel Campbell, Luceal Jones and Nell Viterelli, all of Clarendon; and two grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association or a favorite charity. Sadie Arvella Reddick BORGER - Sadie Arvella Reddick, 86, died Friday, March 14, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the Chapel of Clark's Funeral Home at Beaver, Okla. Burial will be in Pioneer Cemetery at Beaver. Local arrangements are by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Final arrangements are by Clark Funeral Home of Beaver. Mrs. Reddick was born in Putnam City, Okla., and had been a Borger resident since 1948. She was a homemaker and a member of First Christian Church. She married Lloyd Reddick in 1948 at Yeats Center, Kan. Survivors include her husband; and two sisters, Edith Hite of Okemah, Okla., and Rose Clinton of Guthrie, Okla. The body will be available for viewing until 8 p.m. today at Minton / Chatwell. Cora Belle Burnley BORGER - Cora Belle Burnley, 81, died Thursday, March 13, 1997. Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Jim Hall Street Church of Christ with B.C. Brannon, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Highland Park Cemetery by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mrs. Burnley was born in Big Sandy and had been a Borger resident since 1946, moving from Fort Worth. She was a homemaker and a cook. She was a member of the Jim Hall Street Church of Christ, where she taught Sunday school and was a Ladies Bible Class teacher and treasurer from the 1950s to the 1970s. She was the House of Friends secretary and the secretary for the polio and cancer crusades in the 1950s and the 1960s. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wallace Burnley, in 1988. Survivors include two sons, James Meekins of Borger and Michael Burnley of Dallas; two daughters, Elinore Eastman of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Bettye Manzay of Dallas; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family will be at 1210 Haggard St. Eugene Boggess FRIONA - Eugene Boggess, 78, died Friday, March 14, 1997. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in 6th Street Church of Christ with Leon Talley, minister, and Eugene Bandy of Friona officiating. Burial will be in Friona Cemetery by Ellis-Blackwell Funeral Home. Mr. Boggess was born in Mutual, Okla. He had lived in Friona since 1928, moving from Mutual. He graduated from Friona High School in 1936. He married Doris Watson in 1939 at Clovis, N.M. He was a retired farmer and a member of 6th Street Church of Christ, where he was an elder and deacon. Survivors include his wife; a son, Joe Boggess of Whitefish, Mont.; a daughter, Robbie Rucker of Midland; three sisters, Juanita Reed and Geneva Stanley, both of Friona, and Irene Shirley of Greensboro, N.C.; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Ora D. Dixon PLAINVIEW - Ora Diantha Bender Dixon, 100, died Friday, March 14, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Trinity United Methodist Church with the Rev. Shane Brue, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Mound Valley Cemetery at Mound Valley, Kan. Arrangements are by Lemons Funeral Home of Plainview and Bath Funeral Home of Altamont, Kan. Mrs. Dixon was born near Neosho Falls, Kan., and moved to Mound Valley in 1910. She later lived in Cottonwood Falls, Kan., and Waverly, Kan. She moved to Plainview in 1952. She attended Trinity United Methodist Church and was a member of the RSVP. She married John Lewis Dixon in 1915 at Mound Valley. He died in 1977. Survivors include two sons, Daryl Dixon of Plainview and Willis Dixon of Rockford, Ill.; seven grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. Domingo Garza OLTON - Domingo Garza, 67, died Friday, March 14, 1997. Rosary was recited at 7:30 p.m. Friday in St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church of Earth. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church with the Rev. Joe Augustine officiating. Burial will be in Earth Memorial Cemetery at Earth by Parsons-Ellis Funeral Home of Earth. Mr. Garza was born in Runge. He had been a resident of Olton since 1953, moving from Runge. He was a farmer and a Catholic. Survivors include two sisters, Isabel Cervantez of Hereford and Julia Garza of Runge; and a brother, Hilario Garza of Springlake. Elsewhere Leonard Johnson ABILENE - Leonard "Len" Johnson, 77, a broadcaster and director of radio and television news and sports for 40 years, died Wednesday, March 12, 1997. Committal service was at 3 p.m. Friday in Elmwood Memorial Park by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home. Memorial worship service was at 4 p.m. in St. Paul United Methodist Church with the Rev. Archie Echols and Dr. Tim Temple officiating. Mr. Johnson was born in Mineral Wells and moved to Abilene in 1925. He attended Alta Vista and Central Elementary Schools and graduated from Abilene High School in 1937. He attended McMurry College and graduated in 1948 following World War II. He began working as an announcer on KRBC Radio Station in 1938. He later worked at KBST in Big Spring, KFDA in Amarillo and KBWD in Brownwood. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in January following Pearl Harbor and served in the 20th Air Force in the Southwest Theater of Operation in the Pacific. Following the war, he returned to Amarillo as assistant news director at KFDA, but returned to Abilene in 1946 to finish his college degree at McMurry. He graduated with a bachelor of science degree with a major in speech and minors in English and history. In 1948, he was employed by the Citizens Broadcasting Co. as program and news director of the station. He began working for St. Paul United Methodist Church in 1954 as the director of activities in the new activities building. Later he was appointed as administrator for the church and continued to broadcast news and sports on KWKC. In the early 1970s, he returned to the full-time news and sports directors job at KWKC and KORQ. He continued his career with KRBC Radio in news and sports and ended his media career as news director and anchor for KTXS TV, Channel 12. He retired in the 1970s from the media and accepted a part-time position with St. Paul United Methodist Church. Mr. Johnson had been a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church since 1925. He served on numerous boards and committees and had taught the Propheteer Adult Sunday School class for more than 36 years. He was the first chairman of the Northwest Texas Conference Television, Radio and Film Commission, serving in that position for five years. He had been president of the Cooper High Booster Club, a member of the Gideons and a member of Abilene Chamber of Commerce for many years, serving on the sports committee and the Red Coats. He served as publicity director for the first March of Dimes Campaign and a number of other civic fund-raisers. In 1993, he was named Kiwanian of the Year by the Kiwanis Club of Abilene. He married Marguerite Kaye Smith in 1943 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Ginger Sherman of Southside, Ala., Jere Thomas of Sterling City, and Carla Efird of Albermarle, N.C.; a sister, Opal Brown of Fort Worth; 10 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family suggests memorials be to the St. Paul United Methodist Church Television Ministry, 525 Beech, Abilene, Texas 79601; or Gideon Memorial Bibles, Gideons International, Abilene North Camp, P.O. Box 2282, Abilene, Texas 79604. The family will receive friends at St. Paul United Methodist Church following the service.