Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 18 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 Robert J. Lang DALHART - Robert J. "Bob" Lang, 62, died Saturday, March 15, 1997. Graveside services were at 3 p.m. Monday in Memorial Park Cemetery with Ray M. Guy, minister of First Christian Church, officiating. Masonic rites were by Rock Island Masonic Lodge No. 869. Arrangements were by Hass Funeral Home. Mr. Lang was born in Ware and raised in Dalhart. He graduated from Dalhart High School in 1953 and served in the Army from 1953 to 1955. He married Zelda Beth Law in 1954 at Albuquerque, N.M. They made their home in Dalhart, where he worked as a pressman and press foreman for the Dalhart Texan for more than 35 years. He retired in 1993. He had been a member of and taught a Sunday school class at First Christian Church for several years. He was a Master Mason and past worshipful master of Rock Island Masonic Lodge No. 869. He was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and had served as Worthy Patron of Dalhart Chapter No. 1051. Mr. Lang was active with the Boy Scouts of America, where he was an Eagle Scout. He served on the Dalhart City Council for two terms. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Debra Beth Ford of Dalhart; two sons, Robert Alan "Bobby" Lang and Joe Richard Lang, both of Dalhart; four brothers, Jack Lang of Dalhart, Frank Lang of Las Cruces, N.M., Orville Lang of North East, Md., and Richard Lang of Florida; three sisters, Mona Sherred and Marian Rodriquez, both of Albuquerque, and Sue Adams of Rising Sun, Md.; nine grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family suggests memorials be to the American Cancer Society, the National Diabetes Foundation or the American Heart Association. Pete Savage HEREFORD - Pete Savage, 100, died Monday, March 17, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Tabernacle Baptist Church at Roswell, N.M., with Pastor Whicker officiating. Burial will be in South Park Cemetery at Roswell by Rix Funeral Directors of Hereford. Mr. Savage was born in Oklahoma Territory. He was a retired rancher and cowboy, having worked in the New Mexico area most of his life. He had been a resident of Hereford since 1989. Survivors include three stepsons, Mike Vaughn of Oceanside, Calif., and Bob Vaughn and Ted Vaughn, both of Hereford; a sister, Ruby Savage of Ojai, Calif.; 16 grandchildren; and numerous greatgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Golden Plains Care Center, 420 Ranger, Hereford, Texas 79045. Jerry Presnall PERRYTON - Jerry Presnall, 46, died Sunday, March 16, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Full Gospel Church with the Rev. Harrol Waterbury, pastor, and the Rev. Tim Buschman, associate pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Gray Cemetery at Gray, Okla., by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Mr. Presnall was born in Perryton and had lived in the Perryton area all of his life. He graduated from Perryton High School and Liberal Vo-Tech. He was a cowboy and attended Full Gospel Church. Survivors include his parents, John and Edna Presnall of Perryton; a brother, Johnny Lee Presnall of Chetopa, Kan.; and a sister, Patricia Presnall of Austin. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. Alton E. Wyly VEGA - Alton E. Wyly, 66, died Sunday, March 16, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Vega United Methodist Church with the Rev. Rob Lindley, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery at Vega by Vega Funeral Home. Mr. Wyly was born in Como and had lived in Vega for 33 years. He was a farmer and a member of the United Methodist Church of Vega. He was a Mason and a member of Vega Lodge No. 899. He married Helen Divguid in 1953 at Plainview. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Beth Batenhorst of Canyon, Teresa Cassetty of Vega and Lauri Paetzold of Hereford; and three grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center or the Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center, 1500 Wallace Blvd., Amarillo, Texas 79105. Tom A. Sluder OLTON - Tom A. Sluder, 88, died Sunday, March 16, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Wendell Horn, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Olton Cemetery by Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Home. Mr. Sluder was born in Floydada. He lived in Petersburg before moving to Olton in 1928. He was a mechanic for the Olton ISD for many years. He also was a real estate and insurance salesman for many years. He served as a school trustee for six years. He also served as mayor pro-tem and city councilman for the city of Olton. He was a member of the Lions Club and an elder at Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Sluder was preceded in death by his first wife, Floy Sluder, in 1987. He married Essie Lee Wozencraft in 1993 at Olton. Survivors include his wife; a son, Tom Sluder Jr. of Olton; three daughters, Leabelle Finch of Dalhart, Dianna Gheer of Canyon and Peggy Kraatz of Lititz, Pa.; a sister, Winnie Flynt of Lubbock; eight grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Runningwater Draw Care Center, P.O. Box 409, Olton, Texas 79064; or the Olton Ambulance Association c/o Olton State Bank, P.O. Drawer X, Olton, Texas 79064. Harold Vernon O'Neal PANHANDLE - Harold Vernon O'Neal, 77, died Sunday, March 16, 1997. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in First Christian Church with the Rev. Gary Woods, pastor, and Dr. Doug Harvey, pastor, officiating. Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Panhandle Cemetery by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mr. O'Neal was born in Farwell. He had lived near Panhandle since 1932, moving from Amarillo. He graduated from Panhandle High School and Texas Technical College. He was a farmer and rancher in Texas and New Mexico and raised Angus cattle. He was a member of First Christian Church of Panhandle. He served in the Army Infantry 7th Division in the Pacific during World War II. He married Norma Purvines in 1946 at Panhandle. Survivors include his wife; a son, S. Shawn O'Neal of Panhandle; three daughters, Mary Eileen O'Neal Mjolhus and Sharon O'Neal Loerwald, both of Amarillo, and Patrice O'Neal Shadid of Panhandle; his mother, Ola B. O'Neal of Panhandle; three sisters, Vivian Biggs and Lenola Gray, both of Panhandle, and Virginia Hawkinson of Horseshoe Bay; 12 grandchildren; and a great-grandson. The family requests memorials be to First Christian Church, Carson County Square House Museum or a favorite charity. Randy Coon DUMAS - Randy Coon, 40, died Saturday, March 15, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Morrison Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Glenn Kile, Baptist minister from Amarillo, officiating. Burial will be in Northlawn Memorial Gardens. Mr. Coon was born in Hereford. He was a longtime Amarillo resident before moving to Dumas in 1978. He was an auto mechanic. He married Cindy Comeau in 1982 at Sunray. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Bambi Coon and April Coon, both of the home; a son, Randy Coon Jr. of the home; his parents, Mr. and Mrs Victor Hinchey of Amarillo, and Kenneth Coon Sr. of Raton, N.M.; two brothers, Darrell Coon of Amarillo and Ricky Coon of Wichita, Kan.; four sisters, Nancy Clymer of Fort Worth, and Debra Kile, Mary Williams and Janet Cole, all of Amarillo. The family will be at 713 N. Meredith. They request memorials be to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 1208, Dumas, Texas 79029; or the American Kidney Fund, 6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 1010, Rockville, Md., 20852. Eldon Milstead PLAINVIEW - Eldon Milstead, 69, died Sunday, March 16, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Seth Ward Baptist Church with the Rev. Bob Griffith of First Baptist Church of Manor and the Rev. Leslie Welch of Seth Ward Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens by Lemons Funeral Home. Mr. Milstead was born in the Cousins community of rural Hale County. His parents had a grocery store in Plainview until 1932, when they moved and built a grocery store at Edmonson. He attended Running Water schools and graduated from Plainview High School in 1945. He married Dorothy Marie Miller in 1945 at Plainview. He was employed by Dan Kimball Sr. in 1945 and then returned to Milstead's Grocery, where he worked until 1947. He moved to Plainview in 1948 and worked for the Daffern family unloading coal and feed. He remained with Daffern's Steel for 28 years. In 1976, Mr. Milstead and his son, David, opened Milstead Hardware. They moved to a new store in 1981. Mr. Milstead served with many organizations including the Flying Kiwanis Club and the High Plains Gem and Mineral Club. He also was a deacon at Seth Ward Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Richard Milstead of Branson, Mo., and David Milstead of Plainview; three daughters, Diane McAninch of Conroe, Cathy Chandler of Abilene and Virginia Young of Fort Worth; a sister, Clara Lou Jones of Muleshoe; 10 grandchildren; and eight grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Plainview Christian Academy, the Gideons or a favorite charity. Ora Lee Frazier PADUCAH - Ora Lee Frazier, 76, died Sunday, March 16, 1997. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Sam Crosby, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery by Seigler Funeral Home. Miss Frazier was born in Quanah. She graduated from Williams High School in 1938. She was a former resident of Quanah and Wellington and had lived in Paducah since 1942. She was employed by the Social Security Administration and had been a freelance reporter for the Paducah Post. She also had been the National Weather Service reporter in Paducah. She was a Baptist. Survivors include a brother, H.T. Frazier of Borger. Cora Thomas MULESHOE - Cora Thomas, 94, died Monday, March 17, 1997. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Muleshoe Memorial Park with the Rev. Cleveland Bass, pastor, officiating. Arrangements are by Ellis Funeral Home. Mrs. Thomas was born in Ben Lomond, Ark. She married Roy Thomas in 1919 at Purcell, Okla. He died in 1982. She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Theresa Jean Tucker, in 1993. She was a homemaker and a member of Primitive Baptist Church. She moved to Muleshoe in 1938 from Purcell. Survivors include five sons, Roger I. Thomas of Temple, Clarence "Spud" Thomas of Lubbock, E.J. Thomas of Puyallup, Wash., Carl David Thomas of Kent, Wash., and LeeRoy Thomas of Roseburg, Ore.; two daughters, Barbara Wilson of Muleshoe and Jane McDaniel of Castroville; 20 grandchildren; 40 greatgrandchildren; and seven great-greatgrandchildren. Brooks Hubbard HEREFORD - Brooks Hubbard, 77, died Monday, March 17, 1997. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Central Church of Christ with Tom Bailey, minister, officiating. Graveside services will be at 3:30 p.m. in Fairview Cemetery at Pampa with Glenn Walton of Bell Avenue Church of Christ in Amarillo officiating. Arrangements are by Gililland-Watson Funeral Home. Mr. Hubbard was born in Strawberry, Ark. He married Aileen June Russell in 1946 at Arkansas. He was a veteran of the Army and a member of Central Church of Christ. He retired as a district supply supervisor for Southwestern Public Service Co. in 1975. He retired from Corporate Systems in 1989. He moved to Deaf Smith County in 1996 from Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Linda Lowe of Hereford and Kaye St. Peter of Plano; two sisters, Malderine Simpson of Hudson, Colo., and Pauline Wallace of Manchester, Tenn.; and three grandsons. The family requests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice. C.A. McLain SPEARMAN - C.A. "Gus" McLain, 81, died Monday, March 17, 1997. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in First Christian Church with the Rev. Ernie Williams, interim minister, officiating. Burial will be in Hansford Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Mr. McLain was born in Gray, Okla., and had lived in the Spearman area for 60 years. He was a farmer and rancher. He was a member of First Christian Church and Hansford Masonic Lodge No. 1040 AF&AM. He was a 32nd degree Mason. Survivors include two sons, Lester D. McLain of Spearman and Jim A. McLain of Fort Worth; a brother, Lester S. McLain of Spearman; a sister, Reva Draper of Midland; seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Spearman Welfare Association c/o the County Judge, P.O. Box 367, Spearman, Texas 79081. Amarillo George S. Behm George S. Behm, 75, of Amarillo, died Sunday, March 16, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m Wednesday in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors Bell Avenue Chapel, 5400 Bell St., with Roy Almaroad of Mescalero Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in the Clayton Cemetery at Clayton, N.M. Mr. Behm was born in Cuates, N.M., and had lived in Amarillo since 1962. He graduated from Clayton High School in 1938 and entered the Air Force in 1942. He served in the South Pacific from New Guinea to Saipan and was discharged in 1946. He worked at the Clayton Union County Herald from 1956 to 1957. He began working for Greyhound as a bus operator in 1957 and retired in 1982. He married Nova "Janie" Robison in 1962 at Raton, N.M. Survivors include his wife; two stepsons, Ron Robison of Amarillo and Don Robison of Chicago; a sister, Agnes Behm of Clayton; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family will be at 14465 Sundown Trail. They suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. Debra Elaine Stanford Debra Elaine Stanford, 33, of 1116 Smiley, died Sunday, March 16, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, Bell Avenue Chapel, 5400 Bell St., with D.M. Newton officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Stanford was born in Denver and had lived in Amarillo for 33 years. She married Mark Stanford in 1986 at Amarillo. She was a member of Olsen Park Baptist Church. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Tanner Ryan Stanford and Trevor Mark Stanford, both of Amarillo; her father, Tom Czewski of Amarillo; her mother, Judy Czewski of Amarillo; a brother, David Czewski of Amarillo; and grandparents, Louise Czewski, A.Y. Proffitt and Leona Proffitt, all of Childress. There is a trust fund for Mark Stanford at Boatman's National Bank. New Mexico Alice Tosh CLOVIS, N.M. - Alice Tosh, 87, died Saturday, March 15, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Tosh was born in Needmore, Okla. She married John Wesley Tosh in 1927 at Seneca, Mo. They moved to Clovis in 1927 from Joplin, Mo. She was a clerk for Santa Fe Railway for 30 years before retiring in 1970. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1995. Survivors include two sons, John Tosh of Amarillo and Charles Tosh of Belen; a daughter, Charlene Fritz of Clovis; a sister, Lucille Kearney of Tupelo, Miss.; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. Earl L. Allen BROADVIEW, N.M. - Earl L. Allen, 92, died Sunday, March 16, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Grady Methodist Church at Grady with the Rev. Gene Richardson officiating. Burial will be in Grady Cemetery by Steed-Todd Funeral Home of Clovis. Mr. Allen was born in Holdenville, Okla., and moved to New Mexico in 1907 with his family. They homesteaded at Belleview and lived there until 1917, when they moved to Denton, Mont. He returned to Broadview in 1931 and operated Farm Implement Supply until retiring in 1972. Mr. Allen was the last surviving organizer of the Farmers Electric Co-op at Clovis. He served on the board of trustees for 53 years, serving 42 of them as president. He was a lifetime member of the Clovis Masonic Lodge and was instrumental in starting the Broadview Fire Department. He served as their first fire chief. He married Helena Shierson in 1935 at Drummond, Mont. She died in 1987. Survivors include a son, Jim Allen of Pleasanton, Calif.; a daughter, Shirley Duke of Broadview; a sister, Bertha Dickson of Coffee Creek, Mont.; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Grady Scholarship Fund or a favorite charity. Elsewhere Elizabeth Dial Dyer and C.G. Dyer SAN ANTONIO - Elizabeth Dial Dyer, 87, died Friday, March 14, 1997. C.G. Dyer, 88, died Sunday, March 16, 1997. Joint memorial services were at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in Porter Loring Funeral Directors Chapel at San Antonio with the Rev. Frank Seaman officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Miami Cemetery at Miami, Texas, with Dr. Edwin Cooley, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Pampa, officiating. Local arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Mrs. Dyer was born in Miami, Texas, and had lived in San Antonio for 60 years. She graduated from Baylor University and was a retired school teacher. She was a member of Northwood Presbyterian Church. Her husband, C.G. Dyer, died Sunday. Mr. C.G. Dyer was born in Mount Calm and also had lived in San Antonio for 60 years. He was a member of Northwood Presbyterian Church. He had worked for Magnolia Airco Gas Co. and a local hardware company. He was a Mason and an active member of the Director's Staff of Alzafar Shrine Temple. His wife, Elizabeth, died Friday. They are survived by her brother, David J. Dial of Palestine. Oklahoma Bertha M. Bass BOISE CITY, Okla. - Bertha M. Bass, 92, died Sunday, March 16, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church with Derek Cox and Harold James officiating. Burial will be in Boise City Cemetery by Cimarron Mortuary. Mrs. Bass was born and raised in Beaver County and attended the Garrett School. She married Marion Edward Bass in 1923 at Beaver County. They moved from Beaver County to Texline in 1940 and then to Cimarron County in 1946. She cooked at the Felt School for many years. She entered the Cimarron Nursing Home in 1995. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1973 and a son, Walter Bass. Survivors include four sons, Leroy Bass of Felt, Sam Bass of Amarillo, Dale Bass of Albuquerque, N.M., and Herb Bass of Farmington, N.M.; three daughters, Norma Vann of Yucaipa, Calif., Gladys Ottinger of Boise City and Doris Smith of Fayetteville, Ark.; a sister, Gladys Whitmer of Liberal, Kan.; 20 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Cimarron Nursing Home c/o Cimarron Mortuary.