Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 19 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; Tuesday, August 19, 1997, 7:06 AM Area Zelma Kirby McQueen PAMPA - Zelma Kirby McQueen, 73, died Sunday, Aug. 17, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with Dale Meadows, minister of the Groom Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Mrs. McQueen was born in Monroe, La. She worked many years at Your Laundry and Dry Cleaners before retiring in 1983. She was a member of Mary Ellen & Harvester Church of Christ. She married Brodie E. Kirby in 1938 at Pampa. He died in 1962. She married Don A. McQueen in 1964. He died in 1988. She also was preceded in death by a son, Tom Kirby, in 1990. Survivors include two sons, Paul Kirby of White Deer and Dan Kirby of College Station; three daughters, Jane Radcliff of Pampa, Linda McClure of Claremore, Okla., and Mary Sue Smith of Fritch; two brothers, Scott Armour of Pampa and Jack Bowers of Midland; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-greatgrandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Hospice of the Panhandle, Box 2795, Pampa, Texas 79066-2795. Shelly D. Ray BORGER - Shelly D. Ray, 23, died Sunday, Aug. 17, 1997, in Sunray. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Gregg Simmons, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Cemetery by Brown Funeral Directors. Miss Ray was born in Borger and had been a lifetime Borger resident. She was a cashier at Thriftway and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star No. 811. She was a Baptist. Survivors include her parents, Rita and Clyde Harrington of Borger; her father, Jerry D. Ray of Dallas; a brother, Shannon Ray of Borger; and grandparents, Helen Lollar, Kenneth and Fannie Ray, and Merle and Alice Harrington, all of Borger. Edward Joseph Bezner HEREFORD - Edward Joseph Bezner, 86, died Sunday, Aug. 17, 1997. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. today in St. Anthony's Catholic Church with Monsignor Orville Blum officiating. Burial will be at a later date in St. Anthony's Catholic Cemetery by Gililland-Watson Funeral Home. Mr. Bezner was born in Lindsay and moved to Deaf Smith County in 1925. He was a 4th-degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He also was a member of the Hereford Senior Citizens Association. He was a farmer and a member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church. He was an Army veteran of World War II, where he served as a technical sergeant. Mr. Bezner married Pauline Fangman in 1964 at Hereford. She died in 1980. Survivors include three brothers, Frank Bezner Sr. of Hereford, Alban "Doc'' Bezner of Dalhart and Louis Bezner of Amarillo; five sisters, Ursula Borer of Toledo, Ohio, Rita Howerton of San Leandro, Calif., Frances Raynolds of Amarillo, Elizabeth White of Dumas and Sister Loretta Bezner of Branchville, N.J.; four stepchildren, Jim Marnell of Hereford, Kathy Reed of Amarillo, Mary Ellen Shettlesworth of Albuquerque, N.M., and Janice Brumley of Hereford; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Victoria Rivera DUMAS - Victoria Rivera, 53, died Sunday, Aug. 17, 1997. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in Morrison Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic City by the Rev. Richard Scully, pastor. Burial will be in Dumas Cemetery. Mrs. Rivera was born in Villahumda, Chihuahua, Mexico. She had lived in Dumas since 1976. She was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Survivors include four brothers, Geronimo Rivera and Francisco Rivera, both of Dumas, Javier Rivera of El Paso and Roberto Rivera of Juarez, Mexico; a sister, Lorenza Hernandez of Amarillo; and legal guardian, Rose Rivera of Dumas. The family will be at 143 N. Meredith St. They request memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176. Maebelle Kay Johnson TULIA - Maebelle Kay Johnson, 74, died Sunday, Aug. 17, 1997. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Rose Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Ernie McGaughey, former pastor of First Methodist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Wallace Funeral Home. Mrs. Johnson was born and raised in Osage, Okla. She graduated from Osage High School. She moved to Oklahoma City in 1943 and to Tulia in 1946. She had been a waitress and a checker and assistant manager of the Allsups in Tulia. She married Jake H. Johnson in 1946 at Fort Smith, Ark. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Sue Cross of Tulia; a sister, Olive Perry of Denver; a granddaughter; and a great-granddaughter. Laura Schoenhals PERRYTON - Laura Schoenhals, 87, died Sunday, Aug. 17, 1997. Services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Peoples Chapel-Foursquare Church with the Rev. Bill Sparks officiating. Burial will be in Ochiltree County Cemetery by Good Samaritan Funeral Service. Mrs. Schoenhals was born near Shattuck, Okla. She moved to the Follett area when she was young and attended Fairview County School. She married Dave Schoenhals in 1927 on the farm where they lived. They made their home in Perryton in 1947 and continued farming. Mrs. Schoenhals was a homemaker and a member of Peoples Chapel-Foursquare Church. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1978 and an infant son. Survivors include a daughter, Gloria Griggs of Perryton; five brothers, Adolph Redelsperger, Johnny Redelsperger, David Redelsperger, Orin Redelsperger and Robert Redelsperger, all of Follett; two sisters, Pauline Pshigoda of Perryton and Ada Haferkamp of Follett; a granddaughter; four great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. The Rev P.M. Middaugh FRITCH - The Rev. P.M. Middaugh, 86, of Amarillo, a former Fritch area resident, died Sunday, Aug. 17, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Southlawn Assembly of God Church in Amarillo with the Rev. Robert Slayton, district superintendent of Assemblies of Church of God, the Rev. Tom Lakey, assistant district superintendent of Assembly's of Church of God, and the Rev. Billy Nickell, sectional Presbyter, officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Garden at Westlawn Memorial Park by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. The Rev. Middaugh was born in Seminole, Okla., and had been a longtime Fritch area resident. He moved to Borger in 1924 and worked for Phillips Petroleum. He pioneered the Church of God in Stinnett and pastored there for 13 years. He pastored the Assembly of God in Fritch for 17 years and in Panhandle for 11 years. Rev. Middaugh was preceded in death by his wife, Iva Lois, in 1989. Survivors include his wife, Edna Middaugh of Conway; two sons, Gary Middaugh of Fritch and Jerald Middaugh of Amarillo; a daughter, Jean Newton of Winterhaven, Calif.; a stepdaughter, Linda Bradley of Amarillo; four brothers, Carl Middaugh and Ellis Middaugh, both of Tulsa, Okla., Vernon Middaugh of Odessa and Ray Middaugh of Austin; two sisters, Irene McConnagey of Dallas and Vera Johnson of St. Louis; 10 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Martha Billington MEMPHIS - Martha Billington, 97, died Monday, Aug. 18, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. O.K. Bowen officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery by Spicer Funeral Home of Memphis and Myers-Long Funeral Directors of Turkey. Mrs. Billington was born in Sapulpa, Okla. She married W.E. "Bill'' Billington in 1915 and moved to Memphis in 1923. She had been a member of First Baptist Church since 1923. She was preceded in death by three children, Wynona Billington, Leroy Billington and Billy Billington. Survivors include two sons, Louis Billington of Florence and Robert L. Billington of Louise; six grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Ronald McDonald House in Amarillo. Fernando Garcia FRIONA - Fernando Garcia, 36, died Sunday, Aug. 17, 1997. Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. today in St. Teresa's Catholic Church. Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday in St. Teresa's by the Rev. Edward Kieran. Burial will be in Friona Cemetery by EllisBlackwell Funeral Home. Mr. Garcia was born in Mexico. He had lived in Friona for nine years, moving from Weslaco. He married Iadira Delia Torres in 1980 at Weslaco. Mr. Garcia was an automobile mechanic. He was of the Catholic faith. Survivors include his wife; a son, Fernando Garcia Jr. of Friona; two daughters, Rafaela Delia Garcia and Claudia Garcia, both of Friona; his mother, Esther Garcia of Weslaco; three brothers, Roberto Garcia of Houston, and Antonio Garcia and Carlos Garcia, both of Weslaco; and three sisters, Rosio Cedillo, Lydia Villagrana and Hilda Garcia, all of Weslaco. Marina Zapata SUNRAY - Marina Zapata, 11, died Monday, Aug. 18, 1997. Rosary and vigil service will be at 7:30 p.m. today in Christ the King Catholic Church. Services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Christ the King Catholic Church with the Rev. Richard Scully, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Lane Memorial Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors. Marina was born in Amarillo and had been a Sunray resident all of her life. She was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church. Survivors include her mother, Marina Andujo of the home; her father, Joaquin Zapata of Dumas; three sisters, Veronica Galaviz and Liliana Zapata, both of Sunray, and Zulema Zapata of the home; and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Joaquin Andujo of Sunray, and Magdalena Zapata of Chihuahua, Mexico. The family will be at 211 Avenue O. They request memorials be to a favorite charity. Ernestina Torres Gaitan PLAINVIEW - Ernestina Torres Gaitan, 95, died Monday, Aug. 18, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Iglesia Bautista Alpha Y Omega with Benito V. Hinojosa, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Cemetery by Wood-Dunning Funeral Home. Mrs. Gaitan was born in Mexico. She moved to Plainview in 1974 from Lubbock. She was preceded in death by her husband, Eddie Gaitan, in 1994. Mrs. Gaitan was a homemaker and a member of Iglesia Bautista Alpha Y Omega. Survivors include three stepdaughters, Rosa Castro of Welch, Estella Gaitan of Lamesa and Ramona Gaitan of San Angelo; and two stepsons, Alfredo Gaitan of Plainview and Guadalupe Gaitan of Welch. Irene Riley Winchester CLARENDON - Irene Riley Winchester, 71, died Monday, Aug. 18, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Robertson Funeral Directors Chapel of Memories with Mrs. Winchester's nephew, Jay Riley, of Pampa officiating. Burial will be in Citizens Cemetery. Mrs. Winchester was born in Donley County and had lived in the Clarendon area most of her life. She married Charles Walter Winchester in 1948 at Clarendon. He died in 1959. Mrs. Winchester was a homemaker and a member of First Christian Church. She had been active in the choir and was a Sunday school teacher for many years. Survivors include two sisters, Jewel Womack of Hartshorn, Okla., and Pauline Dean of Modesto, Calif.; and two brothers, Jiggs Riley of Goodnight and J.D. Riley of Claude. J.A. Messer PLAINVIEW - J.A. Messer, 88, of Canon City, Colo., a former Plainview resident, died Sunday, Aug. 17, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Lemons Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with Gayle McCoy, pastor of Levelland Primitive Baptist Church in Levelland, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Cemetery. Mr. Messer was born in Chillicothe. He grew up near Memphis and attended school at Lakeview. He married Fern Upchurch in 1928 at Amherst. They moved to Plainview and then moved in 1943 to Pantex, where he was employed by the Pantex Ordinance Plant until after World War II. They moved to Borger, where Mr. Messer was employed by Phillips Petroleum until 1950, when they returned to the Plainview area. He worked for Edmonson Wheat Growers until 1972. Mr. Messer was a member of the Lions Club, the Volunteer Fire Department and First Baptist Church. They moved to Canon City in 1991. Survivors include his wife; five sons, James C. Messer, the Rev. Richard W. Messer and Vestel O. Messer, all of Canon City, Royce E. Messer of Seminole and John David Messer of Harlingen; a sister, Ada Massangale of Odessa; 14 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. Arletus Scroggins TULIA - Arletus Scroggins, 80, died Monday, Aug. 18, 1997, in Amarillo. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. Don Auten, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St., in Amarillo. Mrs. Scroggins was born in Fannin County and was a longtime resident of Tulia. She moved to the Panhandle in the early 1950s and settled in Tulia in 1962. She toured the craft show circuit in the Panhandle and sold her crafts. Mrs. Scroggins was a longtime member of Tulia Missionary Baptist Church and was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Tulia at the time of her death. She was preceded in death by her husband, Elvin Scroggins; and a son, Elvin "Sonny'' Scroggins. Survivors include two daughters, Linda Epperson and Mary Needham, both of Amarillo; a brother, Lester Taylor of Oklahoma; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Calvary Baptist Church in Tulia or the Paramount Baptist Church Mission Program in Amarillo. The family will receive visitors at the funeral home from 7:30 to 9 p.m. today. The body will be available for viewing at the church in Tulia from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Wednesday. Amarillo James Allen Cochran James Allen Cochran, 57, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Aug. 16, 1997. Private memorial services will be for the family. Cremation was by Memory Gardens Crematory. Arrangements were by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Martin Road Chapel, 1505 Martin Road. Mr. Cochran was born in Plainview and had lived in Amarillo most of his life. He was a paint and body repairman. He married Laura Kingham in 1962 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Bobby Cochran and David Cochran, both of Amarillo; a daughter, Amanda Cochran of Amarillo; his father, Ernest Cochran of Amarillo; and two grandchildren. The body will not be available for viewing. J.V. Johnson J.V. "Jan'' Johnson, 81, of Amarillo, died Monday, Aug. 18, 1997. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. Jerry Davey, pastor of Pleasant Valley Christian Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Johnson was born in Roswell, N.M., and had lived in Amarillo since 1920. He retired as a truck driver for J. Lee Milligan. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruby. Survivors include a sister-in-law, Alta Johnson of Guymon, Okla.; and a friend, J. Wayne Davis of Amarillo. Elsewhere Claire Elizabeth Austin DALLAS - Claire Elizabeth Austin, 11-month-old daughter of David and Carrie Austin, died Thursday, Aug. 14, 1997. Services were at 2 p.m. Friday in Highland Oaks Church of Christ Chapel with George A. Baker officiating. Burial was in Restland Memorial Park by Restland Funeral Home. Survivors include her parents; grandparents, Nan and Charles Austin of Houston, Sharon and Si Perkins of Guymon, Okla., and Rose and Joe Brown of Phoenix; great-grandparents, Dean Smith of Stratford, Margaret Healy of Houston, and Betty and Baskin Brown of Stratford; and great-great-grandmother, Timmie Brown of Stratford. The family requests memorials be to the day care center of Highland Oaks Church of Christ, 10805 Kingsley Road, Dallas, Texas 75238. William Martin Neill MIDLAND - William Martin Neill, 76, died Sunday, Aug. 17, 1997. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. today in First Baptist Church with Dr. Gary Dyer officiating. Arrangements are by Ellis Funeral Home. Mr. Neill was born in Mexia, Brown County. He graduated from Midland High School in 1939. He married Genell Conner in 1940. Mr. Neill served in the Army from 1942 to 1945 as a second lieutenant. He began his career in the mechanical contracting business with C.E. Smith Inc., participating in the first phase of the construction of Midland Memorial Hospital. He later worked for Leslie Miller Inc. in Fort Worth and Roswell, N.M. Mr. Neill and his wife settled in Midland in 1950, when he began working with his brother and serving as vice president of Neill's and Co. He established The Martin Neill Co. in 1970 and operated it until retiring in 1982. He served as a member and former chairman of the board of deacons at First Baptist Church in Midland. He was appointed to many statewide committees and commissions of the Texas Baptist General Convention, including vice chairman for five of the 12 years he served on the Human Welfare Coordinating Board. He recently served as vice chairman of the building committee of First Baptist Church. Mr. Neill had been a director and trustee of Midland Memorial Hospital Foundation. He served as a Midland City Council member for seven years, as mayor pro-tem for three years and as chairman of Region IV of the Texas Municipal League. He also was a member and chairman of the Midland Planning and Zoning Commission. He was the first president of the West Texas chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. He is listed in "Who's Who in Texas'' and "Outstanding Americans in the South.'' At the time of his death, he was a trustee of the Baptist Geriatric Hospital and Center in San Angelo. Survivors include his wife; three children, Kenneth Martin Neill of Amarillo, Donald Morgan Neill of Lufkin and Nancy Neill Hughes of Houston; and nine grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the building fund at First Baptist Church. New Mexico Elva E. Dowds TUCUMCARI, N.M. - Elva E. Dowds, 78, died Sunday, Aug. 17, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Center Street United Methodist Church with the Rev. John Mikow, minister of First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will be in Tucumcari Memorial Park Cemetery by Dunn Funeral Home. Mrs. Dowds was born in Eagle Rock, Mo., and had been a resident of Tucumcari since 1947. She was a homemaker and a member of Center Street United Methodist Church and the Entre Nous Club. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Stanley J. Dowds, in 1993. Survivors include four daughters, Gay Strong of Portales, Susan Lee of House, Cheryl Haynes of Tucumcari and Elizabeth Hamlett of Mesquite, Texas; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Tucumcari Helping Hands Hospice. The body will be available for viewing at the funeral home from this morning until service time.