Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 19 Sep 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; Friday, September 19, 1997, 6:59 AM Amarillo Dorothy Sue Smiley Dorothy Sue Smiley, 93, of 3209 S. Ong St., died Wednesday, Sept. 17, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. Keith Boutwell, chaplain at Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, officiating. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mrs. Smiley was born in San Antonio. She and her husband, Dale Smiley, moved to Amarillo in 1931. Her husband was associated with First National Bank for more than 30 years and had served as vice president. Mrs. Smiley was a member of First Presbyterian Church. She was preceded in death by her husband. Survivors include a sister, Grace Sorell of Austin. The family will be at 3209 S. Ong St. Louise Nicholson Louise Nicholson, 75, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Sept. 16, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with the Rev. Darrell Foster, associate pastor of San Jacinto Assembly of God, officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of Peace at Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Nicholson was born in Little, Okla., and had been a longtime Amarillo resident. She married Joseph Allen Nicholson in 1940. He died in 1993. She was a homemaker and a member of First Assembly of God. Survivors include three sons, Randy Nicholson of Gulf Breeze, Fla., John Nicholson of Pace, Fla., and James Nicholson of Bedford; three daughters, Madonna Lindley of Amarillo, Sandy Vandiver of Bedford and Julia Sladek of Lubbock; four grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. Norma Copley Norma Copley, 71, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Sept. 17, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors Bell Avenue Chapel, 5400 Bell St., with the Rev. Johnny Griffith officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mrs. Copley was born in Kansas City, Mo., and had lived in Amarillo for 27 years. She married George Copley in 1945. She was a homemaker. Mrs. Copley was preceded in death by three sons, Cortland Copley, Ricardo Copley and Glen S. Copley. Survivors include her husband; and four sisters, Kristina Humbert of Missouri, Nora Mae Clardy of California, and Jackie Davis and Peggy Boyd, both of Kansas City, Mo. Donnie Paulhamus Donnie Paulhamus, 43, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Sept. 14, 1997. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Paulhamus was born in Fort Sumner, N.M. He lived in New Mexico for several years before moving to Amarillo in 1980. He was involved in the home health-care business. He also was a club manager. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hazel and Lee Hugh Paulhamus; and three brothers, Alan Paulhamus, Scott Paulhamus and Dale Paulhamus. Survivors include an aunt and uncle, Betty and Dr. Charles D. Milligan of Albuquerque, N.M. The family has requested no viewing or visitation. They request memorials be to Friends in Need, P.O. Box 103, Amarillo, Texas 79105. Oklahoma Wesley Jr. Barker GUYMON, Okla. - Wesley Jr. Barker, 66, died Monday, Sept. 15, 1997. Graveside services will be at 11:30 a.m. today in Madison Cemetery near Slapout. Arrangements are by Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home. Mr. Barker was born in Newton, Kan. He married Joy E. Gillespie in 1955 at Miami, Okla. They moved to Guymon in 1976 from Newton. He was employed as an auto mechanic and oilfield pumper the majority of his working life. He retired in 1993. Mr. Barker was an Army veteran of the Korean War, serving as a radio technician. He was a member of the American Legion. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Debra Lynn Gerrity. Survivors include his wife; three sons, John Barker of Guymon, James C. Graves of Millington, Tenn., and Richard Graves of Phoenix; two sisters, Lenora Keen of Newton, Kan., and Shirley Jackson of Wichita, Kan.; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Violet May Bridwell BEAVER, Okla. - Violet May Bridwell, 70, died Tuesday, Sept. 16, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Beaver First Baptist Church with Bill Sherill officiating. Burial will be in Pioneer Cemetery by Clark Funeral Service. Mrs. Bridwell was born in Beaver and graduated from Beaver schools. She was a cook at the Beaver County Nursing Home before retiring. She married Wesley Bell Bridwell in 1945. He died in 1971. Survivors include a son, Wesley Eugene "Bud'' Bridwell of Beaver; two daughters, Virginia Mae Cramer of Mooreland, Okla., and Deanna Kay Carter of Beaver; two brothers, Frank Mosburg of Beaver and Alvin "Jim'' Mosburg of Guymon; two sisters, Velma Bridwell of Beaver and Audene Nelson of Houghton, Mich.; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Elsewhere Marsha Clare Harris AQUIMON, Mexico - Marsha Clare Harris, 45, a former Amarillo resident, died Sunday, Sept. 14, 1997. Burial was in Aquimon during a family ceremony. Ms. Harris was born in Amarillo and lived most of her life in Amarillo until recently moving to Aquimon. She graduated from Tascosa High School in 1970. Survivors include her father, Jim Tom Harris; and a brother, Willie Harris. Area Charles Lavelle Golden QUANAH - Charles L. "Tuffy'' Golden, 77, died Wednesday, Sept. 17, 1997. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Price-Jackson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. John Spangler officiating. Mr. Golden was born in De Leon. He married Quava Slaton in 1940 at Altus, Okla. He had lived in Quanah most of his life. He owned and operated Golden Trucking Co. for many years. He was an Army veteran of World War II, having served in the Philippines. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Charles Golden Jr. of Quanah and Jerald Golden of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; five grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Trevor Jacob Keeton BORGER - Trevor Jacob Keeton, infant son of Phillip and Lacey Keeton, died Tuesday, Sept. 16, 1997. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Eastlawn Garden at Highland Park Cemetery with the Rev. James Berry officiating. Arrangements are by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Survivors include his parents; two brothers, Austin Ray Keeton and twin brother Tanner Wayne Keeton, both of the home; grandparents, the Rev. James and Kathy Berry of Borger, and Kenneth and Deborah Keeton of Fritch; and greatgrandparents, J.C. "Jake'' and Colene Berry, and Cecil and Jackie Hodge, both of Borger, Charles Cox of Pampa, and J.R. and Ruby Keeton of Lefors. Margaret Louise Martin CHILDRESS - Margaret Louise Martin, 59, died Tuesday, Sept. 16, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in New Velma Cemetery at Velma, Okla., with the Rev. Eddie Norris, pastor of First Baptist Church in Velma, officiating. Arrangements are by Johnson Funeral Home. Ms. Martin was born in Wyandotte, Okla. She lived in Odessa for 10 years before moving to Childress nine months ago. She was the owner and operator of a child-care center. Survivors include her stepfather, Scott Bush of Childress; two sons, Johnny Lee Johnson of Bentonville, Ark., and Edward Eugene Johnson of Rogers, Ark.; four daughters, Vickie Pat Brown of Shreveport, La., Jerrie Ann Larsen of Jay, Okla., Debra Sue Bowen of Bentonville and Diana Lynn Pierce of Mount Carmel, Ill.; two sisters, Karen Overstreet and Margie M. Rodgers, both of Tulsa, Okla.; two brothers, Ed Jay Wallace of Tulsa and Larry E. Wallace of Austin; and 12 grandchildren. Herman L. Welkener SUDAN - Herman L. Welkener, 78, died Wednesday, Sept. 17, 1997, in Three Rivers. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Cliff Hargrove, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Sudan Cemetery by Ellis Funeral Home. Mr. Welkener was born in Pawnee. He had lived in the Sudan area since 1964, moving from Muleshoe. He married Bertha Legg in 1961 at Sudan. She died in 1991. He also was preceded in death by a son, Ernest "Pal'' Legg, in 1990. Mr. Welkener was a farmer and a member of First Baptist Church. He was an Army veteran of World War II. Survivors include seven daughters, Kathy Politis of Roswell, Ga., Marie Allen of Littlefield, Jo Quesenberry of Amarillo, Dorothy Breedlove of Slaton, and Myrtle "Mutt'' Hanna, Ann Hill and Geneva Whitten, all of Sudan; a son, Edward Welkener of Alexander, Va.; two brothers, William Welkener of Pawnee and Ellis Kuenstler of Three Rivers; 27 grandchildren; and 44 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Sudan EMS or First Baptist Church. Jessie Branson Muns PAMPA - Jessie Branson Muns, 78, died Thursday, Sept. 17, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in First Baptist Church with Dr. Jim Prock, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by CarmichaelWhatley Funeral Directors. Mrs. Muns was born in Grainola, Okla. She had been a resident of Pampa for the past 35 years. She married H.A. "Buck'' Muns in 1937 at Pawhuska, Okla. He died in July. Mrs. Muns worked as a church secretary at Central Baptist Church for eight years. She was a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include two daughters, Karen Goodwin of Wheaton, Md., and Carol Nichols of Denver; a son, Bob Muns of Pampa; a sister, Doris Smith of Yale, Okla.; 13 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the First Baptist Church homebound department, First Baptist Church missions, the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association. Juanita Ruiz Garza PLAINVIEW - Juanita Ruiz Garza, 76, died Tuesday, Sept. 16, 1997. Rosary was recited at 7 p.m. Thursday in Lemons Funeral Home Memorial Chapel. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Sacred Heart Catholic Church with the Rev. Elbert A. Fadallan, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park. Mrs. Garza was born in Bryan. She married Manuel Garza Sr. in 1939 at Clovis, N.M. He died in 1988. She had lived in Plainview since 1962. She worked at Heritage Home from 1979 to 1989 in the housekeeping department. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Survivors include three daughters, Pauline Guerra of Levelland, Virginia Delgado of Plainview and Mona Saenz of Hammond, Ind.; two sons, Isaac Garza of Cheyenne, Okla., and Sam Garza of Plainview; two brothers, Frank Medina of Plainview and Paul Medina of Hale Center; three sisters, Mary Lopez of Hale Center, Minnie Pulido of Plainview and Lala Alanis of Anton; 18 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. Ruby Catlett KRESS - Ruby Catlett, 62, died Wednesday, Sept. 17, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Lemons Funeral Home Memorial Chapel in Plainview with the Rev. Aubrey Chapman, former pastor of First Baptist Church of Aiken, officiating. Burial will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens in Plainview. Mrs. Catlett was born in Idalou. She grew up in Paducah and attended Paducah schools. She married Ray Catlett in 1952 at Paducah. In 1952, they moved to Plainview, where Mrs. Catlett managed the lunch counter at Woolworth's. They moved to Kress in 1965 and were engaged in farming there. In 1970, Mrs. Catlett began managing Kentucky Fried Chicken. She retired in 1991. She was a member of the Plainview PTA, HECE and First Christian Church. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Jan Catlett of Plainview and Judy Oden of Levelland; a son, Curtis Catlett of Plainview; three brothers, Leon Reed of Livingston, Jimmy Reed of Tempe, Ariz., and Larry Reed of Burleson; two sisters, Mary Keen of Plainview and Oleta Pierce of Arlington; and seven grandchildren.