Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 20 June 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, June 20, 1997, 6:47 AM Area Arcelia Pacheco HEREFORD - Arcelia Pacheco, 89, died Wednesday, June 18, 1997. Rosary was recited at 7 p.m. Thursday and will be recited at 7 p.m. today in Rix Funeral Directors Chapel. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in San Jose Catholic Church with Father Domingo officiating. Mrs. Pacheco was born in Colonis, N.M., and moved to Hereford in 1947. She was a member of San Jose Catholic Church and a founding leader and member of the Guadalupanas Society. She also served as a eucharistic minister for 10 years and served on the Parish Council. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rudolfo Pacheco, in 1980. Survivors include two daughters, Antonia P. Romero of Hereford and Helen Saiz of Albuquerque, N.M.; a son, Benny Pacheco of Muleshoe; two sisters; a brother; nine grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to San Jose Catholic Church of Hereford. Kenneth Austin STINNETT - Kenneth Austin, 86, died Sunday, June 15, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Wood-Kortright Funeral Directors Chapel in Kent, Ohio. Burial will be in Standing Rock Cemetery at Kent. Local arrangements are by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. Mr. Austin was born in Kent. He had been a resident of Stinnett for six months, moving from Mayfield Heights, Ohio. He retired after 44 years with Park Ohio Industries. He was a member of Mayfield Methodist Church and the Scottish Rites. He had been a Mason for 50 years and was a 32nd Degree member of Lodge No. 316 in Ohio. Survivors include a daughter, Joyce Kindle of Stinnett; two brothers, Harry Austin Jr. of Stow, Ohio, and Jack Austin of Florida; seven sisters, Ruth Thompson, Betty Wynns and Dorothy Bowden, all of Kent, Martha Breslin of Hawthorne, Nev., Elsie Bard of Stow, Mary Harvey of El Segundo, Calif., and Metta Linnin of Hubbard, Ohio; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today in Wood-Kortright Funeral Home in Kent. Blanche Emma Perley FRITCH - Blanche Emma Perley, 83, died Thursday, June 19, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Southern Baptist Church of Fritch with D.C. Lindley of the church officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of Love at Westlawn Memorial Park by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mrs. Perley was born in Lusk, Wyo. She had been a resident of Fritch for 15 years, moving from Casper, Wyo. She was a homemaker and a member of First Southern Baptist Church of Fritch. She married Fred Perley in 1943 at Miami, Fla. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Virginia Irene Perley. Survivors include her husband; two sons, James L. Perley of Talledega, Ala., and Howard Simpson of Amarillo; a sister, Virginia O'Neal of Mesa, Ariz.; four grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Roy L. Berner Sr. PLAINVIEW - Roy L. Berner Sr., 68, died Thursday, June 19, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Paul's Lutheran Church with the Rev. David Jeske, pastor, and the Rev. Don Robertson, pastor of College Heights Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens by Lemons Funeral Home. Mr. Berner was born in Swisher County near Kress and grew up on a farm northwest of Kress. He attended school at Kress and farmed there. He married Joy Truitt in 1952 at Plainview. He moved to Plainview in 1962 and joined the Plainview Police Department. He retired in 1982 as captain. He attended Wayland Baptist University from 1971 to 1973. He moved to Boys Ranch in 1982 and served as assistant director of maintenance until 1994. Mr. Berner returned to Plainview in 1994. He did furniture repair and was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and the Senior Citizens. He served with the city housing board and Meals on Wheels. Survivors include his wife; four daughters, Cathy Waggoner of Plainview, Jo Ellen Hopson of Paris, Texas, Tracy Nichols of Boys Ranch and Jennifer Walker of Grand Saline; two sons, Lee Berner Jr. of Paris and Brian Berner of Austin; two brothers, Harold Berner of Kress and Richard Berner of Riley, N.C.; two sisters, Edna Shumacher and Noretta Adrian, both of Plainview; and nine grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch. The church will serve lunch to the family at the Parish Hall after the services. Elmer Lee Criswell Sr. PLAINVIEW - Elmer Lee Criswell Sr., 93, died Wednesday, June 18, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Lemons Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with Chris Criswell, great-grandson of the deceased, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park. Mr. Criswell was born in Comanche County. He moved with his parents to Jones County in 1923. He married Allene Thompson in 1925 at Jones County. Mr. Criswell was a farmer, rancher and carpenter. He built family homes in Lenora, Idalou and Plainview. Survivors include his wife; four children, Elmer Lee Criswell Jr. and Linda Smith, both of Plainview, W.B. Criswell of Idalou, and Lura Brown of Silverton; eight grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren. Johnnie Don Riddle LOCKNEY - Johnnie Don Riddle, 57, of Brownwood, formerly of Lockney, died Tuesday, June 17, 1997. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Lockney Cemetery with the Rev. Roger Foote, pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Plainview, officiating. Arrangements are by Lemons Funeral Home in Plainview. Mr. Riddle was born at the family home near Lockney. He attended school at Fairview, Muleshoe and Anton. After leaving Lockney, he lived in Lipan for several years before moving to College Station. For the past three years, he had lived in Brownwood. He was a member of the Baptist church and most recently attended Rocky Creek Baptist Church in Brownwood. Survivors include a sister, Ellen Virginia Reeder of College Station. Rumaldo Ortiz DUMAS - Rumaldo Ortiz, 60, died Thursday, June 19, 1997. Graveside services will be in Chihuahua, Mexico. Local arrangements were by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mr. Ortiz was born in Cienaga de Ortiz, Chihuahua, Mexico. He had been a resident of the Dumas area for 20 years. He was a farmhand for Rex McCloy Feeders. Survivors include his wife, Martina Ortiz of Mexico; two sons, Rumaldo Arturo Ortiz and Rene Ortiz, both of Mexico; three daughters, Elva Perez and Nancy Mendoza, both of Etter, and Olinda Ortiz of Mexico; a brother, Irineo Ortiz of Morse; two sisters, Guadalupe Ortiz and Francisca Ortiz, both of Mexico; and six grandchildren. Allene Short STINNETT - Allene Short, 91, died Wednesday, June 18, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Stinnett Church of Christ with James Meekins officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Cemetery by Brown Funeral Directors of Borger. Mrs. Short was born in Calumet, Okla., and had been a Stinnett area resident for 35 years. She was a homemaker and a member of Stinnett Church of Christ and the Order of the Eastern Star in Dumas. She was preceded in death by her husband, Aaron M. Short, in 1989. Survivors include two sons, Neal Short of Stinnett and Dwayne Short of Skellytown; three grandsons; and a granddaughter. The body will be available for viewing at Brown Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel in Stinnett until service time. Hadley Thomas Harp SUNRAY - Hadley Thomas Harp, infant son of Cari Smith and Merrill Harp, died Wednesday, June 18, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Daniel Echols of the church officiating. Burial will be in Lane Memorial Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors. Hadley was born June 8 in Amarillo. Survivors include his parents; a sister, Mekayla Harp of Sunray; a brother, Austin Smith of the home; grandparents, Harry and Jo Lynn Harp of Sunray, and Johnny and Kim Jones and Marolan Robinson, all of Perryton; and great-grandparents, Wendell and Kay Ferguson, Duwayne and Martha Thurman, and Elsene Sparks, all of Perryton, and Vivian Silver and Gladys Harp, both of Sunray. The family will be at 1002 Avenue O in Sunray. They request memorials be to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit c/o Northwest Texas Hospital, P.O. Box 1110, Amarillo, Texas 79175. Amarillo Odessa Keesee Pearson Odessa Keesee Pearson, 88, of Amarillo, died Thursday, June 19, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with the Rev. Danny Logan of Bell Avenue Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Pearson was born in Vinson, Okla. She moved to Amarillo in 1947 from Borger. She married C.W. "Piece'' Pearson in 1924 at Wellington. He preceded her in death. Mrs. Pearson was a homemaker and a member of Bell Avenue Baptist Church. Survivors include a son, John Wayne Pearson of Scottsdale, Ariz.; three daughters, Norma Ray, Mary Lou Newton and Pat Greer, all of Amarillo; 12 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren. Jo Ella Vaughan Lee Jo Ella Vaughan Lee, 84, of 5306 Randolph Road, died Tuesday, June 17, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Llano Cemetery with Dr. Jim Garrett of Polk Street United Methodist Church officiating. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mrs. Lee was born in Galveston and moved to Amarillo in 1926 with her parents. She married John Lee in 1936. They owned and operated Lee Hardware for 10 years. Mr. Lee died in 1975. Mrs. Lee was a member of Polk Street United Methodist Church. Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Curtis O'Rear of Amarillo; a sister, Rosylene Budd of Amarillo; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family will be at 5306 Randolph Road. They request memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice. The body will not be available for viewing. Faye Evelyn Muse Carver Faye Evelyn Muse Carver, 67, of Nacogdoches, a former longtime Amarillo resident, died Sunday, June 15, 1997. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with the Rev. Billie Thomas, retired Methodist minister, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Carver was born in Foard City. She was a 1948 graduate of Rusk High School. She married James T. Carver in 1948. He died in 1976. She was a bookkeeper for Tem-Kil in Nacogdoches, where she had lived since 1981. Mrs. Carver was affiliated with both the Baptist and Methodist churches. She was a member and past matron of both the Order of the Eastern Star A.E. Shirley Chapter No. 986 and Cushing Chapter No. 368. Throughout the years, she had served a number of offices in the Grand Chapter of Texas, including Deputy Grand Matron, District II, Section II, in 1972. Survivors include two sons, Jimmy F. Carver of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Lt. Alden E. Carver of Virginia Beach, Va.; a daughter, Priscilla C. Johnson of Dallas; two sisters, Lillie Meeks and Emma Joe Thomas, both of Cushing; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas, the Eastern Star Educational (ESTARL) Scholarship fund or the Eastern Star Home in Arlington. James Benton Atkinson Sr. James Benton Atkinson Sr., 69, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, June 18, 1997. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at 303 N. Prospect with Dr. Stan Coffey of San Jacinto Baptist Church officiating. Arrangements and cremation are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Atkinson was born in Sylacauga, Ala., and had lived in Amarillo for 50 years. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He was a machinist for Pantex for more than 20 years. He also was owner and operator of A&H Machine for many years. He married Betty "B.J.'' Baker in 1993. Mr. Atkinson was a member of San Jacinto Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by a son, James Benton Atkinson Jr., in 1990. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Schalan Atkinson of Dallas; a son, Leonard Atkinson of Austin; a sister, Sarah Pulha of Birmingham, Ala.; and four brothers, J.W. Atkinson, Robert Atkinson and Joe Atkinson, all of Sylacauga, and Seonard Atkinson of Florida. The family requests memorials be to the San Jacinto Baptist Church Television Ministry. The body will not be available for viewing. Oklahoma Verlena Ansley LAWTON, Okla. - Verlena Ansley died Saturday, June 14, 1997. Services were at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Little Chapel of Lawton with the Rev. Linda Pope, associate pastor of Centenary United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery by Becker Funeral Home. Mrs. Ansley was born in Medicine Mound, Texas. She married Ben Ansley III in 1936 at Amarillo. He died in 1979. Mrs. Ansley received a music degree from Texas Tech University and was a professional organist. She moved to Lawton in 1946, and she and her husband founded Ansley Paper Co. She was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church and a founding member of the Junior League of Lawton. She also was a Duplicate Bridge Life Master. Survivors include two daughters, JoLynn Kramer and Beth Ansley, both of Lawton; a son, Ben Ansley IV of Lutz, Fla.; four grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Centenary United Methodist Church, 704 D, Lawton, Okla. 73501.