Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 21 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; Sunday, September 21, 1997, 3:49 AM Amarillo Clarence Rufus Hill Clarence Rufus Hill, 80, of Amarillo, died Friday, Sept. 19, 1997. No services are scheduled. Cremation is by Memorial Park Crematory. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mr. Hill was born in Petrolia. He moved to Amarillo in 1995 from Fort Worth. He was a retired carpenter. He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving in the European Theater. Survivors include two daughters, Carol Dyson and Geraldine Hurdle, both of Pampa; a sister, Evelyn Hext of Pampa; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176-0001. Max Earl Crocker Max Earl Crocker, 91, of Amarillo, died Friday Sept. 19, 1997. Services will be at 4 p.m. Monday in Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel with Dr. Jim Prock of First Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mr. Crocker was born in Denmark, Miss. He had lived in Pampa since 1924. He moved to Amarillo in June. He was a cable-tool driller for 59 years. He retired in 1983. He served in the U.S. Army and was a member of First Baptist Church. He married Myrtle Struder at Jackson, Tenn. in 1936. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Cecila Anne Crocker, in 1945. Survivors include his wife; a son, Dwight Earl Crocker of Amarillo; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. The family requests memorials be to First Baptist Church or Central Baptist Church building fund. The family will be at 600 N. Wells in Pampa. James Ross Errington James Ross Errington, 72, of Amarillo, died Friday, Sept. 19. 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 6969 I-40 East, with Jay Graham of Paramount Christian Church officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Errington was born in Harrison, Ark. He moved to Amarillo in 1942. He was a retired truck driver for State Chemical Co. He was a member of Masonic Lodge No. 731, council 134, chapter 196 and the Bonita chapter of the Eastern Star. He was a member of First Christian Church. He married Marjorie Errington in 1942 at Amarillo. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Ellen Kiser. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Rossianne Bell of Amarillo; a sister, Exie Jones of Wheeler; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. Thelma Swagerty Lawler Thelma Swagerty Lawler, 73, of 4518 Shawnee, died Friday, Sept. 19, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Rector Funeral Home Chapel, 2800 S. Osage, with the Rev. A.L. Swagerty and the Rev. Robert Field of Southeast Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Llano East Cemetery, Field of Valor. Mrs. Swagerty was born in Campo, Colo. She moved to Amarillo in 1948 from Shamrock. She was a homemaker and a Baptist. She married Roy L. "Pete'' Lawler in 1941 at Twitty. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Thelma Jean Mitchell of Amarillo and Patsy D. Blades of Farmington, N.M.; a son, Gary Lynn Lawler of Auburn, Ga.; three sisters, Bernice Coffey of Oklahoma City, Elgevia Burrows of Amarillo and Merieta Swagerty of Sacramento, Calif.; a brother, the Rev. A.L. Swagerty of Anadarko, Okla.; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Robert Beene Robert Beene, 79, of Cleburne, formerly of Amarillo, died Friday, Sept. 19, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Llano Cemetery with Dale Pearson officiating. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mr. Beene was a longtime Amarillo resident. He worked for Plains Chevrolet for 35 years. He was a member of Northridge Church of Christ. Survivors include his wife, Johnnie, of Cleburne; a son, Robert D. Beene of Amarillo; a daughter, Frankie McCrady of Canyon; three stepsons, Johnny A. McLaughlin of Southlake, Richard F. McLaughlin of Cleburne and Durrel McLaughlin of Huntsville; a stepdaughter, Eva Duckworth of Rockport; 24 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren. The family will be at 4518 Shawnee Trail. Roberto Jaime Ortiz Roberto Jaime Ortiz, 45, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Sept. 14, 1997. Services will be in Chihuahua, Mexico. Burial will be in Jardines De San Jose in Chihuahua. Arrangements are by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mr. Ortiz was born in Chihuahua. He lived in Friona for many years before moving to Amarillo in 1995. He worked at IBP. He was Catholic. Survivors include a daughter, Maria Horta of Santa Fe, N.M.; two sons, Roberto Ortiz Jr. and Jimmy Ortiz, both of Santa Fe; his parents, Raymundo and Josephina Ortiz of Chihuahua; and a grandson. James Alfred Fields James Alfred "Fritz'' Fields, 89, formerly of Amarillo, died Friday, Sept. 19, 1997, in Altus, Okla. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday in Robison Chapel of the Plains at First Christian Church with the Rev. Boyd Whitehead of Emmanuel Baptist Church at Altus, Okla.; and the Rev. Dan McClinton officiating. Burial will be at Llano Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Fields was born in Pueblo, Colo. He was a foreman for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. for 40 years. Mr. Fields also worked for Plains Bell Federal Credit Union and sold real estate. He was a life member and Past Master of Palo Duro Masonic Lodge No. 1239. He was also a member of Khiva Shrine, Scottish Rite and a Past Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star No. 787. He was a life member of Pioneers of Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. He was a member of First Christian Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Vera, in February . Survivors include a daughter, Nancy McClintock of Altus, Okla.; three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Teresa Bosmans Corley Teresa Bosmans Corley, 47, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Sept. 18, 1997. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Eldorado with the Rev. Michael Dwyer officiating. Burial will be in Eldorado Cemetery. Arrangements are by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mrs. Corley was born in Terry County. She was a longtime resident of San Angelo and Eldorado. Survivors include her husband, Eric Corley of Amarillo; a son, Aryn Corley of San Angelo; a daughter, Aimee Corley of Amarillo; her mother, Dora Bosmans of Eldorado; two brothers, Jesse Bosmans of Milwaukee and Jimmy Bosmans of Fort Worth; and a sister, Thelma Bosmans of Eldorado. The family requests memorials be to the Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center, 1500 Wallace Blvd., Amarillo, 79106 or the American Cancer Society, 3915 Bell, Amarillo, 79109. The body will not be available for viewing. Area Lorn Lee Baker CHILDRESS - Lorn Lee Baker, 90, died Saturday, Sept. 13, 1997. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Johnny Robertson officiating. The body was donated to Texas Tech Medical Research. Arrangements are by Johnson Funeral Home. Mr. Baker was born in Hopkins County. He moved to Childress when he was a year old and lived there until his death. In 1925, he began working in the construction business and had since helped with the building of much of Childress. In 1947, he founded Baker Masonry Construction. He retired from the company in 1981. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge AF&AM, the Knights of Templar, the Order of the Eastern Star and the Elks Lodge. Mr. Baker was preceded in death by his first wife, Izora McEachern-Baker; and a son, Staff Sgt. James W. Baker. He married Mondeleen Miles in 1949. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Charles Baker of Childress and D.M. Baker of Wichita Falls; a daughter, Barbara Jean Calhoun of Carson City, Nev.; two sisters, Gladys Anglin of Groom and Jewell Mitchell of Tucumcari, N.M.; 11 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren. Ruby Sudduth Glenn PLAINVIEW - Ruby Casey Sudduth Glenn, 90, died Thursday, Sept. 18, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in College Heights Baptist Church with the Rev. Don Robertson, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park by Wood-Dunning Funeral Home. Mrs. Glenn was born in Taylor County. She moved to Plainview in 1945 from Pear Valley. She worked as a nurse's aide for many years at the old Plainview Hospital and Central Plains Regional Hospital. She was a member of College Heights Baptist Church. She married John Sudduth in 1926. He preceded her in death. She married George F. Glenn in 1949. He died in 1987. Mrs. Glenn also was preceded in death by a daughter. Survivors include three sons, Melvin Sudduth of Plainview, Don Sudduth of Redondo Beach, Calif., and Lindy Glenn of Elk City, Okla.; a daughter, Loretta Mayfield of Lubbock; two sisters, Ada Richardson and Flois Neill, both of Lubbock; 13 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and 12 great-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Family Hospice of the Plains or College Heights Baptist Church. Charles Patrick Gooding PAMPA - Charles Patrick Gooding, 32 , of Fairview, Ky., formerly of Pampa, died December 28, 1996. A memorial graveside service will be at 9 a.m. Monday at Fairview Cemetery in Pampa with the Rev. Jake Clemmons of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church officiating. Mr. Gooding was a graduate of St. Andrew's-Sewanee School and Georgetown University. Survivors include his wife Donna Graber Gooding of Fairview; two daughters, Madeline Carter and Eliza Lee Gooding; his father, Dr. Ronald S. Gooding of Omaha, Neb.; his mother and step-father, William and Phebe Carter Hethcock of Sewanee, Tenn.; a brother, Carter Gooding of Faber, Va.; and a sister, Mary Ellen Gooding of Cincinnati. Thelma W. Jones BORGER - Thelma W. Jones, 90, died Friday, Sept. 19, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Highland Park Cemetery with Elmer Munholland officiating. Burial will be by Brown Funeral Directors. Mrs. Jones was born in Hamlin, W. Va. She had been a Borger resident for 44 years. She was a Baptist. She was preceded in death by her husband, Milton Jones in 1984 and a daughter, Lucille Lester in 1996. Survivors include two sons, Lee Jones of Houston and Milton Jones of Galveston; five daughters, Ann Franklin of Branchland, W. Va., Loyzell DobbinsMcKees of Rocks, Pa., Luetta Ball and Beverly S. Louthan, both of Borger, and Barbara Ryane of Artesia, N.M.; 17 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends until 3 p.m. at Brown's Chapel. The family will be at 700 Ferguson. Joann Brown HEREFORD - Joann Brown, 52, died Friday, Sept. 19, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Fellowship of Believers Church with the Rev. Nathan Stone officiating. Arrangements are by Parkside Chapel in Hereford. Ms. Brown was born in Hot Springs, N.M. She worked at the Hereford Country Club more than 17 years. Survivors include two daughters, Joyce Walton of Amarillo and Mona Nell Johnson of Abilene; six brothers, Alexander Watson of Alberta, Canada, Jerry Lee Watson of Cambrian, N.J., William Watson of Knox City, Bo Johnson of Decatur, Robert Watson of Albuquerque and Ray Flye of Hereford; seven sisters, Mary Ann Pierson of Wichita Falls, Adina Robinson of Knox City, Marie Shields of Breckenridge, Rena Johnson of Midland, Verna Dean Reed and Charlotte Flye, both of Abilene, and Pam Gates of Oklahoma City; her mother, Amy Jo Terry of Hereford; her father, John Gates; and six grandchildren. Rev. Delbert H. Priest PAMPA - The Rev. Delbert H. Priest, 84, died Friday, Sept. 19. 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the First Assembly of God Church with several Assembly of God pastors officiating along with Ray Thornton. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors in Pampa. Mr. Priest was born in Non, Okla. He had lived in Pampa for 37 years. He had been the pastor of several Assembly of God churches in the Panhandle. He was associate pastor at First Assembly of God Church in Pampa. Mr. Priest was a member of Pampa Ministerial Alliance and was a board member of Good Samaritan Christian Services. He married LaVerne Henry in 1943 at Oklahoma City. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Karren Spalding of Panhandle and Deleana Linney of Lafayette, La.; a son, Duane White of Pearcy, Ark.; three brothers, Jerry Priest of Norman, Okla., Dan Priest of El Monte, Calif., and David Priest of Oklahoma City; nine grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the First Assembly of God Church, Garretson Retirement Center in Panhandle or Good Samaritan Christian Services. Alice Asberry DUMAS - Alice Asberry, 81, died Friday, Sept. 19, 1997. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Monday in Morrison Memorial Chapel. Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church with the Rev. Richard Scully, pastor, and the Rev. Roger Foote of Northside Baptist Church in Plainview, officiating. Burial will be in Dumas Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mrs. Asberry was born in El Paso. She was a longtime resident of Moore County. She was a homemaker and a Catholic. She was preceded in death by her husband, Olen E. Asberry, in 1974. Survivors include three daughters, Betty Irvin and Shirley Green, both of Dumas, and Barbara Massey of Sacramento, Calif.; two sons, Eddie Asberry of Plainview and Olen "Butch'' Asberry of Middletown, Pa.; two brothers, Robert Lux of Los Angeles and Harry Lux of La Luz, N.M.; 20 grandchildren; 51 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Memorial Hospice, 224 E. Second, Dumas, 79029. The family will be at 214 Oak. Elsewhere Howard Gatlin MIDLAND - Howard Gatlin, 58, died Friday, Sept. 19, 1997. Services will be at 9 a.m. Monday in Ellis Funeral Home Chapel in Midland with the Rev. Bob Porterfield of West Kentucky Street Baptist Church officiating. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. in Dreamland Cemetery in Turkey with Jimmy Gatlin officiating. Mr. Gatlin was born in Turkey. He had been a resident of the Midland-Odessa area for the past 20 years. He was a member of the Special Olympics. Survivors include four brothers, Royce Leon Gatlin of Cantuillo, Jimmy Larry Gatlin, Tommy J. Gatlin and Dicky Rivers Gatlin, all of Midland; and two sisters, Peggy Jean Ellison and Christine Mansell, both of Midland. The family requests memorials be to Family Hospice, 3800 E. 42nd St., Odessa, Texas 79762. Bennie Z. Rampy DODSON - Bennie Z. Rampy, 66, formerly of Amarillo, died Thursday, Sept. 18, 1997. Services will be at 3 p.m. Monday at the Church of Christ in Dodson with Lyndon Latham, Larry Branum and Bob Garton officiating. Burial will be in Dodson Cemetery by Patterson-Greer Funeral Home of Hollis, Okla. Mrs. Rampy was born in Collingsworth County. She was a retired teacher. She taught for many years at Amarillo Christian School. She was a member of West Georgia Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband James Ormand Key. Survivors include a son, Mark Rampy of Carrollton, Ga.; a daughter, Melissa Serra of Aguilar, Colo.; three brothers, Blaine Branum of Cleveland, Okla., Bill Branum of Canyon and Larry Branum of Springdale, Ark.; a sister, Mozelle Stanley of Amarillo; and three grandchildren. New Mexico Edna Fitz CLOVIS, N.M. - Edna Fitz, 81, died Friday, Sept. 19, 1997. Graveside services will be Monday in Llano Cemetery with Robbie James of Waterview Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be by Resthaven Funeral Home of Lubbock. Mrs. Fitz was born in McLean. She had been a resident of Clovis for 54 years. She was a mental health worker for the state of New Mexico and a member of the 21st Street Church of Christ. She married Chester J. Fitz at Canyon in 1936. He died in 1993. Survivors include a daughter, Judy James of Levelland; a son, Chester Fitz Jr. of Clovis; two sisters, Zelma Crawford of Amarillo and Joyce Burgamy of Dallas; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. Eden Grace Polson Brown CLAYTON, N.M. - Eden Grace Polson Brown, 89, died Saturday, Sept. 20, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Andy Husted, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Clayton Memorial Cemetery by Hass Funeral Directors. Mrs. Brown was born in Linn Creek, Mo. She was a lifelong resident of the Clayton area. She worked for the Union County Court House and also for Clayton Title Service. She was a Methodist. She married Roy Melvin Brown in 1927 at Clayton. He died in 1989. Survivors include a son, Charles Gilbert Brown of Clayton; a daughter, Jeannine Chelf of Denver; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the First United Methodist Church, 200 N. Fifth Ave., Clayton, N.M., 88415 or to the Union County General Hospital, 301 Harding, Clayton, 88415. William Beck ROSWELL, N.M. - William "Bill'' Beck, 88, died Saturday, Sept. 20, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Wheeler Chapel in Portales, N.M., with the Rev. Onzie Wicker officiating. Burial will be in Portales Cemetery by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales. Mr. Beck was born in Oklahoma. He farmed in Portales for many years and operated a septic tank business. He retired in 1972. He was a Baptist. He married Vera Wilkins in 1929 at Encino, N.M. She died in 1939. He married Ruby Johnson in 1947 at Portales. Survivors include his wife; a son, David Beck of Cowetta, Okla.; two daughters, Louise Harrison of Mountainair, N.M., and Betty June Davidson of Edwater, Fla.; a stepson, Clifford Reeves of Russellville, Ark.; a stepdaughter, Colleen Hamilton of Roswell; a brother, Roy "Red'' Beck of Truth or Consequences; eight grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.