Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 22 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; Friday, August 22, 1997, 6:31 AM Amarillo Gertrude Oliphant Gertrude Oliphant, 88, of Amarillo, died Monday, Aug. 18, 1997. Services were at 2 p.m. Thursday in New Hope Baptist Church with the Rev. David Hill, pastor, officiating. Burial was in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Warford-Walker Mortuary Inc., 509 N. Hughes St. Mrs. Oliphant was born in Lott and had been a resident of Amarillo for more than 50 years. She was a homemaker and a member of New Hope Baptist Church for 52 years. Her husband, Warren Oliphant, preceded her in death. Survivors include two sons, Paul McDaniel of Amarillo and Charles Oliphant of Dallas; two daughters, Annie Mae Byers of Amarillo and Essie Bradford of Frederick, Okla.; a brother, E.J. O'Neal of Dallas; two sisters, Lagusta Phillips of Amarillo and Mary Lee Wilson of Waco; three grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren. The family will be at 1326 N.W. 12th Ave. Joe Helman Joe Helman, 67, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle, with Don and Ann Prescott of Faith City Mission officiating. Memorial services will be in California at a later date. Mr. Helman was born in Des Moines, Iowa., and had lived in Amarillo since 1991. He retired from Airport Coach Service in Anaheim, Calif. He married Bobbie Jean Cleveland in 1970 at Las Vegas. Survivors include his wife; four daughters, Valerie Nadalet of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Angela Quezada of Pico Rivera, Calif., Denise Sosnowski of Carmel Valley, Calif., and Jeannie Richardson of Laguna Beach, Calif.; three sons, Michael Helman of Rialto, Calif., Edward Helman of Mesa, Ariz., and Robert Rea of Amarillo; a sister, Rosamond Martin of Santa Ana, Calif.; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family will be at 1319 S. Beverly Drive. They request memorials be to Faith City Mission, P.O. Box 804, Amarillo, Texas 79105. Robert L. Ferguson Robert L. Ferguson, 87, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 1997. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. Robert Field, pastor of Southeast Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St. Mr. Ferguson was born in Eastland and had lived in Amarillo most of his life. He farmed in the Amarillo area for many years. He married Katie Boone in 1929 at Amarillo. He was a Baptist. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Edna Wills of Wills Point; a son, Robert E. Ferguson of Northglenn, Colo.; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a great-great-granddaughter. The family will be at 4210 E. 11th Ave. Nelda Morgan Miller Nelda Morgan Miller, 58, of 3414 Harmony St., died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors Bell Avenue Chapel, 5400 Bell St., with Brad Thompson of University Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mrs. Miller was born in Amarillo and graduated from Amarillo High School in 1957. She married Douglas Miller in 1957 at Amarillo. She was a member of Paramount Terrace Christian Church, the Fisherman Sunday School class and Hallelujah County Collector's Club. She also was active in the Square and Round Dance Council. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Rene Maruca and Amy Miller, both of Amarillo; a son, David Miller of Amarillo; two brothers, Bill Morgan of Amarillo and Delton Morgan of Rupert, Idaho; two sisters, Vernell Ivie and Betty Morgan, both of Amarillo; and six grandchildren. The family will be at 3414 Harmony St. They request memorials be to the Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center, 1500 Wallace Blvd., Amarillo, Texas 79106. Richard Myrl Fox Richard Myrl Fox, 85, of Amarillo, a former longtime Kansas resident, died Thursday, Aug. 21, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Southlawn Assembly of God with the Rev. Jerald Bushman officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Colonial Funeral Chapel, 1010 W. Ninth Ave. Mr. Fox was born near Larned, Kan. He attended Rozel and Larned high schools and graduated with the Larned class of 1930. He attended Salb City Business College in Hutchinson, Kan. He worked at Grace Hospital, Jett and Wood Central Mercantile Co., Santa Fe Trailways and The Fleming Co., all in Hutchinson. In 1949, he moved to the Zo-Mar Ranch, south of Kendall, Kan. He moved into Kendall in 1956 and to Syracuse, Kan., in 1977. Mr. Fox was a charter member of Pilgrim Holiness Church, which now is called Wesleyan Church of Lakin. At the time of his death, he was a member of Syracuse Wesleyan Church. He served many years as church treasurer, Sunday school superintendent, Sunday school teacher and board member and representative to the district conference. After retiring, he was a custodian for his church as well as the Presbyterian church. He married his wife, Ethel Ellen Fox, in 1936. They recently had moved to Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Lynn Finkenbinder of Amarillo; two sons, Dr. Richard Myrl Fox Jr. of Kansas and Dennis Leon Fox of Arkansas; two brothers, Dr. Maynard Fox of Arizona and Willard Fox of Kansas; a sister, Marie Fern Myers of Kansas; 12 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Brainerd Indian Schools, 408 Anamosa St., P.O. Box 7038, Rapid City, S.D., 57709. The body will be available for viewing from 2 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. David M. Alarid Jr. David M. Alarid Jr., 42, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Aug. 21, 1997. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church by the Rev. Joseph Bixenman. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Alarid was born in Amarillo and had been a lifetime Amarillo resident. He attended Bowie Junior High School and Caprock High School. He was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Survivors include his parents, Celia and David Alarid Sr. of Amarillo; a son, Steven Alarid of Amarillo; a daughter, Lydia Alarid of Amarillo; and two sisters, Rita Ochoa and Diana Renteria, both of Amarillo. The family will be at 1304 E. 13th Ave. New Mexico Charlie Brown PORTALES, N.M. - Charlie "C.O.'' Brown, 85, died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Wheeler Mortuary Chapel with the Rev. L.V. "Blackie'' Ellison officiating. Burial will be in Portales Cemetery. Mr. Brown was born in Spring Creek, Texas. He lived in Kentucky for a short time and was raised near his birthplace in Texas. He graduated from high school in 1931 at Megargel, Texas. After graduating, he moved with his family to Portales. He worked at a local movie theater for several years and in 1940, began working for Lorace Disney, a local electrician. During the war years, he worked as an electrician on defense contracts. After World War II, he returned to Portales to do electrical work in the construction of Cannon Air Force Base. After the base was completed, he and L.V. "Blackie'' Ellison formed Ellison Brown Electric. In 1955, Mr. Ellison left the company to pursue another career and the company was renamed Brown and Son Electric. Mr. Brown retired in 1968. He married Martha Anne Colligan in 1933 at Juarez, Mexico. Survivors include his wife; his children, Terry Dave Brown of Roswell, Angela Madge Martin of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Jeanne Sue Weems of Greeneville, Tenn., Kathleen Ann Weems of Plains, Texas, Rosemary Elizabeth Brown of Portales and Sheree Brown of Ruidoso; a brother, C.L. Brown of Portales; 15 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. The body will be available for viewing until service time. Pearl M. Erikson CLAYTON, N.M. - Pearl M. Erikson, 82, died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Clayton Memorial Cemetery with the Rev. Paul Hayden, pastor of Assembly of God Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Hass Funeral Directors. Mrs. Erikson was born in Sedan and had been a lifelong resident of Union County. She married Ernest R. Erikson in 1946 at Raton. He died in 1982. Survivors include a brother, Jacob Lobb of Sedan; and two sisters, Iola Spriggs of Sedan and Opal Martichuski of Dundee, Ore. Petra Valdez CLAYTON, N.M. - Petra "Betty'' Valdez, 81, died Thursday, Aug. 21, 1997. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church by the Rev. George Silva, pastor. Burial will be in Clayton Memorial Cemetery by Hass Funeral Directors. Mrs. Valdez was born in Moses and had been a lifelong resident of Union County. She married Pula Frank Valdez in 1933. He died in 1994. She was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Survivors include a son, Jose Valdez of Redlands, Calif.; two daughters, Inez Romero of Clayton and Dolores Montoya of Dumas, Texas; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Area Betty Ann Allen CHILDRESS - Betty Ann Allen, 61, died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Kerry Wood, minister of music, officiating. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery by Johnson Funeral Home. Mrs. Allen was born in Hamilton, N.Y., and had lived in Childress for 16 years. She married Oscar James Allen in 1956 at Baltimore. He died in 1988. Mrs. Allen began working at Childress Regional Medical Center in 1982 as a registered nurse. In 1987, she was promoted to operating room supervisor. She later was named director of nursing. She was promoted to director of nursing of prison health care in 1991. She became administrator of nurses of prison health care in 1993. Mrs. Allen was an Army veteran and a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include four sons, Roy Allen, James Allen and John Allen, all of Childress, and Wayne Allen of Borger; seven brothers, Bill Reed of Sturbridge, Mass., Charles Reed and Gordon Reed, both of Hubbardsville, N.Y., Donald Reed of Holland, Mass., Richard Reed of Silver Beach, N.C., Robert Reed of Hamilton and Mannard Reed; and 11 grandchildren. James H. Guest BOVINA - James H. Guest, 76, died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 1997. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Bovina Church of Christ with Jeff Procter, minister, officiating. Arrangements are by Ellis-Blackwell Funeral Home of Friona. Mr. Guest was born in Pine Bluff, Ark. He was a Navy veteran of World War II. He married Anita Bridges in Sayre, Okla. Mr. Guest worked as a spray pilot. He was a member of the Church of Christ. Survivors include his wife; four sons, Dr. James Guest Jr. of Dallas, Kenneth Guest and Keith Guest, both of Oklahoma City, and Steven Guest of Golden, Colo.; a daughter, Virginia Bowman of Grand Rapids, Mich.; and six grandchildren. Lottie C. Nicholson NEW DEAL - Lottie C. Nicholson, 90, died Thursday, Aug. 21, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in New Deal First Baptist Church with the Rev. Jimmy McGuire of Lubbock officiating. Burial will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens in Plainview by Freeman Funeral Home of Hale Center. Mrs. Nicholson was born in Wooster, Ark. She was a longtime resident of Hale Center, moving from New Deal in 1960. She moved back to New Deal in 1984. She married Boyd Nicholson in 1927 at Commerce. He died in 1980. Mrs. Nicholson was a member of First Baptist Church of New Deal. Survivors include a son, Jack Nicholson of New Deal; a daughter, Virginia Kirk of New Deal; a brother, W.T. Clements of Borger; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Elsewhere Jose H. Mireles HOUSTON - Jose H. Mireles, 47, died Monday, Aug. 18, 1997. Rosary was recited at 7 p.m. Thursday in Rix Funeral Directors Chapel in Hereford. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in San Jose Catholic Church in Hereford with the Rev. Domingo Castillo officiating. Burial will be in St. Anthony's Cemetery in Hereford. Mr. Mireles was born in Brownfield. He had been a carpenter for 20 years. Survivors include his wife, Gloria Mireles; two daughters, Anna Mireles of San Antonio and Angela Mireles of Cape Girardeau, Mo.; three sons, Ruben Olivo Mireles of Hereford, Joe Mireles of San Antonio and Dillon Mireles of Por la Vaca; five sisters, Audenia Valdez of Irving, Nina Gonzalez of Amarillo, Margaret Cerda of Clovis, N.M., Amalia Mireles of Hereford and Ida Medrano of Brady; and five grandchildren. Velda Phillips LAS VEGAS - Velda Phillips, 71, died Sunday, Aug. 17, 1997. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Hansford Cemetery in Spearman, Texas, with the Rev. Joseph Weaks officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home in Spearman. Mrs. Phillips was born in Oklahoma. She had lived in Las Vegas for 13 years, moving from Connecticut. She was a registered nurse and a member of Central Christian Church. Survivors include her husband, Mansel Phillips; and a son, Leslie Phillips of Massachusetts. Telie M. Todd TYLER - Telie M. Todd, 92, died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Burks-Walker-Tippit Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Sherman Mayfield officiating. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Amarillo. Mrs. Todd was born in Red River County. She was a former resident of Amarillo and had lived in Tyler for the past 24 years. She retired as a seamstress. She was a member of Trinity Baptist Church and a lifetime member of the Order of the Eastern Star A.E. Shirley Chapter in Amarillo. She was preceded in death by her husband, W.W. Todd; and a daughter, Phyllis Jean Allen. Survivors include two daughters, Mary Evelyn White of Buffalo and Bonnie D. Bevill of Whitehouse; a sister, Oleta Lynch of Amarillo; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.