Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 23 April 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 ==================================================================== Area Verna Lewis Crocker TULIA - Verna Lewis Crocker, 98, died Sunday, April 20, 1997. Private burial will be at 11 a.m. today in Rose Hill Cemetery. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. in First Presbyterian Church with the Revs. Andy and Janelle Blair, pastors, officiating. Arrangements are by Wallace Funeral Home. Mrs. Crocker was born and raised in Alto Pass, Ill. She graduated from high school at Alto Pass and from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. She taught school in Illinois. She moved to Tulia in 1932 and was the Swisher County librarian for many years. She also worked in the Tulia school system as a dietitian supervisor in the cafeteria for 22 years. She was an active member of First Presbyterian Church. She married John Ross Crocker in 1921 at Alto Pass. He died in 1972. She also was preceded in death by a son, Don R. Crocker, in 1992; and a daughter, Lane Compton, in 1982. Survivors include a daughter, Ruth Smith of Lubbock; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to First Presbyterian Church Book of Remembrance Memorials, the Tulia Cemetery Fund, the Swisher County Museum, the Children's Home of Lubbock or a favorite charity. Juanita Z. Gonzalez PAMPA - Juanita Z. Gonzalez, 52, died Sunday, April 20, 1997. Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday in Trinity Fellowship Church with the Rev. Alfonso Lozano, pastor of Iglesia Biblica Del Pueblo, the Rev. David Maldonado, pastor of New Life Temple of Amarillo, the Rev. Mario Laredo, pastor of the Christian Fellowship of Liberal, Kan., and the Rev. Pete Hernandez, pastor of New Life Temple of Pampa, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mrs. Gonzalez was born in Amarillo and moved to Pampa in 1972. She married Lorenzo Gonzalez in 1972 at Monterrey, Mexico. She worked for the Outreach Health Services and was the church secretary for the Iglesia Biblica Del Pueblo. She served as vice-president of LULAC for two years. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Maria Rubio of Amarillo; five sons, Pete Rivera of California, Hector Rivera, Ricardo Gonzalez and Carlos Gonzalez, all of Pampa, and Danny Rivera of Amarillo; six sisters; three brothers; and three grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Iglesia Biblica Del Pueblo. Billie Levern Beck BORGER - Billie Levern Beck, 42, died Sunday, April 20, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Sunset Memorial Cemetery with the Rev. Jerry Moon, pastor of Biblical Apostolic Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Directors. Mr. Beck was born in Canadian and had lived in Borger for 21/2 years. He was a cutter for a dog fish cannery. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Martha Elizabeth, in 1990. Survivors include his wife, Rebecca; three sons, Billie "Scooter'' Beck III and Jeremy Southworth, both of Borger, and Mark Southworth of Rawlins, Wyo.; a daughter, Charlene Southworth of Cheyenne, Wyo.; father and stepmother, Billie Levern and Gladys Goldie Beck Sr. of Locust Grove, Okla.; four brothers, Richard Beck of Borger, Newman Chancellor of Garden City, Kan., Charles Wayne Chancellor of Sanford and Ronald Lee Beck; three sisters, Mary Ann Welch and Sharon Followill, both of Borger, and Kathy Conn of Locust Grove; and two grandchildren. The family will be at 303 Frontera. They suggest memorials be to Olivia's Angels, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176. Marie Josephine Dixon HEREFORD - Marie Josephine Dixon, 82, died Monday, April 21, 1997. Prayer services were at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Chapel Hills. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Epiphany of Our Lord Catholic Church at Oklahoma City with the Rev. John Ross officiating. Arrangements are by Rix Funeral Directors of Hereford. Mrs. Dixon was born in Oklahoma City. She was a homemaker and a member of the Merry Mixers Club and the Epiphany Catholic Church of Oklahoma City. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward B. Dixon. Survivors include a daughter, Patricia Meiwes of Hereford; two sons, R.E. Dixon of Oklahoma City and Richard Dixon of Edmond, Okla.; 13 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to St. Anthony's Catholic Church Building Fund at Hereford or the Epiphany Catholic Church Building Fund in Oklahoma City. Edna Mae Barlow PERRYTON - Edna Mae Barlow, 89, died Monday, April 21, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in Full Gospel Church with the Rev. Harrol Waterbury. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors. Mrs. Barlow was born in Gray, Okla., and had lived in Perryton for several years. She married Harry Barlow Jr. in 1927. He died in 1974. Survivors include a daughter, Pat Ragsdale of Perryton; a sister, Lillian Randall of Amarillo; a grandson; and four great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Full Gospel Church, 2210 S.W. 15th Ave., Perryton, Texas 79070; or a favorite charity. Dr. Walter Allen Brooks QUANAH - Dr. Walter Allen Brooks, 73, died Sunday, April 20, 1997. Memorial services will be at 4 p.m. Thursday in First Christian Church with the Rev. Don Weisdofer of Burleson officiating. Private graveside services will in Quanah Memorial Park by Price-Jackson Funeral Home. Dr. Brooks was born in Russellville, Ark. He married Marilyn Gulley in 1947 at Quanah. Dr. Brooks graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine in 1946 and served five years of residency in general surgery. He finished in 1954. He was a member of the Arkansas Caduceus Club. He started his Quanah medical practice in 1955 and continued to be on the staff and a member of the Hardeman County Hospital Board. He practiced surgery in Quanah for 42 years. He was a 20-year member of the Hardeman Library Board. He was a past president of the Quanah Chamber of Commerce and City Council. He served on the Texas State Board of Mental Health and Mental Retardation for 13 years and on the Blue Cross Blue Shield Board of Texas. He currently was serving on the Texas Medical Liability Trust Board. Dr. Brooks was a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery and was a member of the Fellow American College of Surgeons. He was a member of the Texas Medical Association and the American Medical Association. He was an elder and member of First Christian Church and a former chairman of the board. He served in the Army Air Corps and was a veteran of World War II. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Mariruth Brooks Wittkamp of Albuquerque, N.M., and Rebecca BrooksFournier of San Francisco; and a brother, Robert Autry Brooks of Scottsdale, Ariz. The family requests memorials be to the Hardeman County Memorial Hospital Foundation Fund, First Christian Church or the Thompson-Sawyer Public Library. Gladys M. Mayo CHILDRESS - Gladys M. Mayo, 97, died Tuesday, April 22, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Johnny Robertson of the church and John Ted Hood officiating. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery by Johnson Funeral Home. Mrs. Mayo was born in Wilbarger County. She married B.L. Mayo in 1919 at Hardeman County. He died in 1981. She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Marge Toft; and infants, Elsie T. Mayo, Leonard Hull Mayo and Sammie L. Mayo. She was a homemaker and a member of First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women and the Mable Hare Sunday School class. She also was a member of the Minute Women's Circle, the Hospital Auxiliary, the Friends of the Library, the Museum Board and the Texas Historic Survey Committee. Survivors include a sister, Janette; and a grandson, Todd Toft of Childress. Clara Youts Gladden DIMMITT - Clara Youts Gladden, 93, died Monday, April 21, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Randy Gressett, youth minister, officiating. Burial will be in Castro Memorial Gardens by Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Home. Mrs. Gladden was born in Maude, Okla. She lived in Shawnee, Okla., before moving to Dimmitt in 1930. She married Lester Gladden in 1928 at Shawnee. He died in 1980. She was a member of First Baptist Church and a past member of the Home Demonstration Club. Survivors include a sister, Dollie May of Shawnee. The family requests memorials be to First Baptist Church, 1201 Western Circle Drive, Dimmitt, Texas 79027; or Plains Memorial Hospital Hospice, P.O. Box 278, Dimmitt, Texas 79027. Leslie Harrington Clifton CHILDRESS - Leslie "Pete'' Harrington Clifton, 94, died Monday, April 21, 1997. Services will be at 4 p.m. Thursday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Jim McCurley of the church officiating. Burial will be in Carey Cemetery by Johnson Funeral Home. Mr. Clifton was born in Hale Center. He was a member of Masonic Lodge No. 695 and First Baptist Church. He was a mathematician and retired from the Texas Highway Department as a road and bridge inspector. He married Frances J. Greshman in 1930 at Hollis, Okla. She preceded him in death. Survivors include three sons, Alton R. Clifton and Bill N. Clifton, both of Childress, and Jimmy J. Clifton of Mannford, Okla.; six grandchildren; and three greatgrandchildren. Lehman Vordman Keel CHILDRESS - Lehman Vordman "Soapy'' Keel, 86, died Monday, April 21, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Jim McCurley officiating. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery by Johnson Funeral Home. Mr. Keel was born in Tell. He was a lake warden at Baylor and Childress lakes for 31 years before retiring. He married Lena Blanche Trent in 1936 at Hollis, Okla. She preceded him in death. Survivors include four daughters, Rita Evans and Gail Campbell, both of Childress, Sandra Wallace of Brady and Brenda Higley of Amarillo; two sisters, Hazel Wygal of Tell and Edith Smith of Pampa; a brother, Joe M. Keel of Pampa; seven grandchildren; eight grandchildren; and a nephew, Joe Merle Keel of Boerne. Eula B. Sherel BORGER - Eula B. Sherel, 79, died Friday, April 18, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Jim Hall Street Church of Christ with B.C. Brannon, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Highland Park Cemetery by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mrs. Sherel was born in Kaufman County and had been a Borger resident for 61 years. She was a homemaker and a member of Jim Hall Street Church of Christ. Survivors include a son, Frank Sherel Jr. of Amarillo; four daughters, Flora Jean Tyler and Betty Jean Sherel, both of Fort Worth, Maxine Johnson of Hobbs, N.M., and Mary "Bunny'' Grays of Amarillo; 19 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. Oakley J. Sisk Jr. PLAINVIEW - Oakley J. Sisk Jr., 67, died Monday, April 21, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Wood-Dunning Funeral Home Colonial Chapel with the Rev. Don Robertson, pastor of College Heights Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens. Mr. Sisk was born in Aspermont. He moved to Plainview in 1942 and worked as a bookkeeper. He served with the Air Force during the Korean War. He was a member of the American Legion. Survivors include a son, Bruce Sisk of Plainview; three daughters, Shelda Rogers of Plainview, Daphne Reed of Hart and Cheryl Edwards of Lockney; his mother, Edna Sisk of Odessa; three sisters, Anne Caraway and LaQuita DeBusk, both of Odessa, and Imogene Brooks of Yuma, Ariz.; a brother, Eugene Sisk of Odessa; and eight grandchildren. Amarillo Gordon L. Huggins Gordon L. Huggins, 96, of Amarillo, died Monday, April 21, 1997, at Dumas. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street, with the Rev. Daniel Echols of United Methodist Church of Sunray officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Huggins married Lorene Hobgood in 1936 at Texhoma. They moved to Dumas in 1937 and lived there until he retired from Phillips Chemical Co. in 1963. They moved to Amarillo and lived here until 1992. Mrs. Huggins died in 1995. Mr. Huggins was a member of West Amarillo Christian Church. Survivors include two daughters, Nina Gore of Sunray and Shirley McNutt of Miami, Okla.; a sister, Leora Smith of Riverside, Calif.; eight grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and eight great-greatgrandchildren. The family will be in Sunray. They suggest memorials be to the activities fund at Memorial Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center or a favorite charity. Alta Morgan Alta Morgan, 53, of Amarillo, died Monday, April 21, 1997. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Llano Cemetery with Paul Dunn officiating. Arrangements are by Colonial Funeral Chapel, 1010 W. Ninth Ave. Mrs. Morgan was born in Anson. She moved to Amarillo from Lubbock about nine years ago. She was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband. Survivors include five sisters, Louise Skiles of Louisiana, Ruby Hale of Oklahoma, Myrtle Craft of New Mexico, Daisy Conwell of Canyon and Beverly Taylor of Stamford; and four brothers, James Taylor of Anson, Franklin Taylor of Hawley, Aubrey Taylor of New Mexico and Robert A. Taylor of Washington. The body will not be available for viewing. Brian Lance Chambers Brian Lance Chambers, 23, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, April 22, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Trinity Fellowship Church with the Rev. Gil Hiltbrunner of the church officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by SchoolerGordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Mr. Chambers was born in Amarillo and had lived in Amarillo all of his life. He attended Tascosa High School. He was a painter and a member of Trinity Fellowship Church. He married Molly Bland in 1996 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; parents, Clarence and Carol Chambers of Amarillo; a sister, Stacey Chambers of Amarillo; a brother, Matthew Chambers of Amarillo; and grandparents, A.L. and Betty Ashley, and Clarence and Allene Chambers, all of Amarillo. The family will receive visitors from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Troy McCollum Troy McCollum, 80, of Amarillo, a former Edmonson resident, died Monday, April 20, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Edmonson First Baptist Church with the Rev. Carter Frey, minister of education and administration at First Baptist Church of Rosenberg, officiating. Burial will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens at Plainview by Lemons Funeral Home of Plainview. Mr. McCollum was born and raised in Tolbert. He attended school at Kings High and graduated from Quanah High School in 1936. He farmed in Hardeman County. He married Ruth Vivian Jackson in 1940 at Oklahoma City. After marrying, he lived in Oklahoma City. He served in the Army during World War II from 1942 to 1945. After being discharged, he returned to Oklahoma City and worked as a refrigeration engineer. In 1955, he moved to the Mayfield community to farm. In 1957, Mr. McCollum moved to Edmonson. He retired in 1980. He moved to Amarillo in 1990. He was a member of the Edmonson Baptist Church and served as a deacon for 49 years. He also was chairman of the deacons. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Linda Frey of Rosenberg; two sons, Mike McCollum of Tulia and Bruce McCollum of Lubbock; a brother, Roy McCollum of Hale Center; two sisters, Edna Jones of Ralls and Juanita Williams of Lubbock; and seven grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Edmonson First Baptist Church, the Parkinson Foundation or the Departments of Veterans Affairs Nursing Home in Amarillo. The family will meet at the church at noon today. The casket will be open from 1 p.m. until service time at the church. Francis Clarkson Durkin Francis Clarkson Durkin, 82, of Santa Fe, N.M., formerly of Amarillo, died Sunday, April 20, 1997. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday in St. Mary's Catholic Church by the Rev. Ken Keller of the church and Dr. Jordan Grooms, retired United Methodist minister, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Durkin was born in Washington D.C. He was an aerial photographer in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He traveled during most of his career as a field representative, first for AAA and later for the American Hotel and Motel Association. In 1978 he became executive director of the New Mexico Hotel and Motel Association in Santa Fe. He was chosen Innkeeper of the Year by the association in 1981. He was selected as Mr. Tourism of the Year in 1992 by the New Mexico Department of Tourism and received the Mr. Hospitality Industry Award for Santa Fe. After retiring, Mr. Durkin taught at Santa Fe Community College. He will be inducted posthumously into the New Mexico Tourism Hall of Fame in July. He married Margaret Hill in 1948 at Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. Survivors include his wife; two sisters, Dorothy Durkin and Betty Cahill, both of Red Bank, N.J. The family will be at 1506 S. Alabama St. They request memorials be to the Sangre de Cristo Hospice, 2074 Dalisteo, Suite A-3, Santa Fe, N.M. 87505; or a favorite charity. The family will receive friends at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors from 6:30 to 8 p.m. today. Beatrice Taulbee Beatrice Taulbee, 86, of Amarillo, a former Hobart, Okla., resident, died Monday, April 21, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Hobart Rose Cemetery at Hobart with Larry Stone officiating. Arrangements are by Hackney-Gish Funeral Home of Hobart. Mrs. Taulbee was born in Mountain View, Okla. She attended Hobart public schools. She had lived in Hobart, Roswell, N.M., and Amarillo. She retired as a restaurant manager. She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge and had served as the state Rebekah president for New Mexico. She married Jesse Lee Taulbee in 1943 at Vernon. She was preceded in death by a daughter. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Joyce Christon and Janice Willbanks, both of Oklahoma City; and two sisters, Annie Stice of Las Cruces, N.M., and Margie Wright of Roswell. Ray Walker Ray Walker, 71, of Amarillo, died Monday, April 21, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors Pioneer Chapel, 2615 Paramount Blvd., with the Rev. Travis LaDuke officiating. Private family graveside services will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Walker was born in Gainesville and lived in Amarillo most of his life. He was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. He was a cement contractor for many years. He was a member of Coulter Road Baptist Church. He married Gladys Combs in 1961 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; a son, Charles D. Walker of Amarillo; two daughters, Raynita Aud and Lynn Turner, both of Pampa; three stepdaughters, Veta Joyce Bennett and Rhonda Kay Gentry, both of Portales, N.M., and Dorothea Jane Walker of Bedford; two sisters, Esther Owens of Arlington and Ruby Betts of Amarillo; a brother, Charles M. Walker of Hugo, Okla.; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Oklahoma Bonnie Mae Proffitt GUYMON, Okla. - Bonnie Mae Proffitt, 88, died Sunday, April 20, 1997. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. today in Sunset Lane Baptist Church with Lloyd Riddles pastor officiating. Burial will be in Elmhurst Cemetery by Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home. Mrs. Proffitt was born in Woods County, near Alba, Texas. She married James Ancil Proffitt in 1926 at Jones County, Texas. They moved to Guymon from Stinnett, Texas, in 1946. She was a homemaker and had worked as a housekeeper for the Dr. W.D. McMurry family for more than 30 years. She was a charter member of Sunset Lane Baptist Church and the Mary Martha Sunday School class. She was preceded in death by an infant son and a daughter, Ida Lou Wells. Survivors include her husband; and two sisters, Eunice Blackwell of Borger, Texas, and Irene Steinkuehler of Guymon. Elsewhere Thomas D. Smith ODESSA - Thomas D. Smith, 73, died Monday, April 21, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. David Mindel officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Llano Cemetery at Amarillo. Mr. Smith was raised and attended schools in Amarillo. He worked for G.E. Jones Electric in Amarillo and Plainview from 1956 until 1978. He moved to Odessa in 1979. He was a service manager for Electric Service and Supply of Odessa until 1981. He then was the owner and operator of Smith Electric in Odessa. He was a member of Bethany Christian Church and a Navy veteran of World War II. He married Bonnie E. Wicks in 1943 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; a son, Ken Smith of Glendale, Ariz.; two daughters, Sandie McCurdy of Grand Prairie and Shirley Church of Del City, Okla.; a brother, Garland Smith of Amarillo; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. New Mexico Pablo Flores CLOVIS, N.M. - Pablo Flores Faudoa, 63, died Monday, April 21, 1997. Graveside services will be Thursday in Jardines Cemetery at Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home. Mr. Flores was born in Camargo, Chihuahua, Mexico. He worked for Berry Land and Cattle Co. in Hagerman until 1995 when he moved to Clovis. He was of the Catholic faith. Survivors include his former wife, Maria Luisa Hernandez of El Paso, Texas; his mother, Lucrecia Faudoa Caro of Juarez; a son, Javier Flores Hernandez of El Paso; five daughters, Juana Flores de Holguin of Juarez, Blanca E. Flores de Soria of El Paso, Zulema Flores de Avila and Rachel Flores Hernandez, both of Clovis, and Otilia Flores de Morales of Phoenix; eight brothers and sisters; and 11 grandchildren.