Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 23 March 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 ==================================================================== Amarillo Alice Marie Nichols Allison Alice Marie Nichols Allison, 87, of 3509 W. Mirror St., died Friday, March 21, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with the Rev. Dana Moore, pastor of Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Garden of Mount Aaron. Mrs. Allison was born in Kerr County and graduated as valedictorian of Harper High School. She moved to Amarillo in 1935 from Sonora. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herman R. Allison, in 1982. She was a homemaker and a past mother adviser of the Palo Duro Assembly of Rainbow Girls. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star Palo Duro Chapter for 50 years and Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. Survivors include two daughters, Lovetta Ann Dalby of Waxahachie and Lanecia Kay Errington of Amarillo; two brothers, John Nichols of Eden and Frank Nichols of San Angelo; a sister, Sydonia Wilson of Sonora; and two great-grandchildren. The family will be at 3509 N. Mirror St. They request memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice. Marion F. Eller Marion F. Eller, 81, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, March 18, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with Glen Walton of Bell Avenue Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Court of Flowers. Mr. Eller was born in Canadian and had been a lifelong Amarillo resident. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Eller, in 1981. He was a conductor for the Santa Fe Railway before retiring. He was a Navy veteran of World War II and a member of North Amarillo Church of Christ. Survivors include a son, Curtis Eller of Coupeville, Wash.; a daughter, Tanya Mock of Amarillo; two granddaughters; and a great-grandson. The family will be at 1409 N. Grant St. They request memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice or Golden Age Care Center. Jo Deweese Jo Deweese, 70, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, March 19, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2101 N. Coulter off Tascosa Road with Bishop Bruce Johnston of the church officiating. Entombment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery East Mausoleum by Colonial Funeral Chapel, 1010 W. Ninth Ave. Ms. Deweese was born in Haskell and had lived in Amarillo for about 20 years, moving from Hereford. She was a homemaker and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Survivors include a son, Randy Arnold Thomas II of Amarillo; a daughter, Carol Tappan of Amarillo; three sisters, Dorothy Winters of Borger, Joyce Hibon of Lubbock and Gladys Walls of Alvot; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. The body will be available for viewing today from 1 to 5 p.m. at the funeral home. Plina Hill Stalnaker Plina Hill Stalnaker, 75, of Amarillo, died Friday, March 21, 1997. Services will be at noon Monday in Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with Dr. Howard Batson of First Baptist Church officiating. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. in Fairview Cemetery at Memphis with the Rev. O.K. Bowen officiating. Mrs. Stalnaker was born in Memphis and had been a longtime resident of Amarillo. She was a district clerk for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. before retiring. She was a member of the Pioneer Club and First Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, A.G. Stalnaker. Survivors include a brother, Wade H. Hill of Canyon; and three sisters, Verna Lee Simpson of Memphis, Lois Crowley of Naples, Fla., and Shirley Lanford of Amarillo. Jessie L. Lira Jessie L. Lira, 58, of 208 S. Georgia St., died Wednesday, March 19, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Memory Gardens Cemetery with the Rev. David Fletcher of Northwest Baptist Church officiating. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mrs. Lira was born in Little Rock, Ark., and moved to Amarillo 40 years ago. She worked for Elmo's Drive Inn for 30 years as a cook and manager. She was a Baptist. She married Joe Lira in 1958 at Amarillo. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Karen Diaz of Amarillo; two sons, Cecil Lira of New Orleans and Mark Lira of Beaumont; a sister, Mary Alice Pennington of Walnut Ridge, Ark.; a brother, Charles Davidson of Little Rock; two grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family will be at 208 S. Georgia St. Paula Chavez Paula "Big Mom" Carrasco Chavez, 77, of 1618 S. Arthur St., died Friday, March 21, 1997. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with the Rev. John Valdez of the church officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Chavez was born in Amarillo. She married Perfecto Chavez in 1949 at Amarillo. She was a homemaker and a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Sylvia Chavez. Survivors include her husband; a son, Louie R. Chavez; a daughter, Gloria Malone; three stepdaughters, Lili Green and Gloria Chavez, both of Amarillo, and Pauline Bargas of Los Angeles; two sisters, Margaret Gomez and Patrica Mendoza, both of Amarillo; two brothers, Rito Carrasco and Paul Carrasco, both of Amarillo; five grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and eight stepgrandchildren. The family will be at 1618 S. Arthur St. Russell Ellsaesser Russell Ellsaesser, 79, of 3318 Western St., died Friday, March 21, 1997. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Llano Cemetery with Paul Bates, associate pastor of pastoral care at Trinity Fellowship, officiating. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St. Mr. Ellsaesser was born in Sublette, Kan. He moved to Amarillo 40 years ago from Sublette. He married Jewel Petty in 1964 at Reno, Nev. He was a cattle rancher, buying and selling cattle. He also owned and operated a feedyard in Lamar, Colo. He was a Methodist. Survivors include his wife; a son, Terry Ellsaesser of Bedford; a stepson, Homer Williams of Amarillo; a stepdaughter, Edwina Schlientz of Amarillo; two sisters, Evelyn Weeks and Gertrude Weidner, both of Sublette; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials in lieu of flowers be to a favorite charity. Clay Blanton Garrison Clay Blanton Garrison, 78, a longtime resident of the Panhandle, died Thursday, March 20, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Paramount Baptist Church with Gil Lain, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Garrison was born in Silverton. He attended Texas Tech University. He served with the Army during World War II and later joined the Merchant Marines. He married Virginia Bowsher in 1951. He was employed as the Rocky Mountain district manager of Hudson Motor Car Co. in Denver and as district manager of Ford Motor Co. in Chicago. He later was an automobile dealer at local area dealerships. Mr. Garrison was the National Park Service concession developer at Lee's Ferry National Park on the Colorado River in northern Arizona. In recent years, he was a stockbroker and consultant with diversified interests in oil, gas and environmental technology. He also served on the board of directors of Mary's Little Lambs Preschool and Kindergarten. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Barbara Geoffroy and Mary Grigsby, both of Amarillo; two sisters, Cleo Pipkin of Hot Springs, Ark., and Charlene Bruce of Lubbock; a brother, Fred Garrison of Plainview; and six grandchildren. The family will be at 3007 Harmony. They request memorials be to Mary's Little Lambs Preschool c / o Judy Dahl, P.O. Box 7707, Amarillo, Texas 79114. More city obits to come Area Marine Ashby DUMAS - Marine Ashby, 81, died Thursday, March 20, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in First Street Church of Christ with Art Lynch, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Northlawn Memorial Gardens by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mrs. Ashby was born in Estelline and had lived in Dumas since 1959. She was the owner and operator of Fashion Cleaners for many years. She attended First Street Church of Christ. She married William H. Ashby in 1933 at Estelline. He died in 1973. Survivors include a daughter, Billie Graham of Imperial; two sons, Jimmy Ashby of Rio Rancho, N.M., and Ronnie Ashby of Borger; a brother, J.C. Webster of Hewitt; a sister, Melba Bain of Stinnett; seven grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the New Mexico Christian Children's Home at Portales. The family will be at the Days Inn Motel at Dumas. Larue Vernon Glenn DIMMITT - Larue Vernon Glenn, 78, died Friday, March 21, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Home Ivey Chapel with the Rev. Randy Gressett, youth minister of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park. Mr. Glenn was born in Elida, N.M. He lived in Louisville, Ky., before moving Dimmitt in 1970. He married Alice Nagel in 1942 at St. Louis. He was a school teacher and a mail carrier. He served in the Army Air Corps from 1941 to 1945. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Dimmitt and the Masonic Lodge of Elkhart, Kan. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Bonnie Sue Downing of Oklahoma City, and Janis Marie Glenn and Melissa Jean Glenn, both of Amarillo; a sister, Willa Ruth Simmons of Plainview; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson St., Amarillo, Texas 79101. Helen Helton Lockhart CANADIAN - Helen Helton Lockhart, 83, died Thursday, March 20, 1997. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Edith Ford Memorial Cemetery with the Rev. Brad Walker officiating. Ashes will be placed in the Helton family plot by Stickley-Hill Funeral Directors. Mrs. Lockhart was born in Canadian. She earned a bachelor of science degree in education from West Texas State Teachers College in 1937. After living in many places throughout the world, she returned to Canadian in 1993 to live in the Edward Abraham Memorial Home. She was a homemaker and a quilter. She was a member of First Baptist Church. She married Vincent Lockhart in 1938 at Canadian. They traveled to many parts of the world. She lived in Saigon, Vietnam, from 1969 to 1971. While in Vietnam, she organized a crafts club and made Christmas tree ornaments that were sold by the president's wife, Madame Thieu. She also had lived in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; Bombay, India; Washington D.C.; New York; El Paso; and Honolulu, Hawaii. Survivors include her husband of Baptist Memorial in San Angelo; a son, William Welford Lockhart of Alamogordo, N.M.; a sister, Jo Riley of Canadian; a brother, Stephen Helton of California; and a granddaughter. The family requests memorials be to Edward Abraham Memorial Home, 803 Birch, Canadian, Texas 79014. Tessie E. Paris MEMPHIS - Tessie Elizabeth Paris, 94, of Bartlesville, Okla., a former Memphis resident, died Thursday, March 20, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Fairview Cemetery with the Rev. O.K. Bowen of First Baptist Church officiating. Arrangements are by Stumpff Funeral Home of Bartlesville. Mrs. Paris was born in Commerce. She married Lawrence C. Paris in 1925 at Memphis. He died in 1974. She lived in Memphis from 1925 until moving to Bartlesville eight years ago. Survivors include a son, Bob J. Paris of Bartlesville; a sister, Francis Byrd of Huntsville; two grandsons; and a greatgrandson. Thurman Lewis Dement CHILDRESS - Thurman Lewis Dement, 82, of Graham, a former Childress resident, died Thursday, March 20, 1997. Graveside services were Saturday in Childress Cemetery with the Rev. Irvin Stanke officiating. Arrangements were by Johnson Funeral Home. Mr. Dement was born in Childress and was a longtime resident of Childress before moving to Graham in 1996. He was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. He retired as a car man for BurlingtonNorthern Railroad. He was a Methodist. He married Mary Gertrude Hudson in 1947. She died in 1987. Survivors include a daughter, Karon Rice of Graham; two brothers, Leo Dement of Clovis, N.M., and Lowell Dement of Plainview; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Heart Association. Essie Christerson DUMAS - Essie Christerson, 89, died Thursday, March 20, 1997. Services were Saturday in Morrison Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel with John Green, lay minister from Dumas, officiating. Burial was in Dumas Cemetery. Mrs. Christerson was born in Bridgeport and had been a Dumas resident since 1939. She retired as the owner and operator of Christerson Trucking Co. She was a member of First Assembly of God Church. She married Fred Coleman in 1924 at Sedan, N.M. She later married W.K. Christerson in 1952 at Clayton, N.M. She was preceded in death by both husbands. Survivors include five sons, Charley Joe Coleman of Abilene, Roland Coleman of Montgomery, O.U. "Tack" Coleman of Panhandle, Rex Coleman of Amarillo and Clyde Ray Coleman of Lubbock; 17 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. Helen Rouk CLAUDE - Helen Rouk, 84, died Thursday, March 20, 1997. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Monday in Llano Cemetery at Amarillo with the Rev. Robert Field, retired Baptist minister, officiating. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St., of Amarillo. Mrs. Rouk was born in Omaha, Ark. She moved to Tulsa, Okla., and attended high school there. She moved to Long Beach, Calif., in 1949. She moved to Claude three years ago from Pearland. She owned and operated Helen's Restaurant at Long Beach. Survivors include a daughter, Lelah Jean Lester of Bakersfield, Calif.; two sons, Dale Rouk of Amarillo and William Rouk of Sacramento, Calif.; a brother, Jack Beebe of Pico Riviera, Calif.; nine grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. The family will be at 4405 E. 28th Ave. They request memorials be to the Panhandle chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, 2200 W. Seventh Ave., Amarillo, Texas 79106. Rene Horton DUMAS - Rene Horton, 86, died Saturday, March 22, 1997. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. MST Tuesday in Portales Cemetery, Portales, N.M., with Mr. Roger Stewart of Sunray Baptist Church officiating. Arrangements are by Morrison Funeral Directors of Dumas. Mrs. Horton was born in Ballinger. She had been a Dumas resident for 13 years. She was a homemaker, a part-time clerk in retail and a Baptist. She married Luther "Dude" Horton in 1934 at Big Springs. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1984. Survivors include her son, Clyde Horton of Dumas; a sister, Billie Simnacher of Portales, N.M.; seven brothers, Ray Cotter and Joe Cotter both of Amarillo, Doug Cotter of Big Springs, Clarence Cotter of Tucumcari, N.M., M.J. Cotter of Tahoka, Howard Cotter of Levelland and Jerry Cotter of San Angelo; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The body will be available for viewing until noon Monday at Morrison Funeral Directors. The family requests memorials be to Alzheimers Association, 2200 W. Seventh Ave., Amarillo, Texas 79106, Memorial Hospice, 224 E. Second, Dumas, Texas 79029 or a favorite charity. The family will be at 610 Elm, Dumas. Rex R. Wolf PAMPA - Rex R. Wolf, 74, died Friday, March 21, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the First United Methodist Church with Dr. R.L. Kirk, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Wolf was born in Bunker Hill, Kan. He was a resident of Pampa since 1966. He worked for Getty Oil Company as an area clerk for 44 years before retiring in 1986. He served in in the Navy Air Corps during World War II. He married Vonna Critchlow in 1947 at Russell, Kan. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church where he was a member of the Winsome Sunday School Class and served on the board of trustees and the administrative board. Survivors include his wife of the home; three daughters, Susan Munday of Oklahoma City, Marge Lemons of Austin and Barbara Bailey of Nashville, Tenn.; two sisters, Fern McDowell of Salina, Kan., and Lois Jean Starbuck of Great Bend, Kan.; and eight grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. Ina Juanita Calcote SHAMROCK - Ina Juanita Calcote, 78, died Friday, March 21, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Shamrock Cemetery with the Rev. Kris Riggs, pastor of Eleventh Street Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Wright Funeral Directors. Mrs. Calcote was born in Arlie. She lived most of her life in the Shamrock and Wellington area. She moved to the East Texas area in 1980. She worked in a bakery and a professional sewing shop as a professional seamstress. She was also a member of the Wellington Pentecostal Church. Survivors include two sisters, Lorene Nelson and Ruby Needham, both of Amarillo; and a brother, Raymond Calcote of Farmington, N.M. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. Ernest Neel PADUCAH - Ernest Neel, 80, died Friday, March 21, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Paducah Church of Christ. Burial will be at Garden of Memories Cemetery. Arrangements are by Seigler Funeral Home. Mr. Neel was born in Hall County. He had been a resident of Paducah since 1980, moving from Houston. He had also lived in Lubbock. He was a retired floor finisher and was a veteran of the Marine Corps. He was also a member of the Church of Christ. He married Marie Bell in 1956 at Paducah. Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Paul L. Neel of Paducah and Larry E. Neel of Childress; two daughters, Glenda Lou Holmes and Judy Gail Angel both of Houston; a brother, Alvin Neel of Fort Worth; two sisters, Beatrice White of Weatherford and Betty Dotson of Dallas; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Don P. Williams MULESHOE - Don P. Williams, 45, died Friday, March 21, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Stacy Conner, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Crescent Cemetery, Crescent, Okla. Arrangements are by Ellis Funeral Home. Mr. Williams was born in Guthrie, Okla. He graduated from John Marshall High School in 1969 at Oklahoma City. He received his degree in Mortuary Science from Central State University in Edmond, Okla. He was employed by Western Electric and for a sign company in Oklahoma City as a silk screen printer. He was a veteran of the Army, serving from 1971 to 1973. He was a licensed funeral directorembalmer in Oklahoma and Texas. He had worked for Ellis Funeral Home in Muleshoe since 1984. He married Mary Spillman in 1983 at Broken Bow, Okla. She preceded him in death in 1996. Survivors include a stepson, Chris Jennings of Maine; and a sister, Ranell Crisswell of Lawton, Okla.