Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 24 Nov 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; Monday, November 24, 1997, 7:05 AM Amarillo Thava Crawford Thava Crawford, 94, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Nov. 22, 1997. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. today in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle, with the Rev. Larry Payne, pastor of Coulter Road Baptist Church, officiating. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. today at Rowe Cemetery in Hedley. Mrs. Crawford was born in Turnersville. She married Joe M. Crawford in 1924. She moved to Amarillo in 1944. She worked at the Pantex Ordinance Plant during World War II. She worked in the cafeteria at Will Rogers Elementary School, Tea Room at Blackburn Brothers Department Store and sold Avon Products. She had been a longtime member of Coulter Road Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1958. Survivors include two sister-in-laws, Bonnie Davis of Clarendon and Elva Davis of Amarillo; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family requests memorials be to Heritage Convalescent Center Activity Fund, 1009 Clyde, Amarillo, Texas 79106. James Lee Smithson James Lee Smithson, 67, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Nov. 22, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Paramount Baptist Church with the Rev. Gil Lain, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Smithson was born in Mount Juliet, Tenn. He married Annie Nix in 1956 at Dallas. He had lived in Amarillo since 1971. He owned and operated Smithson Service Center. He was an Army veteran and was a member of Paramount Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife; two sons, James Donald Smithson and Vernon Lee Smithson, both of Amarillo; one daughter, Julie Ann Houston of Dallas; four brothers, W.T. Smithson of San Jose, Calif., Levert Smithson of Richmond, Calif., George Smithson of Clarksville, Tenn., and Henry Smithson of Kansas City, Mo.; two half-brothers, John Smithson and Carlton Smith, both of Tennessee; and four grandchildren. The family will be at 3106 Sunlite and requests memorials be to American Cancer Society, 3915 Bell Street, Amarillo, Texas 79109 or Paramount Baptist Church, Building or Scholarship Fund, or Saint Anthony's Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176-0001. Robert Eugene Prather Robert "Bob" Eugene Prather, 72, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Nov. 22, 1997. Services will be at 1 p.m. today in Memorial Park Funeral Home, Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with the Rev. Larry Stone, pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Prather was born in Alba. He married Una "Polly" Colyne Perkins in 1944 at Alba. He moved to Amarillo in 1955. He was employed by Borden's for 35 years as a truck driver. He was a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife; a son, Gary Don Prather of Amarillo; a daughter, Alice Jean Houston of Amarillo; a brother, Dewey Prather of Amarillo; four sisters, Loretta Chaney of Amarillo, Jewel Collier of Cottonwood, Valley Taylor of Garland, and Maggie Whituis of Lindale; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family will be at 2107 Heather and requests memorials be made to Baptist Saint Anthony's Hospice. Ray Girard Ray Girard, 67, of Amarillo, died Friday, Nov. 21, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Trinity Baptist Church with the Rev. David Evans officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements are by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Mr. Girard was born in Clay Center, Kan. He moved to Amarillo in 1947. He married Myrna Grant in 1951 at Clovis, N.M. He was a truck driver for Air Speed Oil Co. for 38 years. He was a Navy veteran and a lifetime member of Disabled Veterans Association. He was a member of Trinity Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Gayla Girard in 1965. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Ray Rex Girard and Raymond Todd Girard, both of Amarillo; a daughter, Susan Irwin of Corsicana; and one grandchild. The family requests memorials be to Emergency Medical Services in Muleshoe. Elsewhere Kyle Dewayne Weese DENTON - Kyle Dewayne Weese, infant son of Marguerette "Maggie" Dempsey and Dewayne Weese, died Friday, Nov. 21, 1997. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Sunset Cemetery in Stinnett with the Rev. Kerry Finley of Victory Baptist Church in Stinnett, officiating. Arrangements are by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Kyle was born in Denton. Survivors include his parents of Denton; one brother, Michael Ray Weese of South Dakota; a sister, Cynthany Dawn Weese of South Dakota; grandparents, Sudie Knight of Borger, Carl and Vickie Weese of South Dakota, Irma Viola Lett of Borger, and Kenneth Dempsey of Chattanooga, Tenn.; and a great-grandfather, Carl Charles Weese of Kingston, Okla. Rosie Kaluza Dedek VERNON - Rosie Kaluza Dedek, 94, died Saturday, Nov. 22, 1997 in Amarillo. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Sullivan Funeral Home Chapel in Vernon. Burial will be in Eastview Cemetery in Vernon. Mrs. Dedek was born in Fayette County. She lived in Vernon for 85 years. She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church. Survivors include a son, Bill Dedek of Plainview; a daughter, Francis Gibson Burgess of Amarillo; a sister, Annie Dedek of Vernon; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Hertha O. Polster OLNEY - Hertha O. Polster, 88, died Saturday, Nov. 22, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Saint Luke Lutheran Church with the Rev. Greg Hyatt, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Saint Luke Lutheran Cemetery. Arrangements by Lunn Funeral Home of Olney. Mrs. Polster was born in Olney. She married Richard F. Polster in 1932 at Oklahoma City. She was a homemaker and a farmer. She was a member of Saint Luke Lutheran Church. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1971. Survivors include two sons, Delmer Polster of Cedar Hill and Duane Polster of Amarillo; three daughters, Erlene Stolk of Anton, Lynette Lackey of Wichita Falls, and Delores Hinson of Olney; two sisters, Laura Roenfeldt of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Erna Lauschke of Wichita Falls; 13 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Saint Luke Lutheran Church, 1302 West Oak Street, Olney, Texas 76374. Oklahoma Leon Harold Booker Jr. EVA, Okla. - Leon Harold Booker Jr., 71, died Saturday, Nov. 22, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Yarbrough School with the Rev. Ron Wilson, pastor of First Christian Church in Elkhart, Kan., officiating. Burial will be in Elmhurst Cemetery in Guymon. Arrangements are by Henson-Novak Funeral Directors of Guymon. Mr. Booker was born in Wilkes County, Ga. He moved to Texas County at the age of 6. He married Erma Scott in 1947 at Guymon. He was a farmer and a rancher. He was an Army veteran, serving in World War II and the Korean Conflict. He was a member of Guymon Lodge AF&AM No. 335, O.E.S. No. 219, the Gideons, and First Baptist Church in Keyes. He served on the Yarbrough school board, Panhandle Telephone board of directors, Panhandle State University Agriculture Board and Cattleman's Association. He was preceded in death by his wife in 1996. Survivors include four daughters, Nancy Carol Roberts of Yarbrough, Linda Susan Chase of Ulysses, Kan., Kathy Lynn Roberts of Kenton and Sherry Ann Lilly of Lone Oak, Texas; a sister, Anne Randol of Meridian, Idaho; 15 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be made to Harold Booker Memorial for the Eva Community Center or the Gideons. Memorials will be accepted at the Henson-Novak Funeral Home, Box 1306, Guymon, Okla. 73942. Area William A. Keranen BORGER - William A. Keranen, 84, died Friday, Nov. 21, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Church of Christ of Borger with Richard Kasko officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Cemetery. Arrangements by Brown Funeral Directors. Mr. Keranen was born in Minnesota. He served in the Army Air Corps in World War II. He retired from Morton Lumber Co. and was a member of Church of Christ in Borger. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nell Keranen. Survivors include two sons, William Randal and Ronald Ray, both of Borger; a daughter, Mary Lynn Keranen Charrow of Los Lunas, N.M.; and seven grandchildren. Mary Lou Garcia HEREFORD - Mary Lou Garcia, 43, died Thursday, Nov. 20, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Primera Iglesta Baustista Church with the Rev. Ignacio Torres, pastor, Don Walker, and the Rev. David Alverado, officiating. Mrs. Garcia was born in Lubbock. She moved to Hereford in 1983. She was a member of Primera Iglesta Baustista Church. She worked at Holly Sugar Plant. She attended College of Southern Idaho and Metro Business Academy in Amarillo. She served two years as a lay minister at High Plains hospital. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ramiro Garcia in 1983 and a grandson, Marcus Anthony Rico in 1993. Survivors include her parents, Luz and Delores Mendoza of Hereford; two sons, Ramiro Garcia and Mark Anthony Garcia, both of Hereford; two daughters, Michelle Garcia of Hillsboro and Jennifer Garcia of Hereford; two sisters, Linda Sue Martinez of Hereford and Gloria Ann Mendoza of Ogden, Utah; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Cruz Garcia of Hereford and Mrs. Pauline Raybal of Houston, and six grandchildren. Maudie Lawson LOCKNEY - Maudie Lawson, 85, died Sunday, Nov. 23, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Main Street Church of Christ with Russell Harris and the Rev. Harold Abney, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Lockney Cemetery. Arrangements are by Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home. Mrs. Lawson was born in Love County, Okla. She attended school in Oklahoma. She moved from Oklahoma to Lockney in 1931. She married Reed Elias Lawson in 1937 at Canyon. She was a homemaker and a member of Lockney Senior Citizens, Lockney Chapter No. 437 of the Order of the Eastern Star, and Main Street Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband earlier this year. Survivors include two daughters, Reeda Cay Smith of Lockney and Saundra Hammit of Pittsburgh; one brother, Hubert Renick of Kingsville; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home and they suggest memorials be to a favorite charity. Roy Younger SILVERTON - Roy Younger, 68, died Saturday, Nov. 22, 1997. Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Jess Little officiating. Burial will be in Silverton Cemetery. Arrangements are by Myers-Long Funeral Directors of Silverton. Mr. Younger was born in Harleton. He had been a resident of Silverton for 43 years. He married Eva Lou Self in 1959 at Silverton. He was a veteran of the Korean War and was a farmer. He had worked for Ray Thompson Implement Co. from 1958 to 1972. He was preceded in death by a son, Roger Younger in 1991 and a grandson, Bradley Younger in 1975. Survivors include his wife; four daughters, Lexie McCutchen of Memphis, Jeanetta Bradford of Silverton, Lydia Couch of Las Vegas, and Lisa Gragson of Pine Bluff, Ark.; two brothers, Aaron Younger of Silverton and Doyle Younger of Harleton; two sisters, Laverne Stephens of Silverton and Allene Newman of Harleton; nine grandchildren; one greatgranddaughter. The family requests memorials be to Silverton Fire Department, Silverton Ambulance Service, Silverton Cemetery Association or to a favorite charity. Jesse Mullin TURKEY - Jesse Mullin, 85, of Turkey, died Saturday, Nov. 22, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Church of Christ with Stuart Smith officiating. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery. Arrangements are by Myers-Long Funeral Directors. Mr. Mullin was born in Turkey. He was a farmer and a rancher. He married Beatrice Virginia Weatherly in 1937 at Wheeler. He was a member of the Church of Christ. He was preceded in death by a son, Jay Mullin in 1974. Survivors include his wife; a son, Conrad Mullin of Granbury; two daughters, Margie Edwards of Turkey and Beth Mills of Estelline; two brothers, H.E. Mullin of Turkey and Buster Mullin of Gatesville; two sisters, Donna Browning of Rising Star and Totsy Cunningham of Amarillo; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Dreamland Cemetery Association. Jean Jenkins BORGER - Jean Jenkins, 69, died Friday, Nov. 21, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel, with the Rev. Earl Skaggs of Calvary Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Garden of Love. Mrs. Jenkins was born in Grandfield, Okla. She married William Earnest Jenkins in 1946 at Borger. She was a service representative for Southwestern Bell Telephone for more than 20 years. She had lived in Borger from 1946 to 1992 before moving to Midland and finally moving to Canyon in 1994. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and Eastern Star Adobe Walls No. 1059. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1994. Survivors include a son, Jim Jenkins of Canyon; a daughter, Karen Warnick of Midland; four brothers, Marion Due of Oklahoma City, L.D. Due of Grandfield and Cletus and Earl Due, both of Metairie, La.; three sisters, Helen Champion of Granfield, and Wilma Hill and Janis Latimer, both of Iowa Park; and three grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Baptist-Saint Anthony's Hospice. Irene G. Posey CHILDRESS - Irene G. Posey, 81, died Saturday, Nov. 22, 1997. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday in Childress Cemetery with the Rev. Alan Lee Egerton, pastor of Bible Baptist Church of Childress. She married Fred Posey in Colorado Springs, Colo. Mrs. Posey had lived in Childress since 1969 and was a Baptist. Survivors include two daughters, Debra Fischer of Lutz, Fla., and Betty Srader of Childress; a sister, Hattie Marzano of Lawton, Okla.; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-greatgrandchild. Effie Lee Jones FRITCH - Effie Lee Jones, 88, died Friday, Nov. 21, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tues. in Trinity Church of the Nazarene with the Rev. Scott Cundiff, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens in Pampa. Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Directors. Mrs. Jones was a native of Comanche, Okla., and had lived in Fritch for 10 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Silas W. Jones in 1979. Survivors include a son, Marcuis Owen Fimple of Waco; two daughters, Pat Winkle of Fritch and Juanita Maude Fimple of Borger; three brothers, Thomas Allen Holdaway of Drumwright, Okla., John Henry Holdaway of Cherry Valley, Calif., and Jim Andrew Holdaway of Lincoln, Mont.; three sisters, Lucy Jane Trout and Nettie Mae Hervey, both of Burkburnett, and Jewel Velma Bivins of Phoenix, Ariz.; eight grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; and five great-greatgrandchildren. Juanita Jane Killough PAMPA - Juanita Jane Killough, 63, died Friday, Nov. 21, 1997. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Memory Gardens Cemetery with the Rev. M.B. Smith, officiating. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mrs. Killough was born in Pampa. She attended Pampa High School. She worked at Furr's Cafeteria and Pampa Communications. Survivors include three daughters, Deborah Chandler of Pampa, Sherry James of Jay, Okla., and Karen Martin of Donaldson, Ark.; one brother, O.C. Cox of Amarillo; two sisters, Roberta Cardwell of Dale, and Olga Smith of California; and six grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. E.W. Holland Jr. PAMPA - E.W. "Dub" Holland Jr., 56, died Saturday, Nov. 22, 1997. Graveside services will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in Memory Gardens Cemetery with the Rev. John Glover, associate pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Holland was born in Wellington. He had been a life-long resident of Pampa. He attended Pampa High School and worked for Hoechst Celanese for 30 years before retiring in 1996. He married Donna Murry in 1967 at Pampa. He was a veteran of the United States Navy and member of National Rifle Association of America. He was a member of Mary Ellen and Harvester Church of Christ. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Toni Pena of San Antonio and Becci Hutto of Pampa; a sister, Twila Murry of Big Spring; and six grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to American Cancer Society or Baptist Saint Anthony's Hospice of Amarillo. Eland Upchurch EARTH - Eland Upchurch, 84, died Sunday, Nov. 23, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in New Covenant Church of Muleshoe with the Rev. Jimmy Low, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Resthaven Cemetery of Lubbock at 3 p.m. Tuesday. Arrangements are by Parsons-Ellis Funeral Home. Mr. Upchurch was born in Waxahachie. He was a resident of Earth until 1954 when he moved to Muleshoe. He was a member of New Covenant Church. He worked as a propane truck driver for Earth Oil and Gas for 25 years before retiring in 1984. He was preceded in death by a son, Eldon Upchurch. Survivors include his wife, Florene; a son, Alvin Upchurch of Petersburg; three daughters, Judy Loudder of Sunnyside, Peggy Overby of Bellflower, Calif., and Vivian Gay Jaquess of Lubbock; a sister, Fern Messer of Canon City, Colo.; two brothers, Buck Upchurch of Slaton and Rudy Upchurch of Phoenix, Ariz.; 11 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.