Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 26 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; Friday, September 26, 1997, 7:06 AM Amarillo LaFaris Browning LaFaris Browning, 79, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Sept. 23, 1997. Private family graveside services will be Saturday in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. Rhea Raines of South Georgia Baptist Church officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Browning was born in Dallas and had been an Amarillo resident for 31 years. She was a homemaker and a Baptist. She married E.A. "Dick'' Browning in 1934 at Dallas. He died in 1994. Survivors include two daughters, Shirley McMinn and Joyce Bradshaw, both of Amarillo; a sister, Glyn Tucker of Oroville, Calif.; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. The body will not be available for viewing. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176-0001. Victor Lewis Ortega Victor "Gordo'' Lewis Ortega, 9, of 610 S. Russell St., died Monday, Sept. 22, 1997. Vigil will be at 7 p.m. today in Schooler Funeral Home Brentwood Chapel, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mass will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Saturday in St. Laurence Cathedral by the Rev. Pat Hoffman, pastor. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Victor was born in Amarillo and had lived here all his life. He was in the fourth grade at Humphrey's Highland Elementary School. He played football and ran track. He was a catcher on the Amarillo Varrio Boys softball team. He recently received the Most Valuable Player Award at a tournament in Lubbock. He was playing wide receiver in his first year to play tackle football. Victor attended St. Laurence Cathedral. Survivors include his parents, Leopoldo Lozano Ortega Jr. and Victoria Maria Diaz Ortega; two sisters, Kristi Michelle Ortega and Alice Lee Ortega of Denver; two brothers, Richard Joel Ortega and Fabian Orlando Ortega, both of the home; grandparents, Manuel Ramirez Diaz, Gloria Jean Mestas Diaz, Leopoldo Acuna Ortega Sr. and Henrietta Lozano Ortega, all of Amarillo; and great-grandparents, Victor Diaz and Judy Diaz of Amarillo, and Genovebo Gomez Ortega and Manuella Acuna Ortega of Abilene. The family will be at 1400 S. Hodges St. Syble Amy Sizemore Syble Amy Sizemore, 88, of 4805 Glenn Drive, died Thursday, Sept. 25, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Llano Cemetery with Dr. Charles Jones of Second Baptist Church officiating. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mrs. Sizemore was born in Pooleville, Okla. She was a homemaker and a Baptist. She was preceded in death by her husband, Boyd Sizemore Sr., in 1981. Survivors include a son, Boyd Sizemore Jr. of Amarillo; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family will be at 3300 Fleetwood. They request memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176. Selestine Y. Pride Selestine Y. Pride, 63, of Amarillo, died Monday, Sept. 22, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Johnson Chapel AME Church with the Rev. Philip Randle, pastor, and the Rev. Elgie Crowe officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by WarfordWalker Mortuary Inc., 509 N. Hughes St. Mrs. Pride was born in Longview. She was a graduate of Hobart High School in Hobart, Okla. She had been an Amarillo resident since 1958. She was a homemaker. She was a member of Carter Chapel Primitive Baptist Church and had served in the Missionary Society and on the condolence and sick committee. Survivors include two sons, Gregory Pride and Glynn Pride, both of Amarillo; two daughters, Verlinda Pride Sullivan of Peekskill, N.Y., and Clytia Frazier of Amarillo; six sisters, Lillie Mae Bailey of Longview, Essie Derrick of Gilmer, Dorothy Bailey of Grand Prairie, Mozelle Perrmore and Minnie Lee Wilson, both of Dallas, and Durlene McCowen of Amarillo; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family will be at 904 N. Lincoln St. Sixto Gonzalez Castillo Sixto Gonzalez Castillo, 83, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Sept. 25, 1997. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle, by the Rev. Ken Keller of St. Mary's Catholic Church. Additional services will be Monday at Encinal. Mr. Castillo was born in Encinal and had lived in Amarillo since 1967. He retired from National Linen Supply in 1984. He was of the Catholic faith. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lola, in 1976. Survivors include three sons, Sixto Castillo Jr. and Jorge Castillo, both of Amarillo, and Juan Castillo of Midland; a daughter, Dora Martinez of San Antonio; two sisters, Veronica Borrego of Abilene and Minerva Yanez of Encinal; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Thomas E. O'Neal Thomas E. O'Neal, 80, of 7706 Monterey, died Thursday, Sept. 25, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in St. Stephen United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jim Smith of the church officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Mr. O'Neal was born in Twitty and had lived in Amarillo for 28 years. He worked for Garner Motors and then sold real estate for Ray Ault Real Estate for seven years before retiring. He married Betty Busch in 1965 at Perryton. Mr. O'Neal was in the Air Force. He was a member of Alcoholics Anonymous for 37 years. He also was a member of St. Stephen United Methodist Church and the Lamplighter Sunday School class. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Tommy O'Neal of Seminole, Okla., John O'Neal of San Francisco and Miller Cunningham of Lubbock; a daughter, Carolyn Brown of Lubbock; 11 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the St. Stephen United Methodist Church memorial fund, 4600 S. Western St., Amarillo, Texas 79109; St. Jude's Children's Research, 332 N. Lauderdale, Memphis, Tenn. 38105; or the American Heart Association, 2404 W. Seventh Ave., Amarillo, Texas 79106. Elsewhere James Allen Epperson NEWPORT, Ark. - James "Jim'' Allen Epperson, 37, died Monday, Sept. 22, 1997. Burial was in Newport. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Amarillo Metropolitan Community Church. Mr. Epperson was born in Newport and raised in Oliphant. He was a 1978 graduate of Newport High School and attended Jonesborough College in Arkansas. He served in the Navy as an aviation storekeeper. He lived in Amarillo for several years before returning to Arkansas. While living in Amarillo, Mr. Epperson worked for more than eight years as a desk clerk and night auditor at the Comfort Inn on Coulter. He had been an active member of Amarillo Metropolitan Community Church since 1988. Survivors include his parents, Paul and Joy Epperson of Newport; two brothers, Wayne and Terry of Newport; and a god daughter, Kaci Wilson. The family requests memorials be to the Panhandle AIDS Support Organization (PASO) or the Shepherd House. Hortense Jackson CONE - Hortense Jackson, 79, died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in New Salem Primitive Baptist Church in Floydada with Elder George Johnson of Lubbock Primitive Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Cone Cemetery by Adams Funeral Home of Ralls. Mrs. Jackson was born in Erath County and moved to Cone in 1938. She married Joe M. Jackson in 1934 east of Cone. He died in 1994. She was a member of New Salem Primitive Baptist Church in Floydada. She worked in retail sales for many years. She and her husband owned and operated Jackson Grocery in Cone for many years. Survivors include a son, Carl Jackson of Amarillo; a sister, Rachel Nance of Floydada; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. New Mexico Ben F. Winn CLOVIS, N.M. - Ben F. Winn, 83, died Thursday, Sept. 25, 1997. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens with Dr. Herbert Bergstrom officiating. Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home. Mr. Winn was born in Clovis and had been a lifetime resident of Clovis. He was a veteran of World War II. Survivors include a sister, Hazel Stephenson of Clovis. Area Ott Shewmaker PAMPA - Ott Shewmaker, 87, died Sunday, Sept. 21, 1997. Memorial services will be at noon Saturday in Mary Ellen & Harvester Church of Christ with Don Stone, minister of White Deer Church of Christ, and Glen Walton, minister of Bell Avenue Church of Christ in Amarillo, officiating. Cremation was by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Shewmaker was born in Paragould, Ark., and moved to Pampa in 1934. He graduated from Harding Academy in 1928 and Harding College at Morrilton, Ark., in 1933. He taught in the Pampa Independent School District for six years. In 1941, he entered the insurance and real estate business, where he remained until retiring in 1995. He had been a member of the Church of Christ for more than 70 years and had been a member of the Mary Ellen & Harvester Church of Christ since 1952. Mr. Shewmaker married Lenice Chaffin in 1937 at Pampa. Survivors include his wife; two sons, John Shewmaker of Rowlett and Jim Shewmaker of Keller; two daughters, Martha Hunter of Roanoke, Va., and Mary Wilburn of Rowlett; a brother, A.D. Shewmaker of Hammon, Okla.; 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandsons. The family requests memorials be to the Sam and Nancy Shewmaker Missionary Fund c/o Mary Ellen & Harvester Church of Christ. The family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall after the service. Lewis Wayne Bybee MCLEAN - Lewis Wayne Bybee, 62, died Thursday, Sept. 25, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Assembly of God with the Rev. Dean Williamson of Odessa and the Rev. Z.A. Myers of Shamrock officiating. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery by Lamb Funeral Home. Mr. Bybee was born in Royce City. He graduated from Lone Oak High School in 1953 and from Mountain View College. He moved to McLean from Dallas in 1979. He married Sondra "Sonie'' Graham in 1982 at McLean. Mr. Bybee was the owner and originator of B&B Turbine Engineering and Manufacturing. He was a member of First Baptist Church and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War. Survivors include his wife; a son, Billy Dwayne Bybee of McLean; his mother, Pearl Larner of McLean; a sister, Wanda Hineman of McLean; a brother, Lloyd Bybee of McLean; a stepson, Ronnie Heasley of Midland; two stepdaughters, Brenda Farber of Haskell and Vonda Jean Averett of Breckenridge; a granddaughter; and six stepgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Hospice of the Panhandle, P.O. Box 2795, Pampa, Texas 79065. Earl Lloyd Lewis FRITCH - Earl Lloyd Lewis, 71, died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Monroe Street Church of Christ in Borger with Jake Sebastion, minister, and Jay Henderson, minister of the Plainview Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of Love at Westlawn Memorial Park by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. Mr. Lewis was born in Littlefield and had been a Fritch resident for 11 years. He was a retired iron worker and a member of Monroe Street Church of Christ. He married Naomi Vann in 1957 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; six sons, Roger Dale Lewis, Tony Monroe Lewis and Scott Miller, all of Amarillo, and L.D. Lewis, Jerry W. Lewis and Gary D. Lewis, all of Fritch; two brothers, Rufus Lewis of Spade and Ralph Lewis of Anton; two sisters, LaNoma String of Anton and Reba Lewis of Lubbock; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Charlie Phipps FRIONA - Charlie Phipps, 97, died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Primitive Baptist Church in Muleshoe with Elder Cleveland Bass of Amherst officiating. Burial will be in Muleshoe Memorial Park in Muleshoe by Ellis-Blackwell Funeral Home. Mr. Phipps was born in Paducah. He married Dora Belle Mayo in 1920 at O'Dell. They lived in Wellington and farmed there until 1925, when they moved by wagon to Bailey County. They lived in the Stegall community until 1943, when they moved two miles north of Muleshoe. They moved to Parmer County in 1945. In 1953, Mr. Phipps turned the farming operation over to his sons and moved into Friona. Mr. Phipps was a member of Primitive Baptist Church in Muleshoe, where he served as an elder for many years. He also served as a school trustee at Stegall for many years. His wife died in 1981. He also was preceded in death by a son, C.M. Phipps, in 1976. Survivors include three sons, E.G. Phipps and Virgil Phipps, both of Friona, and Spurgeon Phipps of Cortez, Colo.; six daughters, Jane Houlette of Friona, Mary Bandy of Panhandle, Mildred Williams of Muleshoe, Daisy Beaversdorf of Bartlett, June Collier of Amarillo and Geraldine Ferguson of Burleson; three brothers, Jerry Phipps of Muleshoe, J.D. Phipps of Earth and Dudley Phipps of Wellington; a sister, Augusta Aaron of Pearland; 35 grandchildren; 56 great-grandchildren; and 20 great-great-grandchildren. Ethel Christine McPherson BORGER - Ethel Christine McPherson, 70, died Thursday, Sept. 25, 1997. Services will be at 4 p.m. today in Bible Baptist Church with the Rev. Leonard Forsythe, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Resthaven Garden at Highland Park Cemetery. Arrangements are by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mrs. McPherson was born in Van Zandt County. She had been a Borger resident since 1980. She was a homemaker and a member of Bible Baptist Church. Survivors include three sons, Harold McPherson and James Hammons, both of Cleburne, and David McPherson of Weston, W.Va.; two daughters, Betty Heathington of Borger and Patricia Whippret of Arlington; two brothers, Fred Chastain of Cleburne and Cecil Chastain of Keene; two sisters, Wynona Stewart of Burleson and Katy Kimbrow of Keene; 21 grandchildren; and 36 great-grandchildren. Gene Mitchell SHAMROCK - Gene Mitchell, 42, died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1997. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Jack Lee, pastor, and the Rev. Floyd Haddock of Lubbock officiating. Burial will be in Shamrock Cemetery by Wright Funeral Directors. Mr. Mitchell was born in Shamrock and had been a lifetime Shamrock resident. He was a rancher and a member of First Baptist Church, the Masonic Lodge and the South Wheeler County Hospital Board. He married Linda Holton in 1984 at Shamrock. Mr. Mitchell was preceded in death by one son, Kent Crosby. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Jennifer Mitchell and Jaimie Mitchell, both of Canyon; two sons, Larry Lacy of Shamrock and Lee Lacy of Walker, La.; two brothers, C.J. Mitchell of Eagle River, Alaska, and Douglas Mitchell of Lubbock; a sister, Jeanette Emmert of Amarillo; and four grandchildren. Meagan Evelyn Narrell HEREFORD - Meagan Evelyn Narrell, infant daughter of Britt and Daphne Narrell, died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1997, in Amarillo. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Tom Fuller, pastor, officiating. Private burial will be in Westpark Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle, in Amarillo. Meagan was born in Amarillo. Survivors include her parents; a brother, Blake Lawrence Narrell of the home; her twin sister, Katie Carole Narrell of the home; grandparents, William "Bill'' and Evelyn Narrell of Amarillo, and Tommy and Madeline Rosson of Hereford; and great-grandparents, Edith Miller of Jacksboro, Willie Rosson-Burford of Hereford and Bill Turner of Friona. E.M. Cargile QUANAH - E.M. "Skip'' Cargile, 59, died Thursday, Sept. 25, 1997. Services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. John Spangler and the Rev. Clinton Young officiating. Burial will be in Quanah Memorial Park by Price-Jackson Funeral Home. Mr. Cargile was born in Clay City, Ill. He served in the Air Force for eight years and was awarded the Medal of Honor. He moved from Dallas to Chillicothe in 1976 and to Quanah in 1981. He served as police chief for Chillicothe and Quanah. He was a member of First Baptist Church. He married Velma Ray in 1989 at Quanah. Survivors include his wife; a son, E.M. "Skip'' Cargile Jr. of Kernville, Calif.; two daughters, Tawni Ann Shell of Tonopah, Nev., and Julie Lynne Templeton of Arlington; a stepson, Jason Braswell of Dallas; a brother, Raymond L. Cargile of Forney; a sister, Flo Rangel of Fontana, Calif.; and nine grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Golden Wings Hospice Foundation or the American Cancer Society. Jeffery Randall Gurski ADRIAN - Jeffery Randall Gurski, 35, died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1997. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Vega Memorial Park Cemetery in Vega with the Rev. Alan Burkhalter of Chaparral Hills Baptist Church officiating. Arrangements are by BlackburnShaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street, in Amarillo. Mr. Gurski was born in San Diego. He graduated from Adrian High School in 1980 and joined the Navy. He married Jean Kauckie in 1985 at San Francisco. They were divorced. Mr. Gurski attended Amarillo College for 11/2 years. He was a Protestant. Survivors include his mother, Barbara Gurski of Adrian; his father, Joseph Gurski of Oceanside, Calif.; a son, Dylan Conners of Waukesha, Wis.; a sister, Debra Burkhalter of Amarillo; a half brother, Joseph Michael Gurski III of Oceanside; and grandparents, Kenneth and Margie Callstrom of Adrian. The family will be in Adrian. Ronnie Dale Barton MIAMI, Texas - Ronnie Dale Barton, 40, died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Gorman Cemetery with the Rev. Craig Rhoton, pastor of Gorman First Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Stickley-Hill Funeral Directors of Canadian. Mr. Barton was born in Gorman. He graduated from Carbon High School and attended Cisco Junior College. He married Lisa Gilbert in 1991 at Borger. Mr. Barton was an instrument technician for Exxon Corporation for seven years. He was a member of First United Methodist Church. He moved to Miami from Dayton in March. Survivors include his wife; his mother, Ellen Hice of Baytown; his father, Bill Hice of Baytown; a daughter, Tanjay Steffen of Kingsland; three sons, Shane Barton of Nacogdoches, and Zane Barton and Rowdy Barton, both of Miami; two stepsons, Joshua Gilbert and Michael Gilbert, both of Lubbock; a sister, Debra Marion of Baytown; two half sisters, Dana Womack and Judy Barton, both of Wichita Falls; a brother, Steve Barton of Van Alstyne; and a grandson.