Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 29 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 29, 1997, 6:51 AM Amarillo Garnett Simek Garnett Simek, 87, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Aug. 27, 1997. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. today in Memory Gardens Cemetery with the Rev. Sherman Eastland, chaplain at Northwest Texas Hospital, officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mrs. Simek was born in Neleigh, Neb. She moved to Amarillo in 1987 from Rockford, Ill. She was a Methodist and worked as a waitress. She married Harry Simek in 1963 at Omaha, Neb. He died in 1989. Survivors include a sister, Chrystal Cook of Amarillo; and a nephew, Bryce Cook of Amarillo. Jack E. Appleby Jack E. Appleby, 66, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Aug. 27, 1997. Graveside services will be at 3:30 p.m. today in Llano East Cemetery with Dr. Paul Richardson, pastor of Rockwell Road Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home Inc., 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Appleby was born in Sioux City, Iowa. He was an Army veteran, serving from 1949-1953 as a sergeant in the Korean War. He was a truck driver for 43 years before retiring. He was a bull rider. Survivors include his wife, Linda Appleby; four daughters, Debbie Linn, Diane Spruill and Bonnie Smith, all of Amarillo, and Barbara Whisenhunt of Grand Prairie; a son, Jackie Appleby of St. Petersburg, Fla.; two stepdaughters, Larisa Dilly of Lubbock and Tarisa Anthony of Illinois; his mother, Julia Alice Appleby of Bettendorf, Iowa; two sisters, Evalyn Van Zandbergen of Iowa and Ellen Hedger of Illinois; a brother, William Appleby of Iowa; 13 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and six stepgrandchildren. The family will be at 4870 Broadway Drive. They request memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice. Peggy Z. Collins Peggy Z. Collins, 66, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Aug. 27, 1997. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. today in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. today in Covenant Presbyterian Church with her son-in-law, the Rev. Tom Thomson of First United Methodist Church of Abilene; her son, Bryan Collins of Denton Community Church; and nephew, Jimmy Edwards, pastor of Lakeview / Channing United Methodist churches, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Collins was born in Hedley and had lived in Amarillo most of her life. She was a self-employed bookkeeper. She was a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church and the Gideons Auxiliary and a lifetime member of Presbyterian Women. She married Kenneth Collins in 1953 at Amarillo. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Carol Thomson of Abilene; a son, Bryan Collins of Denton; two brothers, Bruce Edwards and Jack Edwards, both of Amarillo; three sisters, Sue Dehart, Alma Thomas and Jonadel "Jonny'' Wood, all of Amarillo; and five grandchildren. The family will be at 4504 Mesa. They request memorials be to Gideons International or Covenant Presbyterian Church. Bill Bailey Bill "Johnny'' Bailey, 71, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Aug. 27, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors Bell Avenue Chapel, 5400 Bell St., with Dr. Stan Coffey, pastor of San Jacinto Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mr. Bailey was born in Sayre, Okla., and moved to Amarillo in 1961. He was an Army veteran, serving in France and Germany during World War II. He received a Purple Heart. He worked for the city of Amarillo for 27 years in the water reclamation department. He was a member of San Jacinto Baptist Church and a driver for Meals on Wheels. He married Lou Smith in 1947 at Borger. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Patty Bailey. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Karen Terrell of Houston; three sons, Wayne Bailey, Bruce Bailey and Rodney Bailey, all of Amarillo; a brother, Thomas Bailey of Tulsa, Okla.; a sister, Clair Martin of Metaire, La.; 10 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren. The family will be at 206 Independence. They request memorials be to Meals on Wheels or the television ministry at San Jacinto Baptist Church. Alfredo Montoya Alfredo Montoya, 83, of 1004 E. 21st Ave., died Wednesday, Aug. 27, 1997. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. today in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church by the Rev. Michael Colwell. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St. Mr. Montoya was born in Fort Sumner, N.M. He moved to Amarillo in 1959 from Clovis, N.M. He worked for Santa Fe Railway for nine years and was a custodian for the Amarillo Independent School District. He married Catherine Cervantez in 1959 at Clovis. Mr. Montoya was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church and attended Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Delia Rodriquez and Frances Rodriquez, both of Amarillo, and Beatrice Riley of Quanah; three sons, Alfredo Montoya Jr., Steven Montoya and Albert Montoya, all of Amarillo; a sister, Linda Montoya of Los Angeles; a brother, Larry Montoya of San Diego; 17 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren. The family will be at 1607 Currie. William George Bohachef William George Bohachef, 82, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Aug. 27, 1997. Graveside services will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery at Hollywood Hills, Calif. Arrangements are by Forest Lawn Mortuary and Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Bohachef was born in Brothertown, Wis., and had lived in Amarillo since 1996. He retired from Lockheed Aircraft Corp. as an aerospace inspector. He was a member of Lockheed Retirement Club and a Catholic. His wife, Lois Hotchkiss, died in 1993. Survivors include four daughters, Janet Bohachef of Amarillo, Diane Margrave of Valencia, Calif., Ann Chadney of Glendale, Calif., and Judith Gordon of Colorado; nine grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Robert F. Wood Robert F. Wood, 78, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Aug. 27, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in South Lawn Baptist Church with the Rev. Jeff Messer, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Wood was born in Wichita Falls and had lived in Amarillo since 1945. He retired from Sears after 23 years of service. He was a member of South Lawn Baptist Church, where he attended the Rebecca Sunday School Class. Mr. Wood was an Army veteran of World War II. He served in the 142nd Infantry, Company C, in North Africa and Italy. He was a POW for 20 months in Germany. He married Grace Wood in 1949 at Ballenger. She died in July. Survivors include a daughter, Pam Baldwin of Amarillo; a son, Doug Wood of Amarillo; two brothers, Carl Wood of Ballenger and Ray Wood of Austin; three sisters, Nettie McMillan of Midland, Winona Watson of Palachas and Jean Heck of Booneville, Ind.; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family will be at 2809 John Drive. They request memorials be to South Lawn Baptist Church, 4306 S. Washington St., Amarillo, Texas 79110. Elsewhere Hank Rogers KERRICK - Hank Rogers, 75, died Thursday, Aug. 28, 1997. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church in Stratford with the Rev. Jerry Stewart, pastor, and the Rev. Billy Rammage, pastor of First Baptist Church in Clayton, N.M., officiating. Private burial for the family will be in Stratford Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mr. Rogers was born in Hale County and had been a longtime Dallam County resident. He moved to Kerrick in 1963 and farmed and ranched there. Mr. Rogers served in the Navy during World War II. He was a member of First Baptist Church. He was a longtime Mason and the director of Dallam County Farm Bureau for 20 years and Dallam County Soil Conservation Service for 25 years. He married Mabel Murdock in 1943 at Kerrick. He was preceded in death by a son, Eddie Rogers in 1977, and a daughter, Carol Sue Rogers in 1978. Survivors include his wife; a son, David Rogers of Kerrick; a sister, Pluma Lee Palmer of Dalhart; and two grandsons. The family will be at the family home on Rogers Road in Kerrick. They request memorials be to the Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson St., Amarillo, Texas 79101; or the First Baptist Church renovation fund, P.O. Box 390, Stratford, Texas 79084. Marie Bridwell LUBBOCK - Marie Bridwell, 100, died Thursday, Aug. 28, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Resthaven Memorial Park with the Rev. John Brown Bridwell, retired minister from Amarillo, officiating. Arrangements are by Sanders Funeral Home. Mrs. Bridwell was born in Bedford, Ind. She graduated from high school in Bedford and attended Butler University in Indianapolis. She married the Rev. Harry Travis Bridwell in 1919 at Olitie, Ind. They moved to Lubbock in 1972 from Columbus, Ohio. He died in 1977. Mrs. Bridwell served in churches in Indiana, New York, Ontario and West Virginia. She volunteered for Contact Lubbock for many years and was a member of Lubbockview Christian Church. Survivors include two sons, the Rev. John Brown Bridwell of Amarillo and Dr. Travis Bridwell of Lubbock; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family request memorials be to Lubbockview Christian Church. Oklahoma Alma Wilhelmina Heimsoth Wright GUYMON, Okla. - Alma Wilhelmina Heimsoth Wright, 85, died Thursday, Aug. 28, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church with Mark Wescoatt, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery by Henson-Novak Funeral Directors. Mrs. Wright was born in Cole Camp, Mo. Her family pioneered to Texas County in 1916, first moving to the Eula community and later settling north of Optima. She attended Friendship and Victory country schools and later attended Trinity Lutheran Parochial School. Mrs. Wright was active in the family farming and ranching business near Optima. She was a lifelong member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. She married Paul Wright in 1959 at Clayton, N.M. He died in 1987. Survivors include a sister, Leona Gerdsen of Canyon, Texas. An Alma Wright memorial has been established for the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church building fund. Memorials will be accepted at the church office or the funeral home. Area John Edwin Stafford PAMPA - John Edwin Stafford, 73, died Wednesday, Aug. 27, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with Dr. Jim Prock, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Stafford was born in Bristow, Okla., and was a longtime resident of Pampa. He worked for Phillips Petroleum for 33 years, retiring in 1985. He was a member of First Baptist Church. He was a Navy veteran serving during World War II. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War. He had been a Boy Scout leader for 25 years. He married Joveda Kendrick in 1943 at San Diego. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Judy Schwer of Las Vegas; a son, John Stafford of Pampa; and four grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the American Diabetes Association, 8140 North MoPac, Bldg. 1, Suite 130, Austin, Texas 78759. Jon C. Wilde CLAUDE - Jon C. Wilde, 54, a former longtime Amarillo resident, died Wednesday, Aug. 27, 1997. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Claude Cemetery with Kent Watson of Claude Church of Christ officiating. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St., Amarillo. Mr. Wilde was born in Amarillo and moved to Claude in 1995. He was an Army veteran of the Vietnam War, where he served three tours. He retired in 1976 as a staff sergeant after 17 years of service. He received the Purple Heart in 1969. Survivors include two stepdaughters, Robin Wilde and Kari Wilde, both of Pampa; a stepson, Tim Johnson of Pampa; five sisters, Janie Ledesma of Biloxi, Miss., Jorene Robertson of Claude, Zelpha Dean of Laurinburg, N.C., Sarah Ann McMahan of Laurel Hill, N.C., and Linda Lou Lasher of Rockwall; two brothers, Robert Wilde of Miami, Texas, and James Wilde of Laurinburg; and two grandchildren. The family will be at 601 Goodnight in Claude. Barbara Ellen Huddleston BORGER - Barbara Ellen Huddleston, 49, of Bowlegs, Okla., formerly of Borger, died Monday, Aug. 25, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Brown Funeral Directors Chapel of the Fountains with the Rev. William Burns officiating. Burial will be in Highland Park Cemetery. Mrs. Huddleston was born in Pueblo, Colo., and was a former Borger resident. She was a Baptist. Survivors include her husband, Vernon; two sons, Kelly Joe Huddleston and Philip Dean Huddleston, both of Bowlegs; a daughter, Dawn Elizabeth Huddleston of Bowlegs; three sisters, Betty Young of Porum, Okla., Joan Malone of Canadian and Ramona Melton of Borger; her mother, Frances Goltry of Borger; and four grandchildren. Charlie Bell HEREFORD - Charlie Bell, 70, died Tuesday, Aug. 26, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First United Methodist Church with Dr. Tom Fuller, pastor, and Dr. James Bell of First United Methodist Church in Clarendon officiating. Burial will be in West Park Cemetery by Gililland-Watson Funeral Home. Mr. Bell was born near Plainview. He graduated from Hale Center High School in 1944. He received a bachelor of science degree from West Texas State College in 1949 and a master of music education degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1952. He had been the band director at Panhandle High School, Fort Stockton High School, Cisco High School and Cisco Junior College before moving to Hereford in 1956 to direct the Hereford bands. Mr. Bell became a life insurance underwriter in 1959 and continued in the field until his recent retirement. He was a member of the Hereford Lions Club, where he had served as president and longtime song director. He also was a charter member of the Hereford Hustlers and co-host of the Chamber of Commerce Fun Breakfast. He was a Shriner and played with the Khiva Shrine Stage Band and served as president of the Oasis Shrine Club. Mr. Bell also was a Master Mason and a member of Hereford Lodge 849 AF&AM and the Alpine Commandery 090 and the Fort Stockton Blue Lodge No. 391. He was an active member of First United Methodist Church and the Fellowship Sunday School Class. He served as chairman of the administration board of the church. He was the 1985 recipient of the Bull Chip Award in recognition of his community service. He was a member of the board of directors of the Hereford Camp Fire Council and taught riflery at summer camp for many years. He was a member of the Deaf Smith County Child Welfare Board. He was an Army veteran, serving from 1946-1948, and a member of the American Legion. He married Margaret Lair in 1948 at Canyon. Survivors include his wife; a son, David Bell of Austin; three daughters, Becky Williams of Canyon, Sara Belknap of Austin and Kathi Lee of Canyon; a brother, James Bell of Clarendon; four sisters, Joyce Teague of Palos Verdes Estates, Jolene Bledsoe of Hereford, Bernice Schmidt of Roseville, Calif., and Cecelia Jenkins of Clifton; and eight grandchildren. The family suggests memorials in lieu of flowers be to the organ fund of the First United Methodist Church. Jamie Evans Skalsky DALHART - Jamie Evans Skalsky, 21, died Wednesday, Aug. 27, 1997. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with Jimmye Cole, pastor of Church of the Nazarene, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Hass Funeral Home. Mrs. Skalsky was born in Amarillo. She was raised in Dalhart and attended Dalhart schools. She was active in basketball and FFA and was a member of Who's Who Among American High School Students. Survivors include her husband, Adam Skalsky of Hartley; a son, Kaleb Robert Skalsky of Hartley; her parents, Jack and Jody Evans of Dalhart; two sisters, Jacky Garcia of Sunray and Kaycee Evans of Sentinel, Okla.; two brothers, Colby Andris of Sentinel and Brandon Perkins of Thomas, Okla.; and her grandparents, M.T. and Edith Joe King of Ringling, Okla., and Clint and Joy Evans of Pampa. Jose G. Rodriguez HEREFORD - Jose G. Rodriguez, 72, died Thursday, Aug. 28, 1997. Prayer services were at 7 p.m. Thursday in Gililland-Watson Funeral Home Rose Chapel. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in Rose Chapel. Services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday in San Jose Catholic Church with the Rev. Joe Bixenman of Pampa officiating. Burial will be in St. Anthony's Catholic Cemetery. Mr. Rodriguez was born in Melvin. He moved to Deaf Smith County from Sonora in 1948. He worked for Santa Fe Railway. He was a member of Cursillistas and the San Jose Prayer Group. He married Paula Garcia in 1952 at Hereford. He was preceded in death by a son, Frank Rodriguez. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Roy Rodriguez of Hereford and Joe Rodriguez Jr. of Greeley, Colo.; four daughters, Sylvia Ortega of Penitas, and Amelia Pesina, Norma Reyes and Janie Rodriguez, all of Hereford; 13 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Harley Ward HEREFORD - Harley Ward, 85, died Thursday, Aug. 28, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Parkside Chapel. Mr. Ward moved from Morton to Hereford in 1951. He farmed in Hereford for a number of years before retiring. He was a member of Church of the Brethren in Clovis, N.M. He married Lorena Ward in 1936 at Clovis. She died in 1993. He was preceded in death by a son, Richard Ward, in 1974. Survivors include a son, Gayland Ward of Hereford; a daughter, Phyllis Brown of Hereford; three brothers, Clinton Ward of Bovina, and Kenneth Ward and Ernest Ward, both of Clovis; three sisters, Lois Stoddard of Amarillo, Joyce Roddy of Morton and Doris Koenig of Clovis; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice. John Preston Senter PLAINVIEW - John Preston Senter, 77, died Wednesday, Aug. 27, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Wood-Dunning Funeral Home Colonial Chapel with Lewis Senter, pastor, and Coy Cook of Midland officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park. Mr. Senter was born in Big Spring. After World War II, he farmed there before moving to Plainview in 1949. He retired from farming in 1982. He was a member of 11th and Amarillo Street Church of Christ. Mr. Senter served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He married Daisy Speakman in 1950 at Lancashire, England. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Dorothy Sanders of Clovis; a son, Mike Senter of Grand Junction, Colo.; a sister, Hazel Callaway of San Angelo; two grandchildren; and two stepgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the 11th and Amarillo Street Church of Christ building fund or a hospice.