Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 30 June 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, June 30, 1997, 8:01 AM Amarillo John M. Johnson Jr. John "Big John'' M. Johnson Jr., 70, of Amarillo, died Thursday, June 26, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Blackburn-Shaw Martin Road Chapel, 1505 Martin Road, with the Rev. Robert Field, chaplain at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, officiating. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. MST at Tinnie Cemetery in Tinnie, N.M. Mr. Johnson was born in Roswell, N.M. He served in the Army during World War II. He was a retired truck driver. He was also a member of the Cowpunchers Association and the Church of Christ. He married Callie Rowe in 1994 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Marsha Johnson of Albuquerque, N.M.; two sons, Don Johnson of Houston and Richard Johnson of Madill, Okla.; two stepdaughters, Pat Crouch of Angleton and Kelly Gray of Houston; two stepsons, Warren and Stephen Neighbours of Lake Jackson; his mother, Elza Johnson of Roswell, N.M.; three sisters, Francis Shaver of Andrews, Opal Freeman of Roswell and Ruth Hamill of Albuquerque, N.M.; 20 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family will be at 214 E. Manzella. John Royce Rice John Royce Rice, 69, of Amarillo, died Saturday, June 28, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Southwest Church of Christ with Harry M. Whitlow, minister, officiating. Burial will be at Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are by Colonial Funeral Chapel, 1010 E. Ninth Ave. Mr. Rice was born in Hart. He was a farmer. He was a member of Amarillo Senior Citizens and Southwest Church of Christ. He married June Benton in 1949 at Clovis, N.M. She died in 1997. Survivors include a daughter, Pamela Lummus of Amarillo; three sisters, June Davis of Hart, Virginia Myrick of Amarillo, and Marion Stolcis of Galt, Calif.; and four grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Church of Christ Children's Home. Dora Hardy Hankins Dora Hardy Hankins, 91, of Amarillo, died Saturday, June 28, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Bell Avenue Chapel with the Rev. Lynn Garrett of First Baptist Church officiating. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. in Tulia Cemetery at Tulia. Arrangements are by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Mrs. Hankins was born in Hedley. She was a homemaker. She was a member of the Agape Sunday School Class, Federated Club, Interest Unlimited and the Amarillo PTA. She was also a Sunday school teacher in Tulia. She was a member of the First Baptist Church. She married H. Blake Hankins in 1949. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Marian Thompson and Barbara F. Richter, both of Amarillo; two stepdaughters, Patsy Waldrop of Sweetwater and Lois Hankins of Amarillo; five grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; a greatgreat-grandchild; six stepgrandchildren; seven stepgreat-grandchildren; and four stepgreat-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to a charity of choice. The family will receive friends from 5 to 6:30 p.m. today at the funeral home. Chester Sullivan Wattenbarger Chester Sullivan Wattenbarger, 76, of Amarillo, died Sunday, June 29, 1997. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday in Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. E.G. Lambright, Baptist minister of Smyer, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Wattenbarger was born in Nocona. He had been a resident of Amarillo since 1950. He lived in Memphis until he joined the Army, where he served in World War II and 31 months in the South Pacific. He owned Chester's Garage for 19 years. He later worked for Missouri Valley Construction for eight years before retiring. He was a member of Local No. 178 Operating Engineers and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1475. He married Ima Bea Frazier in 1946 at Childress. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Steve Wattenbarger of Albuquerque, N.M., and Gary Wattenbarger of Amarillo; and three grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, 2222 Welborn St., Dallas, Texas 75219. The family will be at 208 S. Milam St. Louise Coe Reeves Louise Coe Reeves, 84, of Amarillo, died Sunday, June 29, 1997. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Llano Cemetery with Dr. Douglas Skinner, senior minister of First Christian Church, and the Rev. William D. Nix Jr., rector of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Reeves was born in Colorado City. She had lived most of her life in Amarillo. She graduated from Amarillo High School and attended Southern Methodist University. She was an artist. She was a board member of the Amarillo Council for Alcoholism and a past board member of the Humane Society. She was a founding member of the Amarillo Art Alliance. She was a member of the Amarillo Little Theater, the Amarillo Fine Arts Association and the Amarillo Symphony Guild. She was also a member of the Junior League of Amarillo, the International Club, the Junior Antique Club, Daughters of the American Revolution and the Patron of the Arts Center. She was a longtime member of the First Christian Church and Christian Women's Fellowship Rachel Group. Survivors include two daughters, Jan Reeves Rigsby of Lubbock, and Julie Reeves Harris of Amarillo; her stepmother, Ida Belle Coe of Amarillo; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Council of Alcoholism, 616 N. Polk St., Amarillo, Texas 79107; Humane Society, 3501 S. Osage St., Amarillo, Texas 79103; or favorite charities. The family will be at 2411 S. Travis St. Canyon George Robinson Findley George Robinson Findley, 33, of Canyon, died Saturday, June 28, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in St. George's Episcopal Church, 2516 Fourth Ave., Canyon, with the Rev. John Githig of Canyon, officiating. Burial will be at Dreamland Cemetery. Arrangements are by Holley Funeral Home of Canyon. Mr. Findley was born in Amarillo. He had lived in Canyon all of his life. He was a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Amarillo. Survivors include his parents, Joseph and Nell Findley of the home; and a brother, Jay Findley of Amarillo. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. Lillie A. Dusek Lillie A. Dusek, 99, of Canyon, died Saturday, June 28, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in First United Methodist Church of Canyon with the Rev. Richard Bales officiating. A prayer service will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Kubena Funeral Home at Hallettsville. Additional services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Vsetin Czech Moravian Brethren Church with the Rev. Henry Beseda officiating. Burial will be at Vsetin Cemetery. Arrangements are by Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon. Mrs. Dusek was born in Sublime. She was involved in the American Legion Auxiliary and active in the Garden Club. She was a member of Vsetin Czech Moravian Brethren Church and an affiliate member of First United Methodist Church of Canyon. She married Charles H. Dusek in 1915 at Sublime. He died in 1969. She was preceded in death by an infant daughter. Survivors include a daughter, Marilyn Dees of Canyon; a son, Melvin W. Dusek of Victoria; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to First United Methodist Church Phase III. Building Fund. New Mexico Charles Pearson CLAYTON - Charles Pearson, 53, died Friday, June 27, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Clayton Memorial Cemetery with Rodel Liwanag, pastor of Clayton Seventh-day Adventist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Hass Funeral Directors, Inc. of Clayton. Mr. Pearson was born in Douglas, Ariz. He was raised in and around Milan, Mo., for most of his life. He graduated from Milan High School with the class of 1962. He married Fern Strawhacker in 1962 at Independence, Mo. They moved to Clayton in 1994, and he was employed by Premium Standard Farms. During his three years in Clayton, he also worked as a truck driver. Survivors include his wife; a son, Gordon E. "Gene'' Pearson of North Kansas City, Mo.; a daughter, Tina M. Lloyd of Kansas City, Mo.; his parents, Henry and Jeanette Pearson of Green Castle, Mo.; a brother, Harvey Pearson of Green Castle; and five grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Clayton Seventh-day Adventist Church. Area Herman L. Sifford ADRIAN - Herman L. Sifford, 79, died Friday, June 27, 1997. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Adrian Baptist Church with Melvin Smith, a retired pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Vega Memorial Cemetery. Arrangements are by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St., Amarillo. Mr. Sifford was born in Hammon, Okla. He joined the Army in 1944. He served on the islands of Okinawa, Manila, Saipan and Iwo Jima. He served with the 483rd Anti-aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion until 1945. He married Hazel Lorean Batteas in 1934. They moved to Texas in 1946. He was employed by the J.S. Bridwell Oil and Cattle Company from 1946 until his retirement in 1982. He received many soil conservation awards during his tenure. He worked for the city of Adrian until the onset of his illness in 1997. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Billy Leo Sifford of Bellavista, Ark., Alvin Lee Sifford and Lewis Wayne Sifford, both of Amarillo; a daughter, Peggy F. Rogers of Amarillo; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Vega Cemetery Fund or a charity of your choice. Dorothy Lorraine Coleman HEREFORD - Dorothy Lorraine Coleman, 83, died Saturday, June 28, 1997. Cremation is by Memorial Park Crematory. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40, Amarillo. Mrs. Coleman was born in Missouri. Survivors include two daughters, Jean Jacobs of Hereford and Lyn Sinclair of Billings, Mont.; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice. L.D. Messer HEDLEY - L.D. "Dudy'' Messer, 79, died Saturday, June 28, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church at Hedley with the Rev. Bryan Knowles, pastor of Martin Baptist Church in Clarendon, officiating. Burial will be at Rowe Cemetery. Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc. of Clarendon. Mr. Messer was born in McKnight, Donley County, and had lived there for 52 years before moving to Hedley in 1970. He had been a farmer most of his life before retiring in 1970. He was a longtime member of the Hedley Lions Club and a member of McKnight Baptist Church. He married Dorothy Nell Robertson in 1941 at McKnight. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Dolores Crump of Clarendon; two sons, Roger Messer of Memphis and Loyd Messer of Mountain View, Okla.; two brothers, Carrol Messer of Hedley, and C.D. Messer of Wellington; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Marie Ball WELLINGTON - Marie Ball, 94, died Saturday, June 28, 1997. Memorial graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Fairview Cemetery with the Rev. Johnny Tims, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Cremation and services by Adams Funeral Home of Wellington. Mrs. Ball was born in Cleburne. She had been a longtime resident of Wellington. She was a telephone operator for GTE for 25 years. She was a member of First Baptist Church. She married Otis Ball in 1926 at Claude. He preceded her in death in 1962. She also was preceded in death by a son, Gordon Ball. Survivors include a son, Howard Ball of Calle Siete, Calif.; a sister, Babe Leach of Wellington; and two grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity.