Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 31 Jan 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 Lonnie Riggins Lonnie Riggins, 87, of 3405 S. Rusk St., died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Trinity United Methodist Church with the Rev. Wayne Sheffield of the church officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Mr. Riggins was born in Wagoner, Okla., and had lived in Amarillo for 32 years. He married Nell R. Robison in 1964 at Amarillo. He lived in England and Belgium while working as a mechanical engineer for Phillips Petroleum. He was a Methodist and a member of the Professional English Club. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Jennie Lou Touschman of Houston and Diana Sue Calvin of Katy; three stepdaughters, Barbara Crawford of Amarillo, Suzann Gulley of Parker, Colo., and Janet Baughman of Mine Hill, N.J.; a stepson, Levi Robison of Weatherford, Okla.; two grandchildren; seven stepgrandchildren; seven stepgreat-grandchildren; and a stepgreat-great-grandchild. The family will be at 3405 S. Rusk St. They suggest memorials be to Trinity United Methodist Church. Elmer L. Miller Elmer L. Miller, 92, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Jan. 28, 1997, in Lubbock. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Llano Cemetery Mausoleum with the Rev. Bill Brashears officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mr. Miller was born in Barnard, Mo. He graduated from Chadron State College in Nebraska. He taught school and coached in Nebraska for several years before moving to Amarillo in 1929. He was a metallurgist at ASARCO for 41 years before retiring in 1970. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church and Palo Duro Masonic Lodge, where he was a past master and recently received his endowed membership. He married Ila Fern Scriven in 1929 at Amarillo. She died in 1990. Survivors include a son, Duane Miller of Lubbock; a daughter, Joyce Stuart of Lago Vista; a sister, Genevive Rogers of Chadron; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Sojourn House, Box 65145, Lubbock, Texas 79464. Mildred Brock Mildred Brock, 92, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Jan. 30, 1997. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Llano Cemetery with Kerry Spinks officiating. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Martin Road Chapel, 1505 Martin Road. Mrs. Brock was born in Tennessee. She lived in Vernon before moving to Amarillo. She was a homemaker. She married Dave Brock in 1953 at Frederick, Okla. He died in 1969. Survivors include three daughters, Marjorie Early, Ruth White and Dorthia Hamilton, all of Amarillo; a son, R.L. Foster of Wichita Falls; two brothers, Walter Mowery and Boyce Mowery, both of Lubbock; 11 grandchildren; 16 greatgrandchildren; and 11 great-great-grandchildren. Mary Lockett Richardson Mary Lockett Richardson, 94, of Amarillo, died Monday, Jan. 27, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. B.F. Roberts Jr. of the church and the Rev. James M. Mims of New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery at Dalhart by Golden Gate Mortuary, 1416 N. Hughes St. Mrs. Richardson was born in Bryantsmill. She was a member of the Church of Christ in Dalhart. She moved to Amarillo in 1981 from Dalhart. Survivors include two daughters, Margie McQueen of Amarillo and Ophelia Hunnicutt of Wichita Falls; a sister, Emma Kate Williams of Atlanta, Texas; 35 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; and 38 great-great-grandchildren. The family 1936 N.W. 14th Ave. The body will be available for viewing for the family only. Carla Stewart Carla Stewart, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Memorial Park Funeral Home East Mausoleum, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with Keith Boutwell, chaplain at St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Miss Stewart was born in Clarendon and had been a lifetime resident of Amarillo. She was a secretary for Levi Strauss for 15 years. Survivors include two brothers, Bob Stewart and Sam Stewart, both of Riesel; two stepbrothers, Roy Grimes of Dallas and John Grimes of Florida; five sisters, Pat Bumelis and Claudia Dowdle, both of Riesel, Paula Meyer of Flower Mound, Janice Haverkamp of Waco and Edna Herod of Lubbock; stepmother, Audrey Stewart of Riesel; and a special friend, LaRue Fowler of Amarillo. The family requests memorials be to St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176-0001. Ruth Tramba Ruth Tramba, 86, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 1997, in Grapevine. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Primitive Baptist Church with the Rev. R.A. Tindall, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mrs. Tramba was born in Olustee, Okla. She married Charles Tramba in 1948. He died this month. She had been a homemaker most of her life and a member of Primitive Baptist Church. Survivors include six daughters, Charlene Falke and Marva Dereich, both of Amarillo, Wanda Cole of Levelland, Shirley Martin and Karen Struble, both of Anthony, Kan., and Beverly Caralie of Grapevine; a sister, Myrtle Greer of Amarillo; 16 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. Ruby Lee Smith Ruby Lee Smith, 97, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Citizen's Cemetery at Clarendon with Chester O'Brien of First Baptist Church officiating. Arrangements are by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mrs. Smith taught school in Oklahoma, Amarillo and El Paso for 30 years. She was a member of First Baptist Church, the University Women and the local, district and state level of the Retired Teachers Association. Survivors include a great-niece, Barbara Ferguson of Dalhart. The family requests memorials be to the University Women or First Baptist Church. Jim C. Nash Jim C. Nash, 60, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Jan. 30, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in San Jacinto United Methodist Church with Bill Fitzgerald officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mr. Nash was born in Hedley and had lived in Amarillo most of his life. He graduated from Amarillo High School in 1955. He married Kattie Thomason in 1956 at Tucumcari, N.M. He was in the lumber business for more than 33 years, retiring from Canyon Drive Lumber. He was a member of the Panhandle Home Builders Association, the National Campers & Hikers Association and the Amarillo Chapter of the Thoroughbred Association. He was a musician and had performed at the Grand Ol' Opry. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Robin Lynne McKillip, Christina Dee Woodward and Perrie Gilmore, all of Amarillo; five sons, Jimmy D. Nash and Blane Nash, both of Amarillo, Micah Lee Nash of Poncha Springs, Colo., Robert Wayne Nash of Lake Charles, La., and Loren Nash of Canada; a sister, Lena Mae Morris of Amarillo; 25 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family requests memorials be to San Jacinto United Methodist Church. Quang Le Quang Le, 63, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Le was a meatpacker for IBP inc. He served in the Vietnam Army. He was a member of the Buddhist Temple. Survivors include his wife, Nguyen Thi Tien; three sons, Le Thanh Tam, Le Thanh Liem and Le Thi Hoa, all of Vietnam; a daughter, Le Thanh Si of Vietnam; three brothers in Vietnam; and two sisters in Vietnam. Clyde Simmons Clyde Simmons, 68, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Azleland Memorial Park Cemetery Chapel at Azle with the Rev. Richard Corn, pastor of Silver Creek Baptist Mission at Azle, officiating. Burial will be in Azleland Memorial Park at Azle by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St., in Amarillo. Mr. Simmons was born in Jefferson County, Ala. He moved to Amarillo in 1992 from Azle. He married Frances Wadsworth in 1967 at Birmingham, Ala. He was a Navy veteran. He was a truck driver for many years in Birmingham. He also worked for General Dynamics in Fort Worth before retiring in 1972. He was a member of Elmgrove Baptist Church at Azle. He was preceded in death by a son, Michael McGill, in 1978. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Brenda Bunch of Amarillo; four sisters, Mary Burtram and Elouise Simmons, both of Birmingham, and Sue Tyler and Gail Pierce, both of Pinson, Ala.; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials in lieu of flowers be to St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79106. The body will be available for viewing at the funeral home from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today. Oklahoma Julia Catherine Seymour Daily GUYMON, Okla. - Julia Catherine "Mom" Seymour Daily, 75, died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 1997. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Henson-Novak Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Steve Robinson, pastor of First Free Will Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Elmhurst Cemetery. Mrs. Daily was born in Grandview, Texas. She spent her early years in Dumas, Texas. She moved to Guymon in 1950 and had lived there since. She was a Baptist. She was preceded in death by three husbands, Russell Eastland, Glen Seymour and Troy Daily. Survivors include two daughters, Edith Harmon and Sharon Seymour, both of Guymon; five sons, Paul Eastland of Wichita, Kan., David Eastland of Hugoton, Kan., Glen Seymour of Eddyville, Ky., and Clifford Seymour and Billy Seymour, both of Guymon; 21 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Friends may visit the funeral home from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and before the services on Saturday. Area Glynis Dunn Storey STINNETT - Glynis Dunn Storey, 32, died Monday, Jan. 27, 1997, in Montgomery, Ala. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Christian Church of Stinnett with the Rev. Billy Holland, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Cemetery by Brown Funeral Directors of Borger. Mrs. Storey was born in Sidney, Neb., and had been a resident of Montgomery for 11/2 years. She had been a secretary for Country's Bar-B-Q Inc., and was a member of the Assembly of God Church at Kimball, Neb. Survivors include her husband, John Joseph; a son, Jeremy Schadegg of Montgomery; a daughter, Clarissa Bachman of Montgomery; her parents, Jesse and Gail Dunn of Stinnett; four brothers, Tracy Lynn Dunn and Wesley D. Dunn, both of Cheyenne, Wyo., Lesley C. Dunn of Denver and Bryan E. Dunn of Kimball; three sisters, Vivian Renae Robertson of Midland, Rhonda Sue Keidel of Borger and Jessie Clydean Yetter of Winnemucca, Nev. The family suggests memorials be to Sunset Memorial Cemetery or the American Diabetes Association. Emma B. Lake FRITCH - Emma B. Lake, 91, died Tuesday, Jan. 28, 1997, in Borger. Services were at 2 p.m. Thursday in Gish Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Vernon Floyd, pastor of Bible Baptist Church, officiating. Burial was in Frederick Memorial Cemetery by Brown Funeral Directors of Borger. Ms. Lake was born in Seminole County, Indian Territory, and had been a Fritch resident for 12 years. She was a telephone operator at Frederick, Okla., before retiring. Survivors include a sister, Rosa Rector of Arlington; and a nephew, Bob L. Kays of Fritch. and four nieces. Michael Edward Shenkel BORGER - Michael Edward Shenkel, 31, died Friday, Jan. 24, 1997. Cremation will be by Brown Funeral Directors. Mr. Shenkel was born in Salem, Ohio, and had lived in Borger for two years. Survivors include his mother, Lula B. Shenkel of Borger; his father, Edward George Shenkel of Salem; two brothers, George Edward Shenkel of Borger and Jerry Santee of Beloit, Ohio; and a sister, Teri Kane of Morganton, N.C. Verna Drake TULIA - Verna Dawson Drake, 96, died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Rose Hill Cemetery with Eugene Johnson, pastor of Seventh-day Adventist Church in Nashville, Tenn., officiating. Arrangements are by Wallace Funeral Home. Mrs. Drake was born in Eastland. She moved to Tulia in 1918 with her family and attended school in Tulia. She attended college at Canyon and taught school in the Flint community for several years. She married Floyd Drake in 1924 at Tulia. He died in 1962. She also was preceded in death by a son, Charles Drake, in 1993. She was a homemaker and a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Survivors include two daughters, Emogene Evenson of Gentry, Ark., and Rose Johnson of Nashville; two sisters, Alleta Flint of Tulia and Rie Ford of Denton; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Lillian Stapleton SUNRAY - Lillian Stapleton, 83, died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 1997. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Daniel Echols, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Lane Memorial Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mrs. Stapleton was born in Odell and had been a Sunray resident for the past 18 years. She was a homemaker and a member of First United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Edward Stapleton, in 1988. Survivors include a daughter, Betty Cowell of Alpine; two sons, Donald Stapleton of Amarillo and James C. Stapleton of Duncanville; a sister, Emma Jean Kveton of Baytown; and a brother, Charlie Brooks Bucy of Lincoln, Neb. The family will be at 600 Floyd in Dumas or 909 Avenue Q in Sunray. They request memorials be to a favorite charity. Galen Wade Prather PLAINVIEW - Galen Wade Prather, 54, died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Wood-Dunning Funeral Home Colonial Chapel with Leslie Welch of Seth Ward Baptist and Bryan Gaskin of Plainview officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park with military graveside rites by the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Mr. Prather was born in Hobbs, N.M., and graduated from Snyder High School. He moved to Plainview in 1962. He married Jo Thomason in 1990 at Plainview. He retired from Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. He served in the 82nd Airborne in the Vietnam War. He was an officer and past commander of the American Legion No. 260 and an officer of the Veterans of Foreign Wars No. 5399. He was a Baptist and a member of the Kiwanis Club. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Belinda Prather-Martin of Clyde; a son, Shawn Prather of Clyde; a stepson, Bobby Gaskin of Plainview; his parents, Raymond and Tommie Prather of Plainview; a brother, Kelton Prather of Mabank; and five grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Diabetes Association or Texas Affiliate Inc. Merle White WELLINGTON - Merle White, 92, died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Church of Christ with Terry Hightower, minister, officiating. Burial will be in North Fairview Cemetery by Adams Funeral Home. Mrs. White was born in Montague County and moved to Collingsworth County with her family when she was a small child. She graduated from Wellington High School in 1921, from Clarendon College in 1923 and from West Texas State College in 1947. She taught school at Quail, Swearingen, Midway and Bray. She also taught in Wellington from 1943 until retiring in 1979. She was an active member of the Church of Christ. She married William Lesley White in 1925 at Wellington. He died in 1996. Survivors include a son, Alfred White of Claude; a daughter, Betty Ribble of Albuquerque, N.M.; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Westview Boys Home in Hollis, Okla. Elsewhere N.B. Taylor Jr. CROWLEY, La. - N.B. Taylor Jr., 75, died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 1997. Rosary was recited at 7 p.m. Thursday in St. Michael Catholic Church by Monsignor Paul Metrejean. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in St. Michael Catholic Church. Burial will be in Woodlawn Mausoleum by Geesey Ferguson Funeral Home. Mr. Taylor was a Navy veteran of World War II. He was an elementary and secondary education teacher for 38 years, having taught at Avoyelles, Baton Rouge and Acadia Parishes. He was the first adult education teacher in Acadia Parish. He was a member of the American Legion Post No. 15 at Crowley and the Louisiana Retired Teachers Association. He was preceded in death by three wives, Neely Ann Coussan Taylor, Ruby Trumps Taylor and Catherine Cuccio Taylor. Survivors include two sons, Dale Taylor of Crowley and Darryl Taylor of Amarillo; two stepsons, Ray Guidry and Hubert Guidry, both of Crowley; four brothers, Ed Taylor, Emmitt Taylor and Arthur Taylor, all of Jonesville, and Jimmy Taylor of Gardiner; a sister, Verda Wiley of Winnfield; three grandchildren; two greatgrandchildren; five stepgrandchildren; and two stepgreat-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the American Cancer Society or Hospice of Acadiana. Grady Allen Weldon CANTON - Grady Allen Weldon, 53, of Whitney, a former Canton resident, died Tuesday, Jan. 28, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Eubank Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Eddy Johnson, the Rev. Michael Stevens and the Rev. Karl Ogdie officiating. Burial will be in Elm Grove Cemetery at Van Zandt County. Mr. Weldon was born in Dallas County. He was a former resident of the Canton area, where he attended Walnut Springs Bible Baptist Church. He also was the bus minister and children's church pastor. He had lived in Whitney for the past eight years. He was an elevator mechanic and a member of Missionary Baptist Church at Whitney. Survivors include his wife, Keteth "Kay" Weldon of Whitney; two sons, Frankie Weldon of Wills Point and Lee Wayne Weldon of Amarillo; four daughters, Vi Mays of Terrell, Lynn Brown and Gradena Phipps, both of Canyon, and Paulina Kay Flynn of Howe; three brothers, Emory Weldon Jr. and Jerry Don Weldon, both of Canton, and Steve Blaylock of Athens; three sisters, Mary Thompson of Phalba, Mildred Hettich of Mesquite and Patricia Jurusik of Rosemont, Minn.; 17 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family will receive visitors from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. John William Barber FOWLER, Kan. - John William Barber, 68, died Tuesday, Jan. 28, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Christian Church with Doug Vasey, pastor, officiating. Cremation will follow the services. Arrangements are by FidlerOrme Mortuary of Meade. Mr. Barber was born in Wyaconda, Mo. His family moved to Pampa, Texas, in 1959 and lived there until 1970. He worked in the Pampa and White Deer, Texas, area. In 1970, he moved to Liberal. He had been a resident of Fowler for the past 14 years. He was the owner of Barber Irrigation in Fowler. Survivors include his wife, Beverly Chestnut Barber; his ex-wife, Juanita Buford Barber Cox; three sons, Billy Joe Barber of Fort Worth, Texas, Steven Mark Barber of Houston and David Lawrence Barber of Arlington, Texas; three daughters, Dianna Lynne Barber McCoy of the Pampa area, Brenda Gail Barber Pelegrin of Oklahoma City and Lisa Gertrude Barber Jones of Fort Worth; two stepsons, Charles Carr of Middleton, Okla., and David Chestnut of Amarillo; two stepdaughters, Peggy Chestnut Price of Liberal and Billie Jean Chestnut Smith of Fowler; 19 grandchildren; 14 stepgrandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Stanley Trahern BOWIE - Stanley "Stan" Trahern, 67, died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Burgess-Fry-Owens-Brumley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jamie Reed, pastor of East Side Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Newport Cemetery at Newport. Mr. Trahern was born in Liberal, Kan. He had been a resident of Bowie for 27 years. He retired as a transmission mechanic. Survivors include his wife, Mary Trahern; a daughter, Connie Henry of Garden City, Kan.; two sons, Gene Sky of Chandler, Ariz., Daryl Hertel of Garden City; a stepson, Michael Hill of Muenster; five stepdaughters, Debra Heaton and Venita Brogdon, both of Fort Worth, Daylene Dishman of Nocona, and Shirley Stevens and Karen Naples, both of Amarillo; his mother, Frances Trahern of Satanta, Kan.; two sisters, Louise Sckminke of Wichita, Kan., and Shirley Trimpa of Sublette, Kan.; two brothers, Sidney Trahern of Apache Junction, Ariz., and Boyce E. Trahern of Bowie; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. today at the funeral home.