Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 31 May 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; Saturday, May 31, 1997, 6:34 AM Amarillo Mary Ellen Martin Jackson Mary Ellen Martin Jackson, 87, of Amarillo, died Thursday, May 29, 1997. Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday in Ellis Funeral Home at Nashville, Tenn. Burial will be in Spring Hill Cemetery at Nashville. Local arrangements were by Schooler Funeral Home Inc., 4100 S. Georgia St. Other arrangements are by Ellis Funeral Home of Nashville. Mrs. Jackson was born in Nashville and had lived in Amarillo since 1960. She was a homemaker and a member of Paramount Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by a son, Thomas Guilford Clark. Survivors include her husband, John W. Jackson; a son, Ronald M. Martin of Nashville; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ruby Winter Ruby Winter, 83, of Amarillo, died Thursday, May 29, 1997. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. today in Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Ed Williams of Southwest Baptist Church officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home Inc., 4100 S. Georgia St. Mrs. Winter was born in Okeene, Okla., and moved to Amarillo in 1955. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray Winter, in 1988. She was a homemaker and a member of Bykota Baptist Church. Survivors include a daughter, Twila Nightengale Barker of Amarillo; a son, Dwight "Sonny'' Winter of Canyon; seven grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the library at Bykota Southern Baptist Church, 4022 N.E. 26th Ave., Amarillo, Texas 79107-4430. Eva Dunbar Stephenson Eva Dunbar Stephenson, 86, of Amarillo, died Friday, May 30, 1997. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in First Presbyterian Church at Pampa with Dr. Edwin Cooley, pastor, officiating. Additional memorial services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in Ware Memorial Care Center at Amarillo. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Mrs. Stephenson was born in Longton, Kan. She taught in Kansas schools before marrying P.E. "Red'' Stephenson in 1933. He died in 1968. Mrs. Stephenson had lived in the Texas Panhandle since her marriage. She and her husband owned T. Mountain Resort in Lake City, Colo.; she operated the business for 16 summers. She was a founding member of the Hinsdale County Historical Society and Museum in Lake City and a member of First Presbyterian Church in Pampa. Survivors include a son, Philip Stephenson of Carrollton; a daughter, Kay L. Hill of Midland; a sister, Eulalia Bird of Longton; and a grandson. The family requests memorials be to the Hinsdale County Historical Society, P.O. Box 100, Lake City, Colo., 81235; the Book of Remembrance of First Presbyterian Church of Pampa; or the Alzheimer's Association. The body will not be available for viewing. New Mexico Mary L. Brown PORTALES, N.M. - Mary L. "Pete'' Brown, 68, died Thursday, May 29, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Third and Kilgore Church of Christ with Kenneth Broad and Larry Foster officiating. Burial will be in Portales Cemetery by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales Inc. Mrs. Brown was born in Old Glory. She moved to Portales in 1941 from Aspermont, Texas. She graduated from Portales High School in 1946. After high school, she worked at Portales City Hall. She later worked at the Montgomery Ward store until 1964 when she began working at Bishop Printing in Portales. She worked in the printing business until 1983 when she retired. Mrs. Brown was a life member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Bronson Cutting Post No. 3299 at Portales. She held every office in the organization and had also served at the state level. She was a member of Southside Church of Christ and studied genealogy. She married Gordon L. Brown in 1953 at Fort Sumner. Survivors include her husband; three sons, Greg Brown and Benny Bowman, both of Portales, and Marlin Brown of Clovis; two daughters, Sandy Bennett of Clovis and Ouida Aday of Las Cruces; a sister, Doris Wicker of Clovis; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the American Cancer Society or the New Mexico Christian Children's Home. Bern Arellano TUCUMCARI, N.M. - Bern Arellano, 66, died Wednesday, May 28, 1997. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday in Dunn Funeral Home Memorial Chapel. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Anne's Catholic Church by the Rev. John C. Daniel. Mr. Arellano was born in Mills and had been a resident of Tucumcari for the past 47 years. He had served in the Army and was employed by the Tucumcari Police Department for 14 years. He retired from the Quay County Road Department. He was a member of St. Anne's Catholic Church in Tucumcari. Survivors include his wife, Rose; two sons, Patrick Arellano of Tucumcari and David Arellano of Pendleton, Ore.; two daughters, Rosalee Arellano and Carolee Arellano, both of Tucumcari; two sisters, Caroline Martinez of Albuquerque and Mary Sanchez of Los Lunas; and a grandson. The body will be available for viewing at the funeral home from Friday afternoon until time for Mass. Elsewhere Pat A. Lankford MAGNOLIA - Pat A. Lankford, 73, a former Amarillo resident, died Saturday, May 24, 1997. Graveside services were at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Klein Memorial Park Cemetery at Tomball. Mr. Lankford was born in Paris, Tenn. He graduated from Stinnett High School in 1942. He was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. He retired from Texaco Refinery at Amarillo in 1984 after working there for 32 years. He was married to Naoma Thompson for 45 years. She preceded him in death. Survivors include a daughter, Patricia Lankford Hight; two sisters, Kathleen Schenk of Alms, Okla., and Betty Presser of Okmulgee, Okla.; and three grandchildren. The family suggests memorials in lieu of flowers be to the American Cancer Society or Houston Hospice Association. Area Jean Wilkerson BORGER - Jean Wilkerson, 72, died Thursday, May 29, 1997. Services will be at 1 p.m. today in St. Peter's Episcopal Church with the Rev. Jim Liggett and the Rev. William C. Houghton officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Cemetery by Brown Funeral Directors. Mrs. Wilkerson was born in New York City and had lived in Borger for 39 years. She was a former employee for Hutchinson County Library and Cominco Inc. She was a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church and The Paragon Club. Survivors include her husband, Bill; two daughters, Kathleen Liggett of Big Spring and Susan Wilkerson of Arlington, Va.; and a grandson. Larry Jerome Peterson SPEARMAN - Larry Jerome Peterson, 62, died Wednesday, May 28, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jeff Lust officiating. Burial will be in Hansford Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Mr. Peterson was born in Viborg, S.D. He had lived in Spearman for seven years, moving from Liberal, Kan. He was self-employed in the scrap metal business. He married Denise Landry in 1962 at Belfry, Mont. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Doug Peterson of Dalhart, Jimmy Peterson of Amarillo and Donnie Peterson of Borger; three daughters, Terry Landry of Fort St. John, B.C., Canada, Shelly Langley of Spearman and Patty Steinauer of Fritch; his father, Mervin Peterson of Centerville, S.D.; two brothers, Jimmie Peterson of Danville, Calif., and Lee Peterson of Vallejo, Calif.; and 11 grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Hansford Hospice, 707 S. Roland, Spearman, Texas 79081. Thelma Cleo Watson HEREFORD - Thelma Cleo Watson, 87, died Friday, May 30, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Gililland-Watson Funeral Home Rose Chapel with the Rev. Joseph Myers, pastor of Gospel Chapel in Amarillo, officiating. Burial will be in West Park Cemetery. Mrs. Watson was born in Brownwood. She moved to Deaf Smith County in 1948 from Leonard. She married E.D. "Shorty'' Watson in 1927 at Marlow, Okla. He died in 1993. She was a homemaker and a Baptist. She had been a resident of Hereford Care Center for three years. Survivors include a son, Dean Watson of Friona; two daughters, Dorothy Akerson of Amarillo and Martha Finch of Hereford; 13 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. Mattie Russell Crowson HOWARDWICK - Mattie Russell Crowson, 88, a former Pampa resident, died Friday, May 30, 1997. Services will be at 3 p.m. Monday in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel at Pampa with Dr. James Bell, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Clarendon, and the Rev. Doug DuBose, retired Baptist minister, officiating. Burial will be in Miami Cemetery at Miami. Mrs. Crowson was born in Indian Territory. She was a resident of Pampa from 1933 until 1985 when she moved to Howardwick. She married William G. Crowson in 1928 at Miami. He died in 1984. She worked for Gilbert's, Faye's Dress Shop and Las Pampas Galleries in Pampa before retiring in 1985. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Pampa and sang in the choir for many years. She was a former member and past president of the Business and Professional Women's Club. Survivors include a daughter, Billie Don Watkins of Howardwick; a brother, B.F. Russell of Borger; a grandson; and four great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. Pete Cole PAMPA - Pete Cole, 88, died Friday, May 30, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Memory Gardens Cemetery with the Rev. Randy Land, pastor of First Baptist Church of Cotton Center, officiating. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Cole was born in Wellington and had been a resident of Pampa since 1928. He married Winnie Juanita Bond in 1936 at Pampa. She died in 1981. He was a painting contractor for more than 40 years and worked for 12 years at Combs Worley Building. He was an Army veteran of World War II and a member of Calvary Baptist Church. Survivors include two sons, Carroll Cole of Slidell, La., and Donald Cole of Littleton, Colo.; four sisters, Amy Turcotte and Lucille Burns, both of Pampa, Annie Ruth Lee of Wheeler and Velma Johnson of Kingsland; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren; and a special friend, Faye Dean Miller of Pampa. The family requests memorials be to Hospice of the Panhandle, P.O. Box 2795, Pampa, Texas 79066-2795. Mary Edwinna Atkinson PAMPA - Mary Edwinna Atkinson, 73, of Golden, Colo., a former Pampa and Lefors resident, died Thursday, May 29, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with the Rev. Scott Richards, pastor of United Methodist Church in Lefors, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Mrs. Atkinson was born in Commerce. She was a longtime resident of Pampa and Lefors. She was a resident of Tulsa, Okla., for 20 years and was manager of a JCPenney store there. She moved to Golden in 1993. She married Earl Atkinson in 1939 at Sayre, Okla. He died in 1981. She was a former member of the Lefors United Methodist Church and the Lefors Art and Civic Club. Survivors include three daughters, Judy Bright of Golden, Janet Miller of Houston and Jeanne Boldaz of Bradenton, Fla.; her mother, Victoria Houchin of Amarillo; a sister, Maxine Carruth of Borger; three brothers, Bob Houchin of Amarillo, Dub Houchin of Panama City, Fla., and Sam Houchin of Knoxville, Tenn.; four grandsons; and three great-granddaughters. The family requests memorials be to the American Heart Association. Claude Irven Thomas CLARENDON - Claude Irven "Bud'' Thomas, 64, died Thursday, May 29, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Truman Ledbetter, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Citizens Cemetery by Robertson Funeral Directors Inc. Mr. Thomas was born in Hedley and attended school in Bray and Quail. He married Onita Rampy in 1957 at Amarillo. He worked for AGC Feeds and the Amarillo Globe-News and then was selfemployed at a grain mill. He later worked as a welder and mechanic. He was the transportation superintendent for Clarendon ISD for 18 years before retiring in 1995. He was a resident of Amarillo from 1956 until moving to Clarendon in 1964. He was a Webelo Leader, Cubmaster of Pack 437 and Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 433. He also was an active volunteer with the Donley County Senior Citizens Association and had volunteered in many areas including Meals on Wheels. Mr. Thomas served on the ASCS board for several years and volunteered much work on the Little League and Senior League baseball fields. He served in the Army and was a member of the Panhandle Bluegrass Music Association and First Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife; four sons, Irven Thomas of Amarillo, and Gary Thomas, James Thomas and Arlis Thomas, all of Clarendon; two sisters, Billie Oatman of Quail and Ruby Morrison of Amarillo; and eight grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Donley County Senior Citizens Association or a favorite charity. Eddie Mae Pace BORGER - Eddie Mae Pace, 84, died Friday, May 30, 1997. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Wesley United Methodist Church with the Rev. Sammie Rainey, pastor, officiating. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Monday in Garden of Memories Cemetery at Paducah. Arrangements are by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mrs. Pace was born in Oklahoma and had been a Borger resident since 1957. She was a homemaker and a member of Wesley United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women. She married A.L. Criswell in 1928 at Paducah. He died in 1954. She married Roy A. Pace in 1958 at Quay County, N.M. He died in 1991. Survivors include three sons, Wally Criswell of Borger, Don Criswell of Russellville, Ark., and Mike Criswell of Texas City; a stepson, Ray Pace of Weston, Colo.; a daughter, Cris Roberts of Borger; a half brother, Raymond Sanders of Dallas; 11 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Westley United Methodist Church in Borger. Jesus Francisco Montoya BORGER - Jesus Francisco Montoya, infant son of Jesus and Elizabeth Montoya, died Thursday, May 29, 1997. Graveside services will be at 9 a.m. today in Babyland Garden at Westlawn Memorial Park. Arrangements are by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Survivors include his parents and a grandmother, Teresa Gonzales of Borger. Bill Jackson SILVERTON - Bill Jackson, 84, died Monday, May 26, 1997. Graveside services were at 10 a.m. Friday in Silverton Cemetery with the Rev. Jess Little of First Baptist Church officiating. Arrangements were by Wallace Funeral Home. Mr. Jackson was born in Texarkana. He was a rancher in the Silverton and Tulia area for several years. Survivors include a sister, Katherine Washington of Texarkana.