Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 1 Jan 1998 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; Thursday, January 1, 1998, 1:25 AM Area Oseas Torres Jr. LOCKNEY - Oseas Torres Jr., 31, of Lubbock, a former Lockney resident, died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Primera Iglesia Bautista Mexicana with the Rev. Pedro Villareal, pastor, the Rev. Ignacio Soto, pastor of Templo of Sinia Church in Plainview, the Rev. Armando Pinales, pastor of Assembly of God Church, officiating. Burial will be in Lockney Cemetery by Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home. Mr. Torres was born in Lockney. He attended school in Lockney and moved to Lubbock in 1996 from Plainview. He was a welder and a landscaper for Garza Construction in Plainview. He was a member of Templo of Sinia Church in Plainview. He married Elvia Higgins in 1994 at Plainview. Survivors include his wife; a son, Angel Lee Torres of Plainview; a daughter, Lisa Marie Morales of Lubbock; his parents, Oseas and Olivia Torres of Lockney; grandparents, Tony and Ester Felan of Lockney, and Jesusa Torres of Alice; two brothers, Steve Torres of Lubbock and Jonathan Torres of Plainview; and two sisters, Orfa Gutierrez of Amarillo and Shirley Torres of Canyon. The family requests memorials be to Family Hospice of the Plains, 7109 Olton Road, Plainview, Texas 79072. Dee Anne Caison Trotter HEREFORD - Dee Anne Caison Trotter, 39, died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First United Methodist Church with Dr. Ed Williamson and Dr. Tom Fuller officiating. Burial will be in West Park Cemetery by Rix Funeral Directors. Mrs. Trotter was a 1977 graduate of Hereford High School, where she was a featured twirler in the band for three years. She was Miss Hereford in 1977 and Miss Congeniality at the Miss Texas pageant in 1977. She also was a contestant in the Miss Texas America and Miss Texas USA pageants. She graduated from West Texas A&M University and was on the president's honor roll for four years. In 1979, she served as president of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and the Young Republicans. She was president of the Hereford Cattlewomen's for four years and also served as president of the L'Allegra Study Club. Mrs. Trotter was a member of First United Methodist Church, where she had been the pianist for nine years and taught Sunday school for 11 years. She married Johnny Trotter in 1981 at Hereford. Survivors include her husband; a son, Eddie Trotter of the home; her parents, G.D. and Jeanie Caison of Hereford; a brother, Rodney Caison of Hereford; and a sister, Sandy Walden of Amarillo. The family requests memorials be to a Dee Anne Trotter Music Scholarship Fund c/o West Texas A&M University, Canyon, Texas. Carmen K. Cook Edwards PERRYTON - Carmen K. Cook Edwards, 68, of Richmond, a former Perryton resident, died Monday, Dec. 29, 1997. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. today in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bobby Roger officiating. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery. Mrs. Edwards was born in Perryton. She moved to Richmond 41/2 years ago from Ruidoso, N.M. She worked in advertising. She was a member of Perryton First Baptist Church. Survivors include two sons, Michael R. Cook and Gregory L. Cook, both of Richmond; two brothers, Jack Looney of Shattuck, Okla., and Larry Looney of New Mexico; five grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Lillie Fay Sperry QUITAQUE - Lillie Fay Sperry, 83, died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1997. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Flomot Cemetery at Flomot with the Rev. Anthony Sisemore, pastor of First Baptist Church of Quitaque, officiating. Arrangements are by Seigler Funeral Home of Matador. Mrs. Sperry was born in Mannsville, Okla. She married Jeff Z. Sperry in 1932 at Frederick, Okla. They moved to the Flomot community in 1941. They were engaged in farming and ranching. Mrs. Sperry had been a resident of Quitaque since 1994. She was a member of the Assembly of God Church. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1978; by a son, Marvin Sperry; and by a daughter, Wanda Kling. Survivors include five sons, Jeff Sperry Jr. of Anniston, Ala., Ray Sperry of Idalou, Bill Sperry of Eldorado, Ark., Terry Sperry of Quitaque and Pat Beane of Austin; two daughters, Yvonne Goldston of Lubbock and Sharon Wickliffe of Odessa; a brother, Doyle Barham of Kress; a sister, Marie Barham of Madill, Okla.; 24 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren. James William Mathews CANADIAN - James William "Bill" Mathews, 97, died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Dinzel Leonard officiating. Burial will be in Edith Ford Cemetery by Stickley-Hill Funeral Directors. Mr. Mathews was born in Hemphill County and had been a lifelong Hemphill County resident. He married Una Atkinson in 1926 at Canadian. She died in 1990. He also was preceded in death by a son, Gene Mathews, in 1996. Mr. Mathews worked as a cowboy on the Isaacs Ranch for 13 years. He moved his family to Canadian and worked for Co-op Oil and Gas for several years. He later worked for the Texas Highway Department and the city of Canadian as a heavy equipment operator. He retired from Hemphill County and then owned and operated Mathews Trailer Park. Mr. Mathews moved to the Edward Abraham Memorial Home in 1990. He was a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include a son, Bob Mathews of Arkansas City, Kan.; a daughter, Helen McCurry of Phoenix City, Ala.; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Abraham Memorial Home, 803 Birch, Canadian, Texas 79014. Maudie Elizabeth Lee CLAUDE - Maudie Elizabeth Lee, 84, a former Claude resident, died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1997, in Austin. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Larry Crumpton and the Rev. Carol Crumpton, pastors, officiating Burial will be in Claude Cemetery by Robertson Funeral Directors Inc. of Clarendon. Mrs. Lee was born in Ralls. She lived in Claude for most of her life before moving to Austin six years ago. She received her early schooling in the Lakeview community. She graduated from Claude High School in 1932. She was employed by the ASCS office in Claude before retiring. She was a member of First United Methodist Church. She married Gordon E. Lee in 1943 at Lake Charles, La. He died in 1969. Survivors include a son, James Leslie Lee of Austin; and two grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Alzheimer's Foundation. Geneva M. Townsend VEGA - Geneva M. Townsend, 54, died Saturday, Dec. 27, 1997, in Mesa, Ariz. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. C.J. Shonk officiating. Burial will be in Vega Memorial Park Cemetery by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd., in Amarillo. Ms. Townsend was born in Amarillo and raised in Vega. She had been a community service volunteer all of her life. Survivors include her father, Glen Spinhirne of Vega; two brothers, Edward Spinhirne of Amarillo and Jerome Spinhirne of Vega; two sisters, Wilma Smith of Vega and Janice Betzen of Hereford; a daughter, Stacey Townsend of Mesa; and a son, Derwin Townsend of Mesa. The family requests memorials be to the American Heart Association or a hospice. The body will be available for viewing from 1 to 5 p.m. today at the funeral home. Lora McCarty Blanchard SUDAN - Lora McCarty Blanchard, 84, of Kingsland, a former Sudan resident, died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1997. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Sudan Cemetery with James Withrow of Sudan officiating. Local arrangements are by Ellis Funeral Home. Mrs. Blanchard was born in Afton, Dickens County. She moved from Sudan to Kingsland in 1985. She married Claude Blanchard in 1931 at Clovis, N.M. He died in 1995. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star in Sudan and Kingsland. She was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church in Granite Shoals. Survivors include three sisters, Velma Pearl Mitchell and Hugh Nora Marcy, both of Lubbock, and Ruth Brasher of Marble Falls. The family requests memorials be to First Baptist Church of Granite Shoals or the Lubbock Children's Hospital in Lubbock. The body will be available for viewing at the funeral home Saturday from 11 a.m. until service time. Sibyl Timmons CHILDRESS - Sibyl Timmons, 79, died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Kerry Wood officiating. Burial will be in Northfield Cemetery in Northfield by Johnson Funeral Home. Mrs. Timmons was born in Matador. She was the postmaster in Northfield for 25 years before retiring. She was a past director of Meals on Wheels. She was a member of the Childress Hospital Auxiliary and First Baptist Church. She married Leland Timmons in 1937 at Matador. He died in 1976. Survivors include two sons, James Timmons of Northfield and Tim Morris Timmons of Tipton, Okla.; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Christine Moore Grayson CHILDRESS - Christine Moore Grayson, 73, died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1997. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Johnson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jim McCurley of First Baptist Church officiating. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. in Georgetown Cemetery in Pottsboro. Mrs. Grayson was born in Georgetown, Grayson County. She was a homemaker. Survivors include her husband, M.I. Grayson of Childress; a daughter, Patsy Brown of Arlington; a son, Grover Moore of Garland; and three grandchildren. Shirley Ives DUMAS - Shirley Ives, 60, died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Bethel Assembly of God with the Rev. Robbie Holcomb, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Dumas Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors. Ms. Ives was born in Shattuck, Okla., and had been a Dumas resident since 1941. She was a homemaker and a member of Bethel Assembly of God. Survivors include three sons, Loy Hardwick Jr. of Florida, and Guy Hardwick and Randy Hardwick, both of Dumas; a daughter, Teresa Culbertson of Odessa; a sister, Wanda Hamilton of Fort Morgan, Colo.; five brothers, Danny Daniels of Dumas, Phil Daniels of Denver, and Gary Daniels, Tommy Daniels and Jeff Daniels, all of Eugene, Ore.; 14 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family will be at 401 N. Spruce. They request memorials be to a favorite charity. Amarillo Edith Teele Schwarztrauber Edith Teele Schwarztrauber, 72, of Amarillo, died Monday, Dec. 29, 1997. Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday in SchoolerGordon Funeral Directors Bell Avenue Chapel, 5400 Bell St., with the Rev. Curtis Cadenhead officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mrs. Schwarztrauber was born in Sawyer County, Wis. She moved to Amarillo in 1975 from Ladysmith, Wis. She was a food service supervisor at St. Anthony's Hospital before retiring in 1978. She was a Methodist. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Melvin C. Lokker, in 1970; and by her second husband, Gordon Schwarztrauber. Survivors include two sons, Michael E. Lokker of Sheldon, Wis., and James Lokker of Amarillo; a stepson, Kenny Schwarztrauber of Bruce, Wis.; five daughters, Barbara Williams, Verna Lowrey, Karen Cossabone Vancil and Donna Moore, all of Amarillo, and Marty Mian of Irving; a sister, Velma Vought of Lucerne Valle, Calif.; 18 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Frances Velasquez Frances Velasquez, 47, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1997. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in the Salvation Army Chapel with the Rev. Windell Taylor, chaplain at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, officiating. Cremation arrangements are by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mrs. Velasquez was born in Tokyo, Japan. She moved to Amarillo when she was 6 years old. She was a seamstress in Amarillo for many years. She worked at Gwyn's Shade and Drapery and at Blackburns. She was a volunteer for the Salvation Army as well as a member of the Salvation Army Church. She was the Veteran's Administration Volunteers Services Representative for the American Legion Auxiliary. She was a past president of American Legion Unit No. 54 and past district president of the 18th District of the American Legion Auxiliary Department of Texas. She married Eugene Velasquez in 1967 at Amarillo. Survivors include her husband; a son, Eugene Velasquez III of Amarillo; two daughters, Michell Velasquez and Calinda Velasquez, both of Amarillo; her father, Orlando Ames Jr. of Amarillo; a brother, Orlando Ames III of Amarillo; five sisters, Claire Kester, Bea Garland, Sandra Harris, Loretta Jimenez and Shirley Boone, all of Amarillo; and a grandson. The body will not be available for viewing. The family requests memorials be to the American Legion Auxiliary. Effie Mae Shepherd Effie Mae Shepherd, 57, of Amarillo, died Monday, Dec. 29, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in First Baptist Church of Bovina with the Rev. E.D. Fields, pastor of Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Bovina Cemetery at Bovina by Warford-Walker Mortuary Inc., 509 N. Hughes St. Mrs. Shepherd was born in Henderson. After attending public school, she lived in Bovina for several years. She was a homemaker. She had lived in Amarillo for more than 10 years. She was a member of Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church. Survivors include her husband, James; a son, Richard Shepherd of Amarillo; four daughters, Pat Shepherd, Peggy Shepherd, Teresa Johnson and Lisa Tubbs, all of Amarillo; three brothers, Charles E. Johnson of Phoenix, and Ronnie Johnson and Larry Johnson, both of Amarillo; four sisters, Francis Williams, Charlene Shepherd, Mary Ann Ransom and Linda Richardson, all of Amarillo; and nine grandchildren. The family will be at 3008 N. Grand. Charles Ennis Bradford Charles Ennis Bradford, 74, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1997. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with Dr. Gil Lain of Paramount Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Bradford was born in Nolanville. He moved to Amarillo in 1964 from Hamilton. He married Imogene Burrell in 1946 at Shamrock. Mr. Bradford was a salesman. He served with the Army Air Corps during World War II in 1941. He was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge. He also was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Pioneer Gun Club, the Farm Bureau and the fellowship class at Paramount Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife; a son, Chuck Bradford of Anchorage, Alaska; a daughter, Debbie Lovett of Amarillo; two sisters, Maurine Werst and Fay Noble, both of Big Lake; and eight grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society; the American Lung Association or the Russell Pool Scholarship Fund at Paramount Baptist Church. The body will be available for viewing from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. Elsewhere Jeffrey P. Scott KILGORE - Jeffrey P. "Jeff" Scott, 37, died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1997. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Kilgore Memorial Gardens Cemetery with Dr. David Powell officiating. Arrangements are by Rader Funeral Home. Mr. Scott was born in Amarillo. In 1979, he graduated from Kilgore High School, where he was active in FFA and the Rodeo Club. He attended Kilgore College and later served in the Air Force as a crew chief on a C147. During his service he was involved in supporting the Thunderbirds. He also served in Desert Storm. Mr. Scott was a member of the American Legion in Longview. He was involved with the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association and was a Youth Rodeo Club sponsor. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Sarah Jordan Scott. Survivors include his parents, Bill and Betty Scott of Longview; a daughter, Kaitlyn Elizabeth Scott of Geneva, Ill.; and a sister, Pam Liska of Tyler. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Edmund Kitten SLATON - Edmund Kitten, 83, died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1997. Rosary was recited at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Englunds Funeral Home Chapel by the Rev. Jim McCartney, pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. today in St. Joseph Catholic Church by Rev. McCartney. Burial will be in Englewood Cemetery. Mr. Kitten was born in Slaton. He married Louetta Kahlich in 1936 at Slaton. They farmed in the Slaton area before moving to Parmer County, where they farmed for 15 years. They returned to Slaton in 1973, when Mr. Kitten retired. Mr. Kitten served on the board of directors of the South Plains Electric Co-op from 1944 to 1958. He worked with Germania Mutual Insurance Co. and served as president of Local No. 121 during the 1980s and early 1990s. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Marilyn Kahlich of Hereford; two sons, Leroy Kitten and Charles Kitten, both of Amarillo; a brother, Joe Kitten of Slaton; a sister, Joerita Wimmer of Slaton; nine grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to St. Mary's Neurology Parkinson's Research and Education, 4102 24th St., Suite 501, Lubbock, Texas 79410; the Marshall Formby Endowment, TTU Medical Foundation, Lubbock, Texas 79430; or a favorite charity. Canyon Vivian Pearce Garner Vivian Pearce Garner, 83, of Canyon, died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 1997. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Kevin Deckard and the Rev. Richard Bales officiating. A private burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery by Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon. Mrs. Garner graduated from O'Donnell High School. She was employed by Palo Duro Hospital from 1971 to 1981. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, where she was a nursery teacher. She married Tom Garner in 1933 at Lovington, N.M. They moved to Canyon in 1958. Mr. Garner died in 1971. Mrs. Garner also was preceded in death by two sons, Joe Thomas Garner in 1940 and Melvin Lewis Garner in 1971. Survivors include a son, Ed Garner of Canyon; and three grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Life, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176. Oklahoma Grace Marie Conner OKLAHOMA CITY - Grace Marie Conner died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1997. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Hahn-Cook Street and Draper Funeral Home Chapel. Mrs. Conner was born in New Orleans. She was raised in Amarillo and moved to Oklahoma City in the 1940s. Upon graduating from Oklahoma State University School of Nursing in 1978, she began a career as a registered nurse at University Hospital. She retired from Presbyterian Hospital in 1983. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry T. Conner. Survivors include two daughters, Linda Warren Rooker and Jane Conner McKiddy; a sister, Ruth Farwell; a brother, Harry O'Bryant; three grandchildren; and a great-grandson.