Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 2 Dec 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; Wednesday, December 2, 1998, 6:32 AM Area Flora Mattie Cokendolpher QUANAH - Flora Mattie Cokendolpher, 87, died Tuesday, Dec. 1, 1998, at Wichita Falls. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in the First Baptist Church with the Rev. Jesse Dea, pastor of First United Methodist Church, and the Rev. Clinton Young, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Quanah Memorial Park by Price-Jackson Funeral Home. Mrs. Cokendolpher was born in Margaret and had lived in Hardeman County since 1915. She was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church. She married Thomas Jefferson Cokendolpher in 1930 at Hollis, Okla. He died in 1976. Survivors include three daughters, Juanita Purdy of Tucson, Virginia Boehning of El Paso and Joy McCullough of Wichita Falls; a son, Tommy Cokendolpher of Quanah; two sisters, Lela Mae Goree of Tyler and Dorothy Smith of Phoenix; four brothers, Mark Dub Goodman of Kingman, Ariz., Johnny Goodman of Arlington, Harmon Goodman of Amarillo and Sterling Goodman of Austin; 11 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren. The family will be at the funeral home from 7 to 8 p.m. today for visitation. Clotia Reed PLAINVIEW - Clotia Reed, 87, died Sunday, Nov. 29, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Lemons Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Joe P. Weldon, pastor of Parkview Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park. Mrs. Reed was born in Forney and raised in Plainview. She graduated from Plainview High School. She was a homemaker and a member of First Assembly of God Church. She married Hiram H. Reed in 1930 at Portales, N.M. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Darlene Brewer of Grand Prairie; two brothers, James Guynes and Nova Guynes, both of Stockton, Calif.; two sisters, Sylvia Sutton of Escalon, Calif., and Elena Felty of Guymon, Okla.; three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Lupe Mercado PLAINVIEW - Lupe Mercado, 76, died Monday, Nov. 30, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in Sacred Heart Catholic Church with the Rev. Elbert Fadallan, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens by Lemons Funeral Home. Mrs. Mercado was born in Olustee, Okla., and raised in Spur and Dickens County. She moved to Plainview in 1945. She practiced as a midwife until retiring in 1985. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She married Benito Mercado in 1940 at Dickens. Survivors include her husband; four daughters, Pauline Gonzalez of Lubbock, Beatrice Martinez of Pampa, Mary Lou Tijerina of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Linda Sepeda of Plainview; a son, Jessie Mercado of Amarillo; two children she raised, Flor Diaz and Juan Diaz, both of Plainview; a sister, Maria Guerra of Amarillo; 14 grandchildren; and 14 greatgrandchildren. Elizabeth W. Decker TULIA - Elizabeth W. Decker, 104, died Tuesday, Dec. 1, 1998. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Resthaven Gardens of Memory in Wichita, Kan. Local arrangements are by Wallace Funeral Home of Tulia. Kansas arrangements are by Resthaven Funeral Home in Wichita. Mrs. Decker was born in Galt, Mo., and grew up in Grundy County, Mo., where she attended schools. She married Levertis H. Decker in 1911 at Enid, Okla. After their marriage, they moved to Portland, Ore., for a year and then returned to Oklahoma. Mrs. Decker and her husband homesteaded in Colorado and later moved to Wichita. Her husband died in 1959 in Wichita. She moved to Tulia in 1978. Survivors include three daughters, Winona Jones of Tulia, Lavonna Cottrell of Vilas, Colo., and Maxine Sulcer of Lawton, Okla.; a son, D.L. Decker of Grove, Okla.; five grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and 20 great-great-grandchildren. Viewing will be from 8 until 10 a.m. today at Wallace Funeral Home. In Wichita, viewing will be from Thursday until service time Friday. Virginia Walters Degan TURKEY - Virginia Walters Degan, 86, died Monday, Nov. 30, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Julius Early, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery in Turkey by Myers-Long Funeral Directors. Mrs. Degan was born in Tulia and moved to Turkey in 1935. For 42 years, she taught school in the Turkey area. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, Order of the Eastern Star, the Quilters Club and the Turkey Senior Citizens. She married Bert Degan in 1939 at Fort Worth. He died in 1984. Survivors include a daughter, Elizabeth "Bet" Schneider of Amarillo; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to First United Methodist Church of Turkey. Lester Wade James Jr. PLAINVIEW - Lester Wade "Bobby" James Jr., 68, died Monday, Nov. 30, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in First Baptist Church Chapel with Dr. Travis Hart, pastor, and Dr. Wallace Davis, president of Wayland Baptist University, officiating. The cremains will be interred in Parklawn Memorial Gardens at a later date. Arrangements are by WoodDunning Funeral Home, Inc. Mr. James was born in Fort Worth and moved to Plainview at a young age. He attended Plainview schools and graduated from Plainview High School and Baylor University. A veteran of the Air Force, he served in the Korean War. Mr. James was executive vice-president of Plainview Savings and Loan and served on the Plainview City Council. He was past president of SPAG, a member of the Plainview Rotary Club, Plainview Hospital Authority and First Baptist Church. He married Irma Ruth Dodds in 1952 at Plainview. Survivors include his wife; a son, Jonathan Wade James of Plainview; a daughter, Laura Catherine "Katy" Wellman of Plainview; and three grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Wayland University Rotary Scholarship Fund. Wesley Adell Clendennen BORGER - Wesley Adell Clendennen, 64, died in Hillsboro. Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Bible Baptist Church in Borger with the Rev. Leonard Foresight officiating. Arrangements are by Rains-Seale Funeral Home of Ballinger. Mr. Clendennen was born in Ballinger. During the Korean War, he served in the Air Force. He was employed as a truck driver and did some farming at the Ben Richey Boys Ranch in Abilene. Survivors include two daughters, Louise Thurman of Borger and Janet Hinders of Stinnett; four sons, Wesley Clendennen of Pampa, Dale Vincent of Channing and Kenneth Clendennen and Sander Clendennen, both of Borger; a brother, Charles Clendennen of Abilene; three sisters, Lola Jean Davis of Abilene, Carolyn Louise Barth of Breckenridge and Geraldine Key; 18 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Polly Mae Clemons MEMPHIS - Polly Mae Clemons, 91, of Breckenridge, died Monday, Nov. 30, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Union Hill, Lakeview Cemetery in Lakeview with the Rev. O.K. Bowen officiating. Arrangements are by Memphis Funeral Home. Mrs. Clemons was born in Tarrant County. She was a housewife and a Baptist. She married Willie Earl Clemons in 1925. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1984 and by a son, Sherman Clemons. Survivors include her sister, Tyne Sturdevant of Amarillo; three grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. Amarillo Roy Tolk Roy Tolk, 82, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Nov. 29, 1998. Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. today in Polk Street United Methodist Church with Dr. James Garrett of the church and Monsignor Joseph Tash of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, officiating. Burial will be private. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Tolk was born in Gage, Okla., and moved to Amarillo in 1919. He graduated from Amarillo High School and earned his degree at the University of Texas at Austin in 1938. He was a registered engineer in Texas and was a member of the engineering honorary fraternity, Eta Kappa Nu. Mr. Tolk was a former chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Southwestern Public Service Co. He retired in 1981. He was selected Amarillo's Man of the Year by the Amarillo Globe-News in 1974. In addition to his duties with SPS, Mr. Tolk also served as a director of the First National Bank of Amarillo; was life member of the Texas Ex-Students Association; a past member of the Texas Tech Foundation; and a former member and chairman of the board of trustees of St. Anthony's Hospital. He was a member of Polk Street United Methodist Church. He served on the board for Fort Worth and Denver Railroad and also for Diamond Shamrock. He was elected director of ASARCO Inc. in 1975. He married Mary Esther Hodges in 1937 at Woodsboro. She preceded him in death. He married Anna Mary Murphy in 1979. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Alice Jean Cheatham of Keller; a stepdaughter, Mary Gail Murphy of Emory; two sons, Kenneth C. Tolk of Amarillo and Keith M. Tolk of Albuquerque, N.M.; a sister, Elizabeth Clark of Camarillo, Calif.; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center or Olivia's Angels. Helen Ruth Cox Helen Ruth Cox, 70, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Nov. 29, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mrs. Cox was born in Amarillo where she was a lifelong resident. She was a 1945 graduate of Amarillo High and received an associate's degree from Amarillo College. For more than 50 years, she was employed as a medical transcriptionist. Mrs. Cox started her career at Northwest Texas Hospital and then worked at individual doctors' offices before returning to Northwest Texas Hospital. During the past seven years, she ran her own transcription service from her home. She recently moved to Carrollton. She married John W. Cox Jr., in 1946 at Amarillo. He died in 1991. Survivors include two sons, David Lee Cox of Lilburn, Ga., and Jay Alan Cox of Arlington; two daughters, Kathy Morris of Carrollton and Becky Pollan of Mansfield; and six grandchildren. The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, memorials be to the American Cancer Society, 3915 Bell, Amarillo, TX 79109. Wilma Brazier Wilma Brazier, 81, of Amarillo, died Monday, Nov. 30, 1998. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in BlackburnShaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce St., with Dr. Jim Garrett and the Rev. Bill Wade, both of Polk Street United Methodist Church, officiating. Mrs. Brazier moved to Amarillo in 1940 from Wichita, Kan. She retired after 34 years as office manager and credit manager of Dunlaps. She was a member of Polk Street United Methodist Church and the Susanna Wesley Sunday School Class. She married Larry Brazier in 1973 at Amarillo. He died in 1983. Survivors include a daughter, Jackie Roland of Amarillo; a son, Don Alexander of Amarillo; and a grandson, Rodney Gray of New York City. The family will be at 1223 Rusk. They suggest memorials be to Polk Street United Methodist Church or Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176-0001. The body will not be available for viewing. Johnny William Piker Johnny William Piker, 91, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Dec. 1, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in First Baptist Church Chapel with Dr. Marty Akins, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Snyder Cemetery by BellCypert-Seale Funeral Home of Snyder. Mr. Piker was born in Arkansas. A former longtime Snyder resident, he lived in Abilene and Clyde before moving to Amarillo in 1997. He was employed for more than 20 years for the city of Abilene Water Department. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Snyder. He married Evelyn Opal Waller in 1949 at Snyder. She died Nov. 21. Survivors include four daughters, Maxine Daniels of Russellville, Ark., Eva Jones of Charleston, S.C., Norma Daniels of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Faye Baty of Lakin, Kan.; a stepdaughter, Charlotte McKinney of Amarillo; a son, Eddie Piker of Newcastle, Colo.; a stepson, Bill Waller of San Diego; two brothers; 26 grandchildren; and a number of great-grandchildren. Andrew Thomas Smith Andrew "Andy" Thomas Smith, 38, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Dec. 1, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Trinity Baptist Church, 1608 Wolflin, with Dr. David Evans and Dale Hoggatt officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Smith was born in Newcastle, Ind., and had lived in Amarillo for 35 years. He graduated from Palo Duro High School in 1979. He was a member of Trinity Baptist Church. Mr. Smith was a brakeman for Santa Fe Railway for eight years. He was selfemployed in construction for three years and had been employed as an electrician by Duke Electric for the past seven years. He married Cynthia Patterson in 1986 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; two sons, A.J. Smith and Dustin Smith, both of the home; his father, Guy Smith of Amarillo; a sister, Karen Wiley of Conway, Ark.; three brothers, Jerry Smith, Larry Smith and Greg Smith, all of Amarillo; and his grandmother, Sarah M. Smith of Spiceland, Ind. The family suggests memorials be to Eveline Rivers Christmas Project or Make-A-Wish Foundation, 2324 Lakeview Dr., Amarillo. New Mexico Irene Marie Pullman CLOVIS, N.M. - Irene Marie Pullman, 91, died Monday, Nov. 30, 1998. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in The Chapel, 1500 Thornton, with the Rev. John Rollinson officiating. Burial will at 10 a.m. Friday in Fairmont Cemetery at San Angelo, Texas, with the Rev. Kenneth Holdorf officiating. Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home. Mrs. Pullman was born in Giddings, Texas. She was a housewife and a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. She was a member of the Hole-in-One Club in 1941 at San Angelo. She married Eddie Pullman in 1929 at Houston. He died in 1968. Survivors include two sons, Eddie Pullman of Clovis and Wayne Pullman of Friday Harbor, Wash., three sisters, Selma Dawson and Lillian Magness, both of Houston, and Ruby Droddy of Indian Wells, Calif.; and seven grandchildren. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Robert Massey Funeral Home at San Angelo. Ruth Maude Knoll Taylor PORTALES, N.M. - Ruth Maude Knoll Taylor, 97, died Sunday, Nov. 29, 1998, at Carlsbad, N.M. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Dora Church of Christ at Dora with Stanley Newton, a former minister at Dora, and Larry Bailey, a grandson-in-law, officiating. Burial will be in the Portales Cemetery by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales Inc. A memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Lake View Christian Home, North Gate Chapel. Mrs. Taylor was born in Indian Territory near Coweta and moved with her family near Hamilton, Texas, when she was about a year old. She attended school there and later in the community near Lamesa where they moved a few years later. She married Eric "Bud" Newton Taylor in 1917 in Dawson County, Texas. They lived in the Lamesa area until 1923, when they moved to a location between Dora and Elida. In 1939, they moved to the family ranch where she lived for many years. Around 1972, she built a home in Dora and lived there for several years. In the mid 1980s, she moved to Portales and in 1989 moved to the Lake View Christian Home at Carlsbad. She was a past president of the Elida Women's Club. She was a homemaker, a seamstress, an artist and wrote short stories. She had been a member of the Dora Church of Christ for many years. After moving to Portales, she attended Third and Kilgore Church of Christ. Her husband preceded her in death in 1962. Survivors include three sons, Boyd Taylor of Portales, Dennis Taylor of Holdenville, Okla., Bennie Taylor of Elida and Doris Taylor of Houston; a sister, Irene Hines of Carlsbad; seven grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren.