Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 3 October 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; Saturday, October 3, 1998, 7:30 AM Amarillo Hessie L. Jones Hessie L. Jones, 77, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Sept. 30, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in St. Martin Catholic Church with the Rev. John Mary Joseph Hickey, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by WarfordWalker Funeral Directors, 509 N. Hughes St. Mrs. Jones was born and raised in Coosa County, Ala., where she attended schools. She was a registered nurse, graduating from Meharry Medical College School of Nursing. She taught at St. Anthony's School of Nursing for many years. She retired from the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in 1982 after working 20 years. She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Richard Jones, in 1979. Survivors include three daughters, Myrle Maynor of Lemoore, Calif., Connie Collier of Templeton, Calif., and Linda Watson of Seattle, Wash.; a sister, Katrina Lanier of Coosa County, Ala.; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family will be at 3805 S. Polk St. Pat Self Pat Self, 64, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Oct. 1, 1998. Services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in Southwest Church of Christ with Mr. Glen Walton and Mr. Ben Mereness officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery East by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mrs. Self was born in Swisher County and had lived in Amarillo more than 40 years. She graduated from Happy High School and West Texas State University with a degree in business administration. She worked for the Potter County Sheriff's Department and also for Diamond Shamrock nine years. Mrs. Self was a professional artist and had served as a president and was a lifetime member of the Amarillo Fine Arts Association. She was a member of the Amarillo Botanical Garden Club and a charter member of Southwest Church of Christ. She married Dan Self in 1959 at Panhandle. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Tricia Self of Amarillo; a son, Mark Self of Amarillo; and two grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to High Plains Children's Home or Crown of Texas Hospice. Ola Mae Love Ola Mae Love, 90, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Sept. 30, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church with Monsignor Joseph Tash officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mrs. Love was born in Temple and was a longtime Dalhart resident before moving to Amarillo. She was a housewife and a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church. She married Glenn D. Love in the early 1930s at Tucumcari, N.M. He died in 1984. Survivors include a son, Glenn Richard Love of El Paso; two daughters, Patricia Anne Mahoney of Amarillo and Barbara Lynn Austin of Canyon; a sister, Ardenia Allen of Amarillo; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Cancer Society. W.D. Spradlin W.D. Spradlin, 69, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Oct. 1, 1998. Services will be at 3:30 p.m. today in Memorial Park Cemetery, East Mausoleum with the Rev. C.N. "Shad" Rue officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Mr. Spradlin was born in Eldorado, Okla., and moved to Gruver in 1989. He was an Army veteran. He worked as an electrician and was a Baptist. Survivors include a son, Raymond Spradlin of Austin; a daughter, Nawana Spradlin of Amarillo; and five sisters, Ina Murl Rafferty and Gearldine Gray, both of Lawton, Okla., Gladys Spradlin Slaughter of Amarillo, Callie Thygerson of Orem, Utah and Myrtle Paulene Comstock of Washington State. Angy L. Collins Lara Angy L. Collins Lara, 46, of Amarillo, died Friday, October 2, 1998. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Schooler Funeral Home, Brentwood Chapel, 4100 S. Georgia with the Rev. Sherman Eastland, chaplain of Northwest Texas Hospital, officiating. Mrs. Lara was born in Universal City, Calif., and was raised in Fort Worth and Acton. She graduated from White Face High School then attended Cisco Junior College. Mrs. Lara lived in Lubbock and Pampa prior to moving to Amarillo 21 years ago. She was a homemaker and partner to the Telephone Pioneers of America. She married Bob Lara in 1970 at Fort Worth. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Samantha Danielle Lara of the home; two sons, Robert Daniel Lara of the home and TyScot Lara of Amarillo; two brothers, Bill Collins of Granbury and Daniel Collins of Fort Worth; two grandchildren; and a special friend, Paul. The family suggests memorials be to American Cancer Society, District Office, 3915 S. Bell, Amarillo, TX 79109, ph. 806-353-4306. Tim Stover Tim Stover, 45, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Oct. 1, 1998 in Hereford. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Llano Cemetery Mausoleum Chapel with Mr. Ben Mereness of Southwest Church of Christ officiating. Arrangements are by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mr. Stover was born in Mangum, Okla., and raised in Reed, Okla. He graduated from Mangum High School. He moved to Amarillo in 1970. From the early 1970s until 1997, Mr. Stover owned and operated Valley Auto Parts. He was a member of the Church of Christ. Survivors include two sons, Robert Stover and Shawn Stover, both of Amarillo; two sisters, Sue Williams of Amarillo and Patricia Endsley of Dallas; and a brother, Jerry Stover of Lawton, Okla. The family suggests memorials be to High Plains Children's Homes. Kenneth Ray Woods Kenneth Ray Woods, 71, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Sept. 29, 1998. Services will be at 1 p.m. today in Rector Funeral Home Chapel, 2800 S. Osage with the Rev. Windell Taylor, chaplain of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, officiating. Burial will be in Llano East Cemetery. Mr. Woods was born in Vernon and moved to Amarillo 15 years ago from Fort Worth. He was a Navy veteran of World War II. For several years, he was an exterminator for Tom Carter. Survivors include two sisters, Leona Williams of Fort Worth and JoAnn Briton of Cresson. The family will be at 1415 Trigg. Hector Serna Hector Serna, 74, of Amarillo, died Friday, Oct. 2, 1998. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Sunday and services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce St., with the Rev. Pat Hoffman of St. Laurence Cathedral officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mr. Serna moved to Dumas in 1946 while employed by American Zinc. He moved to Amarillo in 1971 where he was employed by ASARCO until his retirement in 1986. He was a veteran of World War II. He recently celebrated his 50th anniversary with Lupe Malacara. They married in 1948 at Dumas. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Shirley Serna of Austin and Rachel Zapata of Amarillo; a brother, Isaac Serna of Sacramento, Calif.; three sisters, Suzanna Rodriquez and Criselda Leal, both of Seguin, and Louisa Guerrero of Kyle; and three grandchildren. The family will be at 2500 Lawndale. Canyon Opal Stevens Buster Opal Stevens Buster, 89, of Belton and a former Canyon resident, died Tuesday, Sept. 29, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Brooks Funeral Directors Chapel, Canyon, with the Rev. Gayle Bowen, associate pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery. Mrs. Buster was born in Panhandle. She was a member of First Baptist Church and was a resident of Canyon for most of her life. She moved to Belton in 1988. Her first marriage was to Wallace Buster in 1928 at Panhandle. He died in 1934. In 1937, she married Jach Buster at Washington. He preceded her in death in 1985. Survivors include a daughter, Mary Volene Dickeson of Quincy, Fla.; a son, Jerry Buster of Belton; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Stacy S. Howell Stacy S. Howell, 99, of Canyon, died Friday, Oct. 2, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Brooks Funeral Directors Chapel. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery in Canyon. Mr. Howell was born in Clay County, Miss., and moved to Canyon in 1923. He farmed and ranched in Randall County. He was a member of First Baptist Church. He married Elna Springer in 1925 at Canyon. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Teddie Poindexter of Hereford; a sister, Pearl Ricks of West Point, Miss.; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Dreamland Cemetery, Box 38, Canyon, TX 79015; or Baptist St. Anthony's, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176. New Mexico Jack Osborn TUCUMCARI, N.M. - Jack Osborn, 66, died Thursday, Oct. 1, 1998. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. today in St. Anne's Catholic Church. Burial will be in the Logan Cemetery at Logan by Dunn Funeral Home. Mr. Osborn was born in Logan. He was a longtime resident of Tucumcari where he owned and operated several businesses. He moved to Albuquerque in 1982. He was a member of the Catholic church and served in the Navy during the Korean conflict. Survivors include his wife, Eva; a daughter, Theresa Ferguson of Albuquerque; a son, Lowell Osborn of Albuquerque; a brother, Loren Osborn of Tucumcari; two sisters, Patricia Smith of Logan and La Rita Shipley of Seattle; and seven grandchildren. The body will be available for viewing until service time today at the funeral home. Billy D. Romero CLOVIS, N.M. - Billy D. Romero, 38, died Thursday, Oct. 1, 1998. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Sunday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Community. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Community with the Rev. Daniel M. Balizan officiating. Burial will be in Mission Garden of Memories by Muffley Funeral Home. Mr. Romero was born in Clovis, where he was a lifelong resident. For 20 years, he was employed in the parts department of Hamilton Big Country Ford. He was a member of Our Lady of the Guadalupe. He married Liz Leyba in 1982. Survivors include his wife; four daughters, Corina Romero, Amanda Romero, Sonya Michelle Romero and Tiffany Romero, all of the home; his parents, Leopoldo and Carmen Romero of Clovis; four brothers, Bennie Romero of Carlsbad, Arthur and Richard Romero of Clovis and Leo Romero of Eagle Nest; four sisters, Katie Padilla, Yolanda Olivas, Lena Sandoval and Jackie Romero, all of Clovis; and a grandchild. Oklahoma Pearl Lucille Roberts BEAVER, Okla. - Pearl Lucille Roberts, 94, died Thursday, Oct. 1, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Beaver United Methodist Church with Charles Watson officiating. Burial will be at 3:30 p.m. in Mount Hope Cemetery in Fay by Clark Funeral Service of Beaver. Mrs. Roberts was born in Oklahoma Territory. She graduated from high school and attended two years of college. She was a homemaker and a member of the Methodist Church and Blaine County Extension Homemakers. She married Leroy Roberts in 1927 at Watonga. He died in 1978. Survivors include two daughters, Wanda Pearl Roberts and Ila Watson, both of Beaver; three grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Area Nell Burke SPEARMAN - Nell Burke, 82, died Thursday, Oct. 1, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Church of Christ in Spearman with James Kinnaird of Gruver Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Hansford Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Mrs. Burke was born in Waka and was a lifetime resident of the area. She retired in 1982 after 12 years as janitor of Spearman schools. She was a member of Church of Christ of Spearman. She married Clarence Burke in 1937 at Beaver, Okla. He died in 1981. Survivors include two sons, Jessie W. Burke and Don Burke, both of Spearman; two daughters, Pat Fisher of Burkburnett and Nancy Long of Enid, Okla.; a sister, Grace Kunkel of Phoenix; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Hansford Hospice, 707 S. Roland, Spearman, TX 79081; or Church of Christ, 121 S. Haney, Spearman, TX 79081. Edna Maree Knight STRATFORD - Edna Maree Knight, 89, died Wednesday, Sept. 30, 1998. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday in First Christian Church with the Rev. Rob Chandler of First Christian Church officiating. Burial will be in Stratford Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mrs. Knight was born in Stratford, where she was a lifelong resident. She served on the Sherman County Historical Survey Committee from 1970 through 1974, and she also was a founding member of the original Music Club. She was a member of First Christian Church. She married John R. Knight in 1930. He died in 1979. She also was preceded in death by a son, Don Ray Knight, in 1994. Survivors include a daughter, Jonna Maree Austin of Coolidge, Ariz., and Stratford; two sons, Dale H. Knight of Phoenix and John Kenneth Knight of Vancouver, Wash.; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Alzheimer's Association Panhandle Chapter, 2200 W. Seventh Ave., Amarillo, TX 79106. The family will be at 701 N. Main in Stratford. James Russell Varner FRIONA - James Russell Varner, 82, died Thursday, Oct. 1, 1998. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday in Friona Cemetery with the Rev. Don Boren, pastor of Friona United Methodist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Ellis-Blackwell Funeral Home. Mr. Varner was born in Red River County and had lived in Friona since 1952. He was a truck driver and a Methodist. He married Stella Mauldin in 1939 at Clarksville. Survivors include his wife; three sons, James T. Varner of Phoenix, Stanley R. Varner of Amarillo and Phillip E. Varner of Colorado Springs, Colo.; two daughters, Martha Shepherd of Granbury and Gail Trevison of Fayetteville, N.C.; a brother, Oswald C. Varner of Fontana, Calif.; 12 grandchildren; and six greatgrandchildren. Marvin E. Allison LEFORS - Marvin E. Allison, 82, died Friday, Oct. 2, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in First Baptist Church of Lefors with the Rev. Lewis Ellis, pastor, and the Rev. John Glover, associate pastor of First Baptist Church of Pampa, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens in Pampa by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Mr. Allison was born in Memphis. He moved to Lefors in 1960 from Quitman. In 1978, he retired after 37 years of service with Atlantic Richfield. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Lefors. He married Luella Coward in 1937 at Hugo, Okla. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Bill Allison and Lynn Allison, both of Pampa; a daughter, Barbara Hathaway of Dallas; a sister, Marie Vasarevic of Tyler; two brothers, Manuel Allison of Gainesville and Johnny Allison of Texarkana; nine grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 4 until 6 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home. They suggest memorials be to First Baptist Church of Lefors, the Ronald McDonald House or Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center of Amarillo. Emma A. Smith HEREFORD - Emma A. Smith, 90, died Friday, Oct. 2, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Trinity Fellowship Church with Steve Gilbert of the church officiating. Burial will be in West Park Cemetery. Mrs. Smith was born in Westmoreland, Tenn. She moved to Deaf Smith County in 1959 from Denton. She had been a member of Ford Community FCE Club since 1960 and was a member of First Christian Church. She was a homemaker. She married Raymond Smith in 1924 at Kemp. He preceded her in death in 1991. Survivors include a daughter, Katherine Nelson of Hereford; two sons, John A. Smith of Hereford and Billy A. Smith of Hayward, Calif.; four grandsons; three great-grandchildren; and a great-great grandson. The family will receive friends from 2 until 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. They suggest memorials be to a favorite charity. Elbert Nowell MULESHOE - Elbert Nowell, 92, died Friday, Oct. 2, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Ellis Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Stacy Conner of First Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Muleshoe Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Nowell was born in Italy and moved to Muleshoe in 1928 from Slaton. He was a farmer. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Muleshoe and Muleshoe Masonic Lodge, where he was past master and past deputy grand master. He was a member of Muleshoe Oddfellows and past noble grand. He married Hazel Jaggers in 1944 at Lubbock. She preceded him in death in 1989. Survivors include three sisters, Bessie Kenney of Slaton, Icie Kenney of Lubbock and Euple Taylor of Denver City; and a brother, Ernest Nowell of Lazbuddie. Jane LaFont PLAINVIEW - Jane LaFont, 80, died Friday, Oct. 2, 1998. Services will be at 3 p.m. Monday in St. Mark's Episcopal Church of Plainview with the Rev. James Mock Sr., pastor, and Dr. Max Browning, pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park by Lemons Funeral Home. Mrs. LaFont was a native of Plainview. She graduated from Plainview High School and Lipperts Business College. Mrs. LaFont was a secretary for the Hale County agent and later for the Hale County judge. She was a member of Great Books Club, the Hobby Club and St. Mark's Episcopal Church. She married H.M. LaFont in 1933 at Plainview. Survivors include a daughter, Gail Huie of Corpus Christi; a son, William LaFont of Plainview; a brother, Dr. E.H. Powell of Buffalo, N.Y.; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.