Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 4 September 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; Friday, September 4, 1998, 7:15 AM Area Travis L. Baker PERRYTON - Travis L. Baker, 88, died Monday, Aug. 31, 1998. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Steve Ulrey officiating. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Perryton. Mr. Baker was born in Evant. He worked as a funeral director in Arizona in the 1930s. He had owned and operated a grocery store for 50 years including Bakers Food Store, which opened in 1951. He was a member of the First Methodist Church. He married Viola Shearer in 1939 at Santa Monica, Calif. Survivors include his wife; two sons, James Baker of Perryton and Brook Baker of Coppell; two brothers, J.C. Baker of Victoria and Weldon Baker of Phoenix, Ariz.; and three grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Senior Citizens Center, 1200 S.W. 15th Ave., Perryton, TX 79070. Harold Conner PAMPA - Harold "Diz" Conner, 63, died Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Central Baptist Church with the Rev. Norman Rushing, pastor of First Baptist Church of Jacksboro and the Rev. Bill Austin, retired Baptist minister of Amarillo, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery with Masonic graveside rites by Top O' Texas Masonic Lodge 1381 AF&AM. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Conner was born in Pampa and moved to Beaver County, Okla., in 1969, returning to Pampa in 1977. He graduated from Pampa High School. He had worked in the oil fields as a pumper since 1953, retiring in 1991. He was a member of the Central Baptist Church, the Top O' Texas Masonic Lodge 1381 AF&AM, and the Pampa Chapter 65 Order of the Eastern Star. He married Frances Hankins in 1955 at Pampa. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Pandora Rose of Falcon, Colo.; three sons, Ricky Conner and Phill Conner, both of Pampa, and Roby Conner of Panhandle; a brother, Frank Conner of Pampa; four sisters, Avis Walls, Jewell Lyles, Vesta Phillips and Freddie Seitz, all of Pampa; and nine grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Central Baptist Church Building Fund or Hospice of the Panhandle. Howard Ray Aylor BORGER - Howard Ray Aylor, 71, died Thursday, Sept. 3, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Church of God with the Rev. Buck Lawley, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park at Stinnett by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mr. Aylor was born in Hutchinson County, and was a lifetime area resident. He retired as an electrician for Phillips Petroleum Co., and served in the Army during World War II. He was a member of the Church of God, God's Country, was active in a prison ministry and president of the Plemons Alumni Association. He married Billie Campbell in 1947 at Borger. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Diane French, in 1975. Survivors include his wife; a son, Stan Aylor of Borger; a brother, Lester Aylor of Pampa; two grandchildren; and a greatgranddaughter. The family requests memorials be to the Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson St., Amarillo, TX 79101. Albert Rudolph Scheele LOCKNEY - Albert Rudolph Scheele, 74, died Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1998. Services will be at 2:30 today in Trinity Lutheran Church in the Providence community with the Rev. Mel Morton Wright, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park Cemetery by Wood-Dunning Funeral Home. Mr. Scheele was born in Floyd County where he was a lifelong resident. He was a farmer who was involved with the Farm Bureau in Floyd County as a charter member and was on the first board of directors. He represented Floyd County each year at the state convention and was on the board for 12 years, three as vicepresident. Mr. Scheele was Floyd County Republican Chairman for nine years. He was involved in many community projects including the Floyd County Fair and the Floyd County Stock Show where he served as president for two years. He was a member of Consumers Fuel Board for 12 years and on the Providence school board for 18 years. Mr. Scheele was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, a Gideon and taught Sunday school for many years. He was active in a barbershop quartet and other singing groups. He married Otero Brown in 1944 at Wilson. Survivors include his wife; two sons, David Scheele of Midland and Ralph Scheele of Rockwall; four daughters, Linda Conway of Nursery, Diane McCormick of Galveston, Becky Duckworth of Longmont, Colo., and Lisa Peckenpaugh of Farnsworth; two sisters, Frances Collins of Borger and Mildred Favor of Blanco; 16 grandchildren; and one greatgrandchild. Ethel V. Gipson FARWELL - Ethel V. Gipson, 93, died Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Hamlin Memorial Methodist Church in Farwell with the Rev. Beth Harrington, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Hawkins Chapel Cemetery in Loving by Ellis Funeral Home of Muleshoe. Mrs. Gipson was born in Young County. She moved to Farwell in 1987 from Bovina. She was a homemaker and member of Hamlin Memorial Methodist Church. She married William Richard Gipson Sr. in 1925 at Young County. He died in 1988. She also was preceded in death by a son, William Richard Gipson Jr., in 1991. Survivors include two sons, Howard Wayne Gipson of Roswell, N.M., and E.C. Gipson of Lubbock; two daughters, Wyvonna Haney of Farwell and Eudora Craft of Ruidoso, N.M.; 10 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. Maria Nicolasa Marrufo DIMMITT - Maria Nicolasa Marrufo, 45, died Thursday, Sept. 3, 1998. Vigil service will be at 8 p.m. today in Azteca Community Center. Funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with the Rev. Guillermo Morales officiating. Burial will be in Castro Memorial Gardens Cemetery by Foskey-LilleyMcGill Funeral Home. Mrs. Marrufo moved to Dimmitt 17 years ago from Mexico. She was employed in housekeeping by Canterbury Villa Nursing Home. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. She married Enrique Marrufo in 1995 at Dimmitt. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Jaime and Carlos Escamilla of Dimmitt; four daughters, Paula Escamilla of Albuquerque, N.M., and Gloria Escamilla, Rosa Marrufo and Elizabeth Marrufo, all of Dimmitt; eight sisters; three brothers; and three grandchildren. Earlene Golden QUANAH - Earlene Golden, 74, died Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Church of Christ with Lyndal Werner officiating. Burial will be in Quanah Memorial Park by Price-Jackson Funeral Home. Mrs. Golden was born in Quanah. She had lived in Dallas, Lake Tawakoni and Vernon before returning to Quanah four years ago. She was a homemaker and member of the Church of Christ. She married Carl E. Golden in 1941 at Quanah. She was preceded in death by an infant son. Survivors include her husband; a son, Ed Golden of Lewisville; two sisters, Edith Cato of Quanah and Helen Miller of Amarillo; a brother, Charles Richardson of Arlington; and two granddaughters. The family will be at the funeral home from 7 until 8 p.m. today for visitation. The family suggests memorials be to Westview Boys Home of Hollis, Okla., or Ronald McDonald charity. Vestil Stamps CHILDRESS - Vestil Stamps, 71, died Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. Jon Crosby, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery by Johnson Funeral Home. Mr. Stamps was born in Childress and was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. He is survived by a brother, Grady Stamps of Childress. Teresa Garcia MULESHOE - Teresa Garcia, 66, died Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1998. Rosary will be said at 8:30 p.m. today in St. Ann's Catholic Church. Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday in St. Ann's Catholic Church in Bovina with the Rev. Eddy Kieran, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Bovina Cemetery by Ellis-Blackwell Funeral Home of Friona. Mrs. Garcia was born in Monterrey, Mexico. She was a former resident of Bovina where she lived for 10 years then lived in Muleshoe for 26 years. She was an seamstress for Excel and a lifelong Catholic. She married Julio Garcia in 1948 at Los Indios. He preceded her in death in 1995. She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Dora Alice Garcia, and two sons, Jose Garcia and Juanito Garcia. Survivors include three sons, Jabier Garcia of Grand Prairie, James Garcia of Florida and Julio Garcia Jr., of Muleshoe; four daughters, Mary Ann Arzola of Muleshoe, Rosalinda Martin of Tyrone, Okla., Janie H. Sherbon of Bovina and Beatrice Morin of Fort Worth; four brothers, Jesus Martinez of Midlothian, Tomas Martinez of Sheldon, Guadalupe Martinez of Abilene and Ovidio Martinez of Reserve; three sisters, Olivia Longoria of Earth, Maria Garza of Sheldon and Lourdes Rodriquez of Abilene; 21 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. Ethel May Luedtke PLAINVIEW - Ethel May Luedtke, 92, died Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1998. Services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in Wood-Dunning Colonial Chapel with Jim Brewer of South Plains Church of Christ of Lubbock officiating. Burial will be at Parklawn Memorial Gardens in Plainview. Mrs. Luedtke was born in Sweetwater. She moved to Plainview in 1941 from Vernon. She was a member of Ninth and Columbia Street Church of Christ and was a homemaker. She married Leo Max Luedtke in 1933 at Frederick, Okla. Survivors include her husband; a son, Max K. Luedtke of Navasota; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Annie Grabbe SILVERTON - Annie Grabbe, 90, formerly of Silverton, died Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church of Silverton with Ted Kingery and the Rev. Edwin Norris officiating. Burial will be in Silverton Cemetery by Myers-Long Funeral Directors of Silverton. Mrs. Grabbe was born in Turnersville. She was a member of First Baptist Church. She married D.M. Grabbe in 1926 at Plainview. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1987, a son, Joe Grabbe, and an infant son. Survivors include three daughters, Blanche McMillan of Hearn and Janice Burch and Barbara Allison, both of Lubbock; one son, Louis Grabbe of Silverton; two brothers, Bill Hamilton of Houston and J.W. Hamilton of Stockdale; four sisters, Hazel Turpin of Stockdale, Dorothy Merkel of Fredricksburg, Barbara Collins and Vera Manis, both of Lubbock; 14 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Alzheimer's Association, South Plains Chapter, Lubbock, Texas; or Silverton Cemetery Association. Amarillo Charles Herschel Nichols Charles Herschel Nichols, 57, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Aug. 2, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Rector Funeral Home Chapel with Phil Mercado, associate pastor of Trinity Fellowship, officiating. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Nichols was born in Mena, Ark., and had lived in Amarillo all his life. He was an ironworker and a member of Ironworkers Union Local No. 408. He was preceded in death by a son, Charles Herschel "Chris" Nichols, in 1986. Survivors include two daughters, Kim Thomas and Misty Sinclair, both of Amarillo; and seven grandsons. The family will be at 2031 Crockett. Jim Godsey Jim Godsey, 61, of Bushland, died Tuesday, Sept. 1, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Schooler Funeral Home, Brentwood Chapel, 4100 S. Georgia, with the Rev. Raymond Bowlin of the First Baptist Church of Bushland officiating. Burial will be in Palo Duro Cemetery in Wildorado. Mr. Godsey was born in Amarillo and moved to Bushland as a child. He attended elementary school in Bushland and then attended Elizabeth Nixon Junior High School and Amarillo High School in Amarillo. Mr. Godsey was owner/operator of Bushland Oil & Grocery. He was a member of the San Jacinto Masonic Lodge No. 1330 AF&AM and Bushland Baptist Church. Survivors include a son, Billy Godsey of Amarillo; a daughter, Devvie Moon of Amarillo; his mother, Jewell M. Godsey of Amarillo; a brother, W.O. Godsey of Abilene; and two grandchildren. The family will be at 4224 Langtry Court. Reynaldo L. Reyes Reynaldo L. "Rey" Reyes, 74, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1998. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today in Memorial Park Funeral Home, Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mass will be celebrated at noon Saturday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with the Rev. Hector J. Madrigal officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Reyes was born in Del Rio. He served in the Navy during World War II where he was seaman 1st class on the USS San Jacinto. He moved to Amarillo four years ago from Hereford and was retired from farming and agriculture. He married Lupe Gallegos in 1965 at Hereford. Survivors include his wife; four sons, Reynaldo "Rey" Reyes Jr., of Loveland, Colo., Santos Reyes of Brighton, Colo., Carmelo Reyes of Hereford and Andres Reyes of Amarillo; a daughter, Alicia Maria Reyes of Amarillo; two brothers, Reginaldo L. Reyes of San Antonio and Ramiro Reyes of Huntsville; three sisters, Beatrice L. Lopez, Adelmari Cardenas and Doraelia L. Diaz, all of Del Rio; and eight grandchildren. New Mexico Eldon Burk TEXICO, N.M - Eldon Burk, 61, died Monday, Aug. 31, 1998. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. today in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel with J.K. Barfield officiating. Mr. Burk was born in Melrose and had lived in Texico since 1979. He had lived in the Clovis area most of his life. He was a Navy veteran. Survivors include three daughters, Jackie Grimes of Farwell, Texas, Dana Holman of Dardanelle, Ark., and Coy Burk of San Francisco, Calif.; a sister, Peggy Lee of Clovis; his mother, Lola Burk of Clovis; and three grandchildren. Elsewhere Joan Thomas LUBBOCK - Joan "Joe" Thomas, a former Wellington resident, died Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1998. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church. Burial will be in Memorial Gardens Cemetery at Wellington. Arrangements are by Platte Valley Mortuary at Brighton, Colo. Mrs. Thomas was born in Duncan, Okla., and moved with her parents in 1947 to Chickasha, Okla. She lived in the Wellington area until 1994 when she moved to Lubbock. She was a homemaker and cared for many children in the Wellington area. Survivors include two sisters, Myreta Sugg of Lubbock and Gale Marshall of Vidor; two brothers, Gary Thomas of Broomfield, Colo., and Dale Thomas of Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Viewing will be from 11 a.m. until service time Saturday in the church. The family requests memorials be to the American Heart Association.