Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 5 May 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; Tuesday, May 5, 1998, 6:21 AM Amarillo Zelma Elise Brown Gray Zelma Elise Brown Gray, 83, of Amarillo, died Saturday, May 2, 1998, in Colorado Springs, Colo. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle, with the Rev. Andrew D. Parker, associate to the rector of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, officiating. Private burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Gray was born in Sherman. She grew up in Amarillo and graduated from Amarillo High School in 1928. She was a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, where she served as president of St. Katherine's Guild. Mrs. Gray worked for United States Farm Security Administration and served as a volunteer at Northwest Texas Hospital. She married Carl Byron Gray in 1936 at Amarillo. He died in 1995. Survivors include two sisters, Marion Brown Nichols of Amarillo and Dorothy Brown Allen of Fort Worth and Florissant, Colo. The family requests memorials be to the St. Andrew's Episcopal Church building fund. Delita Burk Woodard Delita Burk Woodard, 44, of Amarillo, died Sunday, May 3, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Colonial Funeral Chapel, 1010 W. Ninth Ave., with the Rev. Anthony Pennington officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Woodard was a lifelong resident of Amarillo. She graduated from Amarillo High School. She had been employed by Great Western Directories and attended Northwest Baptist Church. She married Steven Woodard in 1995 at Amarillo. Survivors include her husband; two sons, David Spain and Cody Spain, both of Amarillo; two daughters, Brandy Nicole Richardson and Tina Marie Woodard, both of Amarillo; three brothers, Gary Burk, Hugh Burk and Bob Burk, all of Amarillo; and a sister, Deloris Berry of Amarillo. The body will be available for viewing until service time today. Eliseo Carabajal Sr. Eliseo Carabajal Sr., 58, of Amarillo, died Saturday, May 2, 1998. Services were at 1 p.m. Monday in Uvalde with Oscar Flores officiating. Burial was in Hillcrest Cemetery in Uvalde by Colonial Funeral Chapel of Amarillo. Survivors include his wife, Aurora Uriegas Carabajal of Hereford; three sons, Eliseo Carabajal Jr. of Amarillo, and David Carabajal and Daniel Carabajal, both of Hereford; four daughters, Susan Medina and Nancy De La Cerda, both of Hereford, Carmen Carabajal of Dallas and Debbie Perez of Amarillo; three brothers, Beto Carabajal, Elias Carabajal and Ernesto Carabajal; four sisters, Petra Ortiz, Rosa Buentello, Eva Davila and Estela Zamora; 19 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Jason Contreras Jason Contreras, 21, of Amarillo, died Sunday, May 3, 1998. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. today at N.S. Griggs and Sons Pioneer Chapel with Hector Gallegos, deacon, officiating. Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with the Rev. Hector J. Madrigal officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Contreras was born in San Antonio. He graduated from Caprock High School where he was listed in the Who's Who of Sports in 1995 for basketball. He was employed as an assistant manager by Panhandle Salvage. He was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Survivors include his wife, Lala Quintanilla; a daughter, Sierra Contreras of Amarillo; a son, Isaac Contreras of Amarillo; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Steve Martinez of Amarillo; two sisters, Elaine Garcia and Monica Martinez, both of Amarillo; a brother, Mathew Contreras of San Antonio; his grandparents, Victor and Consuelo Palacio and Paul and Lupe Contreras, all of Amarillo; and two great-grandmothers, Micaela Ramirez and Margaret Palacio, both of Amarillo. The family will be at 1121 S. Garfield. Donna DeAun Cunningham Raef Donna DeAun Cunningham Raef, 51, of Amarillo, died Sunday, May 3, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. todayin Amarillo South Church of Christ with Brad Small, minister, officiating. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens in San Angelo. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mrs. Raef was born in San Angelo. She was a member of the Amarillo South Church of Christ. She married Louis Raef in 1993 at Amarillo. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Dana Heller of Las Vegas and Devonna James of Tyler; her mother and stepfather, Mary Lee and Herbert E. Couch of Amarillo; her father and stepmother, A.B. and Ruth Cunningham of San Angelo; a brother, Bruce Cunningham of Bastrop; and six grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice. Tristen Rae Gatlin Tristen Rae Gatlin, 2-year-old son of Larry Gatlin of Amarillo, died Saturday, May 2, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. today in Edith Ford Memorial Cemetery in Canadian with the Rev. Aaron Laverty, pastor of Gageby Baptist Church, and the Rev. Phil Randle, pastor of Johnson Chapel Church of Amarillo, officiating. Arrangements are by Stickley-Hill Funeral Directors of Canadian. Tristen was born and raised in Amarillo. Survivors include his father; his mother, Misty Wooten of Red Oak, Okla.; his grandparents, Dan and Kay Gatlin of Brisco; and his great-grandparents, LaFoy and Catherine Vise of Pampa and Leta Mae Gatlin of Mobeetie. The family requests memorials be to Creative Care Daycare in Amarillo or Brisco Volunteer Fire Department. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. today at the funeral home. Eunice DeShazor Eunice DeShazor, 84, of Allen and a former resident of Amarillo, died Sunday, May 3, 1998. Services will be at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in St. Jude Catholic Church of Allen with the Rev. Bruce Bradley officiating. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Memorial Park Cemetery in Amarillo. Arrangements are by Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in McKinney. Ms. DeShazor was born in Wagoner County, Okla. She retired as a dental assistant. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Amarillo. Survivors include a son, Ed Whinery of San Antonio; two daughters, Barbara Juergens and Janis Lynn Moriarty, both of Allen; a sister, Opal R. Trombold of Tulsa; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday in Memorial Park Funeral Home in Amarillo. New Mexico Davis Matthew Smith CLOVIS, N.M. - Davis Matthew Smith, 27, died Friday, May 1, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Price Street Baptist Church with the Rev. Dick Ross officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Mr. Smith was born in Dearborn, Mich. He attended school in Clovis and graduated from Olde Columbine High School in Longmont, Colo., in 1988. He attended New Mexico State University in Las Cruces and Eastern New Mexico University in Clovis. He married Tamara Danyel Stidham in 1997 at Clovis. Mr. Smith was a salesman for Wallace Cadillac in Las Cruces. When he returned to Clovis in 1995, he became general manager of Hoffmann Aircraft Inc. At the time of his death, he was vice president and co-owner of Chopper's Inc. of Clovis. Survivors include his wife; two stepsons, Michael and Matthew, both of Clovis; his mother, Karen Hoffmann of Clovis; his father and stepmother, Henry and Jean Smith of Boulder, Colo.; a sister, Rachal Smith of Colorado City, Texas; and grandmother, Dorothy Olson of Rochester. Elsewhere The Rev. William H. Wright ABILENE - The Rev. William H. Wright, 69, died Sunday, May 3, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in Aldersgate United Methodist Church with the Rev. Clark Williams officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home. The Rev. Wright was born in Knox City. He graduated from Hale Center High School and from McMurry University. He received a master of divinity from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. He moved to Abilene from Amarillo in 1994. The Rev. Wright was a United Methodist minister for 34 years, having served in many cities including Abilene, Lubbock, Childress, Floydada and Amarillo. He also served as chaplain at the Sears Methodist Center in Abilene. He was a member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church. He married Peggy Smith in 1949 at San Antonio. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Bill Wright Jr. of League City and Mike Wright of Waco; two daughters, Donna Watkins of Abilene and Cindy Hutson of Lubbock; a brother, Lloyd Wright of Oakton, Va.; a sister, LaVerne Mouser of Lubbock; and 10 grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Aldersgate United Methodist Church memorial fund, 1741 Sayles Blvd., Abilene, Texas 79605. Canyon Bessie Marie Goodman Hicks Bessie Marie Goodman Hicks, 86, of Canyon, died Monday, May 4, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in University Church of Christ in Canyon with Bob Shepherd and Ed Modrick officiating. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery by Holley Funeral Home, Inc., of Canyon. Mrs. Hicks was born in Rock Pin Flat, Okla. She graduated as salutatorian of her class at Seminole High School. In 1956, she received her master's degree in education from West Texas State University. She taught school in Tulia, Montreal, Canada and Kuwait. Mrs. Hicks was president of the American Women's Club in Kuwait and Pakistan. She was an Avon representative in Alaska. She married William Ray Hicks in 1936 at Wewoka, Okla. He died in 1992. Survivors include three sons, Don Hicks of Mesa, Ariz., Gary Hicks of Tucson, Ariz., and Thom Hicks of Canyon; a daughter, Sue Ezziddineof Canyon; a sister, Loretta Henley of Tecumseh, Okla.; a brother, Kenneth Goodman of Prue, Okla.; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to High Plains Children's Home in Amarillo. Area Eric Bliss BORGER - Eric Bliss, 19, died Sunday, May 3, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Church of Christ with Richard Kasko and Gary Bodine, ministers, officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Cemetery by Brown Funeral Directors. Mr. Bliss was born in Borger and had been a lifetime Borger resident. He was a student at Frank Phillips Junior College. He was a clerk with the Salvation Army and a member of the Church of Christ. Survivors include his parents, O.D. and Carol Bliss of the home; three brothers, Jesse Bliss of Grand Cayman Island, Joe Wesley Bliss of Amarillo and Jared Don Bliss of Borger; a sister, Tamra D. Adair of Amarillo; and grandmother, Marjorie Lilley of Borger. Marvin D. Felix PERRYTON - Marvin D. "Bud" Felix, 79, died Sunday, May 3, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Ted Latham officiating. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Mr. Felix was born in Nash, Okla. He had lived in the Perryton area for 51 years, moving from Nash. He served with the Army from 1941 to 1945 in the European Theater. He was a farmer and a member of First Baptist Church. He married Orrana Evans in 1946 at Wellington, Kan. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Jeannette Cook of Edmond, Okla., and Lorinda Watson of Perryton; four sons, Lyndol Felix, Doyal Felix and Kevin Felix, all of Perryton, and Cliff Felix of Oklahoma City; three brothers, Ross Felix of Enid, Okla., Wilbur Felix of Wichita, Kan., and Merlin "Wimpy" Felix of Altus, Okla.; two sisters, Ruby Moore of Kaw City, Okla., and Mildred Fox of Royal Palm Beach, Fla.; and 10 grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the OGH Hospice and OGH Hospice Volunteers, 3101 Garrett, Perryton, Texas 79070. Loraine M. Sams STRATFORD - Loraine M. Sams, 72, died Saturday, May 2, 1998. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Jerry Stewart of the church officiating. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Llano Cemetery in Amarillo by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mrs. Sams was born in Clifton. She was a former longtime resident of Amarillo. She had lived in Stratford since 1990. She was a homemaker and a member of Bell Avenue Baptist Church in Amarillo. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray Sams, in 1985. Survivors include a daughter, Kathy Hart of Stratford; two sons, Bucky Sams of Dallas and Jerry Sams of San Antonio; and a sister, Rubilee Richardson of Dallas. The family will be at 619 N. Wall. Francisco C. Lozano SPEARMAN - Francisco C. Lozano, 91, died Sunday, May 3, 1998. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. todayin Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Sacred Heart Catholic Church with the Rev. Scott Raef, parish priest, and the Rev. Rex Nicholl of Perryton officiating. Burial will be in Hansford Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers of Spearman. Mr. Lozano was born in Siloa, Guanajuato, Mexico. He moved to Spearman 32 years ago from Stanton. He had been employed by B&B Farm Industries for several years. In 1987, he retired from the city of Spearman. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He married Petra Martinez in 1959 at Stanton. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Sandra Carbajal and Beatrice Comp, both of Spearman; four sons, Jesse Lozano of Houston, and Frank Lozano, Felipe Lozano, and Ramon Lozano, all of Spearman; two sisters, Juana Lozano and Ramona Lozano, both of Siloa, Mexico; and 14 grandchildren including Robert Vasquez of Amarillo. Janice Fisher TULIA - Janice Fisher, 47, died Sunday, May 3, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Charles Davenport, pastor, and the Rev. Jerry Stein, pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church of Nazareth, officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery by Wallace Funeral Home of Tulia. Mrs. Fisher was born in Levelland and attended schools in Levelland and Sundown. She graduated from Levelland High School in 1968. She attended South Plains College and West Texas State University and graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma School of Pharmacy in 1973. Mrs. Fisher was an insurance agent in Lubbock for several years. She was employed as a pharmacist in Lubbock at Wal-Mart, Eckerd Drug, L&H Drug and for the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic for eight years. Since 1995, she had been employed as pharmacist for Tulia Health Mart. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Tulia. She married Robert "Bob" Fisher in 1993 at Lubbock. Survivors include her husband; her mother, Allene Burton of Levelland; and two sisters, Norma Jackson of Levelland and Sue Schneider of Lubbock. The family requests memorials be to the American Cancer Society or the American Diabetes Association. Myrtle Hodge MORTON - Myrtle Hodge, 88, died Monday, May 4, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Gary Boles, pastor, and the Rev. Jesse Hodge, her son and pastor of First United Methodist Church of Tulia, officiating. Burial will be in Morton Memorial Cemetery by Ellis Funeral Home of Muleshoe. Mrs. Hodge was born in Haskell County. She had been a resident of Morton community since moving from Tahoka in 1944. She retired at 79 as Cochran County Sheriff Dispatcher. She was a homemaker. She married Joe Hodge in 1928 at Tahoka. He died in 1978. She also was preceded in death by a son, Lewis, in 1987. Survivors include five sons, Dub Hodge of Borger, Wiley Hodge of Lubbock, Wilson Hodge of Morton, Jesse Hodge of Tulia and Donald Hodge of Austin; five daughters, Ruth Minor of Lubbock, Ruby Davis of Morton, Joann Reeves of Goodland, Sue Dewbre of Marble Falls and Linnie Moore of Midland; a sister, Pearl Vaughn of Bakersfield, Calif.; two brothers, Edgar M. Hammonds of Tahoka and Arthur J. Hammonds of Roswell, N.M.; 38 grandchildren; 53 great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to First United Methodist Church, Morton, Texas, 79346. Luz Rodriquez PLAINVIEW - Luz Rodriquez, 41, died Sunday, May 3, 1998. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. todayin Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Memorial services will be at 4 p.m Wednesday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with the Rev. Ben Kasteel, pastor, officiating. Cremation and arrangements are by Lemons Funeral Home of Plainview. Mrs. Rodriquez was born and raised in Floydada where she attended schools. She received her GED and attended the Life Long Learning Center at Wayland. She received her Licensed Vocational Nurse training from South Plains College. She had been employed by St. Mary of the Plains Hospital, Methodist Hospital of Lubbock and Plainview Methodist Hospital. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She married Edward Rodriquez in 1974 at Floydada. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Andrea Rodriquez of Plainview; a son, Edward Jr. Rodriquez of Amarillo; five brothers, Maurice Martinez of Plainview, Juan P. Martinez of Lubbock, Mickey Martinez of Florida and Simon Martinez and Tony Martinez, both of Floydada; a sister, Amelia Galvan of Floydada; and a granddaughter. Albert Lee Rogers MEMPHIS - Albert Lee Rogers, 86, died Sunday, May 3, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Travis Baptist Church with the Rev. Bob Reid officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery by Memphis Funeral Home. Mr. Rogers was born in Erick, Okla. He was a carpenter and cabinet maker. He was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma "Jack" Rogers. Survivors include two sons, Leon Rogers and William Kenneth Rogers, both of Memphis; a daughter, Louise Bray of Amarillo; 17 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.