Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 8 August 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, August 8, 1998, 5:54 AM Area Dr. Norma Battles Coffee DALLAS - Dr. Norma Battles Coffee, 55, died Saturday, Aug. 1, 1998. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in White Deer Cemetery at White Deer with the Rev. Linda Brown, pastor of Northhaven United Methodist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Dr. Coffee received her doctorate of medicine in 1968 at the University of Texas Health Science Center/Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. She worked as an assistant professor of clinical pediatrics and was director of pediatrics at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children before going into private practice in 1982. She was a member of a number of medical societies. Survivors include her husband, Don Rockwell Coffee; and a daughter, Leslie Allison Coffee of Los Angeles. The family requests memorials be to White Deer United Methodist Church Endowment Fund or the Arthritis Foundation of North Texas. Ivan Collier PAMPA - Ivan Collier, 69, died Thursday, Aug. 6, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Pampa with Glen Walton, minister of North Amarillo Church of Christ, officiating. Arrangements are by CarmichaelWhatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Collier was born in Sayre, Okla., and moved to Pampa in 1945 from Sayre. He served in the Army during the Korean War. He worked for Celanese as a warehouseman, retiring in 1985 after 29 years. He was a member of Mary Ellen & Harvester Church of Christ. He married Genelle Tiffany in 1954 at Clovis, N.M. Survivors include his wife; two sons, John Collier of Rolla, Mo., and Karl Collier of Independence, Mo.; a daughter, Gayle Lindsey of Burleson; and eight grandchildren. Linda Gale Jupe SMYER - Linda Gale Jupe, 46, died Tuesday, Aug. 4, 1998, at Lubbock. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. CDT today in Oklahoma Lane Cemetery at Oklahoma Lane, Texas, with Pastor Cody Bershears officiating. Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home of Clovis, N.M. Mrs. Jupe was born in Lubbock. She was a member of Victory Church of Lubbock. She married Thomas Jupe in 1973 at Lubbock. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Russell Jupe and Eric Jupe, both of Smyer; a sister, Lula Pickrelle of Lubbock; three brothers, James Medford of Pensacola, Fla., Tony Medford of Smyer and Kenneth Medford of Arlington; her mother, Shirley Medford of Smyer; and her grandmother, Rose Bershears of Lubbock. Gordon Bailey DUMAS - Gordon Bailey, 89, died Tuesday, Aug. 4, 1998. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Northlawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery with the Rev. Roger Harwerth, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Borger, officiating. Arrangements are by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mr. Bailey was born in Maramec, Okla., and had been a Dumas resident since 1947. He graduated from Danville High School in 1929 and attended the University of Illinois from 1929 until 1935. He was employed by the Hegelen Zinc Co., of Danville, Ill., from 1935 until 1947. Mr. Bailey was an Army veteran of World War II, having served from 1941 until 1946 with the 314 Bombing Wing APO 246. He was in the Army Reserve until 1986 when he retired as a lieutenant colonel. He served in Guadalcanal, Northern Solomons, Bismarck Archipelago, western Pacific and in the air offensive against Japan. He received the Bronze Star, American Theatre Ribbon, Asian Pacific Theatre Ribbon with one silver battle star and four overseas service bars. In Dumas, Mr. Bailey was assistant superintendent at American Zinc Smelter for eight years until becoming plant superintendent. In 1966, he became plant manager until his retirement in 1972. He was a member of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineering. Mr. Bailey was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon and the Masonic Lodge in Danville. He was one of the original sponsors of the Dumas chapter of Demolays and a Boy Scout volunteer. He served as director and past president of the Dumas Chamber of Commerce, past president of the Rotary Club of Dumas and served as director of the Dumas Industrial Development Board. He was past president of the North Plains Country Club and a member of the First Presbyterian Church. He married Helen Lynch in 1937 at Danville. She preceded him in death in December. Survivors include a son, Gordon Bailey II of Littleton, Colo.; two sisters, Edith Harder of Escondido, Calif., and Ruth Coldfelder of Hillsboro, Ill.; a grandson; and a great-grandson. The family will be at 116 Chelsea. Walter Allen Howard BORGER - Walter Allen "Bud" Howard, 72, died Wednesday, Aug. 5, 1998. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Garden of Beatitudes at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Ricky Griffin, pastor of Sanford Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. Mr. Howard was born in Beggs, Okla. He moved to Borger in 1943 from Edmond, Okla., and was a Borger graduate in 1944. He served with the Navy during World War II. Mr. Howard attended Frank Phillips College where he played basketball and was elected the first Plainsman of the Year. He retired as operator for Phillips Petroleum Co. He worked for the Plains Plant for 33 years and retired when it closed. Survivors include a son, Walter Allen Howard Jr., of Houston; two daughters, Rita Fraley and Paula Schaffer, both of Borger; two brothers, Paul Howard of Pampa and Kenneth Howard of Odessa; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. The family will be at 400 Dogwood in Borger. They request memorials be to Sanford Baptist Church. Jack Doyal Mooney CHILDRESS - Jack Doyal Mooney, 76, died Thursday, Aug. 6, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church Chapel with the Rev. Jim McCurley of the church officiating. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery by Johnson Funeral Home. Mr. Mooney was born in Anna and was a veteran of World War II. He retired as owner and operator of Mooney's Auto Paint and Body Shop. He was a member of the American Legion and First Baptist Church of Childress. He married Rita Mooney in 1944 at Gainesville. She died in 1994. Survivors include a daughter, Carolyn Baker of Childress; a son, Doyle Wayne Mooney of Amarillo; a brother, Tommy Mooney of Childress; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Bee Nalley Kidd PLAINVIEW - Bee Nalley Kidd, 86, of Bedford and a former resident of Plainview, died Tuesday, Aug. 4, 1998. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in First United Methodist Church in Plainview with Dr. Max Browning, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Cemetery by Lemons Funeral Home. Mr. Kidd was born in McKinney and moved to Hale County in 1919 where his family settled in Liberty community. He graduated first among the boys at Kress High School where he starred in basketball and track. He served in World War II from 1943 until 1945 as a drill instructor at Fort Reilly, Kan., Fort Leonardwood, Mo., and Camp Adair, Ore. In 1935, Mr. Kidd was employed by J.M. Radford Wholesale Grocery, which was later acquired by Kimbell Grocery Co. For 42 years, he was the representative and grocery salesman in the Plainview area. After his retirement, he worked at the Plainview YMCA. Mr. Kidd was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Plainview where he was in the Harmony Sunday School Class, sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, served on the church administrative board and helped with the Methodist Youth Fellowship. He helped found Trinity United Methodist Church. He was an officer of the Hale County Senior Citizens. He married Mary Helen Alexander in 1937 at Plainview. She died in 1994. Survivors include a daughter, Marilyn Kidd Stein of Arlington; a son, Randall B. Kidd of Las Vegas; three sisters, Brycie Dalton of Wolforth, Gussie Boedecker of Plainview and Emma Goble of Lubbock; and four grandsons. The family requests memorials be to Cal Farley's Boys/Girls Ranch or Plainview Senior Citizens. Gilbert R. Boatman FRIONA - Gilbert R. "Gibb" Boatman, 82, died Thursday, Aug. 6, 1998. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Waide Messer, pastor, and Leon Talley of Sixth Street Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be in Friona Cemetery by Ellis-Blackwell Funeral Home. Mr. Boatman was born in Comanche, Okla., and moved to Parmer County and Friona in 1930. He was a staff sergeant with the Army in World War II. Mr. Boatman retired as owner and operator of Gibb's Dry Cleaners. He was a member of First Baptist Church and Friona Masonic Lodge No. 1332. He married Lottie Mae "Dot" McMillan in 1942 at Brownwood. Survivors include his wife; a sister, Lillian McLellan of Friona; and several nieces and nephews. Vashti R. Fowler FARWELL - Vashti R. Fowler, 94, died Wednesday, Aug. 5, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Ellis Funeral Home Chapel in Muleshoe with the Rev. Howard Rhoads, pastor of First Baptist Church of Dimmitt, officiating. Burial will be in Oklahoma Lane Cemetery in Farwell. Ms. Fowler was born in Frederick, Okla., and moved to Oklahoma Lane community in 1916. She managed her own farm. She had been a member of Oklahoma Lane Baptist Church since 1929. Survivors include a nephew, Carl M. Fowler of Amarillo; and two nieces, Gladys Wheeler and Hassie Mae Deaton, both of Long Beach, Calif. Amarillo Jack Reese Jack Reese, 44, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Aug. 2, 1998. Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. today in Pleasant Valley Baptist Church with the Rev. Dana Moore, pastor, officiating. Cremation and arrangements were by Schooler Funeral Home Inc., 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Reese was born in Amarillo and was a lifelong resident. He graduated from Cal Farley's Boys Ranch High School. He was employed as a drywall finisher. Survivors include a son, Jody Ray Reese of Amarillo; a daughter, Chanda Reese of Amarillo; his mother, Patsy Dillard of Amarillo; two brothers, Ernest Ray Perry and Joseph Long Buchanan, both of Amarillo; and two grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and Girlstown, USA, 600 W. 11th Ave., Amarillo, TX, 79101. Omar Gonzalez Jr. Omar Gonzalez Jr., infant son of Diana and Omar Gonzalez Sr., of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Aug. 5, 1998. No services are planned at this time. Cremation and other arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia. Omar was born in Amarillo on Aug. 3. Survivors include his parents; a brother, Hector E. Saenz of the home; and his grandparents, Isabel Moreno of Rio Grande and Oralia Eulogio Saenz of Lakeview. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. Vivian Evelyn Jones Vivian Evelyn Jones, 64, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Aug. 6, 1998. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. today in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. Dewey Newburn, pastor of Forest Hill Assembly of God Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Jones was born in St. Joseph, Mo., and had been an Amarillo resident since 1963. She was a homemaker and member of Forest Hill Assembly of God Church. She married Samuel James Jones in 1954 at Phoenix. Survivors include her husband; four children, Sandra Christine Walker, Terrance Dean Jones, Venus Kelly Jones and Katrina Crystal Leavitt, all of Amarillo; two sisters, Gloria Gimble and Annie Knapp, both of Phoenix; a brother, Daniel Moran of Phoenix; 13 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The body will be available for viewing 30 minutes prior to the service at Llano Cemetery. Mary Sybal Hazel Brierley Mary Sybal Hazel Brierley, 84, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Aug. 6, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Frank Williams of Covenant Presbyterian Church officiating. Arrangements are by Colonial Funeral Home, 1010 W. Ninth. Mrs. Brierley was born in Shannon and moved to Spur where she graduated from high school. She graduated from Baylor University where she was women's singles tennis champion. Then she received her master's degree from Texas Tech University. In 1942, Mrs. Brierley began her teaching career at Amarillo High School and moved to Tascosa High School when it opened. She was head of the business education department and in charge of graduation ceremonies until her retirement in 1973. After her retirement, she continued as head of the international exchange student program and taught needlepoint classes. With her husband, Mrs. Brierley was active in Will Rodgers Range Riders, the Yacht Club and First Presbyterian Church. In the 1960s, they became associated with Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico where she served on the volunteer ski patrol. She served as secretary-treasurer of FBN Industries of Taos, N.M. She married Robert Brierly in 1943 at Lubbock. Survivors include her husband; and two sisters, Evalene Man of Amarillo and Melba Pope of San Antonio; and several nieces and nephews. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. New Mexico Cecile Garrison TUCUMCARI, N.M. - Cecile Garrison, 91, died Wednesday, Aug. 5, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Logan United Methodist Church with the Rev. Stan Eggart, minister, officiating. Burial will be in the Obar Cemetery east of Logan by Dunn Funeral Home. Mrs. Garrison was a longtime Logan resident. She was a homemaker and a member of the Logan United Methodist Church. Survivors include three daughters, Mary Hutchison of Rio Rancho, Reta G. Huggins of Lubbock, Texas, and Laura A. Garrison of Tucson, Ariz.; a sister, Ret Clark of Florida; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The body will be available for viewing until 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. Elsewhere Ken Alexander GRANBURY - Ken Alexander, 77, died Wednesday, Aug. 5, 1998. Services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday in Holly Hills Mausoleum in Granbury with full military honors provided Dyess Air Force Base of Abilene. Entombment will be in Holly Hills Memorial Park by Martins Funeral Home. Mr. Alexander was born in Wheeler. A veteran of World War II, he was a German prisoner of war. He retired as major from the Air Force and was a member of Granbury Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7835. He married Ruby I. Caskey in 1973 at Roswell, N.M. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Frances Sartwell of Commerce; a son, Stuart Alexander of Oklahoma City; a stepson, John Melaski of Portland, Ore.; two stepdaughters, Suanne Wilson of Euless and Ginny Jennings of Amarillo; two brothers, Donald Alexander of Wheeler and Max Alexander of Pampa; a sister, Betty Roach of Keller; six grandchildren; and five step-grandchildren. J.W. Martin PETERSBURG - J.W. Martin, 77, died Thursday, Aug. 6, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Petersburg First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Sharon O'Quinn, pastor, and the Rev. Jesse Nave officiating. Burial will be in Petersburg Cemetery by Abell Funeral Home of Abernathy. Mr. Martin was born in Floyd County. He moved to Petersburg in 1928 from Oklahoma. He served in the Army from 1944 until 1946. In 1954, Mr. Martin moved to Kress where he managed and operated a service station and farmed. He returned to Petersburg in 1965. He was a member of First United Methodist Church and Methodist Men. He married Agnes Bernice Anderson in 1940 at Petersburg. Survivors include his wife; five sons, James Martin of Levelland, Orville Martin, Jack Martin and Bennie Martin, all of Petersburg, and Lynn Martin of Bowie; three daughters, Jerry Ferguson of McLean, Darla Bennett of Belton and Jeannie Abbe of Ardmore, Okla.; two brothers, R.B. Martin and Albert Martin, both of Petersburg; two sisters, Helen Breed of Floydada and Corky Fullingim of Petersburg; 23 grandchildren; and 18 greatgrandchildren. Viewing will be from 9 a.m. today until service time in First United Methodist Church Parlor. Fern Ladean Merling MONTROSE, Colo. - Fern Ladean Merling, 78, died Saturday, Aug. 1, 1998. Private family services will be at 1 p.m. today in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Ouray with the Rev. Ronnie Hanna officiating. Arrangements are by Montrose Valley Funeral Home. Mrs. Merling was raised in Amarillo where she received her education. She lived in Ouray before returning to Amarillo in 1940 to help with the war effort by working as an explosive operator at the Pantex Ordnance Plant. During that time, she received her pilot's license and worked for the War Department moving war planes across the country. Mrs. Merling was employed for 14 years by the IBEW Union as their bookkeeper. She also was employed for 14 years as bookkeeper and payroll supervisor for DePauw Construction. She retired in 1985 and moved to Montrose in 1987. She married Jesse Frank Merling in 1937 at Durango. She was preceded in death by her husband and two sons, Jimmy Frank Merling and John Daniel Merling. Survivors include three daughters, Joan Points of Montrose, Vicky Points of Battlelment Mesa and Deanie Crow of Medford, Ore.; four brothers, Bob Gravestock of Amarillo, Larry Gravestock and Dick Gravestock, both of California, and John Gravestock of Montrose; four sisters, Pat Hargis of Seattle, Barbara Hammil and Chindy Perry, both of Amarillo, and Jerry Gravestock of South Fork; 10 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Citizens State Bank of Ouray in memory of Fern Merling to buy portable phones for the residents of Valley Manor. Oklahoma George Wauhob BOOKER, Okla. - George Wauhob, 74, died Wednesday, Aug. 5, 1998. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church in Booker with the Rev. Ray Adams, the Rev. Brent Farney and the Rev. Billy Joe Baxter officiating. Burial will be in Heart Cemetery by Good Samaritan Funeral Service at Booker. Mr. Wauhob was born in Fargo, Okla. During his senior year of high school, he entered the Army Air Corps and served in the 5th and 8th divisions. Following his discharge, he moved to Woodward where he was employed as a watchmaker. In 1948, he moved to Booker and established Wauhob Jewelry, which he operated until 1986. He worked for the city of Booker for 10 years before retiring in 1990. He was a member of the First Baptist Church and was actively involved in the Booker 4-H Club. He married Zella May Baxter in 1945 at Enid. Survivors include his wife; two sons, David Wauhob of Midland and Hoyt Wauhob of Dallas; a daughter, Cheri Hawley of Red Oak; a brother, Nathan Wauhob of Laverne, Okla.; and five grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to First Baptist Church of Booker.