Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 8 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; Tuesday, December 8, 1998, 6:52 AM Amarillo Mary Frances Sharp Mary Frances Sharp, 70, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Dec. 5, 1998. Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. today in Schooler Funeral Home Brentwood Chapel, 4100 S. Georgia St., by the Rev. Arturo Meza. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in St. Laurence Cathedral with the Rev. Ed Sweeney of St. Teresa's Catholic Church at Friona officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Sharp was born in Slaton. She graduated from St. Mary's Academy. She was a homemaker and attended St. Laurence Cathedral. She married William "Bill" Clyde Sharp in 1953 in Amarillo. Survivors include her husband; four daughters, Susan Miller, Sandy Gutierrez and Nina Sharp-Rains, all of Amarillo, and Mary Helen Sharp of Escondido, Calif.; two sons, Joe Sharp and Billy Sharp, both of Amarillo; a sister, June Cole of Amarillo; two brothers, Jake Handley of Amarillo and John Handley of San Antonio; nine grandchildren; and a greatgrandchild. The family requests memorials be to St. Laurence Cathedral, 2300 N. Spring St., Amarillo, TX 79107-7299. A.B. Stueart Jr. A.B. Stueart Jr., 73, of Amarillo, died Monday, Dec. 7, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Llano Mausoleum with the Rev. Burl Bumpus, cousin and retired minister, officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Mr. Stueart was born in Lakeview and was a Navy veteran of both World War II and the Korean War. He moved to Amarillo in 1954 from San Diego. He was self-employed as a rental owner and a member of the Panhandle Boat/Ski Club. He married Janet Gilbert in 1953 at Yuma, Ariz. Survivors include his wife; a stepbrother, Jimmy Duncan of Howardwick; and a special friend, Blanca Cantu of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials be to the local chapter of the American Cancer Society. Juan S. Escoto Juan S. Escoto, 97, of Midland and formerly of Amarillo, died Monday, Dec. 7, 1998. Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. today in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Burial will be in Llano East Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Escoto was born in Leon de las Aldamas, Guanajuato, Mexico, and moved to Amarillo in 1918. He was a member of the Cruz Norifica and served as an advocate for the Consulado de Mexico from the 1950s until the 1960s. He was a founder and president of Centro Mexicano where he served as trustee until his death. He was a lifelong member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. He married Manuela Escoto in 1919 at Amarillo. They were the first couple to be married in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. She died in 1996. Survivors include three sons, Adolfo "Pete" Escoto, Antonio Escoto and Jesus Escoto, all of Amarillo; two daughters, Gloria Castillo of Midland and Elvira Sanchez of Amarillo; a sister, Teresa Escoto Sustaita of Phoenix; 19 grandchildren; 52 great-grandchildren; and 17 great-great-grandchildren. The family will be at 1510 S. Cleveland. They suggest memorials be to the Texas Commission for the Blind, Attn: Accounting, P.O. Box 12866, Austin, TX 78711. Vernon D. Janow Vernon D. Janow, 73, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Dec. 6, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Memorial Park East Mausoleum with the Rev. Claud Tugwell officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Colonial Funeral Chapel, 1010 W. Ninth. Mr. Janow was born in Woodward, Okla. He retired 11 years ago as groundskeeper for Amarillo Independent School District. Survivors include a son, Randal Janow of Amarillo; two daughters, Debbie Janow of Dallas and Cathy Janow of Amarillo; two brothers, William Janow and David Janow, both of Oklahoma; five sisters, Virginia Anderson of Washington, Betty Schibblehute of Colorado, Ethel Doyle of Montana, Hazel Wood of Dallas and Patsy Swaydn of Kansas; two grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Viewing will be this afternoon. New Mexico Sharon Mae Strebeck Wilson CLOVIS, N.M. - Sharon Mae Strebeck Wilson, 46, died Monday, Dec. 7, 1998. Services will be at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in Kingswood United Methodist Church with Dr. Mark Scott officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens by Steed-Todd Funeral Directors. Mrs. Wilson was born in Portales. She graduated from Clovis High School and earned a bachelor's degree from Eastern New Mexico University at Portales. She taught school at Mesa Elementary since it was founded in 1991. She previously taught in both Colorado and Texas. She also taught night classes at Clovis Community College. She was a member of Kingswood United Methodist Church and played in the Carillion's Bell Choir. She was an artist and a member of PED Chapter A4. Survivors include two daughters, Amy Wilson and Alana Wilson, both of Abilene, Texas; her parents, C.B. and Marjorie Strebeck of Clovis; two sisters, Betty Parish of Earth, Texas, and Peggy Markham of Stinnett, Texas; two brothers, Sidney Strebeck and Charles Strebeck, both of Clovis; The family requests memorials be to Kingswood United Methodist Church. The family will be at No. 2 Barton Ct., Clovis. Evie Latisha Gibbs LaRue MELROSE, N.M. - Evie Latisha Gibbs LaRue, 90, of Sundown, Texas, a former Melrose resident, died Saturday, Dec. 5, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Kevin Bushart officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens by Steed-Todd Funeral Home of Clovis. Mrs. LaRue was born in Wellington, Texas. She married Oal Aaron LaRue in 1927 at Melrose. They were farmers and ranchers until his death in 1967. She was a homemaker and a seamstress at the Vohs Co. in Clovis for many years. She was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church of Melrose and recently a member of the Methodist church at Sundown. Survivors include two daughters, Bettie Hogue and Elnora Nugent, both of Sundown; a brother, Joffre Gibbs of St. Vrain; a sister, Daphna Sartain of Clovis; seven grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Mary Vashi Beckner CLAYTON, N.M. - Mary Vashi Beckner, 84, died Monday, Dec. 7, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Billy Rammage, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Clayton Memorial Cemetery by Hass Funeral Directors of Clayton. Mrs. Beckner was born in Holdenville, Okla., and moved to Union County in 1918, living in the Otto community. She was a 1932 graduate of Clayton High School and received her bachelor's degree in education from Highlands University in 1958. Mrs. Beckner taught rural schools in Union County for seven years and taught in the Clayton Public School system for 331/2 years. The majority of her career was teaching third grade. She retired in 1978. Mrs. Beckner was a member of Retired Teachers Association where she served as president for two years. She was a member of First Baptist Church where she sang in the church choir, taught in the junior department and was a member of the Fellowship Sunday School Class. She married Benjamin Harold "Ben" Beckner in 1937. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1991 and by an infant daughter, Bennye. Survivors include two daughters, D'Lila Evelyn Morrison of Westminster, Calif., and Kaye Rosamond Freeman of Clayton; a sister, Lois Lamb of Dalhart, Texas; a brother, Loyd Lawrence of North Richland Hills; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to First Baptist Church in Clayton; the Union County General Hospital; or to the Clayton Cemetery Fund. Oklahoma Sabra G. Guymon KEYES, Okla. - Sabra G. Guymon, 41, died Saturday, Dec. 5, 1998, at Denver. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in United Methodist Church with the Rev. Hershel Moore and Dewey Holland officiating. Burial will be in Elkhart Cemetery at Elkhart, Kan., by Harrell Funeral Home of Elkhart. Mrs. Guymon had been a resident of Keyes since 1995. She was a nurse. She married Shane Guymon in 1983 at Keyes. Survivors include her husband; a son, Sedge Guymon of the home; two daughters, Leanna Guymon and Dasha Guymon, both of the home; her father, Monroe Keeling of Elkhart; and a brother, Mark Keeling of Elkhart. The family requests memorials be to the Leukemia Society of America. Christeen L. Cole CHEYENNE, Okla. - Chisteen L. Cole, 89, died Saturday, Dec. 5, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in White Rose Cemetery with the Rev. Alberta Helton officiating. Arrangements are by Rose Chapel Funeral Services. Mrs. Cole was born in Kemp, Texas. She married Jesse Theodore Cole in 1927. She was preceded in death by her husband and a son, Jack Martin Cole. Survivors include a son, Pete Cole of Wheeler, Texas; a daughter, Vonnie Harris of Shamrock, Texas; eight brothers and sisters, Joseph Ricks, H.O. Ricks, Bill Jack Ricks, Homer Ricks, Pat Ricks, Rosalee Pepper, Darlene Gauthien and Dorothy Mae Comiskey; and four grandchildren. Elsewhere Vivian S. Moore BIG SPRING - Vivian S. Moore, 86, died Saturday, Dec. 5, 1998. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Dalhart Memorial Park in Dalhart with the Rev. Rusty Hancock, pastor of Lincoln Street Baptist Church of Dalhart, officiating. Arrangements are by NalleyPickle & Welch Funeral Home. Mrs. Moore was born in Oklahoma and lived in Post for a number of years. She lived in Dalhart from 1954 until 1976 and then moved to Big Spring in 1978. In Dalhart, she was a member of Lincoln Street Baptist Church. She was a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Big Spring. She married J.I. Moore in 1929 at Roby. He preceded her in death in 1976. Survivors include two daughters, Dean Baker and Flute Loyd, both of Big Spring; two sons, James Moore of Stanton and Freddie Moore of Big Spring; two sisters, Oleta Drafton and Aline Manker, both of Petaluma, Calif,; seven grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Family Hospice of Big Spring, 3210 E. 11th Pl., Big Spring, TX 79720. Area Armando Carrasco TULIA - Armando Carrasco, 49, died Friday, Dec. 4, 1998. Mass was celebrated at 2 p.m. Monday in Church of the Holy Spirit with the Rev. John Salazar-Jimenez, pastor, officiating. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Rose Hill Cemetery by Wallace Funeral Home. Mr. Carrasco was born in Ojinaga, Chihuahua, Mexico. He was raised in Mexico, where he attended schools. He moved to Tulia in 1967. He married Amalia Dominquez in 1971 at Cactus. They lived in Cactus after their marriage. He had worked for Montford Beef Packing Plant more than 20 years before retiring. Survivors include his wife; four daughters, Leticia Carrasco of Amarillo and Nancy Carrasco, Maria Elena Carrasco and Brenda Carrasco, all of Cactus; two sons, Javier Carrasco of Fort Sill, Okla., and Armando Carrasco of Houston; his father, Ysidro Carrasco of Tulia; three sisters, Vicki Rey, Curz Rey and Manuela Subaldia; four brothers, Hippolito Carrasco, Martin Carrasco, Emmitt Carrasco and Salome Carrasco; and two grandchildren. Zola Lee Shankle Gerlach MEMPHIS - Zola Lee Shankle Gerlach, 99, died Saturday, Dec. 5, 1998, at Charlotte, N.C. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Fairview Cemetery with Tom Anderson of Memphis Church of Christ officiating. Arrangements are by Memphis Funeral Home. Mrs. Gerlach was born in Tarrant County. She was the owner and operator of the Little Shop at Dumas for many years. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Gerlach. Survivors include a son, Ted Gerlach of Charlotte; and two granddaughters. Elpidia Flores DUMAS - Elpidia Flores, 50, died Sunday, Dec. 6, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Templo Elim de Las Asambleas de Dios with the Rev. Jose I. Contreras, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Dumas Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mrs. Flores was born in Poyete and had lived in Dumas since 1963. She was a homemaker and member of Templo Elim de Las Asambleas de Dios. She was a homemaker. She married Frank Flores in 1963 at Hale Center. Survivors include her husband; six sons, Frank Flores III and Jimmy Flores Sr., both of Dumas, Jose Flores Sr. of Spur, Charles Flores of Grand Island, Neb., Abel Flores of Lexington, Neb., Adam Flores of Edinburg and Matthew Flores of the home; three daughters, Patsy Flores, Esmerlda Fuentes and Esqfana Y. Flores, all of Dumas; six brothers, Hector Valenzuela of Amarillo, Henry Valenzuela of Cactus, Robert Valenzuela and Delfino Valenzuela, both of Dumas, Ernesto Valenzuela of Brackettville and Freddie Valenzuela of Dalhart; four sisters, Estfana Cobos and Lidia Valenzuela, both of Dumas and Lupe Suarez and Janie Yanez, both of Fresco, Calif.; and 38 grandchildren. The family will be at 1301 S. Maddox No. 8, Dumas. Elvis Marion Moore WHEELER - Elvis Marion "Spud" Moore, 80, died Sunday, Dec. 6, 1998. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Rob Lindley, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Wheeler Cemetery by Wright Funeral Home. Mr. Moore was born in Wheeler where he graduated from high school. An Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, he was a farmer and lifelong resident of Wheeler County. He was a member of the American Legion and the First United Methodist Church. He married Virginia DeBose in 1991 at Wheeler. His first marriage was to Mary Frances Horton in 1945 at Lubbock. She preceded him in death in 1980. Survivors include his wife; four sons, James Moore of Mexico City, Mexico, John Moore of Seattle, Dennis Moore of Wheeler and Wendell Moore of Briscoe; three daughters, Linda Burton of Los Gatos, Calif., Marlene Miller of Spearman and Marilyn Herd of Georgetown; a brother, Raymond Moore of Kelton; a sister, Bess Cole of Dalhart; two stepsons, Jeff DeBose and Danny DeBose, both of Wheeler; a stepdaughter, Tammy Whiteley of Shamrock; 15 grandchildren; and nine stepgrandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center or the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. Fountie Wade Gilreath PAMPA - Fountie Wade "Shorty" Gilreath, 84, died Sunday, Dec. 6, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with Dr. Derrell Monday, pastor of Central Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Mr. Gilreath was born in Burleson and attended Swearington High School in Memphis. He moved to Pampa in 1943. For 36 years, he worked in the maintenance department at Cabot Carbon. He was a Baptist. He married Peggy Thomas Hicks in 1953 at Panhandle. She died in 1996. Survivors include a sister, Mildred Judd of Killeen; two granddaughters; several great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Pampa Senior Citizens. Danny Reneau BORGER - Danny Reneau, 55, died Monday, Dec. 7, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in First Church of the Nazarene with the Rev. Leonard Forsythe, pastor of Bible Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Cemetery by Brown Funeral Directors. Mr. Reneau was a native of Phillips and a lifetime resident of the area. He had been in the insurance business since 1969. In 1986, he started an agency with Farmers Insurance Group and owned Danny Reneau Insurance Agency. He was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene. He married Kristi Matzek in 1968 at Guymon, Okla. Survivors include his wife; a son, Cory Reneau of Borger; and a brother, Billy Reneau of Borger. Frances Pierce BORGER - Frances Pierce, 75, of Oklahoma City, died Sunday, Dec. 6, 1998. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Highland Park Cemetery with Richard Kasko, minister of Fritch Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of Devotion by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. A former Borger resident, Mrs. Pierce was born in Paris. She moved to Oklahoma City eight years ago and was a homemaker. She married Lonnie Pierce in 1942 at Frederick, Okla. He died in 1996. Survivors include a son, Lonnie Dale Pierce of Oklahoma City; and a brother, Dudley Haney of Springfield, Mo. Bessie Jewel Smith PANHANDLE - Bessie Jewel Smith, 89, died Saturday, Dec. 5, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Minton Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Terry Porter, pastor of First Church of the Nazarene, officiating. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Fairlawn Cemetery in Elk City, Okla., by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. A Borger resident since 1946, Mrs. Smith was born in Hammon, Okla. She moved here from Burkburnett. She was a cook for the North Plains Hospital and was a member of the Church of the Nazarene. She married Marcus R. Smith in 1970. She was preceded in death by Marcus in 1993, and by her first husband, Arthur Burleson, in 1962. Survivors include two sons, Jim Burleson of Tulsa and Ron Burleson of Plano; a stepson, Phillip Smith of Charleston, S.C.; a brother, Buster Shelton of Meade, Kan.; six grandchildren; and four greatgrandchildren. Coleman Terrell SUDAN - Coleman Terrell, 86, died Monday, Dec. 7, 1998. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Cliff Hargrove of First Baptist Church and the Rev. Jim Hawthorne of Amarillo officiating. Burial will be in Littlefield Memorial Park Cemetery in Littlefield by Ellis Funeral Home. Mr. Terrell was born in Caddo Mills and moved to Sudan in the 1920s. He graduated from Sudan High School where he was active on the agricultural judging teams. He was a farmer and member of the First United Methodist Church. Mr. Terrell was a member of the Sudan Masonic Lodge and a Shriner. He was an active supporter of Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and the Republican Party. He married Willie Chisholm in 1934 at Muleshoe. Survivors include his wife; a sister, Mavis Cook of Amarillo; and a brother, Doyle Terrell of Oklahoma City. The family suggests memorials be to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, P.O. Box 1890, Amarillo, TX 79174; or Sudan Emergency Services. Jerry Bennett Price CLARENDON - Jerry Bennett Price, 64, died Saturday, Dec. 5, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Robertson Funeral Directors Chapel of Memories with Dr. James Bell, pastor of the First United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Citizens Cemetery. Mr. Price was born and raised in Clarendon. He lived in San Diego for 37 years before returning to Clarendon in 1994. He retired in 1994 after 31 years with Neyenesch Printing Co. in San Diego. He was a veteran of the Navy and a member of St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Clarendon. He married Mary Louise McCord in 1956 at Clarendon. Survivors include his wife; a son, G. Michael Price of San Antonio; and two brothers, Clyde I. Price Jr., of Clarendon and Kenneth Price of Azle. The family suggests memorials be to the American Heart Association. Frances Marie Johnson CLARENDON - Frances Marie Johnson, 56, died Sunday, Dec. 6, 1998. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. today in First United Methodist Church with Dr. James Bell, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Citizens Cemetery by Robertson Funeral Directors Inc. Mrs. Johnson was born in Clarendon where she was a lifelong resident. She was a homemaker and member of First United Methodist Church where she was involved with the church's women's groups. She married Curtis Owen Johnson in 1964 at Clarendon. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Amy Johnson of Denver; a son, Mitch Johnson of Dallas; her parents, L.L. and Mary Wallace of Clarendon; a sister, Doris White of Clarendon; and a brother, Glenn Wallace of Brady. The family suggests memorials be to the Multiple Sclerosis Society or to Olivia's Angels at Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center in Amarillo. Bradis Sybil Shaller CLARENDON - Bradis Sybil Shaller, 91, died Sunday, Dec. 6, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Robertson Funeral Directors Chapel of Memories with Dr. James Bell, pastor of First United Methodist Church, and the Rev. Smiley Johnson, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Clarendon, officiating. Burial will be in Citizens Cemetery. Mrs. Shaller was born in Sayre, Ark., and moved to Clarendon in 1928. She was a homemaker and member of First United Methodist Church. She married Ross Darby in 1925 at Prescott, Ark. He died in 1955. She married Donald Ballew in 1957 at Clarendon. He died in 1986. In 1990, she married Lee Shaller at Clarendon. He preceded her in death in July. Survivors include three sons, Harold Darby of Fort Worth; two brothers, Leon Carter of Sherman and Chester Carter of Bells; a grandson; and a great-granddaughter. The family suggests memorials be to the Donley County Senior Citizens or Citizens Cemetery Association in Clarendon.