Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 9 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; Wednesday, December 9, 1998, 6:47 AM Amarillo Vivian Shirk Vivian Shirk, 85, of Amarillo, died Monday, Dec. 7, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street, with the Rev. J. Alan Ford of Southwest Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Shirk was born in Montana and moved to Amarillo when she was 10 years old. She was a member of Southwest Baptist Church. From 1976 until 1992, she lived in Clayton, N.M., where she was active in the Senior Citizens Association. Survivors include three daughters, Delores Thompson of Fremont, Neb., and Bobbie VernaLee Cassey and Tiny Clark, both of Amarillo; a son, Richard Shirk of Angel Fire, N.M.; a brother, Perry Dunlap of Amarillo; four grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and five great-greatgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Elizabeth Jane Bivins Home for the Aged, 3115 Tee Anchor Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79104 or Southwest Baptist Church, P.O. Box 7526, Amarillo, TX 79114. The family will be at 6109 Cornell Irene Cox Sanders Irene Cox Sanders of Amarillo, died Sunday, Dec. 6, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Mount Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. James L. Collins, pastor, and the Rev. L.B. George, former pastor, officiating. Entombment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Warford-Walker Mortuary Inc., 509 N. Hughes St. Mrs. Sanders was born in Marlin where she attended public schools. She graduated from Booker T. Washington High School then received her bachelor's degree from Prairie View University. She earned her master's degree from the University of Colorado. An Amarillo resident for 58 years, Mrs. Sanders served as city librarian and retired from the Amarillo Independent School District. She was a member of the Mount Zion Baptist Church, past matron of Wonderful View Chapter No. 125 Order of Eastern Star and past grand deputy of the Masonic Grand Chapter Order of Eastern Star. She was preceded in death by her husband, John D. Sanders, in 1975 and by a daughter, Joni D. Sanders Gilstrap, in 1983. Survivors include two sons, John D. Sanders of Houston and Virgil L. Sanders of Mobile, Ala.; a daughter, Iris E. Sanders Lawrence of Amarillo; six grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. The family will be at 1600 N. Washington St. A.B. Stueart Jr. A.B. "Turkey" Stueart Jr., 73, of Amarillo, died Monday, Dec. 7, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today 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. Canyon Juanita Irene Parker Gruner Juanita Irene Parker Gruner, 87, of Canyon, died Monday, Dec. 7, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Holley Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Charles Price, pastor of First Baptist Church in Canyon, officiating. Eulogy will be by Gene Parker. Private burial will be in Llano Cemetery in Amarillo. Mrs. Gruner was born in Post. She graduated from West Texas State College with a degree in elementary education. She taught school for nine years, five in rural Randall County and four in Deaf Smith County. Mrs. Gruner was an accomplished china painter, a member of First Baptist Church in Canyon, active in the Randall County Home Demonstration Club and a 4-H leader. With her husband, she farmed from 1941 until 1993. She married James Forrest Gruner in 1941 at Lamesa. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1993 and by a son, Glenn Curtis Gruner, in 1944. Survivors include a daughter, Cindy Gale Gruner of Austin; a son, Robert Forrest Gruner of Amarillo; two sisters, Eula May Jones of Topeka, Kan., and Thelma Marsh of Hereford; and three grandchildren. New Mexico Betty Johnson CLOVIS, N.M. - Betty Johnson, 75, died Monday, Dec. 7, 1998. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Dick Ross officiating. Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Mrs. Johnson was born in Lincoln, Neb., and had lived in Clovis since 1955. She had worked as a dental assistant for Dr. Jake Moberly. She was preceded in death by a son, Michael Johnson. Survivors include a son, Dennis Johnson of El Paso, Texas; her mother, Margaret Hull of Clovis; and two granddaughters. Mattie D. Ellis CONCHAS DAM, N.M. - Mattie D. Ellis, 97, died Sunday, Dec. 6, 1998, at Carlsbad. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Dunn Funeral Home Memorial Chapel of Tucumcari. Burial will be in the family plot at Tucumcari Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Ellis was born in Midland, Texas, and had lived in Carlsbad since 1989. She and her husband, George F. Ellis, had lived at the Bell Ranch for 26 years. They moved to Conchas Dam in 1970. She was a published author and a woodworker. Survivors include a son, George Ellis of Eagle Pass, Texas; a daughter, Jeanne F. Ellis-Davidson of Carlsbad; a brother, Herbert Price of Lovington; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Mattie D. Ellis Memorial Book Fund c/o Berthold Davis, P.O. Box 994, Conchas Dam, NM 88416. Elsewhere Orville Darnell LEAVENWORTH, Kan. - Orville "O.B." Darnell, 71, died Saturday, Dec. 5, 1998, at Columbia, Mo. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in the Leavenworth Baptist Church. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. in the Leavenworth National Cemetery by Belden-SextonSumpter Funeral Chapel. Mr. Darnell was born in Amarillo and moved to Leavenworth in 1977. He served in the Marine Corps from 1945 until 1946. He worked in the Texas oil fields and later as a fence builder. He was a member of Leavenworth Baptist Church and the American Legion. Survivors include a son, Tom Darnell of Leavenworth; two grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Lung Association. Dr. F.E. Green LUBBOCK - Dr. F.E. Green, 73, died Sunday, Dec. 6, 1998. Services were at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Englunds Funeral Service Chapel with the Rev. Mel Swoyer, pastor of Shepherd King Lutheran Church of Lubbock, and Dr. David Murrah, family member of Houston, officiating. Burial was in Slaton's Englewood Cemetery. Dr. Green was born in Slaton and graduated from Slaton High School. An Army veteran of World War II, he received the Purple Heart. He received the first doctoral degree in petroleum geology from Texas Tech University in 1954. Dr. Green had done an archaeological study for the state and Canadian River Authority before the existence of Lake Meredith. He did work on the Clovis site near Portales and was a geologist for Tidewater Oil. Dr. Green had been director and curator of Texas Tech's West Texas Museum and retired from Texas Parks and Wildlife as director of interpretations and exhibits. He was author of numerous professional papers. Dr. Green's professional memberships included the American Associations of Museums, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Society for American Archaeology, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Society of Sigma Xi, New York Academy of Science, Texas Archaeological Society, Austin Geological Society, Texas Museums Association and Mountain Plains Museum Conference. Dr. Green also was a member of Old Spanish Missions Committee, executive committee of Lubbock Cultural Affairs Council, Lubbock County Historical Survey committee and Lions Club International. He married Mayrene Keeton in 1949 at Lubbock. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Joe Green of Lubbock and Tom Green of Houston; two brothers, Bill Green of Slaton and Kenneth Green of Midland; four sisters, Betty Orr of Slaton, Joan Green of Dallas, Venita Womack of Gruver and Mary Ruth Gossett of Lubbock; and two grandsons. The family suggests memorials be to St. Mary's Neurology Parkinson Research and Education Memorial Fund, 4102 24th St., Suite 501, Lubbock, TX 79410. Margaret Leoma Arterburn RANGER - Margaret Leoma "Oma" Arterburn, 96, died in Abilene. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in First Baptist Church in Ranger. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery by Edwards Funeral Home of Ranger. Mrs. Arterburn was born in Mena, Ark., and raised in Stewart, Okla., where she attended school. A homemaker, she was employed by Arterburn Hardware Store. She was a member of First Baptist Church, Eastern Star Chapter 275 and Royal Neighbors of America. She married Ernest Forrest "Art" Arterburn in 1919 at McAlester, Okla. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1985 and by a son, Walter Arterburn, in 1994. Survivors include four sons, Ernest Arterburn of Albuquerque, N.M., D.C. Arterburn of Amarillo, Leonard Arterburn of Lake Leon and Baytown and Junior Arterburn of Lubbock; a brother, Albert Ellison of Myrtle Creek, Ore.; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 7 until 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. The family suggests be to First Baptist Church. Ladyn H. Stidger LUBBOCK - Ladyn H. Stidger, 86, died Tuesday, Dec. 8, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Southcrest Baptist Church with the Rev. Clifford Igo and the Rev. Wilburn Coffman officiating. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Park by Resthaven Funeral Home. Mr. Stidger was born in Amarillo. He was employed as a sheetmetal worker. He was a member of Southcrest Baptist Church, the Heart Club and Royal Neighbors. He married Trula Mae Ware in 1933 at Clayton, N.M. He was preceded in death by a son, Thomas, in 1991. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Ann Dolberry of Lubbock and Lalah Weir of Baton Rouge, La.; two sons, Phillip Stidger of Amarillo and Allen Stidger of Aledo; a brother, Johnny Stidger of Tyler; a sister, Lalah Whitaker of Fort Worth; 16 grandchildren; 20 greatgrandchildren; and eight great-greatgrandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Commission for the Blind or the American Heart Association. Area Bessie Jewel Smith BORGER - Bessie Jewel Smith, 89, died Saturday, Dec. 5, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Minton Memorial Chapel in Borger 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 of Borger. 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. James W. Patterson PAMPA - James W. "Pat" Patterson, 74, died Monday, Dec. 7, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with the Rev. Todd Dyess, pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Pampa, officiating. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in the Valley View Cemetery at Garden City, Kan., with Masonic graveside rites by Tyrian Lodge 246. Mr. Patterson was born in Santo and moved to Pampa in 1981 from Garden City, where he had lived for 28 years. He was a technical superintendent with Northern Natural Gas, retiring after 38 years. He was a Navy veteran of World War II. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and of Top O' Texas Masonic Lodge 1381, recently receiving his 50-year-member pin. He married Geraldine "Jerry" Bleeker in 1945 at San Diego. He was preceded in death by a son, Jimmy D. Patterson. Survivors include his wife; a son, Ronald Patterson of Garden City; and a grandson. The family requests memorials be to Hospice of the Panhandle, P.O. Box 2795, Pampa, TX 79066-2795 or the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1981, Pampa, TX 79066-1981. Beulah Ingram BORGER - Beulah Ingram, 93, died Sunday, Dec. 6, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Assembly of God Church at Fritch with the Rev. Darrell Trout, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery at Pampa by Brown Funeral Directors. Mrs. Ingram was born in Emporia, Kan., and had been a Borger resident for 57 years. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee Ingram, in 1982. Survivors include three sons, Raymond Ingram of Borger, Bill Ingram of Magnolia, Ark., and Bob Ingram of Lowell, Mass.; a daughter, Kathryn Wright of Amarillo; a sister, Bessie Bigler of Blythe, Calif.; 10 grandchildren; 20 greatgrandchildren; and several great-greatgrandchildren. Celia Cudd PERRYTON - Celia "Cel" Cudd, 76, died Tuesday, Dec. 8, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Steve Ulrey officiating. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Perryton. Mrs. Cudd was born in Anthony, Kan., and moved to Perryton in 1941. A homemaker, she was a member of First United Methodist Church and Rebekah Lodge. She married Wayne Cudd in 1942 at Anthony. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Nina Merkel of Perryton; a son, Chuck Cudd of Perryton; two sisters, Dorothy Downing of Anthony and Ilene Lytle of Wichita, Kan.; a brother, Hollis Nichols of Wichita; six grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and a great-greatgrandchild. The family suggests memorials be to one's favorite charity. J.D. Morgan PERRYTON - J.D. Morgan, 72, died Monday, Dec. 7, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Victory Family Church with the Rev. Marlon Sparks officiating. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Mr. Morgan was born in Pea Ridge, Ark., and was a veteran of World War II. He moved to Perryton in 1965 from Ellinwood, Kan. A roustabout, he retired in 1988. Mr. Morgan worked for Giles Dirt for 21 years and was employed by Kings. He was a member of Victory Family Church. He married Neola Robinson in 1969 at Guymon, Okla. She died in 1995. Survivors include five sons, Gerald Morgan of Ellinwood, Steve Morgan of Fort Morgan, Colo., Terry Morgan of Rapid City, S.D., Rick Morgan of Fort Collin, Colo., and Randy Morgan of Akron, Colo.; three daughters, Tammy Ramirez and Brenda Rivera, both of Fort Morgan, and Joy Smith of Perryton; two stepdaughters, Sue Robinson of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Esther Partsch of Johnstown, Pa.; two stepsons, Steve Apple of Fort Morgan and Troy Apple of Broken Bow, Okla.; four brothers, Joe Morgan and Ray Morgan, both of Perryton, and Eddie Wayne Morgan and Argle Morgan, both of Pea Ridge; 26 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to one's favorite charity. Richie Jones PERRYTON - Richie Jones, 32, died Tuesday, Dec. 8, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in First Assembly of God Church with the Rev. Elwyn Rogers officiating. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Mr. Jones was born in Perryton where he was a lifelong resident. He was employed as a warehouseman. He was a member of First Assembly of God Church, senior commander of the Royal Rangers and a church board member. He married Jammie Stewart in 1986 at Perryton. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Jandie Jones, in 1990. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Jordan Jones and Jayson Jones, both of the home; his mother, Sandra Jones of Perryton; and a sister, Donna Luther of Perryton. The family suggests memorials be to First Assembly of God Church, New Building Fund, P.O. Box 1243, Perryton, TX 79070.