Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 9 Nov 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; Monday, November 9, 1998, 7:00 AM Area Essie Lee Thornton HALE CENTER - Essie Lee Thornton, 52, of Sherman, died Thursday, Nov. 5, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m Tuesday in Hale Center Church of Christ with Larry Hambrick officiating. Military graveside services will be in Hale Center Cemetery by Freeman Abell Funeral Home of Hale Center. Mr. Thornton was born in Temple and graduated from Hale Center High School in 1967. He moved to Sherman in 1996. He served in Vietnam with the Army where he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge and the Army Occupation Medal. Survivors include his wife; a son, Essie Lee Thornton Jr., of Lubbock; a daughter, Phinease Thornton of Amarillo; six brothers, Limus Thornton, Clinton Thornton, James Thornton and Charles Thornton, all of Dallas and Bobby Taylor and Clyde Taylor, both of Temple; seven sisters, Earnestine Barnes of Hale Center, Bessie Jones and Brenda Cherry, both of Plainview and Elizabeth Taylor, Nancy Taylor, Beverly Taylor and Mary Taylor, all of Temple; and three grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Dana Denise Proctor DALHART - Dana Denise Proctor, 31, of Dalhart, died Saturday, Nov. 7, 1998, in Dumas. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Hass Funeral Home Chapel at Dalhart with the Rev. Russell Koelzer, pastor of Reidland Christian Church of Paducah, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park at Dalhart. Arrangements are by Morrison Funeral Directors. Miss Proctor was born in Dalhart and moved to Dumas in 1996 from Dalhart. She attended Lakeview Methodist Church at Dalhart. Survivors include her mother and stepfather, Nita and Leon Gibbs of Amarillo; father and stepmother, Shelton and Dale Proctor of Dalhart; a sister, Tammie Kile of Amarillo; and grandmother, Mrs. Francis Allison of Dalhart. The family will be at 1119 Olive in Dalhart. They requests memorials be to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Amarillo, 2324 Lakeview, Amarillo, TX 79109. Visitation will be today at Morrison Funeral Directors in Dumas. Jack W. Galaway Sr. CLAUDE - Jack W. Galaway Sr., 81, died Friday, Nov. 6, 1998, at Waco. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Wilkerson Memorial Chapel at Brady with the Rev. Cathy Caudle officiating. Burial will be in East Sweden Cemetery near Brady by Heart of Texas Funeral Home of Brady. Mr. Galaway was born in Brady. He worked in the oil fields as a pumper and had worked for Travelers Oil Co. in Borger for 30 years before moving to Claude 14 years ago. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He married Irene Helen Kolakowski in 1945 at Newark, N.J. She died in May. Survivors include a son, Jack Galaway Jr. of Waco; a brother, Edgar Galaway of Abilene; and a granddaughter. The family requests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice in Amarillo. Brady F. Risinger SHAMROCK - Brady F. "Buddy" Risinger, 92, died Sunday, Nov. 8, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in the First Baptist Church at Corsicana. Additional services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church of Shamrock with the Rev. Jack Lee, pastor, and the Rev. B.F. Risinger Jr. officiating. Burial will be in the Shamrock Cemetery by Wright Funeral Directors. Mr. Risinger was born in Brazos County, raised in the Steep Hollow community and attended Bryan public schools. He attended Texas A&M College, majoring in business and graduating in 1927 with a bachelor of science degree. In 1927, he moved to Shamrock and worked for Farmers and Merchants State Bank as a teller. He worked for that bank for 44 years, retiring in 1970 as president, remaining on the board of directors until 1987. He also established the B.F. Risinger Insurance Agency which he operated from the 1950s until the mid-1980s. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Shamrock and served as a deacon since he was ordained in 1931. He taught Bible classes and served as church treasurer for 10 years. He served on the Shamrock School Board, Shamrock City Council, Salvation Army Board, Boosters Club and Rotary. He married Monnie B. Derr in 1930 at Fort Worth. She died in 1992. Survivors include a son, B.F. Risinger of Corsicana; and two grandsons. Wildy Ellen Griffin McLEAN - Wildy Ellen Griffin, 98, died Saturday, Nov. 7, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Thacker Haynes, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Alanreed Cemetery by Wright Funeral Directors of Shamrock. Mrs. Griffin was born in Pulaski, Tenn. She lived in and around Pulaski until 1936, when she married Ernest Calvin Woods and moved to Wayside where they were employed by the Goodnight Ranch. He died in 1943 and she moved to Alanreed. In 1957, she married Tinsley Griffin. They lived on their McClellan Creek Farm north of Alanreed until 1967, when they moved to McLean. Mr. Griffin died in 1974 and she lived in McLean. She lived in McLean until 1991, when she moved to the Dallas area. In 1992, she moved to The Christian Care Center in Gunter. Survivors include a son, Benny Woods of Dallas; a stepson; three grandchildren; and seven stepgrandchildren. Vita Wells PLAINVIEW - Vita "Wannell" Wells, 72, died Saturday, Nov. 7, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Wood-Dunning Funeral Home Colonial Chapel with the Rev. Andrew Housley, of the First Assembly of God, officiating. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the Quanah Cemetery at Quanah. Mrs. Wells was born in Quanah. She graduated from Quanah High School in 1942 and moved to Plainview in 1963. She was a member of Quanah Church of Christ and Beta Sigma Phi. She married Clark E. Wells in 1947 at Quanah. He died in 1977. Survivors include a son, Michael Clark Wells of Lubbock; and a granddaughter. The body will be available for viewing at Price-Jackson Funeral Home at Quanah from 2 to 3:45 p.m. Tuesday. Joseph E. Graham VEGA - Joseph E. Graham, 76, died Sunday, Nov. 8, 1998. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Memorial Park Cemetery at Vega with the Rev. James Peach, pastor of Vega First Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Vega Funeral Home, 110 S. Main. Mr. Graham was born in Oldham County and raised in Vega. He attended school in Vega, graduating from Vega High School. After graduation, he joined the Air Corps where he served during World War II in New Guinea, the Philippines and Japan. He served in Seoul during the Korean War. After his eight years of service he moved to Pasadena, Calif., where he worked for Becton-Dickinson Co., in electronics until retiring. In 1990, he moved back to Vega. He was an active member of AA for 38 years and was currently a member of Top of Texas AA. He married Mickey Lynn Lugo in 1985 at Pasadena. She died in 1990. Survivors included three nieces, Aleene Jackson and Dolores Nixon, both of Amarillo and Laura Graham of Vega; and three nephews, Harold Dillehay of Canyon, Gerald Sides of Vega and Jerry O'Connor of Wildorado. The family requests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson, Amarillo, TX 79101 or Memorial Park Cemetery at Vega, P.O. Box 496, Vega, TX 79092. The body will be available for viewing from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle, Amarillo and from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Vega Funeral Home. David Venson Smith WHEELER - David Venson Smith, 80, died Saturday, Nov. 7, 1998, at Mobeetie. Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. today in the Mobeetie Cemetery with the Rev. Aaron Laverty, of Mobeetie, officiating. Arrangements are by Wright Funeral Home. Mr. Smith was born in Wheeler County. He served in the Army from 1944 to 1946, during World War II with the Rocket Battalion. After returning home, he worked as a carpenter and farmed and ranched on the Gageby Creek. He attended the Gageby Community Church. He married Fay Thomas in 1939 at Pampa. He was preceded in death by a son, David Wayne Smith, in 1947. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Winnie Gilmer of Briscoe and Patricia Hand of Mobeetie; two brothers, James Lewis Smith and R.J. Smith, both of Wheeler; four grandchildren; and a great-grandson. The family requests memorials be to Hospice of the Panhandle, P.O. Box 2795, Pampa, TX 79066; Harrington Cancer Center in Amarillo; or a favorite charity. The body will be available for viewing from 12:30 p.m. until service time at the First Baptist Church of Mobeetie. Zelma Fern McClure PLAINVIEW - Zelma Fern McClure, 86, died Saturday, Nov. 7, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Lemons Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Russ Byard, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Lockney, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Cemetery by Lemons Funeral Home. Mrs. McClure was born in Lockney and moved to Plainview in 1963, from Floydada. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Lockney. Survivors include a sister, Beulah Fae McClure of Plainview. The family requests memorials be to First United Methodist Church of Lockney. Amarillo Lee W. Warf Lee W. Warf, 75, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Nov. 4, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Coulter with Brock Lovett, second counselor stake presidency, officiating. Entombment will be in Memorial Park Mausoleum East by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mr. Warf was born in American Falls, Idaho, and graduated from high school in Salmon, Idaho. He attended Duke University. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mr. Warf was retired from the Air Force. In 1976, he moved to Amarillo from May, Idaho. Mr. Warf was a member of the Masons with Palo Duro Lodge No. 1239 and Amarillo Lodge No. 731. He was a member of the Scottish Rite in Lubbock and York Rite in Amarillo where he was past master of Tascosa No. 1375, past district deputy of District No. 122 and recipient of the Golden Trowel Award. He married Barbara J. Bohannon in 1975 at Salmon. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Dianna Lynn Dornfest and Theresa Rose Brooks, both of Boise, Idaho; a brother, LaMoyne Warf of Boise; three sisters, Madell Waetzig of Washington, Utah, Nadene Collister of Pocatello, Idaho, and La Wanna Cummings of Mesa, Ariz.; and a grandson. The body will be available for viewing today after 10 a.m. The family suggests memorials be to Alzheimer's Association Panhandle Chapter. Helen Marie Jeffers Helen Marie Jeffers, 63, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Nov. 7, 1998. Private graveside services will be at 4 p.m. today in Rowe Cemetery at Hedley with Russ Reneau, a family member of Amarillo, officiating. Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors Inc. of Clarendon. Mrs. Jeffers was born in Alanreed and had lived in Claude many years before moving to Amarillo 23 years ago. She was a homemaker and a member of Olsen Park Baptist Church. Survivors include three daughters, Linda Odom and Marion Rodriquez, both of Graham and Glenda Ellis of Claude; a son, Eddie Jeffers of Claude; two sisters, Jean Reneau and Barbara Sue Finck, both of Amarillo; two brothers, Ben Velasquez of Amarillo and Gary Velasquez of Valaporas, Fla.; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials, in lieu of flowers, be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176-0950. Dr. Rod Albracht Dr. Rod Albracht, 51, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Nov. 8, 1998. Memorial services will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Paramount Terrace Christian Church with the Rev. Scott Greer officiating. Burial will be private. Arrangements are by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Dr. Albracht was born in Hereford and moved to Amarillo in 1970 from Houston. He graduated from Texas Chiropractic College in Pasadena. He was a self employed chiropractor and a certified chiropractic consultant. He was a member of the Texas Army National Guard and Paramount Terrace Christian Church. He also was a member of Texas Chiropractic Association and the American Chiropractic Association. He was an adjunct professor in the preceptorship program of the Texas Chiropractic College, 1988-1989. He married Sharon Vinson in 1969 at Houston. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Brooke Anne Albracht and Lindsey Albracht, both of the home; four brothers, Dr. David E. Albracht and Dr. Charles I. Albracht, both of Amarillo, Dr. Colman R. Albracht of Sugar Land and Dr. Daniel J. Albracht of Mission; a stepbrother, Gary Martin of Amarillo; two stepsisters, Gayle Reynolds of Dalhart and Gay Lyn Cathey of Lubbock; and his parents, Dr. and Mrs. E.A. Albracht of Amarillo. The body will be available for viewing at 10 a.m. today. The family will be at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. today. John Thomas Kratochvil John Thomas Kratochvil, 37, of Flower Mound, a former Amarillo resident, died Saturday, Nov. 7, 1998, at Irving. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in St. Joseph Catholic Church in Amarillo followed by a vigil. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday in St. Joseph by the Rev. Ray Crosier. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Arrangements in Flower Mound were by Dalton and Son Funeral Home. Mr. Kratochvil was born in Phoenixville, Pa. He graduated from Caprock High School in 1979 and received an associate degree in science from Amarillo College. He served in the Army as an engineer in Fort Hood from 1979 to 1981. He had been a draftsman for Pioneer Natural Gas, formerly Mesa Petroleum for eight years. He was a senior engineer for Pioneer Natural Gas Co. He was a member of St. Mary the Virgin at Arlington, the Knights of Columbus and Ambassador of the Flame of Mercy. He married Diane Ramos in 1984 at Dalhart. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Monica Kratochvil of the home; two sons, Patrick Kratochvil and Bobby Kratochvil, both of the home; his parents, Joseph Robert and Wilma Mae Kratochvil, of Amarillo; two sisters, Christine Beavers and Kathleen Shepard, both of Amarillo; and four brothers, Robert Kratochvil, Tim Kratochvil and Pat Kratochvil, all of Amarillo and Joe Kratochvil of La Veta, Colo. The family requests memorials be to St. Joseph's School Saint Club. Lucille Simmons Lucille Simmons, 85, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Nov. 8, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Memory Gardens Cemetery Mausoleum with the Rev. Bob Miller of South Georgia Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by SchoolerGordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Mrs. Simmons was born in Willspoint and moved to Amarillo in 1953 from Tucumcari, N.M. She had taught in the Amarillo Independent School District, retiring in 1974. She was a member of South Georgia Baptist Church and the Retired Teachers Association. She married Edwin Cirby Simmons Jr. in 1941 at Roosevelt, Okla. He died in 1988. Survivors include two sons, Edwin L. Simmons of Amarillo and Larry G. Simmons of Atlanta, Kan.; and four grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Craig Methodist Retirement Center - Alzheimer's Unit, 5500 W. 9th Ave., Amarillo, TX 79107. Canyon Frank Daray Frank Daray, 79, of Canyon, died Friday, Nov. 6, 1998, at El Paso. Graveside services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in Llano Cemetery in Amarillo with the Rev. Kevin Deckard, associate pastor of First United Methodist Church of Canyon, officiating. Arrangements are by Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon. Mr. Daray was born in Chicago. He was a World War II veteran serving in the Philippines and Japan. He served in the Army for four years. He received his bachelor of science and teacher certificate from West Texas State University in 1953. He worked for the Department of the Army for 30 years and received special training from the Department of Defense and the Army Department of Engineering. After retirement, he worked for Matador Plastics of El Paso. He had been a resident of El Paso for 29 years and was a member of Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church. He married Iris Unsell of Groom in 1956 at Hobbs, N.M. Survivors include his wife; two nieces, Gail Hudspeth of Amarillo and Marsha Rockwell of Glenwood, Iowa; and a nephew, Scott Downing of Commerce. The family requests memorials be to Hospice of El Paso. Oklahoma Walker Lonzo Fritts ELK CITY, Okla. - Walker Lonzo Fritts, 78, died Saturday, Nov. 7, 1998, at Sayre. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. today in the Whinery-Savage Funeral Service Chapel with Charles Tatyrek and Bobby Bates officiating. Burial will be in the Spring Creek Cemetery. Mr. Fritts was born in Checotah and moved with his parents to the Spring Creek community in 1917. He married Imogene Armbruster in 1938 at Sayre. They lived in the Carter community, where he farmed until 1957 when they moved to Amarillo. In Amarillo he worked for the Pantex Plant, retiring in 1981. They moved to Elk City in 1982. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Harold Fritts of Carrollton, Texas and Walker Rex Fritts of Amarillo; four sisters, Ruth Patterson of Hutchinson, Kan., Verda Mae Adkerson of Elk City, Gladys Hoyle of Martin, Texas, and Hazel Hill of Dove Creek, Colo.; two brothers, Wallace Fritts of Pampa, Texas and J.T. Fritts of Ardmore; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Elsewhere Lona E. Welborn ODESSA - Lona E. Welborn, 96, died Sunday, Nov. 8, 1998. Services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors with Burt Groves officiating. Burial will be in Ector County/Rosehill Cemetery. Mrs. Welborn was born in Sherman. She married Charlie Welborn in 1929 at Morton. They moved to Odessa in 1937, from Munday. She was a homemaker and a member of Eisenhower Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1987 and by a son, Roy Welborn. Survivors include a son, Alfred Welborn of Waco; three daughters, Catherine Smith of Odessa, Betty Sammann of Odessa and Verlene Williams of Lubbock; four sisters, Winnie Spears, Faye Sinclair and Gladys Hickman, all of Amarillo and Sally Casstevens of California; 14 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandson.