Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 10 July 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; Friday, July 10, 1998, 6:17 AM Amarillo Douglas Lloyd Coder Douglas Lloyd Coder, 77, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, July 8, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Blackburn-Shaw Memorial Chapel, 315 E. 5th St., with the Rev. Robert Field of Southeast Baptist Church officiating. Cremation is by Memorial Park Crematory. Mr. Coder was born in 1920 at Coon Rapids, Iowa. He served as a Chief Petty Officer in the Navy. He was attached to the Marine Corps and served in the Pacific until his discharge in December 1945. Mr. Coder received a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Iowa in 1949. He worked in several locations for Silas-Mason Co., beginning in Burlington, Iowa, in 1949. When he arrived in Amarillo in 1957, he worked at Pantex. He retired from Silas-Mason in 1985 after 36 years of service. He was a member of Unity Church. Survivors include two sons, Stephen Coder of Longmont, Colo., and Richard Coder of Arvada, Colo.; one daughter, Amy Beth Miller of Arlington; two sisters, Betty Conroy of Vista, Calif., and Harriet Linder of Reinbeck, Iowa; one grandchild; and two great-grandchildren. The family will meet visitors after the service at the funeral home. They request memorials be to a favorite charity. New Mexico B.F. Miller PORTALES, N.M. - B.F. Miller, 84, died Tuesday, July 7, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Wheeler Mortuary Chapel with the Rev. Ferrell Odom officiating. Burial will be in Portales Cemetery. Mr. Miller was born in Colorado City, Texas, and moved with his family to the Bethel community from central Texas at the age of 3. They homesteaded in the sand hills and lived in the covered wagon they came west in. They then lived in a half dugout before building a 14 foot by 14 foot wooden house. He started school just inside the county line north of Bethel, then later attended school at St. Vrain, Floyd and Portales. He married Florence Elkins in 1935 at Melrose. They had farmed in the Bethel community and Delphos until the past few years. Mr. Miller was a member of the Woodmen of the World and the Farm Bureau. He served on the Farm Bureau board for more than 35 years. For several years, he tutored children to reading at Floyd school. He was active in the Floyd Senior Citizens. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Dale Miller of Portales and Dink Miller of Floyd; a daughter, Edith Chandler of Belton, N.M.; a brother, Lee "Hoss" Miller of Portales; nine sisters, Juanita Onstott, Mary Turner, Clara Rector and Evelyn Simpson, all of Portales, Hazel Walker of Crowell, Texas, Essie Helm of Lincoln, Ark., Opal Parker of Los Lunas, Be-Etta Campbell of Alamogordo and Maxine Smith of Elida; nine grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and a great-greatgrandchild. Roy Gene Wright TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M. - Roy Gene Wright, 65, died March 5, 1998. Services and burial was in White Rose Cemetery at Reydon, Okla. Mr. Wright was born in Reydon. He attended Reydon schools and spent most of his life in Oklahoma. Survivors include his mother, Carrie Barker Robbins of Tecumseh, Okla.; a sister, Linda Edgar of Harrah, Okla.; and two brothers of Amarillo. Elisa R. Wilson PORTALES, N.M. - Elisa R. Wilson, 95, died Sunday, July 5, 1998. Rosary was recited at 7 p.m. Thursday at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church at Arroyo Hondo. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. today in Our Lady of Sorrows. Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Directors. Mrs. Wilson was born in Arroyo Hondo and moved to Portales 20 years ago from Arroyo Hondo. She was a member of St. Helena Catholic Church at Portales. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jess Wilson, in 1959 and by a daughter, Clementina Wilson in 1997. Survivors include four sons, Patrick Wilson of Pampa, Texas, Cecil Wilson and Leo Wilson, both of Arroyo Hondo and Carl Wilson of Portales; 12 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and a greatgreat-granddaughter. Clarence Patrick Brady CLOVIS, N.M. - Clarence Patrick Brady, 94, died Wednesday, July 8, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. L.C. Camp officiating. Burial will be at 3 p.m. Monday in Tucumcari Memorial Park at Tucumcari. Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home. Mr. Brady was born in Erick, Okla., and lived in Tucumcari, Logan, Roswell and Alamogordo before moving to Clovis in 1997. He farmed in the Tucumcari area for several years and worked in construction as a heavy equipment operator. He was a Baptist. He married Sarah Venor Griffin 1926 at Roswell. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Charlie Patrick Brady of Clovis and Clarence Orval Brady of Fort Sumner; two sisters, Winnie Brewer of Abilene, Texas and Nettie Hedrick of Seminole, Texas; 10 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. Eddie Luera TUCUMCARI, N.M. - Eddie Luera, 43, of San Jon, died Wednesday, July 9, 1998. Vigil services will be at 7 p.m. today in Dunn Funeral Home Memorial Chapel. A memorial Mass will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in St. Anne's Catholic Church with the Rev. John C. Daniel officiating. Mr. Luera was born in Amarillo. A longtime resident of Tucumcari, he most recently lived in San Jon. For many years he served on the Tucumcari Volunteer Fire Department. He was employed by Groendyke Trucking Co. as a driver. He was a member of the Catholic Church. Survivors include his wife, Cecilia; a son, Marcus Luera, of San Jon; three daughters, Macrecia Luera, Bonnie Luera and Linda Luera, all of San Jon; his mother, Josie Schmidt of Tucumcari; his father, Frank Luera of Amarillo; three brothers, Jesse J. Luera of Tucumcari, Daniel Luera of Amarillo and Michael Luera stationed with the U.S. Army; and five sisters, Linda Apodaca of Tucumcari, Brenda Schmidt of Nevada, Tina Luera and Babett Luera, both of Amarillo, and Dorothy Jimenez of Tucumcari. Oklahoma Thelma Arnetta Rodgers BEAVER, Okla. - Thelma Arnetta Rodgers, 89, died Wednesday, July 8, 1998. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in Clark Funeral Service Chapel in Beaver with Bill Moore officiating. Burial will be at 3:30 p.m. in Memorial Park Cemetery in Enid. Mrs. Rodgers was born in Kremlin. She moved to Beaver County when she was two years old and attended school until ninth grade. She married Joseph Aldeen Rodgers in 1933 at Beaver. He died in 1969. Survivors include her daughter, Marilyn Alma Anderson, of Balko; a sister, Helen Beck of Beaver; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Dee Marie Thurston ENID, Okla. - Dee Marie Thurston, 69, of Enid, died Wednesday, July 8, 1998, in Oklahoma City. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Garriott Road Church of Christ in Enid with Jerry Campbell and Ed Lobaugh officiating. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Parklawn Memorial Gardens, Plainview, Texas, by Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home of Enid. Mrs. Thurston was born in Childress and raised in Quanah. She was a homemaker. In 1990 she and her husband moved to Enid, where she was a member of Garriott Road Church of Christ. She volunteered at various activities. She married Fred Thurston in 1977 at Memphis, Texas. Mrs. Thurston was preceded in death by a daughter and an infant son. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Nancy Tucker of Charlotte, N.C.; two sons, Galen Mannin of Plainview and Roland Mannin of Amarillo; her mother, Clarene Monroe of Georgetown, Texas; a brother, Tom Monroe of Amarillo; a sister, Mona Taylor of Georgetown; and eight grandchildren. Elsewhere Anna Louise Chapman DALLAS - Anna Louise Barganier Chapman, 88, a former Amarillo resident, died Wednesday, July 8, 1998. Family graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin. Arrangements are by Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home of Dallas. Mrs. Chapman was born in Lott, where she attended school. She graduated from College of Industrial Arts in Denton, now Texas Women's University, in 1920, moving to Spur to teach home economics. She later lived in Floydada for 18 years. She and her husband, who was District Judge of Floyd County, moved to Amarillo when he was elected to the Court of Civil Appeals in 1957. In Amarillo Mrs. Chapman sold real estate for Ada Glenn Realtors. She was selected as Realtor of the Year at that time. In 1969 the couple moved to Gatesville near the family ranch in Coryell County. She moved to Dallas in 1998. Mrs. Chapman was a member of First Baptist Church of Amarillo. In Floydada and later in Gatesville, she taught Sunday School and sang in the choir. She married Alton Brooks Chapman in 1932 at Spur. Judge Chapman died in 1996. Survivors include three sons, A. Brooks Chapman and George C. Chapman, both of Dallas, and Jerry M. Chapman of Amarillo; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home at 7405 W. Northwest Highway in Dallas. Area Claud R. Simmons CHANNING - Claud R. Simmons, 67, died Wednesday, July 8, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Channing First Baptist Church with the Rev. Mike Robinson, pastor, and the Rev. Glendell Smith, a chaplain at Baptist St. Anthony's Hospital in Amarillo, officiating. Burial will be in the Boys Ranch Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle, Amarillo. Mr. Simmons was born in Ash Creek, Pittsburg County, Okla. He served in the Navy at the end of World War II. He was stationed with the Seabees on Guam. He began working at Cal Farley's Boys Ranch in 1959 and was employed there for 31 years, retiring as an area supervisor and rodeo director. Mr. Simmons was active with the Channing Volunteer Fire Department. He was a member of the Channing First Baptist Church, Hartley County Masonic Lodge and the Good Sam's Club. He also was a retired deputy with the Oldham County Sheriff's Department. He married Emma Grace Minshew in 1950 at McAlester, Okla. She died in 1993. He married LaVerne Harris in 1994 at Las Vegas, Nev. Survivors include his wife, Laverne; three sons, Jim Couzzourt of Canyon, Lee Boroughs of Amarillo and G.C. Richards of Channing; a daughter, Lela Turner of Boys Ranch plus a number of other children from Boys Ranch who claim him as a father; three brothers, Emmett Simmons of Amarillo, Wesley Simmons of Adamson, Okla., and Eugene Simmons of McAlester; six sisters, Pauline Skidmore and Faye Ledford, both of North McAlester, Lola Willoughby of McAlester, Juanita Lee of Hartshorn, Okla., Helen Crowson of Alderson, Okla., and Margaret Shell of Greenwood, Ark.; seven grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. The family requests memorials be to the Channing Volunteer Fire Department, General Delivery, Channing, Texas 79018. The body will be available for viewing from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle and one hour before service time at the church. Darmon Mitchell MINERAL WELLS - Darmon Mitchell, 61, died Tuesday, July 7, 1998. Services were at noon Thursday in Baum-Carlock-Bumgardner Chapel. Burial was in Woodland Park Cemetery. Mr. Mitchell was born in Morton and had lived in the Mineral Wells area for 20 years. He was the owner of an automotive shop and served in the Navy. He married Alice Bullard in 1967 at Post. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Misty Gilleo of Fort Worth and Angela Mitchell of Mineral Wells; four brothers, Clyde Mitchell of Fall River, Mass., Frank Mitchell and Glenn Mitchell, both of Lubbock, and Lloyd Mitchell of Korea; three sisters, Martelle Holt of Amarillo, Catherine O'Neal of Fort Worth and Ann Wright of Lubbock; and three grandchildren. Delia Garcia HEREFORD - Delia Garcia, 52, died Wednesday, July 8, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Rix Funeral Directors Chapel in Hereford with the Rev. Johnny Soto officiating. Burial will be in West Park Cemetery. Mrs. Garcia was born in Beeville and married Francisco Garcia in 1968. They moved to Hereford in 1969. She attended Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall of Hereford. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1995 and her daughter, Mary Reyes, in 1983. Survivors include a son, David Garcia of Hereford; two daughters, Hope Martinez of Hereford and Silvia Villarreal of Edinburg; four brothers, Jose Barrentez of Immokalee, Fla., Jesus Barrentez of Boerne, Juan Barrentez Jr. of Hereford and Julian Barrentez of Amarillo; and three sisters, Celia Lewis and Ofelia Villarreal, both of Hereford, and Odilia Lemaster of McKinney. Pauline Johnson Hooker MOBEETIE - Pauline Johnson Hooker, 85, died Wednesday, July 8, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in First United Methodist Church of Mobeetie with the Rev. Gary Jahnel, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the Mobeetie Cemetery by Wright Funeral Home of Wheeler. Mrs. Hooker was born in Indian Territory, Okla. She moved to Mobeetie in 1916 from Wellington. She married Vernon Hooker in 1934 at Cheyenne, Okla. He died in 1975. Mrs. Hooker was a homemaker and a member of First United Methodist Church of Mobeetie. She was preceded in death by a grandson and two great-granddaughters. Survivors include six daughters, Mearlene Scott and Joyce McIntire, both of Amarillo, Peggy Shelton of Perryton, Ellen Moore of Tucson, Ariz., and Inez Moore and Sue Harrison, both of Mobeetie; 14 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to First United Methodist Church of Mobeetie. Grady Floyd Wygal CHILDRESS - Grady Floyd Wygal, 86, died Wednesday, July 8, 1998. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in Johnson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Russell Griggs of Columbia, S.C., and Gary Wygal of Jones, Okla., officiating. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery. Mr. Wygal was born in Tell and was a member of Church of Christ. He was a steam pipe fitter and a member of Steam Pipe Fitters Union No. 389 in Wichita Falls. He and his wife, Billie, lived in Vernon for many years. Survivors include two daughters, Rebecca Griggs of Columbia and Shirley Reese of Irving; five sons, Fred Wygal of Freemont, Calif., Gary Wygal of Jones, John Wygal of Vernon, Lynn Wygal of Austin and Tony Wygal of Arkansas; two sisters, Oleta Dezonia of Holly Hill, Fla., and Joyce Mosely of Childress; and a brother, Roy Wygal of Childress. Klayton Joe Jackson HAPPY - Klayton Joe Jackson, infant son of Blain Jackson and Mandi Watkins of Happy, died Wednesday, July 8, 1998, in Amarillo. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today at Llano Cemetery with the Rev. Lonnie Poe of First Baptist Church in Happy officiating. Klayton was born in Amarillo. Survivors include his parents; a twin brother, Kashton Blain Jackson, of Happy; his grandparents, Jim and Beverly Hogan of Buffalo, N.Y., and Joe and Evonnda Watkins, Debbie Blake, and Joel Jackson, all of Amarillo; and his greatgrandparents, Alpha Mae Gamblin of Weatherford, Lucy Farver, Helen Jackson, Gwen Laminack and Walter Watkins, all of Amarillo. Lula Ophelia Sanders FLOYDADA - Lula Ophelia Sanders, 87, died Thursday, July 9, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First United Methodist Church of Floydada with the Rev. Wendell Horn, pastor, and Mike Holster, music minister of First Baptist Church of Floydada, officiating. Burial will be in Floydada Cemetery by Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home. Mrs. Sanders was born in Wise County. A lifelong resident, she attended school in Floydada. In 1926 she was a member of The Mayview Club of Floyd County. She was a homemaker and a member of First United Methodist Church. She married Otho Sanders in 1929 at Dougherty. He died in 1988. Survivors include three sons, Roger Sanders of Hale Center, Richard Sanders and Curtis Sanders, both of Floydada; one daughter, Martha Lee Sargent of Austin; 12 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to First United Methodist Church of Floydada, 203 W. Kentucky, Floydada, Texas 79235, or to Floydada Rehabilitation and Care Center, 925 W. Crockett, Floydada, Texas. Ivy Lorine Merrick PERRYTON - Ivy Lorine Merrick, 83, died Wednesday, July 8, 1998. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today at the Ochiltree County Cemetery with the Rev. Jeff Staton officiating. Arrangements are by Good Samaritan Funeral Service of Booker. Mrs. Merrick was born at Sulphur Springs. She grew up in the Hugo area. She and her husband lived in Perryton, where she worked at the Dutch Inn as a housekeeper. She married George Merrick in 1947. Mr. Merrick preceded her in death. Three sons and two daughters also preceded her in death. Survivors include three sons, William Massey of Liberal, Kan., Jimmie Merrick of Perryton and Jerry Merrick of Ruidoso, N.M.; two daughters, Dorothy Boyles of Miles City, Mont., and Mary Chriestenson of Perryton; 22 grandchildren; and 40 great-grandchildren. Robert Wayne Johnston BORGER - Robert Wayne Johnston, 48, of Canadian, died Monday, July 6, 1998 in Lubbock. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with Bishop Roger Roundy of Pampa and Dean Looper officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Cemetery by Brown Funeral Directors of Borger. Mr. Johnston was born in Borger. He was a graduate of Phillips High School and Amarillo College. Mr. Johnston received a bachelor's degree in police science from Wayland Baptist College and attended the Amarillo Police Academy. He served as lieutenant and narcotics investigator for the Amarillo Police Department, as a Potter County Deputy Sheriff, and later as a detective in the Borger Police Department. Mr. Chapman was currently an instructor of law enforcement at Levelland Junior College and Reese Air Force Base. He was a member of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Survivors include his wife, Janet; four sons, Jared Johnston of the home, Mike Williams of Ogden, Utah, Robert Johnston and Aaron Johnston, both of Borger; two daughters, Dena Johnston, of the home, and Genise Shertz of Phoenix; his mother, Bernice Johnston of Borger; a sister, Tina Taylor of Borger; and eight grandchildren. The family will be staying at 138 E. Ocla in Borger. Bettye Black HEREFORD - Bettye Black, 46, died Thursday, July 9, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Rix Funeral Directors Chapel of Hereford with the Rev. William Johnson officiating. Burial will be in West Park Cemetery. Mrs. Black was born in Groesbeck. She had lived in Hereford for the past 22 years. She was a member of New Zion Church and sang in the choir. Survivors include her sister, Jocqueline; and three brothers, Joe Lynn Whiteside, Jeffery Whiteside and Christopher Whiteside. The family requests memorials be to American Diabetes Association.