Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 12 April 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; Sunday, April 12, 1998, 3:40 AM Amarillo Arthur Walker Holbrook Jr. Arthur Walker Holbrook Jr., 88, of Amarillo, died Friday, April 10, 1998. Private services for the family will be at a later date. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Holbrook was born in Coffeeville, Kan., and had lived in Amarillo for three years. He was a newscaster with WIBW radio in Topeka, Kan., from the mid1930s until 1956. He put WIBW on the air as a television station. He moved to Los Angeles in 1956 and went into the real estate business. He worked in public relations for the Department of Water and Power until retiring in 1975. Mr. Holbrook was a 32nd Degree Mason and was active with the Shriners in Kansas. He was a Coast Guard veteran of World War II. He married Dorothy Mahan in 1956 at Las Vegas. She died in 1982. Survivors include a niece, Janet Groppe of Amarillo. Kim Wesley Nielsen Kim Wesley Nielsen, 41, of Amarillo, died Thursday, April 9, 1998. Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday in Paramount Terrace Christian Church with the Rev. Jay Graham of the church officiating. Burial will be in Llano East Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home Inc., 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Nielsen was born in Forest City, Iowa, and had lived in Amarillo for 19 years. He was a partner in Zanchettin Brothers Terrazo and Tile Co. He had been associated with Big Brothers for 10 years and was named Rookie Big Brother of the Year. He was a member of Quails Unlimited and a supporter of the Unity Scholarship Fund and Planned Parenthood. He was a mentor in the ACE Scholarship Fund. Mr. Nielsen married Pamela Zanchettin in 1983 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; his mother and father, Gunnar and Lucille Nielsen of Milltown, Wis.; two sisters, Kara Nielsen of St. Paul, Minn., and Mary Nielsen of El Paso; a brother, Steven Nielsen of Balsam Lake, Wis.; and his grandmother, Gladys Siekmier of Crystal Lake, Iowa. The family requests memorials be to Big Brothers/Big Sisters, 1731 Avondale, Amarillo, 79106. Faye N. Carver Faye N. Carver, 95, of Amarillo, died Friday, April 10, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Memorial Park Funeral Home, Chapel of Memories, 6969 West Interstate 40, with the Rev. Stan Fortenberry of First Assembly of God officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Carver was born in Foreman, Ariz. She moved to Amarillo in 1955 from Quanah. She was a homemaker and member of First Assembly of God. She was married to W.D. Carver Sr. who preceded her in death in 1955. Survivors include two sons, Travis Dale Carver and W.D. "Dub" Carver, both of Amarillo; a daughter, Hazel Austin of Cottonwood, Ariz.; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. The family will be at 2402 W. First. Gladys Erskine Gladys Erskine, 82, of Amarillo, died Friday, April 10 in Springfield, Mo. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Llano Cemetery by Holley Funeral Home in Canyon. Mrs. Erskine was born in Benoine. She was a homemaker. Survivors include a daughter, Sandra Kay Sillyman of Fair Grove, Mo.; a son, Robert Donald Ricketts of Placerville, Calif.; and nine grandchildren. The family will receive visitors from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home at Eleventh Street and the Hereford Highway in Canyon. Charles Pruitt Charles Pruitt, 67, of Amarillo, died Thursday, April 9, 1998. Services will be at 4 p.m. Monday in New Hope Baptist Church with Bishop Horace Stacey, pastor of the Temple of Praise Church of God in Christ IJN officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Warford-Walker Mortuary, Inc., 509 N. Hughes, Amarillo. Mr. Pruitt was a native of Kerens and an was Amarillo resident for 50 years. He was an Army veteran of the Korean conflict. In 1987, he retired as warehouse foreman from West Texas Equipment Co. Survivors include his wife, Debra; a son, Charles L. Pruitt of Amarillo; a stepson, Terrance Meander of Amarillo; two daughters, Brenda Frazier and Khaylor Pruitt, both of Amarillo; a stepdaughter, Laquanna Meander of Amarillo; a brother, Archie Pruitt of Midland; a sister, Ella B. Flannagan of Waxachie; and three grandchildren. The family will be at 2119 N. Highland St., and 5815 N.E. 21st Ave. Patricia Jayroe Patricia Jayroe, 89, of Amarillo, died Friday, April 10, 1998. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Monday in Llano East Cemetery with Dr. Jim Smith of St. Stephen United Methodist Church officiating. Arrangements are by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mrs. Jayroe was born in Grove, Okla. She was a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and taught school in Tulsa for two years. She moved to Amarillo in 1979. She was a member of the Presbyterian church in Kansas and Amarillo. She married John Jayroe in 1935 at Caldwell, Kan. He died in 1993. She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Barbara Jones, in 1996. Survivors include a son, Walter Jayroe of Phoenix; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Mary E. Hulsey Morrison Mary E. Hulsey Morrison, 86, of Claude and formerly of Amarillo, died Saturday, April 11, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Blackburn-Shaw Memorial Chapel at Fifth and Pierce with the Rev. Dale Bingham of Arden Road Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Morrison was born in Pleasant Hill, La. In 1974, she retired from the Irving Independent School District. She moved to Claude two years ago from Amarillo and Canyon. She was a member of Arden Road Baptist Church. Survivors include a son, Bob W. Hulsey of Amarillo; a daughter, Helen Mayo of Fort Collins, Colo.; a brother, Henry Howell of San Antonio; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. The family will be at Lake Tanglewood. Pat Weigart Pat Weigart, 56, of Amarillo, died Friday, April 10, 1998, Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Llano Cemetery with Greg Waggoner of Bible Baptist Temple officiating. Arrangements are by N.S. Griggs and Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mrs. Weigart was born in Woodville, Okla. She had been an Amarillo resident for three years. Survivors include her husband, Sam Herman; her father, Ernest Lamar of Madill, Okla.; three daughters, Lannett Hickmott of Rapid City, S.D., Loretta Teague of Decatur, Texas, and Lee Ann Vogt of Amarillo; a son, A.C. Weigart Jr. of Bridgeport, Texas; a sister, Betty Green of Mannesville, Okla.; 26 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Oklahoma Joseph Walter Campbell GUYMON, Okla. - Joseph "Jay" Walter Campbell, 89, died Friday, April 10, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Chris Trent of First Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Elmhurst Cemetery. Mr. Campbell was born near Adams. He graduated from Guymon High School with the class of 1929. He was a postal clerk in Guymon from 1929 to 1947. He was an independent insurance agent until retiring in 1980. He was a member of First Baptist Church. He married Eva May Strickland in 1936 at Shawnee. They moved to Amarillo in 1983. Mrs. Campbell died in 1984. Mr. Campbell moved to Fort Worth, Texas, in 1995. Survivors include four sons, John Patrick Campbell of Ridgefield, Wash., George Douglas Campbell of Mansfield, Texas, Paul Strickland Campbell of Colleyville, Texas, and Edward Franklin Campbell of Denver; a sister, Eula Herzerg of Stillwater; and four grandchildren. Apolonia Costilla GUYMON, Okla. - Apolonia "Paula" Costilla, 92, died Thursday, April 9, 1998. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home Chapel. Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Peter's Catholic Church with the Rev. Scott Adams officiating. Burial will be in Elmhurst Cemetery. Mrs. Costilla was born in Iyende Quiulla, Mexico. She owned and operated the Acapulco Restaurant in Levelland, Texas, for several years before retiring in 1966. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church. She moved from Levelland to Guymon in 1967. She married Gabino R. Costilla in 1920 at Del Rio, Texas. He died in 1950. She also was preceded in death by a son, Guilde Costilla, and a daughter, Ninfia Costilla. Survivors include two daughters, Margie Olivas of Hugoton, Kan., and Mary Barrientes of Johnson City, Texas; four sons, Juan Costilla of Ravenna, Ohio, and Vincent Costilla, Raul Costilla and Manuel Costilla, all of Guymon; two brothers, Manuel Torres and Salvador Torres, both of Del Rio; 38 grandchildren; 83 greatgrandchildren; and 14 great-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to St. Peter's Catholic Church. Memorials will be accepted at the church office or Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1112, Guymon, Okla., 73942. Elsewhere Flora Marie Julian FORNEY - Flora Marie Julian, 78, died Friday, April 10, 1998. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Jerry Griffin and Dr. Jimmy Pritchard officiating. Burial will be at 3:30 p.m. in Thompson Cemetery at Copeville. Arrangements are by Anderson-Clayton Brothers Funeral Home. Mrs. Julian was born in Copeville. She was a teacher in the Pampa and Lefors public schools. She was a member of First Baptist Church, the Forney Garden Club and the Order of the Eastern Star. She was preceded in death by a son, James Conner Julian. Survivors include her husband of 52 years, Jerrel Julian; a son, Jerrel H. Julian of Round Rock; two sisters, Azline Montgomery of Forney and Annie Mae Skelton of Nashville, Tenn.; and a brother, Claude W. Thomas of Garland. Charles Coggin LUBBOCK - Charles Coggin, 67, died Friday, April 10, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Drummond Cemetery in Caps with the Rev. Russ Byard officiating. Arrangements are by Abell Funeral Home of Abernathy. Mr. Coggin was born in Caps and was a longtime Lubbock resident. He was a graduate of Texas Tech University. He was a farmer and owned a dairy in New Deal. He was a graduate of the Master Gardeners Program and a member of the Master Gardners Association. He was a member of the Abernathy First United Methodist Church. Survivors include a son, Carl Coggin of Roswell, N.M.; a daughter, Carol Coggin of Abernathy; a grandson; and two stepgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Lubbock Memorial Arboretum Foundation, c/o The Arboretum, P.O. Box 93466, Lubbock, Texas, 79493; or to the Drummond Cemetery, Caps, Texas. New Mexico Les Hubby CLOVIS, N.M. - Les Hubby, 90, died Friday, April 10, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Central Christian Church with Dr. Thomas P. Jones officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens by SteedTodd Funeral Home. Mr. Hubby was born near Bentonville, Ark., and was a longtime Clovis resident. He owned Hubby's Grocery until his retirement in 1988. He was a member of the Central Christian Church and a past president of the Clovis Rotary Club. He married Naoma "Jigs" Roberts in 1930 at Fort Sumner. Survivors include his wife; a son, Dwayne Hubby of Clovis; a daughter, K'Aun Kingsley of Phoenix; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a great-great granddaughter. The family will be at 3521 Adenmor Ct. A. They request memorials be to the Central Christian Church Building Fund. Bernice Elizabeth Averill CLOVIS, N.M. - Bernice Elizabeth Averill, 87, died Friday, April 10, 1998. Graveside services will be at a later date in East Molene, Ill. Burial will be in Greenview Memorial Gardens. Local arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home of Clovis. Mrs. Averill was born in Dubuque, Iowa. She moved to Clovis three years ago from Frankfort, Ind. She was a member of the First Methodist Church in Frankfort. She married Raymond Averill in 1937 at Dubuque. Survivors include three sons, Raymond Averill of East Bridgewater, Mass., Charles Averill of Knox, Ind., and Grant Averill of Clovis; a brother, Fred Thomas of Dubuque; three grandchildren; and a great-grandson. Viola Tixier Maulsby CLAYTON, N.M. - Viola Tixier Maulsby, 90, died Saturday, April 11, 1998. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Monday and funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church with the Rev. George Silva, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Clayton Memorial Cemetery by Hass Funeral Directors of Clayton. Mrs. Maulsby was born in Bueyeros, N.M., and had been a Clayton resident since 1949. She built Maulsby Nursing Home in 1963 and owned it until 1977. She was a member of the Clayton Improvement Club and St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. She first married William T. Mealey Gallegos, who died in 1928. In 1932, she married Charles Ellis Maulsby at Bueyeros. He died in 1986. She also was preceded in death by two sons, Charles E. Maulsby Jr. in 1959 and William T. Mealy in 1976. Survivors include a daughter, Jane Austin of Clayton; two sons, Richard Maulsby of Amistad and Gene Maulsby of Clayton; a sister, Eliza T. Vigil of Clayton; 12 grandchildren; and 18 greatgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to New Mexico Boys Ranch and Girls Ranch, Boys Ranch, N.M., 87002-9989. Area Ted Lewis DUMAS - Ted Lewis, 72, died Thursday, April 9, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Scott Willingham, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Dumas Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mr. Lewis was born in White Deer and had been a Dumas resident since 1955. He was a Navy veteran of World War II, having served in the Pacific Theatre on the battleship USS Colorado. In 1987, Mr. Lewis retired after 31 years as an operator for Diamond Shamrock. He was a member of First Baptist Church. He married Lucille Jackson in 1947 at Perryton. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Mary Lynette Larsen of Amarillo; a son, George Lewis of Dumas; a sister, Wanda Arfsten of Sun City West, Ariz.; five grandchildren; and a great-grandson. The family will be at 1318 Phillip Drive. Nancy L. Blocker SUNRAY - Nancy L. Blocker, 73, died Wednesday, April 8, 1998. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the Church of Christ with Jim York, pastor, and Bobby Hise of Sunset Church of Christ in Lubbock officiating. Burial will be in Lane Memorial Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mrs. Blocker was born in Geary, Okla., and had been a resident of Sunray for 30 years. She attended West Texas State University, Hunter College in New York City, Panhandle State University at Goodwell, Okla., and Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford. She was a homemaker and a member of the Church of Christ, where she served as secretary. She was a seamstress and owned and operated Nancy's Handicraft Shop for 18 years. She also taught kindergarten at the Kiddie Kollege and did the Sunray Bulletin Board on radio station KDDD. Mrs. Blocker served with the Navy WAC during World War II for about a year. She was a member of the Golden Belles, the Extension Homemakers and the Garden Club. She also was a Texas 4H leader and president of the Moore County Fair Board. She married Charles A. Blocker in 1945 at Pensacola, Fla. He died in 1981. Survivors include a son, James Blocker of Addison; two daughters, Mona Dunlap of Pocatello, Idaho, and Eri LaNea Thomas of Chillicothe, Ohio; a brother, Russell Owen Kitson of Oklahoma City; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The body will not be available for viewing. The family will be at 203 Avenue O. They request memorials be to a favorite charity. Ella Lee Stewart BORGER - Ella Lee Stewart, 91, died Thursday, April 9, 1998. A private family prayer service was at 11 a.m. Saturday in Panhandle Cemetery. Arrangements were by Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mrs. Stewart was born in Fort Worth. She had lived in Borger intermittently for 62 years. She also lived in Ardmore, Okla., and Las Vegas for several years. She was a homemaker and a member of First Christian Church. Mrs. Stewart was preceded in death by her husbands, Ernest Lewis in 1932, G.M. Singleton in 1974 and John Stewart in 1993. She also was preceded in death by a son, Bob C. Lewis, in 1996. Survivors include a daughter, Betty Gallaway of Borger; two brothers, Eugene McNellis and Jack Howard McNellis, both of Long Beach, Calif.; two sisters, Shirley Bebe Moore of Amarillo and Myrtle Stottlemyre of Borger; and three grandchildren. James Felton South CANADIAN - James Felton "Jim" South, 53, of Glazier, died Friday, April 10, 1998. Graveside services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday in Glazier Cemetery with Daryle Perry officiating. Arrangements are by Stickley-Hill Funeral Directors. Mr. South was born in Canadian and had been a lifelong resident of the Canadian area. He graduated from Miami High School in Miami in 1963. He married Terry Langkeit in 1964 at Canadian. They moved to Glazier in 1985. Mr. South worked on ranches around Canadian. He then started a horse shoeing business in 1976. For many years, he participated in rodeo events. He was preceded in death by a son, Justin South, in 1993. Survivors include his wife; his parents, Toots and Lazelle South of Miami; and two brothers, John South and Lloyd South, both of Weatherford. The family requests memorials be to the Canadian Golf Course, P.O. Box 1, Canadian, Texas 79014; the Canadian Rodeo Association, P.O. Box 311, Canadian, Texas 79014; or Hemphill County Hospice, 1020 S. 4th, Canadian, Texas 79014. The body will be available for viewing at the funeral home from 9 a.m. to noon Monday. Jewell Louise Sechrist BORGER - Jewell Louise Sechrist, 76, died Friday, April 10, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the Church of Christ at Borger with Richard Kasko, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Highland Park Cemetery by Brown Funeral Directors. Mrs. Sechrist was a native of Slick, Okla., and was a longtime Borger resident. She was a homemaker and member of the Church of Christ in Borger. She married Alfred E. "Al" Sechrist, who preceded her in death in 1992. Survivors include a daughter, Fern Lusk of Borger; a brother, Claude Pitchford of Eufaula, Okla.; three grandsons; and seven great-grandchildren. Walter Tyner MEMPHIS - Walter "Shorty" Tyner, 90, died Saturday, April 11, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. O.K. Bowen officiating. Music will be provided by Ruth Land, organist, and Ray Batson, soloist. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery by Spicer Funeral Home. Mr. Tyner was born in Farmerville. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He had been employed by the state highway department for many years. He married Leota Wines in 1957 at Childress. He is survived by his wife. Visitation will be from 4 until 6 p.m. today at the funeral home. The family request memorials be to a favorite charity. Wesley Eugene McCracken PAMPA - Wesley Eugene "Bill" McCracken, 84, died Saturday, April 11, 1998. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Rowe Cemetery in Hedley. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Mr. McCracken was born in Gainesville and had lived in Pampa for the past 47 years. He retired in 1975 as a mechanic for Exxon pipeline company. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the First Baptist Church. He married Verlin Carolyn McPherson in 1939 at Hedley. She died in 1997. Survivors include a daughter, Joan Kingham of Longview; a son, Winfred McCracken of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; a sister, Nadine Sonleiter of Altus, Okla.; two brothers, Ed McCracken of Oklahoma and Claude "Bruce" McCracken of Amarillo; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Multiple Sclerosis Society Panhandle Chapter, 6222 Canyon Dr., Amarillo, Texas, 79109.