Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 15 August 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; Saturday, August 15, 1998, 9:01 AM Area George A. Whitten PAMPA - George A. Whitten, 66, died Thursday, Aug. 13, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in First United Methodist Church with Dr. R.L. Kirk, minister of visitation with St. Stephen United Methodist Church of Amarillo, and the Rev. Todd Dyess, minister of the First United Methodist Church of Pampa, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Whitten was born in Greenville and moved to Pampa in 1934. He joined the Marine Corps in 1951 and served during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1954. He received an associate's degree in business from Texas Tech University. He was a manager at C.R. Anthony's for several years and a materials handler for Cabot and FluorDaniels. His work took him to Arkansas, Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and a charter member of the Carter Sunday School Class. He was an active member of the Chancel Choir, the Glory Singers and the United Methodist Men. He was a member of the Red Cross board, the KAIROS Prison Ministry, the Pampa Prison Fellowship and a past member of the Masons and Eastern Star. He married Barbara R. Stockton in Pampa in 1954. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Alan Whitten of Wylie and Clyde Whitten of Pampa; two daughters, Marilyn Fields of Sayre, Okla., and Julia Wood of Pampa; and eight grandchildren. Memorials may be made to KAIROS Prison Ministries or the First United Methodist Church of Pampa. Charles Siesser BORGER - Charles Siesser, 61, died Thursday, Aug. 13, 1998. No services are scheduled at this time. Cremation will be under the direction of Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St., Amarillo. Mr. Siesser was born in Galena, Mo., and moved to Borger 35 years ago. He was a Marine Corps veteran. He worked for Borger Sand and Gravel as a heavy equipment operator for six years and as a custodian for First Christian Church of Borger for six years. He married Omelia Davenport in 1972 at Borger. Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Mary Siesser of the home; two sons, Jon Paul Siesser and Charles Cody Siesser, both of the home; four sisters, Gertie Woodward of Locust Grove, Ark., Hazel Tactacan and Lola Semana, both of Carson, Calif., and Elizabeth Stewart of Amarillo; and one grandson. Memorials may be sent Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson St., Amarillo, Texas, 79101. The family will be at 711 N. Hedgecoke in Borger. Fronye Close SPEARMAN - Fronye Close, 90, died Wednesday, Aug. 12, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Ken Cole officiating. Burial will be in Holt Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Spearman. Mrs. Close was born in Wichita Falls and had lived in the Spearman area for 79 years. She was a homemaker and member of First United Methodist Church. She married Johnie M. Close in 1923 at Spearman. He preceded her in death in 1968. Survivors include two daughters, Elnora Batson of Stinnett and Anita Harris of Olathe, Colo.; a son, Joe M. Close of Spearman; two brothers, Ervin Lamb of Tucumcari, N.M., and Bob Lamb of Raton, N.M.; two sisters, Ruby Collingsworth of Perryton and Juanita Jackson of Spearman; 10 grandchildren; 18 greatgrandchildren; and seven great-greatgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Hansford Manor, 707 Roland, Spearman, Texas, 79081. Amarillo Jessie Davis Jessie Davis, 89, of Amarillo, died Friday, Aug. 14, 1998. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Llano Cemetery Mausoleum Chapel with Dr. Murray Gossett, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Arrangements are by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors. Mrs. Davis was born in Briscoe County and lived in Amarillo for more than 50 years. She and her husband moved to Amarillo from Clarendon in 1934. She was a buyer for Brown's House of Books for 25 years and was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Amarillo. She married Clifford Davis in 1929. He died in 1978. A son, Bill Davis, preceded her in death in 1994. Survivors include one brother, Johnnie Burson of Silverton; a sister, Luree Burson of Silverton; three granddaughters; and seven great-grandchildren. Billy Dale Henderson Billy Dale Henderson, 62, of Palisade, Colo., and formerly of Amarillo, died Thursday, Aug. 13, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Northridge Church of Christ with W. Dale Pearson officiating. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. in Shamrock City Cemetery in Shamrock by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Henderson was born in Samnorwood and was a 1956 graduate of McLean High School. He was in the Texas National Guard 36th Division for six years. In 1989, he retired as maintenance man from Grand Junction School District. Mr. Henderson recently worked for the Amarillo Independent School District. He was a member of Northridge Church of Christ. He married Martha Nelson in 1973 at Grand Junction, Colo. Survivors include his wife; a son, Wayne Henderson of Amarillo; a daughter, Tina Henderson of New York; his mother, Viola Carver of Amarillo; two brothers, Eugene Henderson and Roger Henderson, both of Amarillo; and five sisters, Shirley McClasky of Grand Junction, Peggy Sechrist of Oklahoma City, Cynthia Pollock of Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and Sandra Johnson and Linda Rogers, both of Amarillo. Canyon Alva Alton Gleaves Jr. Alva Alton "J.R." Gleaves, 33, of Canyon, died Thursday, Aug. 13, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Holly Funeral Home Chapel with Lee Banks and Keith Rickwartz officiating. Interment will be in Dreamland Cemetery under the direction of Rose Chapel Funeral Service of Sayre, Okla. Mr. Gleaves was born in Canyon, where he attended schools. He was a Baptist. Survivors include his parents, Al and Sharon Gleaves of Canyon; a sister, Cindy Gleaves; and his grandparents, Angie Gleaves of Sayre, Okla., and Loren Wise of Woodward, Okla. New Mexico Edna Awtrey Sullins SANTA FE - Edna Awtrey Sullins, 87, died Tuesday, Aug. 11, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First United Methodist Church in Melrose, N.M., with the Rev. Kevin Bushart officiating. Burial will be in Melrose Cemetery. Ms. Sullins was born near Fort Worth, Texas. She was a district court reporter in Santa Fe for many years, working for various district judges. She also worked as a journal clerk in both the House of Representatives and State Senate. She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Melrose for 75 years. She is survived by a sister, Thelma Rogers of Melrose. Wayne Coplen PORTALES - Wayne "Boog" Coplen, 75, died Wednesday, Aug., 12, 1998 Services will be held at 2 p.m. today in Central Christian Church with Allen Conner, Kenneth Broad and Dean Overton officiating. Burial will be in Portales Cemetery with graveside rites by the Portales Masonic Lodge. Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales. Mr. Coplen was born in Clovis. His family moved to Portales when he was in elementary school. He graduated from Portales High School in 1941, and attended Eastern New Mexico University. He served with the military police in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He served in Africa, India and Tinian. After his return to Portales, Mr. Coplen worked in construction with Ribble Lumber Co. and later Plains Builder's Supply. For a number of years, he was an independent contractor before his retirement about 1986. He was a Shrine Mason, a member and past worshipful master of the Portales Lodge No. 26 AF&AM and was Dad for the Order of DeMolay for Boys sponsored by the lodge. He also was a member of the Portales Lions Club for several years and the Central Christian Church, where he served as a deacon. He married Ola Mae White in 1955 at Portales. Survivors include his wife; two brothers, Warren Coplen of Truth or Consequences and Mike Coplen of Phoenix; four sisters, Margaret Smith of Portales, Lou Snyder of Clovis, Tola Wiegand of Albuquerque and Jeanene "Bitty" Jones of Fort Collins, Colo. The body will be available for viewing until service time. Memorials may be made to Central Christian Church Children's Library or to the American Cancer Society. Thelma Byars PORTALES - Thelma Byars, 85, died Thursday, Aug. 13, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Wheeler Chapel with Chris Swinford officiating. Burial will be in Fort Sumner Cemetery in Fort Sumner by Wheeler Mortuary Inc. of Portales. Mrs. Byars was born on Haystack Mountain near Mangum, Okla. As a child, she moved to Hollis, Okla., for a short time before moving to Childress, Texas, when she was 3. In 1921, she moved to Fort Sumner where she attended school and lived for many years. In 1972, Mrs. Byars and her husband moved to Vermont where she helped her daughter with a ceramic studio. They moved to Portales in 1985. She was a member of Third and Kilgore Church of Christ. She married Gus L. Byars in 1932 at Santa Rosa. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Shirley Ford-Wormington of Portales; a brother, Bill Potter of Tucumcari; a sister, Helen Edwards of Friona, Texas; two grandchildren; and four greatgrandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Fort Sumner Cemetery Fund. Elsewhere Billy Dyer ALLISON - Billy Dyer, 45, died Thursday, Aug. 13, 1998, in Hemphill. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in First Baptist Church in Allison with the Rev. Andy Taylor and the Rev. Mike Dyer, both of Sayre, Okla., officiating. Burial will be in Zyback Cemetery by Wright Funeral Home of Wheeler. Mr. Dyer was born in Cheyenne, Okla., and graduated from Allison High School in 1971. He was in construction work. He had lived in Hemphill for 18 years. He married Sandra Louise Parrie in 1981. She died in 1993. Survivors include three daughters, Shannon Escort of Zwolle, La., and Crystal Dyer and Christy Dyer, both of Hemphill; two sons, Michael Parrie and John Leone, both of Hemphill; his mother, Elizabeth Dyer of Allison; three brothers, Bobby Dyer of Charleston, Ark., Steve Dyer of Henderson and Mike Dyer of Sayre; a sister, Betty Ann Dyer of Lubbock; and six grandchildren.