Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 15 May 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, May 15, 1998, 7:19 AM Amarillo Vivian Arnita Eddington Vivian Arnita Leadon Eddington, 60, died Sunday, May 3, 1998, in Kilgore. Services were May 8 in Kilgore at New Jerusalem Baptist Church with the Rev. James H. Walls Sr. officiating. Burial was in Kilgore Memorial Gardens by Cunningham Funeral Home. Mrs. Eddington was born in Mount Enterprise and was a longtime Amarillo resident. She graduated as valediction of her high school class at Mount Enterprise. She attended Prairie View College and Texas College at Tyler. She received her nursing degree from Amarillo College and a physical assessment for licensed vocational nurses achievement in 1987. She was presented a recognition award from Texas Home Health Inc. for five outstanding years of service. She was employed by Kilgore Adult Center at Kilgore. Mrs. Eddington was a lifetime member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority and a member of New Jerusalem Baptist Church. Survivors include three daughters, Debra Gail Eddington, Beverly Diane Eddington Pegues and Alfreda Eddington Jackson-Parker; a sister, Mrs. Lawrency Mae Leadon-Jones-Gauthier-Shiner; and six grandchildren. William Morgan Gunderson William Morgan "Bill" Gunderson, 66, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, May 13, 1998. There will be no services. Arrangements were by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Gunderson was born in Albuquerque, N.M. He graduated from Washington and Lee University in Virginia in 1954 and from West Texas State University in 1981. He was honorably discharged from the Army after serving in West Germany in 1955. Mr. Gunderson was a retired insurance executive with Southwestern Life Insurance Co. in Dallas. Survivors include two sons, William Mark Gunderson and John M. Gunderson, both of Fort Worth. The family requests memorials be to the Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center, 1500 Wallace Blvd., Amarillo, Texas 79106. Roy Lee Stargel Roy Lee Stargel, 87, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, May 13, 1998. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in First Presbyterian Church with Dr. Murray Gossett, associate pastor, officiating. Private burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Stargel was born in Lafayette, Ga. He graduated from Memphis, Texas, High School and from Clarendon College. He served with the Army Air Corps during World War II. Mr. Stargel had been a resident of Amarillo since 1946. He was a supervisor for Equifax Inc. until retiring. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he served as an elder and deacon. He married Catherine "Kay" Rose in 1944 at Abilene, Kan. Survivors include his wife; a son, Dr. Michael Don Stargel of Atlanta; a daughter, Nancy Stargel Hablinski of Houston; and four grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to First Presbyterian Church, 1100 S. Harrison St., Amarillo, Texas 79101; or a favorite charity. Leslie Gardner James Leslie Gardner James, 82, of Amarillo, died Monday, May 11, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Memory Gardens Cemetery with the Rev. Windell Taylor, chaplain at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, officiating. Military rites will be by Disabled American Veterans 26. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. James was born in Ashland, Ky. He had been a resident of Amarillo since 1943. He served with the Army Air Corps during World War II and was stationed in Germany. He attained the rank of sergeant. He worked in sales for Gunn Brothers. He was a member of West Amarillo Christian Church and had been a volunteer at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center for more than seven years. Mr. James married Magdalena Gray in 1943 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Ramona Jean McCauley of Dallas and Darlene King of Oklahoma City; and three grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be to the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 6010 W. Amarillo Blvd., Amarillo, Texas 79106. Julia Aboytes Julia Aboytes, 86, of Amarillo, died Thursday, May 14, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Schooler Funeral Home Brentwood, 4100 S. Georgia St., with the Rev. Pat Hoffman of St. Laurence Cathedral officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Aboytes was born in Poteet and had lived in Amarillo for 66 years. She married Felipe Aboytes in 1930 at Amarillo. She was a member of St. Laurence Cathedral. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Juanita Gammel of Aurora, Colo.; three sons, Peter Aboytes of Borger, Andrew Aboytes of Albuquerque, N.M., and Phillip Aboytes of Amarillo; and five grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. Larry Ray Williams Larry Ray Williams, 49, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, May 13, 1998. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with Perry Hunsaker officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Williams was born in Amarillo. He graduated from Caprock High School in 1966 and attended West Texas State University. He worked as the city of Amarillo event supervisor from 1987 to 1994. He worked as a pre-need sales representative for Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors from 1994 to 1995. Mr. Williams was a member of the Amarillo Southwest Kiwanis Club. He was preceded in death by his wife, Leigh, in 1983. Survivors include a brother, Bob Williams of Lubbock; a sister, Dorothy Witt of Crosbyton; and a friend, Suzie Zimmerman of Amarillo. The family requests memorials be to the Amarillo Southwest Kiwanis Club. Carroll Thaxton Carroll "Jack" Thaxton, 77, of Amarillo, died Thursday, May 14, 1998. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. today in Memorial Park Cemetery with Windell Taylor, chaplain at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Mr. Thaxton was born in Claude. He moved to Amarillo in 1953 from Plainview. He was a self-employed salesman before retiring. He was an Army veteran and a Baptist. Survivors include his former wife, Dorothy Thaxton; three sons, Larry Thaxton of Amarillo, Jerrell Thaxton of Austin and Don Thaxton of Glendale, Ariz.; two brothers, Joe Thaxton of Bryan and Fred Thaxton of Floydada; a sister, Maureen Carter of Clovis, N.M.; and a grandchild. The family requests memorials be to the Veterans Administration Nursing Home. Mary Louise Clifton Stults Mary Louise Clifton Stults, 71, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, May 13, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Presbyterian Church with Dr. Murray Gossett of the church officiating. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Dallas. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home Inc., 4100 S. Georgia St. Mrs. Stults was born in Lubbock. She had been a resident of Amarillo since 1949. She was employed by the Amarillo Independent School District as a teacher from 1963 to 1974 and as the director of the social studies program from 1974 to 1989. She was a life member of the National Educators Association and several other professional organizations. Survivors include her husband, David Gerald Stults; children, Margaret Ann Cast Henderson of Copperas Cove, Richard F. Cast of Dallas, Mary Elizabeth Cast Blome of Lakewood, Colo, Martha Elaine Cast Cather of San Antonio and Barbara Stults Bade of Houston; and four grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Cancer Society. New Mexico Virgil Goff HOBBS, N.M. - Virgil Goff, 59, died Wednesday, May 13, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Wheeler Mortuary of Portales Chapel with the Rev. David Swann and Scott P. Reeves officiating. Burial will be in Floyd Cemetery at Floyd. Mr. Goff was born in Lamesa, Texas. He moved to the Floyd community with his family when he was a child. He attended elementary and secondary school in Floyd, graduating in 1957. He attended Eastern New Mexico University and completed a bachelor's degree in education in 1966. After graduation, he bought a breeding service and did artificial insemination for about two years. In 1968, he began working at Terry Dairy Inc. in Floyd as a herdsman. He worked there until 1982, when he began working for a construction company in Clovis. In 1987, Mr. Goff went back to work for Terry Dairy and worked there until 1997, when he and his wife moved to Hobbs, where he was employed by Goff Dairy. He married Lena Hodges in 1964 at Portales. He attended Faith Christian Fellowship. Survivors include his wife; a son, Rance Goff of Washington, D.C.; a daughter, Gaylen Poteet of Fort Worth; his mother, Gaylen Goff of Floyd; two brothers, Tom Goff of Floyd and Raymond Goff of Tucumcari; five sisters, Sue Garner and Neva Baker, both of Amarillo, Wynona Bertram and Sherry Cooper, both of Portales, and Dena Phillips of Plainview, Texas; and two grandchildren. Curtis A. Grimes TUCUMCARI, N.M. - Curtis A. Grimes, 91, a former Tucumcari resident, died Saturday, May 9, 1998, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Dunn Funeral Home Memorial Chapel. Burial will be in Tucumcari Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Grimes was born in Marlin Falls, Texas. For many years he was the QuayBernalillo County Extension Agent. After retiring, he and his wife, Janet, made their home in Albuquerque. His wife died in 1991. For the past several years, Mr. Grimes had lived in Arizona. Survivors include a son, Don Grimes of Scottsdale; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Oklahoma Margaret Idabelle Mussman GUYMON, Okla. - Margaret Idabelle Mussman, 85, died Tuesday, May 12, 1998, in Liberal, Kan. Graveside services for the family will be at 11 a.m. today in Elmhurst Cemetery. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. today in Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witness with Jim Weis and Jim Dooley officiating. Arrangements are by Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home. Mrs. Mussman was born in Midwell, Cimarron County. She married Walter Mussman in 1930 at Guymon. She was an active member of the Guymon congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1995 and by a daughter, Mary Frances. Survivors include a daughter, Margaret Barber of rural Guymon; a sister, Pearl Mussman of Guymon; and six grandchildren. Elsewhere Tom King Jr. SUDAN - Tom King Jr., 78, died Wednesday, May 13, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Kerry Hurst, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Levelland, and the Rev. Stacy Conner, pastor of First Baptist Church of Muleshoe, officiating. Burial will be at 4 p.m. today in Eastside Cemetery at Vernon with Dr. Robert Prince, pastor of First Baptist Church of Vernon, officiating. Arrangements are by Ellis Funeral Home. Mr. King was born in Vernon and moved to Sudan in 1949. He attended Texas Christian University and West Texas State College. He was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. He farmed in the Sudan area and had owned Fairview Gin Co. Mr. King married Elmarie White in 1945 at Atlanta, Texas. She died in 1987. Survivors include two sons, Tommy King of Muleshoe and Johnny King of Sudan; two sisters, Sara King Wright of Dallas and Doris Snell of Vernon; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Cancer Society or the Sudan EMS. Lois K. Stone RALLS - Lois K. Stone, 91, died Thursday, May 14, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Ralls First Baptist Church with the Rev. C.L. Atkinson of Afton officiating. Burial will be in Ralls Cemetery by Adams Funeral Home. Mr. Stone was born in Erath County. He was a barber for 65 years. He was a member of Bethel Baptist Church. He married Mable "Chock" Terry in 1949 at Spearman. He was preceded in death by a son, Billy D. Stone, in 1949; and by a daughter, Betty Lois Stone, in 1934. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Bobby Gene Stone of Amarillo and Charles Bolton of Lawton, Okla.; three daughters, Shirley Lois Garrison of Bovina, Madelene Stone of Silverton and Melba Jo Caskey of San Augustine; a brother, Bill Stone of Princeton; 13 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. Area Arthur Eugene Greer MCLEAN - Arthur Eugene "Gene" Greer, 81, died Thursday, May 14, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Church of Christ with Jim Reyna, minister, officiating. Burial with Masonic graveside rites will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Arrangements are by Lamb Funeral Home. Mr. Greer born in Childress. He moved to McLean from Childress in 1928. He graduated from McLean High School. He married Rexie Mae Duggins in 1967 at McLean. She died in 1994. Mr. Greer was a retired restaurant operator. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and the Dallas Consistory of Scottish Rite Bodies. He also was a member and past Master of McLean Masonic Lodge 889. Survivors include a daughter, Kay Greer Kesterson of Borger; two stepsons, Kirby Word of Lillian and Kenneth Word of Palm Dale, Calif.; three sisters, Annis Corbitt and Peggy King, both of Hereford, and Jane Barnes of Corsicana; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Elmo L. Jones CHILDRESS - Elmo L. Jones, 84, died Thursday, May 14, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Jim McCurley officiating. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery by Johnson Funeral Home. Mr. Jones was born in Turnersville. He was an Army veteran, serving in Europe and Japan in the 97th Infantry Division. He attained the rank of first sergeant. He was a member of the American Legion. He was a bank teller at First State Bank. He was a former salesman for Curtis Candies and Ponka Wholesales. Mr. Jones also was a member of First Baptist Church. He married Mary Mink in 1939 at Childress. Survivors include his wife; a son, Chris Jones of Abilene; three sisters, Mary Francis Anderson of Amarillo, Jewel Burns of Stinnett and Celia Ann Harwell of Abilene; a brother, C.L. Jones of Dalhart; and two grandchildren. Mary Gaynelle Grubbs FRIONA - Mary Gaynelle Grubbs, 84, died Wednesday, May 13, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Don Boren, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Friona Cemetery by EllisBlackwell Funeral Home. Mrs. Grubbs was born in Lockney. She had lived in Friona since 1953, moving from Kress. She married Adolphus Grubbs in 1937 at Lockney. He died in 1997. She had been a member of the Methodist church since 1926. Survivors include five daughters, Bennie Mae Tinnin of Bell Ranch, N.M., Elizabeth Ann McLellan of Friona, Ruby Lee Fairchild of Austin, Mary Jane Clements of Amarillo and Willie Grace Skelton of Hereford; a brother, W.L. Thomas of Lockney; two sisters, Ermine Ida Johnson of Amarillo and Meda Ruth Watts of Floydada; 12 grandchildren; and 17 greatgrandchildren. Margie Parsons DIMMITT - Margie Parsons, 68, died Thursday, May 14, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Rusty Dickerson, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Castro Memorial Gardens by Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Home. Mrs. Parsons was born in Plainview and had been a lifetime resident of Dimmitt. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church, where she taught Sunday school and was active with the youth group. She married Sandy Parsons in 1972 at Dalhart. Survivors include two sons, Sandy Parsons IV of Amarillo and Paul Parsons of Lubbock; four daughters, Sherry McGowan of New Port Richey, Fla., Donna Hathaway of Hereford, and Deeanne Morgan and Vicki Aljoe, both of Dimmitt; two brothers, Wayne Newton of Sulphur Springs and Ray Newton of Gentry, Ark.; two sisters, Cleta Kirby of San Jose, Calif., and Wanda Bradley of Clayton, N.M.; and 12 grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Castro Memorial Gardens, P.O. Box 452, Dimmitt, Texas 79027. Fannie Traylor TULIA - Fannie Traylor, 87, died Thursday, May 14, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Central Church of Christ with Trey Morgan, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery by Wallace Funeral Home. Mrs. Traylor was born in Stonewall County. She was raised in Spur and attended school there. She married Thomas Earl Traylor in 1926 at Crosby County. They moved to Kress in 1947 and lived there for 10 years. They moved to Olton in 1957 and to Tulia in the early 1960s. Mr. Traylor died in 1966. She also was preceded in death by a son, Earl Traylor Jr., in 1977; and by a daughter, Judy Ann Traylor, in 1957. Mrs. Traylor was a homemaker and a member of Kress Church of Christ. Survivors include four daughters, Winnie Brooks of Amarillo, Frances Lemoine of Plainview, Mary Alice Sayers of Seattle and Wanda Morris of Two Buttes, Colo.; a son, Robbie Traylor of Canyon; two sisters, Laura McConnathy of Port Orchard, Wash., and Mildred Muse of Salem, Ore.; a brother, Jesse Roberts of Dumas; 23 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; and 16 great-greatgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice in Amarillo. Canyon Tommy E. Tucker Tommy E. Tucker, 68, of Canyon, died Tuesday, May 12, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with Dr. Charles Price, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery by Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon. Mr. Tucker was born in Hartshorne, Okla. He graduated from West Texas State High School in 1949 and served in the National Guard from 1947 to 1952. He retired from Yellow Freight after working there for 20 years. He was a member of First Baptist Church. Mr. Tucker married Peggy LaLoge in 1950 at Canyon. Survivors include his wife; a son, Tommy E. Tucker III of Canyon; three daughters, Kim Graham and Kris Tucker, both of Canyon, and Terre Pike of Amarillo; four brothers, Jerry Tucker and Pat Tucker, both of Amarillo, Buster Tucker of Caynoga and Joe Hardaman of Killeen; two sisters, Evelyn Whalen and Betty Tucker, both of Amarillo; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176; or Faith City Mission, P.O. Box 804, Amarillo, Texas 79105. Ray John Metcalf Ray John Metcalf, 96, of Canyon, died Wednesday, May 13, 1998. Services will be at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with Dr. Charles Price, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery by Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon. Mr. Metcalf was born in Loudonville, Ohio. He moved from Loudonville to a farm in Panhandle in 1970. He married Kitty Burrus in 1937 at Tulia. They lived in Panhandle until 1940, when they moved to a farm and ranch west of Canyon. They moved into Canyon in 1985. Mr. Metcalf was a member of First Baptist Church and the Canyon Senior Citizens Center. He had been a member of the Masonic Lodge for 75 years. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Glenda May Metcalf, in 1946. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Jack Metcalf of Amarillo and Glen Metcalf of Canyon; a daughter, Linda Blagg of Abilene; nine grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family requests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson St., Amarillo, Texas 79101; Canyon Senior Citizens, 1719 5th Ave., Canyon, Texas 79015; or First Baptist Church, 1717 4th Ave., Canyon, Texas 79015. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. at the church for family and friends.