Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 16 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; Thursday, July 16, 1998, 6:00 AM Area Ashford Anderson PLAINVIEW - Ashford Anderson, 69, died Saturday, July 11, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Memorial Park Cemetery at Plainview with the Rev. James Mims, pastor of New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church in Amarillo, officiating. Arrangements are by Golden Gate Mortuary, 1416 N. Hughes St., Amarillo. Mr. Anderson was born in Clarksville, where he attended school. He was a Baptist. There are no known survivors. The body will not be available for viewing. George S. Rook Jr. SPEARMAN - George S. Rook Jr., 63, died Monday, July 13, 1998. Graveside services were at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Hansford Cemetery with the Rev. Jeff Burress officiating. Arrangements were by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home Inc. Mr. Rook was born in Spearman where he was a lifetime resident. He owned and operated Spearman Auto Supply from 1971 to 1991 and owned and operated Route 66 Antiques from 1991 to 1995 in Amarillo. He then moved the business to Vega and operated it until 1998. He married Melba Davis in 1956 at Perryton. Working with the Texas Department of Transportation, he and his wife were able to get the Route 66 signs replaced in Texas. They were both inducted into the Route 66 Hall of Fame in May. He organized and hosted The Run to the Heartland, the 70th birthday celebration of Route 66 at his store in Landergin, near Vega. Landergin is the halfway point on Route 66 between Chicago and Los Angeles. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Tammy Woodward of Spearman; a son, Kevin Rook of Spearman; and five grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Hansford Hospice, 707 Roland, Spearman, Texas 79081. Vicenta Garcia MULESHOE - Vicenta Garcia, 88, died Wednesday, July 15, 1998. Rosary will be at 7:30 p.m. today in Ellis Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral mass will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with the Rev. Joe Augustine, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Muleshoe Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Garcia was born in Deramadero, Mexico. She moved to Muleshoe in 1964 from Vaughn, N.M. She was a homemaker and member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. She married Juan Garcia in 1964 at Vaughn. Survivors include her husband; six sons, Miguel Velasquez of Espanola, N.M., Juan Garcia Jr. of Denver, Blas Garcia of San Antonio, Manuel Garcia of Monahans, Jose Garcia of Virginia and Dickie Garcia of Copperas Cove; five daughters, Libby Garza of Taiban, N.M., Laura Garcia of Albuquerque, N.M., Rosie Garcia of Amarillo, Cordy Aguirre of Muleshoe and Liza Mendoza of Floyd, N.M.; 46 grandchildren; 55 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren. George M. Ortiz CACTUS - George M. Ortiz, 24, died Tuesday, July 14, 1998. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today in Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church of Dumas. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church with the Rev. Richard Scully, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Dumas Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors of Dumas. Mr. Ortiz was born in Perryton and had been a Moore County resident all of his life. He was employed on the kill floor at Monfort. He was a member of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Survivors include a son, Alexis Gallegos of the home; his parents, Margarita and Roger Ortiz of Dumas and Inez Garcia of Dumas; three brothers, Martin Ortiz, Ernie Ortiz and Eugene Ortiz, all of Dumas; his grandparents, Aurora Cardona Morales and R.S. Ortiz, both of Dumas; and his fiancee, Jessica Gallegos of Cactus. The family will be at 708 Miller in Dumas. Gene Cline DUMAS - Gene Cline, 82, died Wednesday, July 15, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday in Dumas Cemetery with the Rev. Vince Kolb, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Dumas, officiating. Arrangements are by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mr. Cline was born in Hansford County. He was a Navy veteran of World War II. He moved to Dumas in 1960 from Spearman. Mr. Cline retired in 1992 as owner and operator of Gene Cline Motor Parts, Inc., of Dumas and Amarillo. He was a Protestant. He married Betty White in 1960 at Santa Fe, N.M. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Miles Cline and Bill Cline, both of Dumas, and Tom Cline of Borger; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family will be at 125 Armstrong in Dumas. They request memorials be to Memorial Hospice, 224 E. Second, Dumas, Texas, 79029. V.T. Corbitt DALHART - V.T. Corbitt, 85, died Tuesday, July 14, 1998. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Memorial Park Cemetery by Hass Funeral Home Inc. Neal Clifford Teakell WHEELER - Neal Clifford Teakell, 66, died Tuesday, July 14, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Wheeler Cemetery with Bill Morrison, minister of Wheeler Church of Christ, officiating. Arrangements are by Wright Funeral Home of Wheeler. Mr. Teakell was born in Wheeler and was a lifelong resident. He was a veteran of the Army during the Korean conflict. He had previously been employed as a prison guard by the state of Oklahoma. He was a Baptist. Survivors include three nephews, David Trimble of Pampa, Archie Trimble of Amarillo and Dan Trimble of Wheeler; and two nieces, Teresa Seuhs of Miami and Alisa Lansaw of Waynesboro, Ky. Anna Mae Tue PLAINVIEW - Anna Mae Tue, 73, died Wednesday, July 15, 1998. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Parklawn Cemetery with Rex Tiffin of Silverton officiating. Arrangements are by Lemons Funeral Home. Mrs. Tue was born and raised in Quitaque where she attended schools. She moved to Plainview in 1951 from Turkey. She was a member of Jehova's Witnesses. She married Woodrow Wade Tue in 1939 at Estelline. He died in 1988. She also was preceded in death by two sons, Jerry Wade Tue in 1970 and Lloyd Wayne Tue in 1986. Survivors include a daughter, Lola Miller of Plainview; a brother, Claude Mayes of Amarillo; six grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Ernest L. Wheeler DALHART - Ernest L. Wheeler, 63, died Tuesday, July 14, 1998. The family plans a private memorial service at a later date. Arrangements are by Hass Funeral Home of Dalhart. Mr. Wheeler was born in Maxwell, N.M. He had recently moved to Dalhart from Las Vegas, N.M., where his body will be taken. Survivors include six daughters, Ernestina Espinoza and Sara Moreno, both of Tulare, Calif., Dee Dee Cordova of Albuquerque, N.M., Elizabeth Wheeler and Florence Moore, both of Dalhart, and Nadine Wheeler of Las Vegas; four sons, Tony Wheeler and Ernest Wheeler Jr., both of Tulare, Calif., and Michael Wheeler and Andrew Wheeler, both of Las Vegas; three sisters, Grace Garrett of Raton, N.M., and Linda Parry and Lucille Wheeler, both of Dalhart; four brothers, Frank Wheeler and Richard Wheeler, both of Dalhart, Ralph Wheeler of Las Vegas and Ray Wheeler of Houston; a longtime companion, Connie Anaya; two stepsons, Joseph Anaya of Phoenix and Pete Anaya of Las Vegas; 21 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Amarillo George Thomas Murray George Thomas Murray, 72, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, July 15, 1998. Private graveside services will be today in Memory Gardens Cemetery with the Rev. Norbert Kieferly officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Murray was born in Woonsocket, R.I., and had lived in Amarillo more than 20 years. He was a Navy veteran, serving during World War II. He was retired from the hearing-aid business and was a Catholic. Survivors include a daughter, Cheryl Zalhanhey of Cumberland, R.I.; a son, William P. Murray of West Warick, R.I.; and four grandchildren. The body will not be available for viewing. Melissa E. Cyrus Melissa E. Cyrus, 86, of Amarillo, died Sunday, July 12, 1998. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Llano Cemetery East with the Rev. David Hill Sr., pastor of New Hope Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Golden Gate Mortuary, 1416 N. Hughes St. Mrs. Cyrus was born in Coleman County and lived and worked in Slaton until moving to Amarillo in 1952. She had done domestic work for several families in Slaton and Amarillo for more than 60 years. She was a member of New Hope Baptist Church. Survivors include two brothers, A.T. Bailey of Chicago and James Bailey of Slaton; a sister, Beulah Fae Winn of Oakland, Calif.; and special friends, Juanita Williams and Janet Williamson, both of Amarillo. D.L. Jacobs D.L. Jacobs, 83, of Amarillo, died Monday, July 13, 1998. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Bryan Martin of Trinity Baptist Church officiating. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mr. Jacobs was born in Bonham and moved to Amarillo in 1944. He was employed by Southwestern Public Service Co. for 37 years. He married Oma Paulk in 1935 at Memphis. She died in 1996. A son, Lloyd Jacobs, also died in 1996. Survivors include a grandson, Michael Prince of Amarillo; and two great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. Katie M. Smith Katie M. Smith, 79, of Amarillo, died Sunday, July 12, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church with the Rev. Vurn Martin, interim pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Warford-Walker Mortuary, 509 N. Hughes. Mrs. Smith was born in Ellis County and attended public school. A longtime Amarillo resident, she was retired and a member of Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church. Survivors include a sister, Margie McGraw of Dallas; a foster-sister, Ruby Mitchell Sanford of Amarillo; and a special friend, Willie Mitchell of Amarillo. The family will be at 2017 N.W. 19th. Samuel Elias Diaz Samuel Elias Diaz, infant son of Jacob Diaz and Lisa Jaques, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, July 15, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Llano Cemetery Babyland with the Rev. Hector Madrigal, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church officiating. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St. Samuel was born in Amarillo. He is survived by his parents. Lewis E. Dowlen Lewis E. Dowlen, 88, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, July 14, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, Pioneer Chapel, 2615 Paramount Blvd., with the Rev. Jeff Raines, associate pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Entombment will be in Llano Cemetery Mausoleum. Mr. Dowlen was born and raised in Canyon. He graduated from Canyon High School and attended Amarillo Business College. He had lived in Amarillo for 50 years and was a member of First Baptist Church. In 1975, he retired after 37 years as a conductor for Santa Fe Railroad. He married Estelle Toler in 1936 at Clovis, N.M. He was preceded in death by a stepson, Hollis Glenn Jr. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Jo Ann Crawford of Amarillo; a sister, Mary Whitman of Oklahoma City; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to American Heart Association. Atlantess Liberty Marie Gonzales Altantess Liberty Marie Gonzales, 6week-old infant daughter of Monica Gonzales West and Anthony Aday of Amarillo, died Tuesday, July 14, 1988. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Allen Norris officiating. Arrangements are by Colonial Funeral Home, 1010 W. Ninth. Survivors include her parents; a brother, Cory Aday of Amarillo; two sisters, Whitney Aday and Desiree Aday, both of Amarillo; and her grandparents, Lydia Cabello of Amarillo and Rosilio Cabello of Floydada. Oklahoma James Randal Kirkwood STILLWATER, Okla. - James Randal Kirkwood, 74, died Tuesday, July 14, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Fairlawn Cemetery with the Rev. Joe Townsend officiating. Arrangements are by Strode Funeral Home. Mr. Kirkwood was born in Tucumcari, N.M., where he attended schools. He entered the Army during World War II. After his discharge, he returned to Tucumcari, where he was employed by Shamrock Oil. He entered the construction business in 1982 and moved to Perry, Okla. After his retirement, he moved to Amarillo and in 1990 moved to Stillwater. He was a retired carpenter. He married Mary Hall in 1948 at Grady, N.M. She died in 1990. He also was preceded in death by a son, Thomas Kirkwood. Survivors include three sons, Robert Kirkwood of Ripley, Okla., Jim Kirkwood of Kingman, Ariz., and Gerald Kirkwood of Prairie Village, Kan.; a brother, George Kirkwood of Turpin, Okla.; two sisters, Mary Kirkwood of Tucumcari, N.M., and Edna Witt of Amarillo; eight grandchildren; a stepgranddaughter; and three great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Judith Karman Hospice, P.O. Box 818, Stillwater, Okla. 74076. Elsewhere Edna Word BIG SPRING - Edna Word, 70, a former Amarillo resident, died Tuesday, July 14, 1998. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. today in Myers and Smith Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Herb McPherson, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Trinity Memorial Park. Mrs. Word was born in Farwell. She graduated from high school in 1945 at Melrose, N.M. She had lived in Clovis, N.M., for 23 years and worked for Roy S. Walker Gulf Oil. She and her father also had owned three service stations in Clovis. She married Willie Word in 1971 in Amarillo. She lived in Amarillo from 1971 until 1989, when she moved to Big Spring. She had been a bookkeeper and a tax consultant. She had worked with her husband in all phases of the trucking business, working as a terminal manager, dispatcher and driver. She was a Baptist. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Belinda Tharp of Clovis; a sister, Lucille Kriegel of Greenville, S.C.; three grandchildren; and two great-grandsons. Ronald Joseph Cranor ALVARADO - Ronald Joseph Cranor, 35, died Sunday, July 12, 1998. Memorial graveside services were Tuesday in Rosehill Cemetery at Cleburne with Chaplain Larry Thompson officiating. Arrangements were by CrosierPurson-Mayfiels Funeral Home. Mr. Cranor was born in Chicago, Ill. He attended Amarillo Technical Center and served in the Army from 1987 to 1991 with a tour of duty in Saudi Arabia. He married Brenda Dejarnette in 1992 at Arlington. Survivors include his wife; two children, Ronald Cranor Jr. and Derek Cranor, both of the home; his parents, Ron Cranor of Sumner, Wash., and Bonnie Johnson of Missoula, Mont.; two sisters, Kelly Braithwaite and Jessica Cranor; three brothers, Steven Cranor, Jeff Cranor and Tim Cranor, all of Montana; a stepbrother, Aaron Boyle of Amarillo; a stepsister, Rita Eakes of Amarillo; and grandparents, C.A. and Lavonne Johnson of Alvarado. New Mexico Cipriano Rigoberto Rodriquez CLOVIS, N.M. - Cipriano Rigoberto Rodriquez, 39, died Tuesday, July 14, 1998. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Friday in The Chapel at 1500 Thornton. Funeral mass will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Community with the Rev. Tobin Hitt officiating. Burial will be in Mission Garden of Memories Cemetery by Muffley Funeral Home. Mr. Rodriquez was born in Chihuahua, Mexico. He moved to Clovis from Farwell in 1987. He was employed as a cowboy by the Farwell Feed Yard for six years and was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. He married Rosalinda Garcia in 1985 at Farwell. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Erica Rodriquez and Olivia Rodriquez, both of Clovis; three sons, Rigoberto Rodriquez and Zachary Rodriquez, both of Clovis, and Joe Luis Rodriquez of Mexico; his mother, Soledad Rodriquez of Mexico; five sisters, Felecita Dominquez of Hereford, and Silvia Rodriquez, Delia Rodriquez, Patricia Rodriquez and Socorro Rodriquez, all of Mexico; four brothers, Zachary Rodriquez, Lorenzo Rodriquez and Gustavo Rodriquez, all of Mexico, and Blas Rodriquez of Hereford. Richard Dobbs CLOVIS, N.M. - Richard Dobbs, 59, died Thursday, July 14, 1998. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Kingswood United Methodist Church with Dr. Mark Scott officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date in the Bovina Cemetery in Bovina, Texas. Cremation and arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home. Mr. Dobbs was born in Sulphur, Okla., and moved to Clovis in 1947. He was a veteran of the Army and retired as a teacher at Clovis High School in 1993. He was the owner of Double D Graphics. He married Nita Estes in 1961 at Bovina. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Vernon Dobbs of Clovis and Charles Dobbs of San Angelo, Texas; his father, Ray Bauer of Clovis; a brother, Scott Bauer of Henderson, Texas; and a grandson. The family requests memorials be to Kingswood United Methodist Church or a favorite charity.