Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 16 September 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; Wednesday, September 16, 1998, 6:40 AM Amarillo Bettie Mays Bettie Mays, 68, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Sept. 13, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Caprock Christian Fellowship Church with the Rev. Max Beggs, of Caprock Christian Fellowship, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, 1505 Martin Road. Mrs. Mays was born in Canyon and had lived in Amarillo for 47 years. At the age of 13, she became a minister. She also was a minister of music for Full Gospel Fellowship. She was a member of Caprock Christian Fellowship Church. She married Johnnie Francis Mays in 1947. He died in 1991. Survivors include two sons, Johnnie Mays of Amarillo and James Mays of Jacksonville, Fla.; two daughters, Jane Mays of Amarillo and Judy Thomason of Plainview; a brother, Chester McMillian of Amarillo; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family will be at 6808 Old Kent Road and requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. Hettie Nolan Stradley Hettie Nolan Stradley, 87, of Amarillo, died Monday, Sept. 14, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in San Jacinto Baptist Church with Dr. Stan Coffey officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia. Mrs. Stradley was born in Union Parish, La., and moved to Amarillo in 1943. She graduated from Northeast Louisiana State College at Monroe, La., in 1933. She was a charter member of Grand Avenue Baptist Church when it was organized in 1948 and had been a member of San Jacinto Baptist Church since 1952. She was a charter member of the Amarillo Senior Citizens Association and a member of the Republican Women's Club of Amarillo. She was an active member and local official of the Republican Party of Texas for many years. She retired from Fedway Department Store in 1967. She married Forrest W. Stradley in 1936 at Alto, La. He died in 1975. Survivors include a daughter, Chloe Webb of Phoenix; three sons, W.L. "Bud" Stradley of Denton and John Stradley and Paul Stradley, both of Amarillo; two sisters, Bess Cartlidge of Dumas and Itta Futch of Scottsdale, Ariz.; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 910, Amarillo, TX 79176 or Faith City Mission, 401 S.E. 2nd Ave., Amarillo, TX 79101. Nancy C. Embrey Mulder Nancy C. Embrey Mulder, 55, died Sunday, Sept. 13, 1998. Services will be at 4 p.m. today in Memory Gardens Mausoleum Chapel with the Rev. Robert Field of Southeast Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mrs. Mulder was born in Italy, Texas, and had lived in Amarillo for 16 years. She was a member of Faithway Baptist Church at Irving and a member of the Order of Eastern Star Palo Duro Lodge. She had been a bookkeeper for Kelly Services. She married Don Mulder in 1970 at Durant, Okla. Survivors include her husband; a son, Randall Holland of Bonham; two daughters, Deborah Holland of Little Rock and Melodie Gradert of Venice, Fla.; two stepsons, Stephen Mark Mulder of Dallas and Thomas Mathew Mulder of Amarillo; two brothers, Gerald Embrey and Tony Embrey, both of Dallas; a sister, Deana Thompson of Fort Worth; and five grandchildren. Donald H. Cates Donald H. Cates, 66, of Amarillo, died Monday, Sept. 14,, 1998. Services were held at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Martin Road Chapel, 1505 Martin Road, with the Rev. Robert E. Field and Sister Mary Morrissey officiating. Cremation was by Memory Gardens. Mr. Cates was born in Flomot and served in the Air Force during the Korean conflict. He was a graduate of North Texas State University and was a former school teacher. In 1983, he moved to Amarillo. He is survived by his father, J.C. Cates of Raton, N.M.; and a sister, Sue Lamb of Raton. The family suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice. New Mexico Isabel S. Lujan CLOVIS, N.M. - Isabel S. Lujan, 84, died Monday, Sept. 14, 1998. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. today in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church by Daniel Balizan. Burial will be in Mission Garden of Memories by SteedTodd Funeral Home. Mrs. Lujan was born in Pintada, N.M., and had lived in Clovis since 1944. She was a member of Our Lady Of Guadalupe Catholic Church. She was preceded in death by 12 children. Survivors include a son, Jose Lujan of the home; a brother, Enrique Saiz of Fort Sumner; 21 grandchildren; 48 greatgrandchildren; and 59 great-great-grandchildren. Oklahoma Jeffery Randall Fish CROMWELL, Okla. - Jeffery Randall Fish, 36, died Sunday, Sept. 13, 1998. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Wetumka Sand Creek Indian Baptist Church with the Rev. Jimmy Anderson and Rev. Legus Harjo officiating. Burial will be in the Scott-Fish Family Cemetery at Wetumka. Arrangements are by Stout Funeral Home of Wewoka. Mr. Fish was born in Claremore. He grew up in the Cromwell area and graduated from Butner High School in 1981. After high school, he attended Okmulgee Tech as a draftsman. He lived in Tulsa a short time before returning Cromwell. He moved to Shawnee for a year and returned to Cromwell where he remained until his death. Survivors include a daughter, Ashley Christine Fish of Miami, Okla.; a son, Preston Fish of Miami, Okla; his mother, Emma Fish of Cromwell; two brothers, Emery Fish and Michael Fish, both of Okeechobee, Fla; three sisters, his twin, Jennifer Fish, Andrea Bert and Cheryl Fish, all of Okeechobee, Fla. Arneta Rhea Liese GUYMON, Okla. - Arneta Rhea Liese, 84, died Tuesday, Sept. 14, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Sunset Lane Baptist Church with the Rev. Lloyd Riddles officiating. Burial will be in Elmhurst Cemetery by Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home of Guymon. Mrs. Liese was born in Hawkins, Texas, and grew up in East Texas where she attended schools in Panola and Harrison Counties. During World War II, she was a chemical technician at Monsanto Chemical Company in Longview, Texas. Mrs. Liese was an active member of the Sunset Lane Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school. She was involved in the Baptist Mission Center ministry and directed the work for many years. In 1974, the church voted her "Mother of the Year."/ She married Arthur A. Liese in 1945 at Shreveport, La. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Dr. Karen Reisig of Oklahoma City; a son, Douglas Liese of Guymon; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandson. The family suggests memorials be to Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children and will be accepted at the funeral home. Elsewhere I.T. Graves LUBBOCK - I.T. Graves, 100, died Tuesday, Sept. 15, 1998. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday in Ford Memorial Chapel of First Baptist Church with the Rev. John Ballard officiating. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Park by Resthaven Funeral Home of Lubbock. Mr. Graves served for 46 years in the field of education. He was superintendent of Crowell Public Schools for 17 years and Floydada Public Schools for 18 years. He was president of District 4 and District 13 of the State Teachers Association. The high school gymnasium in Floydada was named for Mr. Graves. He was the Citizen of the Year in Floydada in 1954. Mr. Graves was a member of First Baptist Church of Lubbock. He served on many committees, was Sunday school superintendent, deacon and teacher in his churches. He married Frances Middleton in 1918. She died in 1989. Survivors include two daughters, Dr. Camille Bell of Lubbock and LaRue Standefer of Amarillo; a brother, Grady Graves of Stephenville; a sister, Mona Marie McCain of Portland; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to University Baptist Mission Center or ConQuest Church in Lubbock. Area Ervin L. Henderson PAMPA - Ervin L. "Smiley" Henderson, 83, died Monday, Sept. 14, 1998. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in the First Presbyterian Church with Dr. Edwin Cooley and the Rev. Robin Gantz officiating. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Niotaze, Kan. Arrangements are by CarmichaelWhatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Henderson was born in Niotaze. He graduated from Pampa High School in 1933. He served as city secretary in the late 1930s and entered the military in 1939, attaining the rank of second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps. He married Hannah Elizabeth Yoe in 1945 at Bartlesville, Okla. They returned to Pampa where he joined the Federal Land Bank Association as its secretarytreasurer. He then became a registered agent with the Equitable Life Assurance Society of America in 1957 and continued his association with that company until 1985, achieving chartered life underwriter certification. While living in Pampa, he served as a city commissioner, on the Highland General Hospital board, as a president of the Pampa Chamber of Commerce, president of the Pampa Kiwanis Club, and a member and an elder of the First Presbyterian Church. He also was a member of the selective service board, chairman of the Frank Carter FFA Scholarship Committee for 20 years, election judge in Gray County for many years, president of the Pampa Band Boosters, and an organizer of the Pampa Tennis Club. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Harriet of Gaithersburg, Md. and Anne of Alexandria, Va.; two sons, George of Austin and Frank of Beaumont; two sisters, Betty Behne of Sunray and Donna Wilson of Sulphur, La.; and six grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Book of Remembrance; First Presbyterian Church, 525 N. Gray, Pampa; or a favorite charity. Friends are invited to visit at the home from 5 to 7 p.m. today. Mildred A. Sheffy DIMMITT - Mildred A. Sheffy, 72, died Tuesday, Sept. 15, 1998, at Booker. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Christian Church with Roy Edrringer, retired minister, officiating. Arrangements are by Foskey-LilleyMcGill Funeral Directors. Mrs. Sheffy graduated from Booker High School in 1942 and attended Woodward Junior College at Woodward, Okla. She moved to Dimmitt in 1944. She was a charter member and former board member of the First Christian Church. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Deaf Smith County Genealogical Society. Mrs. Sheffy had worked as a legal secretary and tax preparer for 30 years and had edited and published the magazine The Rattletrap for the Battleship McGee. Survivors include her husband, Bob; a son, Joe Sheffy of Katy; three daughters, Connie Sheffy and Robbie Sheffy, both of Fort Worth and Janie Vick of Dimmitt; a sister, Peggy Dixon of Boulder, Colo.; and four grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Cancer Society. Sylvester Louis Batenhorst Sylvester Louis Batenhorst, 77, of Umbarger, died Monday, Sept. 14, 1998. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today in Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon Chapel with Jerry Grossman, deacon of St. Ann's Catholic Church, officiating. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Umbarger with Monsignor Harold Waldo of Catholic Diocese of Amarillo officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Umbarger. Mr. Batenhorst was born in Umbarger where he later raised his family. He was a retired farmer and an Army veteran of World War II. He was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and a charter member of St. Mary's parish council. Mr. Batenhorst was on the co-op elevator board, Umbarger Community Water Board and Umbarger Volunteer Fire Department. He was on the first nominating committee for Mid-plains Rural Telephone. He was a past grand knight and fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 2808. He married Elsie Friemel in 1941. Survivors include his wife; four sons, Marvin Batenhorst of Hartley, Leon Batenhorst of Umbarger, Ralph Batenhorst of Stinnett and Paul Batenhorst of Canyon; three daughters, Irene Unger of Amarillo, Patricia Adrian of Exton, Pa., and Jane Coffelt of Canyon; 14 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family requests memorials be to St. Joseph's Priest Retirement Home at Panhandle or Umbarger Volunteer Fire Department. Doris Loyd Hair HEREFORD - Doris Loyd Hair, 80, of Katy, died Monday, Sept. 14, 1998. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. today in West Park Cemetery with Allen Lewis of Katy officiating. Arrangements are by Gililland-Watson Funeral Home. Mrs. Hair was born in Turkey and moved to Deaf Smith County in 1946 from Olton. She was a schoolteacher and a Baptist. She married W.R. "Dub" Hair in 1939 at Olton. He preceded her in death in 1975. Survivors include three daughters, Linda Lewis and Jeanne Youngblood, both of Katy, and Christy Pierce of Grosse Pointe, Mich.; two sons, Larry Hair of Huntsville and Don Hair of Honolulu, Hawaii; and nine grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Mission Fund of First Baptist Church in Hereford. Ina Burnett Coker FRIONA - Ina Burnett Coker, 97, died Monday, Sept. 14, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in First Baptist Church of Friona with the Rev. Waide Messer of the church and the Rev. Howard Rhodes of First Baptist Church of Dimmitt officiating. Burial will be at West Park Cemetery by GilillandWatson Funeral Home of Hereford. Mrs. Coker was born in Sullivan County, Mo., and moved to Deaf Smith County in 1926 from Forgan, Okla. She was a homemaker and member of First Baptist Church of Friona. She married James Roy Coker in 1920 at Beaver County, Okla. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1966 and by three sons, Wesley Hoyt Coker, Cecil Lynn Coker and Paul Duane Coker. Survivors include a son, Floyd Coker of Hereford; a daughter, Aline Turner of Wheeler; 16 grandchildren; 41 greatgrandchildren; and eight great-greatgrandchildren. The family will be at Floyd Coker's home in Hereford. Vilas M. Mahan BORGER - Vilas M. Mahan, 88, died Tuesday, Sept. 15, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in First Christian Church with the Rev. Ernie Williams officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Love at West Lawn Cemetery by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mr. Mahan was a native of Saint Joe, Ark., and had been a Borger resident since 1948. For 26 years, he worked for Phillips Petroleum. He was a member of First Christian Church. He married Geneva Redding in 1940 at Okemah, Okla. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Bruce Mahan of Deer Park, Phillip Mahan of Houston and Gary Mahan of Lubbock; a daughter, Brenda Collins of Bartlesville, Okla.; a sister, Grace Sharette of Pontiac, Mich.; six grandchildren; and one greatgranddaughter. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center of Amarillo. John Harold Stansell LOCKNEY - John Harold "Pat" Stansell, 83, died Tuesday, Sept. 15, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in First Baptist Church in Lockney with the Rev. Gene Hawkins, interim pastor of First Baptist Church of Floydada, officiating. Burial will follow in Lockney Cemetery by Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home. Mr. Stansell was born in Leonard and lived most of his life in Lockney. He graduated from Floydada High School and attended McMurray College in Abilene. In World War II, he served in the Army Air Corps in Brazil. He retired in 1972 from the farm implement business. He married Dorothy Asher in 1943 at St. Louis. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Patricia Sue Stansell Rigby, in 1991. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Jon Steve Stansell and William Scott Stansell, both of Shallowater, and Craig Tim Stansell of Lubbock; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. William Perry PLAINVIEW - William "Bill" Perry, 84, died Tuesday, Sept. 15, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Plainview Cemetery with the Rev. Roger Foote, pastor of Northside Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Lemons Funeral Home. Mr. Perry was born in Dunn and moved to Plainview in 1950. He was the owner / operator of Perry's Gulf Service for 16 years. After he sold the station, he was employed by the Heritage Home for several years. In 1979, he retired from the maintenance department at Excel. Mr. Perry was a member of Northside Baptist Church. He was a past member of Odd Fellows. He married Edna Thomas Perry in 1978 at Plainview. She died in 1991. Survivors include two daughters, Juanan Hill of Kansas City, Kan., and Carrie Sue Campbell of Houston; two stepdaughters, Delores Underwood of Andrews and Debra Pack of Round Rock; two sons, Jim Perry of Sapello, N.M., and Dean Perry of Plainview; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Northside Baptist Church, 1100 W. 32nd St., Plainview, TX 79072. Amber Nicole Lee WELLINGTON - Amber Nicole Lee, 6, died Sunday, Sept. 13, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Fundamental Baptist Church with the Rev. Tom Lewis, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in North Fairview Cemetery by Adams Funeral Home of Wellington. Miss Lee was born in Amarillo. She was in the first grade at Wellington Elementary School and was a Brownie. She was a member of the Fundamental Baptist Church of Wellington. Survivors include her mother and stepfather, Glenda and Cody Anglin of Wellington; her father, Michael Lee of Amarillo; two brothers, James Allen Lee of Pampa and Mathew Lee of Wellington; a stepsister, Kayla Anglin of Dumas; her grandparents, James and Pat Lee of Pampa and Cecil and Mildred Duke of Wellington; stepgrandparents, Dody and Ferna Anglin of Wellington; and her great-grandmothers, Greta Lewis of Amarillo and Joanna Smith of Pampa. The family suggests memorials be to Amber Lee Memorial Fund, c/o The Wellington State Bank.