Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 17 March 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; Tuesday, March 17, 1998, 6:52 AM Area Henry Earl Butler TULIA - Henry Earl Butler, 66, died Sunday, March 15, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Church of Christ at Kress with Jack McCall, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Kress Cemetery at Kress by Wallace Funeral Home. Mr. Butler was born and raised in Tulia. He graduated from Tulia High School and attended West Texas State University. He entered the Navy in 1952 and was discharged in 1956. He then returned to Tulia. He worked for Taylor-Evans at Kress for several years. He worked in the facility services department at St. Anthony's Hospital for 17 years. He was a member of the Kress Church of Christ. Mr. Butler married Emma "Em" Morton in 1976 at Kress. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Carla Propst of Amarillo; a son, Zane Weiss of Amarillo; a sister, Catherine Coile of Happy; a brother, Pat Butler of Graham; and five grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to High Plains Children's Home and Family Services, P.O. Box 7448, Amarillo, Texas 79114-9990. Larry Byrd BORGER - Larry Byrd, 51, died Sunday, March 15, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Riverview Baptist Church with the Rev. Bill Browning, pastor of Broadway Baptist Church of Fritch, and the Rev. Jimmy Gillmore, pastor of Riverview Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of Love at Westlawn Memorial Park by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mr. Byrd was born in Borger and had been a lifetime Borger resident. He graduated from Borger High School and joined the Navy in 1967. He served until 1971. He was a boiler fireman for Phillips Refinery NGL. He was a member of Riverview Baptist Church. He married Sharon Ford in 1967 at Borger. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Larry Byrd, Kelly Byrd and Cody Byrd, all of Borger; a daughter, Tori Byrd of Borger; his mother, Maxine Byrd of Borger; a sister, Glenda Cottrell of Euless; and five grandchildren. Aurelio S. Ramirez Sr. CACTUS - Aurelio S. Ramirez Sr., 74, died Sunday, March 15, 1998. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Cactus. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Our Lady of Guadalupe with the Rev. David Contreras, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Dumas Cemetery at Dumas by Morrison Funeral Directors of Dumas. Mr. Ramirez was born in Sierra Blanca and had been a Moore County resident since 1964. He was retired. He was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Anna Maria Ramirez. Survivors include five daughters, Ramona R. Flores of Lubbock, Maria de Jesus Franco and Maria Pilar Ramirez, both of Cactus, Beckey R. Jacquez of Dumas and Maria Lupe Esparaza of Charter Oak, Iowa; a son, Aurelio Ramirez Jr. of Cactus; a sister, Luz R. Franco of Hobbs, N.M.; three brothers, Ramon Ramirez and Teodoro Ramirez, both of Dumas, and Manuel Ramirez of Cactus; 20 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family requests memorials be to 502 Rector. Oklahoma Selma Cullop FELT, Okla. - Selma Cullop, 64, died Saturday, March 14, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Felt United Methodist Church with the Rev. Charley Watson, the Rev. Martin Nelson and the Rev. L. Dean Cullop officiating. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Elmwood Cemetery at Woodward with the Rev. Marvin Nelson officiating. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in First United Methodist Church at Woodward with the Rev. Mitchell A. Stewart, the Rev. L. Dean Cullop and the Rev. Marvin Nelson officiating. Arrangements are by Cimarron Mortuary of Boise City. Mrs. Cullop was born in Seminole. She and her family lived in New Lima, where she attended elementary school. They moved to Edmond, where she finished grade school and graduated from high school. She graduated from Central State University with a degree in home economics. She became the home demonstration agent in Blaine County at Watonga in 1956. She married L. Dean Cullop in 1957 at Edmond. They moved to Enid, where she was a homemaker. They moved to Carrier in 1958 and then to Watonga, where they lived from 1960 to 1972. She and her husband ran a custom harvesting business, harvesting wheat, milo and flax from Oklahoma to Canada. In 1972, her husband started a ministry in Arapaho. She started her first appointed church in 1978 at Eldorado. She served many churches across the Oklahoma Conference. She received her master of divinity degree at Southern Methodist University at Dallas. She and her husband moved to Felt in 1995, where she served the Kenton and Felt United Methodist churches. She was a member of the Order of Elders, United Methodist churches, Felt United Methodist Women and the Felt School Foundation. Survivors include her husband; a son, Leonard Dean Cullop Jr. of Arlington, Texas; a daughter, Tressie D. Harzman of Woodward; a brother, E.B. Riley of Irvine, Calif.; and four grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Felt or Kenton United Methodist Church, the American Diabetes Association or the American Heart Association c/o the mortuary. New Mexico John Leonard Montano TUCUMCARI, N.M. - John Leonard Montano, 34, died Friday, March 13, 1998. Rosary was recited at 7 p.m. Monday in Dunn Funeral Home Memorial Chapel. Mass of the Resurrection will be offered at 10 a.m. today in St. Anne's Catholic Church by the Rev. John C. Daniel. Burial will be in Tucumcari Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Montano was born in Tucumcari and graduated from Tucumcari High School. He was a member of St. Anne's Catholic Church and managed a retail merchandise store. Survivors include his parents, Jose and Lucy Montano of Tucumcari; a brother, Eugene Montano of Dover, Del.; four sisters, Rachel Valdez of Las Vegas, N.M., Shelia Branch of Tucumcari, and Leona Daw and Helen Trujillo, both of Albuquerque; and his grandfather, Moises Lujan of Logan. The body will be available for viewing at the funeral home until service time. The casket will not be open at the rosary or at the service. Lavana Bailey MELROSE, N.M. - Lavana "Vane" Bailey, 65, died Sunday, March 15, 1998, in Albuquerque. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Kevin Bushart officiating. Burial will be in Melrose Cemetery by SteedTodd Funeral Home. Mrs. Bailey was born in Seneca. She was a member of First United Methodist Church. She married Bob Bailey in 1951 at Seneca. Survivors include her husband; a son, Mike Bailey of Hilo, Hawaii; a daughter, Karen Screws of St. Vrain; a brother, Weston Baker of Seneca; two sisters, Merle Wiley and Arlene Mayfield, both of Clayton; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the First United Methodist Church youth group. Friends may call at the funeral home. The casket will be closed at the church. H.A. Thornton CLOVIS, N.M. - H.A. "Pappy" Thornton, 84, died Saturday, March 14, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel with Ed Abla officiating. Burial will be in Mission Garden of Memories. Mr. Thornton was born in Pleasant Hill and had lived in Clovis for many years. He played in Pappy Thornton and the Old Time Band. He was a member of First Church of the Nazarene. Survivors include his wife, Johnnie Bell; two sons, Joe Thornton of Capitan and Tom Thornton of Clovis; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Thomas Henry Smith CLOVIS, N.M. - Thomas "Tommy" Henry Smith II, 17, died Tuesday, March 17, 1998, in Lubbock, Texas. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. today in Faith Christian Family Church with David Swann, pastor, officiating. Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Mr. Smith was born in Monroe, N.C. He was a member of Faith Christian Family Church. He was a senior at Clovis High School. Survivors include his parents, Thomas Henry and Carol Graves Smith; two sisters, Kristin Smith and Kimberly Smith; and grandmothers, Mildred W. Graves of Pageland, S.C., and Geneva Dalton of Hurt, Va. The family will receive friends at 1332 Oakhurst Road. They request memorials be to the Faith Christian Family Church building fund. Visitation will be at the funeral home until service. William Cook CLOVIS, N.M. - William "Bill" Cook, 61, died Saturday, March 14, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in The Chapel with the Rev. Coy Brewer officiating. Burial will be in Melrose Cemetery at Melrose by Muffley Funeral Home. Mr. Cook was born in Wellington, Texas, and raised in the Melrose area. He received his pharmaceutical degree from the University of Wyoming in 1966. He moved to Clovis in 1985 and began working for Kmart, where he became the pharmacy manager. He was a member of the Pharmaceutical Association. He was Baptist. Mr. Cook married Bonnie Smith in 1987 at Melrose. They made their home in Clovis. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Cindy "Lucinda" Cook of Tyler, Texas; two sons, Jeff Cook of Fairfield, Texas, and Mathew Cook of Fort Worth, Texas; his parents, J.N. and Dorothy Cook of Roswell; two brothers, Dan Cook of Lacasta, Calif., and Richard Timothy Cook of Melrose; a sister, Judy McDonald of Okinawa, Japan; and a granddaughter. Richard H. Williamson SANTA FE, N.M. - Richard H. "Dick" Williamson, 74, died Wednesday, March 11, 1998. A prayer service will be at 7 p.m. today at Berardinelli Family Funeral Service. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Loretto Chapel. Mr. Williamson was a prominent businessman and co-founder of Western Merchandisers Inc., the parent company of Hastings Entertainment. He was born in Kingsport, Tenn. He served with the Army Air Corps during World War II. He married Clair Stewart in 1951 at Dallas. Survivors include his wife; a son, Blair Williamson of Austin, Texas; two daughters, Wendy Edmondson of Dallas and Kelly Tatz of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii; two sisters, Ruth Miller and Donna Faulkner, both of Austin; and six grandchildren. It is requested memorials in lieu of flowers be to the American Cancer Society or the National Arthritis Foundation. Amarillo Jarrett Jeff Ransom Jarrett Jeff Ransom, 83, of Amarillo, died Friday, March 13, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in BlackburnShaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street, with Troy Bohn, pastor of Day Springs Ministry, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Ransom was born in Claude and moved to Amarillo in 1951 from Colorado. He graduated from Claude High School in 1932. He was a founder and former owner of Tri-State Fence Co. and the Patio Shop. He also was a member of Central Baptist Church. He married Adlyne Groom in 1936. Survivors include his wife; four sons, Bruce Ransom of Amarillo, Ed Ransom of New Braunfels, Tim Ransom of Phoenix and Bill Ransom of Salt Lake City; a daughter, Sue Sanders of Amarillo; a brother, Don Ransom of Claude; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family will be at 2713 Pawnee. Thomas H. Bosworth Thomas H. Bosworth, 62, of Amarillo, died Thursday, March 12, 1998. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. today in Paramount Terrace Christian Church with the Rev. C. Phillip Craig Jr., Mr. Bosworth's son-in-law and chaplain of Episcopal High School of Alexandria, Va., and Brent Ashby, associate minister of discipleship of the church, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Bosworth was born in Tempe, Ariz. He moved to Amarillo from Albuquerque, N.M., in 1992. He received his bachelor of science degree in metallurgy engineering from the University of Arizona. As a veteran of the Navy, he served on the nuclear submarine USS Scamp. Mr. Bosworth retired from the Department of Energy as a metallurgist engineer. He was a member of Paramount Terrace Christian Church. He married Ruth Ann Branigan in 1988 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Jennifer Bosworth Craig of Washington, D.C., and Julie Ann Barbieur of Albuquerque; a stepson, Loren D. Brungardt of Florida; his mother, Corinne Bosworth of Mesa, Ariz., a sister, Verline Rader of Scottsdale, Ariz.; a brother, Kent Bosworth of Phoenix; and two grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas. The family will be at 8810 Adair. Erma Balch Erma Balch, 89, of Amarillo, formerly of Big Spring, died Sunday, March 15, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Nalley-Pickle & Welch Rosewood Chapel in Big Spring with the Rev. Gary Groves, pastor of First Christian Church, officiating. Burial will be in Trinity Memorial Park in Big Spring. Mrs. Balch was born in Bearden, Ark. She lived in Coahoma and Big Spring before moving to Amarillo in 1988. She was a homemaker and a member of the Big Spring Garden Club and First Christian Church. She married John Balch in 1931 at Little Rock, Ark. He died in 1979. She also was preceded in death by a son, Walter Eubanks. Survivors include a grandson, Larry Eubanks of Micanopy, Fla.; a granddaughter, Pam Davis of Amarillo; and four great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Big Spring Garden Club scholarship fund, 706 Hillside Drive, Big Spring, Texas 79720; or Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson St., Amarillo, Texas 79101. Hilda L. Blessen Hilda L. Blessen, 95, of Bushland, died Sunday, March 15, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the original First Baptist Church building in Amarillo with Dr. Howard Batson of the church officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by BlackburnShaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mrs. Blessen was a member of First Baptist Church of Amarillo. She married John Blessen in 1922 at Columbus, Neb. They moved to Bushland in August of 1922. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1963. Survivors include a son, James Blessen of Amarillo; a daughter, Ruth Ann Gilliam of Quanah; six grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and a greatgreat-grandchild. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. Russell Latham Russell "Odell" Latham, 85, of Amarillo, died Monday, March 16, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Comanche Trail Church of Christ with Loran Harper and Jerry Klein, both of the church, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mr. Latham was born in Lovington, N.M. He moved to Amarillo in 1972 from Morton. He was a cattleman and a rancher. He married Laveda "Peggy" Lee in 1935 at Matador. Survivors include a son, Russell Latham of Logan, N.M.; a daughter, Cara Sue Winkler of Bowie; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family will be at 6748 Walden. They request memorials be to Buckner Children's Home. Freddie H. Redfern Freddie H. Redfern, 71, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, March 10, 1998. Memorial services are pending in Greeley, Colo. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mr. Redfern was born in Mead, Okla. He was an Army veteran and a mechanic. He married Lena Henry in 1946 at Tipton, Okla. Survivors include six sons, Fred Redfern Jr., Bruce Redfern and Steven Redfern, all of Greeley, Troy Redfern of Aurora, Colo., Tommy Redfern of Eaton, Colo., and James Lee Redfern of Fargo, N.D.; four daughters, Nancy Redfern and Sylvia Sue Job, both of Greeley, Gloria Jean Lahtinen of Castro Valley, Calif., and Kim Annette Redfern of Ault, Colo.; a brother, Alvin Bryant of Idaho; a sister, Hazel M. Vaughn of Texas; 23 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Sue Van Winkle Sue Van Winkle, 87, of Amarillo, died Friday, March 13, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. Rick Rice of Bykota Southern Baptist Church officiating. Cremation and arrangements are by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Mrs. Van Winkle was born in Matador. She had been a longtime Amarillo resident. She was a homemaker and a member of Bykota Baptist Church. She married Ray Van Winkle in 1933 at Quitaque. He died in 1983. Survivors include three nephews and five nieces. The body will not be available for viewing. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. John Pete Brunsell John Pete Brunsell, 78, of Amarillo, died Sunday, March 15, 1998. Services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Llano Mausoleum Chapel with Gerald Petsch, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mr. Brunsell was born in Shell, N.D. He moved to Amarillo 25 years ago from Odessa. He was a retired farmer and a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. He served with the Army during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1945. He served in the Pacific and received a Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, the American Defense Service Medal and the Philippine Liberation Medal with a bronze star. Survivors include a daughter, Theresa Ann Mount of Canyon; a stepdaughter, Nadine Randall of Amarillo; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family will be at 609 S. Louisiana. Luther Lawrence Killingsworth Luther Lawrence Killingsworth, 76, of 904 N. Spring, died Monday, March 16, 1998. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Buffalo Cemetery at Erick, Okla., with C.R. Tucker, retired Baptist minister, officiating. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Martin Road Chapel, 1505 Martin Road. Mr. Killingsworth moved to Amarillo 44 years ago from Erick. He graduated from Plainview High School in Plainview, Okla., in 1938. He worked for the Amarillo Independent School District as a custodian supervisor. He was a member of the Odd Fellows and the Rebekah Lodge. He married Verna Mae Downey in 1941 at Erick. Survivors include his wife; a son, Jerry Killingsworth of Amarillo; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family will be at 904 N. Spring. Elsewhere Shirley Jean Evans DALLAS - Shirley Jean Evans, 59, died Thursday, March 12, 1998. A wake will be at 7 p.m. today in Evergreen Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Red Sea Baptist Church with the Rev. L.H. Smith, pastor, officiating. Mrs. Evans was born in Waco. Survivors include her husband, the Rev. Robert Evans; children, Brenda Agent, Albert Judie, Daryle Judie, Shirley Agent, Lorenzo Judie, Judith Judie, Tina Givens and Sherika Evans, all of Dallas, and Loretta Davis of Waco; and two brothers, Larry McCutteon and Morris Henry, both of Dallas. Bill G. Rouse HUACHUCA CITY, Ariz. - Bill G. Rouse, 58, died Wednesday, March 11, 1998. Memorial services will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Faith Baptist Church. Mr. Rouse was born in Shelbyville, Ind., and had been a resident of Huachuca City for four years. He was a recognized deacon for Faith Baptist Church, where he was a member for two years. He also was a volunteer throughout the community. Survivors include his wife, Wanda M. Ross; his father, Garnet Rouse of Apache Junction; a brother; two sisters; seven half brothers and half sisters; six children; and 10 grandchildren. Canyon Billie O. Vance Billie O. Vance, 65, of Canyon, died Monday, March 16, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Brooks Funeral Directors Chapel with Ricky Keeling, pastor of Grace Community Church of Amarillo, officiating. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery. Mrs. Vance was born in Ralls. She married A.M. Vance in 1958 at Poteau, Okla. He died in 1987. She moved to Canyon from Amarillo in 1983. She was a homemaker and a Baptist. Survivors include a daughter, Marina McCoy of Canyon; two stepsons, Jeryl Vance of Amarillo and Ted Vance of Tyler; two stepdaughters, Jacquetta Miller of Amarillo and Laveeta Brockbank of Sydney, Australia; her mother, Louise Green of Denver City; four sisters, Fran Moore of Oklahoma City, Bert Couch of Pampa, Nell Rickles of Hobbs, N.M., and Ruth Miller of Denton; and a brother, Bob Green of Streetman. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176.