Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 18 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; Saturday, July 18, 1998, 6:12 AM Area Bertha Ree Mancill BORGER - Bertha Ree Mancill, 89, died Thursday, July 16, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today at Westlawn Memorial Park with the Rev. David Jones, pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of Love at Westlawn Memorial Park by Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. Mrs. Mancill was born in New Port and had been a Borger resident for more than 50 years. She was retired from Bob Johnson Motor Co. where she was in accounting. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, a life member of Opportunities Inc. and a former member of Altrusa. She was past president of Canadian Gem & Mineral Society and American Business Women's Association. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bud Mancill in 1997. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. James Bye SKELLYTOWN - James "Dewey" Bye, 45, died Thursday, July 16, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel in Pampa with the Rev. Bill Brummett of St. John Lutheran Church of Dumas officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Pampa. Mr. Bye was born in Park Rapids, Minn. He moved to Skellytown in 1984 from Oklahoma. He was an oil field worker in Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle with V.E. Wagner Well Service for 14 years. Mr. Bye was a volunteer with the Skellytown City Council for three years and played Santa Claus at Christmas for local children. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Pampa. He married Glenda Helms in 1973 at Pampa. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Chad Bye of Pampa and Justin Bye of the home; two daughters, Tina Bye of the home and Melissa Bye of Pampa; his parents, Jim and Marlene Bye of Canyon; two brothers, Ronald Bye of Canyon and Terry Bye of Meridian, Miss.; and a granddaughter. The family requests memorials be to The Sugar Plums at Skel-Tex Credit Union. Rosa Motteshard Ellis PERRYTON - Rosa Motteshard Ellis, 94, died Wednesday, July 15, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Fellowship Baptist Church with the Rev. John Durham officiating. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Perryton. Mrs. Ellis was born in Richard, Kan., and was a longtime resident of the Perryton area. She married Robert Motteshard in 1919 at Syracuse, Kan. He died in 1972. She was a homemaker. She baby-sat at the bowling alley for 17 years. She was preceded in death by two daughters, Leona Maxwell in 1987 and Purnie Motteshard in 1954. Survivors include her daughter, Minnie Klinge of Amarillo; eight grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. Billy Smart MULESHOE - Billy Smart, 48, of Morton, died Thursday, July 16, 1998, in Baylor Medical Center in Dallas. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. today in First United Methodist Church of Morton with the Rev. Ken Peterson, pastor of First United Methodist Church of O'Donnell, and Wayne Thompson of Clyde officiating. Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. today in Morton Memorial Cemetery by Ellis Funeral Home of Muleshoe. Mr. Smart was born in Muleshoe and was a lifetime resident of Morton. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Morton, past president of Morton Athletic Booster Club and past board member of Morton Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Smart owned and operated Smart's Food Mart and Smart's Speed Wash and Laundry in Morton. He owned North Main Street Grocery in Denver City. He married Margaret Ledbetter in 1970 at Morton. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Ken and Kyle Smart, both of Morton; a daughter, Molly Smart of Morton; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Don Smart of Morton; a sister, Charlotte Thompson of Deer Park; and a brother, Ronald Smart of Danville, Calif. The family requests memorials be to First United Methodist Church of Morton or Twice Blessed House, 2732 Gaston St., Suite 119, Dallas, Texas, 75226. Ronnie Chisum PERRYTON - Ronnie Chisum, 56, died Thursday, July 16, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Ted Latham officiating. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Mr. Chisum was born in Perryton where he lived all of his life. He had worked in the oil fields since 1975 as a contract pumper. Survivors include a son, Darren Chisum of Perryton; a daughter, Shelley Hulsey of Perryton; a sister, Marva Jean Burke of Perryton; three brothers, Lloyd Chisum of Perryton, Jerry Chisum of Alamogordo, N.M., and Fred Chisum of Albuquerque, N.M.; and two grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. Dorothy Lorine Slade Stargel MEMPHIS - Dorothy Lorine Slade Stargel, 83, died Thursday, July 16, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m today in First Christian Church of Memphis with Tom Posey officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery by Memphis Funeral Home. Mrs. Stargel was born in Detroit in Red River County and grew up in Greenville. She was a beauty operator for 10 years. In 1945, she moved to Hall County. Mrs. Stargel retired in 1973 as a nurse's aide at Hall County Hospital. She was a member of First Christian Church. She married Lowell Cecil Stargel in 1935 in Erick, Okla. He died in 1978. Survivors include a son, Jack Slade Stargel of Houston; two daughters, Dorcille Widener Haney of Memphis and Sondra Reinauer Noland of Amarillo; a sister, Evelyn Martin of Greenville; 12 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. Sibyl Verden MEMPHIS - Sibyl "Janie" Verden, 88, died Thursday, July 16, 1998 in Houston. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Memphis Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Royce Denton, retired Baptist minister from Lake Kemp, officiating. Services will be under direction of Wright Funeral Home of Wheeler. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery by Wright Funeral Home. Local arrangements are by Memphis Funeral Home. Mrs. Verden was born in Moreland, Ark. She moved to Hall County in 1929 from Morrilton, Ark. She was a homemaker and member of Lakeview Baptist Church. She moved to Houston a few years ago. She married Glen Verden in 1925 at Arkansas. He died in 1977. Survivors include three daughters, Jo Brown of Gatesville, Sonya Hignight of Slidell, La., and Sandy Pitcock of Houston; two sons, James Verden of Wheeler and William Verden of Earth; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. Viewing will be from 1 to 8 p.m. today in Wright Funeral Home and from noon until 9 p.m. Sunday in Memphis Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Memphis Funeral Home. The family requests memorials be to Alzheimer's Association Panhandle Chapter, 2200 W. Seventh Ave., Amarillo, Texas, 79106; or a favorite charity. Amarillo Evelyn Robertson Evelyn Robertson, 101, of Amarillo, died Saturday, July 11, 1998. Graveside services were at 11 a.m. Friday in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. B.F. Roberts Jr. of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church officiating. Arrangements were by Golden Gate Funeral Home, 1416 N. Hughes. Robertson moved to Amarillo in 1932, where she was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leroy Robertson in 1992. Survivors include a sister, Doretha Nelson of Oroville, Calif.; and a special friend, Tosha Johnson of Amarillo. Mozelle Weidner Mozelle Weidner, 82, of Amarillo, died Friday, July 17, 1998. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Vega Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements are by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mrs. Weidner was born in Cheyenne, Okla., and moved to Amarillo at a young age. She was a 1934 graduate of Amarillo High School and attended Draughn's Business School. Before her marriage, she was employed as a court reporter. After her marriage, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Weidner lived in Adrian for 45 years before moving to Amarillo in 1977. She was a Baptist. She married Elmer Weidner in 1938 at Arnett, Okla. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Lanie Sewell of Midland and Madeline Brock of Lake Jackson; a son, Carroll Weidner of Amarillo; a brother, Herschel Allison of Amarillo; six grandchildren; and four great-grandsons. Felice Dillard Felice Dillard, 75, of Amarillo, died Thursday, July 16, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors Pioneer Chapel, 2615 Paramount Blvd., with the Rev. F.M. Byford of Paramount Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mrs. Dillard was born in Hastings, Okla. She graduated from high school in Waurika, Okla., and attended Oklahoma College for Women. She moved to Amarillo in 1942. Mrs. Dillard was employed for 28 years as a special education teacher's aide with the Amarillo Independent School District. She served at the Paramount and Lamar elementary schools. She was a member of Paramount Baptist Church. She married George Dillard in 1942 at Waurika. She was preceded in death by a son, George N. Dillard Jr., in 1997. Survivors include her husband; a son, Tim Dillard of Amarillo; three sisters, Patty Brann and Betty Reeder, both of Buena Vista, Ark., and Barbara Richardson of Waurika; a brother, Sammy Reynolds of Lake Charles, La.; five grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. The family will be at 3908 Linda. They request memorials be to the National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. Luis B. Aguilar Luis B. Aguilar, 44, died Thursday, July 16, 1998. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in BlackburnShaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street, with Oscar "Spike" Maldonado, pastor of New Life Outreach Ministries, officiating. Cremation is by Memory Gardens Crematory. Mr. Aguilar was born in Van Horn and moved to Amarillo 19 years ago from El Paso. He had been employed by Iowa Beef Processors and later by West Texas Wilbert Vault Co. He was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. He married Sylvia Moona Urenda in 1983. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Johnny Mestas of Amarillo and Luis Aguilar Jr., of El Paso; a brother, Alfredo Aguilar Jr., of El Paso; three sisters, Betty Gonzales, Nellie Villegas and Romie Rivera, all of El Paso; and a grandchild. The family will be at 4108 E. 17th Ave. The body will not be available for viewing. Elsewhere Willow Mai Murphy McPHERSON, Kan. - Willow Mai Murphy, 91, died Wednesday, July 15, 1998. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in First Christian Church in Hooker, Okla., with the Rev. Irvin Stanke officiating. Burial will be in Tyrone Cemetery in Tyrone, Okla., by Roberts Brothers Funeral Home in Hooker. Mrs. Murphy was born in Nashville, Tenn., and married George G. Murphy in 1927 at Tyrone. She was a librarian in Liberal, Kan., and moved with her husband to towns in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas along with his job with the Rock Island Railroad. They retired in El Reno, Okla., and later moved to both Texas and Louisiana, finally living in Donaldsonville, La. In 1983, Mrs. Murphy moved to McPherson. She was a member of First Christian Church in Liberal. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1981. Survivors include two sons, George Murphy Jr. of Leslie, Ark., and Roger LeLynn Murphy of Kansas City, Mo.; two daughters, Marjorie Grounds of McPherson and Rita Kellogg of Midland; 13 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Heart Association or a favorite charity in care of Roberts Brothers Funeral Home, P.O. Box 745, Hooker, Okla. 73945. New Mexico Billy E. Littlejohn CLOVIS, N.M. - Billy E. Littlejohn, 68, died Thursday, July 16, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel in Clovis with the Rev. Dr. Herbert Bergstrom officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens. Mr. Littlejohn was born in Santa Rita, N.M., and was raised by his grandparents, Robert and Edna Porter in the Field Community. He attended school and graduated from Field High School. He married Alyce Armstrong in 1975 at Clovis. Mr. Littlejohn worked at Barnett and Sons from 1950 to 1971, Ward Brothers from 1971 to 1978 and A&M Building Systems from 1978 to 1995. He was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks No. 1244 and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Ben Littlejohn of Stamford, Texas, and Robert Littlejohn of Clovis; a daughter, Shirie Wallace of Reno, Nev.; his parents, Audrey and Charles Erb of Lake Havasu, Ariz.; a brother, Jimmie Littlejohn of Eureka, Calif.; a sister, Shirlene Mock of Lake Havasu; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. The body will not be available for viewing. Friends may call the funeral home. The family will be at 2112 Circlewood in Clovis. They request memorials be to New Mexico Boys Ranch or Plains Regional Medical Center Hospice. Marie Louise Lovin CLAYTON, N.M. - Marie Louise Lovin, 87, died Friday, July 17, 1998. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday in St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Clayton by Louis Montoya, deacon. Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church with the Rev. George Silva, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Clayton Memorial Cemetery by Hass Funeral Directors of Clayton. Mrs. Lovin was born in Shawnee, Okla. She spent her childhood in Oklahoma and moved to New Mexico in 1931. She was employed as a housekeeper and a nanny in Nara Visa and as a school bus driver in Amistad. She moved to Clayton where she was a housekeeper for John Winchester. In 1942, Mrs. Lovin and her husband moved to Albuquerque where she was employed by the University of New Mexico in the Student Union Building cafeteria for many years. In 1972, they returned to Clayton. She was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. She married Roy Travis Lovin in 1941 at Clayton. He preceded her in death in March. Survivors include five brothers, Richard Swords of Ponca City, Okla., Leo Swords of Russell, Kan., Jimmy Swords of Tonkawa, Okla., Harold Swords of Midwest City, Okla., and Gerald Swords of Spokane, Wash.; two sisters, Catherine Jueschke of Tonkawa and Marguerite Kimber of Amistad; and a goddaughter, Rose Mary Girard of Nara Visa.