Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 19 Dec 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, December 19, 1998, 7:18 AM Area Omer Hughes CHILLICOTHE - Omer Hughes, 89, died Thursday, Dec. 17, 1998. Services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday in the First Baptist Church with the Rev. Charles Nichols of Southside Baptist Church in Wichita Falls officiating. Burial will be in Big Valley Cemetery by Manard Funeral Home. Mr. Hughes was born in Waxahachie and had been a resident of Hardeman County since he was a teen-ager. He was a member of First Baptist Church. He was a retired farmer and had been an employee of Chillicothe School District. He married Hazel Luck. He first married Gracie Lewis in 1933. She died in 1976. He then married Frances Southern. She died in 1987. Survivors include his wife; four sons, James Hughes of Kalkaska, Mich., Omer Earl Hughes of Fort Worth, Robert Hughes of Amarillo and Ernest Alton Hughes of Winston-Salem, N.C.; a daughter, Helen Haddox of Amarillo; two brothers, George Hughes of Clinton, Okla., and Ernest Hughes of Coppell; two sisters, Ethel Summers and Flossie Lewis, both of Chillicothe; 14 grandchildren; and numerous great- and great-great-grandchildren. The family will have visitation from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Esther Catherine Redelsperger FOLLETT - Esther Catherine Redelsperger, 79, died Thursday, Dec. 17, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Shattuck, Okla., with Vialo Weis, pastor, and Gordon Burton, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Shattuck Memorial Cemetery by Mason Funeral Home. Mrs. Redelsperger was born north of Shattuck, Okla., and attended Fairview Country School. With her husband, she farmed and ranched near Follett. She was a member of the Shattuck Seventh-day Adventist Church. She married David Charley Redelsperger in 1940 at Cheyenne, Okla. Survivors include her husband; a sister, Edna Redelsperger of Follett; and two brothers, George Herber and Wesley Herber, both of Shattuck. Thomas O. Duncan DUMAS - Thomas O. Duncan, 73, of Northhampton, Mass., died Tuesday, Dec. 15, 1998. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Stratford Cemetery with the Rev. Jerry Stewart, pastor of First Baptist Church of Stratford, officiating. Arrangements are by Morrison Funeral Directors in Dumas. Mr. Duncan was born in Inverurie, Scotland. He attended schools in South Hadley, Mass., where he graduated from high school in 1942. He attended William and Mary College in Virginia, then received his bachelor of science degree from Steven's Institute for Technology in 1946. Mr. Duncan worked for Pittsburgh Demoin Steel, and later as an engineer for Republic Steel of Detroit and Dallas. A World War II and Korean War veteran, he retired as lieutenant commander of the Navy Reserve. He was preceded in death by his wife, Keith Anne Gamble, in 1989. Survivors include two sons, Thomas G. Duncan of Fairfax, Va., and Andrew Duncan of College Station; three brothers, George Duncan of Tulsa, Okla., Alistair Duncan of Acton, Mass., and Brian Duncan of South Hadley; a sister, Heather Ecklin of South Hadley; and five grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to American Heart Association, 1111 Elm Street, West Springfield, MA 01089; or to a favorite charity. Lena Walberg HAPPY - Lena Walberg, 87, died Friday, Dec. 18, 1998. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Happy Cemetery with the Rev. John Baird, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Happy, officiating. Arrangements are by Wallace Funeral Home of Tulia. Mrs. Walberg was born and raised in Norton where she attended schools. In 1928, she moved to Happy. She was a homemaker and member of First United Methodist Church. She married Warren "Babe" Walberg in 1930 at Clovis, N.M. He died in 1991. Survivors include two daughters, Nancy Smith of Dallas and Jo Sharp of Tyler; a sister, Cecil Whitman of Castle Rock, Colo.; a brother Jo Ed Forbus of Kerrville; a special friend, Ralph Hall of Amarillo; nine grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. Delton Ray Cochran HEREFORD - Delton Ray "Del" Cochran, 62, died Thursday, Dec. 17, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Rose Chapel of Gililland-Watson Funeral Home with the Rev. Steve Holston, pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Rest Lawn Memorial Park. Mr. Cochran moved to Deaf Smith County as a child and graduated from Hereford High School in 1954. He was a Marine veteran and was employed as a gas pipeline man. Mr. Cochran was a member of the First Christian Church. In 1997, he moved to Lubbock. He married Lovilla Finley in 1960 at Hereford. Survivors include his wife; four sons, Robin Cochran of Lubbock, Cord Cochran of Jacksonville, N.C., Kyle Cochran of Solgohachia, Ark., and Tim Cochran of Idalou; two daughters, Kerri Brock of Lamesa and Annette Cochran of Jacksonville; a sister, Cleo Shaeffer of Tomball; and 10 grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the American Cancer Society. Maria Najera BOVINA - Maria Najera, 87, died Thursday, Dec. 17, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Church of God of the First Born of Bovina with the Rev. Rosendo Lara, pastor, and the Rev. Raymond Mendoza of Muleshoe officiating. Burial will be in Bovina Cemetery by Ellis-Blackwell Funeral Home in Friona. Mrs. Najera was born in Tegamen, Mexico. She moved from Weslaco to Bovina 15 years ago. She was a homemaker and a member of the Church of God. Mrs. Najera was preceded in death by a son, Reymundo Najera; and three daughters, Juanita Najera, Matilda Najera and Lupita Najera. Survivors include a daughter, Juana Maria Reyes of Bovina; 15 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; and 14 great-great-grandchildren. Casper Foltz PERRYTON - Casper Foltz, 72, died Friday, Dec. 18, 1998. No services are planned at this time. Cremation and arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Perryton. Mr. Foltz was born in Detroit and moved to Perryton two years ago. He was retired from the military and was an inspector for General Motors. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He married Carol Aldrich in 1966 at Harrison, Mich. He was preceded in death by a son, Dana Cessna, in 1989. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Mark Cessna of Perryton, Timothy Cessna of Longview and Claude Cessna of Antlers, Okla.; three brothers, Frank Foltz of Las Vegas, James Foltz of Mesa, Ariz., and Paul Foltz of Connecticut; two sisters, Margaret Thomas and Mary Gagnon, both of Michigan; 32 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. W.P. Bilbrey BLEDSOE - W.P. "Pete" Bilbrey, 92, of Cross Roads, N.M., died Friday, Dec. 18, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Bledsoe Baptist Church of Bledsoe. Burial will be in Tatum Cemetery in Tatum, N.M., by Ellis Funeral Home of Morton. Mr. Bilbrey was born in Plainview. In the early 1930s, he moved to Cross Roads from Monument. He was a rancher and member of the Bledsoe Baptist Church. He married Dessie Fay Dickinson in 1930 at Carlsbad, N.M. Survivors include his wife; five sons, William "Bill" Frank Bilbrey of Burleson, J. Milton Bilbrey of Levelland, Kenneth Bilbrey of Morton, Marion W. Bilbrey of Cross Roads and Johnny Bilbrey of Andrews; four daughters, Teresa Sooter of Seminole, Patsy Davis and Bessie Denny, both of Bledsoe, and Eva Sooter of Tatum; a sister, Mae Denny of Jal, N.M.; 22 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. Amarillo Dorothy Ann Kennedy Dorothy Ann Kennedy, 68, of Amarillo, died Friday, Dec. 18, 1998. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Schooler Funeral Home Brentwood Chapel, 4100 S. Georgia St., with the Rev. Robert T. Hardin of Anglican Church of the Ascension officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mrs. Kennedy was born in Becker, N.M. and moved to Amarillo in 1968. She attended Eastern New Mexico University and graduated from Texas Christian University and Harris College of Nursing. She received master's degrees in nursing and education from West Texas University. She taught nursing at Amarillo College and West Texas University. She retired from West Texas A&M University in 1995. She married Robert B. Kennedy in 1953 at Portales, N.M. Survivors include her husband; a son, Joseph Bruce Kennedy of Lubbock; a brother, Harold W. Nelson of Ridgecrest, Calif.; her mother, Bess Nelson of Albuquerque, N.M.; and two grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to The Friends of Nursing c/o Division of Nursing, West Texas A&M University, P.O. Box 60969, Canyon, TX 79106. Beverly Ann Urias Beverly Ann Urias, 65, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Dec. 17, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Colonial Funeral Chapel, 1010 W. Ninth Ave. with the Rev. Walt Ellis of Forrest Hill Missionary Baptist Church officiating. Mrs. Urias was born in Brockton, Mass. She was a homemaker and a member of Forrest Hill Missionary Baptist Church. In 1989, she married Samuel Urias at Amarillo. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Oscar Bermea, in 1985. Survivors include her husband; four sons, Ronald Bermea and Richard Bermea, all of Amarillo, Raymond Bermea of Albuquerque, N.M., and Robert Bermea; a daughter, Lori San Miguel of Amarillo; a brother, Raymond Leach of Plymouth, Mass.; many grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Quentin Louis Hutson Quentin Louis Hutson, infant son of Shauna Hutson, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Dec. 17, 1998. Graveside services will be at noon Monday in Llano Cemetery with Charles Meyer, pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Quentin was born in Amarillo. Survivors include his mother; a brother, Shane Hooten of the home; his grandparents, Brenda Bertram, and Richard Hutson of Dumas; and his great-grandparents, Delbert and Mary Robertson of Dumas. Canyon Mike Loe Mike Loe, 46, of Canyon, died Thursday, Dec. 17, 1998. Memorial services will be at 4 p.m. today in University Church of Christ of Canyon with David Lough, Brad Thompson, Bob Shepard and Bob Crass officiating. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery by Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon. Mr. Loe was born in Lubbock. He graduated from Denver City High School and West Texas A&M University. In 1972, he moved to Canyon where he was a member and served as deacon and Village Sunday School Class teacher at University Church of Christ. For 17 years, Mr. Loe served as vice president of West Texas State Bank. He then taught art and computer science at Bowie Middle School in Amarillo. He was an instructional technology specialist for Region 16. He married Susan Allen in 1972 at Denver City. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Emily Loe of the home and Courtney Bryan of El Dorado, Ark.; his parents, Bob and Winnell Loe of Canyon; a sister, Lisa Moore of Boise City, Okla.; a brother, Travis Loe of Canyon; and a grandson. The family suggests memorials be to the Mike Loe Scholarship Fund for his children and grandchildren, c/o Region 16, P.O. Box 30600, Amarillo, TX 79120; or University Church of Christ Building Fund, 3400 Conner Dr., Canyon, TX 79015. New Mexico Trudy Maude Williams CLOVIS, N.M. - Trudy Maude Williams, 81, died Thursday, Dec. 17, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Texico Cemetery at Texico. Mrs. Williams was born in Lamar, Okla., and was a longtime resident of Clovis. She was a housewife and a member of 16th and Pile Church of Christ. Survivors include a son, Robert Dell Williams of Clovis; a stepdaughter, Meredith Hoagland of Spring Valley, Calif.; a sister, Pauline Mellard of Oildale, Calif.; and two grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Cancer Society. Irene Keyworth Freeman MELROSE, N.M. - Irene Keyworth Freeman, 89, died Wednesday, Dec. 16, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Melrose Cemetery by SteedTodd Funeral Home of Clovis. Mrs. Freeman was born in Spring Creek, Texas, and was a longtime resident of Melrose. She was a housewife. She was preceded in death by a son, Ronald Keyworth. Survivors include a daughter-in-law, June Keyworth of Alamogordo; a sister, Gordie Perkins of Melrose; two grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Dorothea J. Shockey LOGAN, N.M. - Dorothea J. Shockey, 66, died Friday, Dec. 18, 1998, in Amarillo. No services are planned at this time. Cremation was by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St., in Amarillo. Mrs. Shockey was born in Lincoln, Neb. She moved to Phoenix and worked at Valley National Bank until her retirement in 1992. She was a volunteer teacher at Mesa Tech College in Tucumcari. She was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority in Phoenix and Tucumcari, and of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Lincoln. Mrs. Shockey married Donald L. Shockey in 1952 at Lincoln. He died in 1965. Survivors include her mother, Emilie Parrish of Lincoln; a sister, Norma Rogers of Logan; and a brother, Donald K. Parrish of St. Petersburg, Fla. The family suggests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, 301 W. Amarillo Blvd., Suite 200, Amarillo, TX 79107. Oklahoma Lottie Elaine Brady GUYMON, Okla. - Lottie Elaine Brady, 80, died Thursday, Dec. 17, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in First Assembly of God with the Rev. Billy Martin and the Rev. Leon Lothman officiating. Burial will be in Elmhurst Cemetery by Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home. Mrs. Brady was born in rural Mabank, Texas, and graduated from Mallard Prairie High School in 1934. In 1969 she moved from Gena, La., to Guymon where she was a homemaker, a member of the No Man's Land Senior Citizen Center and a Sunday school teacher at First Assembly of God. Mrs. Brady married Charlie James Brady in 1935 at Payne Springs. He died in August. Survivors include a daughter, Juanita Charlaine Kneeland of Guymon; two sons, Richard C. Brady of Beaumont, Texas, and Glenn Brady of Arlington, Texas; two brothers, Neil Thomas of Eustace, Texas, and Wayne Thomas of Winnsboro, Texas; a sister, Audrey Rowland of Gun Barrel, Texas; six grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to No Man's Land Senior Citizens Center. They will be accepted at Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1112, Guymon, OK. 73942. Elsewhere Ralph McConnell Smith TEXARKANA - Ralph McConnell Smith, 84, died Friday, Dec. 18, 1998, Services will be at 3 p.m. todayin the Texarkana Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Larry Sims officiating. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Monday in Panhandle Cemetery in Panhandle with the Rev. Travis Curry officiating. Mr. Smith was born in Chickasha, Okla., and moved to Texarkana six years ago from White Deer. He retired from Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America. He was Baptist. Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Smith. Survivors include three daughters, Ruth Allen McDowell of Hereford, Patsy Ann McIntire of Shreveport, La., and Betty Jo Wrinkle of Texarkana; nine grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren. The family will be at the Wrinkle residence in Texarkana. They suggest memorials be to Arkansas Children's Hospital, 800 Marshall, Little Rock, AR. 72202. Dr. Charles William Finley SAN ANTONIO - Dr. Charles William Finley, 80, died Thursday, Dec. 17, 1998. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Grace Presbyterian Church of San Antonio. Arrangements are by Mission Park North Funeral Home of San Antonio. Dr. Finley was born in Vinson, Okla., and graduated from Kemper Military School and Baylor University College of Dentistry. During World War II, he served in the Army dental corps. In 1952, he completed all educational requirements for the American Board of Periodontology. From 1952 until 1976, Dr. Finley was in private practice in Lubbock. He then moved to San Antonio where he continued his practice until 1991. Dr. Finley served as clinical professor of periodontology at Baylor University College of Dentistry from 1954 until 1976. From 1976 until 1991, he was assistant clinical professor of periodontology at the University of Texas Health Science Center. He served as consultant in periodontics to the Air Force and as a civilian consultant to the Veterans Administration. In 1985, Dr. Finley was named Outstanding Alumnus of Baylor College of Dentistry. He was a past president of the American Academy of Periodontology and of the AAP Foundation from 1991 until 1993. He was honored by the AAP Foundation for lifetime achievement in periodontics in 1997. Dr. Finley was a member of Rotary International, Oak Hills Rotary Club and a member and elder of both Westminster Presbyterian Church in Lubbock and Grace Presbyterian Church in San Antonio. He married Velma Jones 10 years ago. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 48 years, Mary Gwynne Finley, in 1987. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Katharine Finley Dennis of Wilton, Conn., and Mary Sue Finley of Houston; three stepdaughters, Bonnie M. Northcutt, Leana I. Turbeville and Glenda M. Detling; a stepson, Justin B. Jones; two grandchildren; seven stepgrandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.