Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 19 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; Saturday, September 19, 1998, 7:56 AM Amarillo Opal Whitson Opal Whitson, 94, of Amarillo, died Friday, Sept. 18, 1998. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle with Glen Walton, a Church of Christ minister, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Whitson was born in Indian Territory. She was a homemaker and a member of Central Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernie D., in 1980. Survivors include a son, James C. Whitson of Lubbock; and a grandson, Mark Fitzgerald of Amarillo. Thelma Griffin Thelma Griffin, 75, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Sept. 17, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, Pioneer Chapel, 2615 Paramount Blvd., with the Rev. Judd Wilhite of Paramount Terrace Christian Church officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Griffin was born in Kennett, Mo., and moved to Amarillo in 1946. She retired as a cook for various nursing homes in Amarillo and the Amarillo Air Force Base. She married Amon Griffin in 1940 at Oklahoma. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1995 and by a daughter, Brenda Griffin, in 1969. Survivors include a daughter, Sharon Ray of Amarillo; two sisters, Pauline Knox of Santa Rosa, Calif., and Mary Lee Hodges of Anderson, Calif.; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. The family will be at 6802 Cloud Crest. They suggest memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. The Rev. G.F. Riggs The Rev. G.F. Riggs, 85, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Sept. 17, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, Bell Avenue Chapel, 5400 Bell St., with the Rev. David Bagwell and Dr. Jeff Bearden officiating. Entombment will be in Llano Cemetery. The Rev. Riggs was born in Alabama. Prior to moving to Amarillo in 1957, he was minister at churches in Oklahoma and California. In Amarillo, he was minister for the River Road and Immanuel Baptist churches. He was a member of San Jacinto Baptist Church. He married Margaret Riggs in 1983 at Iowa. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jewel, in 1982 and by a daughter, Violet Parks, in 1987. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Geneva Bagwell of Amarillo, Janice Hall of De Soto and Deneise Klause of Blanchard, Okla.; two sisters, Dorothy Hobbs of California and Tommie Fox of Decatur; 11 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and three great-greatgrandchildren. The family will be at 6412 Euston. They suggest memorials be the San Jacinto Baptist Church. Elsewhere Paul Carmickle LITTLEFIELD - Paul Carmickle, 82, died Wednesday, Sept. 16, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church of Littlefield with the Rev. Charles Broadhurst of Amarillo officiating. Burial will be in Littlefield Memorial Park by Hammons Funeral Home. Mr. Carmickle was born in Petersburg. He farmed in Bailey and Swisher Counties and worked for White's Automotive and Appliance Store in Amarillo. In 1951, he moved to Littlefield where he owned and operated the White's Automotive and Appliance store. In 1958, Mr. Carmickle became a real estate broker and helped to develop the Westwood and Crescent Park additions in Littlefield. He was active in acquiring the American Cotton Growers Denim Mill for the city. He was a member of the board of directors of SPAG and served on the Littlefield City Council for 12 years. He was mayor pro-tem for two terms. Mr. Carmickle served on the board of directors for Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and Littlefield Board of City Development for several years. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Littlefield Masonic Lodge No. 1161, Shriners and Littlefield Noon Lions Club. In 1977, he was named Littlefield Man of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce. He married Wilmith Day in 1939 at Plainview. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Paula Schroeder of Littlefield and Sandy Anderson Paul of Amarillo; two brothers, Lon Carmickle of Abernathy and Wayne Carmichael of Texarkana; three sisters, Beth Gaizauskas of Canyon Lake, Juanita Dent of Hale Center and Zelda Payne of Lubbock; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Parkinson Foundation or a favorite charity. Thomas C. Pogue AUSTIN - Thomas C. "Tommy" Pogue, 51, of Lago Vista, died Wednesday, Sept. 16, 1998. Private services will be held today with arrangements by Austin-Peel and Son Funeral Home of Austin. Mr. Pogue was born in Stamford and graduated from Amarillo High School. He received a degree in dental technology from TSTI. He was a professional musician for many years and was the owner / operator of Acculab of Lago Vista. Survivors include his wife, Martha; two children, Melodye and Zachary Pogue of Cleburne; his mother, Augusta Pogue Owens of Haskell; and his sister, Kay Fairbanks of Lubbock. Area Hazel Rodriguez DALHART - Hazel Rodriguez, 82, died Wednesday, Sept. 16, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall in Dalhart with Hass Funeral Home of Dalhart. Mrs. Rodriguez was born and raised in California. She was employed as a bookkeeper in Los Angeles before her marriage. She retired in California and moved to Dalhart in 1975. She was a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses and AARP. Her husband, Antonio Rodriquez, died in 1969. Survivors include a son, George A. Rodriguez of Dalhart; two daughters, Ruth Chambers and Jennie Middlestead of Italy, Texas; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Roy Perkins BOOKER - Roy Perkins, 87, a former Darrouzett resident, died Wednesday, Sept. 16, 1998. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Darrouzett Cemetery. Arrangements are by Good Samaritan Funeral Service of Booker. Mr. Perkins was born in Jimtown, Okla., and grew up in Leon, Okla. In 1942, he moved to Darrouzett, where he was employed as a truck driver by Darrouzett Co-op. After his retirement in 1965, he moved to Garden City, Kan. He was a member of the Church of Christ. He married Agnes Brig in 1933 at Leon. She died in 1974. Survivors include a son in Garden City. Dorothy Mae Chandler QUANAH - Dorothy Mae Chandler, 80, died Thursday, Sept. 17, 1998. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Goodlett Baptist Church with the Rev. John Spangler, minister of Trinity Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in the Goodlett Cemetery at Goodlett by PriceJackson Funeral Home. Mrs. Chandler was born in Oklahoma. She married Lelmer Chandler in 1935 in Oklahoma. They lived in Quanah for 38 years where she was a homemaker. She was a member of Goodlett Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1967 and by a son, David Melvin Chandler, in 1981. Survivors include four sons, Wayne Chandler, Carl Chandler, Randy Chandler and Johnny Chandler; six daughters, Carol Perkins, Danna Egemo, Sue Covey, Doris Fisher, Jan Peek and Debra Arter; 31 grandchildren; and several great-greatgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Cancer Society. Jean Ormson BORGER - Jean Ormson, 75, died Thursday, Sept. 17, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Gregg Simmons, pastor, and the Rev. Ronald Rhoads, of Euless, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Brown's Funeral Home. Mrs. Ormson was born in Perryville, Ark., and had lived in Pampa 14 years, graduating from Pampa High School. She had lived in Borger 46 years. She was a member of First Baptist Church and Gideons of Borger Auxiliary. She had worked for Panhandle Bank and Trust for 18 years in bookkeeping, new accounts and as a teller. She also was a co-owner of Ormson Office Supply. She married Don Ormson in 1943 in Pampa. Survivors include her husband; a son, Dr. Kerry Ormson of Amarillo; a daughter, Judy Springfield of Irving; a brother, Julian C. Harrison of Dallas; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Gideons International, Box 5800, Borger, TX 79007. Willis Hayes Clark CLARENDON - Willis Hayes Clark, 66, died Thursday, Sept. 17, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Martin Baptist Church in Clarendon with the Rev. Bryan Knowles, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Citizens Cemetery by Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc. Mr. Clark was born in Goldthwaite and had been a resident of Lubbock for 25 years before moving to Clarendon 20 years ago. He was an officer for the Lubbock Police Department for 22 years and had owned and operated Clarks Restaurant for the past 22 years. Survivors include his mother, Estal Clark of Clarendon; a daughter, Reta Clark of Mansfield, Ohio; three sons, Jack Clark of Amarillo, Danny Clark of Arlington and Roger Clark of Lubbock; two sisters, Margaret Hughes of Clarendon and Minnie Turner of Amarillo; two brothers, Robbie Clark of Poolsville and Donny Clark of Tucumcari, N.M.; and six grandchildren. John H. Whipple DUMAS - John H. Whipple, 42, died Thursday, Sept. 17, 1998. Vigil will be at 7 p.m. Sunday in Morrison Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel. Funeral mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday in Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church with the Rev. Richard Scully of the church officiating. Burial will be in Northlawn Memorial Gardens. Mr. Whipple was born in New Orleans and was an Army veteran. In 1986, he moved to Dumas from Ama, La. He was supervisor of maintenance for Seaboard Packing in Guymon, Okla., and a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. He married Juanita Mercer in 1985 at Laredo. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Alice Ann Whipple, in 1986. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Michael Whipple of Tyler and Samuel Whipple of San Angelo; a daughter, Kari Nicole Whipple of the home; his parents, John and Mary Whipple of Ama; a brother, James N. Whipple of Ama; and two sisters, Lynell Whipple of Baton Rouge, La., and Nancy K. Garrido of Elizabeth Town, Ky. The family will be at 110 Country Club Terrace in Dumas. They suggest memorials be to the Ronald McDonald House, 1501 Streit, Amarillo, TX 79106. Hayes H. Waters HALE CENTER - Hayes H. Waters, 87, died Thursday, Sept. 17, 1998. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today Hale Center Cemetery with Silas Short, minister of O'Donnell Church of Christ, officiating. Arrangements are by Freeman-Abell Funeral Home of Hale Center. Mr. Waters was born in Weatherford. He served in the Army in Okinawa. A retired school teacher, he taught in Del Rio. He was the former and operator of the Dixie Dog in Childress and Hale Center. Survivors include three nephews, Bartow Riley of Childress, Dahl Waters of Sacramento, Calif., and Tom Waters of Little Rock, Ark.; and a niece, Ilene Young of Lubbock. C.H. Fallwell FRIONA - C.H. "Buck" Fallwell, 82, of Hot Springs, Ark., and formerly of Hereford, died Thursday, Sept. 17, 1998. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Fiona Cemetery in Friona with Bob Miller of Amarillo officiating. Arrangements are by Hot Springs Funeral Home with local arrangements by Blackwell-Ellis Funeral Home of Friona. Mr. Fallwell was born in Hereford and had lived in Hot Springs for four years. He was a retired farmer, cattleman and horse trainer. He was a World War II veteran. Survivors include his wife, Wanda; three daughters, Patty Coulter and Barbara Bennett, both of Amarillo, and Debbie Clifton of Carlsbad, N.M.; a stepdaughter, Jan Kerr of Hot Springs; a son, Dennis Fallwell of Tucumcari, N.M.; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Nathalie Morgan SPEARMAN - Nathalie Morgan, 75, died Friday, Sept. 18, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Highland Park Cemetery with the Rev. Leonard Forsythe, pastor of Bible Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mrs. Morgan was a native of Sulphur Springs and had been a Borger resident for 55 years. She moved to Spearman in 1983. Her first marriage was in 1939 to James Cole Younger who died in 1959. Her second marriage was to John Morgan in 1970. He died in 1993. Survivors include two sons, Doug Younger of Dallas and Jerry Younger of Spearman; a brother, Marshall Allsip of Dallas; a sister, Nancy Grim of Brenham; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Bennie Ferguson PLAINVIEW - Bennie Ferguson, 46, died Wednesday, Sept. 16, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Lemons Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with the Rev. James Pope, pastor of Colonial Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Ferguson was born in Olton. She grew up in Olton, Hereford and Halfway and attended Plainview schools. In 1975, she moved to Chicago and returned to Plainview in 1991. She was employed as a registered nurse in labor and delivery at St. Mary's Hospital. From 1992 until 1996, she was a nurses' manager for Methodist Hospital in Plainview. She married David Ferguson in 1969 at Plainview. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Tammie Cook of Plainview; two sons, Michael Ferguson of Tucker, Ark., and Robert Ferguson of Plainview; a sister, Bobbie Young of Plainview; and five grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Kidney Foundation or the Diabetes Foundation. Linnie L. Whitson BORGER - Linnie L. Whitson, 84, died Friday, Sept. 18, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Abundant Life Fellowship Church in Borger with the Rev. Norman Shuman officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of Beatitudes of Westlawn Memorial Park by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mrs. Whitson had been a Borger resident since 1945. She was a member of Abundant Life Fellowship Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Esker Wayne Whitson, in 1995. Survivors include two sons, Dalford Whitson of Borger and Wayne Whitson of San Antonio; three sisters, Vera Roden of Borger, Winnie Petty of Albuquerque, N.M., and Mildred Hatcher of Norman, Okla.; two grandchildren; and three greatgrandchildren. The family will be at 100 Avalon in Borger. Lucille Hesse DALHART - Lucille Hesse, 79, died Thursday, Sept. 17, 1998. A wake will be at 7 p.m. Sunday in Hass Funeral Home Chapel. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Dalhart with the Rev. Fernand Couture of the church officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Hesse was born in Fort Sumner, N.M., and graduated from Dalhart High School in 1936. She later went to beautician school and retired as owner of a beauty shop. She then moved to Amarillo where she was a volunteer for Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. She married Julius Hesse in 1940 at Clayton, N.M. Survivors include her son, Joe Hesse of San Antonio; her sister, Lena May of Carlsbad, N.M.; and a grandson. The family suggests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176. Alice Gordon Atchley GROOM - Alice Gordon Atchley, 86, died Friday, Sept. 18, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Groom Church of Christ. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery in Memphis by Lamb Funeral Home of McLean. Mrs. Atchley was born in Fannin County. She was a homemaker and member of the Groom Church of Christ. She married E.M. Atchley in 1936 at Estelline. He died in 1987. Survivors include a daughter, Shirley Burgin of Groom; a sister, Ella Mae Hunter of Memphis; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren1. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. Loy Mae Williams MULESHOE - Loy Mae "Tommie" Williams, 69, died Friday, Sept. 18, 1998. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. today in Muleshoe Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Bobby Burris of Texico Assembly of God and the Rev. Don Steadman of Fredricksburg officiating. Arrangements are by Ellis Funeral Home. Mrs. Williams was born in Springdale, Ark., and had been a resident of Muleshoe since 1944. She was a previous resident of Clovis, N.M. For 32 years, she was dispatcher and jailer for the Bailey County Sheriff's Office. She was a member of a United Pentecostal Church. She married Forist Williams in 1944 at Muleshoe. He died in 1996. Survivors include a daughter, Judy Milburn of Fredricksburg; two sisters, Ora Howes of Odessa and Geneva Smith of Lubbock; three brothers, Bud Cook of Clovis, Bill Cook of Kilgore and Joe Cook of Paducah; and a granddaughter. Maria Garcia Escamilla HEREFORD - Maria Garcia Escamilla, 45, died Thursday, Sept. 17, 1998. Rosary will be said at 4 p.m. Sunday in Brooks Funeral Directors Chapel in Canyon. Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Ann's Catholic Church in Canyon with the Rev. Domingo, pastor of San Jose Catholic Church of Hereford, officiating. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery. Mrs. Escamilla was born in Crystal City. She graduated from high school in Michigan and moved to Hereford in 1972. She was a member of San Jose Catholic Church, president and historian of the Pioneer Study Club and member of the Day Lily Club. She was the first Hispanic woman to become a member of the General Federation of Women, Top of Texas District. Mrs. Escamilla was an active volunteer for the community of Hereford where she maintained a garden center for the city. She received several awards for her cross stitching, including the Judge's Choice and first place. She married Juan Escamilla in 1975 at Clovis, N.M. She is survived by her husband and a brother, Jose Torres of Detroit.