Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 20 May 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, May 20, 1998, 6:39 AM Amarillo Steve Michael Cox Sr. Steve Michael Cox Sr., 37, of Amarillo, died Saturday, May 16, 1998. Memorial services will be at 4 p.m. today in New Testament Christian Church with the Rev. Dan Post of the church officiating. Cremation was by Memory Gardens Crematory. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mr. Cox was born in Los Angeles and moved to Amarillo in 1994. He was a member of Trinity Church in California. He married Magie Trevizo in 1983 at Las Vegas. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Bernadette Cox, Brandi Cox and Britney Cox, all of Amarillo; a son, Steve Michael Cox Jr. of the home; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Norman Cox of Los Angeles; two sisters, Cynthia Davis of Amarillo and Margaret Loera of Los Angeles; and four half sisters, Barbara Duran, Regina Villa, Dolores Pareda and Yvonne Cox, all of Los Angeles. The body will not be available for viewing. The family will be at 4823 E. 28th Ave. after the service. Billy Joe Rhea Billy Joe Rhea, 58, of 1204 Heather, died Monday, May 18, 1998. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. today in Llano East Cemetery with Harvey Burum officiating. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St. Mr. Rhea was born in Siloam Springs, Ark. He moved to Amarillo in 1969 from Spearman. He owned and operated the Hamlet Texaco, the Fina Service Station on Washington Street and the Conoco stations at 34th Avenue and Georgia Street and Interstate 40 and Washington. Mr. Rhea married Linda K. Morris. Survivors include his wife; four sons, Chad Rhea, Cord Rhea, Mike Stewart and Timmy Stewart, all of Amarillo; two daughters, Charlynn Turner of Chillicothe, Ohio, and Sandy Stewart of Bonners Ferry, Idaho; his mother, Daisy Rhea of Spearman; a sister, Karen Sparks of Amarillo; a brother, Donnie Rhea of Dumas; and seven grandchildren. The family will be at 1204 Heather. They request memorials be to the Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center. Virginia Melendrez Virginia Melendrez, 67, of Amarillo, died Monday, May 18, 1998. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Martin Road Chapel, 1505 Martin Road. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday in St. Laurence Cathedral by the Rev. Patrick Hoffman of the church. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Melendrez was born in Piedras Negras, Mexico. She had lived in Amarillo for 20 years. She was a homemaker and a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. She married Reynaldo Melendrez in 1954 at Crystal City. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Raul Melendrez of Amarillo and Rey Melendrez Jr. of Gould, Okla.; three daughters, Andrea Stringer and Tonie Gallegos, both of Amarillo, and Rose Zapata of San Antonio; a brother, Rudy Ramos of Piedras Negras; three sisters, Teresa Ortega and Chila Galvan, both of Piedras Negras, and Francisca Contres of San Antonio; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family will be at 831 N. Vernon. Gerald DeVoy Gerald "Jerry" DeVoy, 58, of 1212 S. Russell, died Monday, May 18, 1998. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Rector Funeral Home Chapel, 2800 S. Osage St., with the Rev. Wendell Taylor, chaplain at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, officiating. Mr. DeVoy was born in Wyandotte, Mich. He moved to Amarillo in 1989 from Long Beach, Calif. He was a commercial electrician. He worked for Long Beach Naval Recreational Services for 71/2 years. He served in the Air Force for 101/2 years as a demolitions expert. He also worked as a nickel plater and solid waste worker in Lincoln, Neb. After moving to Amarillo, he worked in construction. Mr. DeVoy married Sally A. Gaines in 1979 at Long Beach. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Christy A. DeVoy of Amarillo; six brothers, Arthur DeVoy of Detroit, Bernard James DeVoy of Mesquite, Thomas DeVoy, Harold DeVoy and Robert DeVoy, all of Wyandotte, Mich., and Richard DeVoy of Taylor, Mich.; four sisters, Maryanne Doris, Evelyn DeVoy, Patricia DeVoy and Thelma DeVoy, all of Wyandotte; and 13 grandchildren. The family will be at 1212 S. Russell. The body will not be available for viewing. Mattie Effie Bailey Mattie Effie Bailey, 97, of Amarillo, died Saturday, May 16, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Heald United Methodist Church, near McLean, with Jay Roberson, pastor of Liberty Church of Amarillo, officiating. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery in McLean by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Bailey was born in Wheeler County. She lived in McLean for 40 years before moving to Amarillo in 1943. She was a member of the Sunshine Sunday School Class at Forest Hills United Methodist Church. She was a charter member of Heald United Methodist Church. Mrs. Bailey was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Bailey, in 1969; and by a daughter, Laverne Pugh, in 1979. Survivors include a son, Bobby Bailey of Amarillo; a daughter, Billye Ladd of Amarillo; seven grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; and 20 great-great-grandchildren. The family will be at 3207 Martin Road. Hattie Bohr Hattie Bohr, 99, of Amarillo, died Sunday, May 17, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street, with Harold Bohr and Steve P. Bohr, pastors, officiating. Graveside services will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery with Norman Zimmerman, pastor, and Ralph Harmon, elder of Olsen Park Seventh-day Adventist Church, officiating. Mrs. Bohr was born in Milwaukee, where she lived until 1954, when she moved to California. She lived in California until 1973. She lived in Chicago from 1973 to 1976 and then returned to California, living there until 1985. She then moved to Amarillo, where she had lived since. She was a member of Seventh-day Adventist Church in California, where she worked as a clerk for 17 years. Survivors include two sons, Harold Bohr of Amarillo and Vernon C. Bohr, M.D. Ph.D, of Pasadena, Calif.; and nine grandchildren. Arlene A. Gaylor Woods Arlene A. Gaylor Woods, 63, of Amarillo, died Sunday, May 17, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in San Jacinto Baptist Church with the Rev. Gordon Benson, associate pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Mrs. Woods was born in Hillsboro. She moved from Hillsboro to Amarillo in 1949. She graduated from Amarillo High School and received an associate degree in business from Amarillo College. She worked as a proof operator before retiring. She was an artist and a member of San Jacinto Baptist Church. She married Robert "Woody" Woods in 1979 at Amarillo. Survivors include her husband; a son, David M. Gaylor of Amarillo; a stepson, Dusky Woods of Stratford; two daughters, Pamela A. Rouse and Teresa A. Riley, both of Amarillo; a stepdaughter, Penny Farmer of Amarillo; two sisters, June Keenan and Joyce Baker, both of Amarillo; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. Frank Davis Frank Davis, 93, a former Amarillo resident, died Monday, May 18, 1998, in Plano. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. Thursday in Llano Cemetery. Local arrangements are by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mr. Davis was born in Andice. He attended Daniel Baker College at Brownwood on a baseball scholarship. After graduating, he began teaching at Florence, returning to his home town as teacher/principal to complete his teaching stint. He also was a teacher and coach in Williamson County for five years. After completing his teaching career he served with the Civilian Conservation Corps in Bastrop, educating youth and promoting public welfare. He and his wife, Tina Elizabeth "Beth" Sprayberry, moved from Williamson County to Amarillo in 1947. She died in 1991 during their 51st year together. During World War II, Mr. Davis served as field director for the American Red Cross. After coming to Amarillo, he was manager of the Potter County Red Cross chapter. A few years later, he was hired to direct public relations for the Panhandle Wholesalers Association and then combined that work with service to the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Davis was a founding member and the chairman of the Roundup Club as well as the creator of Amarillo's Holdup Program. He also was responsible for recruiting more than 100 chamber members a year for several years. That record was recognized when he was awarded an honorary lifetime membership. In 1964, he was elected a Potter County justice of the peace. Mr. Davis retired in 1970 from Panhandle Wholesalers Association. He worked temporarily as membership relations director for the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce. He also served as chairman of the Tourist and Convention Committee of the chamber. As a greeter of celebrities for the chamber, he came in contact with movie stars, sports figures and political dignataries. His early training for that role came as he helped campaign for President Lyndon B. Johnson early in Johnson's political career. Mr. Davis served on the board of directors for the March of Dimes and was active in Cub Scout work. He also coached Kids Inc. baseball and football. He was a longtime member of First Baptist Church and had taught classes there. Mr. Davis had lived in Plano for about a year. Survivors include two sons, Franklin Dalton Davis Jr. and Don Ryan Davis; and two grandsons. The family requests memorials in lieu of flowers or gifts be to the American Cancer Society or the Polycystic Kidney Research Foundation, 4901 Main St., Suite 200, Kansas City, Mo. 64112-2634. Area Jullian Ontiveros PAMPA - Jullian Ontiveros, 54, died Tuesday, May 19, 1998. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. today in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with the Rev. John Valdez, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, officiating. The body was cremated and will not be available for viewing. Mr. Ontiveros was born in Mexico. He moved to Perryton from McAllen in 1967. He was an oil-field rig operator. In 1969, he moved to Pampa and worked for Wagoner and Chase Oilfield companies. He was Catholic. He was preceded in death by a son, Pedro Ontiveros, in 1983. Survivors include his wife, Rosie; four sons, Jullian Ontiveros Jr. of Pampa, Jimmy Ontiveros of Amarillo, Javier Ontiveros of Corpus Christi and Joel Ontiveros of Mississippi; his parents, Hipolito Ontiveros Sr. of California and Estanislado Ontiveros of McAllen; five brothers, Antonio Ontiveros of McAllen, Ramon Ontiveros of Houston, Felip Ontiveros of Mission, and Hipolito Ontiveros Jr. and Pedro Ontiveros, both of California; four sisters, Eva Ontiveros of Houston, Senornia Wallace of Mission, and Herminia Ontiveros and San Juanita Ontiveros, both of McAllen; and 13 grandchildren. Annie Blount GRUVER - Annie "Fay" Blount, 80, died Monday, May 18, 1998. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday in the Church of Christ with James Kinnaird and Flavil Ayers officiating. Burial will be in Gruver Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Spearman. Mrs. Blount was born in Vineyard. She had lived in the Gruver area since 1946, moving from Fort Worth. She was a homemaker and a member of the Church of Christ. She married Odis R. Blount in 1944 at Fort Worth. He died in 1982. Survivors include six sons, Odis Blount and Robert Blount, both of Gruver, Alford Blount, John Blount and Bobby Blount, all of Amarillo, and Charley Blount of Haltom City; five daughters, Geneva Wheeler of Joshua, Eula McMahan of Shamrock, Cora Schuman of San Angelo, Joyce Helzer of Marion, Kan., and Francis Houghton of Julesburg, Colo.; a sister, Geneva Hooten of Mineral Wells; 24 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Pearl Prim Dake QUANAH - Pearl Prim Dake, 93, of Plano, a former Quanah resident, died Monday, May 18, 1998. Services will be at 1 p.m. today in Price-Jackson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Clinton Young, minister of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Quanah Memorial Park. Ms. Dake was born in Cullman, Ala. She lived in Quanah for 80 years. She was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include two daughters, Pat Metcalf of Plano and Ruth Nilmeier of San Mateo, Calif.; a sister, Grace Johnson of Fresno, Calif.; two granddaughters; two great-granddaughters; and a great-great-granddaughter. The family requests memorials be to Quanah Senior Citizen Center Inc., Rt. 2, Box 355, Quanah, Texas 79252. Myrtle Davis Bohanan SPEARMAN - Myrtle Davis Bohanan, 74, died Sunday, May 17, 1998. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Beverly Cook officiating. Burial will be in Hansford Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Mrs. Bohanan was born in Hooker, Okla. She had lived in the Spearman area since 1958, moving from Perryton and the Guymon, Okla., area. She married Glen Eldon Bohanan in 1949 at Clayton, N.M. Mrs. Bohanan was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Spearman, where she served as an elder, was president of the Presbyterian Women and was a member of the church board. She was founder and a charter member of the First Presbyterian Church Congregation. She was a member of the Hansford Hospital Auxiliary and a board member for the Texas Panhandle Mental Health Authority. She also was a homemaker and a league bowler. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Barbara Scroggs and Beverly Antalek, both of Spearman; a sister, Elsie Walters of Sebastian, Fla.; three brothers, Frank Davis of Portland, Ore., Richard Davis of Ozark, Mo., and Warren Davis of Keyes, Okla.; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to First Presbyterian Church, 1021 Cotter Drive, Spearman, Texas 79081; the Hansford Hospital Auxiliary, 707 S. Roland, Spearman, Texas 79081; or a favorite charity. Gene Cayton CLAUDE - Gene Cayton, 75, died Monday, May 18, 1998. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Claude Cemetery with the Rev. Larry Crumpton, pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle, in Amarillo. Mr. Cayton was born in Armstrong County. He was a farmer and a member of First United Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Zachry Cayton, in 1980. He married Nancye Jane Jones in 1981. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Gene Cayton Jr. of Amarillo, Keith Cayton of Phoenix and Neal Cayton of Billings, Mont.; and 12 grandchildren. The family will be at 5011 W. 53rd Ave. in Amarillo. Dorothea Richards HEREFORD - Dorothea Richards, 81, a former Hereford resident, died Tuesday, May 19, 1998, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Gililland-Watson Funeral Home Rose Chapel with Dr. Tom Fuller of First United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in West Park Cemetery. Mrs. Richards was born in White Deer. She moved from White Deer to Deaf Smith County in 1936. She lived in Hereford from 1936 to 1960, when she moved to DeFuniak Springs, Fla. She moved to Amarillo in 1989. She married William Adrian Richards in 1943 at Hereford. He preceded her in death. Mrs. Richards farmed with her husband in Deaf Smith County before moving to Florida. She received the Handicapped Businesswoman of the Year award in DeFuniak Springs. She was a homemaker and a member of United Methodist Church. Survivors include a brother, Aubyn Hodges of Amarillo; and two sisters, Jesslyn Williams of Amarillo and Jewel Johnson of Lubbock. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. Nona Heard DIMMITT - Nona Heard, 59, died Tuesday, May 19, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Howard Rhodes, pastor, officiating. The body was donated to the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center. Arrangements are by Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Home. Mrs. Heard was born in San Angelo. She had lived in Dimmitt since 1974, moving from Dodd. She worked as a manicurist. She was a member of First Baptist Church. She married Kenneth Heard in 1972 at Mexico. Survivors include four sons, James Heard of Lewisville, Ashley Heard of Nazareth, Donnie Heard of Littlefield and Emmett Heard of Dimmitt; three daughters, Delinda Flake of Amarillo, Cindy Waldon of Lewisville and Dina Heard of Plainview; a brother, James Cobb of Dimmitt; and 11 grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176-0001. Ronald Lynn Ward HEDLEY - Ronald Lynn Ward, 50, formerly of Hedley, died Sunday, May 17, 1998. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Bruce Howard, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Rowe Cemetery by Robertson Funeral Directors Inc. of Clarendon. Mr. Ward was born in Donley County. He was a resident of Hedley most of his life until moving to Moscow, Kan., 15 years ago. He had been employed for the past 15 years as manager of Sunbelt Feeders in Hugoton, Kan. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Hedley. Survivors include three sons, Chris Ward of Canyon, Jason Ward of Amarillo and T.J. Ward of Moscow; his parents, J.A. and Eunice Ward of Hedley; four sisters, Jean Fallin of Lubbock, Lorene McCrary of Amarillo, and Tonya Smith and Lawun Ward, both of Hedley; three brothers, Leon Ward of Hedley, Glenn Ward of Wellington and Rickey Ward of Memphis; and five grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the T.J. Ward College Fund c/o Community Bank, Clarendon, Texas 79226. Oklahoma Joan Francis Driver GUYMON, Okla. - Joan Francis Driver, 62, a former Texhoma resident, died Wednesday, May 13, 1998, in Los Angeles. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Texhoma Cemetery with the Rev. Mike Dumler of Texhoma First Christian Church officiating. Arrangements are by Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home. Ms. Driver grew up in Texhoma and graduated from Texhoma High School with the class of 1953. She attended Amarillo Business School. After completing her training, she worked as an executive secretary for the military until 1979. From 1979 until retiring in 1985, she was a secretary for Santa Fe Railway. In 1996, Ms. Driver moved to Los Angeles from Amarillo. She was a league bowler and a member of United Methodist Church. Survivors include a son, Gary Driver of Amarillo; a daughter, Charla Driver of Los Angeles; three brothers, Jim Smith of Colcord, Jerry Smith of Boise City and Don Smith of Lubbock, Texas; two sisters, Velma Barton of Canadian, Texas, and Carol Beck of Texhoma; and two grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation c/o Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1112, Guymon, Okla. 73942. Mark Cothrum GUYMON, Okla. - Mark Cothrum, 41, died Saturday, May 16, 1998. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Elmhurst Cemetery with the Rev. Dick Powell officiating. Arrangements are by Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home. Mr. Cothrum was born in Duncan. He grew up in Guymon and graduated from Guymon High School with the class of 1974. He was employed by Adams Hardfacing. He was a Navy veteran and a Methodist. Survivors include his father and stepmother, Cecil and Betty Cothrum of Midland, Texas. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity c/o Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1112, Guymon, Okla. 73942. Elsewhere Robert W. Hass HOUSTON - Robert W. Hass, 61, died Monday, May 18, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Hass Funeral Home Chapel at Dalhart with the Rev. Ray M. Guy, minister of First Christian Church, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery at Dalhart. Arrangements are by Hass Funeral Home Inc. of Dalhart. Mr. Hass was born in Clovis, N.M., and graduated in 1954 from Clovis High School. He also graduated from Eastern New Mexico University in 1958 with a degree in mathematics and education. He moved to Las Cruces, N.M., where he began working at White Sands Missile Range. He moved to Albuquerque, N.M., in 1967 and to Houston in 1976. In 1991, Mr. Hass retired from IBM after working for more than 30 years as a systems analyst. He was an Army veteran and a member of First Baptist Church. He married Helen Sporkin in 1987 at Lubbock. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Frank K. Hass of Albuquerque and Marvin C. Hass of Houston; a stepson, Jeffery Sporkin of Houston; a daughter, Teresa G. Hass of San Antonio; a stepdaughter, Allissa Sporkin of Austin; his father, Marvin Hass of Clovis; three brothers, Don F. Hass of Arlington, James E. Hass of Clayton, N.M., and Phillip D. Hass of Dalhart; three sisters, Betty Perry of Durango, Colo., Barbara Barraza of Arlington, Va., and Sara Kelly of Dalhart; six grandchildren; and a stepgrandchild. The family will be at 702 E. Seventh in Dalhart. They request memorials be to the Salvation Army. The Rev. J.D. Polk MIDLAND - The Rev. J.D. Polk, 87, died Sunday, May 17, 1998. Services will be at 1 p.m. today in Mount Rose Baptist Church with the Rev. William Palmer officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery by Jackie Warren Funeral Home. The Rev. Polk was born in Millican. He moved to Midland in 1937. He pastored several churches in various cities. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge. Survivors include his wife, Brunetta Polk; two sons, J.D. Polk Jr. of Denver and L.C. Polk of Midland; two daughters, Betty Burton of Denver and Nancy Oliver of Midland; three stepchildren, Oliver Lee Jr. of Amarillo, and Lavone Davis and Alva Tensley, both of Denver; two sisters, Bessie Lee Grayson of Amarillo and Berniece Hightower of Galveston; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Alice Cryer FORT WORTH - Alice Cryer, 87, died Monday, May 18, 1998. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday in Llano Cemetery in Amarillo. Arrangements are by Shannon North Funeral Chapel. Mrs. Cryer was born in Abilene. She was a homemaker. Survivors include a son, Jerry Don Cryer of Arizona; two sisters, Irene Kemp of Lumberton and Verlene Smith of Amarillo; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.