Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 22 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; Tuesday, December 22, 1998, 7:07 AM Amarillo Paul E. Nagunst Paul E. Nagunst, 63, of Amarillo, died Friday, Dec. 18, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in Rector Funeral Home Chapel, 2800 S. Osage St., with the Rev. Jackie Findley, pastor of Christian Lighthouse Center, and Gary Ray, a friend, officiating. Mr. Nagunst was born in Humbolt, Neb. He moved to Amarillo 34 years ago from Council Bluffs, Iowa. He was an Army veteran and attended Christian Lighthouse Center. Survivors include two daughters, Cheryl Weatherman of Amarillo and Becky Fox of Caracas, Venezuela; a son, Kenny Nagunst of Amarillo; two sisters, Florence Rosenberger of Hastings, Mich., and Elsie Bell of Iola, Kan.; a brother, Floyd Nagunst of Phoenix, Ariz.; and five grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center or to a favorite charity. Hazel W. Crum Hazel W. Crum, 87, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Dec. 20, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors Pioneer Chapel, 2615 Paramount Blvd., with J. Alan Ford of Southwest Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Crum was born in Megenta. For 15 years, she was employed as a licensed vocational nurse. She was a member and past president of the association of LVNs. She was on the state council of LVNs. She married Roy Crum in 1957 at Amarillo. Survivors include her husband; a son, Charles Seymour of Amarillo; a sister, Eva Meyers of Tulia; three grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family will be at 1408 S.W. Eighth Ave. New Mexico Cliff Allan Elliott CLOVIS, N.M. - Cliff Allan Elliott, 28, died Friday, Dec. 18, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church with Dr. Tom Rush officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Mr. Elliott was born in San Antonio, Texas. In 1989, he graduated from Clovis High School with honors. He worked at Goldstar Dairy until moving to Phoenix in 1994. Mr. Elliott moved to Los Lunas from Phoenix in 1996. He worked at Creamland Dairy as a lab technician until the summer of 1998. He was a manager of Brandens Videos and Music at Los Lunas at the time of his death. Survivors include his parents, Cliff and Barbara Elliott of Clovis; a sister, Melody Hailey of Clovis; and grandparents, Daryle and Bobbie Stephens of Clovis. The family requests memorials be to First Baptist Church Building Fund. Yong Ye Gibbs CLOVIS, N.M. - Yong Ye "Kim" Gibbs, 64, died Saturday, Dec. 19, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Portales Cemetery in Portales with Kevin Copeland officiating. Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home of Clovis. Mrs. Gibbs was born in Tae Jong, Korea. She moved to Clovis in 1976 where she was employed for 20 years as a cook for the Orient Restaurant. She married Olen Charles Gibbs in 1974 at Colorado Springs, Colo. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Samantha Price of Fort Stewart, Ga.; and two grandchildren. Elsewhere Valta Marie Dick Belle Plaine, Kan. - Valta Marie Dick, 67, died Saturday, Dec. 19, 1998. Services were at 10 a.m. Monday in First Baptist Church of Belle Plaine with the Rev. Richard Dick officiating. Burial was in Belle Plaine Cemetery by HatfieldSmith Funeral Home of Belle Plaine. Mrs. Dick was born in Kerens, Texas. She was vice president of Panhandle Federal Credit Union. Survivors include her husband, Jack Dick; her mother, Mabel Lundy of Kerens; two sons, Don Ellison of Edgewood, Texas, and Jeff Dick of Kansas City, Mo.; two daughters, Carol Tolbert of Amarillo and Ms. Woolf of Belle Blaine; five brothers, Allen Lundy of Palmer, Texas, Willie Lundy of Trinidad, Texas, J.B. Lundy of Kerens, Jack Lundy of Harlingen, Texas, and Tom Lundy of Oxford; a sister, Ruth Lang of Weatherford, Texas; 13 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to SCCS Hospice. Allis Purvines Chapman MIDLAND - Allis Purvines Chapman, 92, died Sunday, Dec. 20, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in First United Methodist Church Glass Chapel with Rev. Molly Krueger officiating. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Park by Ellis Funeral Home of Midland. Mrs. Chapman was born in Carson County. In 1939, she moved from Wink to Midland where she lived for 59 years. She was a member of First United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school, the Midland Woman's Club, the Daughters of the American Revolution and Texas Society of Colonial Dames. She married W. Earl Chapman in 1925. He preceded her in death. Survivors include her children, Joan C. Griffin of Lubbock and W.E. Chapman Jr., of Post; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Square House Museum, Box 97, Panhandle, TX 79068. Maria C. Madera SAN MARCOS - Maria C. Madera, 80, died Sunday, Dec. 20, 1998. Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Pennington Memorial Chapel in San Marcos with Joe Garza, pastor, officiating. Mrs. Madera was born in Laredo and lived in Canyon before moving to San Marcos. Survivors include two sons, Johnny Esquivel of New Braunfels and Santos Esquivel Jr., of Amarillo; eight daughters, Maria Nelson and Debbie Garcia, both of Amarillo, Nina Leal of Dumas, Maria Davis of Borger, Linda Gallegos of Canyon, Diane Esquivel and Kelly Bocanegra, both of San Marcos, and Shirley Aguirre of Muleshoe; two brothers, Jose Rodriquez of Amarillo and Augustine Cumpian of Laredo; a sister, Fela Vega of Lubbock; 33 grandchildren; and 28 greatgrandchildren. Danna Sue Whitehouse SPRING - Danna Sue Whitehouse, 59, died Sunday, Dec. 20, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in Klein Memorial Park Chapel Mausoleum with the Rev. James McCillan officiating. Burial will follow in Klein Memorial Park. Mrs. Whitehouse was born in Amarillo and attended Texas Tech University. Survivors include her husband, Norman K. Whitehouse; a daughter, Dyana Berwin; a son, Robert F. Palmer; her mother, Ethel Sutton; two stepdaughters, Pamela and Amy Whitehouse; and a sister, Nancy Whitehead. Oklahoma Sherman Ward BOISE CITY, Okla. - Sherman Ward, 86, died Sunday, Dec. 20, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Cimarron Mortuary Chapel with David George officiating. Burial will be in Boise City Cemetery. Mr. Ward was born and raised near Okmulgee. As a teen-ager, he moved to Tulsa to work for his uncle. During World War II, Mr. Ward worked in the Douglas Aircraft Plant in California as foreman in the paint department. He attended Pasadena City College at the same time. After two years, he transferred to Tulsa and continued to work for Douglas Aircraft. Later, Mr. Ward worked for Pure Oil Co., who transferred him to Cimarron County for a three-month assignment. He stayed in the area and then was employed by Five States Chevrolet. He also was a farmer. In 1948, Mr. Ward joined St. Paul's Methodist Church where he served as a member of the administrative board, chairman of church property for 19 years and was on the Lay Witness Mission. He was one of the five original board of directors for Camp Billy Joe, serving from 1971 until 1992. He married Ellis Marie Adee in 1948 at Raton, N.M. Survivors include his wife and a sister, Hazel M. Sligar. The family suggests memorials be to Camp Billy Joe, which may be left in care of the mortuary. Area Vernon L. Walls PAMPA - Vernon L. Walls, 76, died Sunday, Dec. 20, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with the Rev. Barry Loving, associate pastor of First Christian Church, officiating. Masonic rites will be by Pampa Masonic Lodge 966 AF&AM. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mr. Walls was born in Bristow, Okla., and had lived in Pampa since 1949. A World War II veteran, he served in the Army from 1942 to 1946. In 1985, Mr. Walls retired after 40 years as a welding foreman for Cabot Corp. He was a member of the First Christian Church and the Pampa Masonic Lodge 966 AF&AM. He married Dorothy Elliott in 1949 at Pampa. He was preceded in death by a son, Kevin L. Walls, in 1995. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Beverly Julsonnet of Jackson Hole, Wyo.; a sister, Edith Bond of Stroud, Okla.; and two grandchildren. Ozzie Woods DUMAS - Ozzie Woods, 99, died Monday, Dec. 21, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Morrison Funeral Directors Chapel with the Rev. Roger Green, pastor of Bible Baptist Church of Sunray, officiating. Additional services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Johnson Funeral Home Chapel in Childress. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery. Mrs. Woods was born in Grayson County. A former longtime Childress resident, she had lived in Dumas since 1984. She was a homemaker and member of Calvary Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, F.E. Woods, in 1977 and by a son, Dale Woods, earlier this year. Survivors include J.L. Woods of Sunray; several grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. The family will be at 908 Ave. J in Sunray. They suggest memorials be to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, P.O. Box 1890, Amarillo, TX 79174. Gary S. Widener BORGER - Gary S. Widener, 42, of Commerce, died Thursday, Dec. 17, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m Wednesday in Brown Funeral Directors Chapel of the Fountains with Robert T. Kuhlman, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, officiating. Burial will be in Highland Park Cemetery. Mr. Widener was born in Borger and lived in Commerce for the past 10 years. A retired employee of IBM, he was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. Survivors include a son, Joseph Widener of Austin; two daughters, Jessica and Stephanie Widener, both of Austin; a brother, Truman Widener of Moore, Okla.; five sisters, Lila Richards of Dallas, Janice Langford and Celia Connelly, both of Amarillo, Diane Scroggins of Borger and Sharon Jones of St. Louis, Mo.; his mother, Ruth Widener of Borger; and a grandson. Mary Anita Hathaway FRITCH - Mary Anita Hathaway, 87, died Sunday, Dec. 20, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel in Borger with Bill Bailey of Monroe Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery in Pampa. Mrs. Hathaway was born in Brice. She moved to Borger in 1945 and to Fritch in 1972. She retired as a lab technician for Phillips Copolymer Plant and was a member of Monroe Church of Christ. She married Homer Hathaway in 1934. He died in 1949. Survivors include two sons, Harvey Hathaway and Harold Hathaway, both of Borger; three daughters, Arlene Siedenstrang of Akron, Ohio, Margory Farrell of Guymon, Okla., and Melba Jo Guthrie of Malvern, Ark.; two sisters, Leta Mae Gatlin of Mobeetie and Velma Carter of Lefors; 12 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. Viewing will be available at the funeral home. Avis Marie Ray WHITE DEER - Avis Marie Ray, 86, died Monday, Dec. 21, 1998. Services will be at 4 p.m. today in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel in Pampa with the Rev. John Collis, pastor of First Baptist Church of White Deer, officiating. Mrs. Ray was born in Oklahoma and lived in White Deer for 30 years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of White Deer. She married Marion Albert "Curley" Ray in 1921 at Hollis, Okla. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1990 and by a son, James Marion Ray, in 1960. Survivors include a daughter, Wanda Kaler of White Deer; two brothers, Thurman Mills of California and James Mills of Oklahoma; twin sisters, Faye Miller of Ponca City, Okla., and Maye Whaley of Oklahoma; four grandchildren; 11 greatgrandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Lela D. Douglas OLTON - Lela D. Douglas, 89, died Saturday, Dec. 19, 1998. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Olton Cemetery with Dean McNamara, chaplain of Family Hospice of the Plains in Plainview, officiating. Arrangements are by Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Home of Olton. Mrs. Douglas was born in Gilmer and moved to Olton in 1939 from Kerens. A homemaker, she was a member of First Baptist Church and was member and past president of Olton Order of Eastern Star. She married George Douglas in 1970 at Tummie. Survivors include her husband; and two sisters, Bobby Ruth Louis of Clarendon and Alene Goodall of Dayton, Ohio. Beatrice Thomas WELLINGTON - Beatrice Thomas, 76, died Monday, Dec. 21, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church with Kerry Hookstra, minister of First Christian Church of Erick, Okla., officiating. Burial will be in South Fairview Cemetery by Adams Funeral Home. Mrs. Thomas was born in Comanche County and moved to Quail in 1929 where she graduated from high school. She graduated from Northwest Texas Hospital School of Nursing. She worked as a registered nurse and owned nursing homes in Wellington and McLean for 25 years. Mrs. Thomas was a member of the 1954 Study Club, Hospital Auxiliary and was on the advisory board for RSVP. She was a member of First Christian Church. She married Trusten A. Thomas in 1944 at Laredo. He died in 1973. Survivors include two sons, Trusten A. Thomas Jr. of Wellington and Billy W. Thomas of McLean; a daughter, Patricia A. Barnett of Wellington; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to First Christian Church Building Fund. J.W. Buchanan SPEARMAN - J.W. "Buck" Buchanan, 90, of Dumas, died Sunday, Dec. 20, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home in Spearman. Burial will be in Hansford Cemetery. Mr. Buchanan was born in Indian Territory. In 1911, he moved to Hansford and then moved to Spearman. He graduated in 1929 from Spearman High School where he was senior class president. He then lived in Dumas for 43 years. From 1955 until 1980, Mr. Buchanan was executive director of North Plains Water District. He was a state representative in the legislature in 1959-60, 1961-62, 1981-82 and from 1983 until 1986. He was manager of the Spearman Chamber of Commerce from 1952 until 1955. In 1977, Mr. Buchanan was named Water Conservation Man of the Year. Other honors he received included Amarillo Chamber of Commerce Area Man of the Year in 1977, Dumas Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year in 1967, Texas County Agriculture Agents Association Man of the Year in 1973 and the Fort Worth Press Award for leadership in water conservation in 1977. He was president of the Texas Water Conservation Association in 1971 and 1973, of Dumas Chamber of Commerce in 1966 and of Water, Inc., in 1976 and 1977. Mr. Buchanan was a member of First United Methodist Church, past member of Hansford Lodge No. 1040 AF&AM and Amarillo Council No. 134 RS&M and longtime member of the Dumas Lions Club, which named him Oldtimer of the Year in 1997. He was awarded life memberships in numerous state and national organizations including the Dumas Chamber of Commerce in 1997. He married Millie Ferrin in 1940 at Dodge City, Kan. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Judy Ward of Houston; a son, John W. Buchanan Jr., of Missouri City; two brothers, J.B. Buchanan of Spearman and Paul Buchanan of Pampa; four sisters, Edna Bassel, Louise Vaught and Virginia Cates, all of Amarillo, and Helen Fisher of Spearman; and two grandchildren.