Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 23 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; Saturday, May 23, 1998, 6:22 AM Amarillo Bill W. Long Bill W. Long, 60, of Amarillo, died Thursday, May 21, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in BlackburnShaw Funeral Directors, Martin Road Chapel, 1505 Martin Road, with Pastor Travis F. Starnes of Northside United Pentecostal Church officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Long was born in Amarillo and had been a lifelong Amarillo resident. He was a retired concrete worker. He had been a member of the National Guard. He married his wife Darrelie in 1974 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; four daughters, Judy Palmer, Karen Dennis, Mary Mrosko and Crystal Green, all of Amarillo; two sons, Steve Long and Danny Long, both of Amarillo; his mother, Jeanette Long of Amarillo; two sisters, Christine Smart and Geraldine Clark, both of Amarillo; two brothers, Joe Long of Amarillo and Fred Long of Dallas; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family will be at 5215 Amarillo St. Jimmy Lee Elliott Jimmy Lee Elliott, 46, of Amarillo, died Friday, May 22, 1998. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. today in Rector Funeral Home Chapel, 2800 S. Osage St., with the Rev. Robert Field, pastor of Southeast Baptist Church, officiating. Mr. Elliott was born in Groom and raised in Clarendon. He attended Clarendon High School. He moved to Amarillo in 1983 from Earth. He married Deborah A. Mays in 1971 at Clarendon. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Buffy Kay Elliott of Amarillo; a son, Status Lee Elliott of Amarillo; his parents, George Clifton and Ruby Lee Elliott of Clarendon; three brothers, Clifton Elliott Jr. of Amarillo, and Thomas Eugene Elliott and Donnie Lee Elliott, both of Clarendon. The body will be not available for viewing. The family will be at 11720 Elk Road. Dr. P. Harlan Wilson Dr. P. Harlan Wilson, 70, of Amarillo, died Thursday, May 21, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Olsen Park Seventh-day Adventist Church. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home Inc., 4100 S. Georgia St. Dr. Wilson was born in Boulder, Colo., and attended schools in Campion and Greeley. He attended high school at Shelton Academy in Shelton, Neb. He attended Union College, then graduated from Southwestern Junior College and Madison College with a bachelor of science degree in medical technology. Dr. Wilson moved to Denver, where he was medical technologist at Porter Hospital and Swedish Hospital. He attended graduate school at the University of Colorado, then graduated from Kansas City College of Osteopathy in 1963. He interned at Fort Worth Osteopathic Hospital before opening his practice in 1964 in Amarillo. He retired from his office in 1994 and became medical director for the Crown of Texas Hospice. In 1995, Dr. Wilson received the Presidential Citation for Excellence from Southwestern Adventist College. He was chosen as 1998 Medical Director of the Year by the Texas / New Mexico Hospice Organization. He pioneered some of the early stop-smoking clinics in Amarillo. Dr. Wilson was a member of Sigma Sigma Phi honorary fraternity, a life member of American Osteopathic Association, and a member of Olsen Park Seventh-day Adventist Church where he served as an elder and health and temperance leader. He served on the board of directors at Southwestern Adventist University for many years. He married Jean Heinbaugh in 1949 at Ridgeview, S.D. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Donna Jean Wilson-Roper of Coral Springs, Fla., and Linda M. Wilson of Dallas; four sons, Paul E. Wilson of Glendale, Calif., Harlan Veronne Wilson of Pampa, Charles G. Wilson of Burleson and Ted N. Wilson of Amarillo; a sister, Norma Hall of Simi Valley, Calif.; a brother, Don Wilson of Arlington; and 16 grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Wilson Scholarship Fund, Southwestern Adventist University, Keene, Texas; or Crown of Texas Hospice. Rev. Clyde Gary Sides Rev. Clyde Gary Sides, 55, of Amarillo, died Thursday, May 21, 1998. Rosary services will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday in St. Theresa Catholic Church in Panhandle with Monsignor Monroe Matthiesen presiding. Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in St. Theresa Catholic Church with the Most Rev. John W. Yanta, Bishop of Amarillo, officiating, Bishop Leroy Matthiesen, Bishop Emeritus, and priests of the diocese as concelebrants, and Monsignor Harold Waldow as homilist. Burial will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday in Llano Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. The Rev. Sides was born and raised in San Antonio. He was ordained in Lubbock in 1973. He served at Our Lady of Grace in Lubbock, St. Joseph's in Stratford, Saints Peter and Paul in Dumas, Christ the King in Sunray, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Cactus, St. Vincent DePaul in Pampa and St. Theresa Catholic Church in Panhandle. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus where he was a Fourth Degree Knight. Survivors include his mother, Harriet Zimmerman of San Antonio; and two sisters, Shirley Patterson of Bulverde and Janis Ellison of Somerset. Viewing will begin at noon Monday in St. Theresa Catholic Church. The family requests memorials be to Seminary Burse Fund (for the education of Catholic priests of Amarillo), c/o Amarillo Diocese, 1800 N. Spring, P.O. Box 5644, Amarillo, Texas, 79117-5644. Arthur Dean Wyble Arthur Dean Wyble, 67, of Amarillo, died Thursday, May 21, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, Bell Avenue Chapel, 5400 Bell St., with the Rev. Richard Holloway of Paramount Terrace Christian Church officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Wyble was born in Amarillo. He was a veteran of the Navy. He was a selfemployed painting contractor and a Baptist. He married Loretta Spencer in 1990 at Amarillo. His first wife, Frankie, died in 1988. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Christopher Wyble and Gary Wyble, both of Amarillo, and Timothy Wyble of Canyon; a stepson, Mike Janzen of Amarillo; a stepdaughter, Zelda O'Neal of Amarillo; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. today, Sunday and Monday at the funeral home. The family request memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice. Thelma J. Lofgren Thelma J. Lofgren, 80, of Amarillo, died Thursday, May 21, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, Bell Avenue Chapel, 5400 Bell St., with Gill Hiltbrunner, pastor of Trinity Fellowship Church, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Lofgren was born in Amarillo. She was a homemaker and a former member of Lake Tanglewood Christian Church. She was a member of Order of Eastern Star and Ambucs. She married William Lofgren Sr. in 1937 at Amarillo. He preceded her in death. Survivors include two sons, William W. Lofgren Jr. of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Robert F. Lofgren of Borger; a daughter, Mary Boykin of Amarillo; a brother, Robert Meredith of Arlington; three sisters, Thalen Flake and Peggy Hamilton, both of Amarillo, and Billie Grace Price of Huntington Beach, Calif.; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Sunday and Monday at the funeral home. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Program. Oklahoma Petra Roots GUYMON, Okla. - Petra "Pat" Roots, 57, died Thursday, May 21, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Sunset Lane Baptist Church with the Rev. Donnie Lane, pastor of San Jacinto Community Church in Amarillo, and the Rev. Lloyd Riddles, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Elmhurst Cemetery by HensonNovak Funeral Directors. Mrs. Roots was born in Trinidad, Colo. She was raised in Trinidad and later moved to Las Vegas. She married James D. Roots in 1964 at Las Vegas. They moved to Texhoma and later made their home in Guymon. Mr. Roots died in 1993. She also was preceded in death by a son, Joseph Victor Roots, in 1977. Mrs. Roots was an associate for WalMart, where she worked in the snack bar. She was a member of Sunset Lane Baptist Church. Survivors include two sons, Boynton Roots of Seiling and Alex Maes of Pueblo, Colo.; and a granddaughter, Jolene Turtle of the home. New Mexico Ruby Selby CLOVIS, N.M. - Ruby Selby, 87, died Thursday, May 21, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Wheeler Mortuary Chapel of Portales with the Rev. Jack Ratliff and the Rev. Mark Rasnake officiating. Burial will be in the Portales Cemetery. Mrs. Selby was born in Robinson County, Texas, and moved to this area in 1924. She married William "Bill" Selby in 1954. After their marriage, they lived in California for a few years before returning to Clovis, where they owned and operated Bill's Rental Service. She attended Sandia Baptist Church in Clovis. Survivors include two sisters, Ruth Creighton of Portales and Florence Ducote of Dallas. Johnny Creighton PORTALES, N.M. - Johnny Creighton, 61, died Thursday, May 21, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Wheeler Mortuary Chapel with the Rev. Jack Ratliff and the Rev. Mark Rasnake officiating. Burial will be in the Portales Cemetery. Mr. Creighton was born in Portales. He graduated from high school in 1954 at Elida. After high school he attended barber college in Amarillo. He lived in Grants for several years where he owned a barber shop. In the early 1960s he received injuries in a private plane crash and returned to college to become a teacher. In 1973, he earned a bachelor's degree from Eastern New Mexico University and for the next 23 years taught history and geography. He retired from Portales Junior High School in 1996. He attended Elida Baptist Church. Survivors include his mother, Ruth Creighton; two brothers, Jack Creighton of Belen, N.M. and Gene Creighton of Elida. Leslie Messer Wilson CARLSBAD, N.M. - Leslie Messer Wilson, 20, a former Amarillo resident, died Friday, May 22, 1998. Services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday in Epworth United Methodist Church with the Rev. Barry Dickens and Steve Venable, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Shallowater, Texas, officiating. Burial will be at 11 a.m. (CDT) Monday in Bovina Cemetery, Bovina, Texas by Denton-Funchess Funeral Home of Carlsbad. Mrs. Wilson was born and raised in Amarillo until her freshman year of high school. She graduated from Carlsbad High School as an accelerated student with honors in 1995 and was active on the cross country team. She was a junior at Eastern New Mexico University and a member of Epworth United Methodist Church. She married Kody Wilson in 1997 at Carlsbad. Survivors include her husband; her parents, Billy and Angelia Messer of Carlsbad; a brother, Joshua R. Messer of Carlsbad; and her grandparents, Ray G. Messer and Jesse and JoAnn Bates, all of Levelland. The family requests memorials be to Family Hospice, 1031 N. Thomas St., Carlsbad, N.M., 88220; or Cancer Research, c/o Billy R. Messer, 6028 S. Tidwell Road, Carlsbad, N.M., 88220. Viewing will be from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home in Carlsbad and from 9 until 10 a.m. (CDT) Monday in First United Methodist Church in Bovina. Elsewhere Thomas Brown FREDERICKSBURG - Thomas Brown, 72, died Thursday, May 21, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in United Methodist Church with the Rev. Bruce Bowman officiating. Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery by Schaetter Funeral Home. Mr. Brown was born in Springfield. He was involved in the automobile business in Amarillo. He was a Navy veteran. Mr. Survivors include his wife, Marcia; children, J.E. Brown of Arlington, Sue Taylor of Edmond, Okla., Ted Brown of Houston, James Brown of Pittsburg, Pa., and Christina Camden of Lubbock; a sister, Mary Brown Brittain of Amarillo; and 10 grandchildren. The body will be available for viewing from 10 a.m. to service time today at the church. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. Donald Joseph Elwell Sr. WICHITA FALLS - Donald Joseph Elwell Sr., 74, died Thursday, May 21, 1998. Services will be at 10:30 today in Tenth and Broad Church of Christ with Larry Suttle, minister, officiating. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. in Lockney Cemetery in Lockney by Hampton Vaughn Crestview Chapel in Wichita Falls. Mr. Elwell was born in Absaraka, N.D. He was a retired lieutenant colonel of the Army and a World War II veteran with the 36th Infantry. He retired from the civil service as an aircraft mechanic. He moved to Wichita Falls in 1969. Mr. Elwell was a 32nd Degree Mason in San Jacinto Lodge No. 731 and past patron of the Order of the Eastern Star A.E. Shirley Chapter. He was a member of Tenth and Broad Church of Christ. He married Joyce Manon Childers in 1944 at Portales, N.M. Survivors include his wife and a son, Donald J. "Rusty" Elwell Jr. of Amarillo. The family request memorials be to Tenth and Broad Church of Christ Renovation Program. Area P.J. Morgan Jr. SHAMROCK - "P.J." Morgan Jr., 18, died Friday, May 22, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in the Bowers Cemetery. Arrangements are by Wright Funeral Directors. Mr. Morgan was born in Shamrock and attended Shamrock schools. He had been living in Austin for the past two years. Survivors include his father, Percy Morgan of Elkhart; his mother, Paula Adams of Shamrock; a brother, Tyron Harrison of Shamrock; and three sisters, Pamela Morgan, Cynthia Morgan and Alicia Morgan, all of Shamrock; grandmothers, Lilly Mae Morgan of Elkhart and Magree Woodards of Shamrock; and great-grandmothers, Idia Grear and Elzena Angton, both of Shamrock. Dorothy LaFever SUNRAY - Dorothy LaFever, 80, died Thursday, May 21, 1998. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. today in Sunray Baptist Church with the Rev. Philip Hilton, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Lane Memorial Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors of Dumas. Mrs. LaFever was born in Kaufman County and had lived in Sunray since 1945. She had been employed as a licensed vocational nurse at Dumas Nursing Center. She was a member of Sunray Baptist Church. She married William Jennings Byran LaFever in 1937 at Eldorado, Okla. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, LaVerne L. Silor of Amarillo and Sharon Gill of Sunray; two brothers, H.C. Blackman of Dallas and E.D. Blackman of Grapevine; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family will be at 112 W. Fourth in Sunray. They request memorials be to Sunray Baptist Church, P.O. Box 550, Sunray, Texas, 79086. Manuel Cruz Sr. PADUCAH - Manuel Cruz Sr., 75, died Thursday, May 21, 1998. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Sunday in St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church with the Rev. John Ohlig officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Memories by Seigler Funeral Home. Mr. Cruz was born in Yorktown and had been a Cottle County resident since 1969. He was a retired city of Paducah employee. He was Catholic. He married Marcelina Minor in 1942. He was preceded in death by a son, Johnny Cruz, in 1987. Survivors include his wife; six sons, Manuel Cruz Jr., Val Cruz, and Julian Cruz, all of Paducah, Lee Cruz of Mission, Ricky Cruz of Kyle and Johnny Ray Minor of Wichita Falls; four daughters, Dora Pompa of Kyle and Janie Canales, Geneva Ureste and Hope Hernandez, all of Paducah; 24 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.