Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 25 June 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; Thursday, June 25, 1998, 7:13 AM Amarillo Polly Lowrance Polly Lowrance, 79, died Tuesday, June 23, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Lynn Garrett officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mrs. Lowrance was a homemaker. She married Lee Roy Lowrance in 1934 at Afton. They moved to Amarillo in 1942. She was a member of First Baptist Church, the Senior Citizens Bridge Club, Senior Citizens Quilting Club and was a charter member of the High Plains Promenaders. Survivors include her husband; two sons, John Lowrance and Garre D. Lowrance, both of Amarillo; a brother, Maxie Allen of Amarillo; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to First Baptist Church Family Life Center. Kenneth James Malone Kenneth James Malone, 19, of Amarillo, died Friday, June 19, 1998. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Martin Road. Chapel, 1505 Martin Road., with the Rev. Mike Huntington of Changing Life Ministries, Inc., officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Silverton Cemetery in Silverton. Mr. Malone was born in Omaha, Neb. He moved to Amarillo 13 years ago from California. He was employed by Browning Trucking. Survivors include his parents, Caren Thornton of Amarillo and Kenneth Carl Malone of Agimont, Belgium; a sister, Connie Malone of Amarillo; his grandparents, Jerry and Arlene Malone and Novie McCain, all of Amarillo. The family will be at 1912 N. Nelson. Betty Aaron Betty Aaron, 64, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, June 23, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Memorial Park Funeral Home, Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with Carroll Aaron officiating. Entombment will be in Mausoleum East at Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Aaron was born in Tingle, N.M. She moved to Amarillo in 1987 and was a homemaker. She married Frank Aaron in 1953 at Portales, N.M. Survivors include her husband of Portales; four sons, Thomas Aaron, Steven Aaron, Bill Aaron and Adam Aaron, all of Amarillo; two daughters, Mona Dotson of Kamiah, Idaho, and Kimberly White of Madisonville, Ken.; a brother, John C. Moore of Albuquerque, N.M.; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Olimpia P. Chavez Olimpia P. Chavez, 87, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, June 23, 1998. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. today in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce St. Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with the Rev. Hector J. Madrigal of the church officiating. Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in San Fernando Cemetery No. 2 Mausoleum in San Antonio. Mrs. Chavez was born in Jalisco, Mexico, and had lived in Amarillo since 1953. She was a homemaker and a Catholic. She was preceded in death by her husband, Felix L. Chavez, in 1995 and by two daughters, Lucy Quezada in 1993 and Trini Preciado in 1966. Survivors include three daughters, Sinfo Lopez of Amarillo, Alberta Trevino of Canyon and Mary Tenorio of Lubbock; six sons, Cande Chavez of Borger, Jimmy Chavez of San Antonio, Esibel Chavez of Lubbock, Felix Chavez Jr., and Domingo Chavez, both of Amarillo, and Freddie Chavez of Durango, Colo.; a sister, Consuelo Perez of Mount Clemens, Mich.; 40 grandchildren; and 55 great-grandchildren. Lakie Ida Wilson Countiss Lakie Ida Wilson Countiss, 83, of Amarillo, died Sunday, June 21, 1998. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Countiss family plot in Fairview Cemetery. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Countiss was born in Reeves County, moved to Midland in 1927 and then to Amarillo in 1994. With her husband, she was a charter member of Asbury United Methodist Church of Midland where she taught Sunday school classes for more than 50 years. She taught the daily devotional at the Clairmont Retirement Center for the past 41/2 years. She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Floyd C. Countiss, in 1990. Survivors include her children, Richard N. Countiss of Houston, Sandra Sue Nielson of Carlsbad, N.M., and William F. Countiss of Amarillo; three sisters, Belle Ray of Marble Falls, Flora Pyle of Midland and Ethel Howell of Arlington; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to St. Paul United Methodist Church Organ Fund, 4317 W. Interstate 40, Amarillo, Texas, 79106-4749. Eugene Hilburn Eugene Hilburn, 72, died Monday, June 22, 1998. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. today in Colonial Funeral Chapel, 1010 W. Ninth, with the Rev. Pat Hoffman officiating. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in San Jacinto United Methodist Church with the Rev. Bill Fitzgerald officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Survivors include three sons, Eugene Hilburn Jr. of Texas, Bill Hilburn of Amarillo and Felipe Hilburn of Lubbock; four daughters, Mary Wilken of Amarillo, Helen Martinez of Scott City, Kan., Mary Jane Pausha of Lake Dallas and Janie Ramirez of Odessa; two brothers, Lewis Hilburn of Amarillo and Dan Hilburn of Sioux City, Iowa; three sisters, Alice Jameson, Celia Olguin and Pauline Jimenez, all of Amarillo; 17 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. New Mexico Velma Grimes CLOVIS, N.M. - Velma Grimes, 85, died Monday, June 22, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel with Stacy McCasland officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Grimes was born in Bellview and had lived in Curry County all her life. She had been a member of the Kitchen Band for 15 years. She was a member of the 16th & Pile Church of Christ. She married Chancey Grimes in 1929 at Clovis. He died in 1993. Survivors include two sons, Wendell Grimes of Sulphur Springs and Wilbur Grimes of Duncan, Okla.; a daughter, Thelda Poor of Clovis; a brother, Arthur Smith of Riverside, Calif.; two sisters, Mozell Floyd of Clovis and Billie McAllister of San Angelo; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. Jessica Allen Locklear CLOVIS, N.M. - Jessica Allen Locklear, infant daughter of Marjorie and Stacy Locklear, died Monday, June 22, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Faith Christian Family Church with Pastor David Swann officiating. Burial will be in Lumbee Memorial Gardens at Pembroke, N.C. Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Jessica was born in Clovis. Survivors include her parents; two sisters, her twin, Kyra Ann Locklear and Kayla Nanette Locklear; and grandparents, William and Lou Ann Cannon of Clovis, Stacy and Betty C. Locklear of Pembroke. Elva Lois Beevers CLOVIS, N.M. - Elva Lois Beevers, 82, died Tuesday, June 23, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. James Burke officiating. Burial will be in Beevers Cemetery at Forrest. Mrs. Beevers graduated from Forrest High School at Forrest in 1935. She graduated from St. Mary's School of Nursing at Roswell in 1967. She retired as an LPN from the old Clovis Memorial Hospital and later worked at Chapporal Nursing Center, now High Plains Nursing Center. She had been a resident of Retirement Ranch for the past six years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Guy Beevers, in 1982. Survivors include three children, Sandra Bates of Las Vegas, Dee Wade Beevers of Raton and Debra Beevers of Clovis; a sister, Fern Hass of Artesia; two brothers, Robert Hass and Marvin Hass, both of Clovis; seven grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. Mary Frances Fey MIDLAND - Mary Frances Fey, 94, a former Clovis resident, died Wednesday, June 24, 1998. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Friday in The Chapel, 1500 Thornton in Clovis. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Sacred Heart Catholic Church with the Rev. Carlos Chavez officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens with military honors by Cannon Air Force Base Honor Guard. Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home of Clovis. Mrs. Fey was born in Clinton, Ind. She was an Army veteran of World War II where she served as a first lieutenant registered nurse and anesthetist. She moved to Clovis in 1970 where she was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. In Midland, she was a member of Saint Stephen's Catholic Church. She married Lenville Fey in 1951 at Galesburg, Ill. He died in 1976. Survivors include three daughters, Nancy Prucha of Midland, Mary Hoover of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Carol Kilgore of Albuquerque, N.M.; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Elsewhere Ilia Ajulia Rogers EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Ilia Ajulia Rogers, 94, died Monday, June 22, 1998. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Melrose Cemetery at Melrose by Steed-Todd Funeral Home of Clovis, N.M. Mrs. Rogers was a school teacher and retired in both New Mexico and Colorado. She had lived in the Evansville area since 1977. She was preceded in death by her husband, George D. Rogers, in 1973 and by a son, Robert T. Rogers. Survivors include a son, George Rogers Jr. of Newburg, Ind.; two sisters, Edna Bell of Clovis and Marie Fleming of Lubbock, Texas; and two grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Cancer Society. Leroy Goodman FORT WORTH - Leroy Goodman, 55, died Monday, June 22, 1998. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Truevine Missionary Baptist Church. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery by Mount Olivet Funeral Home. Mr. Goodman was born in Wilton, Ark., and spent his early years in Childress. In 1972, he moved to Fort Worth. In 1976 he began working for the Fort Worth and Denver Railroad and retired in 1995. He was a member of Truevine Missionary Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Katherine; and his children, Timothy Alexander, Tony Alexander and Tremaine Alexander, all of Fort Worth, Jonathan Goodman of Amarillo, Tisha Hardy of St. Roberts, Mo., Donna Thompson of Waynesville, Mo., Alisa Phauls of St. Roberts, Mo., and Gwendolyn Nickerson of Canyon; and 13 grandchildren. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Reba Elizabeth Whitecotton ELKHART, Kan. - Reba Elizabeth Whitecotton, 88, died Wednesday, June 24, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Hillcrest Baptist Church in Elkhart. Burial will be in Elkhart Cemetery by Harrell Funeral Home. Mrs. Whitecotton was born in Bowie, Texas, and had been a resident of Elkhart since 1956. She retired from the Elkhart Telephone Co. She was a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church, Coterie Club, Federated Women's Clubs, Kansas Telephone Association, U.S. Telephone Association and Telephone Pioneers of America. She married William Curtis Whitecotton in 1924 at Jacksboro, Texas. He died in 1991. Survivors include a son, Charles Curtis Whitecotton of Whitesboro, Texas; two daughters, Helen Joyce Griggs of Wichita and Dian Boaldin of Elkhart; a brother, Elvin Garrett of Hobbs, N.M.; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Friends may call from 1 until 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. The family requests memorials be to Hillcrest Baptist Church, 1102 Morton, Elkhart, Kan., 67950. Ruth Eilene Sherman Trupp GREEN VALLEY, Ariz. - Ruth Eilene Sherman Trupp, 82, died Tuesday, June 23, 1998, in Amarillo. Services will be held at a later date in Arizona. Arrangements are by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Mrs. Trupp was born in Hastings, Neb., and was a graduate of Hastings Business College. She was a homemaker. She was a member of Desert Hills Lutheran Church and the New Comers Club of Green Valley. Survivors include her husband, Wilson John Trupp; a son, Gregory S. Trupp of Overland Park, Kan.; a daughter, Sharyne L. Trupp of Fremont, Calif.; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Desert Hills Lutheran Church, 2150 S. Camino Del Sol, Green Valley, Ariz., 85614; New Comers Club, Green Valley, Ariz.; or one's favorite charity. Oklahoma Wallace Dean Jones BOISE CITY, Okla. - Wallace Dean Jones, 62, died Tuesday, June 23, 1998. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in St. Paul's United Methodist Church with David George and Derek Cox officiating. Burial will be in Boise City Cemetery by Cimarron Mortuary of Boise City. Mr. Jones was born in Boise City where he attended schools. He graduated in 1955. He was employed at Star Lumber Co. for a number of years then, with his wife, started their own company, Custom Woodworking, in 1967. In 1983, Mr. Jones and his wife expanded the business to add arts and crafts, The Finishing Touch and Ice Cream Parlor. He was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church. He married Marvel Drake in 1957 at Clayton, N.M. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Mike Jones of Boise City, Jeff Jones of Charlotte, N.C., and Kyle Jones of Rhinelander, Wis.; three sisters, Darlene Cox and Jane Bauer, both of Guymon, and Linda Favors of Lewisville, Texas; and five grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Cimarron Home Health or a favorite charity. Memorials may be left in care of the mortuary. Isaac John Franklin Rosel HUGOTON, Kan. - Isaac John Franklin Rosel, 62, died Sunday, June 21, 1998, at Albuquerque, N.M. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Moscow Cemetery in Moscow, with the Rev. Richard Zimmerman of the First Methodist Church in Moscow officiating. Arrangements are by Roberts Brothers Funeral Home at Hooker, Okla. Mr. Rosel was born in Ulysses. He served for 14 years in the Navy. He was a member of the American Legion. Survivors include a son, Harold Clayton Rosel of Hugoton; two daughters, Valerie Rowan of Ingalls and Thea Schnittker of Hugoton; his father and stepmother, Harold and Verla Rosel of Hugoton; a sister, LaVonne Tebay of Malvern, Pa.; and five grandchildren. Area Bud Hammonds PERRYTON - Bud Hammonds, 60, died Monday, June 22, 1998. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in First Christian Church with Scott Hendricks and Claude Pearson officiating. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. Friday in Wilbarger Memorial Park Cemetery at Vernon. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Perryton. Mr. Hammonds was born in Crosbyton and had lived in the Perryton area since 1966. He had worked at Unocal Oil for 13 years as a pumper, retiring in 1988. He also had worked for Jet Well Service. He was a member and served as a branch president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He married Beverly Ann Fleming in 1960 at Wichita Falls. Survivors include his wife; four sons, Buddy Hammonds of Jacksonville, Fla., and Dustyn Hammonds, Shane Hammonds and Cory Hammonds, all of Perryton; a daughter, Stormy Hammonds of Perryton; two sisters, Pat Jones of Brownwood and Lossie Breeden of Roseburg, Ore.; and seven grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Perryton or the American Heart Association c/o Pam Kite - OGH, 3101 Garrett Drive, Perryton, Texas 79070. Brian Thompson PLAINVIEW - Brian Thompson, 16, died Thursday, June 18, 1998, in Dodge City, Kan. Services were at 2 p.m. Tuesday in New Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church at Plainview with the Rev. Gregory D. Franklin Sr., pastor, officiating. Burial was in Plainview Memorial Park Cemetery by Golden Gate Mortuary, 1416 N. Hughes in Amarillo. Brian was born in Plainview. He attended school in Plainview until 1990, when he moved to Dodge City and attended Dodge City High School. Survivors include his mother and father, Sonya and Calvin Thompson of Dodge City; and three sisters, LaTisha Thompson, LaShaundra Thompson and Adrianne Thompson, all of Dodge City. Janet Bernice Turnbo PAMPA - Janet Bernice Turnbo, 93, died Tuesday, June 23, 1998, at Panhandle. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with the Rev. Loren Gardner, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Anson, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Mrs. Turnbo was born in Ringold and had lived in Pampa since 1932. She was employed by the Pampa Independent School District at Lamar Elementary School for 15 years. She was a charter member of St. Paul United Methodist Church. She married Yokley E. Turnbo in 1926 at Clovis, N.M. He died in 1989. Survivors include five sons, Nathan Turnbo and Harold Turnbo, both of Oklahoma City, Glen Turnbo of Wink, Jim Turnbo of San Antonio and Joe Turnbo of Chicago; three daughters, Wanda Johnson of Abilene, Betty Lou Marak of Pampa and Priscilla Norris of Lubbock; 18 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to St. Paul United Methodist Church, 511 N. Hobart, Pampa, Texas 79065; or St. Ann's Nursing Home, Box 1179, Panhandle, Texas 79068. The family will receive friends at 2346 Beech. Clifton Sams PANHANDLE - Clifton "Junior" Sams, 41, died Tuesday, June 23, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in First United Methodist Church of Panhandle with the Rev. Doug Harvey, pastor of First Christian Church, officiating. Burial will be in Panhandle Cemetery by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mr. Sams was born in Borger and was a longtime resident of Panhandle. He was a stillman for Phillips Petroleum Co. He was married to Christy Lain in 1977 at Panhandle. Survivors include his wife; a son, Aaron Sams of Canyon; a daughter, Alyson Sams of Panhandle; a brother, John Neely of Hedley; and a sister, Patricia Gray of Amarillo. The family will be at 1106 Charles in Panhandle. Virginia Clower PADUCAH - Virginia Clower, 98, of Gladewater, died Monday, June 22, 1998. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Garden of Memories Cemetery in Paducah with Rick Popejoy, minister of Paducah Church of Christ, officiating. Arrangements are by Seigler Funeral Home. Mrs. Clower was born in Camp Colorado. She was a former resident of Paducah and had lived in Gladewater for several years. She was a Church of Christ member. She married Jonathan Shelby Clower Jr. in 1918 at Roswell, N.M. He died in 1993. Survivors include three sons, Samuel Earl Clower of Sacramento, Calif., Jonathan Shelby Clower III of Cuero and Ervin Gafford Clower of Gladewater; three daughters, Virginia Beatrice Briggs of Mohave Valley, Ariz., Mary Anna Simmons of Needles, Calif., and Alice Katherine Gazaway of Fort Worth; 31 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; 17 greatgreat-grandchildren; and 18 great-greatgreat-grandchildren. Lillian Elizabeth Sterling PANHANDLE - Lillian Elizabeth Sterling died Wednesday, June 24, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday in Panhandle Cemetery followed by memorial services at 3 p.m. Friday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Les Hall, pastor, officiating. Arrangements are by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mrs. Sterling was born in Austin and had been a Panhandle resident for 51 years. She was a sales associate for Sears and a member of First United Methodist Church of Panhandle where she was in the choir and Sunday school. She was a member of Panhandle Country Club Ladies Golf Association and past officer of Atheneum Club. She was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil Lloyd Sterling, in 1990. Survivors include a son, Steve K. Sterling of Amarillo; a brother, Ralph Johnson of Warsaw, Mo.; and two grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice or to the First United Methodist Church of Panhandle. J.B. Walker PLAINVIEW - J.B. Walker, 79, died Tuesday, June 23, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. David Fletcher, minister from Jayton, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park Cemetery by Wood-Dunning Funeral Home. Mr. Walker was born in Jacksboro. He was in the construction industry until he moved to Plainview in 1956. He operated a grocery store in Finney until 1960 and retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 1977. He was a member of Belles'n Beaux and Promenaders square dance clubs. He married Gwendoline Armes in 1941. Survivors include his wife; a son, J.B. "Sonny" Walker Jr. of Plainview; two daughters, Lynda Tye of Kress and Gayle Graham of Cullman, Ala.; nine grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.