Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 25 March 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, March 25, 1998, 6:25 AM Area Inez Johnson LOCKNEY - Inez Johnson, 85, died Monday, March 23, 1998. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. today in West College and Third Street Church of Christ with Frank Duckworth, minister, and Lynn Ray Smith, Mrs. Johnson's sonin-law and elder at West College and Third Street Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Lockney Cemetery by Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home. Mrs. Johnson was born in Garvin County, Okla., and attended school there. She moved to Lockney from Elmore City in 1947. She was a member of West College and Third Street Church of Christ. She married Lee Lazarath Johnson in 1927 at Pauls Valley, Okla. He died in 1981. She also was preceded in death by a son, Lyndall Edwin Johnson, in 1977. Survivors include a son, William Ray Johnson of Amarillo; a daughter, Wanda Smith of Lockney; two sisters, Pearl Dewberry and Venita Kennedy, both of Elmore City, Okla.; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Lockney Senior Citizens, 118 W. College St., Lockney, Texas 79241; or West College and Third Street Church of Christ, P.O. Box 217, Lockney, Texas 79241. Lola Mae Roach PAMPA - Lola Mae Roach, 85, died Monday, March 23, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with Bill Morrison, minister of the Wheeler Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mrs. Roach was born in Toronto, Kan., and had been a resident of Pampa most of her life. She graduated in 1929 from Trinidad High School at Trinidad, Colo. She attended Nebraska Westland College for one year before going to West Texas Teachers College, graduating in 1931 with a teaching degree. She was a past president and life master of the Pampa Duplicate Bridge Club. She also was a member of First Christian Church. She married Frank "Red" Roach in 1931 at Sayre, Okla. Survivors include two daughters, Debra Stubblefield and Dennie Haynes, both of Pampa; a brother, Victor Kiel of California; and four grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Hospice of the Panhandle, Box 2795, Pampa, Texas 79066-2795. Clarence Blevins QUAIL - Clarence Blevins, 98, of Amarillo, a former Quail resident, died Tuesday, March 24, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Quail Cemetery with Mike Robertson, grandson from Amarillo, officiating. Arrangements are by Adams Funeral Home in Wellington. Mr. Blevins was born in Eastland. He moved with his family to Quail in 1914. He moved to Amarillo in 1986 to be near family. Mr. Blevins farmed in Collingsworth County for more than 50 years. He was a Mason and had served on the Quail School Board and the Quail Cemetery Board. He was a member of the Church of Christ. He married Bertha E. Smith in 1917 at Quail. She died in 1973. He also was preceded in death by a son, C.E. Blevins, in 1929; and by a daughter, Roberta DeShong, in 1986. Survivors include a son, Marvin Blevins of Quail; six daughters, Morine Conner, Johnnie Halsey, Iris Connally and Bonnie Robertson, all of Amarillo, Mae Patterson of Hereford and Jo Ann Phillips of Altus, Okla.; two sisters, Emiline Coleman of Edmond, Okla., and Beatrice Hiett of Mesquite; 17 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-greatgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Quail Cemetery Association. Eva J. Bennett Buzzard PAMPA - Eva J. Bennett Buzzard, 69, died Tuesday, March 24, 1998. Services will be at 4 p.m. Friday in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with Dr. Jerry Lane of Pampa officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mrs. Buzzard was born in Decatur, Ala., and was raised in Wetumka, Okla. She lived in Phillips from 1946 to 1966, when she moved to Pampa. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and the Texas Panhandlers Camping Club. She married Bill E. Bennett in 1946 at Wetumka. He died in 1992. She married Mark A. Buzzard in 1995 at Yuma, Ariz. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Kathy Winborne of Pampa and Cindy Stokes of Amarillo; two stepdaughters, Jana Meyers of Pampa and Sheri Ray of Shallowater; two stepsons, Charles Buzzard of Pampa and Danny Buzzard of Austin; four sisters, Burnice Hatfield of Foxboro, Mass., Ledgel Lawyer of Borger, Colleen Watson of Wooster, Ohio, and Delores Dalton of Kerens; two brothers, Bobby Oldacre of Talala, Okla., and Wendel Oldacre of Wills Point; six grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. The family will be at 1700 Coffee. They request memorials be to Hospice of the Panhandle, Box 2795, Pampa, Texas 79066-2795. Birdene Huff HEREFORD - Birdene Huff, 77, died Monday, March 23, 1998. Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday in First United Methodist Church with Dr. Tom Fuller, pastor, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle, in Amarillo. Ms. Huff was born in Deaf Smith County and had been a longtime resident of Hereford. She was a graduate of West Texas State University. She retired as a bookkeeper for the Amarillo Federal Credit Union and the Hereford Federal Credit Union. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Hereford. Survivors include five sisters, Virginia Goddard of Sumner, Wash., Kathleen Thompson of Lubbock, Lola Faye Veazey and Gracey Cornelius, both of Hereford, and Rae Gonzalez of Lake Tanglewood. The body will not be available for viewing. The family requests memorials be to First United Methodist Church, 501 N. Main, Hereford, Texas 79045; or Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176-0001. Clifton Lee Peiffer BORGER - Clifton Lee Peiffer, 80, died Monday, March 23, 1998. Graveside services will be at 3:12 today in the Garden of Love at Westlawn Memorial Park with Richard Kasko, minister of the Church of Christ, officiating. Arrangements are by Garden Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mr. Peiffer was born in Neosho, Mo. He had been a Borger resident since 1939, moving from Oklahoma City. He was a field supervisor for Phillips Petroleum Co. He was a member of Johnson Park Church of Christ. Mr. Peiffer married Eloise Mae Brown in 1937 at Muskogee, Okla. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Arthur L. Peiffer of Missouri City and Lyle O. Peiffer of White Deer; a brother, Arthur E. Peiffer of Borger; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice. Elroy Kee PERRYTON - Elroy Kee, 68, died Tuesday, March 24, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Steve Ulrey and the Rev. Harrol Waterbury officiating. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Mr. Kee was born in New Castle. He had lived in the Perryton area since 1956, moving from Rule. He sold oil field supplies before retiring in 1995. He worked for 35 years at Harbison-Fischer Manufacturing Co. He was an oil painter, having studied art for 20 years under Dord Fitz. He held numerous offices in area arts foundations. He also served on the Perryton High School Art Board. Mr. Kee married Laquita Manuel in 1952 at Olney. He was a member of First United Methodist Church. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Lynn Ray Kee of Perryton and Alan Kee of Amarillo; a daughter, Melanie Robertson of Los Gatos, Calif.; three sisters, Jarene Cates and Faye Gross, both of Graham, and Tommie Brotherton of Memphis, Tenn.; and six grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Samaritan Counseling Center, 111 S.W. 4th, Perryton, Texas 79070; the Amarillo Area Arts Foundation; or a favorite charity. Paul P. Dorman CHILDRESS - Paul P. Dorman, 87, died Tuesday, March 24, 1998. Services will be at 4:30 p.m. today in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Johnny Robertson of the church officiating. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery by Johnson Funeral Home. Mr. Dorman was born in Van Zandt County. He graduated from Childress High School in 1927. He worked for the Fort Worth / Denver Railroad for 44 years before retiring. Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Inez Dorman; two sons, James Dorman of San Antonio and Gary Dorman of Fort Worth; a daughter, Paulette Martin of Childress; and eight grandchildren. O.L. Watson DUMAS - O.L. "Red" Watson, 85, died Tuesday, March 24, 1998. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in First United Methodist Church with Merrell Bibby, a family member, and the Rev. John Wagoner, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Northlawn Memorial Gardens by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mr. Watson was born in Quinlan and had been a Dumas resident for 54 years. He was a farmer and rancher. He was a member of First United Methodist Church. He married Marie Bibby in 1938 at Hugo, Okla. Survivors include his wife; a son, Billy Ray Watson of Dumas; a daughter, Sammie Jo Adams of Durant, Okla.; three sisters, Roxie Williams of Burleson, and Bertha Thompson and Claudia Frazier, both of Greenville; three half sisters, Bernice Adkinsson of Hot Springs, Ark., Jean Renshaw of Quinlan and Flossie Cannon of Dallas; a half brother, Bobby Watson of Quinlan; three grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family will be 21/2 miles west of Dumas. They request memorials be to a favorite charity. Amarillo Robert Steffens Robert "Bobby" Steffens, 48, of Amarillo, died Monday, March 23, 1998. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Holy Family Cemetery at Nazareth with the Rev. Jerry Stein officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home Inc., 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Steffens was born in Oklahoma City and had lived in Amarillo for eight years. He was an office machine technician. He was Catholic. He was preceded in death by a son, Michael Shane Steffens, in 1973. Survivors include three sons, Robert Edward Steffens III and Justin Joseph Lee Steffens, both of Dallas, and Heath Shane Steffens of Tulsa, Okla.; a sister, Mary Lou Venhaus of Friona; a brother, Tommy Jene Dykes of Louisiana; and a grandchild. Gilbert Herrera Gilbert Herrera, 49, of Amarillo, died Sunday, March 22, 1998. Rosary was recited at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street by Deacon Hector Gallegos. Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. today in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church by the Rev. Hector J. Madrigal. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Herrera was born in Amarillo and had been a lifelong Amarillo resident. He was a welder and mechanic for American Trailer and also for Utility Trailer of Amarillo. At the time of his death he was an installer for Water Filtration Inc. He was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Mr. Herrera married Lupe Ballin in 1967 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Cynthia Shaw of Amarillo; three sons, Gilbert Herrera Jr., Phillip Herrera and Israel Herrera, all of Amarillo; six sisters, Hortensia Herrera of Poteet, Yolanda Puentes and Ester Ballin, both of Amarillo, Lupe Rivera of San Antonio, Martha Herrera of Hawaii and Ophelia Guzman of Amarillo; a brother, Javier Herrera of Amarillo; and six grandchildren. The family will be at 1510 S. Houston St. Lillie M. Lober Lillie M. Lober, 79, of 4115 S. Hughes St., died Monday, March 23, 1998. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Memory Gardens Cemetery with the Rev. Jack Cox, retired Christian minister, officiating. Cremation was by Memory Gardens Crematory. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mrs. Lober was born in Indian Territory and later moved to Amarillo. She was a homemaker and a member of Washington Avenue Christian Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Lober, in 1995. Survivors include a son, John M. Mitchell of Amarillo; a daughter, Wilma J. Weidauer of Burkburnett; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family will be at 3503 Bryan. They request memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. The body will not be available for viewing. Charles A. France Charles A. France, 75, of Amarillo, died Monday, March 23, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Mulberry Cemetery at Sweetwater, Okla., with the Rev. Dr. Curtis O. Stockton, retired, officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Mr. France was born in Washington, Pa. He moved to Amarillo in 1957 from Stinnett. He was a building engineer for SPS before retiring. He was a veteran of the Air Force and a member of the Optimist Club. He was a Baptist. Mr. France married Mozelle Stewart in 1947 at Carlsbad, N.M. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Susan Michelle France, in 1958. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Nancy France of Amarillo; and a brother, Frank France of Winterville, Ohio. The family requests memorials be to the Amarillo Chapter of the American Heart Association. Nadine Hackler Nadine Hackler, 73, of Amarillo, died Monday, March 23, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with Chester O'Brien of First Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Hackler was born in Logan County, Okla. She moved from Oklahoma to Amarillo in 1953. She married Carl W. Hackler in 1969 at Potter County. She was a child-care provider for 18 years, and she worked for the Amarillo schools for three years. She was a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include her husband; a son, Dan Morgan of Amarillo; two brothers, Don Danner of Amarillo and Bud Danner of Kansas; two sisters, Lula Mae Grice of Dalhart and Betty Laverne Sledge of Oklahoma; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family will be at 1230 S. Fannin St. They request memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. The body will be available for viewing this morning. The family will receive visitors at the funeral home at 1 p.m. Thursday. New Mexico John A. Willis TUCUMCARI, N.M. - John A. Willis, 90, died Saturday, March 21, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Bob Miller, minister of Georgia Street Baptist Church, and the Rev. Keith McCrary, Baptist minister from San Antonio, officiating. Burial will be in Tucumcari Memorial Park Cemetery by Dunn Funeral Home. Mr. Willis was born in Arkadelphia, Ark., and had been a resident of Tucumcari since 1916. He was a member of First Baptist Church. For many years, he owned and operated a business where he rebuilt electrical motors. In 1964, he retired from Southern Pacific Railroad, where he was a union master machinist. He worked in the railroad roundhouse for many years. Mr. Willis was preceded in death by his wife, Pauline, in 1988. Survivors include a son, Carrol Willis of Tucumcari. The body will be available for viewing until service time. Oklahoma Jessie Irene Hudson LOGAN, Okla. - Jessie Irene Hudson, 81, died Monday, March 23, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in the Church of Christ at Beaver with Danny Thomas officiating. Burial will be in Sophia Cemetery at Elmwood by Clark Funeral Service of Beaver. Miss Hudson was born in Beaver County. She attended school and graduated from the eighth grade. After school, she began working on the farm and was a farmer for the rest of her life. She had been a member of the Baptist church for more than 30 years. Survivors include a brother, Don Hudson of Woodward; and three sisters, Geneive Hudson and Alice Hudson, both of Logan, and Wilma Knight of Torremolinos, Spain. Ernest John Schnoor KEYES, Okla. - Ernest John Schnoor, 71, died Monday, March 23, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in First Baptist Church in Elkhart, Kan., with the Rev. Dewey Harris officiating. Burial will be in Willowbar Cemetery by Cimarron Mortuary of Boise City. Mr. Schnoor was born in Fremont, Neb. When he was 16, he joined the Navy to fight in World War II. He was discharged after World War II and then rejoined to fight in the Korean War. During both wars, he served on the USS New Jersey. Mr. Schnoor continued to serve in the Naval Reserves for more than 30 years. After serving, he attended college and began working for the city of Torrance, Calif. He worked as an engineer for about 30 years. Survivors include a son, Larry Schnoor of Los Angeles; a brother, Clifford Schnoor of Harbor City, Calif.; a half sister, Helene Munson of Keyes; and two grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to First Baptist Church of Elkhart c/o Cimarron Mortuary. Elsewhere David Bruce Nelson FLOWER MOUND - David Bruce Nelson, 48, died Monday, March 23, 1998, in Farmers Branch. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Trietsch United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jim Ozier and the Rev. Joe Shafer officiating. Burial will be in Flower Mound Cemetery by Dalton & Son Funeral Home of Lewisville. Mr. Nelson was born in Phillips. He graduated in 1976 from West Texas State University, where he was a member of Alpha Chi, the National Honor Society, Epsilon Delta Pi and the honor society in computer science. He worked as a data security administrator at Andersen Consulting. He was a member of Trietsch United Methodist Church. Survivors include his wife; a son, Brian Nelson of Flower Mound; two brothers, Mike Nelson of Dallas and Jim McLain of Athens; and his parents, Lawrence and C.J. Nelson of Borger. The family requests memorials be to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 2929 Carlisle, Suite 230, Dallas, Texas 75204. Charles Vernon Coats ANTHONY, Kan. - Charles Vernon Coats, 82, died Monday, March 23, 1998. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Williams Funeral Home. Burial will be in Forest Park Cemetery. Mr. Coats was born in Grant County, Okla. He had been a longtime Anthony area resident. He retired as a school custodian. He married Lois Blundell in 1938 at Pond Creek, Okla. She died in 1994. He also was preceded in death by a daughter, Lois Marie Madsen. Survivors include two daughters, Virginia Downing of Wichita and Rita Carpenter of Amarillo; a sister, Veda Crow of Anthony; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Anthony EMTs or the Child Evangelism Fellowship. Friends may call at the funeral home today from 1 to 8 p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. W.L. Lewis ANDREWS - William Lester Lewis, 92, died Tuesday, March 24, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in McNett Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. H.A. Hanks, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Andrews Old Cemetery. Mr. Lewis was born in Sulphur Springs. He married Carrie M. Huddleston in 1937 at Lamesa. Mr. Lewis lived and farmed in Lamesa before moving to Andrews in 1952. He worked on drilling rigs for Phillips for three years. He then worked for Superior Welding in Andrews for 12 years and for Stewart Welding for four years. He also worked for Andrews High School as a janitor. He was a member, deacon and greeter at First Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Marvin Lewis of Amarillo, David Lewis of Andrews and Ralph Lewis of Odessa; a daughter, Genevieve Townsend of Crane; three sisters, Gurtha May Holcomb of Lamesa, Johnnie Doris Bird of Seagraves and Maudine Gray of Indio, Calif.; 10 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to First Baptist Church. Clarence Leffew SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Clarence "Judd" Leffew, 84, died Saturday, March 21, 1998. Services will be at 1 p.m. today in Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary Chapel with Dr. Charles Gibbs and the Elks Lodge officiating. Burial will be in Santa Maria Cemetery. Mr. Leffew was born in Enloe, Texas. He lived in Memphis, Texas, for most of his younger years. He was a musician. He and his brother had played guitar for Bob Wills. Mr. Leffew moved to California in 1940 and worked at Camp Cooke. He then worked in the oil fields. In 1952, he began working as a cowboy for Newhall Land & Cattle Co. on the Suey Ranch. He retired in 1973. He was a partner with his son Gary Leffew in a bull riding school. They had trained five world champions. Mr. Leffew was a member of the Elks Lodge and had served on the rodeo committee for 30 years. Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Dorothy Lefew of Nipomo; three sons, Gary Leffew of Nipomo, Dennis Leffew of Santa Maria and Norman Leffew of Guymon, Okla.; two brothers, R.C. Leffew of Nipomo and Bartel Leffew of Santa Maria; three sisters, Fay High and Omega Rich, both of Santa Maria, and Mildred Samuels of Coeur D'Alene, Idaho; nine grandchildren; and seven greatgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Parkinson's Support Group c/o Merg Emory, 3845 Hadley Way, Santa Maria, Calif., 93454.