Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 26 July 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; Sunday, July 26, 1998, 9:03 AM Amarillo Lois Altherr Lois Altherr, 91, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, July 21, 1998. Graveside services will be held at 3:30 p.m. (PST) Monday at Ceres Memorial Cemetery in Ceres, Calif., with the Rev. Dell Kelley, retired Nazarene minister, officiating. Local arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Memorial Chapel, with Franklin-Downs, Ceres Chapel, in Ceres, Calif., also providing arrangements. Mrs. Altherr moved to Amarillo three years ago from El Paso. She also lived in Sante Fe, N.M., and for many years in Ceres, Calif. She was a homemaker and member of the Nazarene Church. She married George Edward Altherr in 1935 at Littleton, Colo. He preceded her in death in 1984. Survivors include one daughter, Marji Morton of Amarillo; three grandchildren; and one great grandchild. The body will not be available for viewing. Elsie Mae Russell Elsie Mae Russell, 83, of Amarillo, died Friday, July 24, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Colonial Funeral Home Chapel, 1010 W. Ninth. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Fairmont Cemetery in San Angelo. Mrs. Russell was born in Purdy, Okla. In 1929, she was the first telephone switchboard operator in Truscott. She was employed by General Telephone Co., for 43 years. She moved to Amarillo in 1982 from San Angelo. In San Angelo, Mrs. Russell was a member of the First United Methodist Church. She was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Amarillo. She married Jack Russell in 1934. He died in 1964. Survivors include a son, Rodney Russell of Amarillo; two sisters, Odelia Stephens of Amarillo and Ofelia Opperman of Lubbock; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Floy Henry Floy Henry, 76, of Dumas, died July 22, 1998. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in North Lawn Cemetery with rites by the Order of the Eastern Star. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home of Amarillo, 2800 S. Osage. Mrs. Henry was born in Chelsea, Okla., and moved to Dumas 25 years ago from Cactus. For 15 years, she was employed as a licensed vocational nurse by Dumas Memorial Hospital. She was a Methodist and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She married Buck Henry in 1948 at Vinita, Okla. He died in 1981. Survivors include two daughters, Vicki Fulford of Canyon and Deborah Arrant of Amarillo; a son, Lonnie Henry of San Diego; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family requests memorials be to Make-A-Wish of Amarillo, 2324 Lakeview Dr., Amarillo, Texas, 79109. Ross A. Thomas Sr. Ross A. Thomas Sr., 80, of Amarillo, died Thursday, July 23, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m Monday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle with the Rev. Claud Tugwell, retired Baptist minister, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Thomas was born in Oklahoma City and had been an Amarillo resident for 50 years. He retired as a guard for Pantex. He was preceded in death by his wife, Trudy, in 1994. Survivors include two sons, Wally Thomas of Big Sandy and Ross Thomas Jr., of Abilene; a daughter, Judy McClain of Amarillo; and seven grandchildren. The family will be at 6905 Club Meadows. They request memorials to the American Heart Association, 2404 W. Seventh, Amarillo, Texas, 79106; or to a favorite charity. Dominick L. DeSierra Dominick L. DeSierra, 84, of Amarillo, died Thursday, July 23, 1998. Services were at 1 p.m. Saturday in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, Bell Avenue Chapel, 5400 Bell St., with Monsignor Smyer of St. Mary's Catholic Church officiating. Burial was in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mr. DeSierra was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and moved to Amarillo in 1946. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He retired as a baker for Mead's Bakery. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1475, and a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus and American Legion. He married Irene Payton in 1946 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; a son, Larry Don DeSierra of Amarillo; two daughters, Loretta Jordon of Amarillo and Susan Levin of Memphis, Tenn.; and five grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Blessed Sacrament Church Building Fund, 2500 S. Bolton, Amarillo, Texas. Paul G. Dusek Paul G. Dusek, 44, of Amarillo, died Monday, July 20, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Llano East Cemetery with the Rev. Robert Field officiating. Military rites will be conducted by the Disabled American Veterans Chapter No. 26. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 N. Osage. Mr. Dusek was born in Kansas City, Kan. An Army veteran of the Vietnam War, he moved to Amarillo in 1980. He had worked for Pepsi Co. and as a printer. He was a Catholic. Survivors include a sister, Georgia Fore of Kansas City. Cathy Jean Snider Cathy Jean Murrell Snider, 45, of Amarillo, died Saturday, July 25, 1998. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in San Jacinto Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Stan Coffey, pastor, officiating. Private family committal under the direction of the Rev. Gordon Benson, single adults minister, will take place in Westlawn Cemetery preceding the memorial service. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Snider was born at Borger. An Amarillo resident since 1977, she worked as a medical lab technician at Baptist St. Anthony's Hospital. She was a member of San Jacinto Baptist Church. She married Garry Snider in 1971 at Fritch. Survivors include her husband; a son, Joshua Snider of the home; two brothers, Dennis Murrell and Donnie Murrell, both of Fritch; a sister, Delena Burks of Fritch; and a grandmother, Tola Trollinger of Hennessey, Okla. The family will be at 3306 Reeder. They request memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176-0001 or to a favorite charity. Canyon Lee Meadows CANYON - Lee Meadows, 91, of Canyon, died Saturday, July 25, 1998. Graveside services will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Dreamland Cemetery. Memorial services will follow at 7 p.m. in Canyon Hills Church of Christ with Don Lacy and G.B. Shelburne Jr. officiating. Arrangements are by Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon. Mr. Meadows was born in Tipton, Okla. Working in law enforcement, he lived in Littlefield until 1955 when he moved to Amarillo. He was employed as a maintenance engineer at Northwest Texas Hospital. In 1969 he retired, moving to Canyon in 1972. Mr. Meadows was a founding member of Canyon Hills Church of Christ, where he served as an elder for many years. He married Fay Allen in 1936 at Whitharral. He was preceded in death by a son, Brion Lee Meadows, in 1987. Survivors include his wife; a son, Ray Meadows of Diamond Head, Miss.; three daughters, Joan Tisdale of Amarillo, Yvonne Walton of Houston and Ava Lacy of Canyon; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Christian Relief Fund, 1501 W. 58th St., Amarillo, Texas 79110. New Mexico Ethel C. Wilkerson CLOVIS, N.M. - Ethel C. Wilkerson, 87, died Thursday, July 23, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Stan White officiating. Burial will be in Tucumcari Cemetery, Tucumcari, N.M. Mrs. Wilkerson was born in Ogden, Texas. She was raised in Swearingen, Texas, and had lived in Quay and Tucumcari before moving to Clovis in 1956. She was a member of Westbrook Baptist Church. Mrs. Wilkerson was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur E. Wilkerson, and by a son, William H. Wilkerson. Survivors include a son, Douglas Wilkerson of Aurora, Colo.; a sister, Rose Delaney of Clovis; a brother, Leslie Carter of Clovis; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Virla E. Sides CLOVIS, N.M. - Virla E. Sides, 94, died Saturday, July 25, 1998. Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Herbert Bergstrom officiating. Burial will be in Mission Garden of Memories. Mrs. Sides was born in Quinton, Okla., and attended Tuskahoma Indian Girls School before graduating from Clovis High School. She owned and managed rental property in Clovis. With her first husband, she started Bristow Grocery. After his death, she remarried, and she and her second husband later changed the grocery into a health food store. Mrs. Sides was a member of First Baptist Church, Order of Eastern Star - Keystone Chapter No. 27, and Past Matron's Club. She married Lawrence Bristow, who preceded her in death in 1942. In 1946 she married Don Sides. He died in 1974. Survivors include a son, Dan Bristow of Clovis; seven grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren and great-greatgrandchildren. Elsewhere J.C. Henderson MIDLAND - J.C. Henderson, 81, died Saturday, July 25, 1998. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Resthaven Memorial Park with the Rev. Steve Tims of Wilshire Park Baptist Church officiating. Arrangements are by Ellis Funeral Home. Mr. Henderson was born in Jean. A longtime Midland resident, he worked for Webb Davis Produce for 27 years and for Parks Produce for 10 years. He married Mary Jo McLear in 1938 in Eric, Okla. Survivors include his wife; a son, Pete Henderson of Midland; a daughter, Jan McBee of Dumas; a brother, Jim Henderson of Lebanon, Mo.; a sister, Waynie Fox of Arlington; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Road, Bethesda, Md. 20814. Area Vernon Gross LOCKNEY - Vernon Gross, 92, died Thursday, July 23, 1998. Services were at 1 p.m. Saturday in West College and Third Street Church of Christ in Lockney with Frank Duckworth, minister, officiating. Burial was in Lockney Cemetery by Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home in Lockney. Mr. Gross was born in Wise County and attended Roseland Schools. He moved to Lockney from Wise County. He was a member of the West College and Third Street Church of Christ. He was a farmer in the Lockney area for 50 years. He married Opal Faye Jones in 1934 at Tulia. She preceded him in death in 1990. Survivors include two sons, Tony Gross of Lockney and Ricky Gross of Fort Worth; and six grandchildren. Sara Diaz Martinez PLAINVIEW - Sara Diaz Martinez, 67, died Thursday, July 23, 1998. Services were at 2 p.m. Saturday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with the Rev. Gerardo J. Kenney officiating. Burial was in Plainview Cemetery by Lemons Funeral Home. Mrs. Martinez was born in Mertzen and moved to Plainview in 1948. She was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. She married Samuel Martinez in 1957 at Hale Center. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Diana Bergil and Hilda Martinez, both of Plainview; a son, Sammy Martinez of Lubbock; two brothers, Tomas Diaz of Corpus Christi and Arnulfo Diaz of San Angelo; two sisters, Ramona Diaz of Plainview and Egrepina Holgien of Brownfield; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Ludeen Wieberg GROOM - Ludeen Wieberg, 67, died Thursday, July 23, 1998. Vigil services will be at 7 p.m. today in Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Groom. Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church with the Rev. Neal Dee officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home Armstrong Chapel in Claude. Mrs. Wieberg was born in Amarillo and went to school in Grandview and Groom. She graduated from Groom High School and attended Draughon's Business School. Mrs. Wieberg was a homemaker and longtime member of the Christian Mothers' Altar Society. She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church of Groom. She married C.L. Wieberg in 1951 at Amarillo. Survivors include her husband; four sons, Nolan Wieberg of Lubbock, Nathan Wieberg of Groom, Neil Wieberg of Keller and Aaron Wieberg of Arlington; four daughters, Anita Irby of Claude, Marie Wilkins of Plano, Janelle Sustaire of Groom and Lenora Finck of Lubbock; a brother, Carey McAdams of Austin; two sisters, Doris Kuehler of Groom and Sue Smith of Lubbock; and 15 grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Groom Ambulance Service. Albert Ivy MEMPHIS - Albert Ivy, 76, died Friday, July 24, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Memphis Funeral Home Chapel with Tom Anderson officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Mr. Ivy was born in Montague County. He was employed as a carpenter for many years. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Edith, in 1994. Survivors include two daughters, Shirley Ann Ivy of Memphis and Linda Couch of Post; a brother, Donald Ivy of Liberty; two sisters, Jean Stinnett of Claremore, Okla., and Betty Ivy of Memphis; and two grandchildren. Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. today in the funeral home. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. Rachel Elsea HEREFORD - Rachel Elsea, 94, died Friday, July 24, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Springlake Cemetery in Springlake. Arrangements are by Parsons-Ellis Funeral Home of Earth. Mrs. Elsea was a native Texan who had been a longtime resident of Springlake. She was a member of Sunnyside Baptist Church and a homemaker. She moved to Hereford in 1991. She married John Louis Elsea in 1928 at Clay County. He died in 1930. Survivors include a daughter, Louise Alair of Springlake; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and two greatgreat-grandchildren. The family requests in lieu of flowers memorials be to Springlake Cemetery Association, Springlake, Texas, 79082. Viola Ellen Hoop PANHANDLE - Viola Ellen Hoop, 88, died Saturday, July 25, 1998. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Panhandle Cemetery with the Rev. Jim Perkins, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors of Panhandle. Miss Hoop was born in Roaring Springs and came to Panhandle with her family in 1918. The family lived in a dugout in the northeast part, where her mother home-schooled her. After her parents' death she lived for seven years in Garettsons Retirement Center. Since 1987 she had lived at St. Ann's Nursing Home. Survivors include a cousin, Irene Patterson of Blanchard, Okla. Andrew Jackson Roberts BORGER - Andrew Jackson "Jack" Roberts, 75, of Borger, died July 24, 1998. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Stinnett with the Rev. Ernie Williams officiating. Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Directors of Borger. Mr. Roberts was born in Longview. An Army veteran of World War II, he had lived in Borger 63 years. He was a retired newspaper columnist. He was a member of First Christian Church. Mr. Roberts was preceded in death by a brother, Louis W. Roberts, in 1996, and by a sister, Jewel Wilson. Survivors include his wife, Patsy; three daughters, Cyndi Davenport of Borger, Debbie Hollar of Fritch and Jackque Roberts of Austin; a brother, Bob Roberts of Taylor; a sister, Marguerite Smith of Zachary, La.; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Dave R. Harville BORGER - Staff Sgt. Dave R. Harville, 29, of Alamogordo, N.M., a longtime Borger resident, died Thursday, July 23, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Fairlanes Baptist Church with the Rev. Don Hill and the Rev. Art McAninch officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Cemetery by Brown Funeral Directors. Mr. Harville was born in Clovis, N.M. At the time of his death he was serving with the Air Force in Alamogordo. He was a Baptist. Survivors include a son, Darrin Harville of Borger; a daughter, Kiersten Harville of Borger; two brothers, Ronnie Smith of Borger and Tony Landreth of Enid, Okla.; four sisters, Adella Owen of Wellston, Okla.; Lorena Phares of Oklahoma City; Saphronia Pyle of Borger and Tammy Bradley, of Deer Park; his parents, Lee and Carl Smith of Borger and Carrol Harville of Wellston; and his grandparents, Gazelle Lawrence of Borger, Herman Mitchell and Pauline Mitchell, both of Clovis. Felipe Quezada PLAINVIEW - Felipe Quezada, 27, died Thursday, July 23, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with the Rev. Gerardo J. Kenney officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park by Lemons Funeral Home. Mr. Quezada was born in Durango, Mexico, and moved to Plainview in 1991. He was employed by DCS Sanitation. He was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Survivors include his wife, Paula Ramirez; a son, Cesar Quezada of Plainview ; four brothers, Gerardo Quezada of Juarez, Mexico; and Alfredo Quezada, Manuel Quezada and Ruperto Quezada, all of Plainview; seven sisters, Paula Cervantes and Otilia Sanchez, both of Durango, Santa Mendoza, Tomasa Morales and Eva Salas, all of Plainview, Eduvijes Quezada and Felipa Quezada, both of Juarez; and a grandmother, Margarita Fernandez of Durango. Randy Sumner CANADIAN - Randy Sumner, 80, died Saturday, July 25, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the First Baptist Church in Canadian with the Rev. Jerry Golden, pastor, and the Rev. Harry Morris of Mount Vernon, Wash., officiating. Burial will be in Edith Ford Memorial Cemetery by Stickley-Hill Funeral Directors of Canadian. Mr. Sumner was born in Delia, Kan. He grew up in Topeka, where he graduated from high school. In 1937, he moved to Canadian to work for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. He was in signal maintenance until retirement in 1977. Mr. Sumner was a member of First Baptist Church in Canadian, where he taught a Sunday School class for more than 30 years. He married Charlotte Mae Welch in 1941 at Canadian. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Sharon Kay Sumner, in 1947. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Ronald Sumner of Edmond, Okla., and Dwight Sumner of Spearman; two daughters, Sandra Ermis of Edmond and Joan Sumner of Wichita Falls; two sisters, Irene Agnew and Alberta Stratton, both of Bakersfield, Calif.; 10 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. today and Monday. They request memorials be to the American Heart Association or the Diabetes Foundation.