Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 27 August 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, August 27, 1998, 7:57 AM Amarillo James Griffith Finley Jr. James Griffith Finley Jr., 73, a former resident of the Amarillo and Wellington areas, died Monday, Aug. 24, 1998, at Houston. Cremation was by Family Mortuary in Houston. Memorial services will be at a later date. Mr. Finley was born in Wellington. He was a veteran of World War II and served as one of the original Navy SEALS. He attended Amarillo College, Texas Tech University in Lubbock and was a student of Theology at Hardin-Simmons University at Abilene. He had worked for the Pentagon as supervisor of the labor department, retiring in the early 1970s as a GS16. He spent many years traveling America as a goldsmith and collector of precious gemstones. After retiring, he lived on the sea as skipper of the Illogical I and Illogical II. He was a Mason and a member of MENSA. His wife, Imogene, preceded him in death. Survivors include two daughters, Kimberley K. Morin of Turners Falls, Mass., and Heidi L. Burns of Bradenton, Fla.; two sons, James Griffith Finley III of McAllen and John M. Finley of Dallas; three sisters, Lotty Souther and Betty Finley McCue, both of Amarillo, and Loura Finley Briggs of Lubbock; and 11 grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the MD Anderson Cancer Clinic in Houston in his name. Arthur W. Pontuti Arthur W. Pontuti, 59, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Aug. 25, 1998. A vigil service will be at 7 p.m. today at Schooler Funeral Home, Brentwood Chapel, 4100 S. Georgia. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Joseph's Catholic Church with the Rev. Joseph Bixenman, celebrant, and Monsignor Harold Waldow, homilist, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Pontuti was born in Youngstown, Ohio, and had moved to Amarillo nine years ago. He was a world class drum major and twirler for the Veterans of Foreign Wars band and for Gerard High School. He was a veteran of the Army. He was employed as financial clerk by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Amarillo, Pampa, Dumas and Lubbock. Survivors include three sons, Chester N. Pontuti of Oklahoma, Rocco A. Pontuti of Watauga and Anthony Pontuti of Frazier Park, Calif.; and his father, Rocco Antonio Pontuti Sr. of Watauga. The family requests memorials be to the Diocese of Amarillo. Maria Erlinda Garza Guzman Maria Erlinda Garza Guzman, 78, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Aug. 25, 1998. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. Alvino Alvarez, associate pastor of Christian Life Fellowship, officiating. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St. Mrs. Guzman was born in San Benito. She moved to Amarillo 40 years ago from Crosbyton. She was a homemaker and a member of Christian Life Fellowship. She was preceded in death by her husband, Epifano Guzman, in 1994, a daughter, Josephine Moreno, in 1995 and a son, Epifano Guzman Jr., in 1984. Survivors include five daughters, Lupe Corales of Phoenix, and Irene Chavez, Juanita Guzman, Augustina Guzman and Julia Guzman, all of Amarillo; four sons, Ramon Guzman, Ernest Guzman, Patricio Guzman and Victor Guzman, all of Amarillo; two sisters; three brothers; 40 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren. The family will be at 1013 W. 16th. New Mexico George Henry Anderson QUESTA, N.M. - George Henry Anderson, 78, died Wednesday, Aug. 26, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church of Questa. Burial will follow in Pueblito Cemetery by Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home of Taos. Mr. Anderson was a veteran of World War II and retired from the Moly Mine. He was a member of First Baptist Church and the Taos Masonic Lodge. Survivors include his wife, Marveene Speegle; his children, George Michael Anderson of Questa, Connie Shields of Clayton, Sherry Redding of Odessa and Dennis Anderson of Lubbock; a brother, B.J. Anderson of Abilene; two sisters, Eunice Brantley of Seminole and Pearl Iles of Big Spring; six grandchildren; and five great-granddaughters. Visitation will be Friday at Rivera Chapel. Andres Estrada CLOVIS, N.M. - Andres Estrada, 56, died Tuesday, Aug. 25, 1998. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today in The Chapel at 1500 Thornton. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in The Chapel. Burial will be in Mission Garden of Memories by Muffley Funeral Home. Mr. Estrada was born in Mexico. In 1980, he moved to Clovis where he was employed for 10 years as a cement finisher for Anderson Building Co. He was Catholic. He married Ida Maestas in 1981 at Clovis. Survivors include his wife; five sons, Ralph Gutierrez, Daniel Aragon, James Aragon, Rick Maestas and Henry Martinez, all of Clovis; three daughters, Beth Lopez, Hope Aragon and Betty Martinez, all of Clovis; his father, Francisco Estrada of Juarez, Mexico; four brothers, Efren Estrada Sr. of Clovis and Ruben Estrada and Joel Estrada, both of Juarez, and Vicente Estrada of El Paso, Texas; a sister, Maria Del Refugio of Juarez; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Elsewhere Eloise Shoup ODESSA - Eloise Shoup died Sunday, Aug. 23, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors Chapel in Odessa with the Dr. Johnny Dickerson officiating. Burial will be at 4 p.m. Saturday in Highland Park Cemetery in Borger. Mrs. Shoup was born in Lyons, Neb., and enjoyed gardening. She married Frank Shoup in Marysville, Kan. She was preceded in death by her husband and a son, Frank Duane "Buddy" Shoup. Survivors include two sons, Gene Shoup of Odessa and Glenn Shoup of New Market, Tenn.; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and special friends, Lulu Sanchez and Leisa Demostone. The family suggests memorials be to Crescent Park Baptist Church benevolence fund. Area Juanda J. Brokob BORGER - Juanda J. Brokob, 75, died Tuesday, Aug. 25, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel with the Rev. B.R. Brummett, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church of Dumas, officiating. Burial will be in The Garden of Devotion at Westlawn Memorial Park. Mrs. Brokob was born in Ardmore, Okla., and had lived in the Borger/Phillips area since 1946. She was a homemaker and a member of St. John's Lutheran Church at Dumas. She married Alvin H. Brokob in 1945 at Gainesville. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Carla Blackman of Littlefield and Laura Bichler of Tomball; three sisters, Mary Shrun and Beverly Berryhill, both of Ardmore, and Sydney Layne of Niceville, Fla.; and four grandchildren. The family requests memorials in lieu of flowers be to St. John's Lutheran Church Building Fund, Dumas, TX 79029. Earl Ray Cox TULIA - Earl Ray Cox, 76, died Wednesday, Aug. 26, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Charles Davenport, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery with Masonic and military graveside services. Arrangements are by Wallace Funeral Home of Tulia. Mr. Cox was born and raised in Tulia where he graduated from high school in 1942. He served as a lieutenant in the Army Air Corps from 1942 until 1945 as a B-17 bombardier. He also was a German prisoner of war from 1944 until 1945. After the war, Mr. Cox returned to Tulia and graduated from Texas Tech University in 1955. He taught in public schools for 25 years, most of them in Tulia. For six years, he was Justice of the Peace for Swisher County until he retired in 1987. With his wife, he owned and operated the Double E Tree Farm. Mr. Cox was a member of First Baptist Church where he was a deacon. He was a member of American Ex-Prisoners of War, Lubbock Scottish Rite, Order of the Eastern Star No. 562, Plainview Commandery No. 053, Swisher County Retired School Personnel, District 16 and Texas Retired Teacher's Association, Texas Tech Ex-Students Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Swisher County Historical Society. He held an endowed membership in Masonic Lodge No. 733 and was in the Plainview Council No. 164 and Plainview Chapter No. 228. He married Edna Stallings in 1949 at Clovis, N.M. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Debbie Johnson of Tulia; a son, Ricky Dunn Cox of Denver City; his mother, Mabel May Cox of Burkburnett; five sisters, Romaine Flanagin of Austin, Marvelle Neuman of Canyon, Betty Brown of Burkburnett, Nina Englishbee of Wyoming and Kathleen Vaughn of Dallas; two brothers, Mark Cox of Paris and Ralph Cox of Austin; and four grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Masonic Lodge No. 733 of Tulia, First Baptist Church of Tulia or Crown of Texas Hospice of Amarillo. Wayne Dillard Breon FOLLETT - Wayne Dillard Breon, 78, died Wednesday, Aug. 26, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in First Baptist Church of Follett with the Rev. Clay Wells and the Rev. Floyd Thiessen officiating. Burial will be in Fairmont Cemetery by Seigler Funeral Home in Laverne, Okla. Mr. Breon was born in Beaver County, Okla. He moved to Follett in 1959 from Booker. He retired as manager of Hughes Oil Co. and attended First Baptist Church. He married Opal Kliewer in 1941. Survivors include his wife;; two sons, Larry Breon of Hondo and Merl Breon of Woodward, Okla.; a brother, Norval Breon of Laverne; and three grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to First Baptist Church or a favorite charity. Michael Shawn Bunton PAMPA - Michael Shawn Bunton, 27, of Mesa, Ariz., died Sunday, Aug. 23, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Bunker's Garden Chapel in Mesa. Additional services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Mary Ellen & Harvester Church of Christ in Pampa with Tim Walker, minister, and Jeff Dunn, associate minister, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Mr. Bunton was born in Plainview and raised in Clovis, N.M. He graduated from Clovis High School. For the past 10 years, he had been a resident of Mesa and had been employed as an assembler for a cable company. Survivors include his father, Leslie Bunton; his mother and stepfather, Angel and Eddie Davis; six sisters, Dorothy Fay Dunn, Beverly Rena Patton, Sonya Pearl Lewis, Neena Lujuana Bunton, Kelly Lee Bradley and Kerri LaShawn Davis; two brothers, Gerald Reginald Bunton and Leslie Dramane Bunton; and his grandmother, Gladys Pearl Fuller. Ettie Mae Jolly SHAMROCK - Ettie Mae "Mutt" Jolly, 79, died Tuesday, Aug. 25, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Church of Christ of Shamrock with Sid Smith, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Shamrock Cemetery by Wright Funeral Directors. Mrs. Jolly was born in Palo Pinto and moved to Wheeler County at the age of 18 months in a covered wagon. She lived in Shamrock and Twitty all of her life. She was a member of the Church of Christ in Shamrock. She married Clois Jolly in 1936 at Twitty. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1984 and by a son, Troy, in 1990. Survivors include a daughter, Becky Kelley of Fort Worth; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Youth Ministry at Church of Christ, American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.