Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 27 Jan 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; Tuesday, January 27, 1998, 6:53 AM Amarillo Carl J. Christian Carl J. Christian, 70, died Sunday, Jan. 25, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Osage Baptist Church with Danny Hodgkins, pastor, officiating. Graveside services will be at 3:30 p.m. in Dreamland Cemetery in Turkey by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mr. Christian was born in Turkey and moved to Amarillo in 1951. He retired after 37 years of employment as a switchman by Southwestern Bell. He was a member of Osage Baptist Church. He married Bonnie Guest in 1949 at Memphis. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Vickie Lynn Christian. Survivors include his wife; a son, Jay F. Christian of Amarillo; two brothers, Homer L. Christian of Amarillo and C.W. Christian of Edna; and two grandchildren. The body will be available for viewing this morning. The family will be at 2017 Jasmine. Joshua Steenburgh Joshua Steenburgh, infant son of Justin and Stacy Steenburgh of Amarillo, died Monday, Jan. 26, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Memorial Park East Mausoleum with Phyl Mercado of Trinity Fellowship officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Joshua was born in Amarillo. Survivors include his parents; a brother, Ryan Steenburgh of Amarillo; and his grandparents, Barbara and Herb Brown, and Mary and Marvin Steenburgh, all of Amarillo. Jonathan David De Leon Jonathan David De Leon, 2-year-old son of Reynaldo and Minerva DeLeon, died Saturday, Jan. 24, 1998. Memorial services were at 6 p.m. Monday in Memory Gardens Mausoleum officiated by the Rev. Arnulfo Gradillas of Saint Laurence Cathedral. Arrangements were by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Jonathan was born and lived in Amarillo. Survivors include his parents; a sister, Cynthia Karina De Leon of Amarillo; and his grandparents, Benita Flores, Maria Victoria Calvillo and Reynaldo De Leon Sr., all of Matamoros, Mexico. Merle J. Ballard Merle J. Ballard, 54, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Jan. 24, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, Pioneer Chapel, 2615 Paramount Blvd., with the Rev. Robert Field of Southeast Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Ballard was born in Carlsbad, N.M. She was a member of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. She married Bob Ballard in 1962 at Utica, N.Y. She was preceded in death by a son, Darrell Wayne Ballard, in 1986. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Barbara Lyman of Amarillo; a son, David Ballard of Amarillo; and six grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Kenneth D. Purkey Sr. Kenneth D. Purkey Sr., 74, of Amarillo, died Monday, Jan. 26, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Memory Gardens with Don Ralston, pastor of Northside Full Gospel Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Colonial Funeral Chapel, 1010 W. Ninth Ave. Mr. Purkey was born in Merit. He was employed as a truck driver. He was preceded in death by his wife, Clara Burgett Purkey, and a son, Kenny Purkey Jr. Survivors include two brothers, James Purkey and Don Purkey, both of McKinney; and two sisters, Dorothy Carol Stroman of Mesquite and Juanetta Dobbins of Waynesboro, Va. Canyon Robert Melton Graves Robert "Bob" Melton Graves, 81, of Canyon, died Sunday, Jan. 25, 1998. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Memory Gardens Cemetery with the Rev. Richard Bales, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Canyon, and the Rev. Kevin Deckard, associate pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Graves was born in El Paso and was a longtime area resident. He had been a distributor of Tom's Toasted Peanuts for 42 years and was involved in the wholesale construction business. He was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. He was a member of Canyon First United Methodist Church, the Elks Lodge, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Masonic Lodge and was a past board member of the Palo Duro Club. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Doris, in 1973. Survivors include his wife, Betty; a son, Steve Graves of Hamilton, Va.; a daughter, Karen Bates of Arvada, Colo.; a stepdaughter, Ginger Jackson of Amarillo; six grandchildren; a great-grandchild. The family will be at 1406 S. Eighth St. No. 54, in Canyon. They request memorials be to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund, 1818 Fourth St., Canyon, Texas 79015-382; or Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176-0001. Elsewhere Ruby Davis Misfeldt Ruby Davis Misfeldt, 86, of Valdosta, Ga., formerly of Stratford, died Thursday, Jan. 22, 1998. Services were at 2 p.m. Sunday in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home at Valdosta, with the Rev. John O. Atkins, interim pastor of First Christian Church, officiating. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Stratford Cemetery at Stratford with the Rev. Gary Stewart of First Baptist Church officiating. Local arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle, in Amarillo. Mrs. Misfeldt was born in Seipio, Okla. Formerly of Lincoln, Mont., she had lived in Valdosta for the past four years. She was a florist and an artist. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Ealon Fenburg; and her husbands, Otis Misfeldt and Wright Davis. Survivors include three children, Mary Nan Wakefield of Valdosta, James Wright Davis of Bedford, and Donna Stroup of Nelson, B.C.; two half sisters, Ruth Edwards of Amarillo and Christie Worley of Oklahoma City, Okla.; a brother, Paul Aduddell of Stratford; a half brother, Conn Roberts of Senatobia, Miss.; 12 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. today at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors. They requests memorials in lieu of flowers be to a favorite charity. Robert J. Lynch ALVORD - Robert J. "Little Bob" Lynch, 69, died Sunday, Jan. 25, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Bill Cleveland and the Rev. Jim Lolley officiating. Burial will be in New Harp Cemetery by Hawkins Funeral Home in Bridgeport. Mr. Lynch was born in Alvord. He was a Navy veteran, serving in the Korean conflict. In 1985, he retired after 30 years as area manager for N.L. Industries. He then returned to Alvord to farm and ranch the Lynch land. Mr. Lynch was an Alvord School Board member. He was a member of First Baptist Church and the Alvord Masonic Lodge. He married Robbie Hawkins in 1956 at Pampa. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Cheryl Redden of Amarillo; a brother, Jim Lynch of Alvord; three sisters, Gladys George and Lois Touchstone, both of Alvord, and Esther Minter of Fort Worth; and three grandchildren. J.C. Flournoy CROSBYTON - J.C. Flournoy, 89, died Monday, Jan. 26, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Crosbyton First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Kevin Deckard, associate pastor of First United Methodist Church in Canyon, officiating. Burial will be in Crosbyton Cemetery by Adams Funeral Home. Mr. Flournoy was born in Chireno and moved to Crosbyton in 1917. He had been a farmer in Crosby County since 1947. He was a member of the Crosbyton First United Methodist Church. He married Helen Iry Perry in 1937 at Roaring Springs. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Sue Jan Flournoy. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Julia Saffell of Lubbock and Lou Ann Klemer of Canyon; a brother, E.H. Flournoy Jr. of Crosbyton; a sister, Harriette Massey-Jennings of Lufkin; four grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; and two stepgreat-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Ceta Canyon Methodist Camp at Happy. George Lee Copeland RICHARDSON - George Lee Copeland, 42, died Sunday, Jan. 25, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Memorial Park Funeral Home, Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with Loran Harper of Comanche Hills Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Copeland was born in Dimmitt. He was a member of the Church of Christ in Dallas. He married Kathy Marrs in 1994 at Santa Fe, N.M. Survivors include his wife; a brother, Charles Copeland; and his mother, Carolyn Copeland of Lubbock. The family requests memorials be to the Boy Scouts of America. Victor Kyle Curry RALLS - Victor Kyle Curry, 36, died Sunday, Jan. 25, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Plainview Memorial Park Cemetery with Wendall Horn of First United Methodist Church in Floydada and Kyle Streun of First Baptist Church in Olton officiating. Arrangements are by Wood-Dunning Funeral Home. Mr. Curry was born in Muleshoe. He graduated from Olton High School and Tarleton State University. He had been a manager for Eckerd Drug in Houston before returning to this area. Mr. Curry was a rancher. He raised show sheep and lambs for area agriculture and 4-H members. He was a member of the Metropolitan Community Church of Lubbock. Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford L. Curry of Jacksonville; two sisters, Billie Curry of Palestine and Torri Silvis of Angelton; and his grandmother, Wynona Cure of Olton. New Mexico Frank Crawford TUCUMCARI, N.M. - Frank Crawford, 91, died Saturday, Jan. 24, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Dan Pearce, minister of First Baptist Church of Logan, officiating. Arrangements are by Dunn Funeral Home. Mr. Crawford was born in Madge, Okla. He was an employee of the Independence Missouri Public School System, working in the maintenance department. He retired in 1986 and moved to Logan. Survivors include his wife, Mayme; three sons, Guy Crawford of Atlanta, Elmo Henry of Shelan, Wash., and Albert Henry of Logan; a daughter, Jackie Leopard of Dallas; eight grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. The body will be available for viewing until 1 p.m. today at the funeral home. Area Ida Blanche Jenkins PAMPA - Ida Blanche Jenkins, 97, died Sunday, Jan. 25, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with the Rev. Darrell W. Evans, pastor of First Christian Church, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mrs. Jenkins was born in rural eastern Oklahoma and had been a resident of Pampa since 1928. She was a member of the First Christian Church and a charter member of the Salvation Army Home League. She was a homemaker and a lifetime member of the Home Extension Service. She married Miron S. Jenkins in 1920 in Canyon. He died in 1980. Survivors include two daughters, Betty Jack and Viola Bullard, both of Pampa; a son, Emmett Jenkins of Pampa; nine grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and 26 great-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. The family will be at 401 Lowry and 723 E. Locust in Pampa. Oleta Hall DUMAS - Oleta Hall, 93, died Saturday, Jan. 24, 1998. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Morrison Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Dan Turner, minister of music at First Baptist Church of Dumas, officiating. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Fairview Cemetery at Pampa. Mrs. Hall was born in Glencoe, Okla., and moved to Dumas in 1959. She also had lived in Phillips and Sunray. She was a homemaker and had been a member of First Baptist Church since 1959. She married Floyd H. Hall in 1938 at Borger. He died in 1988. Survivors include a son, J.D. Hall of Dickinson; a daughter, Audie Marie Bohannan of Houston; her caretaker, Doris Hall of Dumas; 12 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-greatgrandchildren. The family will be at 518 Cherry. Dean Louthan BORGER - Dean Louthan, 55, died Friday, Jan. 23, 1998. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Highland Park Cemetery with the Rev. Leonard Forsythe, pastor of Bible Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Directors of Borger. Mr. Louthan was born in Mead, Kan., and had lived in Borger for 45 years. He was a construction worker with steel and carpentry. Survivors include a son, Russell Louthan of Fritch; a daughter, Kim Christman of Gore Springs, Miss.; his parents, Leonard and Helen Louthan of Borger; four sisters, Glenda Richards and Vergie Berry, both of Borger, Peggy Kopecky of Terrell and Mary Cobb of Newton; and four grandchildren. Family visitation will be from 9 a.m. to service time at the funeral home. Joe Cumbie LOCKNEY - Joe Cumbie, 89, died Monday, Jan. 26, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Harold Abney, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the Lockney Cemetery by MooreRose-White Funeral Home. Mr. Cumbie was born in Henderson County. He moved to Floyd County in 1945. He was a farmer, a member of the Lockney Senior Citizens and First Baptist Church, where he also served as a deacon. He married Erma Carter in 1929 at Athens. She died in 1995. Survivors include two sons, Rayford Cumbie of Lockney and Wayne Cumbie of Plainview; a daughter, Nadine Davis of St. Louis, Mo.; two brothers, Drue Cumbie of Ralls and Weldon Cumbie of Plainview; three grandchildren; and a greatgrandchild. The family requests memorials be to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 446, Lockney, Texas 79241; or to the Lockney Senior Citizens, 118 W. College St., Lockney, Texas 79241. Velva Lorene Gosnell BORGER - Velva Lorene Gosnell, 78, died Saturday, Jan. 24, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in First Christian Church with the Rev. Tom Harrison, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of Beatitudes at Westlawn Memorial Park by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mrs. Gosnell was born in Missouri. She moved to Borger in 1945 from Dewey, Okla. She retired as an office clerk for Phillips Petroleum Co. She was a member of First Christian Church and Borger Elk's Club. She married T.R. Gosnell in 1979 at Borger. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Charlotte Tipton of Borger and Sue Selfridge of Purcell, Okla.; two stepdaughters, Jeanne Ann McCoy of Fritch and Betty Fern Norris of Oklahoma City; two brothers, Glenn May of Tulsa, Okla., and Eugene May of Groves, Okla.; a sister, Ruthene May of Dewey; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Teodoro Carabajal OLTON - Teodoro "Tater" Carabajal, 82, died Sunday, Jan. 25, 1998. Funeral mass will be at 2 p.m. today in Saint Peter's Catholic Church with the Rev. Martin Pena, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Olton Cemetery by Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Home. Mr. Carabajal was born in Beeville. He moved to Olton in 1951 from Plainview. He was a farmer and member of Saint Peter's Catholic Church. He married Soferina Garza who died in 1990. He also was preceded in death by two sons, Pete, in 1995, and Monico, in 1974; and a daughter, Tiodora Vasquez, in 1991. Survivors include a son, Joe Carabajal of Irving; two daughters, Carol Torres of Plainview and Mary Silva of Eugene, Ill.; a sister, Juaquina Castillo of Olton; three brothers, Pedro Carabajal, Nick Carabajal and Juan Carabajal, all of Beeville; 25 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. Viewing will be until service time in the church. Dorothy Blanton White CLARENDON - Dorothy Blanton White, 90, died Sunday, Jan. 25, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in First United Methodist Church with Dr. James Bell officiating. Burial will be in Citizens Cemetery by Robertson Funeral Directors. Mrs. White was born in Bells. She moved to Donley County from Oklahoma City in 1936. She graduated from Canadian High School. She attended the University of Oklahoma and was a member of Chi Omega. She received her master's degree from West Texas State University. Mrs. White taught English and drama at Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City and at Clarendon High School. She also taught drama at Clarendon College. She served for several years on the board of the play "Texas" and was honorary life member of the Les Beaux Art Club. Mrs. White was a member of the Pathfinders Club, Order of the Eastern Star, the 1926 Book Club, Amarillo Symphony Guild, Amarillo Art Force, and was a life member of the Panhandle Heritage Foundation. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church. She married Frank Burdette White Jr. in 1936 at Oklahoma City. He died in 1986. Survivors include a son, Frank White III of Amarillo; a sister, Helen Holt of Amarillo; three grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Joe S. Couch PLAINVIEW - Joe S. Couch, 93, died Sunday, Jan. 25, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Plainview Memorial Park with Karl King, minister of Garland Street Church of Christ, officiating. Arrangements are by Lemons Funeral Home. Mr. Couch was born in Paul's Valley, Okla., and attended school there. He moved to Plainview in 1924. He did lease work as a truck driver for Plainsman Supply for 30 years before becoming an independent driver. He was a member of the Ninth and Columbia Church of Christ. He married Nell Farris in 1931 at Clovis, N.M. She died in 1995. Survivors include a daughter, Judy Bradshaw of Plainview; a son, Dale Couch of Amarillo; a grandson, Joe Dale Bradshaw of Plainview; five other grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Delphine Smith Sharp PLAINVIEW - Delphine Smith Sharp, 77, died Saturday, Jan. 24, 1998. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Plainview Memorial Park with the Rev. Drew Travis, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Lemons Funeral Home. Mrs. Sharp was born and raised in Plainview. She graduated from Plainview High School then attended Texas State College for Women and Texas Tech University. She returned to Plainview from Gallup, N.M., in 1959. She had been employed in the school offices of Coronado and Plainview High School. In 1985, she retired from the Texas Department of Transportation. She was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church and a member of the Coronado Club. She married John R. Sharp in 1940. He died in 1958. Survivors include a daughter, Sally Sharp Davenport of Austin; two sons, Jim Sharp of Tulsa and John Sharp of Houston; six grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren. Martin Ramirez PLAINVIEW - Martin Ramirez, 75, of Lubbock, died Friday, Jan. 23, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with the Rev. Ben Kasteel, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in a Plainview cemetery by Lemons Funeral Home. Mr. Ramirez was born in Crystal City and moved to Plainview in 1970. He had been employed by Plainview Acid Diluting then as a farmhand. He married Juana Zubia in 1976 at Plainview. Survivors include his wife; four daughters, Martha Ybarra and Gloria Ramirez, both of California, Libradad Armendarez of Mexico and Manuela Ramos of Lubbock; four sons, Manual Ramirez and Salvador Ramirez, both of California, Jesse Munoz of Plainview and Edward Ramirez of Lubbock; a brother, Narciso Ramirez of Eagle Pass; 20 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Karmon Stewart PAMPA - Karmon Stewart, 61, died Monday, Jan. 26, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with the Rev. M.B. Smith, retired Baptist minister, officiating. Graveside services will be at noon in Wheeler Cemetery in Wheeler. Mrs. Stewart was born in Oklahoma City and raised in Wheeler. She graduated from Tulia High School. She moved to Pampa from Wheeler three years ago. She was a homemaker and member of First United Methodist Church of Wheeler. She married Daniel M. Stewart in 1952 at Pampa. He died in 1991. Survivors include a son, Dalton Stewart of Amarillo; a daughter, Tonja Franklin of Amarillo; her mother, Nettie Guynes of Pampa; a sister, Shiela Watson of Pampa; and two grandchildren. Viola May Replogle WHEELER - Viola May Replogle, 87, died Sunday, Jan. 25, 1998. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. today in Wheeler Cemetery with the Rev. Toby Henson, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Wright Funeral Home. Mrs. Replogle was born in Beaver, Okla. She moved to Wheeler from Guymon, Okla., where she had lived for 21 years. She was a waitress and a homemaker. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Cherokee, Okla. Survivors include a daughter, Jo Ann McCaffree of Guymon; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and a greatgreat-grandchild.