Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 27 September 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, September 27, 1998, 7:27 AM Amarillo Marshall Lee Edwards Marshall Lee Edwards, 66, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Sept. 23, 1998. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Robert Field of Southeast Baptist Church officiating. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mr. Edwards was born in Bagville. He retired as a self-employed restaurateur. Survivors include three sons, Donald Lee Edwards, Jimmy Lee Edwards and Virgil Lee Edwards, all of Amarillo; three daughters, Teresa Ross and Debra Jean Edwards, both of Amarillo, and Rosa Stanfield of Houston; nine sisters, Linda Carranza of Canyon, Jimmie Robertson of Waxahachie, Betty Jo Gatten of McKinney, Dorothy Hanay of Phoenix, Vera Pollan of Dalhart, and Ola May Williams, Margine Smith, Pauline Lyons and Margaret Harris, all of Amarillo; a brother, Hershel Edwards; and seven grandchildren. David S. Mitchell David S. Mitchell, 88, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Sept. 26, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Central Church of Christ Chapel with Paul Sneed and Dick Marcear, ministers, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home Inc., 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Mitchell was born in Mansfield. In 1937, he moved to Amarillo. He was employed by Phillips 66 Oil Co. as a city salesman for the Amarillo region, retiring after 34 years. He was a member of Central Church of Christ. He married Lucille Woodard in 1931 at Paul's Valley, Okla. He was preceded in death by a son, Davie Lee Mitchell, in 1995. Survivors include his wife; and a granddaughter, Janalee Mitchell of Lubbock. The family requests memorials be to High Plains Children's Home & Family Services, P.O. Box 7448, Amarillo, TX 79114-9990, or to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176-0001. Canyon Alta Hembree Alta Hembree, 98, of Canyon, died Friday, Sept. 25, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Amarillo at N.S. Griggs & Sons Pioneer Chapel, 2615 Paramount Blvd., with Sammy O'Dell, pastor of Worldwide Church of God, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens. Mrs. Hembree was born in Decatur and moved to Amarillo with her family in 1907. She was a homemaker. During World War II she worked as a butcher for Furr Foods. She was affiliated with the Worldwide Church of God. She married Ernest Graves Hembree in 1919 at Amarillo. She was preceded in death by her husband and by a son, James Worth Hembree. Survivors include two daughters, Kathryn Poe of Post Falls, Idaho, and Ernestine Bates of Canyon; 11 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great-grandchildren. The family will be at Route 1, Box 378 in Canyon. They suggest memorials be to a favorite charity. New Mexico Edna C. Bell CLOVIS, N.M. - Edna C. Bell, 98, died Friday, Sept. 25, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Melrose Cemetery, Melrose, N.M., with the Rev. Hoyt Welch and the Rev. David Crow officiating. Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home of Clovis. Mrs. Bell was born in Donie, Texas. In 1906, at the age of seven, she and her family moved to Tolar, where her father homesteaded land from the New Mexico territory. They lived in a covered wagon in a mulberry orchard and then in a dugout. Mrs. Bell was a homemaker. She and her husband settled in Melrose in 1924. They moved to Clovis in 1977. She was a member of Sandia Baptist Church in Clovis. She married Elvy Bell in 1918 at Tolar. He died in 1978. She also was preceded in death by two sons, Leo Bell and Laurance Bell. Survivors include a daughter, Evelyn Fletcher of Clovis; a sister, Marie Fleming of Lubbock, Texas; two granddaughters; 11 great-grandchildren; and 10 greatgreat-grandchildren. Oklahoma Vernie Ira Law BALKO, Okla. - Vernie Ira Law, 81, died Friday, Sept. 25, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Balko Apostolic Faith Church. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery by Clark Funeral Service of Beaver. Mr. Law was born in Beaver County. He attended the Hurley Country School until he graduated from eighth grade. He was a farmer and rancher, and a mechanic. He married Ruthe Eugene "Jean" Brinkman in 1941 at Beaver County. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Herman Law of Pampa, Texas, and James Law of Balko; a daughter, Twanda Jane Miller of Scottsdale, Ariz.; a sister, Hazel Wingert of Boise City, Okla.; and three grandchildren. Emma Treiber SHATTUCK, Okla. - Emma Treiber, 88, of Booker, Texas, a former Shattuck resident, died Friday, Sept. 25, 1998. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Christ Lutheran Church of Shattuck with Pastor Gary McClellan officiating. Burial will be in Shattuck Memorial Cemetery by Good Samaritan Funeral Service. Mrs. Treiber was born at Shattuck. She was a homemaker. She and her husband farmed south of Shattuck until 1947, when they moved to town. In later years she was employed as a cook by Shattuck Elementary School. Mrs. Treiber was a member of Christ Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Women's Missionary League. In 1989, she moved to Ponca City. She moved to Booker in 1994. She married Rudolph Treiber in 1928 at Arnett. He died in 1989. Survivors include three sons, Floyd Treiber of Ponca City, Fred Treiber of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Randy Treiber of Alexandria, Va.; two daughters, Wilba Duggan of Las Cruces, N.M., and Elizabeth Miller of Darrouzett, Texas; 11 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends at the church following the committal service. Elsewhere Douglas David Brack HOUSTON - Douglas David Brack, 71, a former Amarillo resident, died Thursday, Sept. 24, 1998. Memorial services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in Waltrip Funeral Directors Chapel. Mr. Brack was born in Trinidad, British West Indies, and grew up in Amarillo, where he graduated from Amarillo High School. He moved to Houston in 1967. Survivors include a daughter, Lisa "Cathie" Shroyer; three sons, Leonard Brack, Michael Brack and John Brack; a brother, Ray Brack; his companion, Mitzpah Bryant; and three grandchildren. Larry Dean Northcutt LUBBOCK - Larry Dean Northcutt, 51, died Friday, Sept. 25, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in First Baptist Church of Abernathy with Dan Rouse of Sunset Church of Christ, Lubbock, and Captain Larry Henry of the Department of Public Safety officiating. Cremation will follow. Arrangements are by Resthaven Funeral Home of Lubbock. Mr. Northcutt was born in Plainview. In 1965, he graduated from Abernathy High School. A lifelong South Plains area resident, he was employed as a DPS Trooper in the License and Weight Division. He served with DPS for 30 years. Mr. Northcutt was a member of the DPS Officers Association and the Littlefield Masonic Lodge. He married Pat Pettit in 1991 at Lubbock. Survivors include his wife; a son, Jerry Northcutt of Panhandle; his mother, Minnie Northcutt of Abernathy; a brother, Henry Northcutt of Amarillo; and a sister, Carolyn Gibson of Stinnett. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. today at the funeral home. They suggest memorials be to the American Diabetes Association or to a favorite charity. Area John Oral Helton BRISCOE - John Oral Helton, 96, died Thursday, Sept. 24, 1998. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. today at the Wheeler Church of Christ with Shawn and David Zybach of Briscoe officiating. Burial will be in Zybach Cemetery under the direction of Wright Funeral Home of Wheeler. Mr. Helton was born in Dixon, Mo., and had lived in Wheeler County since 1911. He had been a farmer and was a member of Allison Church of Christ. He married Ema Hoyle Young in 1933 at Sayre, Okla. He was preceded in death by a son, Harvey Lewis Helton, in 1950, and a daughter, Peggy Ruth Helton, in 1958. Survivors include his wife; a son, Chan Helton of Amarillo; four daughters, Juanell Manning, Christine Atherton and Kathy Helton, all of Wheeler, and Martha Brown of Bristow, Okla.; nine grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to High Plains Children's Home in Amarillo. Bobbie Marsalis QUANAH - Bobbie "LaRue" Marsalis, 86, died Thursday, Sept. 24, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Quanah First Assembly of God Church with the Rev. W.E. Ikard, pastor of Gateway Assembly of God Church of Lawton, Okla., and the Rev. D.G. Surface officiating. Burial will be at Quanah Memorial Park under the direction of Price-Jackson Funeral Home. Mrs. Marsalis was born in Goree. She had lived in Hardeman County since 1916 and was a homemaker. She was a member of the Assembly of God Church, Quanah Garden Club and Wichita Falls Iris Society. She married Elton Bryan Marsalis in 1928 at Quanah. He preceded her in death in 1982. Survivors include a daughter, Barbara Ann Nelson of Lubbock; two sons, Jerry Keith Marsalis of Grand Prairie and Stephen Mark Marsalis of Abilene; a sister, Lettie Hendricks of Canyon; a stepsister, Virginia Vandergrift of San Antonio; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 7 until 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Willard Vardell SILVERTON - Willard "Wimpy" Vardell, 74, died Friday, Sept. 25, 1998. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. today in Silverton Cemetery with the Rev. Jay Stinson, pastor of First Methodist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Myers-Long Funeral Directors of Silverton. Mr. Vardell was born in Floyd County. He was a truck driver for many years. He is survived by a sister, Maggie Sweek of Silverton, and several nieces and nephews. Ruby Hunt Ayers McLEAN - Ruby Hunt Ayers, 90, died Wednesday, Sept. 23, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in First Baptist Church of McLean with the Rev. James Martindale officiating. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery by Lamb Funeral Home. Mrs. Ayers was born in Gray County and was raised in McLean, where she attended school. She farmed with her husband in McLean until moving to Amarillo in 1952. They owned and operated several restaurants until they retired and returned to McLean. She was a Baptist. She married Wayland Ayers in 1926. He preceded her in death in 1986. Survivors include a son, J.D. Ayers of Amarillo; a daughter, Minnie Bell Brown of Amarillo; a brother, Perry Hunt of Breckenridge; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and 13 greatgreatgrandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. Waunita Zinn Basferd PAMPA - Waunita Zinn Basferd, 79, died Thursday, Sept. 24, 1998. Viewing will be from 10 a.m. until noon Wednesday in Hastings Funeral Home in Morgantown, W.Va., followed by graveside services in Pleasant Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Richard L. Stackpole, pastor of Spruce United Methodist Church of Morgantown, officiating. Local arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mrs. Basferd was born and raised in Reedsville, W.Va. From 1944 until 1951, she owned the Wagon Wheel Restaurant in Morgantown. She lived in Bonaire, Ga., for 22 years before moving to Pampa in June. She married Walter Basferd in 1935 at Fairfax, Va. Survivors include her husband; a son, George Edward Basferd of Pampa; two sisters, Margaret Templeton of Leesburg, Fla., and Gladys Guseman of Morgantown; a granddaughter; and three greatgrandchildren. Irene Maddox CANADIAN - Irene Maddox, 92, died Thursday, Sept. 24, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Edith Ford Memory Cemetery with Mike Heatwole of Canadian officiating. Arrangements are by Stickley-Hill Funeral Directors of Canadian. Mrs. Maddox was born in Ballinger. She and her husband operated Maddox Cleaners in Orange, Calif., for many years. In 1979, they moved to Canadian from San Jacinto, Calif. She was a member of the Church of Christ. She married Clarence Luther Maddox in 1924 at Floydada. He died in 1990. Survivors include a daughter, Carolyn Campbell of Canadian; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. Bobby Lee Hammond CHILDRESS - Bobby Lee Hammond, 66, died Friday, Sept. 25, 1998. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Childress Cemetery with the Rev. Jon Crosby, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Johnson Funeral Home. Mr. Hammond was born in Ada, Okla. He was an Army veteran, serving during the Korean War. A Childress resident since 1948, he owned and operated Hammond Heating and Air. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Elks Lodge and Calvary Baptist Church and a former board member of Childress Regional Medical Center. He married Deloras Brown in 1955 at Childress. She died in 1989. Survivors include a daughter, Andrina Owens of Stuart, Fla.; three sisters, Charlene Kettler of Asher, Okla., Faye Grimm of Lubbock and Omalou Mahorney of Paducah; three brothers, Bufford Hammond of Cado Mills, J.R. Hammond of Antlers, Okla., and Frank Hammond of Athens, Ga.; two granddaughters; and one greatgrandson. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be to the American Cancer Society. George Nickerson CHILDRESS - George Nickerson, 89, died Thursday, Sept. 24, 1998. Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Joe Horn, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery by Johnson Funeral Home. Mr. Nickerson was born in Carthage. He attended school in the Cedar Grove community at Elmo. In 1949, he moved to Childress, where he was self-employed in the landscaping business and worked parttime for the city. Mr. Nickerson was a member of New Hope Baptist Church for many years and served the church as a deacon, church treasurer and in other capacities. He also was a member of Masonic Lodge No. 51 in Terrell. He married Ethel Preston in 1932 at Wills Point. She died in 1987. Survivors include nine daughters, Evelyn Monmouth of Houston, Wanda Davis of Centerville, Jean Martin and Annie F. Owens, both of Amarillo, Erma Beck, Sarah Session and Brenda Wells, all of Childress, Cynthia Tratree of Mexia and Darlene Hamilton of Altus, Okla.; five sons, Thomas Nickerson of Topeka, Kan., Ervin Nickerson, James Nickerson and Ronnie Nickerson, all of Amarillo, and Floyd Nickerson of Plano; four sisters, Luvenia Dunn, Nadine Dye, Shinnie L. Lister and Lurlene Nickerson, all of Terrell; five brothers, Archie L. Nickerson, Arnold J. Nickerson, Curbie E. Nickerson, Dakota Nickerson and Roosevelt Nickerson, all of Terrell; 56 grandchildren; 95 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Jim E. Minick CANADIAN - Jim E. Minick, 64, died Saturday, Sept. 26, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Abundant Life Assembly of God Church with the Rev. Jimmy A. Robinson, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Edith Ford Cemetery by Stickley-Hill Funeral Directors of Canadian. Mr. Minick was born in Ada, Okla. In 1971, he moved from Miami to Canadian. He was an oil-field driller. He was a member of Abundant Life Assembly of God Church. He married Patsy Lawson in 1960 at Miami. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Jerry Minick and Brad Minick, both of Canadian; two daughters, Kristi Minick of Canyon and Nikki Minick of Canadian; and five grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Hemphill County Hospice. Thelma Grace Tennant PAMPA - Thelma Grace Tennant, 94, of Hoisington, Kan., a former Pampa resident, died Friday, Sept. 25, 1998. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Memory Gardens Cemetery with the Rev. Derrell Monday, pastor of Central Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mrs. Tennant was born in Northport, Ala. A homemaker, she lived in Pampa for 40 years before moving to Hoisington in 1986. She was a member of Central Baptist Church of Pampa. She married Glennard Tennant in 1923 at Magnolia, Ark. He died in 1984. Survivors include a son, Richard Tennant of Claflin, Kan.; two granddaughters; and eight great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Claflin Ambulance Service, Claflin, Kan., or to Clara Barton Hospital, Hoisington, Kan. Shirley Faye Crawford Free PAMPA - Shirley Faye Crawford Free, 54, of Round Rock, a former Pampa resident, died Friday, Sept. 25, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with the Rev. Gene Allen, former pastor of Briarwood Full Gospel Church, and Laveda Rush officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Mrs. Free was born in Canadian. She was a homemaker. A longtime Pampa resident, she moved to Round Rock in 1993. She married Glenn Free in 1962 at Pampa. Survivors include her husband; three daughters, Tracy Hamilton and Shannon Free, both of Round Rock, and Natasha Free of the home; four sisters, Clethel Steen of Wheeler, Pearl Morgan of Franklin, La., Mary Jane Mynear of Pampa and Helen Furgason of Skellytown; and two grandsons. Ruth Shelton DUMAS - Ruth Shelton, 68, died Friday, Sept. 25, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Morrison Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel with Pastor Jerry Clark of Bible Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Dumas Cemetery. Mrs. Shelton was born in Olney and moved to Moore County in 1952. She was a homemaker. She was a member of Bible Baptist Church. She married A.C. Shelton in 1952 at Clayton, N.M. Survivors include her husband; three daughters, Bonnie Danford and Betty Alexander, both of Dumas, and Debra Webb of Threeway; four sons, Carl Shelton and James Shelton, both of Dumas, Jim Shelton of Chickasha, Okla., and Bob Shelton of Elkhart, Ind.; four sisters, Mildred Sloss of Amarillo, Violet Hornsby of Spearman and Betty Resick and Sue Sloan, both of Canyon; four brothers, Millard Tucker and Bob Tucker, both of Spearman, Welborn Tucker of Ralls and Albert Tucker of San Angelo; 27 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The family will be at 1513 Fox. Jose C. Guzman MULESHOE - Jose C. Guzman, 81, died Saturday, Sept. 26, 1998. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in Ellis Funeral Home Chapel. Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Monday in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church by the Rev. Ricardo Salditos, pastor of St. Ann's Catholic Church in Morton. Burial will be in Bailey County Cemetery. Mr. Guzman was born in Jalisco, Mexico. In 1961, he moved to the Muleshoe community, where he worked as a farm employee for Aubrey Heathington for 30 years until retirement. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. He married Soledad Hernandez in Mexico in 1936. She died in 1964. Survivors include six sons, Daniel Guzman of Muleshoe, Jose Guzman Jr. of Calexico, Calif., Javier Guzman and Raymond Guzman, both of Amarillo, Filemon Guzman of Lazbuddie and Mateo Guzman of El Paso; two daughters, Antonia Guzman of Muleshoe and Rosa Nieto of Texico, N.M.; a sister, Cuca Cruz of Mexico; a brother, Juan Guzman of Mexico; 19 grandchildren; and 28 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Muleshoe, Texas 79347. Pablo Perez III GRUVER - Pablo Perez III, 20, died Friday, Sept. 25, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the Catholic Church of Gruver with the Rev. Scott Raef, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Hansford Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Spearman. Mr. Perez was born in Perryton. A lifelong resident of the Panhandle, he worked as a laborer. He was a Catholic. Survivors include his father, Pablo Perez Jr. of Gruver; his mother, Elvia Perez of Spearman; four sisters, Rachel Burkhart of Gruver, Amanda Henry of Friona and Janie Reza and Lori Anaya, both of Spearman; two brothers, Dorsey Perez and Gilbert Perez, both of Gruver; and his grandfather, Pablo Perez of San Angelo. Frank Norfleet Blackwell PLAINVIEW - Frank Norfleet Blackwell, 82, died Saturday, Sept. 26, 1998. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Monday in Center Plains Cemetery at Cotton Center. Arrangements are by Freeman-Abell Funeral Home of Hale Center. Mr. Blackwell was born at Cotton Center. A lifelong Plainview area resident, he was an Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of the American Legion in Plainview. Survivors include a daughter, Frankie Hembree of Plainview; a stepson, Walter Bozarth of Plainview; two brothers, Vernon Blackwell of Amarillo and Walter Blackwell of Chaparral, N.M.; a sister, Mary Atkins of Las Vegas; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.