Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 28 May 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, May 28, 1998, 9:22 AM Amarillo Milton R. Ayres Milton R. Ayres, 73, of Amarillo, died Monday, May 25, 1998. No services are scheduled. Cremation is under the direction of Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St. Mr. Ayres was born in Magic City and moved to Pampa in 1929. He was a Navy veteran of World War II. He was an oil field mechanic. Survivors include two sisters, Anna Stone of Pampa and Connie Meredith of Cushing, Okla. The body will not be available for viewing. Pauline Katherine Glovier Pauline Katherine Rietmann Glovier, 98, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, May 26, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at St. Mary's Catholic Church with Monsignor Francis Smyer officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Glovier was born in Marion, Ind., and moved to Amarillo in 1908 with her family. They owned Reitmann Grocery from 1910 to 1929. She married Walter A. Glovier in 1922 and they lived in Hereford and Wildorado before moving to Amarillo in 1928. He died in 1974. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and of the Altar Society at the church. She was a charter member of the McDowell Music Club and also of the Antique Collectinea Club. She was active in the Texas State Federation of Women's Club, Panhandle Plains Historical Society, Llano Estacado Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the El Navegar Study Club. Survivors include a nephew, Noel D. Reitman; four nieces, Linda Cherry, Mary Elizabeth Blaylock, Sara Stanley and Dr. Alice Jane Hadwin; and 10 great nieces and great nephews. James Barry Cowper James Barry Cowper, 44, died Sunday, May 24, 1998. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. today in Paramount Terrace Christian Church Chapel with the Rev. Bob Schroeder of Paramount Terrace Christian Church officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Cowper was born in Tripoli, Libya. He served in the Navy and was a member of the Los Compadres Motorcycle Club. Survivors include his father, Thomas Cowper Sr. of Florida; a son, Jimmy Cowper of Amarillo; a daughter, Monica Cossey of Amarillo; two sisters, Chris Berger of Ulysses, Kan., and Gwen Logan of Kilgore; a brother, Tom Cowper of Houston; and a granddaughter. The body will not be available for viewing. Donald Stewart Donald Stewart, 87, of Amarillo, died Monday, May 25, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church with the Rev. Mark Cattau officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Stewart was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and has been a resident of Amarillo for 48 years. He was a World War II veteran. He married Alice Hauck in 1941 at Pasadena, Calif. He had been a scout and land man in the oil and gas business for 40 years and a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Victoria Scelba of Bloomfield, N.J., and Terrie Stewart of Boulder, Colo.; a son, Jeffery Stewart of Stillwater, Okla.; two grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The body will not be available for viewing. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176 or Trinity Lutheran Church Building Fund, 5005 W. Interstate 40, Amarillo, Texas 79106. Oklahoma Sammy Shilling TEXHOMA, Okla. - Sammy Shilling, 29, died Sunday, May 24, 1998, at Oklahoma City. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Terry Armstrong, pastor of the Nazarene Church, and the Rev. Terry Davidson, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the Texhoma Cemetery by Dawson-Welch Funeral Home. Mr. Shilling was born in Boise City and was raised around the Texhoma and Four Corners areas. He graduated from the Yarbrough School and was a member of First Baptist Church. He trained in fire safety and was a foreman and inspector of sprinkler systems. He married Misty Trimble in 1996. Survivors include his wife; four sons, Tyler Shilling of Goodwell, Tate Shilling and Craig Harrington, both of Oklahoma City, and Andrew Shilling of Guymon; a sister, Natalie Wilson of Elkhart, Kan.; a brother, Nathan Shilling of Elkhart; his mother, Kathy Shilling; his father, Sam Shilling of Goodwell; and grandparents, Oscar and Yvonne Elliott and Elmer and Bertha Shilling, all of Texhoma. Shirley Ruth Brown GRAND LAKE TOWNE, Okla. - Shirley Ruth Brown, 60, formerly of Amarillo, died Tuesday, May 26, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel with the Rev. Glen Walton officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Brown was born in Clovis, N.M., and married William Brown in 1963 at Amarillo. She had lived in Grand Lake Towne for five years. She opened and operated Shirley's Steak House in Beeville from 1979-1988. She had been secretary and sales manager for Drug Wholesale Co. Mrs. Brown was a member of Order of the Eastern Star and Church of Christ. Survivors include her husband; a son, Terry Lee Brown of Amarillo; two daughters, Barbara Ann Denney of Friendswood and Vickie Lynn Kite of McAlester, Okla.; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. James Russell Claycomb GUYMON, Okla. - James Russell "Jimmy" Claycomb, 59, died Tuesday, May 26, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Christian Church with the Rev. Don Chase officiating and the Rev. Richard T. Powell assisting. Burial will follow in the Elmhurst Cemetery by Henson-Novak Funeral Home. He was born in Los Angeles and moved to Guymon in 1941, where he graduated from Guymon High School in 1957. He attended Panhandle State University in Goodwell. Mr. Claycomb married Anita Terado in 1963. He was a career Navy veteran and served as radioman first class and in Vietnam. He served 20 years on active duty and 10 years in the Naval Reserve. After retiring from the service, he returned to Guymon and was an auto electrician at Claycomb Battery & Electric and Five State Services. He married Beverly "Jackie" Fleming in 1990 at Stratford, Texas. He was a member of the First Christian Church and Veterans of Foreign Wars Guymon Post No. 1203. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Nancy Kay Robinson of Tyrone, Okla.; six stepchildren, Jimmy Pierce of Guymon, Troy Pierce of Oklahoma City, Carla King of Vernon, Texas, Leah Smith of Amarillo, and Chance Suthers and Blake Suthers, both of Arnett; two sisters, Kay Tharp of Enid and Raedeane Gupton of Corpus Christi, Texas; three brothers, Johnny Claycomb and Jack Schriber, both of Guymon, and Dale Schriber of Amarillo; two grandchildren; and 10 stepgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Cancer Society, c/o Henson-Novak Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1306, Guymon, Okla. 73942. Elsewhere Allen Glen McAvoy Wimberly - Allen Glen McAvoy, 42, died Sunday, May 24, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in the Baum-Carlock-Bumgardner Chapel in Mineral Wells with the Rev. Kyle Mitchell officiating. Arrangements are by Baum-Carlock-Bumgardner in Mineral Wells. McAvoy was born in Terrell. He grew up in Amarillo and graduated from Amarillo High School in 1974. He lived in Dallas, Austin, Driftwood and Wimberly. He was a self-employed mechanic. Survivors include his wife, Kathy McAvoy; two daughters, Jessica McAvoy and Amanda McAvoy; a stepson, Justin Wright of Austin; his parents, Glen and Mary Sue Wilhoit; and a sister, Pam McSwain of Amarillo. The family requests memorials be to the Education Fund for Jessica & Amanda McAvoy, c/o Graham Savings & Loan, HC52 Box 240, Graford, Texas 76449. Mary Lou Beets KILGORE - Mary Lou Beets, 90, died Tuesday, May 26, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in the Rader Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Buddy Duggins and the Rev. Byron Allen officiating. Burial will follow at the Danville Cemetery by Rader Funeral Homes. Mrs. Beets was born in Corsicana and had been a resident of the Kilgore area since 1931, moving from Waxahachie. She was a homemaker and a member of the Laird Hill Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel Thomas Beets; and two sons, Glen Beets and Sammy Beets. Survivors include four daughters, Louise McKinney and Patsy Sheets, both of Kilgore, Jeanette Lewis of Amarillo and Judy Owens of Quitman; three sons, Billy Gene Freeman of Oracle, Ariz., Daniel "Buddy" Beets of Kilgore and Jimmy Beets of Baytown; two sisters, Gladys Robinson and Ruth Graves, both of Corsicana; a brother, Gene Christie of Kerns; 28 grandchildren; 55 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Rader Funeral Home. Area Inez Wright Evans SHAMROCK - Inez Wright Evans, 66, died Saturday, May 23, 1998. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Waurika Church of the Nazarene at Waurika, Okla. Cremation arrangements were by Willis C. Worley & Sons Funeral Home of Waurika. Local arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors. Mrs. Evans was born near Ringling, Okla. She lived in Waurika, where she attended school. She worked in sales and marketing for a number of years. She married Howard Evans in 1980 and they made their home on a farm near Shamrock. Survivors include her husband; a son, Major Steven Craig Kinnear of California; three sisters, Syble Sanders of Duncan, Okla., Pauline Barker of Ryan, Okla., and Doris Mills of Ringold, Okla.; four brothers, Claude Wright of Ringling, Chester Wright of Sanger, Ernest Wright of Comanche, Okla., and Howard Wright of Duncan; and two grandchildren. Ethel Breeding Coleman WELLINGTON - Ethel Breeding Coleman, 91, died Tuesday, May 26, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Bowie Street Church of Christ with Gaylord Cook of Dalhart and Haun Kite of Amarillo officiating. Burial will be in the Coleman Family Plot at North Fairview Cemetery. Arrangements are by Adams Funeral Home. Mrs. Coleman graduated from McLean High School and attended West Texas State Teachers College. She had been married to retired Major John S. Coleman for 70 years. She was known to Texas legislators of the 1960s, '70s and '80s as Ethel "Mama" Coleman. Mrs. Coleman was the first woman elected to the Channing Public School Board. She returned to Wellington and Collingsworth County in 1941. In the 1960s, she was Wellington's mayor pro tempore and city judge while a councilman. She was involved in Girls State events in Austin. She was an Attorney General's Youth Conference state board member and sponsor. She was a state board member, Outstanding Clubwoman with the Top of Texas and Texas Federation of Women's Clubs; a member of the Texas American Legion Auxiliary, where she served as the 18th district president and a department state vice president; Texas Business & Professional Women's Club District 10 director; and Wellington BPW president. She also was active in the Texas Democratic Party. Survivors include her husband; a son, Spencer D. Coleman of Fort Worth; a daughter, Lennie C. Sims of Wellington; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Ethel B. Coleman Political Science Scholarship, Wellington High School c/o Wellington State Bank, P.O. Box 1032, Wellington 79095 or Adams Funeral Home, 1300 East Avenue, Wellington, Texas 79095. Vernon Horton PLAINVIEW - Vernon Horton, 91, died Tuesday, May 26, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church Family Life Chapel with Dr. Travis Hart, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park by Lemons Funeral Home. Mr. Horton was born in Navarro County. He grew up and attended schools at Merkel. He moved to Plainview in 1948, to Dalhart in 1952 and returned to Plainview in 1953. He farmed east of Plainview in the Eastmound community. He was a member of First Baptist Church at Plainview. He married Lena Mae Jones Horton in 1930 at Clayton, N.M. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Yvonne Barrow of Dalhart and Tommye Sue Allen of Lubbock; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and Affiliates. Mary Hazel VanZandt WHEELER - Mary Hazel Hurn VanZandt, 89, died Monday, May 25, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Robert Lindley, pastor, and the Rev. Terry Tamplen, pastor of Kingswood United Methodist Church of Amarillo, officiating. Burial will be at 3 p.m. in Citizens Cemetery at Clarendon by Wright Funeral Home of Wheeler. Mrs. VanZandt was born on the family ranch between Wheeler and Mobeetie and moved to Clarendon in 1916. She graduated from Clarendon High School and Texas Tech University in 1929 with a degree in home economics. She taught school in Post, Mobeetie and Wheeler. In 1975, she and her husband retired from farming and moved to Clarendon. She returned to Wheeler in 1992. She was a member of United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Eastern Star in Clarendon and Mobeetie, Blue Bonnet Study Club and the Pathfinders Club. She married C.J. VanZandt in 1932. He died in 1982. Survivors include a son, Joe VanZandt of Mobeetie and Pampa; four grandchildren; and four great-grandsons. The family requests memorials be to United Methodist Church of Mobeetie, Wheeler or Clarendon; or a favorite charity. Paul B. Lancaster PERRYTON - Paul B. Lancaster, 70, died Friday, May 22, 1998. Graveside services were Tuesday at Dublin Live Oak Cemetery in Dublin. Mr. Lancaster was born in Dublin. He attended the University of Texas at Austin and served in the Marines. He worked for Amerada Oil Co. for 16 years and retired in 1990 from Mewbourne Oil Co. as head superintendent at Perryton. Mr. Lancaster was preceded in death by his wife, Norma Lancaster, in 1989. He married Louise in 1990. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Elizabeth Lancaster and Paulette Baumgardner; a brother, Homer Lancaster of Fort Worth; two sisters, Ruth Davis of Oklahoma City and Margaret Pool of North Richland Hills; and four grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Panhandle Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Saint Stephen United Methodist Church or a favorite charity. Florence Robinson HEREFORD - Florence Robinson, 81, died Tuesday, May 26, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Rose Chapel with the Rev. Dr. Tom Fuller, pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow at 3:30 p.m. at North Fairview Cemetery in Wellington by Gilliland-Watson Funeral Home. Mrs. Robinson was born in Honey Grove. She married Arthur Robinson in 1939 at Wellington. She came to Deaf Smith County in 1957 from Quail. Mrs. Robinson was a secretary for the Hereford School District and a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Connie Brumley of Hereford; four granddaughters; three great-granddaughters; and one great-grandson. The family will be at 212 Western. They request memorials be to a favorite charity. Lorena McFarland CHILDRESS - Lorena McFarland, 94, died Tuesday, May 26, 1998. Services will be at 4 p.m. today at Parkview Baptist Church with the Rev. Don McFarland, pastor of Parkview Baptist Church, and Lon Elkins, pastor of Caldwell Church of Christ, officiatiing. Arrangements are by Johnson Funeral Home. McFarland was born in Brown County. She married Obert McFarland in 1924 at Childress. She attended Draughon's Business College in Abilene and worked for Hargraves, Caradine and Circle Inn Cleaners. McFarland was a member of Parkview Baptist Church and a pianist for Shores Creek Community Church. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1984; a son, Raymond, in 1997; and a grandson. Survivors include two daughters, Eloise Elkins of Caldwell and Bonnie Howard of Rogers, Ark.; a son, Don McFarland of Childress; a brother, C.D. Reese of Kerrville; nine grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. Dorothy Bray DUMAS - Dorothy Bray, 77, died Tuesday, May 26, 1998. Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. Mike Aiken officiating. Burial will follow at 3:30 p.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mrs. Bray was born in Hayden, N.M. She married Otis Bray in 1940 in Tucumcari, N.M. She moved to Dumas from Amarillo in 1956 and was a resident of Dumas until 1988. She retired in 1988 as secretary for IBP Inc. and was a homemaker. Mrs. Bray was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1967. Survivors include two sons, Bryan Bray of Amarillo and Gary Bray of Dumas; three daughters, Geneva Harris and Eileen Bearden, both of Dumas, and Ruth Ann Stevenson of Alcova, Wyo.; a brother, Wid Stevenson of Hayden; four sisters, Faye Brannon of Clayton, N.M., Ruby Eikner of Eads, Colo., Lou Beasley of Dalhart and Madge Howe of Casper, Wyo.; nine grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren. The family will be at 812 Bennett in Dumas. They request memorials be to the American Cancer Society, 211 Zauk, Dumas, Texas 79029 or a favorite charity. Barbara Maxine Brown Adrian - Barbara Maxine Brown, 64, died Wednesday, May 27, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church of Adrian with the Rev. Melvin Smith and the Rev. Bob Miller, pastor of South Georgia Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery of Vega by Vega Funeral Home. Mrs. Brown was born in Floydada and lived in Adrian since 1946. She married Jimmy Brown in 1954 at Tucumcari, N.M. Mrs. Brown retired after 27 years of teaching in Amarillo, Vega and Adrian. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Adrian. Survivors include her husband; and a son, Jody Brown of Houston. The family requests memorials be to First Baptist Church of Adrian or Memorial Park Cemetery of Vega. Wesley Gray Farr GROOM - Wesley Gray Farr, 64, died Tuesday, May 26, 1998. Graveside services will be at 5 p.m. today in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with the Rev. Dr. James Bell, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Clarendon, officiating. Arrangements were by Robertson Funeral Directors Inc. in Clarendon. Farr was born in Jericho, Donley County, and was a resident of Clarendon most of his life. He moved to Groom four years ago. He was an Army veteran. He had worked as a truck driver and in agriculture-related businesses. Farr was a member of First United Methodist Church in Clarendon. Survivors include a son, Wesley Ray Farr of Amarillo; a stepson, Larry Brackett of Canyon; and four sisters, Eva Hermesmeyer of Clarendon, Kathie Fleming of San Antonio, Anita Hanley of Norman, Okla., and Cleta Thornhill of Georgetown. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be to The Groom Cross Project, Groom, Texas 79039 or a favorite charity.