Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 29 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; Tuesday, September 29, 1998, 6:15 AM Amarillo Francis L. Rakow Sr. Francis L. "Frank" Rakow Sr., 50, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Sept. 27, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Rector Funeral Home Chapel, 2800 S. Osage St., with Chaplain Dale Freeman and the Rev. Leon Green, pastor of Bolton Street Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mr. Rakow was born in Boscobel, Wis., and moved to Amarillo 30 years ago from California. He was an Army veteran. He worked as a truck driver for Excel for six years and for Affiliated Foods from 1993 until 1998. Survivors include four daughters, Delores Jean Rakow of Prescott Valley, Ariz., Darla Lynn Maslyn of Phoenix, Debbie Ann Johnson of Chandler, Ariz., and Diana Marie Rakow of Mesa, Ariz.; two sons, Frank Lee Rakow Jr. of Amarillo and William Christopher Rakow of Shelby, Ala.; three sisters, Linda Lowery of Mojave Valley, Ariz., Wanda Thornton of Estacada, Ore., and Leona Lowery of San Diego; three brothers, Gene Rakow of Portland, Ore., Henry Miller of Bullhead City, Ariz., and Glen Miller of San Diego; a special friend, Bernadine Boutwell of the home; and four grandchildren. The family will be at 7051 Comanche Drive in Tierra Grande. William W. Taylor Jr. William W. "Al" Taylor Jr., 61, of Amarillo, died Friday, Sept. 25, 1998. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. MST Wednesday in Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, N.M. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage. Mr. Taylor was born in Clovis, N.M. He worked for Roto Rooter in Houston for 20 years and then moved to Amarillo where he was employed by Scottco and Everett's Plumbing. He was a veteran of the Navy. He married Diana K. Yount in 1967 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Connie McAnear of Clarendon; a son, William Dean Taylor of Clarendon; two sisters, Mabel Fischer of Amarillo and Faye Maddox of Virginia; and four grandchildren. The family will be at 2511 S. Spring. They suggest in lieu of flowers, memorials be to Cal Farley's Boys' Ranch. Virginia McGuire Burns Virginia McGuire Burns, 78, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Sept. 27, 1998. Services will be at 4 p.m. today in Memorial Park Funeral Home, Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with Dr. Clinton L. Burns of Christ Church in Sherman officiating. Burial will be in North Fairview Cemetery in Wellington. There will be no graveside services. Mrs. Burns was born in Altus, Okla. She was a homemaker who moved to Amarillo in 1960 from Midland. She married E. Lee Burns in 1938 at Hollis, Okla. He died in 1994. Survivors include a son, Dr. Clinton L. Burns of Pottsboro; a daughter, Karen Burns Fry of Amarillo; two brothers, Travis C. McGuire of Amarillo and Eugene F. McGuire of Roswell, N.M.; a sister, Thelma McGuire Box of Lubbock; and three grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center of Amarillo. Richard Carlisle LaMunyon Richard Carlisle LaMunyon, 43, of Amarillo, died Friday, Sept. 25, 1998. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in First Christian Church with the Rev. David Scott and the Rev. Frank Springer officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Perryton. Mr. LaMunyon was born in Stillwater, Okla., and had lived in Amarillo for the past three years. He was a retail salesperson and was a member of the First Christian Church in Laverne, Okla. Survivors include his parents, Virl and Patsy LaMunyon of Perryton; a sister, Richelle Edmonston of Stillwater; two brothers, John LaMunyon of Oklahoma City and Bret LaMunyon of Perryton; and his grandmother, Neva Carlisle of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials be to Ochiltree Hospice, 3101 Garrett, Perryton; or Make-A-Wish Foundation, P.O. Box 809, Perryton, TX; or a favorite charity. Denby Batchlear Denby Batchlear, 86, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Sept. 27., 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Memorial Park Cemetery with Jim Westbrook, pastor, officiating. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mr. Batchlear was born in Spring Creek, Okla. He moved to Amarillo in 1943 from Erick, Okla. He was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. He was a mechanic and member of First Foursquare Church. Survivors include his wife, Pauline; a son, Larry Batchlear of Amarillo; a daughter, Evelyn B. Messer of Amarillo; a brother, Speed Batchlear of Erick; a sister Naomi Renko of Coronado, Calif.; three grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Visitation will be from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. today in the funeral home. Gertrude B. Ansley Gertrude B. Ansley, 88, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Sept. 24, 1998. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. today in Memorial Park Cemetery with Dr. Garrett of Polk Street United Methodist Church officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell Ave. Mrs. Ansley was born in Salina, Kan., and moved to Amarillo in 1950. She retired as cook for the Rice Restaurant and was a member of Polk Street United Methodist Church. Her husband of 25 years, Paul Ansely, preceded her in death in 1972. There are no known survivors. Visitation will be from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. today at the funeral home. Pete Tenorio Pete Tenorio, 31, of Amarillo, died Monday, Sept. 28, 1998. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. today at Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mass will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with the Rev. Hector J. Madrigal of the church officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Tenorio was born in Tucumcari, N.M., and had lived in Amarillo for 20 years. He was a Catholic. He was preceded in death by his father, Jacob Jaramillo, in 1977 and by a brother, Anthony Jaramillo, in 1990. Survivors include his mother, Irene Galindo of Amarillo; a brother, Daniel Galindo of Amarillo; two sisters, Matilda Blanco of Albuquerque, N.M., and Nina Galindo of Amarillo. The family will be a 91 N. Kentucky. Oklahoma Wilma Ruth Overton BEAVER, Okla. - Wilma Ruth Overton, 88, died Saturday, Sept. 26, 1998. Services will be at 1 p.m. today in the Beaver First Baptist Church with Bill Sherrill officiating. Burial will be in Tyrone Cemetery at Tyrone by Clark Funeral Service. Mrs. Overton was born in Texas County. She graduated from Eureka High School at Baker. She was a housewife. She married Olman Overton in 1965 at Beaver. He died in 1994. Survivors include a son, Gary Martin of Marysville, Ohio; a stepdaughter, Marie Jiles of Beaver; a brother, Harvey Simmons of Caldwell, Idaho; a sister, Marguerite Copeland of West Memphis, Ark.; 10 grandchildren; and 15 greatgrandchildren. Elsewhere Jim Braymer TYLER - Jim Braymer, 63, died Friday, Sept. 25, 1998. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in Burks-Walker-Tippit Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dave Barteaux officiating. Burial will be in Cathedral in the Pines. Mr. Braymer was born in Borger and moved to Tyler five years ago following his retirement as a principal of Borger High School. He was a teacher as well as a coach in Dalhart, Artesia, N.M., Phillips and Borger schools. He had received his master's degree from the University of North Texas. He was a member of the Green Acres Baptist Church. He had been married to Lois L. Braymer for 41 years. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Carrie Lucinda McFerron of Tyler; two brothers, Valden Braymer of Fort Worth and Richard Braymer of Borger; a sister, Louise Proffitt of Amarillo; special friend, Alyce Youngblood of Tyler; and two grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Grace Community School, 3001 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75701. New Mexico Maria Viola Elliott TUCUMCARI, N.M. - Maria Viola Elliott, 73, of Phoenix and a former Logan resident, died Thursday, Sept. 24, 1998. Mass of the Resurrection will be at 11 a.m. today in Gallegos Catholic Church at the Gallegos Ranch north of Logan. Burial will follow in the family plot of the Gallegos Cemetery by Dunn Funeral Home of Tucumcari. Mrs. Elliott was born in Clayton and had lived in Phoenix the past 15 years. Prior to moving to Phoenix, she had lived in California and Albuquerque. She was a salesperson in retail shoe sales. She was a Catholic. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Elliott, in 1973. Survivors include two daughters, Pam Weese of Glendale, Ariz., and Diane Rohr of Las Vegas; two sisters, Cecilia Trujillo of Tucumcari and Anita of Albuquerque; six grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren. Area John George Hahn PAMPA - John George Hahn, 73, died Monday, Sept. 28, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Groom Cemetery with the Rev. Harold Hook, pastor of the Hobart Baptist Church, officiating. Masonic graveside rites are courtesy of the Pampa Masonic Lodge 966 AF&AM. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Hahn was born in Groom and had lived in Pampa since 1953. In 1982, he retired from Celanese. He was a member of the Pampa Masonic Lodge 966 AF&AM where he was a 32nd Degree Mason. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He served in the Army Intelligence Unit at New Caledonia. He attended Hobart Baptist Church. Survivors include his mother, Lorena Hahn of Oklahoma City; a brother, William "Bill" Hahn Sr. of Pampa; and a sister, Berniece Clark of Oklahoma City. Raymond A. Higginbotham HEREFORD - Raymond A. Higginbotham, 82, died Monday, Sept. 28, 1998. Services will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday in First United Methodist Church of Hereford with Dr. Tom Fuller, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Rest Lawn Memorial Park by Gililland-Watson Funeral Home. Mr. Higginbotham was born in Floydada and moved to Chillicothe where he graduated from high school in 1934. He received his degree in agriculture engineering from Texas A&M. From 1938 until 1942, he was an agricultural engineer for the Soil Conservation Service. In 1942, Mr. Higginbotham joined the Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet. After training at Yale University, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He was assigned to aircraft maintenance in the Ferring division where he was officer in charge. He later served in Casa Blanca in Northern Africa. Mr. Higginbotham attained the rank of captain by the end of World War II. He transferred to the Air Force Reserves and rose to the rank of major. In 1956, he retired from the reserves. Mr. Higginbotham returned to the Soil Conservation Service as an agricultural engineer in Spur, resigned in 1951 and moved to Deaf Smith County to become a farmer. He served on the Texas Farmers' Sugar Beet Board for the American Crystal Sugar Beet Co., of Hereford. He served on the Holly Sugar Beet Farmers' Board until 1975. In 1957, Mr. Higginbotham was named Soil Conservation Farmer of the Year. He served on the Deaf Smith County Electric Coop Board for 19 years. He was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church. Mr. Higginbotham was a member of the Masonic Lodge. He became a master Mason in 1951 and was elected worshipful master in 1952. In 1996, he was presented the Masonic 50-year service pin. He married Nedra Hogan in 1940 at Spur. She preceded him in death in April. He also was preceded in death by a son, Landis Higginbotham, in 1958, and by a daughter, Ann Higginbotham, in 1966. He is survived by a brother, Billy Frank Higginbotham of Pecos; and two sisters, Frances Doll of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Mary Louise Work of Crosbyton. Dionisio Flores Aguilera HEREFORD - Dionisio Flores Aguilera, 91, died Sunday, Sept. 27, 1998. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today at the Rose Chapel. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in San Jose Catholic Church of Hereford with the Rev. Domingo Castillo, pastor of La Iglesia de San Jose, officiating. Burial will be in St. Anthony's Catholic Cemetery by GilillandWatson Funeral Home. Mr. Aguilera was born in Santa Ignacio, Mexico. He moved to Hereford in 1957 from Raymondville. He was a farm laborer and member of La Iglesia de San Jose. He married Maria Pena in 1960 at Hereford. Survivors include his wife; six daughters, Angela Escalante, Lupe Cross, Rose Aguilar, Carol Contreras and Anna Aguilera, all of Hereford, and Mary Castro of Amarillo; six sons, Joe Martinez of Littlefield, Sammy Aguilera of Amarillo, Juan Aguilera of Friona and Tony Pena, Ventura Aguilera and Roy Aguilera, all of Hereford; 33 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family will be at 306 Dayton. Bessie M. Sanders OLTON - Bessie M. Sanders, 78, died Sunday, Sept. 27, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in Olton Nazarene Church with J. Dean McNamara, chaplain of Family Hospice of the Plains, and the Rev. Jack Camp, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at 4 p.m. in Rowe Cemetery in Hedley by Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Home. Mrs. Sanders was born in Amarillo and had lived in Olton since 1959. She previously lived in Hedley. She married Utah Sanders in 1939 at Clovis, N.M. He died in 1989. Survivors include six sons, Willie Sanders of Littlefield, J.B. Sanders of San Angelo, Joe Sanders of Tulia, Ron Sanders of Olton, Jack Sanders of Plainview and Tommy Sanders of Odessa; two daughters, Susan Baland of Lubbock and Jimmie K. Peters of Aspermont; two sisters, Flora Sanders of Hedley and Maggie Mobbs of Altus, Okla.; a brother, Marion Parker of Dimmitt; 16 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Vista Hospice Care Foundation, 4418 Olton Road, Plainview, TX 79072. Sally L. Walker DUMAS - Sally L. Walker, 87, died Monday, Sept. 28, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Morrison Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel with Allen Kramer of Sixth and Meredith Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be in Dumas Cemetery. Mrs. Walker was born in Burkburnett and had been a Moore County resident since 1944. For 28 years, she was the cafeteria manager for Dumas Junior High School. She was a member of the Sixth and Meredith Church of Christ. She married Wanda Weaver Walker in 1929 at Altus, Okla. He preceded her in death in 1991. Survivors include a daughter, Elwanda Weatherford of Dumas; a sister, Naomi Piercy of Amarillo; two grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two great-greatgrandchildren. The family will be at 608 Cedar. They suggest memorials be to a favorite charity. Arlene Greathouse SUDAN - Arlene Greathouse, 87, died Monday, Sept. 28, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Sudan Church of Christ with Dean Wiseman of Dimmitt and Terry Wilson, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Sudan Cemetery by Ellis Funeral Home. Mrs. Greathouse was born in New Baden and moved to Sudan in 1931 from Vernon. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Sudan Church of Christ and former member of South Plains Genealogical Society of Lubbock. She and her husband owned and operated Greathouse Cleaners. She married Marvin H. Greathouse in 1934 at Muleshoe. He died in 1994. She is survived by two nieces, three nephews and a special friend, Laverne Bernethy of Dimmitt. The family suggests memorials be to Sudan EMS, Sudan, TX 79371. Austin Blair Meriwether PLAINVIEW - Austin Blair Meriwether, 81, died Sunday, Sept. 27, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Garland Street Church of Christ with Karl King and J.W. Hamby officiating. Burial will be in Lockney by Lemons Funeral Home. Mr. Meriwether was born in Lockney where he graduated from high school. He attended Abilene Christian College. During World War II, he was a bomber pilot with the Army Air Corps. He flew 47 missions in Europe and was awarded the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters. Mr. Meriwether was a farmer in Lockney until moving to Plainview in 1970. He was a member of the Church of Christ where he served as a deacon in Lockney and an elder of the Garland Street church. He founded the National Bible Studies correspondence work and was its director for 25 years. He married Lorane Butler in 1941 at Plainview. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Melinda Pratt of Kansas; a sister, Elfie Sherman of Lockney; and a granddaughter. The family suggests memorials be to Lubbock Children's Home, P.O. Box 2824, Lubbock, TX 79408-9973. Wilford Douglas Bergvall WELLINGTON - Wilford Douglas Bergvall, 89, died Sunday, Sept. 27, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with Mark Keyes, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of Childress, officiating. Burial will be in North Fairview Cemetery by Adams Funeral Home. Mr. Bergvall was born in Duluth, Minn., where he attended school. He lived in Salt Lake City before moving to Wellington. He was a veteran of the Air Force. He was employed as a house painter and was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He married Ophelia Estelle Trimble in 1943 at Hollis, Okla. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Craig Bergvall of Mansfield and Gary Bergvall of Austin; a daughter, Vickie White of Nashville, Tenn.; a niece, Kathy Trimble Sawatzky of Weatherford, Okla.; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Wellington Cemetery Association or a favorite charity. Manuel R. Valdez HEREFORD - Manuel R. Valdez, 84, died Saturday, Sept. 26, 1998. Services will be in Monterey, Mexico with burial in Santa Cruz. Local arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40 in Amarillo. Mr. Valdez was born in Santa Cruz, Coahuila, Mexico. He married Evangelina Herrera. Survivors include his wife; four sons, Raul Valdez of Hereford, Eulogio Valdez of Garland, Roger Valdez of Denver and Manuel A. Valdez of Monterey, Mexico; four daughters, Eva Villegaz and Dora Elig Garcia, both of Hereford, and Yolanda Rodriguez and Adriana Garcia, both of Garland; 24 grandchildren; 14 greatgrandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. There will be no viewing and no visitation. Celia Gonzalez Lira TULIA - Celia Gonzalez Lira, 61, died Monday, Sept. 28, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Central Church of Christ in Tulia with Delfino Ruiz, minister of Ninth and Columbia Church of Christ in Plainview, officiating. Burial will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Memory Gardens in Amarillo by Wallace Funeral Home of Tulia. Mrs. Lira was born and raised in Jimenez, Mexico. She lived in Eagle Pass for several years then in Abernathy for 10 years. She moved to Tulia in 1969 where she was a homemaker and member of Central Church of Christ. She married Jose M. Lira in 1952 at Jimenez. Survivors include her husband; three daughters, Julie Rodriquez and Yolanda Benson, both of Amarillo, and Romelia Leal of Pampa; three sons, Raymond Lira of Tulia, Joe Lira Jr., of San Benito and Francisco Lira of San Angelo; a sister, Isabel Esquivel of Jimenez; two brothers, Elien Gonzalez of Fort Worth and Mariano Gonzalez of Uvalde; and 17 grandchildren.