Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 30 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; Friday, January 30, 1998, 7:52 AM Area Edna Leona Kirchoff PLAINVIEW - Edna Leona Kirchoff, 96, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in First United Methodist Church Chapel with Dr. Max Browning officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park by Lemons Funeral Home. Mrs. Kirchoff was born in Edwardsport, Ind., and was raised in Freelandville, Ind., where she attended schools. She taught school in Freelandville in a one-room school house. She married Hal W. Kirchoff in 1921 at Freelandville. They moved to Bicknell, Ind., where they lived for two years. They moved to Hale County in 1930 where they farmed. She was a member of First United Methodist Church and had been active in United Methodist Women where she was a lifetime member and was also a member of the choir. She was a member of the Travel Study Club, having served twice as president. She also was a member of the Woman's Club of Plainview. Survivors include two sons, George G. Kirchoff of Pampa and Robert E. Kirchhoff of Plainview; two brothers, W.C. Seirp and Kenneth Seirp, both of Las Cruces, N.M.; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. The family will meet at 10 a.m. today in the First United Methodist Church parlor and will have a noon meal at the church. Opal Mason PAMPA - Opal Mason, 74, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Memory Gardens Cemetery with Doug Cullins of Jehovah's Witnesses officiating. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mrs. Mason was born in Brownfield. She moved to Pampa in 1961 from Odessa. She was a Jehovah's Witness. She married Ervin Mason in 1940 at Gains County. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Grace Marie Sells in 1995. Survivors include her husband; five sons, Donald Mason, Garil Mason, Dewayne Mason, Jackie Mason, all of Amarillo, and Kenneth Mason of Newark; four daughters, Rebecca Bradley, Kathy Hatcher, Carolyn Sells and Rita Harris, all of Amarillo; 31 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren. Ima L. Venable OLTON - Ima L. Venable, 85, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Littlefield Primitive Baptist Church with Cleveland Bass, pastor, and George Johnson, pastor of Lubbock Primitive Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Olton Cemetery by Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Home. Mrs. Venable was born in Anson. She moved to Olton from Springlake in 1941. She married Ernest "E.M." Venable in 1930 at Clovis, N.M. He died in 1987. Survivors include a daughter, Shirley Brooks of Hart; two sons, Lonnie Venable of Tulia and Travis Venable of Lubbock; 12 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Runningwater Draw Care Center, Meals on Wheels program, P.O. Box 409, Olton, Texas, 79064; or Olton Ambulance Association, P.O. Drawer X, Olton, Texas, 79064. Frances Goodwin DIMMITT - Frances Goodwin, 80, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Rusty Dickerson, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park by Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Home. Mrs. Goodwin was born in Erick, Okla. She moved to Dimmitt in 1940 from Sweetwater, Okla. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Dimmitt. She married P.O. Goodwin in 1937 at Sayre, Okla. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Kay Sharon Freeman, in 1984 and a son, Beeleey Goodwin, in 1993. Survivors include her husband; a son, Mike Goodwin of Festus, Mo.; a daughter, Ricki Dane of Big Lake; a sister, Maggie Riley of Carson, Calif.; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Scholarship Fund of First United Methodist Church, 110 S.W. Third St., Dimmitt, Texas, 79027. Tom E. Long PADUCAH - Tom E. Long, 96, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Sam Crosby, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery by Seigler Funeral Home. Mr. Long was born in King County and had been a lifelong resident of King and Cottle counties. He was a retired farmer and stockman. He was a former director of the Federal Land Bank Association and active in local farm organizations. He was a member of First Baptist Church. He married Alma Gibson in 1947 at Canyon. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Elizabeth Long Stewart, in 1989. Survivors include his wife; a son, Dr. Jack C. Long of Amarillo; two sisters, Jewell Long of Paducah and Eula Bannowsky of Junction; a brother, Elmo Long of Paducah; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Mary Belew WELLINGTON - Mary Belew, 75, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Bob Faegan, pastor of Memorial Baptist Church in Lubbock, and the Rev. James McLeod, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Gardens Cemetery by Adams Funeral Home. Mrs. Belew was born and raised in Wellington. She graduated from Wellington High School in 1939. She was a homemaker and member of First Baptist Church. She married Arthur Belew in 1948 at Wellington. He died in 1969. Survivors include five sons, Leroy Belew and Kenneth Patterson, both of Wellington, Donnie Belew of Tucson, Ariz., Tom Belew of New Orleans and Alton Belew of Glen Rose; six daughters, Evelyn Jarvis of New Orleans, Betty Langford of Wellington, Quinda Miller of Fairview, Okla., Janis Duerfeldt of Tucson, Pat Johnson of Oklahoma and Linda Menge of Guthrie, Okla.; 38 grandchildren; and 37 great-grandchildren. Dora G. Enriquez HEREFORD - Dora G. Enriquez, 71, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in San Jose Church with the Rev. Demingo, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in St. Anthony's Cemetery by Rix Funeral Directors. Mrs. Enriquez was a homemaker and a member of San Jose Church. She married Ancleto Enriquez in 1969 at Hereford. Survivors include her husband; nine sons, Samual Adam Gonzalez, Emilo Fonzie Enriquez, Ancleto Enriquez Jr., Jose Angel Enriquez, Jesus Enriquez and Emilo Enriquez Sr., all of Hereford, Raul Enriquez of Uvalde, Ramon Cruz and Omero Cruz, both of Nuevo, Mexico; five daughters, Fransica Cruz and Gloria Cruz, both of Nuevo, Guadalupe Silva of Uvalde, Dora Irene Cortez and Margarita Hernandez, both of Hereford; and a brother, Antonio Garcia of Los Angeles. The family requests memorials be to the San Jose Church. Jesse Earl Stucker HIGGINS - Jesse Earl Stucker, 79, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998, in Shattuck, Okla. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Higgins Cemetery with the Rev. Jimmy Morris, pastor of Higgins Church of the Nazarene, officiating. Arrangements are by Stickley-Hill Funeral Directors of Canadian. Mr. Stucker was born in Unionville, Mo. He moved to Higgins in 1919. He moved to a farm south of Higgins in 1946. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a farmer and a rancher. He was a member of the American Legion. Survivors include a brother, Bennie Stucker of Adel, Iowa; and a sister, Bessie Mitchell, of Mountain Home, Ark. The body will be available for viewing in the Stickley-Hill Chapel Friday from 1 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Gerald Cross LOCKNEY - Gerald Cross, 57, of Alvarado, died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 1998. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Lockney Cemetery with Russell Harris, pastor of Main Street Church of Christ, officiating. Arrangements are by Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home of Lockney. Mr. Cross was born in Lockney. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He moved to Alvarado in 1981. He was a truck driver. He married Anna Leach in 1981 at Clovis, N.M. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Gary Cross and Mike Cross, both of Olton; two stepdaughters, Vickie Mosely of Irving and Linda Reeder of Kaufman; a sister, Charline Bates of Austin; and 10 grandchildren. The family will receive visitors at the funeral home Saturday from 9:30 to 11 a.m. and suggests memorials be to the American Heart Association, 3403 73rd Street, Lubbock, Texas 79423; or to the American Cancer Society, 3411 73rd Street, Lubbock, Texas 79423. James Jackson Davidson CLARENDON - James Jackson "Jack" Davidson, 82, died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 1998, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Robertson Chapel of Memories with Rev. Bryan Knowles, pastor of Martin Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Citizens Cemetery by Robertson Funeral Directors. Mr. Davidson was born in Charleston, Ill. He moved to Clarendon from California in 1983. He served in the Army during World War II. He was a carpenter and retired in 1971. He was active in the Clarendon Senior Citizens Association and a member of the Senior Citizens Dance Club. He was a member of Clarendon VFW Post No. 7782. He married Edna Rose Powell in 1947 at California. She died in 1977. He married Ilene Mae Schlitz in 1978 at Las Vegas. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Louella Raymond of Littlefield, Iowa, and Carla Cunnington of Wasilla, Alaska, a brother, Russell Davidson of San Pablo, Calif.; nine grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren. Elsie Bullard Himes PLAINVIEW - Elsie Bullard Himes, 86, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998 in Amarillo. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in Lemons Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Ron Brunson, pastor of Plainview New Covenant Church, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park by Lemons Funeral Home. Mrs. Himes was born in Meridian, Texas. She moved to the Plainview area in 1948. She owned and operated the Panhandle Fruit Market until her retirement. She married William Lonnie Bullard. He died in 1962. She married J.W. Himes in 1972. Survivors include her husband, of Albuquerque, N.M., two daughters, Fredia Addington of Tulsa, Okla., and Betty Goodwin of Plano; a stepdaughter, Leta Himes of Albuquerque; two sisters, Hazel Goode of Brownsville and Gladys Walk of Albuquerque; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Inez Johnson CHILDRESS - Inez Johnson, 93, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998. A memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Johnny Robertson officiating. The body will be donated for medical research. Arrangements are by Johnson Funeral Home. Mrs. Johnson was born in Windom. She was a homemaker. She served on administrative boards at churches in Childress and Tell from 1923 to 1980. She was a lifelong member of United Methodist Women. She was a charter member of the Tell Home Demonstration Club. She was a member of First United Methodist Church. She married Audie J. Johnson in 1923 at Estelline. He died in 1980. She married D.A. Johnson in 1982. He died in 1983. Survivors include a daughter, Maurine Heard of Childress; a son, A.J. Johnson of Childress; a brother, George Weir of Tell; a stepson, I.N. Johnson of South Plains; and five grandchildren. Thelma May Fields HEREFORD - Thelma May Fields, 93, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Christian Assembly Church with the Rev. Milton Gresham, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Rest Lawn Memorial Park by Gilliland-Watson Funeral Home. Mrs. Fields was born in Montague. She moved to Deaf Smith county in 1947. She operated a cafe in Morton for many years. She owned a grocery store and rental property before her retirement. She married Luke "Doc" Fields in 1927 at Stillwater, Okla. He died in 1970. She was preceded in death by a son, Bobby Fields, in 1994. Survivors include a daughter, Sandy King of Amarillo; five grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family requests memorials be to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, 2324 Lakeview, Amarillo, Texas 79109. Avis Marie Knox MULESHOE - Avis Marie Knox, 84, of Whiteface, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church of Whiteface with the Rev. Harold Harrison, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Morton Memorial Cemetery in Morton by Ellis Funeral Home of Muleshoe. Mrs. Knox was born in Peaster. She had lived in Whiteface since 1959 when she moved from Morton. She attended Lehman Public Schools. She had been employed as a nurses aide at Cochran Memorial Hospital for a number of years. She was a member of First Baptist Church where she belonged to the WMU. She married Walter Marshall Knox in 1945 at Plainview. Survivors include her husband and her son, Henry Knox of Blanco. The family requests memorials be to Whiteface Volunteer Ambulance Fund or First Baptist Church of Whiteface. Francis Harold Gable MULESHOE - Francis Harold Gable, 75, of Levelland, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Ellis Funeral Home with the Rev. Rodney Kruse, chaplain of Hospice of Lubbock, and the Rev. James Carter, retired minister of Lubbock, officiating. Burial will be in Muleshoe Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Gable was born in Tipton, Okla. He had lived in Levelland since 1973 when he moved from Muleshoe. He was a World War II veteran of the Army. He was a retired farmer and truck driver. He married Juanell Buchanan in 1947 at Muleshoe. Survivors include his wife; three sons, James Gable of Denver, Dewayne Gable of Amarillo and Curtis Gable of Levelland; two daughters, Gayetta Jones of Portales, N.M., and Cynthia Noble of Lubbock; two brothers, Bill Gable of Vernon and Bob Gable of Muleshoe; and six grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Hospice of Lubbock, P.O. Box 53276, Lubbock, Texas, 79453. Amarillo Ela Belle Simpson Ela Belle Simpson, 78, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998. Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. today in St. Paul United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dan Usiak, associate minister, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Simpson was born in Oklahoma City and had lived in Amarillo since 1969. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church, where she attended Covenant Sunday School Class. She married Howard Simpson in 1937 at Oklahoma City. She was preceded in death by a son, Kenneth Howard Simpson. Survivors include her husband; a son, Ron Simpson of Augusta, Ga.; a daughter, Patti Munoz of Lubbock; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. John F. Delfs John F. "Jack" Delfs, 78, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with Dr. Howard K. Batson, pastor, officiating. Entombment will be in Memorial Park Mausoleum by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mr. Delfs was born in Dallas. He moved to Amarillo in 1938 to work for Plains Plumbing and to assist in the construction of the Veterans Hospital. He married Inez Gibson in 1940 in Amarillo. She died in 1988. Mr. Delfs served as a Navy Seabee during World War II. During that time, the Globe-News published letters he sent home to his wife as a Travelogue to Ireland. He owned and operated Delf's Plumbing and Heating Co. for over 30 years. Mr. Delfs was a member of First Baptist Church where he also served as a deacon and taught in the intermediate program for many years. He also was a member of Baptist St. Anthony's Hospital Auxiliary. He married Jeanne Barney in 1995 in Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Diana Cavin of Amarillo; a son, Dr. John Robert Delfs of Woodcliff Lake, N.J.; two stepsons, John "Buck" Barney of Amarillo and James Barney of Roanoke, Va.; a stepdaughter, Linda Getner of Amarillo; 10 grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the First Baptist Church or to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. Wilma Crain Wilma Crain, 41, of Amarillo, died Monday, Jan. 26, 1998. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. today in Llano Cemetery East with the Rev. Maurice Burks of Antioch Fellowship officiating. Arrangements are by Golden Gate Mortuary, 1416 N. Hughes St. Mrs. Crain was born in Amarillo, where she attended schools. Her mother, Mattie Crain, preceded her in death two years ago. Survivors include three daughters, Panda Crain of Paris, Calif., and Lakeisha White and Katerina Crain, both of Amarillo; five sisters, Ruth Sterns of Altus, Okla., Frances Crain, Karen Crain and Mattie George, all of Amarillo, and Della Brantley of Oklahoma City; five brothers, Cozy Crain, Arthur Crain, Glen Crain and Ernest Bradley Jr., all of Amarillo, and Lemmie Crain of Houston; and six grandchildren. The family will be at 608 Boston Place. Viewing will be from 9 to 11:30 a.m. today. Charlotte Ann Walten Charlotte Ann Walten, 43, of Amarillo, died Friday, Jan. 23, 1998. Cremation was by Memory Gardens Crematory. Her cremains will be taken to the California desert. Arrangements were by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Survivors include four sisters, Christine D. Worthy of Tulsa, Okla., Marie James of Cleveland, Okla., Victoria Walden of Lucerne, Calif., and Elizabeth Bradley of Las Vegas; and two brothers, Timothy Lancaster and Jason Lancaster, both of Plainview. Edward E. Elliott Jr. Edward E. Elliott Jr., 84, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 1998. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Unitarian Universalists Fellowship Hall, 4901 Cornell.Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Elliott was born in Belton. He had been raised in Temple where he graduated from Temple Junior College. He graduated from Texas Tech University in 1935. He taught public school until his service in World War II. He served with the National Guard of the Texas 36th Division in North Africa. Mr. Elliott had been an Amarillo resident since 1980. He was a rancher and farmer in Canyon for 17 years until his retirement. He married Nancy Katherine Blakely in 1964. Survivors include his wife; and three nephews, Dr. Charles P. Elliott of Commerce, William Elliott of Fredericksburg and David Elliott of Austin. The family requests memorials be to Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Family Counsel, 6010 W. Amarillo Blvd., Amarillo, Texas, 79106-1992; Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson, Amarillo, Texas, 79101-3232; or Jan Werner Adult Day Care Center, 3108 S. Fillmore St., Amarillo, Texas, 79119-1028. Clarence E. Bush Clarence E. "Jack" Bush, 95, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Saint Mary's Catholic Church with Monsignor Francis Smyer officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Bush was born in Winchester, Ky. and lived in Amarillo his whole married life. He was self-employed in the carpet cleaning business and was a sales representative. He married Florence Husch in 1932 at Tucumcari, N.M. She preceded him in death. Survivors include a son, Tom Bush of Amarillo; two sisters, Betty Wilson of Covina, Calif., and Babe Olliner of Amarillo; 10 grandchildren; and six greatgrandchildren. The family will be at 115 N. Western. Mrs. J.D. (Lucille) Hale Mrs. J.D. (Lucille) Hale, 94, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 1998. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. Larry Crumpton of Tenth Avenue United Methodist Church officiating. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mrs. Hale was born in Cooper and moved to Amarillo in 1947 from Borger. She was a homemaker and member of Tenth Avenue United Methodist Church. She married Jackson Duncan Hale in 1925. He died in 1968. She also was preceded in death by two sons, Jackson B. Hale, and David L. Hale. Survivors include two sons, John D. Hale of Santa Ana, Calif. and Jimmie C. Hale of Milwaukee, Ore.; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family will be at 1318 E. Eighth Ave. They request memorials be to the Sunshine Home Health Care or Meals on Wheels.