Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 31 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; Saturday, January 31, 1998, 6:50 AM Amarillo V.R. Gardner V.R. Gardner, 79, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Second Baptist Church with Dr. Charles Jones of Second Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mr. Gardner was born in Silverton and moved to Amarillo 58 years ago. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He retired from the U.S. Postal Service after working 30 years. He was a member of Second Baptist Church. He married Ann Hooper in 1941 at Hereford. Survivors include his wife; a son, James V. Gardner of Amarillo; and three grandchildren. The family will be at 2803 Rule and request memorials be to Second Baptist Church. Ernest E. Cochran Ernest E. Cochran, 87, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Llano Cemetery with Chaplain Chris Kutin of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center officiating. Military rites are by Disabled American Veterans Chapter 26. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home Inc., 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Cochran was born in Oklahoma and had lived in Amarillo on and off most of his life, including the last 10 years. He was a truck driver. He was preceded in death by his wife, Gladys in 1988 and by two sons, James Cochran in 1977 and Ernest Cochran in 1996. Survivors include a daughter-in-law, Laura Cochran of Amarillo; three grandchildren, David Cochran, Bobby Cochran and Amanda Cochran, all of Amarillo; and two great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center or Crown of Texas Hospice. Donald Lee McMaster Donald Lee McMaster, 64, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998, at Albuquerque, N.M. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Bence-Mihalcik Funeral Home at Indiana, Pa., with the Rev. Carol Orr officiating. Burial will be in LaJose Cemetery at Clearfield County, Pa. Mr. McMaster was born in Numine, Pa. He was a Navy veteran, retiring after 20 years. He served in both the Korean and Vietnam wars as a gunners mate. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1475 of Amarillo. Survivors include his wife, Anna Mae; two sons, Mark of Indiana, Pa., and Brian of Amarillo; three brothers, Harold B. Jr. of Amarillo, Gerald of Indiana and Howard F. of Amarillo; six grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday at the Harry J. Bence Funeral Home at Clymer. Barbara Ann Noel Barbara Ann Noel, 54, of Amarillo, died Friday, Jan. 30, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Fairview Cemetery in Pampa with the Rev. Lonnie Hooley of the Messenger Worship Center officiating. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Martin Road Chapel, 1505 Martin Road. Ms. Noel was born and raised in Pampa. She attended school in Pampa. She moved to Amarillo three years ago. Survivors include her sister-in-law, Juanice Noel of Amarillo; two nieces, Jonnie Noel and Chris Noel, both of Amarillo; three nephews, Bruce Noel Jr., Todd Noel and Gary Noel, all of Amarillo; three great-nieces; and four great-nephews. George B. Fisher George B. Fisher, 75, of Amarillo, died Friday, Jan. 30, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Riverside Cemetery in Mangum, Okla., by Greer Funeral Home of Mangum. Mr. Fisher was born in Elk City, Okla. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He moved to Amarillo in 1957 where he was employed in industrial maintenance. He was a lifetime member of Amarillo Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1475. Survivors include a special friend, Dorothy Shelton; four children ; two brothers, H.M. Fisher and J.R. Fisher, both of Amarillo; and three sisters, Evelyn Cook and Pat Smith, both of Mangum, and Bernice Nahrgang of Amarillo. Elsewhere Mildred Blackwood Holt HOUSTON - Mildred "Mickey" Blackwood Holt, 74, a former Amarillo resident, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998, at Houston. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. today in Trinity United Methodist Church in Amarillo with the Rev. Wayne Sheffield officiating. Cremation was by Waltripp Funeral Home of Houston. Mrs. Holt was raised in Claude. She graduated from high school at Claude in 1941. She moved to Amarillo in 1941 and lived here until 1994, when she moved to Houston. She had been employed for several years by the Amarillo Hospital District. She worked at St. Anthony's Hospital as an activities director until her retirement in 1993. She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church and the Daughters of the Nile. She had been a member of Beta Sigma Phi since 1952 and was voted Outstanding Girl in 1983. She also did volunteer work for the American Red Cross and other charities. She married Clarence O. Holt in 1940. He died in 1980. Survivors include four daughters, Judie Nichols and Janie Holt Chmores, both of Houston, and Diane Price and Bonnie Enos, both of Amarillo; three sisters, Pauline Couch and Edith Thomas, both of Amarillo, and Jimmy McLaughlin of Springfield, Mo.; 11 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Khiva Crippled Children's Hospital or Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center in Amarillo. Koy Velree Benefield LUBBOCK - Koy Velree Benefield, 63, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998. Services will be at 1 p.m. today in First United Methodist Church Chapel with Dr. R.L. Kirk of St. Stephens United Methodist Church in Amarillo officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park by Wood-Dunning Funeral Home in Plainview. Mr. Benefield was born in Lakeview. He graduated from Plainview High School and North Texas State University where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Epsilon. Mr. Benefield farmed for 25 years in Swisher County. He owned Plainview Asphalt Co., and was a cotton buyer for Benefield Cotton of Lubbock. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Plainview. Survivors include a son, Randell Koy Benefield of Arlington; a daughter, Velree Renee Wesley of Lubbock; a sister, Janet Mercer of Lubbock; a brother, Tim Benefield of Austin; and two grandsons. The family will be at 1118 Holiday Dr. in Plainview. Oklahoma Glenn C. Muir HARDESTY, Okla. - Glenn C. Muir, 82, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in the Hardesty school with Glen Briles of Adams, Okla., and the Rev. Don Calvert, pastor of Hardesty United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in the Hartville Cemetery by Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home of Guymon. Mr. Muir was born in Beaver. He graduated from high school in Sacramento, Calif. He moved to Perryton, Texas, in 1933 from California. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He moved to Canadian, Texas, in 1946 following his military discharge. In 1954, he moved to Guymon and worked on the Long Ranch. In 1961, he moved to Hardesty and worked as a cowboy on the Atkins Ranch for the past 37 years. Survivors include two sons, Frank Muir of Stinnett, Texas, and Bill Muir of Amarillo; two daughters, Glenna Laird of Woodward and Susan Brewer of Hardesty; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Hartville Cemetery fund or favorite charity. Memorials will be accepted at Bunch Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1112, Guymon, Okla. Louise W. Hanna LAWTON, Okla. - Louise W. Hanna, 94, a former Amarillo resident, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Llano Cemetery in Amarillo with the Rev. Chester O'Brien, Baptist minister, officiating. Arrangements are by Becker Funeral Home of Lawton. Mrs. Hanna was born in Oklahoma City. She lived in Canadian, Texas, until 1957 when she moved to Amarillo. She was a homemaker and member of Oakdale Christian Church. She had been a Lawton resident for eight years. She married Milton J. Hanna in 1922 at Reydon, Okla. He died in 1968. Survivors include a son, Wilford Hanna of Amarillo; two daughters, Vivian Fritsch of Lawton and Virginia Sellers of Odessa; eight grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Helen Long Elrod GUYMON, Okla. - Helen Long Elrod, 79, died Friday, Jan. 30, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in First Christian Church with the Rev. Don Chase, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Elmhurst Cemetery by Henson-Novak Funeral Directors of Guymon. Mrs. Elrod was born in Wichita, Kan., and moved to Guymon in 1924. She graduated from Guymon High School in 1936 and attended Oklahoma State University and the University of Colorado. Mrs. Elrod was one of the founders of T.E.L. Oil and Gas Corp. She served on the city of Guymon Park Board and was a member of the Beautification and Planning Committee of the city of Guymon. She was a longtime member and past chairman of the NW Pac 10 Mental Health Board. She was a member of First Christian Church. As a former state president of Oklahoma Garden Clubs, Mrs. Elrod had served as director of the South Central Region, NCSGC, and was recording secretary of the National Council of State Garden Clubs. She was a flower show judge and was serving on the state board of Oklahoma Garden Clubs. She was a member of the Delphinium Club for more than 50 years and had held many offices in the club. She married Hubert K. Elrod in 1939 at Guymon. Survivors include her husband; two sisters, Lou McKinnon and Donna Wilmeth, both of Guymon; and a brother, David Long of Guymon Friends may call from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. today and from 1 until 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be to the First Christian Church, which will be accepted at the church or the funeral home at Box 1306, Guymon, Okla., 73942. New Mexico Hatsue Myers CLOVIS, N.M. - Hatsue "Jeanie" Myers, 69, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. today in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Santa Fe National Cemetery at Santa Fe. Mrs. Myers was born in To-Torriken, Japan. She married George Myers in 1958 at Nagoya, Japan. She moved to New Mexico in 1960. She was a member of the Nicheran Sho Shu of America. Survivors include three daughters, Dorothy Atkins, June Klein and Judy Berkopec, all of Clovis; a son, Eddie Myer of Roswell; her mother; a brother; a sister; and two grandchildren. Vernie Baker CLOVIS, N.M. - Vernie Baker, 94, died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 1998. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens with Cecil Bunch officiating. Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Mrs. Baker was born in Clark County, Ark., and moved to Clovis in 1967 from Montgomery, Ala. She was a member of West 21st Street Church of Christ and the Senior Citizens Association. She married Owen W. Henson in 1920. He died in 1936. She also was preceded in death by two daughters, Velma Mae Poe in 1980 and Nora Edith Staggs in 1983. Survivors include two daughters, Jewell Dean Miller of Pioneer, Calif., and Janice R. Barron of Valparaiso, Fla.; two sons, Owen W. Henson of Clovis and James A. Baker of Eliott, Maine; 17 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to West 21st Street Church of Christ. Area Margarette Elizabeth King QUANAH - Margarette Elizabeth King, 81, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Price-Jackson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. John Spangler, minister of Trinity Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Quanah Memorial Park. Mrs. King was born in Medicine Mound and had lived in Hardeman County most of her life. She was a homemaker and a Baptist. She married Albert Parks King in 1936 at Goodlett. He died in 1973. Survivors include a son, Noel King of Quanah; and two grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Baptist church. Vivian Evelyn Leblanc SHAMROCK - Vivian Evelyn Leblanc, 63, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in Calvary Christian Fellowship Church with the Rev. Joe G. Jernigan, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Shamrock Cemetery by Wright Funeral Directors. Mrs. Leblanc had been a Shamrock resident since 1971. She had been employed by C & H Supply and was a Baptist. She married Dennis Leblanc in 1971 at Sayre, Okla. Survivors include her husband; a son, John Leonard of Edwardsville, Ill.; three daughters, Debbie Brown of Stinnett, Carol Judd of Amarillo and Anita Judkins of Anaheim, Calif.; seven brothers, Elton Homer Hicks of Weatherford, Thomas Andrew Hicks of El Cahon, Calif., Ronald Steven Hicks of Hydro, Okla., Paul Dale Hicks of Weatherford, Okla., Robert Arnold Hicks of Little Axe, Okla., Phillip Sharon Hicks of Moore, Okla., and Garland Gene Hicks of Myrtle Creek, Ore.; three sisters, Aileen Martin of Weatherford, Okla., Melba Jo Adkinson of Byers, Okla., and Rachel Stella Dickson of Watonga, Okla.; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Dollie Mae Pulliam PADUCAH - Dollie Mae Pulliam, 91, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998. Services were at 10 a.m. Friday in Seigler Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Sam Crosby, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial was in Garden of Memories Cemetery. Mrs. Pulliam was born in Tell. She had been a beautician in Paducah until 1959. She moved to Arlington and returned to Paducah in 1996. She was a Baptist. Survivors include a son, Jack Pulliam of Flagstaff, Ariz.; a daughter, Rita Goforth of Arlington; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Merle Mills HEREFORD - Merle Mills, 80, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998. Services will be at 4 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Terry Cosby, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Delhigh Cemetery in Sayre, Okla., by Gililland-Watson Funeral Home. Mrs. Mills was born in Erick, Okla., and moved to Texas in 1937. She moved to Deaf Smith County in 1990 from Plainview. She was a homemaker and member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include a son, Stephen Mills of Houston; two sisters, Marie Stringer and Clovis Seago, both of Hereford; and a grandson. Lucille Day Lane BEAUMONT - Lucille Day Lane, 86, a former Quanah resident, died Friday, Jan. 30, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Quanah Memorial Park with the Rev. Don Wirsdorfer, minister of First Christian Church, officiating. Arrangement are by Price-Jackson Funeral Home of Quanah. Mrs. Lane was born in Watonga, Okla., and lived in Quanah most of her life. She had been employed as a buyer for The Leader. She moved to Beaumont in 1975 and was sales manager for PalaisRoyal. She was a member of First Christian Church. She married Arthur Low Lane in 1928 at Acme. He died in 1992. Survivors include a daughter, Doris Lane Mitchell of Beaumont; two sisters, Bobbie Haynes of Fort Worth and Jean Carroll of Lubbock; four grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and two greatgreat-grandchildren. The family will be available for visitation from 7 until 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Chanie Ranee Wheeler FRITCH - Chanie Ranee Wheeler, 4-year-old daughter of Mike Wheeler and Leeah Howard of Borger, died Friday, Jan. 29, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in the Church of Christ at Borger with Brian Boverie, minister of the Fritch Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in West Lawn Memorial Park by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Chanie was born in Amarillo and lived in the area all of her life. Survivors include her parents; grandparents, Bob and Patsy Sims of Fritch and Doug and Fern Whipkey of Houston; and great-grandparents, Mrs. Merle Howard of Borger and Mrs. Claudine Clark of Sanford. The family will be at 1006 Brennan in Fritch and also at the Don Watson residence, which is a quarter mile east of Sanford on Highway 1319. Mary Pauline Harbour PANHANDLE - Mary Pauline Harbour, 86, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. today in Conway Community Church with the Rev. Jim Perkins, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Minton / Chatwill Funeral Directors. Mrs. Harbour was born in Higgins. During World War II, she was chairman for the Red Cross in Fulton, Ark., and knitted 30 sweaters for the men. She had been a Panhandle resident since 1970 when she moved from Kerrick. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and a homemaker. Survivors include a son, Rex Darnall of Panhandle; a daughter, Donna Kellog of Bethany, Okla.; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Huber Rex Tillery STRATFORD - Huber Rex Tillery, 76, of Amarillo, and a longtime Stratford resident, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Mark Metzger, pastor, and the Rev. John Wagoner, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Dumas, officiating. Burial will be in Stratford Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mr. Tillery was a longtime resident of Stratford and had moved to Amarillo in 1995. He was a World War II veteran, having served with the Army. He was a farmer and rancher in Sherman County. Mr. Tillery was a past master of Masonic Lodge No. 874 of Stratford and a past patron of the Order of the Eastern Star of Stratford. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Stratford. He married Mozell Brannan in 1945 at Dalhart. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Sandy Tillery of Stratford, Terry Tillery of Brush, Colo., and Dexter Tillery of Amarillo; a daughter, LaJuan Eddleman of Floydada; three brothers, Arna Bingham of Madisonville, Tenn., Zephry Bingham and Frankie Bingham, both of Kansas City, Mo.; two sisters, Merriman Sims of Blue Springs, Mo., and Gerene McGowan of Plainview; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. The family will be at 19000 FM 2575A in Amarillo or at Sandy Tillery's in Stratford. They request memorial be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas, 79176-0001. Huley Eldon Darnell MEMPHIS - Huley Eldon "Cotton" Darnell, 82, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Travis Baptist Church with the Rev. Bob Reid officiating. Burial will be in Rowe Cemetery in Hedley by Spicer Funeral Home. Mr. Darnell was born in Ewlin. He was a former rancher and worked on the D-Bar Ranch for 20 years. He was a volunteer fireman and on the school board in Hedley. Survivors include his wife, Hazel Darnell; and four sons, Charlie Darnell of Amarillo, Joe Darnell of Mobeetie, Lonnie Darnell of Lubbock and Michael Darnell of Panhandle. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. C.S. Hall PLAINVIEW - C.S. Hall, 79, of Weslaco, died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Lemons Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with the Rev. A.C. Hamilton, retired Baptist minister, officiating. Burial will be in Floydada Cemetery. Mr. Hall was born and raised in Floydada. He graduated from Floydada High School in 1936. He graduated from Wayland Baptist College with a teaching certificate. After his graduation, he was employed by International Harvester. Mr. Hall served with the Army from 1942 until 1946. After his discharge, he moved to Plainview and was employed by Jarvis Tull and Green Machinery. He moved to Littlefield in 1963. In 1974, he moved to Baytown where he owned an excavating business. After his retirement in 1989, he moved to Weslaco. He married Laveta Thompson in 1963 in Littlefield. She died in 1972. Survivors include three daughters, Celia Bullock and Nancy Nelson, both of Plano, and Jule Burt of The Colony; a son, Steve Hall of Baytown; and 12 grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Billy Graham ministries. Jimmy S. Rodriquez BORGER - Jimmy S. Rodriquez, 62, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Sunday in Memorial Park Chapel. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories with Jeff Moses and Randy Hendrick officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Rodriquez was born in George York. He moved to Borger in 1959 from Hereford. He had been employed for 20 years as a sand blaster by Plastex Co., then later worked for Borger Greenhouse. He married Josie Gonzales in 1956 at Hereford. He was preceded in death by a son, Alex Rodriquez, in 1990. Survivors include his wife; a son, Roy Rodriquez of Canyon; two daughters, Mary Jane McClure of Shamrock and Gloria Willis of Borger; nine brothers; five sisters; and nine grandchildren. Victor Ramos Jr. PLAINVIEW - Victor Ramos Jr., 46, died Friday, Jan. 30, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with the Rev. Ben Kasteel, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park by Lemons Funeral Home. Mr. Ramos was born and raised in Plainview, graduating from Plainview High School. He was self-employed as a carpet contractor and a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. He married Mary Esther Ramos in 1971 at Plainview. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Kathy Gonzalez of Lubbock; three brothers, Ray Ramos and Rudy Ramos, both of Amarillo, and Danny Ramos of Plainview; three sisters, Margaret Rivera and Irene Moreno, both of Plainview, and Dorothy Leija of Amarillo; and his mother, Amelia Ramos of Plainview.