Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 1 Aug 1999 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, August 1, 1999, 2:25 AM Area Charles L. Phillips PERRYTON - Charles L. Phillips, 63, died Thursday, July 29, 1999. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in River View Baptist Church in Borger with Jim Gillmore, pastor, officiating. Cremation and arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Perryton. Mr. Phillips was born in Hominy, Okla., and moved to the Perryton area in 1972 from Broken Arrow, Okla. He was employed as a welder. He married Dona Bryant in 1956 at Tulsa. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Kim Turner of Perryton; a son, Chet Phillips of Stinnett; two brothers, Bill Phillips of Taos, N.M., and Louie Phillips of Oklahoma City; a sister, Shirley Neely of Tulsa; 10 grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Kelsey Phillips Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Riverview Baptist Church, 500 Old Stinnett Hwy., Borger, TX 79007. William Dwaine Edmonds QUANAH - William Dwaine Edmonds, 64, died Thursday, July 29, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Price-Jackson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Danny West, minister of Bethel Baptist Church, and Jack Westbrook, minister of Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in the Goodlett Cemetery. Mr. Edmonds was born in Quanah where he lived most of his life. An Army veteran, he was a farmer and retired from the Georgia Pacific Plant at Acme. He was a member of Bethel Baptist Church. He married Joyce Shrum in 1993 at Quanah. He was preceded in death by his previous wives, Linda Earle Edmonds in 1992 and Sandra Fay Dolen in 1993. Survivors include his wife; a son, Mike Edmonds of Longdale, Okla.; a daughter, Renda Lewis of Allen, Okla.; his mother, Ruby Edmonds of Quanah; a stepson, Bobby Carter of Amarillo; a stepdaughter, Suzy Evans of Quanah; and 17 grandchildren. Danny Johnson DUMAS - Danny "D.J." Johnson, 40, died Tuesday, July 27, 1999 in Lamesa. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Northlawn Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Scott Willingham of First Baptist Church officiating. Memorial services will be scheduled for a later date. Arrangements are by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mr. Johnson was born in Locust Bayou, Ark., and graduated from Hampton High School in Hampton, Ark. He had moved to Dumas nine years ago where he was owner/operator of ATA Black Belt Academy and a member of First Baptist Church. He married Marie Hudgens in 1997 at Dumas. Survivors include his wife; two sons, A.J. Johnson and B.J. Johnson, both of Dumas; a daughter, Sameka Johnson of Dumas; a stepson, Marshall Strifler of Fort Steward, Ga.; a stepdaughter, Hillary Frank of Amarillo; his parents, Lloyd and Pauline Johnson of Locust Bayou; four brothers, Randy Johnson of Magnolia, Ark., Gregory Johnson of Camden, Ark., and James Allen Tatum and Earl Tatum, both of Milwaukee, Wis.; four sisters, Opal Johnson of California, Jacquiline and LaDonna Johnson, both of Camden, and Anette Tatum of Milwaukee; and his grandmother, Helen Johnson of Locust Bayou. The family will be at 1324 S. Porter. Callie Watts CLAUDE - Callie Watts, 95, died Friday, July 30, 1999. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. today in Claude Church of Christ with Kent Watson, minister, officiating. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Salem Cemetery in Alba by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon. Mrs. Watts was born in Alba where she lived until moving to Claude in 1945. She retired as a cook and waitress and was a member of the Claude Church of Christ. She married Vester Lee Watts in 1920 at Alba. He died in 1961. Survivors include two daughters, Lora Hatfield of Claude and Oleta Burns of Winsboro; a son, James Watts of Amarillo; 15 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and great-great-grandchildren. Maggie Anita Bulla BORGER - Maggie Anita Bulla, 73, died Friday, July 30, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Wesley United Methodist Church with the Rev. David Harp officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Beatitudes in West Lawn Memorial Park by Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mrs. Bulla was born in Monroe County, Miss., and had lived in Borger since 1945. She was a retired secretary and bookkeeper and a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, Borger Music Club and the Panhandle Chapter of Ex Prisoners of War. She married John Bulla in 1945 at Columbus, Miss. Survivors include her husband; a son, Gary Bulla of Eastland; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center in Amarillo; or Wesley United Methodist Church of Borger. Cora Belle Hearn CLARENDON - Cora Belle Hearn, 98, died Friday, July 30, 1999. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Robertson Funeral Directors Chapel of Memories with the Rev. James Ivey Edwards, pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Citizens Cemetery. Mrs. Hearn was born in Pittsburgh, Pa. She moved to Clarendon in 1918 and to Groom in 1932. In 1956, she returned to Clarendon, where she was a homemaker and a member of First United Methodist Church. She was a former member of the Good Neighbors Club and was involved with the United Methodist Women while a member of the Methodist churches in both Groom and Lelia Lake. She married O.D. "Pete" Hearn in 1918 at Clovis, N.M. He died in 1970. She was also preceded in death by two daughters, Hazel Phillips, in 1989, and Frances McCord, in 1997. Survivors include a daughter, Cora L. Carroll of White Deer; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and nine greatgreat-grandchildren. Troy Edward Cloer TULIA - Troy Edward Cloer, 90, died Friday, July 30, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Wallace Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Weldon Butler, retired minister from Lubbock, and Bruce Parks, minister of First United Methodist Church in Anton, officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Mr. Cloer was born in Winters and moved to House, N.M. He graduated from Hereford High School, and then moved to Tulia, where he farmed for 40 years and worked for the Tulia Power Plant and Tulia Ice Company. He served with the Navy during World War II, was a member of the First United Methodist Church, a 50-year Mason and the oldest amateur radio operator in the area. He married Lynna Beulah Kelly in 1937 at Lubbock. She died in 1996. Survivors include a son, Kelly Cloer of Ottawa, Canada; a sister, Laverne Riley of Waynesville, N.C.; and a grandchild. Evelyn Elizabeth Rowan Gill PLAINVIEW - Evelyn Elizabeth Rowan Gill, 87, died Saturday, July 31, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Parkview Baptist Church with the Rev. Joe P. Weldon, pastor, officiating, and the Revs. A.C. Hamilton, retired Baptist minister, and Gary Dempsey, pastor of the Baptist Church in Wills, Okla., assisting. Burial will be at 3 p.m. in Rule Cemetery at Rule by Wood-Dunning Funeral Home. Mrs. Gill was born in Jefferson, Miss., and lived in Haskell from 1924 until 1956. In 1956 she moved to Pampa; in 1964 to Oklahoma; and in 1981 to Plainview. She was a beautician from 1948 until 1981 and was a member of Parkview Baptist Church and Women's Missionary Union. She married Thomas L. Rowan in 1928 at Haskell. He died in 1955. She married Red Gill in 1958 at Pampa. He died in 1979. Survivors include four sons, M.D. "Pete" Rowan and Terry L. Rowan, both of Pampa, John Rowan of Springville, Calif., and Hayes Rowan of Plainview; a daughter, Alice Glenn of Odessa; four sisters, Erma Sitton of Waller, Elsie Kennedy of Fort Worth, Minnie Whitworth of Stephenville and Grace Whitefield of Lingleville; a brother, Hayes Colvin of Dallas; 11 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. The family suggests memorials be to Parkview Baptist Church; or the Alzheimer's Association. Amarillo Thalen Ruth Flake Thalen Ruth Flake, 83, of Amarillo, died Thursday, July 29, 1999. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Washington Avenue Christian Church with Jim Shelburne, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, 315 E. Fifth Avenue. Mrs. Flake was born in Fort Worth and moved to Amarillo from Portales, N.M., in 1954. In 1976, she retired as a secretary from Bivins Nursing Home. She was a member of Washington Avenue Christian Church and the Fellowship Class. She married Ray Flake in 1934 at Plainview. He died in 1997. Survivors include three daughters, Francine Marinich of Orland Park, Ill., Jerry Ricci of Amarillo and Kathy Sutherlin of Hurst; a son, Jack Flake of Timbercreek Canyon; two sister, Billie Grace Price of San Bernardino, Calif., and Peggy Hamilton of Amarillo; 10 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176. Hughleene Wise Hughleene "Lee" Wise, 55, of Amarillo, died Friday, July 30, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Memory Gardens Cemetery with the Rev. Robert Field of Southeast Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mrs. Wise was born in Brownwood and moved to Amarillo in 1979 from Tulsa, Okla. She attended Texas Tech University and married Frankie Wise in 1976 at Wichita Falls. She and her husband were owners/operators of Commercial Truck and, in the early 1980s, Miller's Corner Cafe. She was a Baptist. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Donna Wise, in 1982, and by a son, Toby Brantley, in 1962. Survivors include her husband; a son, Aaron Wise of Amarillo; a daughter, Gail Bonjour of Amarillo; her mother, Virginia Keeter of Amarillo; two sisters, Diana Lowrance and Pat Gibson, both of Amarillo; and a grandchild. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. Jo Hayes-Gamblin Jo Hayes-Gamblin, 52, of Amarillo, died Friday, July 30, 1999. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle, with the Rev. Candance Waldrop officiating. Mrs. Gamblin was a lifelong resident of Amarillo, where she graduated from Amarillo High School. She was a secretary for Affiliated Food Inc. and was active in the Stage Right Theater. She was preceded in death by her husband, Sam Gamblin. Survivors include a daughter, April Hayes of Amarillo; a brother, Matt Lee of Trinton, N.J.; a grandson, Mark Wedgeworth; and several step-grandchildren. Frankie McCracken Frankie McCracken, 54, of Amarillo, died Friday, July 30, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson, with the Rev. F.M. Byford officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia Street. Mrs. McCracken was born in Tyler. She was a longtime resident of Amarillo and a homemaker. Survivors include a daughter, April Arnn of Amarillo; a brother, Wayne Williford of Oklahoma City; two sisters, Donna Kay Burden of Tyler and Bea Wallace of Amarillo; and five grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice. Canyon Arlene Boehning Southard Arlene Boehning Southard, 57, of Buford, Ga., and formerly of Canyon, died Wednesday, July 28, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Brooks Funeral Directors Chapel in Canyon with Dr. Charles Price, pastor of First Baptist Church of Canyon, officiating. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery. Mrs. Southard was a native of Canyon and moved to Georgia 26 years ago. For the past 17 years, she had lived in Buford. She retired as head cashier at Sears and was of the Methodist faith. Survivors include her husband, James Southard of Buford; two daughters, Vivian Louise Palazzolo of Buford and Cynthia Diane Ray in Suwannee, Ga.; three brothers, Gerald Boehning and Ronald Boehning, both of Canyon, and Delbert Boehning of Morehead, Minn.; and five grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the American Cancer Society, Gwinnett County Unit, 3345 Cruse Rd., Suite 102, Lawrenceville, GA. 30044. Kansas Mary Riffe LIBERAL, Kan. - Mary "Louise" Riffe, 80, died Thursday, July 29, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Turpin United Methodist Church in Turpin, Okla., with the Rev. Jim Smith and the Rev. Dan Frisby officiating. Burial will be in Restlawn Memorial Gardens in Liberal by Miller Mortuary of Liberal. Mrs. Riffe was born in Kinsley and graduated from Dodge City High School. She later received a degree in physical education from Fort Hays State University. For many years, Mrs. Riffe and her husband owned and operated grain elevators in Baker, Mousier and Hough, Okla. She moved to Liberal 10 years ago. She was a member of Baker United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women and Home Extension Unit, all of Baker, Okla. She married George D. Riffe in 1943 at Miami, Fla. He died in 1978. Survivors include three sons, Gary Riffe of Turpin, Doug Riffe of Baker and Rick Riffe of Weatherford, Okla.; a sister, Margaret McCalmont of Sublette; five grandchildren; and a great-grandson. Friends may call from 1 until 8 p.m. today at Miller Mortuary. The family suggests memorials be to United Methodist Church of Turpin or Baker; or to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes of NW Oklahoma which may be left in care of the mortuary. Oklahoma Alice Hudson LOGAN, Okla. - Alice Hudson, 80, died Friday, July 30, 1999. Graveside services were at 10 a.m. Saturday in Sophia Cemetery with the Rev. Gary McDonald officiating. Arrangements were by Good Samaritan Funeral Service of Booker. Miss Hudson was born in Logan and graduated from Booker High School. She attended Northwestern State University where she received her teaching certificate. She taught schools in the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles until moving to Hutchinson, Kan., where she taught for more than 20 years. Miss Hudson retired in 1981. In 1993 she returned to Logan. She was a member of the Methodist Church and the ParentsTeachers Association. Survivors include a brother, Don Hudson of Woodward; and two sisters, Geneive Hudson of Logan and Wilma Knight of Malaga, Spain. William Henry Gray Jr. OKMULGEE, Okla. - William Henry "Bill" Gray Jr., 81, died Friday, July 23, 1999. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Okmulgee Cemetery. Arrangements are by McClendon Funeral Home. Mr. Gray lived in Amarillo from 1943 until 1973. For 19 years, he worked for McKesson and Robbins Wholesale Drug Company. Survivors include a daughter, Jane Gray Taylor of Amarillo; a brother, Robert R. Gray of Meridian, Miss.; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. New Mexico Edward E. Brizendine CLOVIS, N.M. - Edward E. Brizendine, 82, died Thursday, July 29, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Herbert Bergstrom officiating. Burial will be in Mission Garden of Memories. Mr. Brizendine was born in Clovis. He was a business owner and a lifelong resident. He is survived by a brother, Jesse Brizendine of Clovis and a stepsister, Ruth Owens of Roswell. The family suggests memorials be to Seeing Eye Institute in Morristown, New Jersey. Gloria Baltazar FORT SUMNER, N.M. - Gloria Baltazar, 55, died Thursday, July 29, 1999. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in Saint Anthony Parish. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Saint Anthony Parish with Sotero A. Sena, celebrant. Burial will be in the family plot at Fort Sumner Cemetery by Chavez Funeral Home. Mrs. Baltazar was born in Yeso, where she attended school. She worked in area restaurants as a waitress for several years and operated Gloria's Snack Bar for two years. She received her cosmetology license and operated Gloria's Barber Styling until 1993 and for several years, taught C.C.D. at St. Anthony Parish and Baptism classes. She was a member of the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary and the Eagles Club. She married Ismael Baltazar in 1971 at Fort Sumner. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Linda Baltazar of Amarillo; a son, Ismael Baltazar Jr. of Corpus Christi; her father, Rafael Roybal Sr. of Fort Sumner; five brothers, Tommy Roybal, Rafael Roybal Jr. and Manuel Roybal, all of Fort Sumner, Lawrence Roybal of Silver City, and Andy Roybal of Rio Rancho; and a sister, Lucy Anaya of Fort Sumner. Visitation will be from 1 until 6 p.m. today at the funeral home. Sarah Azling French NARA VISA, N.M. - Sarah Azling French, 85, died Friday, July 30, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Nara Visa Community Center Auditorium with the Rev. Jack McCarty Jr. officiating. Burial will be in Nara Visa West Cemetery by Dunn Funeral Home of Tucumcari. Mrs. French was born near Hayden, graduated from Nara Visa High School in 1933 and attended New Mexico State University. In Nara Visa, she was a rancher and worked for many years for John Burns Lumber & Hardware Co. and for First National Bank. She was a longtime Republican election official, a notary public for more than 50 years and was active in the Nara Visa Cemetery Association, the Nara Visa Civic Club, the Old Timers' Reunion and the Nara Visa Community Center ceramics group. She was a Baptist. She married Howard White French in 1949 at Nara Visa. He preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by an infant daughter. Survivors include a daughter, Carelyn French Schanzle of Peoria, Ill.; and a brother, Thomas Azling of Nara Visa. Viewing will be from 1 until 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home in Tucumcari. The family suggests memorials be to Nara Visa Cemetery Association. Elsewhere Bobby Lee Alexander WACO - Bobby "Bob" Lee Alexander, 74, died Friday, July 30, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Columbus Avenue Baptist Church with the Rev. Ron Durham officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood by Brook View Funeral Home. Mr. Alexander was born in Tyler and graduated from Texas Tech University with a bachelor's of art degree in 1948 and received a master's in education from Texas A&M University. In 1968, he moved to Waco, where he taught electronics at Texas State Technical College. He was a member of Columbus Avenue Baptist Church. He was also an ordained minister and served as pastor at First Baptist Church in Marquez from 1970 until 1973. He married Dell Trammell in 1956 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; a son, Mark Alexander; a daughter, Lisa Alexander; and five grandchildren. Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.