Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 1 Jan 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; Friday, January 1, 1999, 7:19 AM Amarillo Jean Bowie Thorpe Jean Bowie Thorpe, 82, died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Anglican Church of The Ascension in the chapel at the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Robert T. Hardin officiating. Cremation was by Memory Gardens Crematory. Ashes will be scattered at a later date on the Trigg Ranch in New Mexico. Arrangements were by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mrs. Thorpe attended elementary school in Amarillo and graduated as salutatorian from high school at Wichita Falls in 1934. She attended Texas Woman's College, Wichita Falls Junior College and the University of Texas. She worked for the Amarillo GlobeNews in 1939. She married Al Hurt in 1940. She joined the Red Cross in World War II and was sent to Italy to attend U.S. pilots returning from bombing missions. After the war, she moved to China, where she worked with a bank in Shanghai. In 1949, she and her second husband, Franc Shor, chronicled for National Geographic magazine the retracing of Marco Polo's path from Venice to China. She married Kenyan safari leader Edmund Thorpe in 1962 and moved to Nairobi. He died in 1997. The couple moved to Amarillo in 1988. Survivors include a sister, Beth Conlin of Lake Marcos, Calif.; three nephews; and four great-nephews and great-nieces. Evelyn Hood Evelyn E. Hood, 91, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Llano Mausoleum Chapel with the Rev. Bill Wade, associate pastor of Polk Street United Methodist Church, officiating. Arrangements were by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Miss Hood was born in Channing to Lee Hood and Carrie Clinton Hood. She has lived in Amarillo since 1917. Miss Hood graduated from Amarillo High School and earned a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from West Texas Normal College and degrees in library science from Texas Woman's University and George Peabody College in Nashville, Tenn. Miss Hood taught school at Groom and lived on the Knorpp Ranch from 1935 until 1937. She then returned to Amarillo and served as librarian at Horace Mann Junior High School for many years. Since 1917, Miss Hood was a member of Polk Street United Methodist Church. She also was a life member of PanhandlePlains Historical Society and the National Education Association. She was a member of the Esther McCrory Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a sustaining member of the Audobon Society and the Democratic National Committee. Survivors include a niece, Laurel Knorpp Chucovich of Pleasant Hill, Mo., and two nephews, Kenton Knorpp of Tulsa, Okla., and Kerry Knorpp of Amarillo. The body will not be available for viewing. The family will be at No. 4 Windsor Road, Bishop Hills, Amarillo. They request memorials be to Polk Street United Methodist Church Scholarship Fund. J.W. Johnston J.W. Johnston, 87, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with Dr. Stan Coffey officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Johnston was born in Greenville and moved to Amarillo in 1934 from Hedley. He worked at the Bivins Ranch, ASARCO and Panhandle Laundry. He also helped build Thompson Park and the Conchas Dam. Mr. Johnston was a member of San Jacinto Baptist Church and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Golding Meadows Post No. 1475. He was Spur High School graduate and served in the Army during World War II. In 1934, he married Opel Maree Jordan. He married Myrtle Beatrice Patterson in 1955. She died in 1996. Survivors include a son, Joe Wayne Johnston in Amarillo; two daughters, D. Forraine Davis and Leone Tatum, both of Amarillo; a sister, Olene Raff of Amarillo; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time Saturday at the funeral home. Clifford Hunt Clifford Hunt, 86, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, Bell Avenue Chapel, 5400 Bell St., with Stan Fortenberry, pastor of First Assembly of God, officiating. Cemetery services will be in Memory Gardens Mausoleum. Mr. Hunt was born in Davis, Okla., and was a veteran of the Army. In 1959, he moved to Amarillo from Elk City, Okla. He was self-employed as a service station owner and a member of the Assembly of God. He married Norma Jean Jones in 1945 at Sayre, Okla. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Brenda Curless of Amarillo; and a grandson. The family suggests memorials be to the American Cancer Society. Mittie Dawson Mittie Dawson, 72, of Amarillo, died Monday, Dec. 28, 1998. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Mount Zion Baptist Church, 118 S. Van Buren, with the Rev. James L. Collins, pastor, the Rev. V.P. Perry and the Rev. David Gardner officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Warford-Walker Mortuary, 509 N. Hughes. Mrs. Dawson was born in Galveston. In 1956, she moved to Amarillo as an employee and manager of the women's department of Skybell's Department Store. She was a sales clerk and buyer at Hollywood, Inc., Department Store. After her retirement, she worked part-time at Betty's Plus and Easy Stride Shoe Store. Mrs. Dawson was active in her community. She was a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church where she served on many committees. Survivors include a son, Marcus Jiles of Livermore, Calif.; two daughters, Romma Williams of Fort Worth and Vonnie Hopkins of Houston; a stepson, Glen Dawson of Clarksville; a brother, Augusta Williams of Galveston; three sisters, Marcellus Hillis of Bedford, Mildred Wilkins of Texas City and Jessica Green of Galveston; and eight grandchildren. The family will be at 2503 Oak St. James Harold Mitchell James Harold Mitchell, 86, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 1998. There will be visitation only from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Mr. Mitchell was born in Trinidad, Colo. During World War II, he served in the Army Corps of Engineers. He moved to Amarillo in 1951 from Rifle, Colo. Mr. Mitchell was employed by Pantex and Helium Activity in Amarillo. He was a member of San Jacinto United Methodist Church. He married Doris R. Wilkins in 1937 at Lincoln, Neb. Survivors include his wife; a son, Jim Mitchell of Korea; a daughter, Jane Stewart of Amarillo; and four grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Alzheimer's Association Panhandle Chapter or San Jacinto United Methodist Church. New Mexico Ethel Irene Davis PORTALES, N.M. - Ethel Irene Davis, 85, died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 1998. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Wheeler Mortuary Chapel in Portales with the Rev. Dr. Herbert Bergstrom officiating. Burial will be in Portales Cemetery. Mrs. Davis was born in Elida, N.M. She graduated from Portales High School in 1931 and attended Eastern New Mexico University at Portales. She taught school for four years at the Milnesand and Highway schools. She operated the Davis Mercantile Store at Milnesand from 1938 until 1998. From 1942 until her retirement in 1998, she was postmistress. She married Paul Davis in 1934. He died in 1990. Survivors include a brother, Harold Radcliff of Pagosa Springs, Colo.; and several nieces and nephews. Bill Ratliff CLOVIS, N.M. - Bill Ratliff, 65, died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m Saturday in West 21st Street Church of Christ with Skip Clark and Cecil Bunch officiating. Burial will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in Fort Sumner Cemetery in Fort Sumner by Steed-Todd Funeral Home of Clovis. Mr. Ratliff was born in Quitaque, Texas. He was a longtime resident of Fort Sumner before moving to Clovis in 1970. Until his retirement, he was employed at Cannon Air Force Base in the civil engineering heating department. He was a longtime member and deacon at the West 21st Street Church of Christ. He married Barbara Longbotham in 1951. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Gloria Thornburg of Lubbock, Texas and Belinda Hinkle of Narareth, Pa.; two brothers, Joe Ratliff of Albuquerque and L.C. Ratliff of Fort Sumner; a sister, Lete Partain of Dallas; and six grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the West 21st Street Church of Christ youth group. Robert Lee Bejar CLOVIS, N.M. - Robert Lee Bejar, 71, died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel with Mac Page officiating. Mr. Bejar was born in Santa Barbara, Calif., and had been a Clovis resident since 1961. In 1965, he retired from the Air Force then worked for the Santa Fe Railroad and retired in 1988. Mr. Bejar was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3015, the Clovis Masonic Lodge No. 40 AF&AM and the Ballut Abyad Temple in Albuquerque. He was a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason. He married Masako Nakagawa in 1958 at Japan. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, June Savage of Oklahoma City; a son, Robert Dale Bejar of Clovis; two sisters, Luana Petta of Zion, Ill., and June Maxwell of Huntington, Utah; and a granddaughter. Abel Esquibel CLOVIS, N.M. - Abel Esquibel, 64, died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 1998. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel. Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with the Rev. Tobin Hitt officiating. Burial will be in Mission Garden of Memories. Mr. Esquibel was born in Dilia and was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. He married Mary Martinez in 1956 at Clovis. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Pearla, and a son, Louis. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Richard Esquibel of Clovis and Abel Esquibel Jr. of Roswell; eight daughters, Jeanette Martin, Vivian Cortez, Lisa Esquibel, Rosalie Esquibel and Christine Webb, all of Clovis, Barbara Minetto of Miami, Fla., Tima Kill of Glendale, Ariz., and Patricia Brooks of Albuquerque; six brothers, Raymond Esquibel and Tony Esquibel, both of California, Joe Esquibel of Santa Rosa, Pete Esquibel of Las Cruces and Lawrence and Patricio Esquibel, both of Albuquerque; four sisters, Isabel Conway and Clara Silva, both of Santa Rosa, Mary Dillard of Alabama and Mary Romero of Clovis; 25 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, memorials be to the fund set up at Western Bank. Albert Sandoval CLOVIS, N.M. - Albert Sandoval, 85, died Thursday, Dec. 31, 1998. Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in Sacred Heart Catholic Church with the Rev. Carlos Chavez officiating. Burial will be in Mission Garden of Memories by Muffley Funeral Home. Mr. Sandoval was born in Fort Sumner and moved to Clovis in 1920. He was a carpenter, a butcher and worked for Skeens Dry Cleaners for 25 years. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He married Flora Martinez in 1943 at Clovis. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Alberta Baca of Albuquerque, Beth DeFoor of Clovis and Margaret Shaw of Dallas; two sons, Joe Sandoval of Tucson, Ariz., and Tony Sandoval of Visalia, Calif.; four brothers, Jimmy Sandoval of Nuevo, Calif., Eloy Sandoval and Danny Sandoval, both of Albuquerque, and Ernest Sandoval of Phoenix; four sisters, Domitilia Auge, Mary Atencio, Esther Flores and Rafelita Silva, all of Belen; 10 grandchildren; and six greatgrandchildren. Area Joe A. Huckert HEREFORD - Joe "Little Joe" A. Huckert, 82, died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 1998. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in Rix Funeral Directors Chapel in Hereford. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Anthony's Catholic Church with Monsignor Orville Bloom officiating. Burial will be in St. Anthony's Cemetery. Mr. Huckert was born in Summerfield. He married Ida Mae Conklin in 1974 at Lovington, N.M. He was a lifelong Hereford resident and a veteran of World War II, serving in the Philippines as a radio operator. He was a television technician in Hereford for 35 years. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Jimmy Huckert of Groom and Donnie Huckert of Wheeler; a daughter, Mary E. Cline of Portales, N.M.; 11 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Marjorie Tilson Wimberly PLAINVIEW - Marjorie Tilson Wimberly, 70, of Houston and formerly of Plainview, died Thursday, Dec. 24, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Lemons Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with Dr. Max Browning, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Plainview, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Cemetery. Mrs. Wimberly was born and raised in Plainview. In 1945, she graduated with honors from Plainview High School. She graduated with honors from Baylor School of Nursing in 1948. While at Baylor, she was a member of the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps. Mrs. Wimberly was board certified as a registered nurse in 1948. During her 50year career in nursing, she was employed at various hospitals including Hendricks in Abilene, Spahn in Corpus Christi, St. Anthony's in Amarillo and Green Acres Nursing Home in Houston. She was a Methodist. Survivors include three sons, John Wimberly, Richard Wimberly and Mark Wimberly, all of Houston; three brothers, Jim Tilson of Odessa, H.A. Tilson of Chapel Hill, N.C., and Dick Tilson of Columbia, Mo.; and eight grandchildren. The Rev. James E. Smith WELLINGTON - The Rev. James E. Smith, 76, died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. David Nuckels of Childress and the Rev. Lemy Pike, retired Assembly of God minister, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Gardens Cemetery by Adams Funeral Home of Wellington. Rev. Smith was born in Honey Grove. He was a member and ordained minister of the Assembly of God. He was pastor of churches in Lorenzo, Sudan, Silverton, Quitaque and Wellington. Rev. Smith retired after 50 years as welder and blacksmith. He owned a blacksmith and welding shop in Wellington. He married Juanita Moore in 1942 at Mangum, Okla. He was preceded in death by a son, James R. Smith, in 1944. Survivors include his wife; a son, Dwight Smith of Pottsboro; two daughters, Brenda Robbs of Denison and Carlene Holmes of Childress; a brother, Lee J. Smith of Oklahoma City; five sisters, Audrey Duffey of Yukon, Okla., June Gamble of Mangum, Janice Hodges of Willow, Okla., Linda McPherson of Norman, Okla., and Carolyn Smith of Elk City, Okla.; eight grandchildren; 10 greatgrandchildren; and three step-great-grandsons. The family suggests memorials be to the American Heart Association. Jessica Lyn Strickland FRITCH - Jessica Lyn Strickland, 17, died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 1998. Services will be at 9 a.m. Saturday in First Southern Baptist Church in Fritch with the Rev. Brad Foster, pastor of Lake Meredith Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Serenity in Westlawn Memorial Park by Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors of Fritch. Miss Strickland was born in Pampa and raised in Fritch. She was a Methodist and a senior at Sanford-Fritch High School. Miss Strickland was named to the United States Achievement Academy and the All-American Scholars Directory. She was on the Fritch basketball and volleyball teams. Survivors include her parents, Mike and LeeAnn Strickland of Fritch; a brother, Cody Strickland of the home; her grandparents, Roy and Judy Seger of Sanford, Mack Strickland of Mobeetie, Earl Tinnel of Kirbyville and Wanda Tinnel of Mora, N.M.; and her great-grandparents, Mae and Harvey Yoachum of Fritch and Aly DeSaulniers of Massachusetts. Thomas W. Gibson FRIONA - Thomas W. Gibson, 85, died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. Alvin Petty, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Friona Cemetery by Ellis-Blackwell Funeral Home. Mr. Gibson was born in Tupelo, Miss. In 1939, he moved to Friona from Dodson. He retired as a mechanic with farm machinery. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. He married Letress Black in 1932 at Hollis, Okla. He was preceded in death by his wife in 1988 and by a daughter, Joyce White, in November. Survivors include two sons, Thomas G. Gibson of Plains, Kan., and Lee Gibson of Friona; three daughters, Marline Sharks of Freeport, Fla., Lynda Osborn of Friona and Sue Barrett of Amarillo; a sister, Benja Arms of Amarillo; 23 grandchildren; and 36 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Calvary Baptist Church or Prairie Acres Nursing Home. James Keith Gross GRUVER - James Keith Gross, 75, died Thursday, Dec. 31, 1998. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Lieb Cemetery with James Kinnaird, minister of Gruver Church of Christ, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home in Spearman. Mr. Gross was born in Liberal, Kan., and lived in the Gruver area most of his life. During World War II, he served in the Army Air Corps. He retired in 1982 as a groceryman. He married Reta Chisum in 1976 at Gruver. Survivors include his wife; a son, Curtis Gross of Borger; six daughters, Marcy Hency of Belle Vista, Ark., Debbie Chisum of Gruver, Stacy Gross of San Francisco, and Jan Huffman, Theresa Chisum and Kim Mauzy, all of Arlington; two sisters, Jo Fletcher of Gruver and Margaret Orman of Flagstaff, Ariz.; a brother, Gordon Gross of Amarillo; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Church of Christ Children's Home in Amarillo or a favorite charity. Lee Roy Snyder PERRYTON - Lee Roy Snyder, 69, died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home Chapel in Perryton. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery. Mr. Snyder was born in Caretta, W. Va. He moved to Perryton in 1994 from Los Angeles. He was an automotive technician. He married Lillian Harrison in 1949 at Pasadena, Calif. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Mark Snyder of Alaska and Grant Snyder of Roanoke, Va.; a daughter, April Garcia of Lewisville; a sister, Lena Lee Riley of Spearman; and four grandchildren. L.C. Nicholas BORGER - L.C. Nicholas, 79, died Thursday, Dec. 31, 1998. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Brown Funeral Directors Chapel of the Fountains with the Rev. Gregg Simmons, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Cemetery. Mr. Nicholas was a native of Paris and a Borger resident for 53 years. During World War II, he served in the Seventh Division as a staff sergeant. He was awarded the Purple Heart. Mr. Nicholas retired as materials man for H.B. Zachary Construction Co. He was a member of First Baptist Church. He married Madolyn Ford in 1940 at Paris. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Lynda Schroeder of Borger and Deloras Cooper of Deer Park; a brother, Billy Nicholas of Ville Platte, La.; two granddaughters; and three great-grandsons.