Potter Co. TX - Obits from the Amarillo newspapers 18 Feb 1999 Thanks to http://www.amarillonet.com/ for permission to upload their obits to the USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved. Amarillo Globe-News http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ------------------------------------------------------ Last updated; Thursday, February 18, 1999, 9:33 AM Amarillo Willie Mae Davis Willie Mae Davis, 96, of Amarillo, died Monday, Feb. 15, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Mount Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. James Collins, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Warford-Walker Mortuary Inc., 509 N. Hughes St. Mrs. Davis was born in Ravenna and had lived in Amarillo four years. She was a member of the Bellfountain Baptist Church at Ravenna. In Denison, she was a member of St. Paul Baptist Church, where she taught the Women's Bible Class and was secretary/treasurer of the Mission Society. She was a member of the Heroines of Jericho. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Henry Davis, in 1963, and by a son, Henry Davis Jr. Survivors include a daughter, Eura Mae Harmon of Amarillo. The family will be at 1418 S. Eastern St. Ruth Stice Ruth Stice, 78, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Martin Road Chapel, 1505 Martin Road, with Walt Ellis of Forest Hill Missionary Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Miss Stice was born in Amarillo. She owned and operated a hairstyling/beauty shop and was a member of Forest Hill Baptist Church. Survivors include a nephew, Bob Stice of Elgin, Ariz.; and three nieces, Elizabeth Avis of Phoenix and Sharon Caples and Donna Parr, both of Montclair, Calif. The family suggests memorials be to Forest Hill Baptist Church, 12th Avenue and North Apache Street. Granvel L. Harrison Gravel L. Harrison, 73, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Holley Funeral Home Chapel of Canyon with Gayle Bowen, First Baptist Church of Canyon, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Harrison was born in Avoka. He retired in 1971 as a lieutenant in the Navy, where he served in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. He wrote fiction and poetry and had been a member of the Masonic lodge since 1979. He was preceded in death by his wife, Audrey, in 1997 and by a daughter, Cynthia, in 1968. Survivors include a sister, Judy Thomas of Wellington. Forrest Ellsworth Wright Forrest Ellsworth Wright, 78, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1999. Services were at 10 a.m. today in Memory Gardens Cemetery Mausoleum with Windell Taylor, chaplain at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, officiating. Arrangements were by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Mr. Wright was born in Walters, Okla. He served with the Army during World War II in Rhineland and Central Europe from 1942 to 1946. He was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, Meritorious Unit Award, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal and European/African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. Mr. Wright was a heavy-equipment operator and mechanic. He was a Baptist. He married Mattie Werner in 1966 in Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; a stepson, Robert Gore of Dallas; four stepgrandchildren; and eight stepgreat-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society. Bernice Neugin Bernice "Pete" Neugin, 73, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Brooks Funeral Home Chapel in Canyon with Melvin Fowler of First Christian Church of Dalhart officiating. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Friday in Fairlawn Cemetery in Elk City, Okla. Mrs. Neugin was born in Hobart, Okla. She graduated from high school in Canute, Okla. She lived in Borger, where she was a hairdresser for 17 years and a member of Bible Baptist Church before moving to Amarillo in 1984. She married Orvil Neugin in 1966 at Borger. Survivors include her husband; a son, Jack Boyer of Simpsonville, N.C.; a daughter, Gerry Thaggard of Amarillo; three stepdaughters, Renee Brown, Rhonda Vincent and Deletta Wackler, all of Dumas; a brother, Denzil Poston of Gail; seven grandchildren; five stepgrandchildren; and a great-grandchild. FENNELL Idella Fennell Idella Fennell, 72, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Feb. 13, 1999. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in St. John Baptist Church with the Rev. Grover Neal, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Warford-Walker Mortuary Inc., 509 N. Hughes St. Mrs. Fennell was born in Palmer, where she attended schools. At an early age, she lived in Plainview and moved to Amarillo in 1945. She was employed by Home Health Care and Dr. Harold Watkins. She was a member of St. John Baptist Church, where she was past president of the ushers and past financial secretary. She was preceded in death by her husband, Willie B. Fennell, in 1979. Survivors include six nephews, including Terry Washington of Pampa; and five nieces, including Loraine Kemp and Ruby Hill, both of Amarillo. The family will be at 2801 Magnolia. Elsewhere R.M. Marshall SEATTLE, Wash. - R.M. "John" Marshall, 71, a former Amarillo resident, died Monday, Feb. 15, 1999. There will be private family services. Cremation and arrangements are by Evergreen/Washelli Funeral Home of Seattle. Mr. Marshall retired after 37 years with Pioneer Natural Gas Co. He was a Navy veteran of World War II. Survivors include a special friend, Patricia Gravestock-Hargis of Seattle; three daughters, Sherry K. Marshall and Kristi D. DuPuy, both of Seattle, and Connie R. Black of Saginaw; eight grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family suggests memorials be to Northwest Hospice in Seattle. Dr. William Nolte COLUMBIA, S.C. - Dr. William Nolte, 70, died Thursday, Feb. 11, 1999. Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, in Rutledge Chapel at the University of South Carolina. Arrangements are by Dunbar Funeral Home. Dr. Nolte was born in Tulia, Texas. He received his bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri, his master's degree in English from the University of Texas and his doctorate in English from the University of Illinois. He taught American literature at the University of Oregon and the University of Missouri-St. Louis prior to joining the University of South Carolina faculty in 1967. In 1990, Dr. Nolte retired after 25 years in the English department, where he served as chair of the department from 1974 until 1978 and from 1984 until 1985. He held the C. Wallace Martin Chair. Dr. Nolte published three books, several pamphlets, more than 30 critical articles and more than 35 book reviews. In 1998, he was honored with the publication of a collection of essays dedicated to his career achievements as a critic. Survivors include his wife; Alice Froehling Nolte; a daughter, Katherine Ann Nolte of Columbia; a sister, Nan Nolte Greaves of Portales, N.M.; and a grandson. The family suggests memorials be to Carolina Children's Home or a favorite charity. Anna Mae McCune VANCOUVER, Wash. - Anna Mae McCune, 91, died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, in Park Hill Cemetery at Vancouver. Arrangements are by Aftercare Cremation and Burial Service of Portland, Ore. Miss McCune was born in Iola, Kan. She received her master's degree in education from the University of Oklahoma and taught school from 1929 until 1973 in Oklahoma and Texas. Miss McCune lived in Amarillo for 30 years where she taught at Steven F. Austin Middle School. For the past 25 years, she lived in Vancouver. Survivors include a sister, Lois Brooks of Vancouver; four brothers, Loyd McCune and Walter McCune, both of Vancouver, L.C. McCune of Richmond, Calif., and William McCune of Pawhuska, Okla. Sister Mary Amabillis Raef SAN ANTONIO - Sister Mary Amabillis "Nellie" Raef, 88, died Thursday, Feb. 11, 1999. Mass of Christian burial was Monday, Feb. 15, in the Chapel of the Incarnate Word followed by burial in the Convent Cemetery. Arrangements were by the Angelus of San Antonio. Sister Raef was born and raised in Amarillo, where she attended St. Mary's Academy. In 1930, she became a member of the congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. For more than 50 years, she taught piano and singing in congregation-sponsored schools in Texas and Louisiana. After her retirement in 1973, Sister Raef continued with her music in the Liturgy for the Motherhouse community as well as the retirement community of St. Joseph's on Hildebrand. Survivors include two brothers, Lewis Raef of Umbarger and Glenn Raef of the St. Francis community; and a sister, Florence Hatfield of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials be to the Incarnate Word Retirement Community Building Fund. Eargle Twiner Vernon ABILENE - Eargle Twiner Vernon, 84, died Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Calvary Baptist Church in Abilene with the Rev. Allan Cartrite officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home of Abilene. Mrs. Vernon was born in Brownwood and was a former resident of Hereford. In 1956, she moved from Dimmitt to Abilene, where she was employed by Grissom's Department Store. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and the Rose Park Senior Citizens Group. She married Juddie M. Vernon in 1959. He died in 1984. Survivors include a daughter, Dalia Gregory of Dimmitt; a son, Jack Twiner of Dumfries, Va.; a stepdaughter, Claudine White of Del Rio; two brothers, Arthur Giddens of Abilene and Bob Giddens of Odessa; two sisters, Beryl Hendrix of Albany and Ella Burnett of Sundown; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today in the funeral home. They suggest memorials be to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 41, Abilene, TX 79604; or to a favorite charity. Bob Natho DALLAS - Bob Natho, 73, a former Amarillo resident, died Friday, Feb. 12, 1999. Services were Monday in Dallas by Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home.. Mr. Natho was a former radio and television engineer. He began work for KGNC in Amarillo in 1949. When the station was granted a license, he received RCA and Ampex factory training for installing the stations first black-and-white studio equipment. In 1963, he set up the first camera to transmit local color to the High Plains area from KGNC-TV studios in Amarillo. He retired in 1991 from KDFW-TV in Dallas. Survivors include his wife, Mary Louise; and his children, Gena, Sheila and Robert. Frances Alti KELSO, Wash. - Frances Alti, 72, a former Amarillo resident, died Monday, Feb. 15, 1999. Graveside services will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in North Fairview Cemetery at Memphis, Texas, with the Rev. Wade Messer, pastor of First Baptist Church of Friona, Texas, officiating. Arrangements are by Holley Funeral Home Inc. of Canyon, Texas. Mrs. Alti was born in Memphis and was raised in the Amarillo area. She had lived in Washington for 23 years. She had worked as a nurse and was a Baptist. She was preceded in death by her husband. Survivors include a daughter, Tamara Harper of Harrisburg, Ore.; two sisters, Helen Ruth Buck of Castlerock, Wash., and Alene Eula Wells of Lubbock, Texas; five brothers, Buddy Messer of Canyon, Jerry Messer of Amarillo, the Rev. Don Messer of Graham, the Rev. T.C. Messer of Clifton and the Rev. Rod Messer of Nocona, Texas; and a grandchild. Area Elizabeth Pickens HEREFORD - Elizabeth Pickens, 88, died Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Rose Chapel of Gililland-Watson Funeral Home with the Rev. H.W. Bartlett, pastor of Temple Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Rest Lawn Memorial Park. Mrs. Pickens was born in Kress and moved to Deaf Smith County in 1949. She was a homemaker and a Methodist. She married I.H. Pickens in 1932 at Falfurrias. She was preceded in death by a son, Lewis Nolan Pickens, in 1946. Survivors include her husband; three sons, Weldon Pickens of Lubbock, David Pickens of Dumas and John Wayne Pickens of Durant, Okla.; two daughters, Jeanette Pickens of Lubbock and Verna Joy Smith of Wichita, Kan.; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family will be at 339 Centre. Karlene Cross MATADOR - Karlene Cross, 59, died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Church of Christ in Matador with Michael G. Crowley, minister, officiating. Burial will be in East Mound Cemetery by Siegler Funeral Home of Matador. Mrs. Cross was born in Dumont. She graduated from Matador High School in 1958. She had lived in Wyoming and Nevada for several years before returning to Matador in 1981. She was a member of the Church of Christ. She married Jim Cross in 1962. Survivors include her husband; a son, Audie Cross of Elko, Nev.; two daughters, Tonda Dale of Las Vegas and Loretta Weeks of Battle Mountain, Nev.; two brothers, John Smith of Dumont and Keith Smith of Paducah; and 10 grandchildren. Lena Creel PAMPA - Lena Creel, 90, died Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in St. Matthew's Episcopal Church with the Rev. Jacob Clemmens, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mrs. Creel was born in Farmersville and graduated from Burkburnett High School. In 1929, she moved to Pampa where she owned several beauty shops. She was a member of St. Matthews Episcopal Church. She married Harry Creel in 1952 at Pampa. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1983 and by a son, Frank Hood. Survivors include a son, Jack F. Hood of Amarillo; and four grandchildren. Leroy Reeves CHILDRESS - Leroy Reeves, 75, died Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1999. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Kerry Wood and the Rev. Jim McCurley, both of the church, officiating. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery by Johnson Funeral Home of Childress. Mr. Reeves was born in Childress. In high school, he was an all-state football player and was a letterman at West Texas State Teachers College. He was student body president at WT. He was an Army veteran and served in Normandy and was in Europe for four years. Mr. Reeves retired as coach for the Childress public schools. He was a former deacon, treasurer and Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church of Childress. He was active in Veterans of Foreign Wars, the chamber of commerce and Childress Independent School District. He was the former owner of Fairview Flower Shop. He married Charlene Baird in 1946 at Childress. Survivors include his wife; a son, Mike Reeves of Prosper; two grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. W.B. Stofel PADUCAH - W.B. Stofel, 67, died Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Missionary Baptist Church in Paducah with the Rev. Keith Prather, pastor, officiating. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. in Quanah Memorial Park Cemetery in Quanah. Arrangements are by Siegler Funeral Home of Paducah. Mr. Stofel was born in Idabel, Okla., and had been a Cottle County resident since 1949. He was a veteran of the Korean War and was a retired farmer and equipment operator for Cottle County. He was a member of Missionary Baptist Church. He married Gwynna Truelock in 1952 at Paducah. He was preceded in death by a son, David Ray Stofel, in 1978. Survivors include his wife; a son, Danny Kay Stofel of Guthrie; his mother, Alice Stofel of Tulia; two sisters, Juanita Lee of Tulia and Bobbye Chaney of Paducah; two brothers, Earl Dean Stofel and Ray Stofel, both of Hart Camp; and two grandchildren. Cleotilde Rodriguez CHILDRESS - Cleotilde Rodriquez, 83, died Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1999. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Friday in Ruben M. Garcia and Sons Funeral Home Chapel in Alice. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday in Ruben M. Garcia and Sons Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in New Collins Cemetery. Local arrangements are by Johnson Funeral Home. Mrs. Rodriguez was born in Zapata. She was a homemaker. Survivors include a daughter, Alicia Jurado of Childress; two brothers, Renato Rodriguez of Alice and Valdemar Rodriguez of Kingsville; a sister, Beatrice Valdez of Hebbronville; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Frank Matthews MULESHOE - Frank Matthews, 75, died Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Ellis Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Reydon Stanford, pastor of the Christian Center of Muleshoe, officiating. Burial will be in Lazbuddie Cemetery at Lazbuddie. Mr. Matthews was born in Lamar County. In 1979, he moved from Lazbuddie to Muleshoe, where he was a member of the Christian Center. For 15 years, he was a minister with the United Methodist Church, including the First United Methodist Church in Lazbuddie for six years. He then opened a refrigeration repair business in Muleshoe. He married Margorine Woodall in 1942 at Paris. Survivors include his wife; a son, Eddie Matthews of Easter; four daughters, Naoma Morris of Tucumcari, N.M., Patty Terry of Madill, Okla., and Jane Boyd and Jan McCarty, both of Amarillo; his mother, Dovie Fay Matthews of Muleshoe; 15 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Christian Center Building Fund, 605 W. Ave. E, Muleshoe, TX 79347. Nervie Baker Tilson BORGER - Nervie Baker Tilson, 90, died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Fritch Church of Christ with Richard Kasko, minister, officiating. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Whispering Pines Garden at Memorial Park Cemetery in Amarillo. Arrangements are by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. Mr. Tilson was born in Hardeman County and had been a Borger-area resident since 1942. She was a homemaker and a member of the Fritch Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Len L. Baker Sr., in 1973; and her second husband, Orvil E. Tilson, in 1976. Survivors include three sons, A.E. Baker of Greeley, Colo., Douglas E. Baker of Rogers, Ark., and Charley Baker of Fritch; six daughters, Beula Cole of Amarillo, Marylee Williams of Sacramento, Calif., Nona Johnston and Betty Fick, both of Borger, Martha Selman of Odessa and Lenda Franklin of Fritch.; 32 grandchildren; and 44 great-grandchildren. The family will be at 1109 Monroe in Borger. New Mexico Jim Sol Jackson ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Jim Sol Jackson, 50, a former resident of Amarillo, died Sunday, Jan. 31, 1999. Services were Friday, Feb. 5, at French Mortuary, Wyoming Boulevard Chapel in Albuquerque with Rick Donaho, pastor, officiating. Mr. Jackson attended Amarillo High School in Amarillo. He was an Army veteran of Vietnam. For the past 28 years, he was an air traffic controller with ARTCC. Survivors include two sons, Sol Jackson of Denver and Eli Jackson of Dover, Del.; a daughter, Allie Jackson of Greensboro, N.C.; two brothers, Pat Jackson and Joe Jackson, both of Amarillo; and two sisters, Jeanine Hibbert of Nucla, Colo., and Anne Pryde of Sheridan, Wyo. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. Oklahoma Leonard G. Muske PAOLI, Okla. - Leonard G. Muske, 78, died Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Wooster Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jeff Duke and the Rev. Joe Campbell officiating. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Mr. Muske was born in Coloma, Wis., and was raised in Coloma and Richford, Wis. He graduated from Wautoma High School, then joined the Army Air Corps. A World War II veteran, he was a survivor of Pearl Harbor. He attended the 50th anniversary reunion of the Pearl Harbor attack. He retired as a civil service supervisor after 38 years. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars at Pauls Valley, the American Legion at Ardmore, the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, the Pauls Valley Stars Square Dance Club, the Skurley Sams RV Club, and the Oklahoma Sams. He also was a member and secretary of the All American Veterans Center at Stratford and a member of Paoli United Methodist Church. He married Carol M. Franklin in 1990 at Pauls Valley. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Joy Shoffott Muske. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Sherril Muske of Pauls Valley and Carol June Ladd of Amarillo; a stepdaughter, Ruth Wallace of Lamar, Colo.; a stepson, Bryan Wyche of Nennekah; a brother, Gilbert A. Muske of Franklin Grove, Ill.; seven step-grandchildren; and seven step-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Paoli Methodist Church Building Fund. Canyon Laurisa Gaines Laurisa Gaines, 33, of Canyon, died Tuesday, Feb. 9, 1999. Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday in Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. Dennis Noblett, pastor, officiating. Burial will be private. Arrangements are by Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon. Mrs. Gaines was born in Colorado Springs, Colo., and moved to Canyon in 1994 from Canon City, Colo. She had attended high school at Urbana, Ill. She was a self-employed baby sitter and child-care worker. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. Survivors include a daughter, Amanda Gaines of the home; her mother, Carol June Williams of Canyon; three sisters, Christina Salzman of Amarillo, Laura Rouse of Ogden, Ill., and Lisa Brock of Burleson; a brother, Max Gaines of Sidney, Ill.; and her grandparents, Colleen Gaines of Atlantic, Iowa, and Dr. and Mrs. C.E. Williams of Marshall. The family requests memorials be to the Amanda Gaines Trust Fund c/o First State Bank of Canyon and the Amarillo National Bank; or Calvary Baptist Church of Canyon, 800 Eighth St., Canyon, TX 79015.