Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 2 Nov 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; Tuesday, November 2, 1999, 5:29 AM Area Mary E. Swearingen CHILDRESS - Mary E. Swearingen, 68, died Sunday, Oct. 31, 1999. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in First Assembly of God with the Rev. Clyde Fulfer, pastor, and the Rev. David L. Nuckels officiating. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery by Johnson Funeral Home of Childress. Mrs. Swearingen was born in Hedley and was a homemaker and caregiver. She was a member of First Assembly of God. She married Gene Swearingen in 1948 at Clarendon. She was preceded in death by a son, Gene Swearingen Jr., in 1955. Survivors include her husband; a son, Rick Swearingen of Childress; two daughters, Sharon Daniels of Vacaville, Calif., and Dewanda Votaw of Childress; three brothers, Billy Charles Sims of Clarendon, Cecil Sims of Whitney and Charles Sims of Borger; 11 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The family suggest memorials be to Childress Regional Medical Center Hospice. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 1, 1999 Tommy Murphey HEREFORD - Tommy Murphey, 72, died Sunday, Oct. 31, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Terry Cosby, pastor, and the Rev. Floyd Petersen of Elkhart officiating. Burial will be in West Park Cemetery by GillilandWatson Funeral Home. Mr. Murphey was born in Melrose, N.M., and moved to Texas in 1951. In 1963, he moved to Deaf Smith County from Pampa. He was in television repair and was a member of First Baptist Church. He married Erma Dean Hahn in 1950 at Clovis, N.M. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Marylin Leasure and Carla Davis, both of Hereford; three sons, Ernie Murphey of Hereford, Darrell Murphey of Odessa and Dean Murphey of Oklahoma City; a brother, Paul Murphey of Portales, N.M.; and two sisters, Mildred Nix of Dickenson and Helen McClendon of South Bend, Wash.; 10 grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and six step-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson St., Amarillo, TX. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 1, 1999 Terry Jay Tidwell WHEELER - Terry Jay Tidwell, 41, of Weatherford, Okla., died Sunday, Oct. 31, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in The Chapel of Lockstone Funeral Home in Weatherford, Okla., with the Rev. Toby Henson, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Wheeler, officiating. Additional services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church in Wheeler with the Rev. Toby Henson officiating. Burial will be in Wheeler Cemetery by Wright Funeral Home in Wheeler. Mr. Tidwell was born in Groom and graduated from Wheeler High School in 1976 where he played on the Wheeler Mustang football team. He later moved to Weatherford where he was employed by React Construction Co. Until his death, Mr. Tidwell was employed by Dolese Brothers Cement Co. He attended First Baptist Church in Wheeler. He married Sandra Ward in 1989 at Wheeler. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Kelly Ward of Weatherford; his parents, J.T. and Artie Tidwell of Wheeler; two brothers, David Tidwell of Amarillo and Don Tidwell of Pampa; a sister, Janice Blocker of Amarillo; and a granddaughter. Viewing will be from 6 until 8 p.m. today and from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 1, 1999 Larry R. Bailey WHEELER - Larry R. Bailey, 60, died Sunday, Oct. 31, 1999. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church in Shamrock with the Rev. Jack Lee, pastor, officiating. Additional services are at 3 p.m. in First Baptist Church in Cheyenne, Okla., with the Rev. Terrell Romberg, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Cheyenne Cemetery by Wright Funeral Directors of Shamrock. Mr. Bailey was born in Pampa and had lived in Wheeler since 1981. In 1956, he was employed as a telegrapher clerk agent for the Santa Fe Railroad. He was a member of Quail Unlimited and Lion's Club. For many years, he was a coach for Kids, Inc., and a UIL basketball referee. He married June Kelly on 1960 at Cheyenne. Survivors include his wife; a son, Marty Bailey of Kaufman; two daughters, Kellie Green of Amarillo and Angie Jerome of Pampa; two sisters, Barbara Barker of Weatherford, Okla., and Velda Smith of Oklahoma City; and three grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 1, 1999 Debra Reed Dutelle DIMMITT - Debra Reed Dutelle, 46, of Houston, died Sunday, Oct. 31, 1999. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Castro Memorial Gardens of Dimmitt with Gary Gumfory of Gruver officiating. Arrangements are by FoskeyLilley-McGill Funeral Home of Dimmitt. Mrs. Dutelle was born in Borger and graduated from Dimmitt High School. She was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church of Dimmitt. She married Tom Dutelle in 1997 at Austin. Survivors include her husband; her parents, M.J. and Frankie Reed of Carlsbad, N.M.; and a brother, Steven Joe Reed of Woodward, Okla. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 1, 1999 ReeBerta Crosby Dederick WELLINGTON - ReeBerta Crosby Dederick, 85, died Sunday, Oct. 31, 1999. Services will be at 1 p.m. today in Adams Funeral Home Chapel with Michael Arndt, minister of First Presbyterian Church of Childress, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Mrs. Dederick was born in Lutie and graduated from Shamrock High School. She received her bachelor's degree in education from Texas Tech University. She was a homemaker and a member of Second Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. In 1995, she returned to Wellington. She married Larry Dederick in 1939 at Conroe. He died in 1974. Survivors include her sister, Geraldyne Eslinger of Oklahoma City; a niece; and great nieces and nephews. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 1, 1999 Dorothy Rae Bilbay SILVERTON - Dorothy Rae Bilbay, 70, died Monday, Nov. 1, 1999. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Silverton Cemetery. Arrangements are by Myers-Long Funeral Directors of Silverton. Mrs. Bilbay was born in Denison. She moved to Silverton five years ago. Survivors include a son, R.C. Cooper of Silverton; three daughters, Jimmie Cooper of Denison, Darlene Flowers of Siler City, N.C., and Debra Salmon of Silverton; a brother, Cecil Rice of Blue, Okla.; a sister, Helen Roland of Denison; and four grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 1, 1999 Fabian Saldana Sr. TULIA - Fabian Saldana Sr., 63, died Sunday, Oct. 31, 1999. Prayer services will be at 7 p.m. today in Wallace Funeral Home. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Church of the Holy Spirit with the Rev. John Salazar-Jimenez, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery by Wallace Funeral Home of Tulia. Mr. Saldana was born in Martindale where he grew up and attended school. He moved to Tulia in 1950. From 1954 until 1963, he served in the Texas National Guard. Mr. Saldana retired in 1995 after 36 years with the city of Tulia. He was the land-fill operator and also had worked for Little John's Grocery Store. He was a member of the Church of the Holy Spirit. He married Alice Gomez in 1957 at Plainview. Survivors include his wife; five daughters, Rose Mary Bond, Valarie Luna, Chris Saldana, Anna Marie Basaldua and Lesbia Saldana, all of Tulia; four sons, Fabian Saldana Jr., Ernest Saldana, Oscar Saldana and Edward Saldana, all of Tulia; a brother, Gilbert Saldana of Kress; and 21 grandchildren. The family suggest memorials be to Tulia Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 116, Tulia, TX 79088. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 1, 1999 Lola Mae Bennett PERRYTON - Lola Mae "Hazel" Bennett, 76, died Monday, Nov. 1, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Rance Grice officiating. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery. Mrs. Bennett was born in a dugout near Gray, Okla. In 1964, she moved to Perryton from Borger. She was a homemaker. She married Coy D. Bennett in 1946 at Liberal, Kan. She was preceded in death by a son, Jody Bennett. Survivors include her husband; a son, Todd Bennett of Carlsbad, N.M.; a daughter, Corliss Burroughs of Amarillo; two brothers, Dean Forbes of Optima, Okla., and Jay Forbes of Colorado; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 1, 1999 Amarillo Vern Kermit Parrish Vern Kermit Parrish, 91, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Oct. 31, 1999. Memorial services will be later in the Arlington National Cemetery at Arlington, Va. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Parrish was born in Chicago, Ill. He attended Crane University at Chicago, Princeton University in New Jersey, and Chicago-Kent and Loyola both in Chicago. He was a lieutenant commander in World War II, serving in naval intelligence, and Amphibious Command Staff Pacific. He was a retired federal agent and regional enforcement chief in alcohol, tobacco and firearms with the government. He also worked as a bandleader, writer, attorney and police chief. He was a Lutheran. Survivors include a son, Jeffrey Walter Parrish of Madison, Wis.; a daughter, Debora Gale Parrish of Cologne, Minn.; two grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 1, 1999 Imogene Parker Scarberry Imogene Parker Scarberry, 80, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Oct. 31, 1999. Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Llano Cemetery with Jerry Brewer, a Church of Christ minister from Elk City, Okla. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Holley Funeral Home Inc. of Canyon. Mrs. Scarberry was born in Collins County and had been a resident of Amarillo since 1955. She worked as a saleslady for the S&H Green Stamps Store. She was a member of Bykota Baptist Church. She married George Franklin Scarberry in 1938 at Pampa. He died in 1996. Survivors include a son, Dale Scarberry of Amarillo; a sister, Wanda Young of Amarillo; two brothers, Burt Parker and L.C. Parker of Dallas; and two grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 1, 1999 April Renee Gardner April Renee Gardner, 19, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Oct. 30, 1999. Wake services will be at 7 p.m. tonight in New Covenant Baptist Church, 3100 Angelus Drive, with the Rev. James Mims, pastor, officiating. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Mount Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. James Collins, pastor, and the Rev. Richard Murray of New Light Ministries officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Golden Gate Mortuary, 1416 N. Hughes St. Miss Gardner was a 1998 graduate of Palo Duro High School where she was a member of the Lady Dons basketball, volleyball and track teams. She was a recipient of the ACE Scholarship award and the PAL's organization. Miss Gardner was a sophomore at Clarendon College on a basketball scholarship. She was a member of the New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Plainview and was a gospel vocalist. Survivors include her parents, the Rev. and Mrs. David Gardner of Amarillo; a sister, Andrea Gardner of Dallas; her grandparents, Henry Gardner of Amarillo and Mrs. and Mrs. Morris E. Brown of Talco; her godparents, the Rev. and Mrs. James M. Mims of Amarillo; and a special friend, Nick Yates of Garland. The body will not be available for viewing. The family will be at 3124 Oak St. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 1, 1999 Shirley J. Evans Shirley J. Evans, 60, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Oct. 30, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Memory Gardens Mausoleum Chapel with Alfred White officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mrs. Evans was a volunteer for Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Kids, Inc., where she coached baseball. She was a member of Blue Grass and Old Time Music Association who played the guitar and banjo and wrote poetry. Mrs. Evans had been employed by the Elizabeth Jane Bivins and Bivins Memorial Nursing Home. She also had worked as a unit clerk at Winsborro Presbyterian Hospital. Survivors include her husband, Glenn Evans; a son, Thomas Glenn Evans of Amarillo; two daughters, Beckie Roberts of Rochester, Minn., and Phyllis Belfield of Washburn; three brothers, Joe Howard and Don Howard, both of Bakersfield, Calif., and Aulton Howard of Arlington; a sister, Charlene Partridge of Dallas; 10 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 1, 1999 Elma Boren Elma Boren, 80, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Oct. 30, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Bible Baptist Church in Dumas with Jerry Clark, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Dumas Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors in Dumas. Mrs. Boren was born in Chandler, Okla., and was a former longtime resident of Long Beach, Calif. Twelve years ago, she moved to Amarillo. She was a homemaker and member of Elba Baptist Church in Elba community. She married H.L. Boren in 1936 at Quanah. She was preceded in death by a son, Steven Boren. Survivors include her husband; four sons, Leon Boren of Pierre, S.D., Edward Boren of Winner, S.D., Jimmie Boren of Lucerne Valley, Calif., and Billy Boren of Pueblo, Colo.; a daughter, Judy Daniels of Farmington, Ark.; a brother, Joe Poole of Goodlett; two sisters, Jane Partons of Anadarko, Okla., and Betty Griffen of Wichita Falls; 16 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and two great-greatgrandchildren. The family will be at 2005 Jasmine in Amarillo. They suggest memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 1, 1999 Jean McDavid Ray Jean McDavid Ray, 80, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Oct. 31, 1999. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Llano Mausoleum Chapel with Jim Garrett of Polk Street United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mrs. Ray was born in Electra and attended Texas Tech University. She was a member of Polk Street United Methodist Church. She married James J. Ray in 1941 at Amarillo. He preceded her in death. Survivors include her sister, Geraldine McDavid Cox of Laguna Hills, Calif.; three nephews; and a niece. Visitation will be from 5 until 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. The family suggest memorials be to a favorite charity. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 1, 1999 Rosalie Avara Rosalie Avara, 63, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Oct. 31, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Memorial Park Funeral Home, Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mrs. Avara was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., where she graduated from Allegheny High School. She attended two years of college. In 1998, she moved to Amarillo from Las Vegas. She was employed as an administrative secretary and was a member of the Greek Orthodox Church. She married Everett Marvin Avara Jr. in 1962 at Los Alamos, N.M. He died in 1969. Survivors include two sons, Everett Avara of Amarillo and John Avara of Las Vegas; a brother, George Rozakis of El Paso; two sisters, Renee Mitchell of Santa Fe, N.M., and Georgia Jason of Pittsburgh; and a grandchild. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 1, 1999 Edith Brunk Edith Brunk, 97, of Amarillo, died Monday, Nov. 1, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. Wendell Leach officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mrs. Brunk was born in Syracuse, Mo., and grew up in Lexington, Mo. She was a member of Tenth Avenue United Methodist Church and the Senior Citizens Center. She reconditioned dolls. She married Hanford Brunk Sr. at Lexington. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1969 and by a son, Charles F. Brunk, in 1983. Survivors include a son, Hanford Brunk Jr. of Amarillo; a stepdaughter, Mary Elizabeth Diesing of St. Louis, Mo.; and eight grandchildren. The family suggest memorials be to Tenth Avenue United Methodist Church, 1016 S. Roberts, Amarillo, TX 79102-4123. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 1, 1999 Elsewhere Matthew Daniel Madewell AUSTIN - Matthew Daniel Madewell, 40, a former Canyon resident, died Wednesday, Oct. 27, 1999. Services were held Saturday in Austin by Angel Funeral Home. Mr. Madewell was born in Kilgore, lived in Victoria, and was raised in Canyon. While living in Canyon, he was an all district baseball player in 1975, 1976 and 1977. He also was all district in football in 1976. He attended Blinn Junior College and Texas Tech University at Lubbock. He lived in East Texas before settling in Austin where he worked as a real estate appraiser. Survivors include his wife, Cheryl; two sons, Ryan Matthew Madewell and Johnathan Madewell, both of Celeste; a daughter, Lindsey Compton of Celeste; a stepdaughter, Amber Vernon of Bastrop; his mother, Vivian Kay Daniel of New Orleans; two brothers, Jim Madewell Jr. of Canyon and David Madewell of McDade; and a granddaughter, Jordan Compton. The family requests memorials be to the High Plains Children's Home in Amarillo. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 1, 1999