Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 3 March 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; Wednesday, March 3, 1999, 6:56 AM Amarillo W. Anson Ewing W. Anson Ewing, 80, of Amarillo, died Monday, March 1, 1999. Services will be at 11:30 a.m. today in First Baptist Church with Dr. Howard Batson, pastor, and Dr. Lonnie Poe of First Baptist Church of Happy, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Ewing was born in Lubbock and had lived in Amarillo for 78 years. He was a World War II veteran, serving with the 749th Railroad Operating Battalion from May 1944 until April 1946. He had been a conductor for Santa Fe Railway for 43 years. Mr. Ewing was a member of Masonic Lodge 1239, York Rite Mason, United Transportation Union, Gideons International and First Baptist Church. He married Hazel Wedgeworth in 1940 in Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Terry Smith of Wichita Falls and Jennifer King of Happy; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family will be at 6111 Adirondack and requests memorials be to Gideons International, Box 2304, Amarillo, TX 79105; First Baptist Church, 1206 S. Tyler St., Amarillo, TX 79101; or First Baptist Church of Happy. Chad James Graham Chad James Graham, 18, of Amarillo, died Monday, March 1, 1999. Services will be at 4 p.m. today in Paramount Terrace Christian Church with the Rev. Scott Greer and the Rev. Brent Ashby officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Chad was born in Amarillo. He graduated from Amarillo High School in 1998 and was attending Amarillo College studying business. He worked as a waiter at the Outback Steakhouse. Survivors include his mother, Patty Graham of Amarillo; his father, James R. Graham of Waco; a brother, Jason R. Graham of Amarillo; and grandparents, Dewey and Bernice Webb of Amarillo and Letha Bills of Waco. The family requests memorials be to Amarillo College Foundation. Glenda Houston Thomas Glenda Houston Thomas, 51, of Amarillo, died Friday, Feb. 26, 1999. Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday in Prince of Peace Lutheran Church with John Elser, pastor, officiating. Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. in Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mrs. Thomas was born in Pampa and had lived in Amarillo most of her life. She graduated from Palo Duro High School and from Pittsburgh State University at Pittsburgh, Kan., with honors and magna cum laude. She was a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and the children's puppet ministry. She was a kindergarten teacher at Hamlet Elementary and was an honorary meter maid. Survivors include two sons, Randy Thomas and Curtis Thomas, both of Amarillo; a daughter, Corless Pfister of Amarillo; a brother, Larry Houston of Amarillo; and seven grandchildren. The body will be available for viewing this morning at the funeral home. The family requests memorials be to the playground fund at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. Virginia Tatum Virginia Tatum, 78, of Amarillo, died Friday, Feb. 26, 1999, at Oklahoma City. Services are scheduled Saturday in Oklahoma City. Memorial services are planned May 13 in Amarillo with burial in Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements are with Branstetter-Rosewood Funeral Home of Oklahoma City. Mrs. Tatum was born in Mountain Home, Ark., and was a beautician most of her life. She was a member of Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, L.K. Tatum, in 1975. Survivors include two sons, Larry Tatum of Wichita, Kan., and Jerry DeWayne Tatum of Amarillo; a daughter, Sharon S. Edmondson of Amarillo; a brother, Cecil H. King; three sisters, Nina Bebout, Wilma Gouvenor and Henryetta Rainey; nine grandchildren; and 15 greatgrandchildren. Susan Hicks Susan Hicks, 51, of Amarillo, died Monday, March 1, 1999. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in St. Stephen United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jim Smith officiating. Private burial will be in Wellington. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mrs. Hicks was born in Wellington where she graduated from high school in 1965. She attended Texas Tech University. In 1980, she moved to Amarillo where she worked as bond manager for HRH Insurance for 19 years. Mrs. Hicks was a member of Business and Professional Women's Organization and First Methodist Church in Wellington. She married Robert Hicks in 1976 at Wellington. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Jeff Ray and Chris Ray, both of Fort Worth; her father, Henry Clay Sullivan of Wellington; two sisters, Lucy Nichols of Seminole and Katy Taylor of Wellington; and a grandson. The family suggests in lieu of flowers memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176. The body will not be available for viewing. W.L. Pool W.L. "Lynn" Pool, 80, of Amarillo, died Monday, March 1, 1999. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Washington Avenue Christian Church with the Rev. Jim Shelburne, pastor, officiating. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday in Memorial Park Cemetery in Dalhart. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Pool's birth in Moore County was the first recorded birth in that county. He served with the Army in World War II with the combat engineers group stationed in Northern Italy and North Africa. He was awarded the Purple Heart. Mr. Pool was retired as field clerk for Colorado Interstate Gas Co. He was active in Meals on Wheels, as a volunteer with Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center and as a member of Washington Avenue Christian Church where he sang in the choir. He married Beatrice Graham in 1947 at Dalhart. Survivors include his wife; a brother, J.D. Pool of Dumas; two sisters, Pat Smith of Hawaii and Paula Murphy of Simi Valley, Calif. J.B. Caylor J.B. Caylor, 77, of Amarillo, died Monday, March 1, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Llano Cemetery East with Max Beggs, pastor, and Jim Beggs, pastor, both of Caprock Christian Fellowship Church, officiating. Arrangements are by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mr. Caylor was born in Godley and moved to Amarillo in 1948 from Borger. He was an Army veteran of World War II. For 27 years, he was a welder for Asarco. He married Patricia Maxine May in 1946. She died in 1991. Survivors include three sons, Kirby J. Caylor of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Mark E. Caylor of Galveston and Jonathan A. Caylor of Amarillo; several grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. New Mexico Velma L. Martin CLOVIS, N.M. - Velma L. Doodle Martin, 87, died Monday, March 1, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Wheeler Mortuary Chapel of Portales with the Rev. Ted Bailey, pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church of Portales, and Vonnie Rousseau, her granddaughter, officiating. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday in Tucumcari Cemetery with the Rev. Wes Stewart, pastor of Temple Baptist Church of Tucumcari, officiating. Mrs. Martin was born in Grandfield, Okla., and moved to Shamrock, Texas, with her family. They homesteaded at Porter, N.M., and later moved to Tucumcari. For a number of years, she lived in Odessa and moved to Portales 20 years ago. She worked as a cook and a dishwasher in a number of cafes and also worked many years in the cotton and broomcorn fields. She married Aaron L. Martin in 1930 at Tucumcari. He died in 1973. She also was preceded in death by a son, Richard A. Martin. Survivors include six sons, Ervin Martin of Odessa, Texas, Darrell Martin, Aaron Dwain Martin and Marvin Brice Martin, all of Portales, Bobby Lee Martin of Tucumcari, and Jerry Lee Martin of Midwest City, Okla.; three daughters, Gwendilon Snider of Vega, Texas, Elnora Ausborn of Horrath, Okla., and Faye Edwards of Roswell; 39 grandchildren; 61 great-grandchildren; and two great-greatgrandchildren. Lloyd C. Lary MELROSE, N.M. - Lloyd C. Lary, 68, died Sunday, Feb. 28, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Melrose Cemetery with Sean Andrews officiating. Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home of Clovis. Mr. Lary was born in Melrose. He was an Air Force veteran and had farmed in the Melrose area since 1968. He had established a bird habitat at his home. He was a member of Melrose Church of Christ and was a board member of the Clovis Gem and Mineral Society. Survivors include his wife, Coleta; stepchildren, Louisa Gardner of the home, Deana Hicks and Janice Anderson, both of El Paso, Texas, Eddie Aggwer of Elephant Butte, Cathy Gardner of Clovis, and Patrick Gardner of Albuquerque; a brother, James Lary of Clovis; two sisters, Marycle Gearhart of Wichita, Kan., and Betty Lou Bohannon of Rogers, Texas; and seven grandchildren. Shirley Strope TUCUMCARI, N.M. - Shirley Strope, 46, died Sunday, Feb. 28, 1999. Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in San Jon Cemetery at San Jon. Arrangements are by Dunn Funeral Home. Mrs. Strope was born in Tucumcari where she was a lifetime resident. She attended and graduated from Tucumcari schools. She was a homemaker. Survivors include her husband, Donald G.; a son, Kenneth Myers of Tucumcari; a daughter, Kristy Ward of Tucumcari; her parents, Raymond and Helen Kroeker of Tucumcari; two brothers, Leslie Fisk of Dumas, Texas, and Wesley Fisk of Albuquerque; two sisters, Dainetta Kroeker of Tucumcari and Karen Aragon of Espanola; and two grandchildren. The body will be available for viewing until service time at the funeral home. Elsewhere Hubert Lee Welch GAINESVILLE - Hubert Lee Welch, 69, died Thursday, Feb. 25, 1999, at Denton. Services were at 10 a.m. Monday at McCoy Funeral Home at Muenster. Graveside services were at 5 p.m. Monday in the Claude Cemetery at Claude. Mr. Welch was born in Muenster. He spent 17 years in the military, one year in the Marines and 16 years in the Army. During his military career, he received three honorable discharges. In 1971, he moved to the Mays Ranch at Sofia, N.M., west of Clayton, N.M., where he worked as a ranch foreman until moving to Gainesville in 1997. He was preceded in death by a son, Larry Welch. Survivors include his mother, Maxine Graham of Gainesville; two children, Mary Daughtry and David Welch, both of Albany, Ga.; three stepsons, Andy Voit of Colorado Springs, Colo., Oliver Voit and Richard Voit, both of Amarillo; the mother the Voit children, Carin Welch of Amarillo; and 13 grandchildren. SUB FOR SNYDER IN AREA OBITS Area Vera Mae Looper Keller Johnson PLAINVIEW - Vera Mae Looper Keller Johnson, 83, died Sunday, Feb. 28, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Faith Baptist Church with the Rev. Joseph Johnson, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens by Lemons Funeral Home. Mrs. Johnson was born in McIntosh County, Okla., and moved to Dalhart when she was 5 years old. She lived in Canyon before moving to Claude where she graduated from high school, taught Sunday school and played the piano. She married James L. Yelton in 1933 at Claude. They moved to Anaheim, Calif., in 1941 and then to Gardena. In 1951, she moved to Amarillo and worked as a waitress a the Hilton Hotel. She moved to Roswell, N.M., in 1953 and managed a Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurant. She also owned her own restaurant. She moved to Plainview in 1974 and worked as a cashier at the United Grocery Store on 24th Street. In 1987, she began working for the Salvation Army. She was active in the RSVP program and Faith Baptist Church, where she was a member. She was preceded in death by her first husband, James L. Yelton, in 1976. She married Wyndle Johnson in 1996 at Plainview. He died Monday, March 1, 1999. Survivors include a daughter, Sylvia Ivey of Camptonville, Calif.; two sons, Preston "Larry" Yelton of Hot Springs, Ark., and Jack Yelton of Post Falls, Idaho; a sister, Ada Mayes of Amarillo; Ada Mayes of Amarillo; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. Wyndle Johnson PLAINVIEW - Wyndle Johnson, 74, died Monday, March 1, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Faith Baptist Church with the Rev. Joseph Johnson, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens by Lemons Funeral Home. Mr. Johnson was born and raised in Leonard, where he attended schools. He moved to Plainview in 1942 and worked on a farm at Providence. He also worked for the city of Plainview. He later worked for the Rose Hill Cemetery at Tulia and for the Plainview Cemetery, retiring in 1994. He was a member of Faith Baptist Church. He married Vera Mae Keller in 1996 at Plainview. She died Sunday, Feb. 28, 1999. Survivors include a stepdaughter, Sylvia Ivey of Camptonville, Calif.; two stepsons, Preston "Larry" Yelton of Hot Springs, Ark., and Jack Yelton of Post Falls, Idaho; a sister, Alma Bailey of Plainview; 11 stepgrandchildren; five stepgreat-grandchildren; and a stepgreat-great-grandchild. Linda Kay Belknap PAMPA - Linda Kay Belknap, 49, died Tuesday, March 2, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Fairview Cemetery with Dr. Edwin Cooley, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, and Sister Mary Morrisey of the Crown of Texas Hospice, officiating. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mrs. Belknap was born in Texline and moved to Perryton in 1960 from Pampa. She returned to Pampa in 1994 from Perryton. She had been a nurse at Highland General Hospital for five years and worked for Dyers BBQ for 10 years. She married Victor "Vick" Belknap in 1970 at Pampa. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Tricia Powell of Amarillo and Sacora Belknap of the home; two brothers, Jerry Evans of Skellytown and James Evans; and three grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson St., Amarillo. Russell Jimmie Weede QUANAH - Russell Jimmie Weede, 71, died Monday, March 1, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in the First Christian Church with the Rev. Don Wirsdorfer officiating. Burial will be in Quanah Memorial Park by Price-Jackson Funeral Home. Mr. Weede was born in Cement, Okla., and had lived in Quanah most of his life. He was a Navy veteran of World War II serving in the Leyte Gulf Invasion. He was the owner of Weede Tire Store, retiring in 1993. Mr. Weede had been a member of the Masonic Lodge for 39 years, was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce Red Coats and received the Citizen of the Year award in 1986. He worked with the Boy Scouts of America and collected toys for local needy children and families. He was a member of the First Christian Church. He married Billie Chenault in 1948 at Quanah. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Jeanette Jentsch of Fort Worth; a son, Jackie Weede of Fritch; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Orville E. Parnell PAMPA - Orville E. "Bill" Parnell, 77, died Tuesday, March 2, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Grace Southern Baptist Church at Guymon, Okla., with the Rev. Randy Caddell, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church of Garden City, Kan., officiating. Burial will be in Elmhurst Cemetery at Guymon, Okla., by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Parnell was born in Wellsford, Kan. In 1940, he graduated from Greensburg High School at Greensburg, Kan. After high school, he enlisted in the Navy where he served aboard the USS Oklahoma and the USS Louisville during World War II. He had farmed in Holly, Colo., for 51 years. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Veterans of Foreign Wars at Holly, and of the Central Baptist Church of Pampa. He was preceded in death by a son, Carl Parnell, in 1996. He married Doris Philippe in 1943 at Texhoma, Okla. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Jerry Parnell of Pueblo, Colo., and the Rev. Rick Parnell of Pampa; a sister, Ada Deyoe of Coldwater, Kan.; a brother, Elmer Parnell of Littleton, Colo.; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to The Alzheimer's Foundation or Central Baptist Church Building Fund. Ernest P. Parkhurst BORGER - Ernest P. Parkhurst, 79, died Monday, March 1, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Chapel of the Fountains with the Rev. Leonard Forsythe, pastor of Bible Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Highland Park Cemetery by Brown Funeral Directors. Mr. Parkhurst was a native of Welch, Okla., and had been a Borger resident for 54 years. An Army veteran of World War II, he retired as operator for J.M. Huber. He was a member of Bible Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Ruette Parkhurst, in 1992. Survivors include a son, Ronnie Parkhurst of Borger; a brother, George Parkhurst of Borger; and two grandsons. Leon Fain PAMPA - Leon Fain, 83, died Tuesday, March 2, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with the Rev. John Glover, associate pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery. Mr. Fain was born in Belton and had lived in Pampa since 1951. He worked for Exxon Oil Co. for nine years and for the Celanese Corp. at Kingsville until retiring in 1979. He was ordained a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Kingsville in 1950. He was a member and a deacon of the First Baptist Church of Pampa and taught Sunday school in the junior department for many years. He was a mast of the Masons with the Aransas Pass Lodge 1018 AF&AM. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He married Mary Catherine Cooper in 1938 at Waco. She died in May. Survivors include a daughter, Linda Davis of Amarillo; a brother, Thurman Fain of LaPort; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Parkinson Neurology Research and Education Center, 4102 24th St., Suite 501, Lubbock, TX 79410. Ida Langley Stuckey WELLINGTON - Ida Langley Stuckey, 95, died Tuesday, March 2, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Primitive Baptist Church with T.J. Pittman, elder, and Don Watson, elder, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery by Adams Funeral Home of Wellington. Mrs. Stuckey was born in Indian Territory and moved to Collingsworth County from Ranger in 1921. She attended Draughon's Business College in Wichita Falls. For many years, Mrs. Stuckey was bookkeeper for Homer and Howard Holton's Wholesale Fuel Business. She was a member of Primitive Baptist Church. She married Aubrey Stuckey in 1940 at Wellington. He died in 1979. Survivors include a sister, Lois Barnhart of Garland; a brother, William H. Langley of Derby, Kan.; and many nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to Primitive Baptist Church Memorial Fund or the Langley Family Reunion Fund. David C. Snider VEGA - David C. Snider, 76, died Monday, March 1, 1999. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in the County Barn in Vega with Randy Byrd officiating. Arrangements are by Vega Funeral Home, 110 S. Main. Mr. Snider was born in Glenrio and had lived in Vega for more than 35 years. For more than 50 years, he was a cowboy on ranches including the Bivins and Matador ranches. He was heavy equipment operator for Texas Sand and Gravel for 17 years. He attended Cowboy Church in Vega. Mr. Snider was an Army veteran of World War II. He served in five major campaigns in the European Theater with the 59th Signal Battalion as a staff sergeant and squad leader. He supervised work on installation and maintenance of telephone lines between corps and division headquarters. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and landed on the beach at Normandy. He married Gwen Martin in 1945 at Tucumcari, N.M. Survivors include his wife; four daughters, Marie Kuhn of Clovis, Rowena Wallace of Lebanon, Mo., Melanie Foreman of Vega and Sherri King of Inverness, Fla.; a son, David Snider Jr., of Vega; two brothers, Wayne Ladehoff of Dallas and Joe Snider of Amarillo; two sisters, Katherine Parks of Amarillo and Louise Wixom; 15 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Bea Smotherman WHEELER - Bea Smotherman, 86, died Tuesday, March 2, 1999. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Church of Christ with Bill Morrison, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Wheeler Cemetery by Wright Funeral Home of Wheeler. Mrs. Smotherman was born in Seymour and has been a lifelong resident of Wheeler County. She was a member of Wheeler Church of Christ. She married Thomas Ralph Smotherman in 1931 at Sayre, Okla. He died in 1995. Survivors include two sisters, Bertha Eberson of Crowell and Opal Red of Oklahoma City, and several nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to the Wheeler Cemetery Association. Esther Stewart SPEARMAN - Esther Stewart, 97, died Tuesday, March 2, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Hansford Cemetery with the Rev. Walter Greaser, pastor of First Assembly of God, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Spearman. Mrs. Stewart was born in Oakland, Ark., and moved to Spearman 68 years ago from Erick, Okla. She was a homemaker who was active in Golden Spread Senior Citizens Center. She married R.C. Stewart in 1921 at Wheeler. Preceding her in death were her husband in 1978 and a son, Bob Stewart, earlier this year. Survivors include a daughter, Virginia Dancer of Borger; a brother, Elza Bullen of El Reno, Okla.; and a special friend, Smokey Huse of Houston; 11 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and 16 great-great-grandchildren.