Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 5 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; Thursday, August 5, 1999, 6:27 AM Amarillo Mason S. Wilt Mason S. Wilt, 77, of Amarillo, died Monday, Aug, 2, 1999. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Resthaven Cemetery at Lubbock. Services were at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Schooler Funeral Home Brentwood Chapel, 4100 S. Georgia St., with Dr. Alan Pickering of Southwest Church of Christ of Temecula, Calif., and Gene Shelburne of Anna Street Church of Christ officiating. Mr. Wilt was born in Philadelphia, Pa., where he graduated from school. He moved to Amarillo in 1984 from Bartlesville, Okla., where he had lived for 18 months. He graduated from Texas Tech University in 1949 with a degree in chemical engineering. He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving in the European Theater, Headquarters Company 66th Infantry, Second Battalion. He had lived in Borger for 32 years where he worked for Phillips Petroleum as a chemical engineer. He was a member of the Chess Club and was a life master bridge player. He was a volunteer for Internal Revenue Service at the Senior Citizens Center. He married Mary Berry in 1944 at Lubbock. Survivors include his wife; a son, Rex Mason Wilt of Amarillo; a daughter, Cyndee Gayle of Snyder; a sister, Marion Defeo of Maple Shade, N.J.; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176-0001. Rosalie R. Embrey Rosalie R. Embrey, 72, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Aug. 1, 1999. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Adamson Mortuary at Greeley, Colo. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens with local arrangements by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Embrey was born in North Platte, Neb. She graduated in 1945 from Beaver City High School at Beaver City, Neb. She taught in rural schools for three years in Furnas County, Neb. She married James A. Embrey in 1947 at Precept, Neb. They farmed in Nebraska from 1947 until 1961. They moved to Greeley in 1961 and she worked for District 6 for 26 years, retiring in 1988. They moved to Amarillo in May, 1998. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Sue Ellen Sims of Amarillo and Anita Jeanne Graves of Aiken, S.C.; a son, Bradley James Embrey of Amarillo; two sisters, Elsie Conner of Stamford, Neb., and Irma Haas of Beaver City; and three grandchildren. The family requests memorials, in lieu of flowers, be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176-0001 or a favorite charity. Robert Eugene Mendenhall Robert Eugene Mendenhall, 57, of Amarillo, died Monday, Aug. 2, 1999. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. today in Joy Fellowship, 4800 Journey St., with Lu Laster, senior pastor, officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Mendenhall was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and was a longtime resident of Amarillo. He returned to Des Moines and lived there for 18 years before returning to Amarillo 10 weeks ago when he retired. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War. He attended Joy Fellowship in Amarillo. He was a trainer of race horses and was the previous owner/operator of 440 Raceway in Amarillo and Randall Park Raceway of Umbarger. He was the chief executive officer and president of First Continental Management Corp., of Amarillo and was the owner of the Hall of Fame Stallion Station at Umbarger. He had been a district manager for the Des Moines Register at Des Moines. Mr. Mendenhall had coached Little League baseball and All American football teams in Des Moines. He married Jewell Bailey in 1975 in Amarillo. Survivors include his wife, Jewell; four sons, Randall Mendenhall, Dory Mendenhall and Dutch Mendenhall, all of Des Moines, and Brent Mendenhall of Angier, N.C.; a brother, Richard Mendenhall of Las Vegas; two sisters, Barbara Butler-Jones and LaDonna Amsden, both of Des Moines; and five grandchildren. Madge Meeks Holley Madge Meeks Holley, 94, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Aug. 3, 1999. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors Pioneer Chapel, 2615 Paramount Blvd., with Dr. Howard K. Batson of First Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Friday in West Park Cemetery at Hereford with Terry Cosby of First Baptist Church of Hereford officiating. Mrs. Holley was born in Wildorado, the daughter of an early Panhandle pioneer family, and moved to Amarillo in 1923. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and was a charter member of the A.E. Shirley Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star. She married J.W. Holley in 1924 in Amarillo. He died in 1958. She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Helen Holley Hebler in February. Survivors include a daughter, Alyce Joyce of Amarillo; six grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and three great-greatgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79106-0001. Ricky Dwayne Chavez Ricky Dwayne Chavez, 33, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Aug. 3, 1999. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in Paramount Baptist Church with Dr. Gil Lain officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mr. Chavez was born in Amarillo and graduated from Caprock High School in 1985. For 17 years, he was an independent carpet layer and was a contractor for Ingram's Carpet. He was a member of Paramount Baptist Church. He married Tina Louise Grady in 1995 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; a son, Ricky Chavez Jr. of Amarillo; two daughters, Shelby Grady and Selena Chavez, both of Amarillo; his parents, Sheila Chavez and Benny Chavez, both of Amarillo; a brother, Bryan Chavez of Amarillo; a sister, Christa Chavez of Amarillo; and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Rosenbaum of Amarillo. The family will be at 3821 S. Monroe. They suggest memorials be to a favorite charity. Canyon Tommy Hunter Tommy Hunter, 69, of Canyon, died Monday, Aug. 2, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in First Christian Church with Dr. Charles Price, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery by Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon. Mr. Hunter was born in Amarillo. He graduated from Canyon High School and West Texas State College. He was a Navy veteran and member of the First Christian Church and Veterans of Foreign Wars Lucius Penick Post 5681. He married Bettie Coleman at Canyon. Survivors include a daughter, Trina Weaver of Fort Worth; two sons, Raymond Hunter of Flint Ridge, Okla., and Larry Hunter of Canyon; a brother, B.J. Hunter of Pecos, N.M.; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to WTAMU - Alumni Association, P.O. Box 62833, Canyon, TX 79016. New Mexico Robert Mitchell Harris CLOVIS, N.M. - Robert Mitchell Harris, 64, died Monday, Aug. 2, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in First Church of the Nazarene with Ed Abla, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens with Masonic graveside rites by Hereford Lodge 849 of Hereford, Texas. Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home of Clovis. Mr. Harris was born in Norton, Texas. He moved with his family to Sterling, Texas, then to San Angelo, Texas, where he graduated from high school in 1953. He served in the armed forces from 1956 to 1963. He was assigned to the telecommunications division at Clark AFB in the Philippines for 18 months, then was reassigned to Offutt AFB at Omaha, Neb., for the remainder of his military career. He married Suzy Thatcher in 1958 at Spur, Texas. They moved to Wilcox, Ariz., where he worked at Valley Telephone Co. In 1965, they moved to Dell City, Texas, where he worked for Dell City Telephone Co-op. In 1968, they moved to Lubbock, Texas, where he was employed by Hicks and Ragland Engineering Co. In 1969, they moved to Hereford, where he was employed for 14 years at West Texas Rural Telephone Co-op. In 1974, he moved to Clovis, where he was general manager of ENMR Telephone Coop. He retired in 1995. He was a member of the Summerfield Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday school in the 1970s. He coached Little League in Hereford. He also was a member of the Lions Club, the Masonic Lodge, Shriners and was a board member of Ned Houk Motorsport Complex. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Mike Harris of Hereford and Randall Harris and Ronne Harris, both of Clovis; his mother, Rose Enochs of Eldorado, Texas; a brother, Jackie Don Harris of Eldorado; and nine grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Make A Wish Foundation of the Texas Plains, 2324 Lakeview, Amarillo, TX 79102; Make A Wish Foundation of New Mexico, 5301 Central Ave. N.E., Suite 203, Albuquerque, NM 87108; the Baptist Children's Home at Portales; the Clovis Police Department; or the Curry County Sheriff's Office. Roy A. Meador CLOVIS, N.M. - Roy A. Meador, 90, died Tuesday, Aug. 3, 1999. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Friday in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Dean Turvaville officiating. Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home of Clovis. Mr. Meador was born in Jacksonville, Texas. He retired as a equipment operator for the California Highway Department in 1973 and moved to Clovis in 1979. He is survived by a brother, Carl Meador of Meadow Vista, Calif. Donald A. English TUCUMCARI, N.M. - Donald A. English, 76, died Tuesday, Aug. 3, 1999. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Dunn Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Gene Richardson, Methodist minister, officiating. The body was cremated. Mr. English was born in Milwaukee, Wis., and had been a longtime resident of Tucumcari. A World War II veteran, he served in the Navy for 7 years. He served in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters and attained the rank of chief petty officer. Mr. English was a member of Tucumcari BPO Elks Lodge 1172 and the Mesa Country Club. Survivors include his wife, Sue English; two sons, Dale English and Randy English, both of Ruidoso; and a grandson. Kansas Grace Leighty FORD, Kan. - Grace Leighty, 91, died Sunday, Aug. 1, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Ford Community Church at Ford with the Rev. Jim Pollom officiating. Burial will be in Ford Cemetery by Minnis Mortuary of Bucklin, Kan. Mrs. Leighty was born in Ford County, Kan., and was a longtime Ford resident. She retired as a telephone operator and was housekeeper for the Ford United Methodist Church for more than 30 years. She was a member of Ford Community Church. She married Willis K. Leighty in 1927 at Ford. He died in 1975. Survivors include a son, Galen Leighty of Ford; a daughter, Irene Ellis of Amarillo; a sister, Helen Clay of Renton, Wash.; four grandchildren; seven greatgrandchildren; and three great-greatgrandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Ford Community Church in care of the mortuary. Area Ruth Novella Dye Hundley CLAUDE - Ruth Novella Dye Hundley, 91, died Monday, Aug. 2, 1999. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in First United Methodist Church of Claude with the Rev. Eugene Weinette, pastor, and the Rev. Don Travis, retired Methodist minister from Amarillo, officiating. Burial will be in Claude Cemetery by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon. Mrs. Hundley was born in Claude and was a lifetime resident of Armstrong County. She was a restaurant cook and a member of First United Methodist Church. She married Jess Bennett Hundley in 1926 in Amarillo. He died in 1990. Survivors include four daughters, Bennye Ruth Klier of East Carbon, Utah, Nelda Stephenson of Claude, Donna Bartley of Dallas and Nancy Moore of Stratford; two sons, Wildon "Warty" Hundley of Claude, and Delbert Hundley of Tulia; 13 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the First United Methodist Church of Claude. Evelyn Patterson Osborne WHITE DEER - Evelyn Patterson Osborne, 74, died Tuesday, Aug. 3, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in the First Baptist Church with the Rev. Jim Shamburger, pastor of First Baptist Church of Victoria and the Rev. John Collis, pastor of the First Baptist Church of White Deer, officiating. Burial will be in White Deer Cemetery by CarmichaelWhatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Mrs. Osborne was born in Wellington and moved to Pampa in 1943. She moved to White Deer in 1958 from Pampa. She worked as a cashier for Lee Way Motor Freight in Pampa for 15 years and was a homemaker. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of White Deer. She was a former member of the White Deer Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star. She married Lansin H. Osborne in 1958 at Borger. He died in 1998. Survivors include two sons, Harris Osborne of Midland, and John Osborne of Menard; a sister, Maxine Andrew of Olton; and four grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176; or the First Baptist Church, 411 S. Omohundro, White Deer, TX 79097. Amberlean Davis PAMPA - Amberlean Davis, 95, died Wednesday, Aug. 4, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with the Rev. Jim Powell, pastor of First Baptist Church of Howardwick, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mrs. Davis was born in Searcy, Ark. She was a homemaker and a member of Calvary Baptist Church. She married Corley "C" Davis in 1921 at Mangum, Okla. He died in 1988. She also was preceded in death by three sons, J.C. Davis, Tommy Davis, and Little John Davis and a daughter, Ula May Davis. Survivors include a son, Raymond Davis of Pampa; two daughters, Georgia Shay and Gwen Sutton, both of Pampa; two sisters, Fay Risner of Wheeler, and Lillian Gilliam of Globe, Ariz.; 15 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; and 14 great-great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Calvary Baptist Church Building Fund. They will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. today. Lela Helen Copeland PLAINVIEW - Lela Helen Copeland, 88, died Monday, Aug. 2, 1999, at Lubbock. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Garland Street Church of Christ with Karl King, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Cemetery by Wood-Dunning Funeral Home. Mrs. Copeland was born in Searcy County, Ark., and moved to Plainview in 1937 from Oklahoma. She was a member of Garland Street Church of Christ. She married W.L. "Dub" Copeland in 1935 at Sentinel, Okla. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Donna Mullins of Lubbock and Billie Morris of San Antonio; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Westview Boys Home, P.O. Box 553, Hollis, Okla. They will receive friends at the funeral home from 5 to 8 p.m. today. Lucille Franks Carroll PLAINVIEW - Lucille Franks Carroll, 75, died Tuesday, Aug. 3, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Seth Ward Baptist Church with the Rev. Jim Ritter, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park by Lemons Funeral Home. Mrs. Carroll was born in Lamar County where she attended schools. After her marriage, she lived in Paris, Texas, then moved to Floydada in 1964. She and her husband started Carroll Cattle Company in 1976. In 1981, she moved to Plainview. In 1992, she became owner and operator of Lucille Carroll Trucking Co. She was a member of Seth Ward Baptist Church. She married M.T. Carroll in 1949 at Paris. She was preceded in death by her husband and by a daughter, Edna Freels, both in 1992. Survivors include three sons, Michael Carroll and John Carroll, both of Plainview and Brooks Carroll of Cave Cree, Ariz.; a sister, Alpha Jane Burkes of Mesquite; and five grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Special Olympics. Lucy R. Smith PAMPA - Lucy R. Smith, 94, died Sunday, Aug. 1, 1999 in Irving. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Hi Land Pentecostal Holiness Church with Nathan Hopson, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery in McLean by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Mrs. Smith was born in Ponder, Mo., and lived in McLean for 40 years before moving to Pampa in 1967. For 40 years, she taught Sunday School in McLean and was a member of the Pentecostal Holiness Church in Pampa. She married Noah Smith in 1921 at Okemah, Okla. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1981 and by a daughter, Edith Lorene, in 1928. Survivors include five sons, Vergal R. Smith of Mesa, Ariz., Raymond L. Smith of Austin, James N. Smith Jr. of Irving and Don L. Smith and Ronnie D. Smith, both of Amarillo; two daughters, Vergie M. Ballard of Pampa and Annette Horton of Grapevine; 11 grandchildren; 15 greatgrandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Vitas Hospice, 5001 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1050, Dallas, TX 75244. Clara Dacus Boothe Diggs PANHANDLE - Clara Dacus Boothe Diggs, 85, died Wednesday, Aug. 4, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Calvary Baptist Church in Panhandle with the Rev. Anthony Powell, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Panhandle Cemetery by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors of Panhandle. Mrs. Diggs was born in McClain County, Okla., and had been a Panhandle resident since 1947. A grocery clerk, she was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church and the Rebekah's. She married Bennie Diggs at Clayton, N.M. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Val Gene Boothe of Borger and Galen Lynn Boothe of Panhandle; three daughters, Wilma Jewel Wood and Linda Kay Calkins, both of Amarillo, and Betty June Cate of San Antonio; two brothers, William Dacus of Cannon City, Colo., and Ernest Dacus of Fritch; a sister, Marjorie Johns of Oklahoma City; 10 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. The family will be staying at 912 Oak in Panhandle. They suggest memorials be to Calvary Baptist Church, P.O. Box 991, Panhandle, TX 79068. Elsewhere Richard Allen Frazier ABILENE - Richard Allen Frazier, 52, died Tuesday, Aug. 3, 1999. Memorial services will be from 6:30 until 8 p.m. today in the family home at 426 Peach St. Cremation and arrangements are by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home of Abilene. Burial of cremains will be at a later date in Memorial Park Cemetery in Dalhart. Mr. Frazier was born in Dalhart and had been a member of First Church of the Nazarene in Dalhart. In 1962, he moved to Abilene. Survivors include his mother, Ruby Cash Frazier of Abilene; five brothers, Gordon J. Frazier of Oklahoma City, Larry L. Frazier of Amarillo and Raymond L. Frazier, Ronald D. Frazier and Michael D. Frazier, all of Abilene; and two sisters, Desirie D. Ries and Geri R. Johnston, both of Abilene. The family suggests memorials be to American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 41, Abilene, TX 79604. Dona Winter Harper BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Dona Winter Harper, 71, died Tuesday, Aug. 3, 1999. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Mish Funeral Home in Oildale with Ed Little, pastor of All Saints Episcopal Church, and Kevin Higgins of Quest Episcopal Church officiating. Mrs. Harper was born in Smyer, Texas and raised in Texas until moving to California when she was 12. She graduated from Kern County Union High School and Bakersfield Junior College. She was an active member of Quest Episcopal Church which she help found. She married Gaylord Harper in 1989 at Bakersfield. She was preceded in death by her first husband of 36 years, Henry A. Winter. Survivors include her husband; her five children, Janet Smith and Mary Poehner, both of Bakersfield, Richard Winter of Amarillo, Denise Monteith of Grand Cayman Island and Timothy Winter of Bentonville, Ark.; two sisters, Kay Kuffner and Ann Littrell; a brother, Dick Arnett; and eight grandchildren. The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, memorials be to St. Jude Ranch for Children, P.O. Box 60100, Boulder City, NV 89006-0100.