Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 5 May 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, May 5, 1999, 6:25 AM Area Juanita Ruth McBroom SKELLYTOWN - Juanita Ruth McBroom, 79, died Sunday, May 2, 1999. Graveside services were at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Memory Gardens Cemetery at Pampa with the Rev. Fines Marchman, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements were by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Mrs. McBroom was born in Memphis, Texas, and moved to Skellytown in 1945. She worked for Heard & Jones Drug Store for 10 years and was a member of the Skellytown First Baptist Church. She married Neal McBroom in 1942 at McLean. He died in 1990. Survivors include a brother, Clevy Hancock of Midland. The family requests memorials be to the First Baptist Church of Skellytown. Alice Boyd BORGER - Alice Boyd, 88, died Friday, April 30, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Sunset Memorial Cemetery at Stinnett. Arrangements are by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mrs. Boyd was born in Paris, Texas, and had lived in Borger for 15 years. She was a homemaker. Survivors include two sons, Jack Harris of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Marvin Harris of California; a sister, Bernice Buckner of Oklahoma City; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Roger Allen Paxton HARTLEY - Roger Allen Paxton, 52, died Monday, May 3, 1999. Rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. today in Holy Family Ministry at Hartley. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday in St. Anthony's Catholic Church at Dalhart by the Rev. Jim McGhee. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia, in Amarillo. Mr. Paxton was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. He was a disabled veteran of the Navy and had served as a Navy SEAL. He was a woodworker and was instrumental in the building of the Shrine of Divine Mercy at the Holy Family Ministry Center in Hartley. He was a member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church of Dalhart. He married Leah Ramey in 1970 at Green Township, Ohio. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Anna Louise Paxton of Hartley; a brother, James David Paxton of Daytona Beach, Fla.; a sister, Judith Ann Moser of Florence, S.C.; and his father, Hilbert Harry Paxton of Ocala, Fla. The family requests memorials be to Holy Family Ministry Center, P.O. Box 383, Hartley, TX 79044. Rosalie Davis Cator GRUVER - Rosalie Larue Davis Cator, 77, died Monday, May 3, 1999. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in First Christian Church with the Rev. Gary Gumfory and the Rev. Jerry Moore officiating. Burial will be in Gruver Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home in Spearman. Mrs. Cator was born near Perryton and had lived in the Gruver area all her life. She married Alvin "Speck" Cator in 1940 at Guymon, Okla. He died in 1985. She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Eva Pittman, in 1963; and by a son, Bill Cator, in 1997. She was a homemaker and a quilter. She was a member of First Christian Church and assisted on many blood drives in Gruver. Survivors include three daughters, Larue Mayo and Amy Babbs, both of Gruver, and Angie Pool of Hardesty, Okla.; a son, D.A. Cator of Gruver; a brother, C.A. Davis Jr. of Gruver; a sister, Vera Mae "Tubby" Hays of Spearman; 15 grandchildren; and 35 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Hansford Hospice, 707 Roland, Spearman, Texas 79081; or Don and Sybil B. Harrington Cancer Center, 1500 Wallace Blvd., Amarillo, Texas 79106. Dorothy L. Phelps BOOKER - Dorothy L. Phelps, 80, died Monday, May 3, 1999. Services are at 10 a.m. Thursday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home Chapel at Perryton with the Rev. Ted Latham officiating. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery. Ms. Phelps was born in Balko, Okla. She moved to the Booker area in 1991 from Canon City, Colo. She had worked as an office assistant in the penitentiary at Canon City. She was a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include two nephews, Charles McCartney and Roy McCartney, both of Perryton; and three nieces, Carolyn Mitchell of Perryton, Diana McCartney of Irving and Sherry Barringer of Arlington. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. Margarito Escalante PLAINVIEW - Margarito Escalante, 79, died Monday, May 3, 1999, in Lubbock. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today at Lemons Funeral Home. Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Thursday in Sacred Heart Catholic Church by Elbert A. Fadallan. Burial is in Plainview Cemetery. Mr. Escalante was born in Rockdale. He was a veteran of World War II. He married Marta Guerra in 1945 at Pleasanton. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Cursillo Group. Survivors include his wife; four daughters, Oralia Escalante, Maria Riojas and Adela Escalante, all of Plainview, and Diana Barron of Lubbock; three sons, Clemente Escalante and Gilbert Escalante, both of San Antonio, and Margarito Escalante Jr. of Plainview; three brothers, Joe Escalante and Celestino Escalante, both of San Antonio, and Ernesto Escalante of California; a sister, Mercedes Charo of San Antonio; 19 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. Jose Mata MORTON - Jose Mata, 73, died Sunday, May 2, 1999, in Lubbock. Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. today in St. Ann's Catholic Church by the Rev. Ricardo Salditos, pastor. Rosary was recited on Tuesday at Ellis Funeral Home Chapel. Burial is in Morton Memorial Cemetery. Mr. Mata was born in Artesia, N.M. He moved to Morton in 1984 from Saragosa. He was a farm laborer and a Catholic. He married Maximina Jimenez in 1972 at Roswell, N.M. She died in 1990. Survivors include two sons, Joe Mata and Bobby Mata, both of Morton; a daughter, Rachel Mata of Morton; four stepsons, Alfredo Burciaga, Arturo Burciaga and Ricardo Burciaga, all of Odessa, and Armando Burciaga of Springfield, Colo.; four stepdaughters, Imelda Hall of Portsmouth, Va., Elsa Ramos of Springfield, Maria Meras of Odessa and Antonia Garza of Morton; three sisters, Ysidra Levario of Lake Arthur, N.M., Tomasa Alamos of Juarez, Mexico, and Manuela Palma of Ojinaga, Mexico; 17 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Alfred Bell PANHANDLE - Alfred "Red" Bell, 86, died Tuesday, May 4, 1999. Services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday in the Church of Christ with Leonard Harper, minister, officiating. Burial is in Panhandle Cemetery by Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mr. Bell was born in Wheatland and moved to Panhandle 45 years ago from Amarillo. He served in the Navy Seabees during World War II. He worked 35 years for Southwestern Public Service Co. and retired as a district manager in Armstrong and Carson counties. He participated in many community activities and service organizations and received Outstanding Citizen of the Year award in 1970. He also received a Special Appreciation Award from Panhandle Independent School District. Mr. Bell was a lifetime member of Texas Congress of PTA and the Square House Museum in Carson County. He was a member of the Panhandle Lions Club and a founder of both the Pride of the Panhandle Band Booster Club and the Panther Booster Club. He was a member of Panhandle Church of Christ. He married Agnes Lona Tribble in 1942. She died in 1997. Survivors include two sons, John Alfred Bell and Grover Woody Bell, both of Amarillo; two daughters, Carolyn Sue Hermesmeyer and Peggy Louise Crow, both of Panhandle; 13 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Square House Museum in Panhandle or Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center in Amarillo. Ilene Jones PAMPA - Ilene Jones, 87, died Tuesday, May 4, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Memory Gardens Mausoleum with Larry Brown, minister of Mary Ellen and Harvester Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Ms. Jones was born in Kirkland and moved to Pampa in 1948. She worked at Gibsons and Elmer's Grocery. She was a longtime member of Mary Ellen and Harvester Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by a son, Larry McAllister. Survivors include a son, Bill McAllister of Pampa; two daughters, Claudette Schroeder of Pampa and Teresa Carlisle of New Jersey; a brother, T.I. Loter of Pampa; a sister, Dorothy West of Searcy, Ark.; 11 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the American Heart Association, 2404 W. Seventh Ave., Amarillo, Texas 79106. Elsewhere Jack Donley Pitcock LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Jack Donley Pitcock, 79, died Wednesday, April 28, 1999. Memorial services were in Las Vegas by Palm Sanctuary. Mr. Pitcock was born in Twitty, Texas. He graduated from Wheeler High School. He attended Tyler Junior College, Tyler Court Reporting School and San Antonio Junior College. He joined the Air Force in 1940 and retired in 1960 as a master sergeant. He became office manager of a law firm in Houston, Texas, retiring in 1985. Survivors include his wife, Polly; a daughter, Sherry Weed of Las Vegas; a brother, James K. Pitcock of Mobile, Ala.; a sister, Jan Rhine of Paradise, Texas; two grandsons; and two great-grandsons. Ellen Vincens FORT WORTH - Ellen Turley Vincens, 74, died Thursday, April 29, 1999. Services were at 2 p.m. Saturday in Alta Mesa Church of Christ. Burial was in Laurel Land Cemetery by Benbrook Funeral Home. Mrs. Vincens was born in Dodge City, Kan. She was a member of Fort Worth Garden Club and Alta Mesa Church of Christ. Survivors include her children, Suellen Cross of Borger, Roberta McLaughlin of Amarillo, Vince Vincens and John Vincens, both of Fort Worth, and April Maas of Richland Hills; a brother, William Turley of Dodge City; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Community Hospice of Texas, 1000 Summit, Fort Worth, Texas 76102. Amarillo James Thomas Lewis James Thomas Lewis, 71, of Red River, N.M., and formerly of Amarillo, died Monday, May 3, 1999. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. today in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle, in Amarillo, with the Rev. Glendell Smith, chaplain with Baptist St. Anthony's Health System, officiating. Mr. Lewis was born in Tom, Okla., and was a longtime Amarillo resident before moving to Red River in 1993. He retired as chief of branch finance for the Helium Plant. After retirement, he was a Realtor with Coldwell Banker First Equity Realtors and owned and managed rental properties in Amarillo. He was a Navy veteran of World War II and a member of First Baptist Church in Amarillo. He married Barbara Berry in 1966 at Booker. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Carolyn Teresa Lewis Miller of New Boston; a son, John Thomas Lewis of Texarkana; a stepson, Berry Skipper of Amarillo; two brothers, Charles Lewis of Tom and Steve Lewis of New Boston; two sisters, Billie Lewis of Tom and Sandra Gibson of Amarillo; and a grandson. The family requests memorials in lieu of flowers be to the American Heart Association, 2404 W. Seventh Ave., Amarillo, TX 79106; or the American Cancer Society, 3915 Bell St., Amarillo, TX 79109. The body will not be available for viewing. Michelle Amy Simpkins Michelle Amy Simpkins, 21, died Friday, April 30, 1999. Services were at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Schooler Funeral Home Brentwood Chapel, 4100 S. Georgia, with Chaplain Donna Johnston of Northwest Texas Healthcare System officiating. Burial was in Palo Duro Cemetery at Wildorado. Miss Simpkins was born in Canyon. She had been severely handicapped and had been cared for at home. She was a Catholic. Survivors include her parents, Donald and Margret Simpkins, who live west of Amarillo. Evelyn Stephens Evelyn Stephens, 83, of Amarillo, died Sunday, May 2, 1999. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. Thursday in Bailey County Cemetery at Muleshoe with the Rev. Richard Laverty of First Baptist Church of Farwell officiating. Arrangements are by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Ms. Stephens was born in Hawkins and was a longtime resident of Amarillo and Muleshoe. She had worked as a secretary in various government jobs. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Amarillo. Survivors include three nephews and a niece. The body will be available for viewing at the funeral home. James E. Sanders James E. Sanders, 70, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, May 4, 1999. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Southeast Baptist Church, 3901 E. 10th Ave., with Brother Robert Field officiating. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mr. Sanders was born in Las Vegas, N.M. He retired as a plumber with United Plumbing. Survivors include a son, Michael Sanders of Amarillo; two sisters, Peggy Bolton of Amarillo and Betty Houston of Modesto, Calif.; and two grandchildren. Mae Chapmon Mae Chapmon, 93, of Amarillo, died Monday, May 3, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Chapmon was born in Hanna, Okla. She married Paul Haskell Chapmon in 1927 at Amarillo. She lived in Oklahoma before moving back to Amarillo in 1947. She was a homemaker. She was a past member of Sanborn Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1987; and by a son, J.D. Chapmon, in 1996. Survivors include five sons, Paul J. Chapmon of Mangum, Okla., Earl E. Chapmon of Henryetta, Okla., Edward Chapmon and Buster Chapmon, both of Amarillo, and Jimmy W. Chapmon of Denver; four daughters, Donna Middaugh of Sun City, Ariz., Dee Hartfelder of Amarillo and twins Bonnie Rasure and Connie Moore, both of Gainsville; several half-brothers and half-sisters; 34 grandchildren; 71 great-grandchildren; and 17 great-great-grandchildren. Canyon Sherry Anne Capps Sherry Anne Capps, 33, of Tucson, Ariz., and formerly of Canyon and Amarillo, died Friday, April 30, 1999. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Holley Funeral Home Chapel at Canyon with the Rev. F.M. Byford, minister at Paramount Baptist Church in Amarillo, officiating. Cremation was arranged by Holley Funeral Home Inc. Miss Capps was born in Canyon and grew up in Amarillo. She graduated from Amarillo High School. She moved to Tucson 14 years ago and was attending law school. She was active in Friends of Cabeza Prieta Wildlife Refuge and was sponsoring a foster child in Colombia through CCF. Survivors include her mother, Patricia Capps of Amarillo; her father, John Capps of Waxahachie; three brothers, John Mark Capps of Austin, Michael Capps of Garland and Brent Capps of Amarillo; and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. E.L. Hardaway of Canyon. Oklahoma Cyrus Hayes Reust GUYMON, Okla. - Cyrus Hayes Reust, 80, died Sunday, May 2, 1999, at Tribune, Kan. Military graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Elmhurst Cemetery with the Rev. Terry Armstrong, pastor of the Guymon Nazarene Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home. Mr. Reust was born on the family homestead south of Guymon. He attended Guymon schools. He was an Army veteran of World War II, and was discharged with the rank of private first class. He farmed and ranched. He was a member of the Panhandle Bible Center, No Man's Land Senior Citizens Center and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He married Evelyn Nora Hill in 1941 at Guymon. Mr. Reust was preceded in death by a daughter, Eloise, who was a twin; and by another set of twins, Iona and Ivadell. Survivors include his wife; a son, George Knudt Reust of Guymon; three daughters, Elaine Hughey of Bartlesville, Carrol Bursell of Miami, Texas, and Evelyn Montandon of Sharon Springs, Kan.; 14 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the No Man's Land Senior Citizen's Center in care of Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1112, Guymon, Oklahoma 73942. O.G. Henderson BEAVER, Okla. - O.G. Henderson, 90, died Monday, May 3, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Beaver First Baptist Church with Don Rogers and Charles Watson officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. in DeBolt Cemetery at Arnett by Clark Funeral Service of Beaver. Mr. Henderson was born in Arnett and moved to Beaver over 35 years ago. He was a teacher before operating the B&J Drug Store in Beaver. He was a member of the Rotary Club, the Masonic Lodge, Cub Scouts, Chamber of Commerce and the No Man's Land Historical Museum at Goodwell. He married Iva Fox in 1929 at Arnett. Survivors include his wife; a son, Jim Henderson of Enid; two sisters, Lilly Collier of Fresno, Calif., and Garnet Harmon of San Antonio; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Robert Boyle WAYNOKA, Okla. - Robert Boyle, 70, died Monday, April 26, 1999, in Oklahoma City. Services were on April 29 at the Northside Church of Christ. Burial was in the Waynoka Cemetery by Marshall Funeral Home. Mr. Boyle was born in Woodward. He attended Missouri Valley and Waynoka High School. He then attended Abilene Christian College, where he received bachelor's and master's degrees. He married Lola Morris in 1945. He worked for Santa Fe Railway from 1944 to 1958. He served in the military during the Korean War. He was a member of the Church of Christ, where he preached from 1955 to 1999. Survivors include his wife; a son, Dr. Mike Boyle of Louisville, Ky.; two daughters, Jo Ann Lorry of Edmond and Jeannie Robinson of Abilene, Texas; two sisters, Bernardine Thomas of Albuquerque, N.M., and Patsy Bavousett of Pottsboro, Texas; and seven grandchildren. Tracy Annice Sturgell ENID, Okla. - Tracy Annice Claycomb Sturgell, 39, died Monday, May 3, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in First Christian Church at Guymon with the Rev. Don Chase, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Elmhurst Cemetery by Henson-Novak Funeral Directors of Guymon. Mrs. Sturgell was born in Guymon. She attended Guymon schools. She married Rick L. Sturgell in 1979 at Guymon. She had worked as a chemical dependency technician for several years. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Cody Lee Sturgell and Luke Alan Sturgell, both of Enid; her parents, Phyllis and Johnny M. Claycomb of Guymon; three sisters, Joni Loughridge, Connie Perales and Jacki Anderson, all of Guymon; and a brother, Johnny Mack Claycomb Jr. of Millington, Tenn. A Tracy Sturgell Memorial has been established for the Thunderbird Youth Academy, WETC, 824 Park Street, Pryor, Okla., 74351-5610. Memorials also may be sent in care of Henson-Novak Funeral Home, Box 1306, Guymon, Okla. 73942. New Mexico Doris JoAnn Pleasant CLOVIS, N.M. - Doris JoAnn Pleasant, 60, died Monday, May 3, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in First Church of God in Christ with Bishop W. Charles Green officiating. Burial will be in Mission Garden of Memories by Muffley Funeral Home. Mrs. Pleasant was born in Dennison, Texas, and moved to Clovis in 1974. She was a meat cutter at Excel Meat Packing Co. in Friona, Texas, retiring in 1985. She was a member of First Church of God in Christ where she served on the usher board. She married Thomas Pleasant in 1985 in Clovis. She was preceded in death by a son, Shannon Windom. Survivors include her husband; her mother, Pearl Brooks of Lubbock, Texas; four sons, Lawrence Windom of Killeen, Texas, Gerry Windom and Jackie Windom, both of Sierra Vista, and Willie Windom of Clovis; a daughter, Lorraine Carter of Amarillo; a stepson, William F. Pleasant of Shanghai, China; six stepdaughters, Marvis DeShears, Ellen Elizabeth Pleasant, Ellen Patricia Pleasant, and Doreatha Pleasant, all of Clovis, Tracy Pleasant Lopez of Pleasant Hill and Francine Pleasant of Gary, N.C.; two brothers, Claud Brooks and Winford Brooks, both of Lubbock; a sister, Bonnie Westbrook of Lubbock; 25 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. Catalina Lovato TUCUMCARI, N.M. - Catalina Lovato, 82, died Monday, May 3, 1999. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in Dunn Funeral Home Memorial Chapel. Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Thursday in St. Anne's Catholic Church by the Rev. John C. Daniel. Burial will be in the family plot at Tucumcari Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Lovato was born in Leyba and had been a longtime Tucumcari resident. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Anne's Catholic Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tito Lovato, in 1994. Survivors include three daughters, Bree Montoya of Las Vegas, N.M., and Lucita Arias and Feliciana Martinez, both of Tucumcari; two brothers, Rosendo Sandoval of Leyba and Juan Sandoval of Albuquerque; three sisters, Prudy Matthews of Victorville, Calif., and Gloria Sandoval and Sandra Sandoval, both of Tucumcari; 11 grandchildren; 21 greatgrandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. Viewing will be at Dunn Funeral Home until 2 p.m. on Thursday.