Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 8 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; Sunday, August 8, 1999, 6:28 AM Area Lynn Martin TULIA - Lynn Martin, 67, died Thursday, Aug. 5, 1999. Graveside services were at 10 a.m. Saturday in Rose Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Tom Baker of Christ Lutheran Church of Tulia officiating. Arrangements were by Wallace Funeral Home of Tulia. Mrs. Martin was born in Wausa, Neb., and grew up in Tulia. A graduate of Tulia High School, she had been a bookkeeper for the Tulia Sentinel. She was a Lutheran. She married Harold Martin in 1950 at Portales, N.M. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Debbie Perez of Tulia; three sons, Mike Martin of Bovina, Mark Hill of Tulia and John Hill of Plano; a brother, John T. Hill of Plano; a sister, Zoa Honea of Tulia; 12 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas or Children's Medical Center of Dallas. John W. Brownlee BORGER - John W. Brownlee, 56, died Thursday, Aug. 5, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. Gregg Simmons, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Garden of Westlawn Memorial Park by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. Mr. Brownlee was born in Los Angeles and had been a longtime resident of Borger. He was a machinist for DISCO and taught hunter education. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Kiwanis and Golden Spread Boy Scout Troop 507. He married Emily Turner in 1992 at Borger. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Paulette, in 1990. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Billy Brownlee of Amarillo, Staff Sgt. Mike Terry of Fort Campbell, Ky., and Ross Terry of Houston; three daughters, Lori Thomas of Midland, Geni Marie Hunt of Borger and Becky Anne Reese of Harrah, Okla.; his parents, Bill and June Brownlee of Borger; his brother, Fred Brownlee of Amarillo; and six grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Golden Spread Council Boy Scouts of America or to Boy Scout Troop No. 507, Box 1141, Borger, TX 79008. Billie T. Phillips FRITCH - Billie T. "Bill" Phillips, 51, died Wednesday, Aug. 4, 1999. Graveside services were at 2 p.m. Saturday in Westlawn Memorial Park with the Rev. Bill Browning officiating. Arrangements were by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. Mr. Phillips was born in Slaton and moved to Fritch in 1972. He married Catherine McAllen in 1968 at Lubbock. Survivors include his wife; a son, Baron Christopher Phillips of San Antonio; a daughter, Reva Michelle Phillips of Borger; a brother, Kenneth Phillips of Lubbock; four sisters, Patty of Lorenzo, Kattie Wiseman of Houston, Vivian McCaren of Lubbock and Joyce Brannon of Amarillo; and three grandchildren. G.B. Johnston Jr. LOCKNEY - G.B. Johnston Jr., 76, died Thursday, Aug. 5, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Gene Hawkins and the Rev. Harold Abney, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Lockney Cemetery by Moore Rose-White Funeral Home of Lockney. Mr. Johnston was born in Lockney and graduated from Lockney High School in 1939. During World War II, he was a pilot in the Army Air Corps in Norwich, England, with the 467th Bomber Squadron. A longtime Lockney resident, Mr. Johnston was a retired farmer. He was a member of First Baptist Church where he taught the Adult Timothy Sunday School Class. He married Naomi Huckabee in 1950 at Clovis, N.M. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Barry Johnston of Lubbock and Chris Johnston of Horn Lake, Miss.; two daughters, Kay Martin of Lockney and Lori Bean of Lubbock; a sister, Agnes Frizzell of Lockney; 12 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Alzheimer's Association, 3601 Fourth St., Room 3A116, Lubbock, TX 79430; or First Baptist Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 446, 401 S. Main, Lockney, TX 79241. Jessie G. Little BORGER - Jessie G. Little, 84, died Friday, Aug. 6, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Highland Park Cemetery with the Rev. Art McAninch officiating. Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Directors of Borger. Mrs. Little was a native of Yale, Okla., and was a longtime Borger resident. She graduated from Botts Business College in Ponca City, Okla., and worked for Drs. Dow, Laird and Streitenberger. Mrs. Little joined the charter chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha where she was a 60-year member. She was elected Kansas state president from 1950 until 1953, was international treasurer in 1955 and elected international president of the international council of ESA. She was a member of Kansas Council of Women, Ladies Golf Association and Phillips Engineers Wives and Newcomers Club. She was preceded in death by her husband, N.W. "Bill" Little in 1998. Survivors include two daughters, Sheri Coleman of Amarillo and Jane Tullos of Borger; a sister, Glenda Stevens of Irving; and four grandchildren. Earl Kyle PAMPA - Earl Kyle, 66, died Saturday, August 7, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Priest Park Church of God with the Rev. Melvin Harris, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Kyle was born in Daylight, Tenn., and moved to Pampa in 1956. He served with the Army during the Korean War and was owner/operator of Kyle's Welding Service for many years. He attended Priest Park Church of God, where he was the bus driver for several years. He married Marlene West in 1957 at Pampa. Survivors include his wife; a son, Darrell Kyle of Pampa; a daughter, Deborah Kyle of Boise, Idaho; two sisters, Ava Akin of Henrietta and Tootsie Tharp of Burkburnett; two brothers, John Kyle and Max Kyle, both of Amarillo; and three grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Priest Park Church of God Bus Ministry. William Herschell Felder HART - William Herschell Felder, 90, died Friday, August 6, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Hart Church of Christ with Roy Shave, former minister of Hart Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Hart Cemetery by Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Home. Mr. Felder was born in Quitaque and raised in the Hollis, Okla. area. He lived in Lockey for several years and moved to Hart in 1947. He was a farmer and a carpenter and operated Hart Laundry until his retirement. He was a charter member of Hart Church of Christ. He married Nellie Anderson in 1929 at Hollis. In 1993, his wife and he were named pioneers of the year in Hart. She died in 1997. Survivors include two daughters, Barbara Godfrey of Plainview and Wanda Murdock of Dimmitt; a son, W.H. Felder Jr. of Sunray; eight grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and a great-greatgrandchild. The family suggests memorials be to Hart Cemetery; or Lubbock Children's Home. Anselmo Vasquez Gonzalez Anselmo Vasquez Gonzalez, 87, of Amarillo, died Saturday, August 7, 1999. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in Ellis Funeral Home Chapel in Muleshoe. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Muleshoe with Alfonso San Juan officiating. Burial will be in Bailey County Cemetery in Muleshoe. Mr. Gonzalez was born in Monterrey, Mexico, moved to Muleshoe in 1943 and to Amarillo in 1984. He worked for Needmore Co-op Cotton Gin for 27 years, helped install fences and worked at Muleshoe Country Club. He married Graciana I. Infante in 1948 at Tampico, Tamps, Mexico. She died in 1990. His son, Jose Manuel Gonzalez, died in 1995. Survivors include three sons, Raul Gonzalez and Gonzalo Gonzalez, both of Amarillo and Anselmo Gonzalez Jr. of Lovington, N.M.; four daughters, Blanca Mora of Amarillo, Mary Barraz of Muleshoe, Hope Castillo of Texico, N.M. and Irma Diaz of Edinburg; 26 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. KennithEdward Murrell WHITEFACE - Kennith Edward Murrell, 77, died Friday, August 6, 1999. Graveside services were Saturday in Whiteface Cemetery. Arrangements were by Ellis Funeral Home of Morton. Mr. Murrell was born in DeKalb and moved to Whiteface from Van Horn in 1974. He was a restaurant owner and served with the Marine Corp. during World War II. He married Juanita Knight in 1945 at De Kalb. She died in 1973. Survivors include a daughter, Gail Goodrum of Flower Mound; and three grandchildren. William McClesky Tye FLOYDADA - William McClesky Tye, 81, died Saturday, August 7, 1999. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Anthony Sisemore, pastor, officiating, and the Rev. Wendell Horn, pastor of First United Methodist Church, assisting. Burial will be in Floyd County Memorial Park by Moore-RoseWhite Funeral Home. Mr. Tye was born in Floydada and attended schools in both Floydada and White Deer. He was the owner of Tye Drilling Company for 31 years and was an engineer at Caprock Hospital for 20 years. He served with the Navy during World War II and was a member of First Baptist Church. He married Edna Beth Wilson in 1937 at Fairview Community. Survivors include his wife; a son, Jim Tye of Lubbock; a daughter, Jane Pruitt of Floydada; a brother, Jim Tye of Wheeler; two sisters, Betty Lou Simpson of Floydada and Carolyn Marble of South Plains; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Floydada EMS, P.O. Box 373, Floydada, TX 79235; or a favorite charity. Mary Frances Mathews HOWARDWICK - Mary Frances Mathews, 65, died Thursday, August 5, 1999, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Howardwick Baptist Church with the Rev. Jim Powell, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Amarillo by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon. Mrs. Mathews was born in Kings Mills, Ohio, and had lived in Amarillo before moving to Howardwick in 1975. She was a homemaker and a member of the Clarendon Order of Eastern Star, Chapter No. 6 and of First Baptist Church in Howardwick. She married Cecil Mathews in 1946 at Kings Mills. He died in June. Survivors include a son, Dennis Mathews of Tecumseh, Kan.; a sister, Gennie Cherry of Amarillo; a brother, Walter L. Burton of Amarillo; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Lucille Mable Watts CLARENDON - Lucille Mable Watts, 80, died Friday, Aug. 6, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. Rob Seale, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Citizens Cemetery by Robertson Funeral Directors. Mrs. Watts was born in Lamar County and lived at Boys Ranch before moving to Clarendon 36 years ago. She was a homemaker and a member of the Calvary Baptist Church. She married James Olen Watts in 1954 at Dalhart. He died in 1987. Survivors include a daughter, Edna Wheeler of Amarillo; four sons, Buster Kerlee of Lewisville and James Edwards Watts, Billy Kerlee and James Watts Jr., all of Clarendon; a sister, Frankie Adams of Lake Towanka; a brother, S.J. Smith of Memphis; 19 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren. Amarillo Rose Beeman Rose Beeman, 92, of Dalhart and formerly of Amarillo, died Thursday, Aug. 5, 1999. Services were at 2 p.m. Saturday in SchoolerGordon Funeral Directors, Bell Avenue Chapel, 5400 Bell St., with Dr. Howard Batson, pastor of First Baptist Church of Amarillo, officiating. Burial was in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Beeman was born in Charleston, Ark., and lived in Amarillo most of her life. She was a homemaker and member of First Baptist Church. She moved to Dalhart in 1996. She married Leslie Beeman in 1928 at Amarillo. He died in 1994. Survivors include a son, Jim Beeman of San Diego; a daughter, Jean Smallwood of Dalhart; a sister, Betty Anderson of Mesa, Ariz.; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Alzheimer's Association Panhandle Chapter or a favorite charity. Audonis Rodriguez Verde Audonis Rodriguez Verde, infant son of Berta Carolina and Felipe Verde, both of Amarillo, died Wednesday, August 4, 1999. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Memory Gardens Cemetery by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Boulevard. Survivors include his parents; four sisters, Sandy Verde, Janelle Verde, Melody Verde and Jamilex Verde, all of the home; two brothers, James Verde and Rudy Verde, both of the home; grandparents, Josephine Ramirez DeRodriguez and Guadalupe and Felipe Verde Sr., all of Mexico. Mary Ellen Cobb Mary Ellen Cobb, 84, of Amarillo, died Friday, August 6, 1999. Services will be at 3 p.m. Monday in Westminster Presbyterian Church with Dr. William Long, interim pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Llano Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Cobb was born in Paducah, Ky., and moved to Amarillo in 1948. She was a homemaker and a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. She married Wilburn H. Cobb in 1937 at Paducah. Survivors include her husband; a son, David Howard Cobb of Amarillo; a daughter, Sally Cobb Croft of Amarillo; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family will be at 1228 Milam and suggests memorials be to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2525 Wimberly, Amarillo, TX 79109; or Presbyterian Children's Home, 3400 Bowie, Amarillo, TX 79109; or Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176. J.C. Smith J.C. Smith, 66, of Amarillo, died Friday, Aug. 6, 1999. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Mount Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. James C. Collins, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by WarfordWalker Mortuary Inc., 509 N. Hughes Street. Mr. Smith was born in Kerens and in 1939, moved to Amarillo, where he attended Carver High School. He served with the Army during the Korean War and worked for Amarillo Linen Service for 30 years until his retirement in 1995. He was a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Alzadean Smith; three daughters, Anita Bolton, Miriam White and Joyce Wells, all of Amarillo; his parents, Lillie B. Smith and Paul Smith Sr. of Amarillo; two sisters, Doris Jean Lary of San Antonio and Ellen Jean Smith of Denton; three brothers, Paul Smith Jr. of Amarillo and John L. Smith and Jerome Smith, both of Dallas; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family will be at 2407 Echo Street. Canyon Izetta Abbott Izetta Abbott, 87, of Canyon, died Friday, Aug. 6, 1999. Services were at 11 a.m. Saturday in Brooks Funeral Directors Chapel with David Lough, minister of University Church of Christ, and the Rev. Billy Nickell, pastor of Assembly of God, officiating. Burial was in Dreamland Cemetery. Mrs. Abbott was born in Girty, Okla. She was a longtime Randall County resident and a member of the Church of Christ. She married Morris Abbott in 1930 at Clovis, N.M. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Sharon Blake of Canyon; a son, Ben Abbott of Canyon; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. New Mexico Celeste Dawn Thomson CLOVIS, N.M. - Celeste Dawn Thomson, 28, died Friday, August 6, 1999, in Lubbock. Memorial services will be in Trinity United Methodist Church at a later date. Arrangements in Lubbock are by Resthaven Funeral Home. Survivors include two daughters, Amber Louise Dawson and Nichole Dawson, both of Tulsa, Okla.; and her parents, John and Mary Thomson of Ranger. Oklahoma Grace Pittman Bourquin BEAVER, Okla. - Grace Pittman Bourquin, 84, died Friday, Aug. 6, 1999. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Beaver First Baptist Church with Bobby Howard and Leah Jones officiating. Burial will be in Pioneer Cemetery by Clark Funeral Service of Beaver. Mrs. Bourquin was born in Balko where she graduated from high school. A lifelong resident of Beaver County, she was a homemaker and a member of Beaver First Baptist Church. She also attended the Nazarene Church. Her first marriage was to Amos Pittman in 1938 at Beaver. He died in 1969. In 1973, she married Ralph Bourquin who also preceded her in death. Survivors include four daughters, VaLois Ramon of Goodwell, Vera Floyd and Erma Lou Costner, both of Beaver, and Amy Grace Cole of Abernathy, Texas; a sister, Louise Robertson of Portland, Ore.; 10 grandchildren; and seven greatgrandchildren. Elsewhere Johnny Lovitt Brown MELBOURNE, Ark. - Johnny Lovitt Brown, 42, a former Amarillo resident, died Sunday, Aug. 1, 1999, at Lawrence, Kan. Services were at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4, at Galatia Church with Donnie Speak officiating. Burial was in Galatia Cemetery by Eddie's Funeral Home of Calico Rock, Ark. Mr. Brown was born in Mountain Home, Ark. He was a self-employed stone mason. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Merry Carolyn Cooley-Brown. Survivors include his wife, Lisa; a daughter, Sherry Vest of Melbourne; a son, Terry Ashley Brown of Pineville; his mother, Eva Lovitt of Pineville; two sisters, Sharon Harber and Dorothy Banning, both of Izard County; two brothers, Howard Brown and Michael Brown; three half brothers, Jerry Brown, Bobby Brown and Jimmy Brown, all of California. Eugene F. White BAYPORT, Minn. - Eugene F. White, formerly of San Jon, N.M., died Thursday, June 17, 1999, at Minneapolis. Private burial was held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at Minneapolis. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18, at the San Jon United Methodist Church at San Jon. Mr. White was a veteran of World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. He was a member of the National Rifle Association, Disabled American Veterans, Veteran's of Foreign Wars and American Legion Post 491 at Bayport. He also was a charter member of the St. Croix Rockhounds. Survivors include his wife, Phyllis; two sons, Eugene White Jr. and Benjamin White; two daughters, Teresa Creal and Arba Jean Smith; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials, in lieu of flowers, be to the McCurdy School at Espanola, N.M. Jesse R. Graham IRVING - Jesse R. Graham, 76, died Friday, August 6, 1999. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Memory Gardens at Pampa with the Rev. Leonard Forsythe officiating and graveside rites by Adobe Walls Masonic Lodge No. 1355. Arrangements are by Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. Mr. Graham was born in Lawton, Okla., and moved to Irving from Borger 16 years ago. He was a member of Adobe Walls Masonic Lodge No. 1355 AF&AM and the Borger Chapter 811 of Order of Eastern Star. He worked in the lab at Phil Black until his retirement. He married Frances Musgrove in 1949 at Borger. Survivors include his wife; a son, Jerald "Rex" Graham of Big Sandy; a daughter, Joyce Graham of Irving; and a brother, Leon Graham of Cactus.