Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 13 Feb 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; Saturday, February 13, 1999, 6:38 AM Area Lois Black Turcotte PAMPA - Lois Black Turcotte, 79, died Thursday, Feb. 11, 1999. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Fairview Cemetery with the Rev. Todd Dyess, pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mrs. Turcotte was born in Miami, Texas. She attended schools in Miami, graduating from Miami High School. She worked several years as a secretary-typist in Amarillo and San Francisco. She also worked as a typist for Panhandle Insurance Agency, Duncan Insurance Agency and Ethridge Claims Service. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church. She married David Duane Turcotte in 1946 at Miami. They lived north of Pampa on a farm before moving into Pampa in 1947. He died in 1995. Survivors include a daughter, Venita Gray of Panhandle; a son, Larry Turcotte of Pampa; a brother, Donald Black of Borger; four grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. O.V. Sprawls TULIA - O.V. Sprawls, 78, died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Wallace Funeral Home Chapel with Trey Morgan of Tulia Central Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Mr. Sprawls was born in Callahan County and moved to Swisher County in 1924. He attended Tulia schools. He had farmed and ranched in Swisher County most of his life. He married Virginia Camp in 1941 at Tulia. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Karen Duval of Uvalde; a son, Butch Sprawls of Knippa; two sisters, Ruth Lovelace of Tulia and Tessa Dawson of Junction; a brother, H.G. Sprawls of Lubbock; and three grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center in Amarillo or the Tulia Cemetery Association. Della "Penny" Elbert BORGER - Della "Penny" Elbert, 76, died Thursday, Feb. 11, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Llano Cemetery in Amarillo with the Rev. Paul Nachtigall, pastor of Highland Baptist Church in Pampa, officiating. Graveside rites will be conducted by Eastern Star Chapter A&E Shirley No. 986. Interment will be under the direction of Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. Ms. Elbert was born in Reno, Nev., and had been a Borger resident for 31/2 years, having moved there from Roswell, N.M. She was an artist and member of First United Methodist Church of Roswell. She was a member of the Eastern Star Chapter No. 10 in Roswell and The Social Order of Beauceante. Survivors include one nephew, Charles Mathias of Borger; and two nieces, Cindy Hall of Amarillo and Lonnie Welch of Denver. The family suggests that memorials be made to Garretson's Retirement Center in Panhandle. Etta Mae Miller BORGER - Etta Mae Miller, 76, died Thursday, Feb. 11, 1999. Services will be at 3:30 p.m. Monday at Minton Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Gregg Simmons, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Interment will be in the "Garden of Good Shepherd" at Westlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. Mrs. Miller was born in Silverton and was a longtime resident of Borger. She was a retired Master Barber and member of the First Baptist Church. She was past president of HARC Association and charter member of the Hutchinson County Sheriff's Posse Auxiliary. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tommy Miller, in 1987. Survivors include two daughters, Gloria and Gwen ; one brother, Bunk Mills of Amarillo; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be made to BSA Hospice, Box 950, Amarillo TX 79106-0001. The family will be staying at Vinson Development, 109 Elm in Fritch. Velma I. Hollen BORGER - Velma I. Hollen, 92, died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1999. Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church with Dr. David Jones, pastor, officiating. Interment will be in the Garden of Beatitudes at Westlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. Mrs. Hollen was born in Eldon, Iowa, and had been a Borger resident since 1945. She was a homemaker and a member of the First United Methodist Church since 1945. She was a member of Conamour Club, La Ventana Club, Borger Garden Club and United Methodist Women. She married James A. Hollen in 1926 in Ottumwa, Iowa. He preceded her in death in 1983. Survivors include two sons, the Right Rev. Norman V. Hollen of Taos, N.M., and Mark Hollen of Borger; a daughter, Jeri Carson of Borger; two sisters, Ferne Jones and Evelyne Stephenson of Ottumwa, Iowa; five grandchildren; three greatgrandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. The family will be at 1409 Hazelwood. Vivian Myree Lakey PERRYTON - Vivian Myree Lakey, 82, died Friday, Feb. 12, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Community Christian Church with Rollin Boothby officiating. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home Inc. of Perryton. Mrs. Lakey was born in Holyoke, Colo. She had lived in the area since 1970, having moved here from Caney, Kan. She was self-employed and had worked in a furniture store. She was a member of the Community Christian Church. She married J.C. Lakey in 1949 in Imperial, Neb. He preceded her in death in 1986. She also was preceded in death by two daughters, Lee Royce Smith and Barbara Jean Smith. Survivors include three daughters, Marilyn Dorman of Perryton, Diana Short of Paris and Jeanne Crossland of Shamrock; a sister, Donna Mae Power of Farmington, N.M.; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. C.C. "Pops" Sanford PERRYTON - C.C. "Pops" Sanford, 85, died Friday, Feb. 12, 1999. Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday in Full Gospel Church with the Rev. David Meyers officiating. Burial will be in Whiterose Cemetery in Raydon, Okla. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home Inc. of Perryton. Mr. Sanford was born in Shattuck, Okla. He had lived in the area since 1966, having moved here from Raydon, Okla. He was a member of United Pentecostal Church of Perryton. He had worked for Western Equipment and Allred Construction. He married Daphna Butler in 1933 in Cheyenne, Okla. He was preceded in death by two sons and two daughters. Survivors include his wife of Perryton; a son, Wilbur Sanford of Clayton, N.M.; two daughters, Glathea Allen of Clayton, N.M., and Teresa Hodge of Perryton; two brothers, David Hershel Sanford of Higgins and Elmer L. Sanford of Stinnett; four sisters, Lucille Males of Cheyenne, Okla., Grace Henson of Amarillo, Pearl Harrison of Allison and Jessie Smith of Winslow, Ariz.; 13 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and two great-greatgrandchildren. Velma "Toots" Henley McLEAN - Velma "Toots" Henley, 78, died Friday, Feb. 12, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Hillcrest Cemetery with the Rev. James Martindale and the Rev. Thacker Haynes officiating. Arrangements are by Lamb Funeral Home. Mrs. Henley was born in Fort Sumner, N.M., where she graduated from school. She was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church. She had been a resident of McLean for 55 years. She married "Buck" L. Henley in 1938 in Clovis, N.M. She was preceded in death by a son, Carl Lee Henley, in 1984, and by her husband in 1985. Survivors include a daughter, Anita Seaney of McLean; a sister, Thelma Clark of Truth or Consequences, N.M.; three grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. The body will be available for viewing at the funeral home from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to Carl Lee Henley Memorial and Scholarship Fund, Bank of Commerce, Box 29, McLean TX 79057. Frank Brunson CLAUDE - Frank Brunson, 89, died Friday, Feb. 12, 1999. Graveside services will be 3 p.m. Monday at Claude Cemetery with the Rev. Don Travis, retired Methodist minister from Amarillo, officiating. Burial will be in Claude Cemetery. Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors Inc. of Clarendon. Mr. Brunson was born in Armstrong County and was a lifetime resident. He had been a farmer all of his life. He married Odessa Bagwell in 1932 in Clovis, N.M. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Marilyn Mays of Amarillo; a son, Roland Brunson of Claude; a brother, Warner Brunson of Claude; and three grandchildren. Charles Nelson "Bud" Byrd CLAUDE - Charles Nelson "Bud" Byrd, 89, died Friday, Feb. 12, 1999. Graveside services will be at 3:30 p.m. Sunday in Claude Cemetery with the Rev. Larry Crumpton, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Claude, officiating. Burial will be in Claude Cemetery. Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors Inc. of Clarendon. Mr. Byrd was born in Claude and was a member of an Armstrong County pioneer family. He was a lifetime resident of Claude. He owned and operated the Claude Bakery for several years. He was a firefighter and had served as a fire marshal for the Claude Fire Department for 20 years. He had been employed for several years by the City of Claude Utility Department, and later farmed and operated a backhoe service before his retirement. Survivors include a brother, Cleon Byrd of Claude; and several nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to Claude Cemetery Association or Claude EMS. Mary Badgett Marney HEDLEY - Mary Badgett Marney, 67, died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in First United Methodist Church in Hedley with the Rev. Neely Landrum, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery. Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors Inc. of Clarendon. Mrs. Marney was born in Childress and was a resident of Lubbock before moving to Hedley 31/2 years ago. She was a CPA for 25 years before retiring in 1993. She was past president of Texas Society of CPAs, past president of South Plains Trust and Estate, chairman of National Association of Royalty Owners and a past officer of the Lubbock YMCA and YWCA. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Hedley. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Bob Badgett, in 1995. She married Michael Marney in 1998 in Lubbock. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Laura Sims of Amarillo; a son, Scott Badgett of New York; a sister, Trisha Henningsen of Cee Vee; her father, William R. Jones of Childress; two stepchildren, Phillip Marney and Amanda Marney of Lubbock; and two grandchildren. George G. Williams Sr. MORTON - George G. Williams Sr., 90, died Thursday, Feb. 11, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in First United Methodist Church of Morton with the Rev. Gary Boles, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Morton Memorial Cemetery. Arrangements are by Ellis Funeral Homes of Muleshoe. Mr. Williams was born in Comanche. He moved to the Morton area in 1935 from Shamrock. He farmed in Collingsworth and Cochran counties. He had served on several area USDA boards. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Morton. He married Marie Moore in 1929 in Wellington. Survivors include his wife; a son, Ike Williams of Morton; two daughters, Wanda Sullivan of Plainview and Marjorie Key of Morton; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren, The family suggests memorials be made to First United Methodist Church, 418 W. Taylor, Morton TX 79346. Florence Ormand Miller PAMPA - Florence Ormand Miller, 98, died Friday, Feb. 12, 1999. The body was cremated. Memorial services will be at a later date. Mrs. Miller was born in Goliad. She graduated from high school in Jourdanton. She sold cosmetics for 19 years, 10 years at Neiman-Marcus in Dallas. She later worked as sales and promotion manager for Gourelli Cosmetics, and later worked for Hattie Carnegie Cosmetic Company, where she served as sales and promotion manager. She later worked in the fashion industry. She traveled across the United States, selling, teaching and commentating fashion shows. She later opened a boutique in Dallas, started the Florence Miller Cosmetic line and started a TV show, "Fashions in Faces," which ran for 23 years. In 1987, she moved to Pampa from Dallas. She married Ted Miller in 1920 in San Antonio. She was preceded in death by a son, Jack, in 1994. Survivors include a grandson, Michael Miller of Richardson; three granddaughters, Mimi Miller of St. Louis, Merrilynn Stockton of Katy and Melanie Wolf of Sugarland; and nine great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be made to Friends of the Library, Meals on Wheels or St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, all in Pampa. Amarillo Rita S. Romero Rita S. Romero, 51, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1999. Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Sunday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with Deacon Hector Gallegos officiating. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with the Rev. Rosendo Herrera, parochial vicar, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Romero was a lifelong resident of Amarillo. She was homemaker and member of Our Lady of Guadalupe. She married Margarito T. Romero in 1966 in Amarillo. Survivors include her husband; three sons, Daniel Romero, Benji Romero and Ruben Romero, all of Amarillo; a daughter, Ida Romero of Amarillo; two sisters, Renee Gamez of Amarillo and Judy Tovar of Sunray; a brother, Ralph Sasueda of Amarillo; and six grandchildren. The family will be at 1316 E. 12th Ave. New Mexico Mary A. Johnson CLOVIS, N.M. - Mary A. Johnson, 71, died Thursday, Feb. 11, 1999. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Bethel Assembly of God with the Rev. Curtis Tucker officiating. Burial will be in West Park Cemetery at Hereford, Texas, by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Mrs. Johnson was born in Wetumpka, Okla., and had lived in Clovis since 1968. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald D. Johnson, in 1988, by a daughter, Diane Joyce Johnson, and a son, Guy Don Johnson. Survivors include a daughter, Kay F. Addington of Lubbock, Texas; three sons, Gerald E. Johnson of Frankston, Texas, James D. Johnson of Hayesville, N.C., and Floyd D. Johnson of Muldrow, Okla.; 11 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Ada Mae Morris CLOVIS, N.M. - Ada Mae Morris, 101, died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1999. Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday in First Church of God in Christ with Bishop W. Charles Green officiating. Burial will be in Oklahoma Lane Cemetery. Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home in Clovis, N.M. Mrs. Morris was born in Franklin, Texas. She was an active member of First Church of God in Christ where she had served as church secretary-treasurer and as a Sunday school teacher. She was a licensed minister and had been a missionary. She worked as a domestic. She married Charlie W. Morris in 1918 in Guthrie, Okla. They moved to Clovis in 1939. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1981; her sons, Timothy, in 1974, and Samuel Eugene, in 1986; and a grandson, Vivian Simmons in 1982. Survivors include one brother, Carey Morrow of Franklin, Texas; one sister, Sadie Thomas of Houston; 19 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; and two great-great-great-grandchildren. Elsewhere Calvin S. Clarke CEDAR HILL - Calvin S. Clarke, 75, a former Amarillo resident, died Sunday, Feb. 7, 1999. Services were Tuesday, Feb. 9, at the David Clayton Funeral Home at Duncanville. Burial was in Little Bethel Memorial Park at Duncanville. Mr. Clarke was born in Altus, Okla. While living in Amarillo, he graduated from Price College and attended Amarillo College. He was an Army veteran of World War II and received a silver and bronze medal for valor. He was a certified public accountant and did volunteer work at the hospital. Survivors include his wife, Lois; a son, Calvin S. Clarke Jr.; three daughters, Carla, Rhana and Dana; four sisters, Josephine Bottoms, Anna Pistoia, Evelyn Angeloni and Mary Remlinger; and three grandchildren. Doris W. Pett BAY CITY, Mich. - Doris W. Pett, 85, died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1999. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Zion Lutheran Church with the Rev. William H. Allwardt officiating. Private interment will be in Floral Gardens Cemetery. Memorial cards for Zion Lutheran Church Repair and Rejoice Fund will be available at the funeral home. Arrangements are by Gephart Funeral Home Inc. of Bay City, Mich. Local arrangements are by Myers Long Funeral Directors of Silverton. Mrs. Pett was born in Bay City, Mich., and had resided there all of her life. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and its Ladies Guild. She graduated from Saginaw General Hospital School of Nursing as a registered nurse and retired from Samaritan Hospital in 1978. She married Norman Pett in 1935. He preceded her in death in 1973. She was preceded in death by a son, Charles, in 1969. Survivors include a daughter, Leola O'Neal of Silverton; a son, Gerald Pett of Bay City, Mich.; a sister, Helen Wegener of Bay City, Mich.; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Lela Christell Mahan JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Lela Christell Mahan, 87, died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Brown's Memorial Chapel in Stinnett with the Rev. Calvin Newton, pastor of First Assembly of God Church in Borger, officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Stinnett. Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Directors in Borger. Mrs. Mahan was a homemaker. She was a native of Floyd County, Ga., and was a longtime Stinnett resident. She had been a Jacksonville resident for the last 10 years. She was a member of the Assembly of God Church in Stinnett and had attended Cedar Bay Baptist Church in Jacksonville. Survivors include a son, Wayne Mahan of Stinnett; two daughters, Maxine Stucker and Nelda Baker of Jacksonville; four brothers, R.V. Crutchfield, Lester Crutchfield and Vester Crutchfield, all of Sumner, Texas, and Lloyd Crutchfield of San Clemente, Calif.; a sister, Willie Ball of Paris; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Oklahoma Fred William Topinka FORGAN, Okla. - Fred William Topinka, 76, died Thursday, Feb. 11, 1999. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in the Forgan United Methodist Church with Terry Fox officiating. Interment will be in the Forgan Cemetery under the direction of Clark Funeral Service of Beaver, Okla. Mr. Topinka was born in Forgan and spent most of his life there. He served in World War II, spending 39 months in Company B-309th Engineer Combat Battalion attached to the 84th Infantry Division. He served in England, Holland, Belgium and Germany. He received three Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart, among other medals. After his discharge, he worked in Fairview. He became a member of Forgan United Methodist Church in 1951. He served as president of Methodist Men, president of the Forgan Lions Club and for two years as Cub Master. He had 21 years of service with the Forgan Fire Department. He was an employee of MKT Railroad for 28 years. He started in the train service taking a job as depot agent in Turpin for 10 years and later as depot agent in Hooker, Okla. until the railroad abandoned. After that, he worked for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation until his retirement. He married Ruth Fraim in 1950 in Clayton, N.M. Survivors include his wife; two nieces; and five nephews.