Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 15 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; Saturday, May 15, 1999, 5:58 AM Amarillo Albert Fithen Albert "Bus" Fithen, 86, of Washburn, died Thursday, May 13, 1999. Services will be at 4 p.m. today in Coulter Road Baptist Church with the Rev. Phil Mercado, associate pastor of Trinity Fellowship, and the Rev. Marvin James officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Fithen was born in Woodward, Okla., and moved to Amarillo when he was 22 years old to farm for Earnest Barnett. He married Lona Lorene Barnett in 1937 at Woodward. They moved to the Claude area, where he farmed for R.L. Saunders for several years. He later farmed for J.R. Durrett as well as himself near Claude until he retired in 1977. He then lived in Amarillo for three years before moving to Washburn. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Leslie Fithen of Lubbock and Johnny Fithen of Claude; three daughters, Lida Floyd of Lake Tanglewood, Clara Yarbrough of Amarillo and Barbara Moats of Washburn; two sisters, Wilma Owens of Lawton, Okla., and Thelma Gooding of Amarillo; 12 grandchildren; eight stepgrandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; 20 step-great-grandchildren; and a greatgreat-grandchild. The family requests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176-0001; the Washburn Volunteer Fire Department, Box 278, Rt. 1, Claude, TX 79019; or Fairview Community Center, Farmer-to-Market 1151. Robert James Slattery Robert James "Bob" Slattery, 78, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, May 12, 1999. Memorial services will be from 2 to 6 p.m. today at the home of Michael Slattery, 2007 S. Polk St. Cremation was handled by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mr. Slattery was born in Beverly, Mass., and moved to Amarillo in 1951 from Guymon, Okla. He was a carpenter and retired from Local Carpenters Union No. 665. He owned and operated Palo Duro Roofing. He was a member of St. Laurence Cathedral. His survivors include three sons, Michael J. Slattery and Robert James Slattery Jr., both of Amarillo, and Hugh E. Lewis of Garland; a daughter, Frankie Bales of Amarillo; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The body will not be available for viewing. Edith Eleanor Hartsough Edith Eleanor Hartsough, 85, of Amarillo, died Monday, May 10, 1999. A private family service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, of 2820 Virginia Circle. Born in Piedmont, Calif, Mrs. Hartsough graduated from the University of California at Berkley in 1934. She lived in Orinda, Calif., and Tiburon, Calif., before moving to Amarillo three years ago. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Hartsough, in 1978. Survivors include a daughter, Patty Schneider of Amarillo; a son, Ron Hartsough of Piedmont; a sister, Patricia C. Nickelsen of Kailua, Hawaii; and two grandchildren. Emily Rickman Emily Rickman, 74, formerly of Amarillo, died Thursday, May 13, 1999, in Fort Worth. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Rector Funeral Home Chapel, 2800 S. Osage St., with Glenn Walton, Church of Christ minister, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Rickman was born in Soper, Okla. She lived in Amarillo for 17 years before moving to Fort Worth 32 years ago and marrying Garland Rickman there. She was a homemaker and a member of the Church of Christ. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Cheryl Cottrell of Midland; two sisters, Lorene Weaver of Portland, Ore., and Pauline Starks of Amarillo; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the American Cancer Society. The family will be at 2202 N. Wilson St. Canyon James C. Jennings James C. Jennings, 91, of Canyon, died Thursday, May 13, 1999. Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in Dreamland Cemetery with Dr. Joe Findley, retired minister, officiating. Arrangements are by Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon. Mr. Jennings was born in Canyon and was a life-time resident of Randall County, where he was a farmer and rancher. He was also a building contractor and constructed many homes in the Canyon area. He was a member of the First Christian Church. He married Ila Slack in 1931 at Portales, N.M. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Mary E. Talbot of Canyon, Jimile Brissey of Quincy, Wash., and Sally Slack Jennings of Odessa; a son, James Thomas Jennings of Canyon; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandson. The family requests memorials be to Dreamland Cemetery, P.O. Box 38, Canyon, TX 70015; or to a favorite charity. New Mexico Evelyn Margarita Sparkman CLOVIS, N.M. - Evelyn Margarita Sparkman, 80, died Tuesday, May 11, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Portales Cemetery at Portales with the Rev. Mark Rasake officiating. Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Mrs. Sparkman was born in Wales, Wis. She moved to Portales from Roswell. The last two years, she had lived in Buena Vista Retirement Center at Clovis. She married Anton Parker in 1939 at Eau Claire, Wis. He preceded her in death. She married Eskel Eric Sparkman in 1945 at Lordsburg, N.M. He also preceded her in death. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church of Portales. Survivors include two sons, Robert Parker of Washington and Eric Sparkman of Colorado; four daughters, Barbara Wheeler and Jewell Cline, both of Illinois, Sue Wolfe of Texas and Joyce Buckley of Portales; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Elsewhere George Lynn Thomson GREENVILLE - George Lynn Thomson, 58, died Thursday, May 13, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Peniel Church of the Nazarene with the Rev. Marvin McDaniel officiating. The body was donated to Southwestern Medical School. Mr. Thomson was born in Ingleside and was a plastics and die-cast engineer for HPM Corp. He was a Mason. Survivors include a son, Paul Thomson, of Alabama; a daughter, Kendra Jolynn Thomson of Bethany, Okla.; a brother, Jim Thomson, of Virginia; three sisters, Jon Ann Crow, Pat Hicks and Kay Long, all of Canyon; and a grandchild. Margie Underwood PETERSBURG - Margie Underwood, 95, formerly of Petersburg, died Thursday, May 13, 1999. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Petersburg Cemetery with the Rev. Wayman Swopes, pastor of Greenwood Baptist Church in Midland, and the Rev. John Lowrie, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Lemons Funeral Home in Plainview. Mrs. Underwood was born and raised in Keller. She graduated from high school in Keller. She later earned her teaching certificate and began teaching in Oklaunion. She married K.V. "Van" Underwood in 1925 at Chillicothe. He preceded her in death in 1982. She also was preceded in death by two sons, Ken Underwood and Kenneth R. Underwood. She had lived in Vernon, Littlefield and Clovis, N.M., before moving to Petersburg in 1928. She taught in the Petersburg schools. She was a member of First Baptist Church. She moved to Huntsville in 1993. Survivors include a daughter, Margaret Main of Onalaska; two brothers, J.E. Weaver of Arlington and Jack Weaver of Littlefield; a sister, Fannie Jeffries of Littlefield; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Area Gavina Mendoza DUMAS - Gavina Mendoza, 70, died Thursday, May 13, 1999. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday in Morrison Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church with the Rev. Richard Scully, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Dumas Cemetery. Mrs. Mendoza was born in Kyle and had lived in Dumas since 1990. She was a former longtime resident of San Angelo. She was a homemaker and a member of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Survivors include six sons, Mike Mendoza, Freddy Mendoza and Victor Mendoza, all of San Angelo, and Tommy Mendoza, Tony Mendoza and Richard Mendoza, all of Dumas; four daughters, Mary Estrada, Katie Gonzales and Gracie Zubia, all of Dumas, and Vivian Martinez of Amarillo; a brother, Pete Garcia of San Angelo; four sisters, Candy Mendoza of San Angelo, Betty Carassco and Antonia Vasquez, both of Hereford, and Manuela Frausto of Hondo; 34 grandchildren; and 33 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. The family will be at 1201 S. Klein. Cleo Plew Shaffer HEREFORD - Cleo Plew Shaffer, 84, formerly of Hereford, died Wednesday, May 12, 1999. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in The Woodlands Christian Church with the Rev. David Emery officiating. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Rest Lawn Memorial Park at Hereford with Dr. Charles Price officiating. Arrangements are by Klein Funeral Home in The Woodlands. Mrs. Shaffer had lived in Hereford most of her life. She moved in 1986 to The Woodlands, where she was a member of The Woodlands Christian Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Arthur Shaffer, and by a stepson, Jerry Elmer. Survivors include a son, Gordon Shaffer; a daughter, Linda Oliver; a stepdaughter, Pat Williams; and 24 grandchildren. The family will gather at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Gilliland-Watson Funeral Home in Hereford. Beverly Wagner SPEARMAN - Beverly Wagner, 48, died Thursday, May 13, 1999. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. today in Union Church with the Rev. Bill Sparks officiating. Cremation is by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Mrs. Wagner was born in Oregon and moved from Kansas to the Spearman area 33 years ago. Survivors include a daughter, Wanda Minard of Goodwell, Okla.; a son, Dallas Wagner of Canadian; the two grandchildren. J.D. Robinson WELLINGTON - J.D. Robinson, 89, formerly of Garland, died Friday, May 14, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Restland Cemetery at Dallas with Dr. Carr Suter, retired minister of education at First Baptist Church in Garland, officiating. Memorial services will be at 3:30 p.m. Sunday in McDonald Activity Center Fellowship Hall at First Baptist Church with Dr. Suter and Dr. Charles Cockrell, a pastor emeritus at First Baptist Church, officiating. Local arrangements are by Adams Funeral Home. Mr. Robinson was born in Garland and was a longtime Garland resident. He graduated from Garland High School and earned a bachelor's degree in business from Southern Methodist University. He married Aline Talley in 1939 at Garland. He was comptroller for Mustang Rebuilders in Garland for many years. He also had served on the building and planning committee of Garland Memorial Hospital. He was a Rotarian and a member of the Rotary Chorus of Dallas. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Garland, where he taught junior boys' Sunday school class for more than 20 years. He also was a deacon emeritus and had served as a greeter and finance committee member for many years. Mr. Robinson moved to Wellington in 1996 to be near family. Survivors include his wife; a son, Richard Robinson of Kenedy; a daughter, Mary Johnson of Wellington; and four grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the music minister at First Baptist Church in Garland. Bill Anderson WELLINGTON - Bill Anderson, 91, died Thursday, May 13, 1999. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Fairview Cemetery with Elder Mark Belyea of the Jehovah's Witnesses officiating. Arrangements are by Adams Funeral Home. Mr. Anderson was born in Wharton County. He moved to Wellington in 1959 from Brady. He married Mary Anderson in 1960 at Wheeler. He was a farmer and operated a lawn care business. He also was a former building maintenance supervisor for Greenbelt Electric Coop. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Rickey Anderson of Shamrock and Ronnie Anderson of Austin; two daughters, B.J. Moralez of Wellington and Katherine Roberson of Brady; three sisters, Anna Mae Sellemon of Dallas and Florence Ball and Alberta Williams, both of El Paso; eight grandchildren; and many greatgrandchildren. Lois Pryor Gibner SPEARMAN - Lois Pryor Gibner, 81, died Friday, May 14, 1999. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Ken Cole officiating. Burial will be in Hansford Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Mrs. Gibner was born in Shawnee, Okla., and had been a resident of the Spearman area for 59 years. She married J.W. "Woody" Gibner in 1939 at Pottawatomie County, Okla. He died in 1998. She also was preceded in death by a son, George Thomas Gibner, in 1969. She was a homemaker, a life member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and a member of First United Methodist Church. Survivors include a son, Lynn Gibner of Portland, Ore.; and three grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Hansford Manor, 707 Roland, Spearman, TX 79081.