Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 19 Nov 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; Friday, November 19, 1999, 6:32 AM Area J.T. Ring PAMPA - J.T. Ring, 84, died Wednesday, Nov. 17, 1999. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Central Baptist Church with the Rev. Norman Rushing, pastor of First Baptist Church of Jacksboro, Dr. Derrell Monday, pastor, and the Rev. Rick Parnell, associate pastor of Central Baptist Church, officiating. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in Mobeetie Cemetery at Mobeetie. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Ring was born in Mobeetie and had been a resident of Pampa since 1948. He worked for Cabot Corp. for 30 years before retiring. He was a member and a deacon of Central Baptist Church. He married Elva Watkins in 1937 at Pampa. Survivors include his wife; a son, Jessie Ring of Kingston, Okla.; two daughters, Marlene Grubb of Pampa and Emily Fay White of Brenham; eight grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Central Baptist Church Building Fund. Amarillo Globe News, Nov. 19, 1999 Mildred Bennett Williams DUMAS - Mildred Bennett Morton Williams, 84, died Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1999 in Waco. Committal services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Hay Creek Bennett Ranch in Moore County. Memorial services will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in First United Methodist Church at Dumas with the Rev. William Ratliff, the worship pastor for Impact Fellowship Church of Arlington and the Rev. John Wagoner of First United Methodist Church of Dumas officiating. Arrangements are by Morrison Funeral Directors in Dumas. Mrs. Williams was born in Moore County and had lived in Waco since 1982. She was the granddaughter of Moore County pioneers. She was an artist and school teacher and also worked in real estate sales and was a published author. She had been a member of First Presbyterian Church of Waco since 1982. Prior to moving to Waco, she was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church of Dumas and was a member of the Fidelis Sunday school class. She was preceded in death by her first husband, E.L. Morton, in 1976 and her second husband, Alwyn W. Williams in 1989. Survivors include a daughter, Susie Ratliff of Dumas; a brother, Jesse Bennett of Dalhart; a sister, Shelley Tipton of Dumas; two grandchildren; and a greatgrandson. The family requests memorials be to the Moore County Museum Building Fund, 810 S. Dumas Avenue No. 103, Dumas, TX 79029; the First United Methodist Church Building and Improvement Fund, Box 395, Dumas, TX 79029; or a favorite charity. They will be at 617 Binkley in Dumas. Amarillo Globe News, Nov. 19, 1999 Evelyn Grijalva HEREFORD - Evelyn Grijalva, 74, died Thursday, Nov. 17, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Kingdom Hall Jehova's Witness-Hereford with Ben Martinez of Kingdom Hall of Roswell, N.M., officiating. Cremation and arrangements are by Gililland-Watson Funeral Home of Hereford. Mrs. Grijalva was born in Kenedy and moved to Deaf Smith County in 1970 from Roswell. She was a beautician and member of Jehovah's Witnesses Congregation. She married Salvador Grijalva in 1949 at Pecos. Survivors include her husband; three daughters, Maria Teresa Trevino of Lubbock, Stella Lois Sanchez of Cedar Crest, N.M., and Martha Marie Gilbreath of Albuquerque, N.M.; two sons, Jesse Grijalva of Roswell and Luis Grijalva of Amarillo; 17 grandchildren; and 16 greatgrandchildren. Amarillo Globe News, Nov. 19, 1999 W.E. Bichsel Sr. PANHANDLE - W.E. Bichsel Sr., 76, died Wednesday, Nov. 17, 1999. Wake service will be at 7 p.m. today in St. Theresa's Catholic Church of Panhandle. Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Theresa's Catholic Church with the Rev. Jim Hutzler officiating. Burial will be in Panhandle Cemetery by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors of Panhandle. Born in White Deer, Mr. Bichsel had been a Panhandle resident since 1946. He was a farmer and member of St. Theresa's Catholic Church, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Panhandle Country Club. During World War II, he served in the Army. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucy Marie Bichsel, in 1985. Survivors include two sons, Willie Bichsel Jr. of Panhandle and Ronnie Bichsel of Checotah, Okla.; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe News, Nov. 19, 1999 Venita Ann Berryman Parrish CANADIAN - Venita Ann Berryman Parrish, 36, died Wednesday, Nov. 17, 1999. No services are scheduled. Her body was donated to Texas Tech University Health Science Center in Lubbock. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St. Ms. Parrish was born in Friona and graduated from Canadian High School in 1981. She was a member of the Central Baptist Church. She attended school and received her certified nurse's assistant license. Ms. Parrish was employed at Abraham Memorial Home and was instrumental in starting the Hemphill County Diabetic Support Group. She then set up an office in the Hemphill County Hospital to serve the diabetics of Hemphill County in areas of education and supplies. She was instrumental in starting Canadian Helping Hands, a fund started by donations to help needy families with expenses during outof-town hospital stays. Survivors include a daughter, Vonika Parrish of Canadian; her parents, M.J. and Dolores Berryman of Canadian; a brother, James Berryman of Canadian; a sister, Vanessa Reeves of Canyon; and her grandmother, Orma Lee Wilcox of Canadian. The family suggest memorials be to the Vonika Parrish School Fund at First State Bank or Wellington State Bank, both in Wellington. Amarillo Globe News, Nov. 19, 1999 Agnes Weaver Ewing WELLINGTON - Agnes Weaver Ewing, 81, of Lewisville, died Wednesday, Nov. 17, 1999. Services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church in Wellington with the Rev. James McLeod, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in North Fairview Cemetery by Adams Funeral Home of Wellington. Mrs. Ewing was born in Quanah and lived in Phillips after her marriage. In 1978, she moved to Wellington. She was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church and Wellington Hospital Auxiliary. She married Emery L. Ewing in 1937. He died in 1986. Survivors include a daughter, Virginia Lee of Graham; and three sisters, Margaret Sommerville of Denton, Bertie Frances Copeland of Happy and Barbara Bess West of Houston. The family suggest memorials be to First Baptist Church of Wellington. Amarillo Globe News, Nov. 19, 1999 Callie Jean Holmes Klein Palmer PAMPA - Callie Jean Holmes Klein Palmer, 88, died Wednesday, Nov. 17, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in The Carpenter's Church with the Rev. Fred Palmer, pastor, and the Rev. W.C. Wade of Grand Prairie, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Mrs. Palmer was born in Pampa where she was a lifelong resident. She was a homemaker and member of The Carpenter's Church. Survivors include a daughter, Mary Wade of Grand Prairie; a son, the Rev. Fred Palmer of Pampa; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and a great-great-granddaughter. Viewing will be from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. today and from 8 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church. The family suggest memorials be to The Carpenter's Church Mission Fund. Amarillo Globe News, Nov. 19, 1999 Barbara Ann DeMasi WELLINGTON - Barbara Ann DeMasi, 46, of Colorado Springs, Colo., died Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. James McLeod, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in North Fairview Cemetery by Adams Funeral Home of Wellington. Mrs. DeMasi was born in Dallas and graduated from Wellington High School in 1971. She attended Dallas Bible College then worked on a summer missionary project in British Colombia, Canada. She attended Community College in Colorado Springs. Mrs. DeMasi was employed in housekeeping at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs. She was a member of Pulpit Rock Baptist Church of Colorado Springs. She married Raymond DeMasi in 1976 at Colorado Springs. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Valerie DeMasi of Boulder; her mother, Nell Wilbur of Wellington; and three brothers, Robert Charles "Chuck" Wilbur of Wellington and Paul David Wilbur and Bryan Michael Wilbur, both of Amarillo. The family suggest memorials be to Wellington Cemetery Association. Amarillo Globe News, Nov. 19, 1999 Alva Kersh OLTON - Alva Kersh, 91, died Thursday, Nov. 18, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church of Olton with the Rev. Kyle Streun, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Olton Cemetery by Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Home of Olton. Mr. Kersh was born in Cross Plains and moved to Olton in 1922. A retired farmer, he was a member of the First Baptist Church. He married Thelma Huguley in 1935 at Tulia. Survivors include his wife; four sons, Leroyce Kersh of Olton, Melvin Kersh of Fort Worth, Calvin Kersh of Bedford and David Kersch of Cedar Hill; three daughters, Bonnie Lunsford of Springlake, Joyce Tipton of Victoria and Ladelle West of Guymon, Okla.; a brother, Joy Kersh of Plainview; a sister, Birdie Copeland of Plainview; 22 grandchildren; 30 greatgrandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. Amarillo Globe News, Nov. 19, 1999 Amarillo Iris Haygood Iris Haygood, 64, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in San Jacinto United Methodist Church with the Rev. Bill Fitzgerald of the church and the Rev. Sherman Eastland, chaplain with Northwest Texas Hospital, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mrs. Haygood was born in Statesville, S.C., and had been a longtime resident of Amarillo. She was a homemaker who attended San Jacinto United Methodist Church. She played the organ. She married Paul Haygood in 1952 at Rockhill, S.C. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Sonya Kay Hamby of Amarillo and Pam Woodward of Browns Summit, N.C.; two brothers, Donald Washington of Niceville, Fla., and Joe Washington of Kannapolis, N.C.; and six grandchildren. Amarillo Globe News, Nov. 19, 1999 Marilyn Wilmeth Marilyn Wilmeth, 67, of El Paso and formerly of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1999. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. in Llano Cemetery. Local arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mrs. Wilmeth was born in Booker and graduated from Amarillo High School in 1949. She attended Amarillo Junior College. After her marriage, she lived in Tulsa. Mrs. Wilmeth was active in the March of Dimes Mothers' March and spearheaded several telethons. She was a legal secretary for Tulsa County District Attorney David Hall. Mrs. Wilmeth was an active member of the Trinity Episcopal Church where she was in charge of the Children's Sunday School Department. She also was active in the Democratic Party in Oklahoma. From 1967 until 1972, Mrs. Wilmeth moved from Tulsa to Houston to Sioux City, Iowa. They moved to Amarillo in 1973 and to Enid, Okla., in 1976. She was active in St. Matthew's Episcopal Church where she served as president of the ECW. She was employed by the Oklahoma Tourism Bureau and for Ramada Inn as night auditor until she moved to El Paso. She married Leo J. Wilmeth Jr. in 1951 at Clovis, N.M. He died in 1981. Survivors include four sons, Larry Wilmeth of Lawton, Okla., Mike Wilmeth of Oklahoma City, Scott Wilmeth of California and John Wilmeth of Pryor, Okla.; her father, Dr. Ray Small of El Paso; a sister, Andrea Sherrill of El Paso; seven grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren. Visitation will be from 7 until 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Amarillo Globe News, Nov. 19, 1999 Ernest Allen Perry Ernest Allen "Al" Perry, 45, of Amarillo, died Monday, Nov. 15, 1999. Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at 1021 S.E. 58th Ave. Arrangements are by Colonial Funeral Chapel, 1010 W. Ninth Ave. Mr. Perry was born in Los Angeles. In 1992, he moved to Amarillo from Long Beach, Calif. He was a Baptist. Survivors include Bobbye Smith and Garland Cross, both of Amarillo. It is suggested that memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice; or Ernest Allen Perry Memorial Fund, c/o Bobbye Smith, 1021 SE 58th, Amarillo, TX 79118. Amarillo Globe News, Nov. 19, 1999 Paul Kelly Paul Kelly, 88, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Nov. 17, 1999. Cremation and arrangements were by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mr. Kelly was born in Eldorado, Ill. During World War II, he served in the Navy as a chief petty officer aboard the USS Cabildo. A longtime Amarillo resident, he was in the beauty supply business for more than 25 years. He was a bridge player who was a life master several times. Survivors include a brother, George Kelly of Alexandria, Va.; and a sister, Neda Kane of Carmi, Ill. The family suggest memorials be to Veteran's Administration Hospital. Amarillo Globe News, Nov. 19, 1999 Paul D. Wagner Sr. Paul D. Wagner Sr., 64, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Nov. 18, 1999. No services are scheduled. Cremation and arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St. Mr. Wagner was born in Indianapolis, Ind., and moved to Amarillo in September from Mississippi. He was a member of Metal Lathers Union Local No. 62 in New Orleans. Survivors include four sons, Paul C. Wagner of Amarillo, Fredrick D. Wagner of Terre Haute, Indiana, Timothy Allen Wagner and Stephen DuWayne Wagner, both of Indianapolis; a daughter, Jean Delores Spears of Indianapolis; 14 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe News, Nov. 19, 1999 Essie Allen Essie Allen, 89, of Panhandle, died Thursday, Nov. 18, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Pleasant Valley Baptist Church with Faye Roberts, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at 4 p.m. Saturday in Panhandle Cemetery by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mrs. Allen was born in Yantis and moved to Amarillo in 1943 from Carter, Okla. She was a homemaker and member of River Road Fellowship Church. She married Walton Columbus "Slim" Allen in 1932 at Sayre, Okla. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1970 and by two sons, Kenneth Dale Allen in 1996 and Harold Joe Allen in 1987. Survivors include a son, Boyd N. Allen of Amarillo; two daughters, Linda Carol Thurman and Joyce Ann McClure, both of Amarillo; two brothers, Sam McLaughlin of Borger and Louie "Fudge" McLaughlin of McKinney; 12 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren. The family suggest memorials be to River Road Fellowship Church Building Fund. Amarillo Globe News, Nov. 19, 1999 Elsewhere Mary Willie Stewart MIDLAND - Mary Willie Muse Stewart, 88, died Wednesday, Nov. 17, 1999. Services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday in the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. William D. McReynolds and the Rev. Molly Krueger officiating. Burial will be Resthaven Memorial Park by Ellis Funeral Home. Mrs. Stewart was born in a log house in Cherokee County. She married J.B. Stewart in 1933. She served in Methodist churches in Blair from 1938-40; Trent, 1941-43; Leuders, 1944; Groom 1945-47; Stanton, 1948-49; Spearman, 1951-53; Tahoka, 1954-56; Amarillo, 1957-59; McLean, 1960-64; Abilene, 1965-66 and 1969-70; Panhandle, 1967; Happy, 1971; and Midland, 1950 and 1972-76. Survivors include her husband, Rev. J.B. Stewart Sr.; two sons, Don Stewart of Palestine and J.B. "Johnny" Stewart Jr. of Montreal, Quebec, Canada; a sister, Jessie Lea Brazell of Dumas; six grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family requests memorials be to Hospice of Midland, P.O. Box 2621, Midland, TX 79702. Amarillo Globe News, Nov. 19, 1999 Velma Luke NAVASOTA - Velma Luke, 87, died Sunday, Nov. 14, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Jones Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Courtney Cemetery at Courtney. Mrs. Luke was a native of Burleson County and had lived in Amarillo for more than 20 years. In 1979, she moved to Navasota. She was a member of the Church of Christ. Survivors include her husband, John Luke; a sister, Thelma Phillips of Navasota; and a foster son, Ray Luke Wallace. Amarillo Globe News, Nov. 19, 1999 Kansas Louis Lyle Parker HUTCHINSON, Kan. - Louis Lyle Parker, 77, died Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1999. Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. today in Johnson and Sons Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with Jimmie Keas and Ken Ellis officiating. Mr. Parker was born in Glade and moved to Hutchinson 20 years ago from Great Bend. In 1987, he retired from Doskocil Precast. He also had been a farmer, oil field worker, and laborer for mobile home factories. During World War II, Mr. Parker was a sergeant in the Army. He was a member of the Walnut and Campbell Church of Christ. He married Guindola Anderson Chestnut in 1951 at Stockton. Survivors include his wife; a son, William Chestnut of Amarillo; three daughters, Ruth Hipple of Orange, Calif., Donna McDonald of Dallas and Linda Schwertfeger of McPherson; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, memorials be to Hutchinson Hospice Residential Care Center or the American Cancer Society c/o the funeral home. Amarillo Globe News, Nov. 19, 1999 New Mexico David Headlee CLOVIS, N.M. - David Headlee, 71, died Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Wayne Boydstun officiating. Burial will be in Mission Gardens of Memories. Mr. Headlee was born in Boise City, Okla., and moved to Clovis in 1947 where he became a general contractor and later a dealer of steel buildings. He was a member of Central Baptist Church. He married Roberta Lee Nelson in 1947 at Woodland, Okla. Survivors include his wife; a son, Gerald Headlee of Clovis, N.M.; a daughter, Linda Lawson of Clovis, N.M.; two brothers, Leon Headlee of Lubbock, Texas and Oris Headlee of Lumberton, Texas; three sisters, Avana Decker of Meno, Okla., and Hazel Dalton and Iola Jordan, both of Enid, Okla.; and three grandchildren. Amarillo Globe News, Nov. 19, 1999