Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 22 June 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; Tuesday, June 22, 1999, 5:28 AM Amarillo Vada E. Willis Vada E. Willis, 84, of Amarillo, died Saturday, June 19, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. Robert Field, pastor of Southeast Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St. Mrs. Willis was born in Marlow, Okla., and moved to Amarillo more than 60 years ago. She graduated from Amarillo Beauty College and had been a licensed hairdresser for more than 63 years. She attended Southeast Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by a son, William Worth Willis in November. Survivors include a son, Lamond Willis of Amarillo; friend Jeannie M. Preston of Amarillo; 10 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. The family will be at 1622 S. Buchanan. Una M. Elliott Una M. Elliott, 86, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, June 16, 1999. Graveside services were at 2 p.m. Monday in the South Park Cemetery at Roswell, N.M. Mrs. Elliott was born and raised in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. She attended schools in the Lethbridge, Milk River and Coutta regions of Alberta. She married Virgil Elliott in 1929. They lived in Montana, Wyoming, California and New Mexico, while her husband worked in the oil fields. He died in 1938. She moved to Albuquerque, N.M. and graduated from the Albuquerque School of Cosmetology. She was a practicing beautician until 1942 when she moved to Amarillo. In Amarillo, she attended the Amarillo Business School and began a career as a secretary until 1989. She worked with the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce then in the automobile and insurance industry working at Walter Irwin Ford Motor Company, Don McMillian Ford, Williams-Boyce Insurance Agency, and the Colvin Real Estate Agency. She worked for the Republican Party and also was a member of the Desk and Derrick Club. She had been a member of the Order of Eastern Star while living in Montana. Survivors include a son, James W. "Bill" Elliott of Alexandria, Va.; and three grandchildren. The family requests memorials, in lieu of flowers, be to the Sally Port Fund, NMMI Alumni Association, Roswell, NM 88201, in her honor. Mary Ruth Sanders Mary Ruth Sanders, 82, of Amarillo, died Sunday, June 20, 1999. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. Mary Rogers-Ellsworth of First Presbyterian Church and Art Thibodeaux officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mrs. Sanders was born in Brandon and had lived in Amarillo since 1932. She was a secretary assistant to a physician for 20 years. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and the Dorothy Parker Circle. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond C. Sanders, in 1990. Survivors include two sons, Edward Nathan Glenn of Austin and Alfred Eakens Glenn of Amarillo; a brother, Robert H. Eakens of Austin; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Presbyterian Children's Home, 3400 S. Bowie St., Amarillo, TX 79109. Cameron Mitchell Bell Cameron Bell, 24, of Canyon and a former Hereford resident, died Sunday, June 20, 1999. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Hereford Church of the Nazarene with Ted Taylor, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Rest Lawn Memorial Park by Parkside Chapel Funeral Home of Hereford. Mr. Bell was born in Amarillo. In 1993, he graduated from Hereford High School where he was active in football and basketball. He then graduated in 1998 from West Texas A&M University with a fine arts degree in graphic design. Since November, he had been employed as a graphic designer for the Amarillo Globe News. Survivors include his parents, Mitchell and Mary Bell of Hereford; and his grandparents, Gene and Doris George of Hereford. The family suggests memorials be to Coffee Memorial Blood Bank in honor of Cameron Bell. L. Jeanette Everitt DePauw L. Jeanette Everitt DePauw, 51, died Sunday, June 20, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Memorial Park Funeral Home, Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with the Rev. Raymond Bowlin officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. DePauw was born in Amarillo where she was a lifetime resident and a graduate of Amarillo High School. She was a member of Bushland Baptist Church and had worked for Great Western Directories for three years. Survivors include a son, Byron DePauw of Amarillo; a daughter, Tracy Tucker of Amarillo; two brothers, Bobby Everitt of Longview and Carroll Everitt of Amarillo; a sister, Sherri Gilbert of Amarillo; and two grandchildren. The family will be at 6406 Hinsdale. They suggest memorials be to Don and Sybil B. Harrington Cancer Center or the American Cancer Society. Robert B. Kennedy Robert B. Kennedy, 70, of Amarillo, died Sunday, June 20, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Schooler Funeral Home, Brentwood Chapel, 4100 S. Georgia St., with Phil Mercado, pastor of Trinity Fellowship, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mr. Kennedy was born in Trinidad, Colo., and had lived in Amarillo since 1967. He was an Army veteran. He was a supervisor/inspector for the state health department. He married Dorothy Ann Nelson in 1953 at Portales, N.M. She died in 1998. Survivors include a son, Joseph Bruce Kennedy of Lubbock; and two grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Friends of Nursing, c/o Division of Nursing, West Texas A&M University, P.O. Box 60969, Canyon, TX 79016. Ola Sue Savage Ola Sue Savage, 78, formerly of Amarillo, died Friday, June 18, 1999, in Grapevine. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Llano Mausoleum with the Rev. Lynn Garrett, Minister of Senior Adults at First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mrs. Savage was born in Canadian and lived in Amarillo from 1936 until she moved to Keller in 1988. She was a homemaker and a Baptist. She married Albert H. Savage in 1938 at Amarillo. He died in 1988. Survivors include a daughter, Alberta Pate of New Orleans; a son, William Edward Savage of Fritch; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. New Mexico Leslie Carter CLOVIS, N.M. - Leslie Carter, 79, died Sunday, June 20, 1999. Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday in The Chapel with the Rev. Eddie Messer officiating. Burial will be in Quay Cemetery in Quay by Muffley Funeral Home of Clovis. Mr. Carter was born in Swearington, Texas. He served with the Marines at Guadalcanal as a Browning automatic rifleman in the Second Marine Division. He was employed as a painter and handyman and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1475 at Amarillo. Survivors include a son, Robert Leslie Carter of Amarillo; a daughter, Linda Taylor of Amarillo; a sister, Rose Delaney of Clovis; five grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice of Amarillo. Josie Taylor CLAYTON, N.M. - Jose Taylor, 82, died Sunday, June 20, 1999. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today and funeral mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday in St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church with the Rev. George Silva, pastor, and Louis Montoya, deacon, officiating. Burial will be in Clayton Memorial Cemetery by Hass Funeral Directors of Clayton. Mrs. Taylor was born in Barney, N.M., and was a longtime resident of Clayton. She and her husband owned and operated the Spic-n-Span Dry Cleaners for many years. She closed the dry cleaners and worked for Clayton Public Schools until her retirement. She was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. She married Lloyd L. Taylor in 1935. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1957 and an infant son, Joseph Taylor. Survivors include four daughters, Frances Aragon and Roselee Garcia, both of Clayton, Joan Garcia of Santa Fe and Marie Morra of Albuquerque; three sons, Jimmy Taylor of Clayton, Sammy Taylor of Santa Fe and Michael Taylor of Albuquerque; four sisters, Martha C. DeBaca and Alicia Montoya, both of Oakland, Calif., Mary Rodriquez of Pueblo, Colo., and Annie Sanchez of Clayton; 17 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-granddaughter. The family suggests memorials be to Union County General Hospital, 301 Harding, Clayton, N.M. 88415; or to the American Heart Association. Oklahoma Nathan Todd Cooper ATOKA, Okla. - Nathan Todd Cooper, 21, died Friday, June 18, 1999, at Tulsa. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church at Hooker with Randy Caddell and Eddy Scoggins officiating. Burial will be in the Hooker Cemetery by Roberts Funeral Home of Hooker. Mr. Cooper was born in Liberal, Kan., and was raised in Hooker. He moved with his family to Atoka, where he graduated from Atoka High School in 1996. He was active in 4-H and FFA where he showed livestock for many years. He also was a member of the Sandtrax Racing Team and of the First Baptist Church. Survivors include his parents, Roy and Debbie Cooper; his sister, Nikki Cooper; grandmother, Doris Ansley Hillman of Hooker; and great-grandmother, Ethel Ansley of Guymon. The family requests memorials be to the Nathan Cooper Memorial Fund at the Atoka State Bank to help with expenses and may be left in care of Roberts Brothers Funeral Home, Box 745, Hooker, OK 73945. Markham D. Waddill TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - Markham D. Waddill, 89, formerly of White Deer, Texas, died Monday, June 21, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Hart Funeral Home Chapel in Tahlequah. Burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Rose Hill Cemetery in Tulia, Texas. Mr. Waddill was born in Plainview, Texas. He served in the Navy during World War II and was a tax assessor with the White Deer schools. In 1985, he moved to Tahlequah where he was a member of Saint Basil's Episcopal Church, Cherokee Masonic Lodge No. 10 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He married Nellie Tibbitts in 1969 at Happy, Texas. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Louise. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Lynda Stayton of Lampasas, Texas, and Karen Capranica of Trinidad, Colo.; a stepson, Harold Cottingim of Tulsa; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and four step-grandchildren. Elsewhere James Anthony Probst DALLAS - James Anthony Probst, 75, died in June of 1999. Services were at 1:30 p.m. Friday in Restland Funeral Home Wildwood Chapel with the Rev. Denis O'Brien, officiating. Mr. Probst was an Army veteran of World War II. In 1985, he retired after 33 years as a teacher and administrator with the Dallas Independent School District. He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Probst, and a daughter, Pamela McFarling. Survivors include a daughter, Cynthia Ray; a sister, Sister Mary Helene Probst; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Area Carol Tate FLOYDADA - Carol Tate, 56, of Haines City, Fla., died Thursday, June 17, 1999. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in First Baptist Church of Floydada. Local arrangements are by MooreRose-White Funeral Home in Floydada. Florida arrangements were by DundeeHaines City Funeral Home in Dundee, Fla. Mrs. Tate was born in Tucumcari, N.M. Six years ago, she moved to Haines City from Ventura, Calif. She was a grocery manager. Survivors include her husband, Gari O. Tate; two sons, Kenneth Baker of Austin and Buckley Baker of Sacramento, Calif.; a daughter, Elaine Dunn of Sacramento; three brothers, Leo Thrasher of San Jon, N.M., Allen Thrasher of Floydada and Robby Thrasher of Lubbock; and two sisters, Eileen Thrasher of Lubbock and Lanell McCandless of Floydada; and three grandchildren. Kathryn Acker Ruga HEREFORD - Kathryn Acker Ruga, 72, died Sunday, June 20, 1999. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in West Park Cemetery with Dr. Ed Williamson of First United Methodist Church in Big Spring officiating. Arrangements are by Gililland-Watson Funeral Home of Hereford. Mrs. Ruga was born and raised in Deaf Smith County. She was a registered nurse and a member of First United Methodist Church. She also was a member of Daughters of the American Revolution and Deaf Smith County Historical Society. She married Abel Ruga in 1951 at Opelousas, La. He died in 1984. Survivors include a son, Glenn Ruga of Spearman; a daughter, Dianne Learned of New Hampshire; two sisters, Helen Rose and Mary Ann Carroll, both of Hereford; and two grandchildren. The family will be at 331 Star St. They suggest memorials be to American Cancer Society. Helen Bailey HEREFORD - Helen Bailey, 91, died Monday, June 21, 1999. Private funeral services are planned. Arrangements are by Gililland-Watson Funeral Home of Hereford. Mrs. Bailey was born in Pawnee, Okla. She had previously lived in Berkeley, Calif., where she was a longtime member of the Epsworth United Methodist Church. She married Dale L. Bailey in 1931 at Oklahoma City. He died in 1965. Survivors include three nieces, Susan Adams of Hereford, Jean Wascher of San Antonio and Kathy Allen of Northport, Ala.; and two nephews, John Crismon of Altus, Okla., and Kerwin Black of Dallas. Marina Guerra PLAINVIEW - Marina Guerra, 48, died Sunday, June 20, 1999. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in Lemons Funeral Home Memorial Chapel. Services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with the Rev. Gerard Kenney of the church officiating. Mrs. Guerra was born and raised in Plainview where she married Enrique Guerra in 1973. He died in 1996. Survivors include two sons, Augustine DeLosSantos and Daniel Juarez, both of Plainview; her parents, Martina Torres of Plainview and Indalecio Juarez of Bridgeport; two brothers, Fernando Juarez of Vancouver, Wash., and Joe Gonzales of Plainview; a sister, Della Torres of Lubbock; and three grandchildren. Velma Dorman HALE CENTER - Velma Dorman, 74, died Sunday, June 20, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Gene Meacham, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park by Freeman-Abell Funeral Home of Hale Center. Mrs. Dorman was born in Foard County. In 1970, she moved from Cotton Center to Hale Center where she was a member of the First Baptist Church. She married Levi Charlie Dorman in 1940 at Akin. He died in 1975. Survivors include a son, Danny Dorman of Smyer; two daughters, Bonnie Denyes of Oglesby, Ill., and Cindy Dorman-Fagin of Slaton; a sister, Shari Cox of Amarillo; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society. Gladys Widener FLOYDADA - Gladys Widener, 82, died Sunday, June 20, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Wendell Horn, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Floyd County Memorial Park by Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home of Floydada. Mrs. Widener was born in Clifton. She graduated from Floydada High School. She moved to Floydada from Clifton in 1933. Mrs. Widener was a homemaker. She was a member of Senior Citizens, Floyd County Home Demonstration Club and First United Methodist Church. She married Ernie Widener in 1959 at Plainview. He died in 1985. Survivors include two sons, Gene Westfall of Fort Worth and Monte Westfall of Dallas; a daughter, Darlene Solomon of Plano; a stepdaughter, Ann Brewer of Sweetwater; two brothers, Harold Bertrand and William Bertrand, both of Floydada; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Jesse P. Samaniego EARTH - Jesse P. Samaniego, 33, died Sunday, June 20, 1999. Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. today in St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church with the Rev. Joe Augustin, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Earth Memorial Cemetery in Earth by Parsons-Ellis Funeral Home. Mr. Samaniego was born in Dimmitt and lived in Earth most of his life. He lived in Lubbock for a short period then returned to Earth in 1995. He was a member of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church. A graduate of Springlake-Earth High School, Mr. Samaniego attended South Plains College and Amarillo Community College. He was a truck driver who worked for Bell Dairy and Fleming Food. He married Belinda Zamora in 1984 at Littlefield. Survivors include his wife; four sons, Paul, Jeffrey, Isaac and Aaron Samaniego, all of Earth; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Manuel R. Samaniego of Earth; two sisters, Maria Padilla of Earth and Anna Crouse of Archer City; and three brothers, Juan Manuel Samaniego of El Paso and Miguel and Isael Samaniego, both of Earth.