Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 23 April 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, April 23, 1999, 5:26 AM Area William Davis PAMPA - William "Chet" Davis, 88, died Wednesday, April 21, 1999. Vigil will be at 6 p.m. today in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with the Rev. John Valdez, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, officiating. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel with the Rev. Valdez officiating. Entombment will be in Memory Gardens Mausoleum. Mr. Davis was born in Warren County, Ind. He graduated in 1933 from Purdue University with a degree in electrical engineering. He worked for Owen-Illinois Glass Co. for 10 years. He was a member of the Moose Lodge and the Purdue Engineering Society. In 1963, Mr. Davis moved to Pampa from Walla Walla, Wash. In 1972, he retired after nine years with Cabot Corp. as an electrical design engineer. He then worked 10 years for Celanese Corp. and was a consulting engineer for Merriman & Barber Consulting Engineers Inc. He retired at the age of 82. He married Genevieve Jamorzy in 1936 at Kanawha City, W.Va. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Antoinette Tress of Beaver Falls, Pa., Paula Burnam of Glendale, Ariz., and Mary Zerm of Amarillo; two sons, William Davis of Mesa, Ariz., and Tom Davis of Crockett; a sister, Lillian Arnold of Lafayette, Ind.; a brother, Glen Davis of Lafayette; 20 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Randal B. Carpenter BORGER - Randal B. Carpenter, 53, a former longtime resident of Borger, died Tuesday, April 20, 1999. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in Achille Cemetery at Achille, Okla. Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Directors of Borger. Mr. Carpenter was born in Kemp, Okla. He was a veteran of the Air Force. He was employed as an estate manager and was a Baptist. He was a resident of San Diego at the time of his death. Survivors include a brother, Gary Carpenter of Plano; and four sisters, Ernestine Wilson of Borger, Sammy Butcher of Oklahoma City, and Teresa Ferguson and Debra Carpenter, both of Austin. Meryle Margaret Chambless BORGER - Meryle Margaret Chambless, 78, of Bandera, died Thursday, April 22, 1999. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Ken Sheppard, pastor of Faith Covenant Church of Borger, officiating. Mrs. Chambless was born in Ranger and was a Borger resident for 55 years before moving to Bandera in 1992. She retired after 29 years as a secretary for Huber Oil & Gas Division. She was a charter member of Faith Covenant Church. She married Carl "Chief" Chambless in 1937 at Clayton, N.M. Survivors include her husband; a son, Don Chambless of Thornton, Colo.; a daughter, Sharon Brooks of Bandera; two brothers, Robert Thompson of Amarillo and Maurice Thompson of Richmond, Va.; eight grandchildren; and nine greatgrandchildren. Felix G. Williams OLTON - Felix G. Williams, 79, died Wednesday, April 21, 1999. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Olton Cemetery with the Rev. Kyle Streun, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Home. Mr. Williams was born in Lindsay, Okla. He served in the Army during World War II and received the Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, EAME Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. He married Patricia Ritter in 1996 at Greenwood, Ark. He moved to Olton from Greenwood in 1997. He was a member of the Church of Christ, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Shriners. Survivors include his wife; a son, Euel "Sonny" Williams of Fort Worth; two daughters, Anita Kay Sansom and Wilda Sue Taylor, both of Fort Worth; a sister, Bessie Mae Mabery of Olton; 18 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Hospice of the Plains, 4416 Olton Road, Plainview, Texas 79072. Chester Lee Higginbotham PADUCAH - Chester Lee Higginbotham, 72, died Wednesday, April 21, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Garden of Memorial Cemetery with the Rev. Carl Savage, pastor of First Assembly of God Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Seigler Funeral Home. Mr. Higginbotham was born in Muleshoe. He married Faye Sisam in 1968 at Elko, Nev. He moved to Paducah in 1979 from Salt Lake City. He and his wife owned and operated the Rolling Plains Motel in Paducah. He was a lifetime member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagle. He was preceded in death by a son, Michael D. Higginbotham. Survivors include his wife; a son, Chester Lee Higginbotham Jr. of Salt Lake City; two daughters, Vickie Aldridge of Dallas and Teresa Malupo of Salt Lake City; a sister, Helen Marie Gabel of Phoenix; four half sisters; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Jennie Gauntt FLOYDADA - Jennie Foral Gauntt, 86, died Wednesday, April 21, 1999, in Naples, Fla. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with Mike Holster officiating. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Memorial Cemetery at Edmond, Okla. Arrangements are by Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home. Mrs. Gauntt was born in Oklahoma City and attended school there. She lived in Joplin, Mo., and later in Florissant, Mo. She moved from there to Floydada in 1962. She was a homemaker and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the First Baptist Church, where she was a hostess. Her husband, Vern Gauntt, preceded her in death in 1976. Survivors include a son, Gary Gauntt of Naples; and two grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the American Cancer Society, 3411 73rd St., Lubbock, Texas 79423; or to a favorite charity. The family will greet friends from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. today at the funeral home. Amarillo William L. Tull William L. Tull, 63, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Burlington, Iowa. Masonic rites will be at 7 p.m. today in Lunning Funeral Home Chapel at Burlington. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Lunning Chapel with the Rev. David Rogula officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery at Fort Madison, Iowa. Memorial services will be in Amarillo. Mr. Tull was born in Donnellson, Iowa, and moved to Burlington in 1959. He graduated from Donnellson High School and from Amarillo College. He attended West Texas State University and received a degree from Wayland Baptist University at Plainview. He worked for Shaeffer Pen Co. prior to joining the Army in 1959, where he was assigned to the National Security Agency in Washington, D.C. He later served in the Air Force Reserve. He began his career with Mason and Hanger at Burlington and transferred to Amarillo in 1974. He worked for Mason and Hanger Corp. for 40 years, retiring in February as a program manager. Mr. Tull was a member of Paramount Terrace Christian Church. He was a Past Exalted Ruler of the Amarillo Elks Lodge 923; a member of the Amarillo Masonic Palo Duro Lodge 1239; the Southwest Amarillo Optimists; and Burlington Moose Lodge 579. He married Lela C. Helmick in 1962 at Burlington. Survivors include his wife; three brothers, Richard R. Tull of Fort Madison, Iowa, and Kenneth J. Tull and Raymond R. Tull, both of Donnellson. The family requests memorials be to the Human Resources Development Foundation, P.O. Box 25213, Houston, Texas 77265-9120; or a favorite charity. Polly Eubanks Polly Eubanks, 72, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, April 21, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Llano Cemetery with Dr. J. Pat Kennedy, pastor of St. Luke Presbyterian Church, officiating. Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. today in St. Luke Presbyterian Church. Arrangements are by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mrs. Eubanks was born in Cleburne and had been a resident of Amarillo for many years. She attended Draughon's Business College in Lubbock. She worked as a secretary in the athletic department for the Amarillo Independent School District for 15 years and also was a homemaker. She was a member of St. Luke Presbyterian Church, where she sang in the choir. She married James H. Eubanks in 1946 at Lubbock. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Kathy Sartorius of Edmond, Okla.; a son, Mark Eubanks of Ventura, Calif.; two brothers, Weldon Stafford of Carlsbad, N.M., and L.T. Stafford of Aurora, Calif.; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the Crown of Texas Hospice. The family will receive friends at the church after the memorial service. O.A. Bynum Sr. O.A. "Drag" Bynum Sr., 84, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, April 21, 1999. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Channing Cemetery at Channing with David Sylvester, pastor of Westway Community Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia. Mr. Bynum was born in Van Buren, Ark., and had lived in the Texas Panhandle most of his life. He lived in Valle de Oro for many years. He was a longtime employee for Reynolds Cattle Co. He also had owned and operated a saddle shop in Valle de Oro for several years and was a lifelong cowboy. He was a member of the Christian Church. Survivors include three stepdaughters, Barbara Climer and Betty Donberger, both of Amarillo, and Ann Smith of Pampa; a son, Orville Bynum Jr. of Amarillo; a stepson, Robin Stone of Rush Springs, Okla.; 31 grandchildren; and 32 greatgrandchildren. Samuel Rector Samuel "Bud" Rector, 59, of Amarillo, died Monday, April 19, 1999. Wake will be from 6 until 8 p.m. today. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Forest Hill Assembly of God Church, 1401 N. Apache St., with the Rev. Maurice Burks, pastor of Antioch Bible Fellowship Church, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Warford-Walker Mortuary, 509 N. Hughes. Mr. Rector was born in Matador and attended public schools in Amarillo, including Patten and Carver high schools. A former employee of Northwest Texas Hospital, he attended Antioch Bible Fellowship Church. Survivors include his mother, Georgia Rector of Amarillo; seven brothers, Marion Rector of Las Vegas, Raymond Rector and Major Rector, both of Tacoma, Wash., and Freddie, Robert, Jerry and Ralph Rector, all of Amarillo; eight sisters, Helen Martin and Carolyn Rector, both of Amarillo, Shirley Crispy, Gertrude Piryx and Mary Ann Anderson, all of Tacoma, Nola McGowan of Atlanta and Johnnie Mae Davis and Linda Mims of Marina, Calif.; and a special friend, Pearlene Brown of Amarillo. Sue Casto Sue Casto, 67, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, April 20, 1999. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors Pioneer Chapel, 2615 Paramount Blvd., with Coy Wylie, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Lockney Cemetery at Lockney. Mrs. Casto was born in Colorado City and graduated from West Texas State University. She taught school in Peoria, Ill., for many years before moving to Amarillo in 1978. In 1997, she retired after 16 years as a special education teacher for the River Road Independent School District. Survivors include a daughter, Teresa Goolsby of Amarillo; three sons, Jesse Casto of San Antonio, Rick Babitzke of Peoria and Edward Babitzke of Omaha, Neb.; a sister, Pat Smith of Amarillo; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family will be at 3109 A Curtis Dr. Frank Hughes Frank Hughes, 54, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, April 21, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle, with the Rev. Odell Davis of Huntsville, Ark., officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Hughes was born in Snyder and was raised in Fluvanna and Shamrock. He had lived in Amarillo since 1972. Before entering the pawn shop business, Mr. Hughes worked in body shops in Dumas and Amarillo. He was co-owner of two pawn shops and a member of Golden Spread Pawn Brokers Association. He married Janice Anderson in 1973 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; a son, Tim Smallwood of Amarillo; a daughter, Dana Higgs of Amarillo; two sisters, Beverly Haws of Groom and Sherron Hughes of Bedford; a brother, J.L. Hughes of Midland; and two grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Make A Wish Foundation, 2324 Lakeview Dr., Amarillo, TX 79109. The family will be at 12848 S. Osage. Bonnie M. Holt Bonnie M. Holt, 91, of Amarillo, died Thursday, April 22, 1999. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Wheeler Cemetery with Sister Mary Morrissey of Crown of Texas Hospice officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Holt was born in Conway. After her marriage, she and her husband moved to Pritchett, Colo., where they established a family bank. In 1935, they returned to Wheeler. Mrs. Holt was the director of First National Bank in Wheeler for many years. She lived in Highland Haven near Marble Falls, then moved to Pecan Plantation near Granbury before settling in Amarillo. She married Robert J. Holt in 1927 at Claude. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1969 and by a son, R.J. Holt Jr., in 1995. Survivors include a daughter, Margaret Ann Wilson of Amarillo; seven grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson, Amarillo, Texas 79101; or a favorite charity. The family will be at 4409 Tawney. Earnest E. Fenton Earnest E. "Gene" Fenton, 73, a former Amarillo resident, died Thursday, April 22, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Coleman Cemetery at Coleman. Arrangements are by Stevens Funeral Home of Coleman. Mr. Fenton was born in New Central. He grew up in Coleman and attended school at New Central and Centennial. He served in the European Theater during World War II and received a Purple Heart. He married Billye White in Coleman on Christmas Day 1942. He lived in Pampa for 16 years and in Amarillo for 30 years before moving to Coleman two years ago. He had worked for McCracken Electrical Co. in Amarillo until his retirement in 1987. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Mr. Fenton was preceded in death by a daughter, Diane Fenton Graham, in 1974. Survivors include his wife; three sisters, Agnes Armstrong of Perryton, Pauline Smith of Big Spring and Juanita Jones of Santa Anna; a brother, Rex Fenton of Ozona; and a granddaughter. The family will receive friends at the funeral home in Coleman from 7 to 8 p.m. today. Elsewhere Nancy Craighead MORTON - Nancy Lou Green Craighead, 63, died Thursday, April 22, 1999, in Lubbock. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Danny Jackson, pastor, officiating. Additional services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Sullivan Funeral Home Chapel at Vernon with the Rev. Jackson officiating. Burial will be in Wilbarger Memorial Park at Vernon. Arrangements are by McNett Funeral Home in Andrews and Sullivan Funeral Home in Vernon. Mrs. Craighead was born in Vernon. She graduated from Oklaunion High School in 1953. She married Carl H. Craighead in 1953 at Grayback. She had worked as a secretary for Courson Oil and Gas in Perryton. She and her husband moved to Morton in 1989 from Booker. She was a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Drucilla Ann Cockrell of Higgins; two sons, Stephen Carl Craighead of Vernon and Jay Craighead of Andrews; two sisters, Helen Lambert of Vernon and Jerry Nethery of Iowa Park; a brother, Ernest Alan Green of Wichita Falls; and five grandsons. The family suggests memorials be to Morton Classroom Teachers Scholarship Fund or the Vernon Regional Junior College Scholarship Fund. Visitation will from noon until service time today at First Baptist Church in Morton; and on Sunday and Monday until service time at Sullivan Funeral Home in Vernon.