Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 24 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; Thursday, June 24, 1999, 5:34 AM Amarillo Joyce F. Diltz Joyce F. Diltz, 66, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, June 22, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in First Baptist Church with Dr. Howard K. Batson, pastor, officiating. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. Friday in Bethany Cemetery at Bethany, Okla. Arrangements are by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Miss Diltz was born in Big Spring and moved to Amarillo in 1954. She graduated from Central High School at Oklahoma City, and received her three year nursing diploma from Oklahoma General Hospital School of Nursing at Clinton, Okla. She attended Amarillo College in 1978, earning an associate degree in nursing, and in 1979 received a bachelor's degree in science and nursing from West Texas State University. Her nursing career began in surgery at St. Anthony's Hospital. She later worked at Northwest Texas Hospital and then for 11 years at the State Health Department. From 1963 until her retirement in 1993, she was an elementary and middle school nurse with the Amarillo Independent School District. Miss Diltz was a 38-year member of First Baptist Church, where she belonged to the Anna-Rachel Sunday School Class and was an active member of the Heritage Singers Choir. She also was a member of the Retired Teachers Association and the American Red Cross. Survivors include a sister, Rose Kissinger of Shreveport, La. The family will be at 3115 A. Curtis Drive. Robert Orcutt Robert "Bob" Orcutt, 48, of Amarillo, died Monday, June 21, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Memory Gardens Cemetery with the Rev. Robert Field officiating. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mr. Orcutt was born in Baton Rouge, La., and moved to Amarillo 30 years ago. He was employed in an air conditioner warehouse and was a member of San Jacinto Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Mary Lou Weldon; three brothers, Ray Thornton of Amarillo, Carl Thornton of Oklahoma City and Alfred Orcutt of Dixon, Mo.; and three sisters, Alice Rattle of Wichita, Kan., Joyce DeLaCruz of San Antonio and Brenda Huto of New York. Micah Cole Powers Micah Cole Powers, infant son of Shawn and Dawn Powers of Amarillo, died Tuesday, June 22, 1999. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in Parkway Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses with David Cartwright officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Micah was born in Amarillo. Survivors include his parents and a sister, Brooke Powers, of the home. Shelby Vitatoe Jr. Shelby Vitatoe Jr., 82, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, June 23, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Schooler Funeral Home, Brentwood Chapel, 4100 S. Georgia St., with Dr. Stan Coffey of San Jacinto Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mr. Vitatoe was born in Healdton, Okla., and was raised and graduated from high school in Prairie View, Okla. He attended business school in Wichita, Kan. He first joined the Oklahoma National Guard then the Army where he was assigned to the 45th Division. Mr. Vitatoe moved to Amarillo 52 years ago. For many years, he worked in the grocery business. In 1962, he retired from Jenkins Music Co., where he specialized in repairing Hammond organs. He had been a member of San Jacinto Baptist Church since 1947. He married Doris M. Riddle in 1942 at Ada, Okla. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Shelby Vitatoe III and David Vitatoe, both of Amarillo, and Jim Vitatoe of Oroville, Calif.; a daughter, Lynette Oaks of Rowlette; two sisters, Virginia Henderson of Amarillo and Betty Reavis of Salinas, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to San Jacinto Baptist Church Building Fund, 801 Tascosa Rd., Amarillo, TX 79124. New Mexico Albert E. Worrall CLOVIS, N.M. - Albert E. Worrall, 93, died Monday, June 21, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Westbrook Baptist Church with the Rev. Stan White officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Mr. Worrall was born in Woonsocket, R.I. He had worked as a mechanical engineer for Raytheon Corp., and retired from Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey before moving to Clovis in 1971. He was a member of Westbrook Baptist Church. Survivors include two daughters, Nancy Kelley of Albion, Maine, and Norma Jean Gendreau of Clovis; two half sisters, Melba Reinke and Shirley Renaud, both of Canton, N.Y.; four grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends and family from 2 to 3 p.m and 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Vernon Wolfe CLOVIS, N.M. - Vernon Wolfe, 81, died Sunday, June 20, 1999, at Lubbock, Texas. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Bethel Assembly of God with the Rev. Bob Burris and the Rev. Jack Stone officiating. Burial will be in the Texico Cemetery at Texico by Steed-Todd Funeral Home of Clovis. Mr. Wolfe was born in DeKalb, and had been a Texico resident for 25 years. He married Martha Maxine Parks in 1948 at Carlsbad. He farmed in the Lariat, Texas, area. He was a member of Texico Assembly of God and Bethel Assembly of God in Clovis. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Tommy Wolfe of Muleshoe, Texas, and Wayne Wolfe of Clovis; a sister, Shirley Reynolds of Muleshoe; two brothers, Willie Wolfe of Littlefield, and Howard Wolfe of Borger, Texas; a sister, Zelma Parks of Mesquite, Texas; and six grandchildren. Oklahoma Jimmie Dean Nichols BEAVER, Okla. - Jimmie Dean Nichols, 80, died Monday, June 21, 1999. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Pioneer Cemetery with John Breon officiating. Arrangements are by Clark Funeral Service of Beaver. Mr. Nichols was born in Union Town, Ark. He grew up on the farm and graduated from high school. He retired as a millwright and attended the Baptist Church. He married Deloris Aldeen Carter in 1941 at Beaver. Survivors include his wife; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Chester Raymond Houts BOISE CITY, Okla. - Chester Raymond Houts, 91, died Tuesday, June 22, 1999. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in the Church of Christ with Don Lawrence and John Henley officiating. Burial will be in Boise City Cemetery by Cimarron Mortuary. Mr. Houts was born in Cimarron County. He was a medic in the service during World War II. For many years, he farmed west of Boise City before moving into Boise City. He was a member of the Church of Christ. He married Georgia Ralston in 1954 at Clayton, N.M. She died in October. Survivors include a brother, Jack Houts of Lubbock, Texas, and a sister, Ellen Cox of Portland, Ore. The family suggests memorials be to Black Mesa Bible Camp, and may be left in care of the mortuary. Elsewhere Jo Ann Wilson AFTON - Jo Ann Wilson, 58, of Prairie Village, Kan., died Friday, June 18, 1999. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday in Afton Baptist Church in Afton with the Rev. C.L. Atkinson, pastor. Burial will be in Afton Cemetery by Siegler Funeral Home of Matador. Mrs. Wilson was born in Tahoka and graduated from Monterey High School. She lived in Lubbock prior to moving to Kansas in 1969. She was a member of Highland Baptist Church. She married Jim Wilson in 1960. Survivors include her husband; a son, Jay of Prairie Village; a daughter, Janna of Prairie Village; two brothers, Bob Jones of Lubbock and Dennis Jones of Afton. The family suggests memorials be to the American Cancer Society. George Turner PASADENA, Calif. - George Turner, 73, died Sunday, June 20, 1999. Memorial services will be at 6:30 p.m. today at the American Screen Cinematographers office in Hollywood, Calif. Arrangements are by Turner / Stevens Funeral Home of Pasadena. Mr. Turner was born in Burkburnett, Texas, and developed an interest in the arts at age 7. He graduated from West Texas State University in Canyon and attended the Art Institute of Chicago, the American Academy of Art and the Ramon Froman School of Art at Cloudcroft, N.M. He took private lessons from Ben Carlton Mead and seminars with Hal Foster, Henry Gasser, Dirk Van Driest, George McManus and Dudley Fisher. In addition to his position as editorial art director with the Amarillo Globe-News, Mr. Turner was co-publisher and editor of Southwest Heritage, a magazine he helped found to serve as a showcase for area historical writing. He taught art and writing at Amarillo College. He was a civilian supervising artist with the Air Force. He wrote several historical and fictional articles and books as well as writing and directing a film, "Six Gun" in 1973. He also illustrated several books. After his retirement as editor of the American Cinematographer, he continued to contribute story boards and perform other art work involved in movie production. Many of his articles featured regional history. He conducted an area history workshop in Amarillo in 1974. He married Jean Wade, a former Globe-News news editor and editorial page editor. She died in 1998. Survivors include four sons, Lowell Turner of Amarillo, David Turner of Albuquerque, N.M., Doug Turner of Sunland, Calif., and James Turner of Tampa, Fla.; and three grandchildren. The family requests memorials, in lieu of flowers, be to a favorite charity in Turner's name. Area Joe Truett Payne PLAINVIEW - Joe Truett Payne, 81, died Tuesday, June 22, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Mount Carmel Cemetery in Wolfe City with the Rev. Kevin Mitchell of First Baptist Church of Wolfe City officiating. Memorial services will be at a later date. Arrangements are by Wood-Dunning Funeral Home of Plainview. Mr. Payne was born in Fannin County. During World War II, he served in the 17th Airborne Division from 1941 until 1945. A captain, he received the Bronze Star and was in the Battle of the Bulge and served with the occupation of Berlin. After the war, Mr. Payne moved to Plainview. He and his wife owned and operated Payne's Gift & Jewelry for 38 years until his retirement in 1992. He was a member of First Baptist Church. He married Patsye Traylor in 1950 at Plainview. Survivors include his wife; three sisters, Mildred Leimenstal of San Antonio, and Gertrude McKelvy and Bess Caldwell, both of Dallas; and two brothers, Paul Payne of Pampa and Bob Payne of Phoenix. The family suggests memorials be to Northwest Texas Chapter Myostheana Gravis Foundation, P.O. Box 766, Muleshoe, TX 79347; or a favorite charity. Ophia Tomison PADUCAH - Ophia Tomison, 91, died Tuesday, June 22, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church of Paducah with the Rev. James Hooper officiating. Burial will be in Paducah Garden of Memories by Seigler Funeral Home of Paducah. Mrs. Tomison was born in Hill County and moved to Paducah as a child. She was a homemaker and member of First Baptist Church. She married Ocie Royce Tomison in 1932 at Paducah. He died in 1994. Survivors include two sons, Bobby Tomison of Paducah and Rick Tomison of Lubbock; a daughter, Linda Smith of Paducah; a sister, Aide Smith of Paducah; eight grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. Ima Lee Beasley SHAMROCK - Ima Lee Beasley, 76, died Tuesday, June 22, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Jack Lee, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Shamrock Cemetery by Wright Funeral Directors of Shamrock. Mrs. Beasley was born in Magic City and lived most of her life in Shamrock. She was a member of Rebekah Lodge, the Shamrock General Hospital Ladies Auxiliary and the Garden Club. She was active in the First Baptist Church with the UMW, Sunday School and many committees. Mrs. Beasley was employed in the cafeteria for the Shamrock Independent School District and was a care-giver. She worked with many veteran's activities, especially those related to prisoners of war. She married Chester Beasley in 1942 at Elk City, Okla. He died in 1984. Survivors include three sons, Weldon James Beasley of Washington, Okla., Coy Joseph Beasley of Amarillo and Terry Lynn Beasley of Oklahoma City; three daughters, Dolores Reeves of Carrollton, Cecelia Lee Uzzolino of San Angelo and Patty Graham of Amarillo; four brothers, J.L. Pepper of Shamrock, Roy Pepper of Amarillo, Leon Pepper of Borger and Dennis Pepper of Fritch; four sisters, Dora Woods of Fritch, Alma Crowder of Chickasha, Okla., and Shirley Gist and Wanda Armstrong, both of Pampa; 15 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Amos E. Steelman BOVINA - Amos E. Steelman, 87, died Wednesday, June 23, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Gary Morgan, pastor, and the Rev. Don McNerlin officiating. Burial will be in Bovina Cemetery by Ellis-Blackwell Funeral Home of Friona. Mr. Steelman was born in Montague County and moved to Bovina in 1929 from Wellington. He was a member of First Baptist Church and the 700 Club. He married Leone Glover in 1934 at Bovina. She died in 1992. Survivors include two sons, Eddie Gayle Steelman and Richard Steelman, both of Bovina; two daughters, Vivaliah Hutto of Bovina and Evelyn Joyce Vineyard of Glen Rose; two sisters, Opal Bowen of Lubbock and Ruby Bishop of Grand Prairie; eight grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. Jose Bermea Sr. FRIONA - Jose "Joe" Bermea Sr., 63, died Tuesday, June 22, 1999. Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. today in St. Teresa's Catholic Church with the Rev. Ed Sweeney, pastor, officiating. Burial will be Saturday in Garden Memory Cemetery in Menard by Ellis-Blackwell Funeral Home of Friona. Mr. Bermea was born in Menard and moved to Friona in 1969. He was a member of St. Teresa's Catholic Church in Friona. A member of the parish council, he was involved in building the new building. He married Angela Castillo in 1956 at Menard. Survivors include his wife; four sons, Richard Bermea and David Bermea, both of Friona, Joe Bermea of Hanover Park, Ill., and Rudy Bermea of Lubbock; two daughters, Cynthia Vega of Friona and Lucinda Moseley of Austin; his parent, Sostenes Bermea of Menard; and nine grandchildren. Larry Tucker BORGER - Larry Tucker, 52, died Wednesday, June 23, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Riverview Baptist Church with the Rev. Jimmy Gilmore, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Cemetery by Brown Funeral Directors in Borger. Mr. Tucker was a native of Mount Pleasant and lived in Borger for 40 years. An Army veteran, he served as a medic in Vietnam. He retired as a distributor for the Amarillo Daily News in the Fritch area. He was a member of Riverview Baptist Church. He married his wife, Pat, in 1968 at Stinnett. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Chad Tucker and James Robert Tucker, both of Borger; two daughters, Misty Clayton of Amarillo and Amy Tucker of Borger; a brother, Jerry Tucker of Borger; and four grandchildren.