Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 24 March 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; Wednesday, March 24, 1999, 6:20 AM Amarillo Marguerite E. Bodine Marguerite E. Bodine, 78, of Amarillo, died Saturday, March 20, 1999. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Memorial Park Funeral Home, Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with Dr. David Evans officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Bodine was born in Lubbock and had lived in Amarillo most of her life. She had worked at Louise's Dress Shop, Eva's Fashions and the Strawberry Patch. She was a member of the Ladies' Auxiliary of United Transportation, where she was on the drill team. She married Thomas Bodine in 1944 in Amarillo. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Tomasine Bryant of Amarillo and Debbie Bodine of Houston; and a grandson. The family suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice or the Trinity Baptist Church Building Fund. Jessie England Jessie England, 82, of Amarillo, died Monday, March 22, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel in Borger with the Rev. Sherman Eastland, chaplain of Northwest Texas Healthcare System, officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of Love in Westlawn Memorial Park. Mrs. England was born in Okmulgee, Okla. She lived in Borger from 1945 until 1991 when she moved to Amarillo. She was a homemaker. She married Herman England who died in 1991. Survivors include three daughters, Wanda Cogdill of Bartlesville, Okla., Elsie Denton of Hinton, Okla., and Betty McCoy of Amarillo; nine grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center in Amarillo. Jessie M. Loveless Jessie M. Loveless, 78, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, March 23, 1999. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Oak Dale Pentecostal Holiness Church, 2700 S. Hill St., with Chuck Garrison of the church officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens of Pampa by Colonial Funeral Chapel, 1010 W. Ninth in Amarillo. Mrs. Loveless was born in Chattanooga, Tenn., and moved to Texas in 1949. A homemaker, she was a member of Oak Dale Pentecostal Holiness Church. She married James W. Loveless in 1937 at Chattanooga. Preceding her in death were her husband in 1976 and a son, Jesse James Loveless, in 1981. Survivors include a son, Johnny David Loveless of Amarillo; two daughters, Christine Elaine Cotter and Bena E. Kenyon, both of Amarillo; four sisters, Margie Reece and Margaret Harris, both of Oceanside, Calif., and Alice Hopkins and Edith Smith, both of Dallas; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials be to Oak Dale Pentecostal Holiness Church, 2700 S. Hill, Amarillo, TX. Canyon Frank Belyeu Frank Belyeu, 86, of Canyon and formerly of Levelland, died Tuesday, March 23, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Fairview Baptist Church with the Rev. Glen Reece, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the City of Levelland Cemetery by Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon. Mr. Belyeu was born in Gorman. An Army veteran of World War II, he served in the European campaign. He was a member of Fairview Baptist Church. He married Ruby Pearcy in 1948 at Eastland. He was preceded in death by his wife in 1997 and by a son, Bill Belyeu, in 1995. Survivors include a son, Don Pearcy of Canyon; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Viewing will be from 9 a.m. until noon Thursday in the George C. Price Funeral Directors in Levelland. The family suggests memorials be to Fairview Baptist Church, 2012 South St. Road #303, Levelland, TX 79336. New Mexico Wilmer Ramsey Postma CARLSBAD, N.M. - Wilmer Ramsey "Bill" Postma, 85, died Saturday, March 20, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Home Colonial Chapel at Pampa, Texas, with Dr. Edwin Cooley, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Pampa, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery at Pampa. Mr. Postma was born in Barclay, Kan. He graduated from Colorado State College at Greeley in 1935 and was a teacher in the Pampa schools for five years. He was employed by the Boy Scouts of America as executive and organizer from 1940 until retiring in 1975. His Scout stations were Coleman and Lubbock, Texas; Raton and Albuquerque, N.M.; Spokane, Wash.; and San Diego and Los Angeles. He was an Army veteran of World War II. In 1975, he moved to Pampa, where he was active in the First Presbyterian Church and the Pampa Sheltered Workshop. He moved to Carlsbad in 1989. He married Mary Lorene Nicholson in 1938 at Pampa. She died in 1995. Survivors include a son, Michael Postma of Carlsbad; and a brother, Lowell Postma of Amarillo. The family requests memorials be to CARC Farm, P.O. Drawer 1808, Carlsbad, NM 88221; or Pampa Sheltered Workshop, P.O. Box 2808, Pampa, TX 79066-2808. Elsewhere Bill Bishop ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Bill Bishop, 79, a former Dalhart, Texas, resident, died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1999. Services were Monday, Feb. 15, at the All Saints Episcopal Church in Anchorage. Burial was in Angelus Memorial Park Cemetery by Evergreen Memorial Chapel. Mr. Bishop was born in Dalhart. He attended schools in Hartley, Texas, graduating in 1936 from Hartley High School. He was a Marine Corps veteran of World War II, earning the Bronze Star for duty in Bougainville, Guam, and Iwo Jima. After his tour of duty, he attended Amarillo College and graduated from UCLA, where he got a master's degree in geology before going to work for Atlantic Richfield. He began working in California but was sent all over the United States and to Egypt and Italy. He moved to Alaska in 1955 and worked for ARCO until 1968. Mr. Bishop is credited with discovering Alaska's first major commercial oil field, the Swanson River oil field on the Kenai Peninsula, in 1957. Survivors include his wife, Margee; two daughters, Dawn Kleweno and Kathy Fredrickson, both of Anchorage; and four grandchildren. Gary L. Thornton LEANDER - Gary L. Thornton, 63, died Monday, March 22, 1999. Services will be at 3:30 p.m. Thursday in Cook Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Karen Greif officiating. Burial will be in Cook/Walden Capital Parks Cemetery. Mr. Thornton served as a paratrooper with the Army. Since 1969, he had been a home builder in Central Texas. He was a member of the Hope Presbyterian Church. Survivors include his wife, Sherrell Anne Thornton; a son, Gary Mark Thornton of Cedar Park; a daughter, Melanie Soliz III of Cedar Park; three brothers, George Thornton of Amarillo, Carlos Thornton of Lubbock and Douglas Thornton of Marble Falls; a sister, Virginia Derby of Colonial Heights, Va.; and two grandsons. The family will receive friends from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. today at Cook Walden/Chapel of the Hills in Austin. The family suggests memorials be to American Heart Association. Blanton Dale Wallace LUBBOCK - Blanton Dale Wallace, 77, died Tuesday, March 23, 1999. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in LakeRidge United Methodist Church with the Rev. Bill Couch and the Tommy Stewart officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery in Tulia by Sanders Funeral Home of Lubbock. Mr. Wallace was born in Shamrock and raised in Erick, Okla. He attended Southwestern College in Weatherford, Okla., and graduated from Landig College of Mortuary Science in Houston. From 1942 until 1945 during World War II, he served in the Medical Corps and 10th Mountain Division in Italy. He received the Distinguished Service Award. Upon his return to Tulia, Mr. Wallace and his brother identified, plotted and recorded all the lots in Rose Hill Cemetery. He owned and operated Wallace Funeral Home in Tulia until his retirement in 1977. While in Tulia, he served on the City Council and served as manager of the Tulia Cemetery Association for many years. Mr. Wallace and his wife moved to Lago Vista in 1981 then moved to Lubbock in 1987. In Lubbock, he was a volunteer for the AARP/IRA program for eight years, doing taxes for the elderly at Senior Citizens Center and Grand Court Retirement Village. He was a member of LakeRidge United Methodist Church, Foundation Sunday School Class, Prime Timers and LakeRidge Couples Club. He married Dorothy Rogers in 1942. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Ann Kendrick of Lubbock; a son, Rick Wallace of Lubbock; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Building Fund at LakeRidge United Methodist Church, 4701 82nd St., Lubbock, TX 79424; or South Plains Food Bank, 4610 Locust Ave., Lubbock, TX 79404. Lois Helen West ARLINGTON - Lois Helen West, 84, died Tuesday, March 23, 1999. Graveside services will be at noon Thursday in Crestview Memorial Park in Wichita Falls. Arrangements are by Moore Funeral Home, Bowen Road Chapel in Arlington. Mrs. West was born in Durham, Ark., and raised in Amarillo where she attended school. She retired as a public school secretary. She was a member of West Amarillo Christian Church and Eastern Star 1330 A.E. Shirley. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin Temple West. Survivors include two sons, Joe West of Arlington and Wayne West of Houston; four grandchildren; and four grandchildren. A.E. Bledsoe LUBBOCK - A.E. "Ed" Bledsoe, 72, of Tucson died Sunday, March 21, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Resthaven Funeral Home's Abbey Chapel. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Park in Lubbock. Mr. Bledsoe was born in Plainview and raised in Lubbock where he attended school. During World War II, he served in the Merchant Marines. For 22 years, he lived in Amarillo where he owned Dalby Moving and Storage. In 1990, Mr. Bledsoe moved to Tucson where he owned Southwest Commodity Warehouses, Inc. In previous years, he worked in sheep and cattle ranching and in other interests. Survivors include his wife, Mae Bledsoe, and a sister, Betty Bischof of Amarillo. The family will receive friends from 4 until 6 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Area Robert Fechner HIGGINS - Robert Fechner, 101, a former Higgins resident, died Saturday, March 20, 1999, in Derby, Kan. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. today in Church of the Nazarene of Higgins with the Rev. Darrik Acre and the Rev. Jimmy Morris officiating. Burial will be in Higgins Cemetery by Good Samaritan Funeral Service of Shattuck. Mr. Fechner was born in Tarutino, Bessarabia. In 1907, the family left Russia by train, crossing Europe to reach Liverpool, England. From there, they went to Ellis Island in New York and settled in Goodwin, Okla. The sod house they built still stands. Mr. Fechner farmed near Shattuck. He was a member of the Church of the Nazarene. He married Goldie Veda Krehbiel in 1920 at Arnett, Okla. She died in 1985. Survivors include four sons, Eugene Fechner of Tujunga, Calif., Dean Fechner of Wichita, Kan., J.C. Fechner of Bethany, Okla., and Bud Fechner of Tulsa, Okla.; five daughters, Charlotte Ehrlich of Shattuck, DeLores Moore of Fort Sumner, N.M., Wanda Melzer of Valley Center, Kan., Veda Mae Ehrlich of Derby and Elizabeth Misemer of Riverside, Mo.; 40 grandchildren; 67 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Helen Keller FOLLETT - Helen Keller, 88, died Monday, March 22, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Woodrow Weidner officiating. Burial will be in Fairmont Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home Inc. of Perryton. Mrs. Keller was born in Logan, Okla., and moved to the Follett area in 1973 from Prescott, Ariz. She was a homemaker and a member of St. John's Congregational Church of Follett. Her husband, Robert E. Keller, died in 1968. Survivors include four daughters, Elizabeth Dake and Karen Johnson, both of Tulsa, Okla., Robin Pigott of Austin, and Susan Keller, of Tampa, Fla.; a sister, Dora Perry of Adrian; and five grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to the American Cancer Society, 1219 S. Indiana, Perryton, TX 79070; or a favorite charity. Ozell Williams MEMPHIS - Ozell Williams, 75, died Thursday, March 18, 1999. Memorial services will be at a later date by Memphis Funeral Home. Miss Williams was born in Waxahachie and had lived in Memphis most of her life. She was a homemaker. Survivors include two sisters, Murlean Jackson of Memphis and Sammie Lee Smith of Cameron. Mrs. Eddie Francis Douglas LOCKNEY - Mrs. Eddie Francis Douglas, 74, died Monday, March 22, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in First United Methodist Church in Lockney with the Rev. Tommie Beck of Kingsland, retired Methodist minister, officiating. Burial will be in Lockney Cemetery by Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home of Lockney. Mrs. Douglas was born in Fannin County and graduated from Trenton High School in Trenton. In 1949, she moved from Leonard to Lockney. Mrs. Douglas was a retired beautician. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, Dairy Queen Club, the Lockney Senior Citizens Association and the Schacht's Flowers Bowling team of the Area League. She married Embre Douglas in 1968 at Tulia. Survivors include her husband; a son, Lanny Keith Barnett of Silverton; a daughter, Betonia Gatha Belt of Lockney; four brothers, Troy Fowler of Greenville, E.J. Fowler of Grand Prairie, Buck Fowler of Tulia and Buster Fowler of Leonard; a sister, Evelyn Garrett of Leonard; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Lockney Senior Citizens Association at 118 W. College, Lockney, TX 79241; or to the First United Methodist Church, 102 W. Popular, Lockney, TX 79241. Joyce Jean Patton PAMPA - Joyce Jean Patton, 66, died Tuesday, March 23, 1999. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with the Rev. James Martindale, pastor of First Baptist Church of McLean, officiating. Burial will be in White Deer Cemetery. Mrs. Patton was born in Pampa and was a lifelong resident. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Howardwick and a homemaker. She married E.H. Patton in 1949 at Groom. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Connie Hutcherson of Pampa; a brother, Buddy Patton of Pampa; two granddaughters; and two great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to National Kidney Foundation, 5920 W. Amarillo Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79106. Nancy Alma Nazworth CLARENDON - Nancy Alma Nazworth, 74, longtime Hereford resident, died Monday, March 22, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with the Rev. Bryan Knowles, pastor of Martin Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon. Mrs. Nazworth was born in Friona and lived in Hereford from 1972 until moving to Clarendon in February. She retired after 15 years as a clerk for TG&Y and was a Baptist. She married J.R. Nazworth who died in 1991. Survivors include two sons, Dean Nazworth of Howardwick and Billy Ray Nazworth of Colorado City; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Myrtle Ellen Hay CLARENDON - Myrtle Ellen Hay, 99, died Monday, March 22, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Truman Ledbetter, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Citizens Cemetery by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon. Mrs. Hay was born in Erick, Okla., and lived in Memphis prior to moving to Clarendon in 1930. She was a homemaker and member of First Baptist Church. She married Robert Adison "Bob" Hay in 1919 at Erick. He died in 1995. She also was preceded in death by a son, Raymond Hay, in 1942, and by daughter, Portia Vandiver, in 1992. Survivors include two grandchildren, Jan Kimball of Midlothian and Nan Lennard of Grand Prairie; and three greatgrandchildren. Kim Lewis Sewell BORGER - Kim Lewis Sewell, 43, died Monday, March 22, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Texola Cemetery in Texhola, Okla., with the Rev. Joseph Kennedy, pastor of St. Peters Episcopal Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. Mr. Sewell was born in Shamrock and moved to Borger in 1957 from Stillwater, Okla. He graduated from Borger High School in 1973 and then attended Lamar University, Austin Community College, Southwest Texas State University and Frank Phillips College. Mr. Sewell received an associate of science degree from Amarillo College. He was a member of St. Peters Episcopal Church and United Association of Pipefitter-Welders. Survivors include his parents, Dr. I.Q. and Viva Sewell of Borger; and two brothers, Randy Byrl Sewell of Texola, Okla., and Dr. Ron Hendrick of Pampa. The family will be at the Sewell residence, five miles east of Borger on Highway 152. The family suggests memorials be to Kim Sewell Scholarship Fund at Frank Phillips College in Borger. Ronald West CHILDRESS - Ronald West, 59, died Monday, March 22, 1999. Services will be at 4 p.m. Thursday in Johnson Funeral Home with the Rev. Fred Stice of First Baptist Church of Paducah officiating. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery. Mr. West was born in Alma, Ark. In 1966, he moved to Childress where he was employed as a salesman for Galbraith Steel Co. for 31 years. He had been employed as a correctional officer at the Roach Unit of the Texas Department of Corrections since it opened. He married Nell Nolen in 1963 at Lubbock. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Kathy Crain and Jeri Gilmore, both of Childress; a sister, Joy Lowery of Lubbock; and three grandchildren. Annie Mae Jones PAMPA - Annie Mae Jones, 94, died Sunday, March 21, 1999. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Fairview Cemetery. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Mrs. Jones was born in Naples and moved to Pampa in 1945 from Memphis. She was a homemaker. She first married Mioan Porter in 1922 at Naples. He died in 1963. She later married Bubba Jones, who also preceded her in death. She also was preceded in death by two sons, James Conely in 1988 and Tom Young earlier this year. Survivors include a son, Vivian Porter of McKinney; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.