Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 25 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; Sunday, April 25, 1999, 8:16 AM Amarillo Bonnie Lee Cann Bonnie Lee Cann, 56, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, April 21, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle, with the Rev. Clifford Baze, pastor of First Baptist Church of Higgins, officiating. Burial will be in Llano East Cemetery. Mrs. Cann was born in Lansing, Mich., and had lived in Amarillo since 1998. She retired as a bus driver for KCI Airport Service in Kansas City. She was a Baptist. She married Larry D. Cann in 1993 at Higgins. Survivors include her husband; a son, Joe E. Dunn II of Amarillo; two stepsons, Neal Cann of Amarillo and Gary Cann of Olathe, Kan.; a stepdaughter, Christine Cann of Olathe; a sister, Vickie Shawcross of Higgins; two brothers, Harold Noland of Lansing and Jim Noland of Harrison, Mich.; and eight grandchildren. Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. The family will be at 2401 S. Spruce and suggests memorials be to American Cancer Society, 3915 Bell St., Amarillo, TX 79109. Raymond N. Frisbie Raymond N. Frisbie, 80, of Amarillo, died Thursday, April 22, 1999. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, Pioneer Chapel, 2615 Paramount Blvd., with Dr. Larry Payne of Coulter Road Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Frisbie was born in San Antonio and served in the Army as a corporal during World War II. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal, and a ribbon with a silver service star and a bronze service star. For 15 years, he played in the Ray Frisbie and the Lone Star Country and Western Playboys band. Mr. Frisbie was a wrecker driver for several Amarillo businesses. He retired from Ray Jones Chevrolet. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Coulter Road Baptist Church for 10 years. He married Lucille Turner in 1945 at Plainview. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Rose Chapman of Amarillo; a brother, Roy Frisbie of Amarillo; two sisters, Dorothy Turner of Fritch and Edith Pair of Amarillo; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family will be at 4113 S. Crockett and suggests memorials be to Khiva Temple. Mildred Meyer Mildred Meyer, 61, of Amarillo, died Friday, April 23, 1999. Burial will be in St. Joseph's IOOF Cemetery in Norman, Okla., with local arrangements by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mrs. Meyer was born in Norman and moved to Amarillo 45 years ago. She was a member of St. Joseph's Church in Norman. Survivors include two brothers, Al W. Meyer of Norman and H. James Meyer of Lexington, Okla.; and three sisters, Betty M. Tigart of Amarillo and Rosa L. Lewis and Laura M. Holman, both of Norman. The family suggests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. George Elvis Turley George Elvis Turley, 83, of Amarillo, died Thursday, April 22, 1999. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Claud Tugwell officiating. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mr. Turley was born in Stephenville and graduated from high school in Grenville, N.M., in 1933. He lived in Gladstone and moved to Amarillo in 1943 from Sofia, N.M., where he drove a school bus and was an elevator operator. In Amarillo, he was a musician and truck driver until his retirement in 1977. He married Mavis Davenport in 1936 and Lilian Eason in 1948. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lilian; three sons, Elvis Allen Turley, Elton Larry Turley and Milton George Turley; and a grandson. Survivors include a daughter, Jo Ann Simpson of Tucumcari, N.M.; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The body will not be available for viewing. Earl Lee Smiddy Earl Lee Smiddy, 42, formerly of Amarillo, died in Plano. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle, with Robert Slaton, Superintendent of West Texas District Assemblies of God, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Smiddy was born in Amarillo and in 1976 graduated from Tascosa High School, where he was a member of the wrestling team. He was a certified gemologist and had been a jewelry craftsman for Service Merchandise. He had lived in Dallas for the past 15 years and was a member of First Assembly of God Church. Survivors include a son, Joshua Smiddy of Richardson; his mother, Charlene Butler of Amarillo; his father, Lloyd E. Smiddy of Poteet; a brother, Robert Smiddy of Lake Fork; and his grandmother, Elizabeth Weiszbrod of Amarillo. Mark Edward Dyer Mark Edward Dyer, 39, of Amarillo, died Friday, April 23, 1999. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Bivins Nursing Home Chapel. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Sugar Creek Cemetery in Rushville, Mo., by Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Homes. Mr. Dyer was born in Columbus, Ohio, and had attended Tascosa High School. Survivors include his mother, Marilyn Dyer of South Padre Island; two sisters, Melinda Dyer of San Antonio and Cherilyn Morrison of Austin; and three brothers, Keith Dyer and Trent Dyer, both of Amarillo, and Brooke Dyer of Goleta, Calif. The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, memorials be to Mary E. Bivins Memorial Nursing Home, 1001 Wallace Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79106; or a favorite charity. New Mexico Severo Montoya CLAYTON, N.M. - Severo Montoya, 86, died Friday, April 23, 1999. Vigil services will be at 7 p.m. todayin St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church with the Rev. John Brasher, pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Springer, officiating. Burial will be in Clayton Memorial Cemetery by Hass Funeral Directors of Clayton. Mr. Montoya was born in Yates and was a 1930 graduate of Clayton High School. In 1979, he retired as land inspector for the state of New Mexico. From 1942 until 1976, Mr. Montoya and his wife owned and operated the Polk Street Grocery in Clayton. Since 1956, he also owned and operated the Sanitary Barber Shop. He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. He married Barbara Elkins in 1934 at Clayton. Preceding him in death was his wife in 1977 and a son, Ernest Montoya, in 1938. Survivors include a daughter, Cecilia Vargas of Amarillo; five sisters, Josie Taylor and Annie Sanchez, both of Clayton; Mary Rodriguez of Pueblo, Colo., and Martha Baca and Alice Montoya, both of Oakland, Calif.; and two granddaughters. Roberta Murrell Segars CLOVIS, N.M. - Roberta Murrell Segars, 84, died Saturday, April 24, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel in Clovis with the Rev. Gene Hawkins officiating. Additional services will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday in Kelleytown Baptist Church in Kelleytown, S.C., with the Rev. Gary Anderson of South Carolina Service officiating. Burial will be in Westview Memorial Cemetery in Hartsville, S.C., by Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home of Hartsville. Mrs. Segars was born in New Albany, Ind. She was a musician and primary school teacher in Louisville, Ky., and had traveled extensively. She married Judson C. Segars in 1939 in Louisville. Survivors include her husband of Clovis; a son, Robert Segars of Clovis; a daughter, Carole Waina of Dallas; and seven grandchildren. The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, memorials be to International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, P.O. Box 6767, Richmond, VA 23230-0767. Philip Gus Mersfelder CLOVIS, N.M. - Philip Gus "Bud" Mersfelder, 80, died Thursday, April 22, 1999 in Safford, Ariz. Graveside services will be at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in Mission Garden of Memories with John Rollinson officiating. Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Mr. Mersfelder was born in Tucumcari, N.M., and grew up on a ranch near Logan, N.M. After serving with the Army Air Corp he built grain elevators in Amarillo and feed mills and fertilizer plants in the Clovis and Tucumcari area. He was a self-taught geologist who, with associates, formed a uranium exploration company that discovered and developed uranium ore bodies. He also built specialized goldrecovery facilities and new rails for the old San Francisco cable car system. After retiring, he moved to Safford, Ariz., where he set up a machine shop. Survivors include his wife, Billie Mersfelder; a daughter, Julia; a son, Philip; and a sister, Dana. Oklahoma Bess Voth HOOKER, Okla. - Bess Voth, 90, died Friday, April 23, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Gospel of Grace Church with the Rev. Gary Wiens officiating. Burial will be in Hooker Cemetery by Roberts Brothers Funeral Home. Memorials to the Columbine High School Memorial Fund, c/o Jefferson Foundation, 807 Quail St., Building 1, Lakewood, CO 80215 may be left at Roberts Brothers Funeral Home, Box 745, Hooker, OK 73945. Elsewhere Ronnie Mack Harvey LUBBOCK - Ronnie Mack Harvey, 62, died Friday, April 23, 1999. Memorial services are scheduled for June in Amarillo. Local arrangements are by Resthaven Funeral Home of Lubbock. Mr. Harvey was a graduate of Amarillo High School and North Texas State, where he played basketball. Through his work with various financial institutions, he lived in Dallas and Albuquerque, N.M. Survivors include three sons, Kyle Harvey of Lubbock, Jeff Harvey of Ada, Okla., and Tim Harvey of Antlers, Okla.; two brothers, Donald Harvey of Albuquerque, N.M., and John Harvey of Dallas; a sister, Susan Allen of Ada; and eight grandchildren. Area Kenneth Cowley EARTH - Kenneth Cowley, 83, of Big Spring, died Thursday, April 22, 1999. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday in Earth United Methodist Church with the Rev. Larry Reed Farris, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Earth Memorial Cemetery by Parsons-Ellis Funeral Home of Earth. Mr. Cowley was born in Greer County, Okla., and moved to Earth from Iowa Park in 1947. During World War II, he served two tours with the Navy. He was a farmer who moved to Big Spring two years ago. He married Roberta Doughty in 1940 at Hobart, Okla. He was preceded in death by a son, Gary Wayne Cowley, in 1990. Survivors include his wife; a son, Mike Cowley of Big Spring; a daughter, Janice Cowley of Houston; two sisters, Robbie Lee Underwood of Plant City, Fla., and Lois Rutherborg of Garland; a brother, A.D. Cowley of Hereford; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. until noon Monday at the church. The family suggests memorials be to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 181, Earth, TX 79031; or Nurses Hospice, P.O. Box 13483, Odessa, TX 79760. Helen O. Smothermon CHILDRESS - Helen O. Smothermon, 77, died Friday, April 23, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Childress Church of Christ with Bill Mayes of the church officiating. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery by Johnson Funeral Home. Mrs. Smothermon was born in Childress where she was a lifetime resident. She was a homemaker and a member of the Childress Church of Christ. She married Frank Smothermon in 1937 at Childress. She was preceded in death by two sons, Bill in 1980, and Mike in 1988. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Pat Holton of Plainview; a brother, Cecil Griffin of Lubbock; two sisters, Lurlene Bearden and Katie Perry, both of Childress; and five grandchildren. Alvie Jackson FLOYDADA - Alvie Jackson, 88, died Thursday, April 22, 1999. Services were at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church of Floydada with the Rev. Anthony Sisemore, pastor, and the Rev. Wendel Horn, pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial was in Floyd County Memorial Park by Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home. Mr. Jackson was born in Waurika, Okla., and was a longtime resident of Floydada. He attended Campbell Community School For many years, Mr. Jackson was a mechanic for Martin Co. He was a member of First Baptist Church. He married Kathryn Daniel in 1979 at Lubbock. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Grace Jackson, in 1972. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Alvie Lynn Jackson of Duncanville, Bob Jackson of Grand Prairie and Bill Kizer of Roswell, N.M.; three daughters, Joy Smitherman of Floydada, Mrs. Kenneth Bishop of Knippa and Mrs. James Cook of Amarillo; 15 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Floydada Senior Citizens, 301 E. Georgia, Floydada, TX 79235; or Floyd County Library c/o Janice Lloyd, Rt. 2 Box 49, Floydada, TX 79235. Kenneth Williams FLOYDADA - Kenneth Williams, 64, died Thursday, April 22, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Trinity Church in Floydada with the Rev. Henry Russell, pastor, and Matt Williams officiating. Burial will be in Floyd County Memorial Park by MooreRose-White Funeral Home of Floydada. Mr. Williams was born in Winters and moved to Lockney in 1947. After graduating from Lockney High School, he attended Texas Tech University and Angelo State University. He served in the Navy where he was an electrician on an aircraft carrier. Mr. Williams was an electrical engineer at Cape Canaveral, Fla., during Apollo II. He retired as an electrical engineer and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Aiken Baptist Church. He married Evelyn Juarez in 1993. He was preceded in death by a son, Tim Williams. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Jeannine Moore of Climax, Ga.; three stepchildren, Teroy Juarez, Gabriel Juarez and Victoria Wells; his mother, Irene Williams of Aiken; two brothers, Jerry Dale Williams of Lockney and Luther L. Williams Jr., of Colorado Springs, Colo.; a sister, Peggy Williams Cline of Dimmitt; a grandchild; two stepgrandchildren; and four stepgreat-grandchildren. Georgia Belle Thornton SILVERTON - Georgia Belle Thornton, 83, formerly of Silverton, died Thursday, April 22, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church in Silverton with the Rev. Randy Mullin, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Silverton Cemetery by Myers-Long Funeral Directors of Silverton. Mrs. Thornton was born in Graham. For 22 years, she worked for the Silverton School District and was a longtime member of First Baptist Church. She married Olive McCamey Thornton in 1933 at Lexington. He died in 1952. Survivors include three sons, Milton Thornton of Waelder, Royce Thornton of Laredo and Kenneth Thornton of Tulsa; a daughter, Joyce Patterson of San Antonio; three sisters, Lottie Clemmer of Silverton, Katherine Moore of Hamlin and Bettie Galoway of Abilene; a brother, Donald Ray Jones of May; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and two greatgreat-grandchildren. Rosie Lee Scott PLAINVIEW - Rosie Lee Scott, 85, died Thursday, April 22, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Lemons Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Don Robertson, pastor of College Heights Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park. Mrs. Scott was born in Swisher County and moved to Bee County in 1919. In 1934, she moved to Claytonville Community and to Plainview in 1979. She was a member of College Heights Baptist Church. She married Henry Scott in 1932 near Beeville. She is survived by her husband. Visitation will be at 2 p.m. today at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials be to College Heights Baptist Church Building Fund. Georgie Gaither SPEARMAN - Georgie Gaither, 64, died Saturday, April 24, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Church of Christ with Leonard Harper officiating. Burial will be in Hansford Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Spearman. Mrs. Gaither was born in Lockney and had lived in the area for 43 years. She was a homemaker and a member of Church of Christ. Her son, David, died in 1971. She married Bill Gaither in 1953 at Claude. Survivors include her husband; and a daughter, Angela Gaither, of Arlington. The family suggests memorials be to Spearman Church of Christ; or Spearman Church of Christ Children's Home. Viola L. Stinson FLOMOT - Viola L. Stinson, 78, died Saturday, April 24, 1999. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. today in East Mound Cemetery in Matador with Wilburn Martin, of Flomot, officiating. Arrangements are by Seigler Funeral Home of Matador. Mrs. Stinson was born in Cottle County and moved to Flomot after living in Paducah for many years. She retired in 1959 as a Licensed Vocational Nurse in hospitals in both Matador and Paducah. She raised show horses and was a member of the Methodist Church. Survivors include a brother, Fred Stinson of Paducah; a sister, Ruth Jones of Paducah; and an adopted sister, Mary Ellen "Dude" Barton of Flomot. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. Lillian M. Shirley SHAMROCK - Lillian M. Shirley, 70, died Saturday, April 24, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Church of Christ with Sid Smith, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Shamrock Cemetery by Wright Funeral Directors. Mrs. Shirley was born in Dimmitt and had lived in Shamrock for most of her life. She worked as an LVN for Shamrock General Hospital and, in Wheeler, at Parkview Hospital and for Dr. Louie Mendiola. She was a member of the American Legion Lady's Auxiliary and Church of Christ. Survivors include a daughter, Lisa Davis of Amarillo; a son, Tim Barth of Amarillo; her mother Ethel McAllister of Shamrock; and two brothers, Curtis McAllister of Shamrock and Melvin McAllister of Odessa. The family suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice. Terry L. Knox CLAUDE - Terry L. Knox, 46, died Saturday, April 24, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church with the Revs. Gerald Aalbers, pastor, and Jim Brown, pastor of Monterey Baptist Church in Lubbock, officiating. Burial will be in Claude Cemetery by Claude Funeral Home. Mr. Knox was born in Memphis, moved to Claude in 1960 and was a Brigade Commander for Celanese Chemicals Division. He had been a city councilman, and was past president of the 4-H and past project director at Texas A&M University for Hoechst Celanese. He was a member of First Baptist Church. He married Brenda Morton in 1974 in Claude. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Mandy Dawn Knox and Tiffany Diann Knox, both of the home and Kay Furgason of Claude; a son, Ty Bronc Knox of the home; his mother, Nell Knox of Claude; four brothers, Ted Knox of Stinnett, Shane Knox of Fritch, and Tom Knox and Tim Knox, both of Claude; and two grandchildren. Viewing will be from noon until 4 p.m. today and Monday at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials be to the Claude Volunteer Fire Department; or the American Cancer Society, 3915 Bell St., Amarillo, TX 79109.