Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 25 July 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, July 25, 1999, 7:49 AM Area John N. McWilliams BORGER - John N. McWilliams, 69, died Friday, July 23, 1999, in Pampa. Graveside services were at 1 p.m. Saturday in Westlawn Cemetery with the Rev. Leonard Forsythe, pastor of Bible Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements were by Brown Funeral Directors. Mr. McWilliams was born in Bastrop, La. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War. He had been an oil-field construction worker for Tri-State Construction Co. He was a Baptist. Survivors include two sons, Ruppert Brian McWilliams of Lubbock and Carlton Ray McWilliams of Canyon; a sister, Annie Gallaspy of Borger; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Joe Looney BOVINA - Joe Looney, 92, died Friday, July 23, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Bovina First Baptist Church with the Rev. Gary Morgan officiating. Burial will be in Bovina Cemetery by Ellis-Blackwell Funeral Home of Friona. Mrs. Looney was born in Odell. She moved to Bovina in 1921. She married Reagan Looney in 1923 at Bovina. He died in 1992. She also was preceded in death by a son, D.C. Looney, in 1960. She was the oldest member of the Bovina First Baptist Church. She was a 50-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star and also was a member of Bovina Senior Citizens and Women's Study Club. Survivors include a son, Howard Looney of Clovis, N.M.; a daughter, June Gay McMeans of Bovina; a brother, Bobby Vassey of Bangor, Wis.; 10 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Bovina First Baptist Church, 308 Third, Bovina, TX 79009. Vernon Harold Anderson PADUCAH - Vernon Harold "Andy" Anderson, 74, died Friday, July 23, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Garden of Memories with the Rev. Roy C. Keith officiating. Arrangements are by Seigler Funeral Home. Mr. Anderson was born in Paducah, graduated from Paducah High School in 1941 and attended Texas A&M University. His 18 years with the Navy included service during World War II. In Ralls, he managed Apex Machine for 26 years and was a member of First Baptist Church. He moved back to Paducah from Ralls in 1995. He married Tommye Payne in Paducah in 1973. Survivors include his wife; a son, Ray Dan Wall of Prescott, Ariz.; three daughters, Janie Wall and Nancy Ryan, both of Abilene and Susan Dunlap of Paducah; a sister, Laverne Hoffman of Paducah; and two grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Paducah Cemetery Association. Harold L. Pollard WELLINGTON - Harold L. Pollard, 78, died Friday, July 23, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. James McLeod, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in North Fairview Cemetery by Adams Funeral Home. Mr. Pollard was born in Johnson County and attended school in Wellington. He served with the Navy during World War II and worked for Phillips Petroleum Company from 1945 until 1975. He was a Methodist. He married Jessie Louise Hays in 1944 at Summerfield. Survivors include his wife of Odessa; a daughter, Barbara Pollard Hammond of Colorado City; two sons, James Hays Pollard of Odessa and Michael Pollard of Midland; a sister, Jo Beth Calvert of Long Beach, Calif.; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Dixie Danelle at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. Norma Lee Lantz LEFORS - Norma Lee Lantz, 74, died Wednesday, July 21, 1999. Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Memorial Heights Cemetery with the Rev. Lewis Ellis officiating. Arrangements are by Lamb Funeral Home of McLean. Mrs. Lantz was born in Mountain Home, Ark. and had been a teacher for 40 years. She was a Baptist. She is survived by a sister, Mary Jackson of Elephant Butte, N.M. The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, memorials be to American Diabetes Association, South Central Region, 4425 W. Airport Freeway, Suite 130, Irving, TX 75062. Clell E. Gierhart Sr. SHAMROCK - Clell E. Gierhart Sr., 94, died Friday, July 23, 1999. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Jack Lee, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Shamrock Cemetery by Wright Funeral Directors. Mr. Gierhart was born in Grady County, Okla. and attended school in both Twitty and Shamrock. For many years he owned a shop, where he was a self-employed barber and worked in real estate, leasing and royalties. As a member of First Baptist Church, he was a deacon, served as treasurer and was a head usher. He was also a member of the Rotary Club. He married Elsie Mae Tarvin in 1926 at Shamrock. She died in 1975. He then married Vauda Wood in 1978. She died in 1995. Survivors include a son, Clell E. Gierhart Jr. of Sugarland; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to First Baptist Church; or First Baptist Church Building Fund, 401 N. Main Street, Shamrock, TX 79079. Arzell M. Anderson MCLEAN - Arzell M. Anderson, 73, died Friday, July 23, 1999. Cremation was by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell Street. Mrs. Anderson was born in Burns Flat, Okla. She was a homemaker and a Baptist. She married William F. Anderson in 1947 at Wheeler. Survivors include her husband; a son, Kerry Anderson of Amarillo; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the American Cancer Society. Bernice Lee O'Neal CLARENDON - Bernice Lee O'Neal, 86, died Friday, July 23, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Clarendon Church of Christ with Mike Suiter, minister of San Jacinto Church of Christ in Amarillo, Bright Newhouse, minister of Hedley Church of Christ and Brian Gochenour, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Citizens Cemetery by Robertson Funeral Directors. Mrs. O'Neal was born in Clarendon and worked in various nursing and private homes until her retirement. She was a member of Clarendon Church of Christ. She married James LeRoy "Boots" O'Neal in 1932 at Tucumcari, N.M. He died in 1995. Survivors include four daughters, Mary Kay Mangum of Lefors, Beverly Shephard of Channing, Becky Miller of Midland and Patricia Gattis of Irving; four sons, John O'Neal of Clarendon, Bill "Boots" O'Neal of Guthrie, Wesley O'Neal of Electra and Joe O'Neal of Vernon; 16 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. Ladelle Evans PLAINVIEW - Ladelle Evans, 90, died Thursday, July 22, 1999. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Family Life Chapel at First Baptist Church with Dr. Travis Hart officiating and Steve Burleson of Spur and Mark Gunter of Olton assisting. Burial will be in Plainview Cemetery by Lemmons Funeral Home. Mrs. Evans was born in Bloomburg and attended schools in Brice . From 1943 until 1969, she lived in Skellytown, Oklaunion, and Holliday. In 1969, she moved to Plainview. She was involved in WMU and GA's and taught young married ladies class in Holliday. She married the Rev. Milton Odell Evans in 1927 at Memphis. He died in 1977. Survivors include a daughter, Mary Johnson of Plainview; seven grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. Gene Cox Meador MULESHOE - Gene Cox Meador, 87, died Friday, July 23, 1999. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in First Baptist Church with Dr. Stacy Conner, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Plainview Memorial Park Cemetery in Plainview by Ellis Funeral Home. Mrs. Meador was born in Lockney and had lived in Muleshoe since 1935. She was a member of First Baptist Church and, for 20 years, was co-owner of Cox Drive In Theater. She married Howard Cox in 1934. He died in 1971. She then married Bennie Fred Meador in 1973 at Muleshoe. He died in 1984. She is survived by her niece, Renee Dyer Anderson of Shallowater; and her great-niece Krista Anderson of Shallowater. The family suggests memorials be to Alzheimer Association, South Plains Chapter, TTU-HSC, 3601 4th St., Rm 3A 116, Lubbock, TX 79340. Amarillo Lucille Lillian Singleton Lucille Lillian Singleton, 84, of Amarillo, died Thursday, July 22, 1999. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in First Baptist Church at Elk City, Okla. Burial will be in the cemetery at Elk City by Martin Funeral Home of Elk City. Mrs. Singleton was born in Pierce, Okla., and moved to Amarillo around 1948 from Oklahoma. She graduated from high school at Hammon, Okla. She earned a degree in nutrition from Texas Tech University at Lubbock. She worked for Amarillo public schools as head of cafeterias at Forest Hill Elementary, Travis Junior High and Caprock High School before retiring after 16 years. Mrs. Singleton was a member of Irwin Road Baptist Church, where she also taught a youth Sunday school class. Survivors include her husband, Jack; two daughters, LaJuanna Kay Jetton and Ella Faye Tucker, both of Amarillo; a brother, Jimmy Singleton of Amarillo; two sisters, Rachel Gwartney of Owasso, Okla., and Juanita Shelton of Elk City; three brothers, Dooly Allen and Elvin Allen, both of Elk City, and Raymond Allen of Tahlequah, Okla.; seven grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. Charles L. Fischer Charles L. Fischer, 45, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, July 21, 1999. Private services were held. Burial was in Llano Cemetery by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, 315 E. Fifth Ave. Mr. Fischer was born in Michigan. He was a laborer. He had no known survivors. Sylvia L. Camp Sylvia L. Camp, 82, of Amarillo, died Thursday, July 22, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Southwest Church of Christ with Lynn R. Camp and Paul R. Camp officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mrs. Camp was born in Forestburg and graduated from Tipton High School in Tipton, Okla. She published several books and Christian hymns and was a frequent speaker at Christian Women's Retreats and Lectureships. She was a homemaker and a member of Southwest Church of Christ and Amarillo Pen Women's Association. She moved to Amarillo in 1944 from Elk City, Okla. She married Curtis B. Camp in 1936 at Tipton. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Lynn R. Camp and Paul R. Camp, both of Amarillo; a daughter, Gail Stubbs of Amarillo; a brother, G.W. Butler of Wichita Falls; two sisters, Joyce Kelly of Shawnee, Okla. and Udell Harrelson of Mesa, Ariz.; nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Viewing will be today from 1 until 9 p.m. at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials be to High Plains Children's Home. Toby Ray Kirkland Toby Ray Kirkland, 19, of Amarillo, died Thursday, July 22, 1999, near Guymon, Okla. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors Bell Avenue Chapel, 5400 Bell Street, with the Revs. Larry Richardson and Larry Brace officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Kirkland was born in Amarillo and just recently moved to Guymon. He graduated from Randall High School in 1999, where he played football. He was a cowboy, a member of Future Farmers of America and a member of Rockwell Baptist Church. Survivors include his parents, Gerald M. and Angie L. Kirkland of Amarillo; his grandparents, Joe Kirkland and Zonia Grund of Amarillo and Frank and Marge Norfleet of Valle De Oro; a brother, Mikee Kirkland of Amarillo; and a sister, Christy McFarlin of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials be to Amarillo College Foundation. New Mexico Thelma Janeie Arnett TUCUMCARI, N.M. - Thelma Janeie Arnett, 82, formerly of Tucumcari, died Monday, July 19, 1999, at Fort Wayne, Ind. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in the Tucumcari Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Jim Witcher, minister of First Christian Church, officiating. Burial will be in the family plot at Tucumcari Memorial Park Cemetery by Dunn Funeral Home. Mrs. Arnett was born in Vernal, Utah, and had lived in Indiana for the past two years. She had been a nursing assistant in Kendallville, Ind., and in New Mexico, retiring in 1975. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1980. Survivors include a daughter, Theresa Hurt of Orland, Ind.; a son, David Arnett of Orland; and four grandchildren. The body will be available for viewing at the funeral home in Tucumcari until service time Monday. Bernice Fails CLOVIS, N.M. - Bernice Fails, 68, died Friday, July 23, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel with Frank Poynor officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Fails was born in Wichita Falls, Texas. She moved to Clovis 20 years ago from Portales, where she was a member of University Baptist Church. She married Alvin Fails in 1946 in Farwell, Texas. Survivors include her husband; four sons, John Fails of Artesia, Billy Fails and Tommy Fails, both of Colorado Springs, Colo. and Rick Fails of Roswell; a daughter, Janie Stokes of Portales; a sister, Sis Cole of Roswell; and 11 grandchildren. Hatsa Sangdara CLOVIS, N.M. - Hatsa Sangdara, 63, died Friday, July 23, 1999. Services will be at 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Muffley Funeral Home Chapel with Buddhist monks officiating. Cremation will be Saturday, July 30, 1999. Mr. Sangdara was born in Vien Thien, Laos and moved to Clovis in 1984 from Dumas. He was retired as a meat cutter for Swift Plant in Dumas and was a Buddhist. Survivors include his wife, Bounsanesengdara, of Clovis; two sons, Vanpaseuth Sengdara of Rock Point and Billy Sengdara of Clovis; four daughters, Dalevanh Sengdara of Rock Point, Manivanh Vongchanh of Wilber, Neb., Vilayvanh Sengdara of Fort Worth, Vanhnalee Sengdara of Creek, Neb., Letsadavanh Sengdara of Clovis, Viengpovanh Sengdara of Tolland, Conn., Annathavanh Sengdara of Atlanta, Ga. and Patdavanh Sengdara of San Diego; three brothers, all of Laos; 14 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Kansas Kristopher Lee Pearce LIBERAL, Kan. - Kristopher Lee Pearce, 25, died Thursday, July 22, 1999, in Springfield, Mo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Miller Mortuary Chapel with the Rev. Isaac Leon officiating. Burial will be in Liberal Cemetery. Mr. Pearce was born in Hollywood, Fla. and graduated from Dalhart High School. In 1993, he moved to Liberal, where he graduated from the Liberal Area Vo-Tec with a certificate in Diesel Mechanics. For the past month, he was a truck driver for Panhandle Oil Field Service Company. He married Dreama K. Blevins in Liberal in 1995. Survivors include his wife; a son, Ryan Pearce of Liberal; a daughter, Ashley Pearce of Liberal; his parents, Wayne and Sheila Pearce of Dalhart; a brother, Adam Sheppard of Washington D.C.; a sister, Michelle Pearce of Dalhart; and his grandparents, Lottie Clansey of Sayre, Okla. and Lawson Pearce of Eufaula, Okla. The family will be at the home of Roger and Donna Moenk in rural Liberal. Viewing will be from 6 until 8 p.m. today, from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday and from 8 a.m. until service time Tuesday. Oklahoma Ruth Ward Brown PAWHUSKA, Okla. - Ruth Ward Brown, 72, died Thursday, July 22, 1999, in Amarillo. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Hominy Cemetery. Arrangements are by Hunsaker-Wooten Funeral Home in Fairfax. Mrs. Brown was born in Osage County. Her husband, Alvie E. Brown, died in 1992. Survivors include a son, Earl Brown of Amarillo; a daughter, Ruth Ann Brown of Amarillo; a sister, Louise Jones of Pawhuska; three brothers, Henry Ward of Olathe, Kan., John Ward of Wichita, Kan. and Ervin Ward of Waskom, Texas; a grandchild; and two great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. Verna Imogene Thomas BEAVER, Okla. - Verna Imogene Thomas, 98, died Friday, July 23, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Balko Baptist Church with Darryl O. Allen officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Balko by Clark Funeral Service. Mrs. Thomas was born in Galax, Va., She graduated from high school, attended college and taught school for one year. She was a homemaker and a member of the Nutrition Site, the WCTU, the Six Mile Club and, since 1951, the Nazarene Church. She married Leslie Lee Thomas in 1920. He died in 1968. Survivors include two sons, Preston Lee Thomas of Beaver and Keith L. Thomas of Balko; five daughters, Imogene Pierce and Arline Looper, both of Beaver, Lavora Parker of Bokchita, Joan Goodwin of Arlington, Texas and Janis Vowell of Campbell, Texas; three sisters, Fannie Louise Huntley of Ukiah, Calif., Edith Hunt of Whitefish, Mont. and Ann Wilson of Ponca City; a brother, Roy Lee Pugh of Wichita, Kan.; 19 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and 12 greatgreat-grandchildren. Elsewhere Angie Lou Slayden LEONARD - Angie Lou Slayden, 91, died Friday, July 23, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Taylor Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bob Layman officiating. Burial will be in Memoryland in Greenville. Mrs. Slayden was born in Kingston. She was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church in Celeste. She married James Clarence Slayden in 1926 at Roxton. He preceded her in death. Survivors include two daughters, Nancy Richards of Sherman and Zoe Davis of Amarillo; two grandchildren; five greatgrandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. Visitation will be from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.