Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 27 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; Saturday, March 27, 1999, 7:49 AM Amarillo Michael Getman Michael Getman, 47, of Amarillo, died Thursday, March 25, 1999. Graveside services will be at 1:15 p.m. today in Llano Cemetery. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. today in N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors Pioneer Chapel, 2615 Paramount Blvd., with Dr. Gil Lain officiating. Mr. Getman was born and raised in Amarillo. He graduated from Caprock High School in 1970. While in high school, he was president of the Industrial Arts Club. He worked in the family concrete business from 1973 until 1989. In 1989, he began working for the U.S. Postal Service. He was editor of the union newspaper, "The Thumbstall." He was a member of Paramount Baptist Church and was active in the prayer ministry at the church. He married Tammy Fox in 1985 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; three brothers, Bob Getman and Rod Getman, both of Amarillo and David Getman of Houston. The family requests memorials be to Paramount Baptist Church Scholarship Fund or the American Heart Association. They will be at 4410 Van Kriston. Wayne N. Wakefield Wayne N. Wakefield, 70, of Amarillo, died Thursday, March 25, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors Pioneer Chapel, 2615 Paramount Blvd., with Gene Shelburne, minister of Anna Street Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Wakefield was born in Hall County and moved to Amarillo as a young boy. He graduated from Amarillo High School and attended West Texas State University. He served in the Army during World War II. A saddle maker, Mr. Wakefield had been active in ranching in Cottle County for more than 35 years and was still ranching at the time of his death. He also was active in real estate in Amarillo for many years. He was a member of Anna Street Church of Christ. He married Ernestine Goodrich in 1956 in Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; a son, William Wayne Wakefield of Amarillo; two daughters, Lisa Jilwayne Wakefield Payne of Dallas and Bunny Wakefield Leathers of Amarillo; his mother, Mrs. Ernest Wakefield of Amarillo; two sisters, Raydell Palmer and Darlene Chesshire, both of Amarillo; two brothers, Hays Wakefield of Amarillo and Darrel Wakefield of Denton; and two grandsons. The family requests memorials be to Anna Street Church of Christ or a favorite charity. Alvin A. Thomas Sr. Alvin A. "Spud" Thomas Sr., 86, of Amarillo, died Thursday, March 25, 1999 in Denton. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Richard Bales of First Baptist Church in Canyon officiating. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce St. Mr. Thomas was born in Memphis and moved to Amarillo in 1946. He was involved in the trucking industry all of his adult life. Mr. Thomas started Thomas Cartage Co., which was the beginning of Thomas Cartage Inc. In 1976, he retired after the sale of the company. He was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church of Amarillo. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth, in 1990. Survivors include two sons, Alvin A. "Tommy" Thomas Jr. of Amarillo and Joel William Thomas of Patzcuaro, Mexico; a daughter, Mary Lynn Beaty of Aubrey; a brother, James H. Thomas of Weslaco; two sisters, Mrs. R.E. Carder of Carlsbad, N.M., and Amilda Thomas of McAllen; seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 3 until 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. They suggest memorials be to a favorite charity. Melinda Hale Melinda Hale, 29, of Amarillo, died Friday, March 26, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce St., with Jay Roberson, pastor of Liberty Church, officiating. Ms. Hale was born in Fort Worth and moved to Pampa when she was 3. In 1988, she graduated from Pampa High School and had lived in Amarillo for 11 years. She was employed as a receptionist for the Amarillo Ear, Nose, and Throat Associates and was a member of the PPH Support Group. Survivors include her parents, Linda and Hoss Gilmer of the home and Allen and Barbara Richter of Amarillo; a brother, Jeffrey Richter of Amarillo; and her grandparents, David and Billie Killough of Howardwick and Erwin Richter of Pampa. The family will be at 1905 Cherry. Junior Leon Heath Junior Leon Heath, 74, of Amarillo, died Thursday, March 25, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Paramount Baptist Church with Dr. Gil Lain, pastor, officiating. Burial with military rites by the Disabled American Veterans Chapter No. 26 will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage. Mr. Heath was born in Broken Arrow, Okla., and moved to Amarillo 44 years ago from San Perlita. He was a Navy veteran of World War II. In 1998, he retired after 47 years with Amarillo Road Construction. He was a member of Second Baptist Church. He married Pauline Moran in 1948 at Harlingen. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Shirley Ann Franks of Del City, Okla.; three sons, Robert Lee "Bobby" Heath of Montevallo, Ala., Michael Leon Heath and Homer Gene Heath, both of Amarillo; four brothers, W.L. Heath of Washburn, Monroe Heath of Slaton, Raymond "Tex" Heath of Amarillo and Chester Heath of Collinsville; three sisters, Lavada Jones and Mildred White, both of Decatur, and Marie Malone of Shawnee, Okla.; eight grandchildren; and a greatgrandchild. The family will be at 1604 S. Travis and suggest memorials be to the American Heart Association. Michelle Lynn Turrell Michelle Lynn Turrell, 18, a former Amarillo resident, of Chicago, died Saturday, March 13, 1999. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Monday in Elmhurst Cemetery in Guymon, Okla. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Miss Turrell was born in Colorado Springs, Colo. She was a student and a member of the United Methodist Church in Imperial, Calif. Survivors include a sister, Christi Dawn Turrell of Phoenix; and an aunt, Sharon Hobbs Melton of Amarillo. Cecelia Evelyn Benson Cecelia Evelyn Benson, 82, of Amarillo, died Friday, March 26, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church with Charles Meyer, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Benson was born in Ironwood, Mich., and had lived in Amarillo since 1947. She worked as a registered nurse in Eau Claire, Wis., and was a member of the TSPE Auxiliary. She was a member of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church. She married Irwin Amos Benson in 1937 at Eau Claire. He died in 1987. Survivors include two sisters, Lucille Caucutt and Juanita "Babe" Resech, both of Eau Claire; six nephews; and two nieces. The family suggests memorials be to Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 3500 S. Bowie, Amarillo, TX 79109. Mary E. Colvin Cox Mary E. Colvin Cox, 62, of Amarillo, died Thursday, March 25, 1999. Services will be at 4 p.m. Monday in Paramount Terrace Christian Church with the Rev. Roy S. Wheeler and the Rev. Bob Schroeder officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mrs. Cox was born in Amarillo and was a lifelong resident. Since 1985, she had taught second grade at Will Rogers Elementary. Her 20 years as a teacher included teaching at Paramount Terrace Elementary and Storyland Pre-school. She was a member of Paramount Terrace Christian Church, Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and was a volunteer for Camp Cactus. She married James Kenneth Cox in 1961 at Amarillo. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Karol Cox Cargill of Fort Worth; two sons, Kevin Cox of Amarillo and Kerry Cox of Houston; two brothers, Lloyd Colvin and Bill Colvin, both of Amarillo; and three grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Camp Cactus, P.O. Box 30758, Amarillo, TX 79120-0758. Walter E. Benedict Walter E. Benedict, 82, of Duluth, Minn., died Friday, March 26, 1999. Memorial services are planned for a later date. Cremation and arrangements are by Warford-Walker Mortuary, 509 N. Hughes. Mr. Benedict was born in Ashland, Wis. He was a retired house painter, a member of the Painters Union and a disabled veteran of World War II. He served in the Army. Survivors include a son, Warren E. Benedict of Burnsville, Minn.; a daughter, Barbara A. Neubert of Duluth; a brother, John Benedict Jr. of Seattle; two sisters, Dorothy Poliski and Leona Hunt, both of Yuma, Ariz.; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Lee Ora Bates Lee Ora Bates, 100, of Amarillo, died Friday, March 26, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. Bill Fitzgerald officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mrs. Bates was born in Prosper and attended West Texas State Normal School. She was a longtime member of San Jacinto United Methodist Church and a homemaker. She married Boyd R. Bates in 1920 at Denver. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1984 and by a son, Neil P. Bates, in 1997. Survivors include three sons, Kenneth E. Bates of Bellevue, Wash., Carroll E. Bates of Seattle and Wayne G. Bates of Amarillo; 10 grandchildren; and 10 greatgrandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson, Amarillo, TX 79101. Edith A. Smith Edith A. Smith, 83, of Amarillo, died Friday, March 26, 1999. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Wheeler Cemetery with Dr. Howard Batson, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Amarillo, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Smith was born in Wheeler and had lived in Amarillo for 51 years. She grew up in Wheeler and graduated as salutatorian of Wheeler High School. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees from West Texas State Teachers College. Mrs. Smith served as reactional director for the USO-Red Cross during World War II. She taught at Darrouzett, Lovington, Horace Mann, Palo Duro and Tascosa High School. She was the first English coordinator at Region 16 PESO and retired in 1978 as coordinator of English for Amarillo School District. Mrs. Smith served on the state textbook committee. She was a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include a daughter, Nell Prowell of Amarillo; four sisters, Vergie Nell Guynes of Borger, Gertrude Lilly Green of Wichita Falls, Robbie Joan Thornberry of Claude and Barbara Jean Bates of Amarillo; two grandsons; and two great-grandchildren. The family will be at 2305 Julian and suggest memorials be to First Baptist Church or a favorite charity. Area David Thacker BORGER - David Thacker, 47, died Thursday, March 25, 1999. Services will be at 1 p.m. today in the Church of Christ with Stan Mitchell, minister, officiating. Graveside services will be at 3:30 p.m. today in Northlawn Memorial Gardens at Dumas by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. Mr. Thacker was born in Dumas and moved to Borger five years ago from Dumas. He was a construction worker with H.B. Zachery Co. and a member of the Church of Christ at Borger. He married Kanda Kinney in 1982 at Dumas. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Tyson Thacker and Skyler Thacker, both of the home; a daughter, Keitha Peacock of Minneapolis; his mother and stepfather, Betty and Wyatt Leeper of Marble Falls; and two brothers, Larry Thacker and Bob Thacker, both of Farmington, N.M. The family requests memorials be to the American Heart Association. Ronnie Gresham McALLEN - Ronnie Gresham, 41, a former longtime Hereford resident, died Thursday, March 25, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Rest Lawn Memorial Park at Hereford. Arrangements are by Gililland-Watson Funeral Home of Hereford. Mr. Gresham was born in Hereford. He graduated from Hereford High School in 1975 and served in the Navy following high school. He worked as a diesel mechanic and was a Baptist. Survivors include a son, Brandon Claton Gresham of Hereford; a daughter, Kari Sue Gresham of Hereford; his parents Charles and Betty Gresham of Hereford; a brother, James Douglas Gresham of Dumas; two sisters, Caryn Elliott of Denver, and Joy Bradley of Repton, Ala.; and grandmother, Inez McWilliams of Muleshoe. Carolina Gonzalez PLAINVIEW - Carolina Gonzalez, 67, died Thursday, March 25, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with the Rev. Jerry Kinney, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens by Lemmons Funeral Home of Plainview. Mrs. Gonzalez was born in Taft and grew up in Mexico. She moved to Plainview after her marriage. She was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church and the Crucillistas. She married Manuel Gonzalez in 1949 at Bustamente, Mexico. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Yolanda Gonzalez, in 1953. Survivors include her husband; six daughters, LaLa Herrera of Austin, Tila Hernandez of Dallas, Carolina Salazar of San Marcos and Annette Gutierrez, Betty Rangel and Elva Morales, all of Plainview; a son, George Gonzalez of Plainview; a brother, Avelino Cisneros of Laredo; two sisters, Guadalupe Limon of Laredo and Alicia Cervantez of Valle Hermoso, Mexico; 14 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Anselmo DeLa Cruz PLAINVIEW - Anselmo DeLa Cruz, 78, died Friday, March 26, 1999. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday in Lemmons Funeral Home Memorial Chapel. Mass will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Sacred Heart Catholic Church with the Rev. Elbert A. Fadallan, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens. Mr. DeLa Cruz was born in Gregory and raised in Hondo. In 1956, he moved to Plainview where he was a truck driver. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He married Antonia Zapata in 1940 at Lamesa. He was preceded in death by a son, Ernesto DeLa Cruz. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Mary Martinez and Becky Jimenez, both of Plainview; three sons, Santos DeLa Cruz and Robert DeLa Cruz, both of Plainview, and Anselmo DeLa Cruz Jr., of Hondo; 14 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. Ruth Callaway SUDAN - Ruth Callaway, 84, died Thursday, March 25, 1999. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in First Baptist Church of Sudan with the Rev. Cliff Hargrove, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Sudan Cemetery by Ellis Funeral Home. Mrs. Callaway was born in Winters and had lived in Sudan since 1925. She was an employee of local nursing homes and in private health care for several years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Sudan. She married Ocie Callaway in 1935 at Clovis, N.M. He died in 1949. Survivors include a son, Benny Wayne Callaway of Muleshoe; two daughters, Virginia Harlin of Sudan and Lavelle Hill of Littlefield; two sisters, Bennie Perry of Monahans and Gladys Allen of Artesia, N.M.; a brother, C.K. Pierce of Bula; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Sudan EMS of Sudan, TX. Ruth Lackey MULESHOE - Ruth Lackey, 87, died Thursday, March 25, 1999. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Ellis Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jimmy Lowe, former minister of New Covenant Church, officiating. Burial will be in Bailey County Cemetery. Mrs. Lackey was born in Lawton, Okla., and had been a Muleshoe resident since 1946. She was a homemaker and member of New Covenant Church. She married Walter Durwood Lackey in 1931 at Lovington, N.M. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1980 and by a daughter, Norma Ruth Lackey, in 1954. Survivors include a son, Walter Wayne Lackey of Muleshoe; a daughter, Margaret Towner of Marble Falls; a brother, Robert Reeder of Lawton; five grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Muleshoe Area Medical Center, 708 S. First, Muleshoe, TX 79347. Evart Adams HALE CENTER - Evart "Cowboy" Adams, 98, died Friday, March 26, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First United Methodist Church in Hale Center with the Rev. Ken Rowland, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Center Plains Cemetery in Cotton Center by Freeman-Abell Funeral Home. Mr. Adams was born in Wheeler County. A veteran of World War I, he was a Navy pilot. For several years, he was recognized at the local Veterans Day service as the only living World War I veteran of Hale Center. In 1923, he moved to Hale Center to teach school and coach football. He played football at West Texas State and worked on several ranches, including the 6666 Ranch. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the American Legion. He married Lola Mae Jetton in 1927 at Hale Center. He was preceded in death by his wife in 1982 and by a son, James, in 1975. Survivors include a daughter, Trula Palmer of Odessa; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to First United Methodist Church of Hale Center, Hale Center Senior Citizens or Hale Center Library. Elsewhere Warren L. Bishop ODESSA - Warren L. Bishop, 50, died Thursday, March 25, 1999. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in St. Andrews Cumberland Presbyterian Church with Dr. Craig Martindale and Dr. Jimmy Braswell officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens by Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors of Odessa. Mr. Bishop was born in Oklahoma City and raised in Borger where he graduated from high school. In 1972, he graduated from West Texas State University with a bachelor's degree in business administration. Until 1991, Mr. Bishop worked for HSA Mortgage and A-1 Homes. He was a member of St. Andrews Cumberland Presbyterian Church and Promise Keepers. He married Joan Friend in 1969. Survivors include his wife; a son, Brent Bishop of Seattle; a daughter, Kimberly Bishop of Odessa; his father, A.L. Bishop of Royce City; his stepfather, Lloyd McDonald of Chattanooga, Tenn.; two sisters, Wilma Parker of Houston and Lorraine McDonald of Amarillo; and his brother, Paul McDonald of Springfield, Mo. The family will receive visitors from 4 until 6 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. They suggest memorials be to Huntingdon's Disease Society of America, 158 W. 29th St., Seventh Floor, New York, NY 10001-5300; or to the Permian Basin Rehabilitation Center, 620 N. Alleghaney Ave., Odessa, TX 79761. Johnny Alfred Cleveland WARRENSBURG, Mo. - Johnny Alfred Cleveland, 59, died Thursday, March 25, 1999. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Monday in Sunset Hill Cemetery. Arrangements are by Sweeney-Phillips and Holden Funeral Home of Warrensburg. Mr. Cleveland was born in Clayton, N.M. He graduated from high school in Dumas, Texas, and attended the University of Wichita on a full basketball scholarship. He worked in banking, sales and real estate. He married Helen Kuper in 1964 at Santa Maria, Calif. Survivors include his wife; a son, Michael Allen Cleveland of Siloam Springs, Ark.; a daughter, Bobbie Michelle Wood of Gentry, Ark.; his father, Eugene A. Cleveland of Dumas; a brother, Preston Cleveland of Granbury, Texas; two sisters, Earlene Arrington of Borger, Texas, and Judy L. Rice of Sunray, Texas; and three grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 7 until 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. They suggest memorials be to the Alzheimer's Foundation and may be left in care of the funeral home. Ray Munnerlyn HILLTOP LAKES - Ray Munnerlyn, 74, died Saturday, March 20, 1999. The family arranged private memorial services. The body was donated to medical science with arrangements by Hillier Funeral Home of Bryan. Mr. Munnerlyn was born in Ranger and was raised in Ranger, Del Rio and Victoria where he graduated from high school. During World War II, he served in the Army as an aerial photographer. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1950 with a degree in petroleum engineering. Mr. Munnerlyn was employed in the oil and gas fields in the Texas panhandle and in Venezuela. He became division chief of the Bureau of Mines in Amarillo and then was chief of the Helium and Gas Division of the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C., from 1974 until his retirement in 1981. He then moved to Hilltop Lakes. Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Lois; two daughters, Shuri Wright of Austin and Beth Oates of Dallas; a sister, Doris Armstrong of Leggett; two brothers, Bill Munnerlyn of German and Tom Munnerlyn of Austin; five granddaughters; and two grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Hilltop Lakes Chapel, P.O. Box 1143, Hilltop Lakes, TX 77871; Hilltop Lakes Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. 1471, Hilltop Lakes, TX 77871; or to a favorite charity.