Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 31 May 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; Monday, May 31, 1999, 5:37 AM Amarillo Dyalthia Lee DeFever Dyalthia Lee DeFever, 62, of Amarillo, died Saturday, May 29, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church with Dr. Howard K. Batson, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery Mausoleum by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Boulevard. Mrs. DeFever was born in Texico, N.M., and grew up in Bovina, where she graduated from Bovina High School. She received a bachelor's degree from West Texas State College in 1959 and a master's degree from West Texas State University in 1985. For six years, she taught in Lakewood, Colo. In 1967, she moved to Amarillo, where she taught at Ridgecrest Elementary School for 11 years, Hamlet Elementary for five years and served as the science and social studies coordinator for the Amarillo Independent School District for eight years until her retirement in 1996. She was a member of First Baptist Church. She married Larry DeFever in 1967. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Dirk DeFever of Garland and Greg DeFever of Littlefield; her mother, Erma Lee Bradshaw Schrader of Neligh, Neb.; a brother, J.F. Bradshaw of Lubbock; a sister, Ella Bishop of Walnut Creek, Calif.; and three grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to First Baptist Church Library, 1208 S. Tyler, Amarillo, TX; or Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX. Avyce Rush Whigham Avyce Rush Whigham, 92, of Amarillo, died Sunday, May 30, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, Pioneer Chapel, 2615 Paramount Boulevard, with Dr. Jim E. Garrett of Polk Street United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Whigham was born in Mount Calm. She graduated from both Baylor University and West Texas State University and taught first grade in Amarillo, where she had lived 53 years. She was a member of Polk Street United Methodist Church, the Gleaners Class and was listed in the first edition of Who's Who in the Methodist Church. She married Turney W. Whigham in 1927. He died in 1973. Survivors include a son, Sam Whigham of Amarillo; four grandchildren; and great-grandchildren. Earnest R. Lane Earnest R. Lane, 81, of Amarillo, died Friday, May 28, 1999. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in St. Martin Catholic Church with the Rev. John Mary Joseph Dickey, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Warford-Walker Mortuary, 509 N. Hughes. Mr. Lane was born in Wilmington, S.C., and graduated from Williston High School. He served with the Army and was later stationed at Amarillo Air Force Base until his retirement in 1962. He later worked for the VA Medical Center until 1979. He was a member of St. Martin Catholic Church. His wife, Earlene, died in 1998. Survivors include a stepdaughter, Geraldine V. Brown of Fort Worth; three grandchildren; and a step-grandchild. Viewing will be from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. The family will be at 1104 N.W. 19th Avenue in Amarillo. Gabriel Anthony Benegas Jr. Gabriel Anthony Benegas Jr., 19month-old son of Gabriel Eugene Benegas and Monica Crystal Benegas of Amarillo, died Friday, May 28, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Llano East Cemetery with the Rev. Alfred Vargas, pastor of Christian Life Center Assembly of God, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Gabriel was born in Amarillo and had lived here all his life. Survivors include his parents; a brother, Anthony Benegas of Amarillo; three sisters, Dezirae Benegas and MaryJane Benegas, both of Amarillo, and Jessica Benegas of Pueblo, Colo.; grandparents, Julie and Charlie Peralta of Dalhart, Mary and Roy Charles of Amarillo, Lorraine and Jerry Benegas of Amarillo and Joe Castillo of Flint, Mich. Ossie Lee Daniels Ossie Lee Daniels, 71, of Amarillo, died Friday, May 28, 1999. Memorial services will be at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Dayspring Ministries, 713 N. Johnson St., with Troy Bohn, pastor, officiating. Arrangements are by Colonial Funeral Chapel, 1010 W. Ninth Avenue. Mrs. Daniels was born in Cortez, Colo. She married Charles Edward Smith in 1945. He died in 1959. She married Parnell "Corny" Daniels in 1961. He died in 1972. She was a homemaker and a housekeeping department supervisor in the medical industry. She was a member of Victory Baptist Church in Stinnett. Survivors include four sons, James G. "Jimmy" Smith, Jay D. Smith, Parnell J. "JoJo" Daniels and David J. "Dobbie" Daniels, all of Amarillo; four daughters, Sharlene "Mae" Elmore and Charlene "Fae" Patterson, both of Pryor, Okla., Sandra S. Snelson of Amarillo and Lillian "Lilly" Deaver of Stinnett; 25 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials be to Make-A-Wish Foundation. Alice Nelline Girard Alice Nelline Girard, 88, of Amarillo, died Friday, May 28, 1999. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Lynn Garrett, senior adult minister at First Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Girard was born in Olustee, Okla., and had lived in Amarillo since 1927. She had worked for White & Kirk. She was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary and First Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest, in 1973. Survivors include a sister, Camilla Graham of Amarillo. Anita May Gleaves Anita May Gleaves, 52, of Amarillo, died Saturday, May 29, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Southlawn Assembly of God Church with Pastor Jerald Middaugh officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St. Mrs. Gleaves was born in Gage, Okla., and moved to Amarillo 35 years ago from Gage. She married Dale Gleaves in 1965 at Gage. She was a secretary at the central branch of Amarillo Public Library and was a member of Southlawn Assembly of God Church. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Darrell Gleaves of Borger and Frankie Gleaves of Lubbock; her mother, Ruth Stout of Gage; a sister, Linda Sapp of Round Rock; a brother, Steve Stout of Gage; and one grandchild. The body will be available for viewing today from noon to 6 p.m. at Rector Funeral Home. Oklahoma Geraldine Evelyn Barker Risley BOISE CITY, Okla. - Geraldine Evelyn Barker Risley, 68, died Saturday, May 29, 1999. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Boise City Cemetery. Arrangements are by Cimarron Mortuary. Mrs. Risley was born in Eagle County, Colo., and worked as a waitress and grocery clerk. She married Benton Risley in 1948. He preceded her in death. Survivors include a daughter, Evelyn Moore; and four grandchildren. Elsewhere Susan Beach Fish COTTON CENTER - Susan Beach Fish, 42, died Thursday, May 27, 1999. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. today in Center Plains Memorial Chapel with Ted Taylor, pastor of First Church of the Nazarene in Hereford, officiating. Burial will be in Center Plains Cemetery by Freeman-Abell Funeral Home in Hale Center. Mrs. Fish was born in Lubbock and graduated from Cotton Center High School. She was a dental assistant for Dr. Baldwin in Plainview and worked for the Senior Citizens Center in both Hereford and Hale Center. She was active in horse riding clubs and Turff Therapy . She married David Fish in 1994 at Hereford. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Kara Thurman and Lauren Thurman of Cotton Center; her parents, Earl Gene and Sue Beach of Terlingua; two brothers, Bill Beach of Dallas and Gary Beach of Richardson. The family suggests memorials be to MADD, 3311 81st St., Lubbock, TX 79423; or Turff Therapy, 83rd and Martin Luther King Blvd., Lubbock, TX 79364. Neal McCandless COVE, Ark. - Neal McCandless, 44, died Friday, May 28, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Hall Funeral Service Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Kelly Raymond officiating. Burial will be in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery. Mr. McCandless was born in Amarillo and had lived in Cove since 1982. He was a poultry farmer and a member of the Calvary Baptist Church. He married Martha Kruger in 1974 at Canyon. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Lee Arthur McCandless and Travis Michael McCandless, both of Concord, N.C.; a daughter, Lessa Dawn Echols of Concord; his mother, Margaret McCandless of DeQueen, Ariz.; a brother, Mike McCandless of Canyon; two sisters, Deborah Zermeno and Jane Russell, both of Canyon; and two grandchildren. Area Kathyrn Madura TULIA - Kathyrn Madura, 90, died Thursday, May 27, 1999 at Cincinnati. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Church of the Holy Spirit with John Salazar-Jimenez, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery by Wallace Funeral Home. Mrs. Madura was born in Columbus, Neb., where she graduated from high school. She moved to Tulia in 1941 and was a homemaker. She married Frank Paul Madura in 1929 at Columbus, Ohio. He died in 1973. Survivors include a daughter, Barbara Gordon of Cincinnati; two sons, Paul Madura Jr. of Phoenix and David Madura of Wheelock; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Jesse Glen Brewer PLAINVIEW - Jesse Glen Brewer, 69, died Friday, May 28, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Trinity Fellowship Church with the Revs. Doug Stenberg, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Albany, officiating and Steve Rogers, pastor of Trinity Fellowship Church in Plainview, assisting. Burial will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens by Lemons Funeral Home. Mr. Brewer was born in Rio Vista, graduated from Rio Vista High School in 1946 and attended North Texas Agricultural College in Arlington. He worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone for 44 years until his retirement in 1991. He served in the Army during the Korean War and was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Scottish Rite 32nd and Trinity Fellowship Church. He married Carolyn Horton in 1948 at Cleburne. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Karen Mason of Plainview; a son, Michael Brewer of Watauga; a brother, Royce Brewer of Rockwall; a sister, Ruth Ann Korb of Rio Vista; and three grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Vista Care Hospice, 4418 Olton Rd., Plainview, TX 79072; Gideon International, 1104 Dallas St., Plainview, TX 79072; or Trinity Fellowship Church, 200 South I-H27, Plainview, TX 79072. Ralph Anthony Salazar III TULIA - Ralph Anthony Salazar III, 24, of Plainview, died Sunday, May 30, 1999 at Kress. Vigil services will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Wallace Funeral Home Chapel. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Church of the Holy Spirit with the Rev. John Salazar-Jimenez officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Mr. Salazar was born in Tulia, where he attended schools. He was employed by Excel in Plainview. He married Tiffany Gatica in 1993 at Tulia. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Celina Marie Salazar and Gianna Salazar, both of Tulia; a son, Christopher Lee Salazar of Tulia; his parents, Dora and Ralph Salazar Jr. of Tulia; two brothers, Johnny Salazar of Odessa and Raymond Salazar of Abilene; a sister, Juliann Vega of Canyon; and his grandparents, Rafael and Monica Salazar of Tulia. Paul Johnson DIMMITT - Paul Johnson, 78, died Saturday, May 29, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Home Ivey Chapel with the Rev. Sherman Martin, pastor of First Baptist Church in House, N.M., officiating. Burial will be in Hart Cemetery. Mr. Johnson was born in Olton and was a farmer and rancher. He married Inez Haney in 1938 at Petersburg. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Sandy Hill of Melrose, N.M.; a son, Joe Dee Johnson of Nazareth; a brother, Richard Johnson of Bartlesville, Okla.; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family will be at the home of Sandy Hill in Hart and suggests memorials be to Hart Cemetery; or a favorite charity. Lou Ella Sadau DALHART - Lou Ella Sadau, 75, died Sunday, May 30, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Lynn Creek Cemetery near Jermyn with local arrangements by Hass Funeral Home. Mrs. Sadau was born in Jermyn and lived in Graham before moving to Dalhart in 1993. She was a member of Graham Church of Christ and attended the Tenth Street Church of Christ in Dalhart. Survivors include two sons, Kenneth Sadau of Dalhart and Pete Robinson of El Paso; two brothers, G.C. Hanna of Graham and William Hanna of Phoenix; a sister, June Robinson of Santo; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family suggests memorials be to Meals on Wheels in Dalhart. Gail Lee Freeman CANADIAN - Gail Lee Hill Freeman, 59, died Thursday, May 27, 1999, in Santa Fe, N.M. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Berardinelli Family Funeral Service at Santa Fe. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Edith Ford Memorial Cemetery with Dr. Lewis Holland, pastor of First United Methodist Church officiating. Arrangements are by Stickley-Hill Funeral Directors. Mrs. Freeman was born in Hot Springs, N.M. She graduated from New Mexico State University. She was an elementary education teacher for 32 years. She taught two years in Phoenix and 30 years in Galveston. She also bred and trained Arabian horses. She married Roger L. Freeman in 1962 at Santa Fe. Survivors include her husband; her mother, Marge Hill of Santa Fe; a sister, Margaret Young of Albuquerque, N.M.; and two brothers, Robert Hill of Carmel, Ind., and Thomas Hill of Santa Fe. The family requests memorials be to a favorite charity. Elizabeth Marie Curnutt HIGGINS - Elizabeth Marie Peoples Curnutt, 84, died Friday, May 28, 1999, in Canadian. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Higgins First United Methodist Church with Terry Tyson, associate pastor, officiating. Graveside services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in Edith Ford Cemetery at Canadian by Stickley-Hill Funeral Directors of Canadian. Mrs. Curnutt was born in Carnegie, Okla. She graduated from Carnegie High School and attended the University of Oklahoma. She married Orla H. Curnutt in 1932 at Arnett, Okla. They moved to Canadian, where they lived until 1967. They then lived in Mexia until moving to Higgins in 1980. Mr. Curnutt died in 1986. She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge in Canadian. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Higgins and a past member of First United Methodist churches in Canadian and Mexia. Survivors include a son, Boyd Curnutt of Port Lavaca; two daughters, Karen Eggleston of Higgins and Joyce Givhan of Midland; four brothers, Earl Dean Peoples, Ira "Peewee" Peoples and Bill Peoples, all of Henrietta, Okla., and Ace Peoples of Dallas; two sisters, Florence Gentzel of Borger and Shirley Peoples of Plainview; eight grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. The family requests memorials to the American Cancer Society; the Parkinson's Disease Foundation; or First United Methodist Church in Higgins. The body will be available for viewing from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at StickleyHill Funeral Directors in Canadian; and from 10 to 10:50 a.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church in Higgins. Delvin Hamblett Bybee LOCKNEY - Delvin Hamblett "Dee" Bybee, 52, died Saturday, May 29, 1999, in Lubbock. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Harold Abney, pastor, and the Rev. Mitch Wilson, pastor of First Baptist Church in Shallowater, officiating. Burial will be in Lockney Cemetery by Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home. Mr. Bybee was born in Lockney and was a lifelong resident. He graduated from Lockney High School. He attended Wayland Baptist University in Plainview. He was the customer service manager at Tye Co. He was a member of First Baptist Church. He married Sheryl McCain in 1964 at Lockney. Survivors include his wife; a son, Jason of Lubbock; two daughters, Stephanie Sultan of Shallowater and Shandra Kidd of Lockney; a sister, Debbie Stennett of Plainview; and four grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Prairie House of Plainview, 1301 Mesa Drive, Plainview, TX 79072. Kay Brown ADRIAN - Kay Brown, 57, died Sunday, May 30, 1999. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church with the Revs. Melvin Smith, pastor, and Bob Miller, pastor of South Georgia Baptist Church in Amarillo, officiating. Burial will be in Vega Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Brown was born in Vernon and had lived in Adrian for 35 years. She graduated from Texas Tech and received a master's degree in education from West Texas State University. She was a teacher at Adrian High School, the 4-H adviser and a member of and organist at First Baptist Church. She was also a homemaker. She married Davis Brown in 1964. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Barry Brown of New York and Kile Brown of Dallas; a daughter, Karen Brown of College Station; her mother, Eula Vick of Dumas; two brothers, Norman Kent Vick of Denver and Gordon Dale Vick of Midland; and two grandchildren. Viewing will be from 1 until 4 p.m. today at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials be to the Vega Cemetery, P.O. Box 496, Vega, TX 79092. Stacey Kaye Sehorn PAMPA - Stacey Kaye Sehorn, 19, died Sunday, May 30, 1999. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church with Jeff Booth, pastor of Christian Church of God in Amarillo, officiating. Entombment will be at 1 p.m. in Memorial Park East Mausoleum in Amarillo by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mrs. Sehorn was born in Pampa and was a 1999 graduate of Pampa High School, where she had been a peer tutor and was on the girls' golf team for two years. In Amarillo she had worked for ADVO Companies Inc. and was a member of the Christian Church of God. Survivors include her parents, Darrell and Linda Sehorn of Pampa; a sister, Shannon Stephens of Amarillo; and her grandfather, Rol Holifield of Liberal, Kan. The family suggests memorials be to ADVO Companies, Inc., 2736 W. 10th Ave., Amarillo, TX 79102. Natalie Kate Christner WHEELER - Natalie Kate Christner, 17-month-old daughter of Jeff and Millie Christner, of Rockdale, died Saturday, May 29, 1999. Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the family cemetery on the McIntyre-Christner Ranch, south of Spearman, with the Rev. William D. Nix Jr. of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Amarillo, officiating. Arrangements are by Wright Funeral Home. Natalie was born in Houston. Survivors include her parents; two sisters, Mary Chesney and Emily Blaine Christner, both of Rockdale; and grandparents, Mac and Mary K. Christner of Wheeler, and Fran and Nolen Holcomb of Houston. The family suggests memorials be to the Wheeler Public Library; or the Rockdale Public Library. Marie Robertson BORGER - Marie Robertson, 84, died Sunday, May 30, 1999. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. D. Jay Lewis, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Cemetery by Brown Funeral Directors. Mrs. Robertson was born in Yahola, Okla., and was a retired office manager with E.L. Beakley Trucking Company. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star No. 811, a former cub scout leader in Borger and a charter member of Calvary Baptist Church, where she was a former church secretary. Her husband, Thomas Robertson, died in 1967. She was also preceded in death by a grandson, Thomas Claude Robertson, in 1969. Survivors include two sons, Timothy Robertson of Sun City, Ariz. and Claude Robertson of Houston; a sister, Lorean Hudson of Henderson; and five grandchildren. Evelyn King WELLINGTON - Evelyn King, 74, died Saturday, May 29, 1999. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in First United Methodist Church with the Revs. Jesse Dea, of First United Methodist Church in Quanah, and Brian Adams, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery by Adams Funeral Home. Mrs. King was born in Wellington, graduated from Wellington High School in 1941 and from business college in Dallas. She was a secretary and bookkeeper and a member and past president of the 1924 Study Club, served as chairperson of the first Collingsworth County History Book Committee and taught at the Collingsworth County Community Action Center. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, where she was the historian, a Sunday school teacher, former church secretary, and was active in the Esther Circle and United Methodist Women, where she served as president. She married J.B. King in 1948 at Wellington. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Jacqueline Arnold of Amarillo and Marcia Henard of Wellington; and two grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to First United Methodist Church; Order of Eastern Star; or Wellington Cemetery Association.