Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 3 Feb 2000 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; Thursday, February 3, 2000, 7:01 AM Area Iylene C. Williams LOCKNEY - Iylene C. Williams, 86, died Monday, Jan. 31, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in West College and Third Street Church of Christ with the Rev. O.J. Welch, retired Baptist minister from Tatum, N.M., officiating. Burial will be in Lockney Cemetery by Lemons Funeral Home of Plainview. Mrs. Williams grew up in Mills County and moved to Runnels County in 1927. She graduated from Drasco High School in 1929. She married Lois L. Williams in 1933 at Center Point. After her marriage she lived around the Williams Ranch. She moved to Aiken in 1947. She worked at Byrd's Pharmacy and was a member of the Aiken Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1992; and by a son, Kenneth Williams, in July. Survivors include a daughter, Peggy Cline of Dimmitt; two sons, Luther Williams of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Jerry Williams of Ruidoso, N.M.; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the church. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 3, 2000 Ilene Mae Nail BORGER - Ilene Mae Nail, 87, formerly of Borger, died Monday, Jan. 31, 2000, in Mexia. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Highland Park Cemetery with the Rev. Jimmy Gillmore, pastor of Riverview Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Directors. Mrs. Nail was born in Bartlesville, Okla. She had been a longtime resident of Phillips and Borger before moving to Jewett, where she was living at the time of her death. She was a homemaker and a Methodist. She was preceded in death by her husband, H.E. "Rusty" Nail in 1970; and by a son, Ray Holcomb, in 1985. Survivors include a son, Jeff Holcomb of Borger; two daughters, Kaye Mardis of Jewett and Janet Huckabee of Spring; 11 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 3, 2000 Barbara Jeanne Gorham PADUCAH - Barbara Jeanne Gorham, 73, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in First Christian Church with the Rev. Roy Cleve Keith, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Paducah Garden of Memories under the direction of Seigler Funeral Home. Mrs. Gorham was born in Amarillo. She was a homemaker and a member of First Christian Church in Paducah. She married Calvin Charles Gorham in 1944 at Claremont. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Annette Hildebrand of Ardmore, Okla., and Rinda DeBeer of Lubbock; two sons, Chuck Gorham of Paducah and Bryan Gorham of Dumas; a brother, James M. Walker of Amarillo; a sister, Mary Hampton of Port Hueneme, Calf.; nine grandchildren; and four greatgrandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 3, 2000 Carol David DUMAS - Carol David, 52, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Morrison Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel with the Rev. John Wagoner, pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating with remarks by Kelly Johnson, family friend. Burial will be in Dumas Cemetery. Mrs. David was born in Tucumcari, N.M., and lived in Keyes, Okla., for several years. In 1979 she moved to Dumas. She was a longtime member of the Romance Writers of the Panhandle and the Romance Writers of America. She was a Methodist. She married C.F. David in 1966 at Clayton, N.M. Survivors include her husband; four sons, Scott David of Dumas, Stacy David of Amarillo, Steve David of Lamesa and Shane David of Colorado Springs, Colo.; a brother, Greg Adcox of Amarillo; a sister, Leloy Albright of Amarillo; and seven grandchildren. The family will be at 1315 Binkley in Dumas. They suggest memorials be to the American Diabetes Association, 4425 W. Airport Freeway, Suite 130, Irving, TX.; or Memorial Home Health, 209 S. Bliss, Dumas, TX 79029. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 3, 2000 Anne Fires WELLINGTON - Anne Fires, 102, died Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in the First United Church with the Rev. Monte Kreis, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery in Childress by Adams Funeral Home of Wellington. Mrs. Fires was born in Bonham and moved to Wellington in 1918. She was a member of the 1924 Study Club, United Methodist Women Lydia Circle and the First United Methodist Church. A homemaker, she helped organize the first county library in Collingsworth County. She married Chester Fires in 1918 at Childress. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1974 and a daughter, Ann Vaughan, in 1998. Survivors include a son, A.J. Fires of Wellington; five grandchildren; 14 greatgrandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 5:30 until 7 p.m. today in the funeral home. They suggest memorials be to the First United Methodist Church. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 3, 2000 Joe Easley HEREFORD - Joe Easley, 62, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in First United Methodist Church with Dr. Tom Fuller officiating. Burial will be in West Park Cemetery by Parkside Chapel Funeral Home. Mr. Easley was born in Hereford and graduated from Hereford High School. He received his bachelor's degree in advertising from the University of Denver. For many years he managed feedlots in the Hereford area and was active in investments. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church. He married Corinne Cameron in 1957 at Fredericksburg. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Lacey Pitts of Edmond, Okla., Alison McDowell of Newport News, Va., and Cheryl Wright of Arlington; a brother, Jim Easley of Wise River, Mont.; and eight grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 3, 2000 New Mexico Bert Davis CLOVIS, N.M. - Bert Davis, 80, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Pete Jaramillo officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens. Mr. Davis was born in Pleasant Hill. After his retirement from the Santa Fe Railway in 1985 he worked in his key shop and played piano in local nursing homes in Clovis, Portales, Melrose and Farwell, Texas. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nora Davis. Survivors include three daughters, Blinda C. Carter and Gwen D. White, both of Clovis, and Sharon D. Loflin of Garland; six sisters, Jessie Pate of Lovington, Fern Holt of Portales, Dorothy Smith of Friona, Texas, Betty Branch of Amarillo, Georgie Stone of Roswell and Nora Alice Davis of Melrose; six grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 3, 2000 Nita Diane Luce Cooper CLOVIS, N.M. - Nita Diane Luce Cooper, 43, of Texico, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Texico High School Gym with the Rev. Bob Brown officiating. Burial will be in Texico Cemetery by Steed-Todd Funeral Home of Clovis. Mrs. Cooper was born in Portales and graduated from Texico High School in 1974. In 1987 she graduated summa cum laude from Eastern New Mexico University. She received her master's degree in administration education. In 1996-97 Mrs. Cooper was chosen Woman of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce of Texico. She was named New Mexico Woman of the Year in 1998 and Relay for Life Cancer Drive honorary chairman for 1998. Mrs. Cooper taught second grade at Farwell Elementary and language arts at Texico Junior High. In 1993 she was named elementary principal. Survivors include her husband, Lynn Cooper; three daughters, twins Jaylyn and Jordyn of the home and Kelley Fontanilla of Texico; her parents, Leon and Oneta Luce of Farwell, Texas; a brother, Vernon Luce of Farwell; a sister, Teresa Curry of Texico; and a grandson. The family suggests memorials to Texico Elementary Library (Accelerated Reader Program); light a luminary in her memory at the Relay for Life; or give an extra donation in church. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 3, 2000 Billie Faye Landers CLAYTON, N.M. - Billie Faye Landers, 73, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2000. Memorial services will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses with Paul Shedd of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Borger, Texas, officiating. Arrangements are by Hass Funeral Directors of Clayton. Mrs. Landers was born in Sayre, Okla. She lived in Borger, Texas prior to moving to Clayton in 1988 to work with the Clayton Jehovah's Witness congregation. She married Thomas Alvin Landers in 1947 at Sayre. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1998 and by a daughter, Georgia LaDonna Collins. Survivors include two sons, Herbert Andrew Mason of Georgia and Ronnie Ralph Willis of California; four brothers, Kenneth Rex Stockman of Pasadena, Jackie G. Stockman of Gassaway, W. Va., Don P. Duggan of Amarillo and Case D. Duggan of Borger; a grandson; and two great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 3, 2000 Doris L. Cohn CLOVIS, N.M. - Doris L. Cohn, 75, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in The Chapel with Jim Wood officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens by Muffley Funeral Home of Clovis. Mrs. Cohn was born in Billerica, Mass., and moved to Clovis in 1976 from Carrollton, Ga. She was a piano teacher for 20 years in Clovis. She was a member of National Federation of Music Clubs, Friendship Senior Citizens Center, Eastern Star, Fraternal Order of Eagles and Northside Church of Christ. She married Leland Cohn in 1957 at San Leandro, Calif. He died in 1997. Survivors include two daughters, Desiree Cohn of Dallas and Roxie Brewer of Plano, Texas; a sister, Olive Sweatt of Clovis; and three grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 3, 2000 Amarillo Mary Ann Janssen Mary Ann Janssen, 62, of Amarillo, died Monday, Jan. 31, 2000. Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. today in St. Joseph's Catholic Church by Monsignor Raymond Crosier. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mrs. Janssen was born in Canyon and graduated from Canyon High School in 1957. She was a 25-year employee of TCA Cable and a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. She was preceded in death by a son, Pat Janssen, in 1986. Survivors include a daughter, JoAnn Janssen of Amarillo; two sons, Bobby Janssen of Wildorado and Chuck Janssen of Amarillo; a sister, Charlotte McDaniel of Canyon; four brothers, Jim Irlbeck, Gilbert Irlbeck, Larry Irlbeck and Ray Irlbeck, all of Canyon; a special friend, Carl Bryan of Happy; and eight grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 3, 2000 William Ladd William "Blackie" Ladd, 67, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Jan. 30, 2000, in Memphis, Tenn. Memorial services were at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, in C.O. Pate Funeral Home in Senatobia, Miss. Mr. Ladd was a resident of Pontotoc, Miss., before moving to Amarillo. He had worked as a controller. His wife, Nilda Herrera Ladd, preceded him in death. Survivors include four sons, William L. Ladd Jr., Eugene C. Ladd, Kenneth C. Ladd and Adrian E. Ladd; four daughters, Debbie Miller, Mira Pipes, Lorna White and Maria Steen; a brother, Willard Ladd; a sister, Mary Randolph; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 3, 2000 Charles L. Ward Charles L. Ward, 45, of Memphis, Tenn., died Thursday, Jan. 27, 2000. Services will be 2 p.m. Friday at the Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church with the Rev. Vurn C. Martin, pastor, and the Rev. James M. Mims, pastor of New Covenant Missionary Church, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Golden Gate Mortuary, 1416 N. Hughes. Mr. Ward was born in Clarksville and graduated from Palo Duro High School in 1972 where he was active in football and track. He attended Abilene Christian University on a football scholarship and was a veteran of the Army. Mr. Ward was a truck driver for Marysa Group Enterprise. He worked for Santa Fe Railway and was the owner of Flamingo Beauty Supply in Amarillo. He was a member of Greater Mount Olive Baptist church. He moved from Amarillo to Kansas City, Kan., where he lived for 10 years. Survivors include two daughters, Tammy Ward of Oklahoma City and Tanisha Ward of Amarillo; two sons, Korine Ward of Oklahoma City and Channing Ward of Amarillo; his parents, Gus and Muraine Harris of Amarillo; two sisters, Emma Crockett and Doris Rambo both of Dallas; and a brother, Robert Harris of Amarillo. The family will be at 2035 N.W. 18th Ave. Viewing will be at the funeral home from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to noon Friday. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 3, 2000 David Hayes Sr. David Hayes Sr., 76, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Memorial Park Funeral Home, Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with the Rev. John McClean of St. Paul United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mr. Hayes was born in Hornbeck, Tenn. During World War II he flew missions in Europe, receiving the Purple Heart and several other distinguished campaign medals. In 1948 he moved from Altus, Okla., to Amarillo where he worked in sales and a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church. He married Mary Y. Hayes in 1942 at Lawton, Okla. He was preceded in death by his wife in 1997 and a son, Dean Edgar Hayes, in 1993. Survivors include three daughters, Dana Hayes, Mary Lynne Dunaway and D'Ann Laws, all of Amarillo; two sons, David Hayes Jr. of Amarillo and Steven Wayne Hayes of Houston; a sister, Anna Laura Nucci of Altus; eight grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family suggests memorials to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice/Olivia's Angels. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 3, 2000 Gary K. Taylor Sr. Gary K. Taylor Sr., 61, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in BlackburnShaw Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street, with the Rev. Mike Carter, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Taylor was born in Fort Smith, Ark. In Amarillo he raced cars for 26 years and was a member of Carpenters Local No. 665. He married Jean Taylor in 1956 at Clayton, N.M. Survivors include his wife; a son, Gary K. Taylor Jr.; a daughter, Kim Spangler of Amarillo; a brother, Buck Taylor of Muldrow, Okla.; three sisters, Gwyn Hess of Amarillo, Judy Webb of Claude and Daphne Case of Moore, Okla.; seven grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials to River Road Baptist Church Building Fund. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 3, 2000 Carmen Samora Carmen Samora, 75, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2000. Prayer service will be at 7 p.m. today in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, with family members officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Samora was born in Bernalillo, N.M., and moved to Amarillo in 1932 from Santa Rosa, N.M. She was a homemaker. She married Joe Samora in 1941 at Amarillo. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1997 and by a son, Solteno, in 1946. Survivors include two daughters, Ramora Martinez of San Jose, Calif., and Caroline Lujan of Austin; four sons, Joe Samora of San Jose, Rudy Samora of Albuquerque, N.M., Michael Samora of Robertson and Ernie Samora of Amarillo; a brother , Larry Romero of Denver; two sisters, Rosa and Nelda, both of Wyoming; 23 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 3, 2000 Elsewhere Vivian Murdick VERNON - Vivian Murdick, 83, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel at Clovis, N.M., with the Rev. Jessie Shaver officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Sunset Memorial Park at Albuquerque, N.M. Mrs. Murdick was born in Grady, N.M. She moved to Vernon 16 years ago from Albuquerque, N.M. She was a Methodist. She married Joseph Raymond Murdick in 1936 at Clovis. He died in 1968. Survivors include a daughter, Kay Cook of Vernon; two sisters, Sylvia Burgett and Joyce Devours, both of Texico, N.M.; and one granddaughter. The family suggests memorials be to the VRJC Theater Ensemble Scholarship Fund. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 3, 2000 The Rev.William Randall Ball PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - The Rev. William Randall Ball, 77, died Monday, Jan. 10, 2000. Memorial services were at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, 2000, in Palm Springs. Arrangements were by Palm Springs Mortuary. The Rev. Ball was born in Burneyville, Okla. He moved to Olton, Texas, as a child. He had been an Assembly of God pastor since the age of 17, serving in churches in Seminole and Big Spring, Texas; Cushing, Okla; Cincinnati and Wichita, Kan.. For the last 20 years he had been an associate pastor and counselor for Family Life Church in Rancho Mirage. He married Hazel McCleskey in 1939. She preceded him in death. Survivors include two sons, Bracy Ball of Santa Barbara and Ken Ball of Redwood City; a daughter, Ranee Leland of Versailles, Ken.; a brother, Garner Ball of Dimmitt, Texas; a sister, Gertie Waggoner of Dimmitt; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 3, 2000 Orchid Elizabeth Bergstresser PEA RIDGE, Ala. - Orchid Elizabeth Bergstresser, 75, formerly of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Chapel Rockco Funeral Home with Albert Pickett officiating. Burial will be in Macedonia Cemetery. Mrs. Bergstresser lived in Amarillo 40 years before moving to Alabama. She was a member of Oakdale Baptist Church in Amarillo. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Clark Bergstresser. Survivors include a daughter, Paulette Jones of Spring Branch, Texas; two sons, Dr. Jack Bergstresser of Birmingham and Jeff Bergstresser of Amarillo; a daughter, Billie Elliott of Pea Ridge; two brothers, Carl Pickett and Albert Pickett, both of Pea Ridge; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 3, 2000 Lola Jean Annette Hams GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - Lola Jean Annette Hams, 80, died Thursday, Jan. 27, 2000. Memorial services are planned for July in Lubbock, Texas. Arrangements are by Martin Mortuary. Mrs. Hams was born in Lipscomb, Texas and lived in Farwell, Texas where she graduated from high school in 1937. In 1941 she graduated from Texas Tech College with a major in home economics. She lived in Corpus Christi, Lufkin, Baytown, Midland and Lubbock, Texas before moving to Grand Junction in 1964. Mrs. Hams worked as a records clerk, photo lab technician and teacher for Head Start and elementary school. She was a member of Lubbock View Christian Church where she sang in the choir and attended First Christian Church in Grand Junction. She played the piano and showed dogs. She married William H. Hams Jr. in 1941. She was preceded in death by her husband and a daughter, Jean Ann Wood. Survivors include a son, Jim Allan Hams of Grand Junction; six grandchildren; a step-grandson; and two greatgrandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 3, 2000 The Rev. Charles R. Jones FORT WORTH - The Rev. Charles R. Jones, 88, died Jan. 31, 2000. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Bethel Temple. Burial will be in Laurel Land in Dallas by Lucas Funeral Home of Hurst. The Rev. Jones was born in Dallas and traveled across the country with early day evangelists. In 1941, he founded the Bethel Temple in Fort Worth which he pastored until his retirement in 1975. He also hosted a daytime radio program," Hymntime." After his retirement the Rev. Jones became pastor emeritus of Bethel Temple. From 1976 until 1979 he traveled for the World Wide Tour Ministries. In 1999 his congregation honored him with the Charles R. and Aretes Jones Family Life Center presentation, to be built this year. In 1936 he married Aretes Ott at Dallas. She died in January. Survivors include a son, Charles A. Jones of Denver; a daughter, Charlene Gearhart of Perryton; a sister, Maude Aimee Humbard of California; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from noon until 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. The family will be present from 6 until 8 p.m. The family suggest memorials be to Charles R. and Aretes Jones Family Life Center Building Fund at Bethel Temple. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 3, 2000 Manuel L. Veloz MIDLAND - Manuel L. Veloz, 81, died Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2000. Wake will be at 7:30 p.m. today and Friday in Ellis Funeral Home. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Park in Midland. Mr. Veloz was born in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico and moved to Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico where he was educated. He was a photographer who owned El Radio Fotografia in Nuevo Laredo from 1935 until 1951, when he moved to Midland. In 1957, Mr. Veloz bought El Monterrey Spanish Kitchen and operated it until he turned it over to his son, George. An avid guitar player, he appeared in one of the first March of Dimes Telethons in the 1950s on KMID-TV and then on a Mexico Tejano Spanish show from 1973 until 1987. Mr. Veloz was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church where he was a 33-year member of the Curcillistas and a life member of Eastside Lions Club, serving as secretary and treasurer. He married Feliz Perales before moving to Midland. Survivors include two sons, Manuel Veloz Jr. of Odessa and George A. Veloz of Midland; a daughter, Graciela "Gracie" Veloz Rayon of Midland; his sister, Carmen Hearon of Midland; seven grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Feb. 3, 2000