Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 6 Sep 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: Darren McCathern (quohadi@quackquack.com) Thanks to the Amarillo Newspapers for allowing us to place their online obits in the USGenWeb Archives ==================================================================== Amarillo Daily News, Sep. 6, 2000 QUANAH - Mabel Theresa Bentilla, 75, died Thursday, Aug. 31, 2000. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in St. Mary's Catholic Church with the Rev. Oren Key officiating. Arrangements are by Price-Jackson Funeral Home. Mrs. Bentilla was born in Bronx, N.Y. She moved to Quanah in 1979 from Illinois. She retired as a sales clerk for the Leader Store and Moses Variety Store. She was a Catholic. She married Kenneth Bentilla in 1948 at Brooklyn, N.Y. Survivors include a daughter, Elizabeth Bentilla of Quanah; three sisters, Lucy Suarez of Brooklyn, Theresa Fealey of New York and Catherine Peragine of Snellville, Ga.; and five brothers, William Farrell of Flossmoor, Ill., George Farrell of Boca Raton, Fla., James Farrell of Santee, S.C., and Donald Farrell and Lawrence Farrell, both of Englishtown, N.J. BORGER - Howard Fruit, 85, died Monday, Sept. 4, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Christian Church with the Rev. John Gran, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Highland Park Cemetery by Brown Funeral Directors. Mr. Fruit was born in Shawnee, Okla., and lived in Borger 52 years. He served in the Army during World War II. He retired as a shipping clerk for Phillips Petroleum Co. He married Martha Jewell Dunn in 1948 at Shawnee. Survivors include his wife; a son, David Fruit of Borger; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. DALHART - James L. Childre, 76, died Thursday, Aug. 31, 2000, in Las Animas, Colo. Graveside services were at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Memorial Park Cemetery with Ray M. Guy, minister of First Christian Church, officiating. Arrangements were by Hass Funeral Home Inc. Mr. Childre was born in Star. Survivors include a sister, Lera Fields of Hamilton. SUNRAY - Joe Saenz, 44, died Sunday, Sept. 3, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Christ the King Catholic Church with the Rev. Richard Scully of the church officiating. Burial will be in Lane Memorial Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mr. Saenz was born in Knox City. In 1963 he moved to Sunray, where he attended school. He worked in construction. Survivors include his mother, Anita Saenz; three brothers, Gus Saenz of Valliant, Okla., Steve Saenz of Dumas and Lucas Saenz of El Dorado, Kan.; and four sisters, Alicia Saenz of Pharr, Grace Rios of Dumas, Silvia Garza of Carrollton and Mary Lou Cardenas of Guymon, Okla. The family will be at 707 Ave. L. Amarillo Daily News, Sept. 6, 2000 BORGER - Rick Baxter, 51, died Sunday, Sept. 3, 2000, in Granbury. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Brown Funeral Directors Chapel of the Fountains with the Rev. Andy Dietz officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Cemetery. Mr. Baxter was born in Borger and was a lifetime resident. He was a hospital counselor and a Baptist. Survivors include two daughters, Amy Fernandez of Borger and Allison Baxter of Amarillo; his parents, George and Norma Baxter of Borger; a brother, Glenn Baxter of Arlington; a sister, Rhonda Sperry of Borger; and two grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Cooper Group of the A.A. in Arlington; or Khiva Shrine Hospital for Crippled Children. PLAINVIEW - Novelle Mullins, 81, died Monday, Sept. 4, 2000, in Lubbock. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Rose Hill Cemetery at Tulia with the Rev. Ron Brunson, pastor of New Covenant Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Lemons Funeral Home. Mrs. Mullins was born in Tulia. She grew up in Tulia and Happy, attending schools in both towns. She was a resident of the Tulia and Happy areas, lived in California and Arizona a brief time and then returned to Tulia. She worked as a nurse in Tulia, Amarillo, Dimmitt and Plainview. In 1963 she moved to Plainview. She married William Clyde Mullins in 1936 at Clovis, N.M. He died in 1989. She also was preceded in death by two sons, Thomas Carl Mullins in 1990 and Clyde Odis Mullins in 1992. Survivors include three daughters, Dawn McCulloch of Plainview, Rita Mullins of Lubbock and Delores Weatherly of Amarillo; three sisters, Georgia Christine Webb of Amarillo, Bobbie Allison of Ontario, Calif., and Bebe Hollabaugh of Colorado Springs, Colo.; 15 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. BORGER - Myrtle May York, 83, died Saturday, Sept. 2, 2000. No services are planned at this time. Arrangements are by Mintonƒ/ƒChatwell Funeral Directors. Mrs. York was born in Auburn, Neb. and had lived in Borger since 1952. She attended the University of Texas. She worked as a bookkeeper for Merchants Motor Freight. She was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church. She married Gerald O. York in 1940 at Austin. He died in 1993. Survivors include three sons, Gerald York Jr. of Borger, William O. York Sr. of Childress and Richard O. York of Fort Wayne, Ind.; a daughter, Mary Barbara Rhodes of Hooker, Okla.; a brother, Clyde W. Quante of Austin; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. HEREFORD - Alice Lindell, 62, died Monday, Sept. 4, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in St. Anthony's Catholic Church with Jonny Cloud, deacon, officiating. Burial will be in St. Anthony's Catholic Cemetery by Gililland-Watson Funeral Home. Mrs. Lindell was born in Watertown, S.D. She moved to Texas in 1972 from Milbank, S.D. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church. She married Charles Lindell in 1964 at Watertown. Survivors include a daughter, Kim Bristol of Hereford; two sons, Kevin Lindell of Plano and Keith Lindell of Hereford; two brothers, Edward C. "Buddy" Stanley of Splendora and Stewart Benshoof of Dell Rapids, S.D.; four sisters, Patricia York and Eva Regnier, both of Watertown, Chrystal Davis of Castlewood, S.D., and Dolores Rumpka of Minneapolis; and two grandchildren. SUNRAY - Ana Maria Medina, 69, died Saturday, Sept. 2, 2000. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle, in Amarillo, by the Rev. Patrick Hoffman of St. Laurence Cathedral. Burial will be at a later date in Nuevo Mamipica, Chihuahua, Mexico. Mrs. Medina was born in Caredras, Chihuahua, Mexico. She had lived in Sunray seven years. She was a homemaker and member of the Catholic church. Survivors include her husband, Samuel Medina; three sons, Exequiel Medina and Jesus Medina, both of Sunray and Armando Medina of Hereford; 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Mrs. George (Lela) White, 78, of Amarillo, died Monday, Sept. 4, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Forest Hill Baptist Church with Walt Ellis, pastor, officiating. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Moore City Cemetery at Moore, Okla. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Martin Road Chapel, 15th Avenue and Martin Road, and John M. Ireland Funeral Home in Moore. Mrs. White moved to Amarillo from Moore in 1952. She was a licensed vocational nurse and a pink lady at High Plains Baptist Hospital for many years. She attended Apostolic Faith Church for many years, where she also taught Sunday school. She was a homemaker and a member of Forest Hill Baptist Church. She married George L. White in 1943 at Moore. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Barbara Lynn White-Triplett of Amarillo; two sisters, Mary Reed of Tecumseh, Okla., and Juanita Harrison of Norman, Okla.; two brothers, Harvey James Porter of Oklahoma City and Alfred Porter of Corpus Christi; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Connie Dell Armstrong, 59, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Sept. 3, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in River Road Fellowship with Faye Roberts, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mrs. Armstrong was born in Amarillo. She graduated from Palo Duro High School and attended a paralegal school. She married Roy Armstrong in 1967 at Amarillo. She was co-owner, with her husband, of Rocon Tire Co. She was involved with Cornerstone Outreach Ministries and intercessory prayer. She was a seamstress and wedding consultant. She was a member and librarian at River Road Fellowship. Survivors include her husband; four daughters, Pattie Pratt, Cathey Fredrick and Shirley Reynolds, all of Amarillo and Shelly Culver of Waco; three sons, Mike Armstrong, Tom Armstrong and Mitch Armstrong of Amarillo; her parents, E.W. Johnson and Wilma Johnson of Amarillo; a brother, David Johnson of Whitney; 31 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to African Ministry Team in care of Cornerstone Outreach Ministry, 1417 N.E. 15th Ave., Amarillo, TX 79107. David Spencer Littlehales, 53, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Sept. 2, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in West Amarillo Christian Church, 3701 Soncy Road, with Ron Kohler, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Littlehales was born in Mount Pleasant, Pa. He lived in Amarillo since 1972. He graduated from Tascosa High School and attended Amarillo College. He was a staff sergeant in the Air Force, serving in Vietnam. He was a member of the Retired Enlisted Association, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Air Force Sergeants Association and the American Military Society. He was a member of Amarillo Senior Citizens Association, American Association of Retired Persons and the West Amarillo Christian Church. Survivors include his mother, Ruth Thompson of Amarillo; two sisters, Wanda K. Henson and Betty L. Schuster, both of Amarillo; and four brothers, Tom Littlehales and David R. Thompson, both of Amarillo, John A. Thompson Jr. of Lincoln, N.M., and Charles S. Thompson of Alamogordo, N.M. W. Wayne "Boots" Railsback, 74, of Canyon, died Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2000. Vigil services and rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in Brooks Funeral Directors Chapel. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in St. Ann's Catholic Church with the Rev. Phu Phan officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery in Amarillo. Mr. Railsback was born in Margaret. He attended Thalia High School. During World War II he served in the Army infantry in Europe. He moved to Amarillo in 1948 and to Canyon in 1978. He was a member of Canyon Country Club and served on their board of directors. He was a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church. He married Gene Hoff in 1945 at Seguin. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Pam Hall of Amarillo and Mickey Boggess of San Antonio; a son, Ron Railsback of Amarillo; his father, Edd Railsback of Vernon; two sisters, Robbie Rodgers and Virginia Malone, both of Electra; three brothers, Dalton Railsback, Bobby Railsback and Orval Railsback, all of Vernon; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to St. Ann's Catholic Church, Building Fund, 38th Street and Conner Drive, Canyon, Texas, 79015; or Harrington Cancer Center, 1500 Wallace Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79106. CLOVIS, N.M. - Lee Hunter, 95, formerly of Clovis, died Monday, Sept. 4, 2000, in Roswell. Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens with Dr. Mark Scott officiating. Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Mrs. Hunter was born in Graham, Texas. She and Ann McGee opened Ann-Lee's Dress Shop and operated it for many years. She was a member of First United Methodist Church. She was living in Roswell at the time of her death. Survivors include a sister, Gladys Tindall of Shamrock, Texas. SAN JON, N.M. - Reuben Jesse Smith Jr., 80, died Monday, Sept. 4, 2000, in Tucumcari. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in First Baptist Church at San Jon with the Rev. Ben Talley, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Tucumcari Memorial Park Cemetery by Dunn Funeral Home of Tucumcari. Mr. Smith was born in Tucumcari. He served in the Army during World War II. He had been a longtime resident of San Jon, where he farmed for many years. He and his family owned the Smith Cafe and Motel and he ran a service station. He was a member of First Baptist Church and Veterans of Foreign Wars Delfido Gonzales Post No. 2528 in Tucumcari. He was preceded in death by a son, Jude Wayne Smith, in 1972. Survivors include his wife, Eileen Smith; five sons, R.J. Smith and Pat Smith, both of Albuquerque, Bob Smith of Lithia Springs, Ga., John Smith of Lubbock, Texas, and David Smith of Tucumcari; two daughters, Mary Ann Dominguez and Noreen Hendrickson, both of Tucumcari; 18 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Viewing will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. GUYMON, Okla. - Gretchen Alma Donovan, 92, formerly of Guymon, died Sunday, Sept. 3, 2000, in Amarillo. Vigil services will be at 7:30 p.m. today in Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home Chapel. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday in St. Peter's Catholic Church by the Rev. Scott Adams. Burial will be in Elmhurst Cemetery. Mrs. Donovan was born in Terre Haute, Ind. She moved to Guymon in 1963 from Terre Haute. She worked as a nurse's aide at Dunaway Manor for several years. She was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church. She married Harry T. Donovan in 1927 at Terre Haute. He died in 1967. She also was preceded in death by a son, Timothy Donovan; and by a daughter, Peggy Worley. Survivors include two sons, Patrick Donovan of Amarillo and Lawrence Donovan of North Augusta, S.C.; four daughters, Kathleen Smith-Nixon of Colleyville, Texas, Gretchen Samuelson of Everman, Texas, Ruth Raymond of Sunray, Texas, and Mary Jane Volden of Dumas, Texas; a brother, Rudolph Stakeman of Terre Haute; a sister, Grace Good of Terre Haute; 17 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials to American Heart Association or a favorite charity. Memorials will be accepted at the funeral home. The family will greet friends at 6:30 p.m. today at the funeral home. CLOVIS, N.M. - Mabel F. Donahey Pate, 78, died Monday, Sept. 4, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Ron Brewer officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery at Pleasant Hill by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Mrs. Pate was born on a farm near Pleasant Hill. She attended school in Claude and Pleasant Hill. She attended Benson Business College in Clovis. She began working at Lubbock Air Force Base in Lubbock, Texas, in 1943. She later worked in the city clerk's Office in Clovis, for accountant Darwin Sprouls and as a bookkeeper at the Senior Meal site. She was a member of Clovis Nite Owls Club and Trinity United Methodist Church. Survivors include a son, Dennis R. Pate of Clovis; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. RISING STAR - Russell Richard Barnett, 84, died Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2000, in Brownwood. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Higginbotham Funeral Home Chapel with Jack Ruth officiating. Burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Llano Cemetery in Amarillo. Mr. Barnett was born in Woodward, Okla. He lived in Claude 50 years and moved to Rising Star two years ago. He was a farmer and rancher in the Amarillo area. He married Ruth Irene Erwin in 1935 at Amarillo. He was preceded in death by a son, Danny Barnett. Survivors include his wife; a son, Rick Barnett of Rising Star; five sisters, Velma Franks of Panhandle, Lona Fithen of Washburn, Lena Triplett of Lake Tanglewood, Bonnie Goodwin of Supply, Okla., and Elsie Hill of Amarillo; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials be to the American Heart Association. LUBBOCK - Ettie Estell Hindman, 81, died Saturday, Sept. 2, 2000. Services were at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Sanders Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Terry Sanders, pastor of Trinity Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in the city of Lubbock Cemetery. Mrs. Hindman was born in Lubbock County and graduated from New Deal High School. She lived in Ralls and Petersburg before moving to Lubbock in 1941. She worked as bookkeeper for Hindman Radio & TV for many years. She was a homemaker and charter member of the Trinity Baptist Church. She married Early C. Hindman, Jr. in 1939 at Floydada. He died 1989. Survivors include two daughters, Norma Gail Noble of Lubbock and Anita Joyce Eaves of Dallas; a son, Kenneth Ray Hindman of Amarillo; eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Trinity Baptist Church, Building Fund, 2707 34th St., Lubbock, TX 79413. ANTON - Patsy Jones, 79, died Thursday, Aug. 31, 2000, in Levelland. Services were at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Rush Coffman, pastor, and the Rev. Syl Moore officiating. Burial will be in Anton Cemetery by Hammons Funeral Home of Littlefield. Mrs. Jones was born in Iredell. She moved to Anton in 1943 from Clovis, N.M. She worked for Jones Grocery in Anton from 1943 to 1954. She married Raymond Jones Sr. in 1943 at Clovis. They owned and operated Anton Coffee Shop from 1954-1956. He died in 1997. In 1962 she went to work for First National Bank of Littlefield and retired in 1982. Mrs. Jones was a member of Anton Senior Citizens and First Baptist Church. She also was preceded in death by a son, Raymond Wayne Jones Jr., in 1982. Survivors include a daughter, Beverly Buchanan of Anton; a sister, Murlene Smith of Iredell; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.