Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 10 March 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; Friday, March 10, 2000, 6:23 AM Amarillo Justin Lee Griffin Justin Lee Griffin, 24, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, March 8, 2000. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in BlackburnShaw Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street, with Jason Welch of First Assembly of God Church, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Griffin was born in Canyon. He graduated from Plainview High School. He had worked in construction and for Playcation Pools. He was preceded in death by a son, Justin Thomas Griffin, in 1995 and his parents, Cynthia Griffin and Cloyd Griffin, both in 1997. Survivors include a brother, Gary Griffin of Dumas; a sister, Terry Hopson of Dumas; and grandparents, Naoma and Doc Sartain of Amarillo and Steve Griffin of Dumas. Amarillo Daily News, March 10, 2000 Willie O. Chapman Willie O. Chapman, 71, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, March 8, 2000. No services are planned at this time. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mr. Chapman was born in Monroe Township, Iowa, and moved to Amarillo in 1980 from Omaha, Neb. He was a vendor at T-Anchor Flea Market. Survivors include a son, Kelley Chapman of Denver, and a brother, Ronald Daniels of Amarillo. Amarillo Daily News, March 10, 2000 Delbert Wheeler Delbert "Son" Wheeler, 73, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, March 7, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in South Lawn Baptist Church, 4306 S. Washington, with the Rev. Greg Kinch officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Wheeler was born in Antlers, Okla., and lived in the Panhandle area most of his life. He worked for Phillips Petroleum and was in law enforcement. He was a member of South Lawn Baptist Church, Family Camping Travel Club, Western Swing Society and the Southwest Western Swing Music Society. He married Willa Dean Watson in 1957 at Dumas. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Sandra Danler of Emporia, Kan., and Brenda Anthony and Erlene Wheeler, both of Amarillo; three sons, Robert Del Smith of Borger and Terry Earl Wheeler and Greg Wheeler, both of Amarillo; two sisters, Joshie Lee Madson of Upland, Calif., and Floris Dooley of Henderson, Ky.; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to South Lawn Baptist Church, 4306 S. Washington, Amarillo, TX 79110. Amarillo Daily News, March 10, 2000 Eugene W. Johnson Eugene W. Johnson, 81, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, March 8, 2000. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Memorial Park Cemetery with Jay Roberson, pastor of Liberty Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mr. Johnson was born in Mount Pleasant and moved to Amarillo in 1942. He was owner of a truck stop and a Baptist. He married Evelyn Johnson in 1937 at Mount Pleasant. He was preceded in death by his wife in 1993 and by a son, Carroll Johnson, in 1939. Survivors include a daughter, Elaine Determan of Amarillo; a son, Clinton Johnson of Amarillo; a sister, Dorothy Voll of Etter; a brother, Max Johnson of Lubbock; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice. Amarillo Daily News, March 10, 2000 Wade Crist Wade Crist, 60, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, March 8, 2000. Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in Palo Duro Cemetery in Wildorado. Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in South Georgia Baptist Church with the Rev. Bob Miller, pastor, and Johnny McBroom, brother-in-law, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Crist was born in Maxwell, N.M., and had lived in Amarillo for 10 years. He previously lived in Wildorado for 30 years. He was in the fertilizer, fuel and aerial spraying business. He was a member of South Georgia Baptist Church. He married Verna Kay McBroom in 1958 at Wildorado. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Wendy Sumpter of Bushland; two sons, Clay Crist and Lyle Crist, both of Wildorado; sisters, Marie Kear of Oklahoma City, Mabel Pagett of Denver and Florine Pennock of Las Cruces, N.M.; five brothers, Doug Crist of Oxnard, Calif., Ron Crist of Hereford, Del Crist of Canyon, Gary Crist of Hong Kong and Garland Crist of Arroyo Grande, Calif.; and nine grandchildren. The family will be at 7923 Mitcham. They suggest memorials be to Amarillo Area Crisis Pregnancy Center or South Georgia Baptist Church Building Fund. Amarillo Daily News, March 10, 2000 Ophelia Valentine Ophelia Valentine, 90, of Amarillo, died Thursday, March 9, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Memorial Park Funeral Home, Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with Gene Shelburne, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Valentine was born in Bard, N.M., and was a longtime Amarillo resident. In 1971, she retired from Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. She was a member of the Pioneer Club and Anna Street Church of Christ. She married Ursel Valentine in 1941 at Clovis, N.M. He died in 1981. Survivors include a daughter, Patsy Hefner of Amarillo; two sisters, Nina Lou Cole and Tommie Barbour, both of Bellflower, Calif.; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to St. Ann's Nursing Home in Panhandle. Amarillo Daily News, March 10, 2000 New Mexico Willard Forrest Moberly CLOVIS, N.M. - Willard Forrest Moberly, 83, died Wednesday, March 8, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. todayin SteedTodd Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Lance Clemmons officiating. Burial will be in Melrose Cemetery at Melrose. Mr. Moberly was born in Laverne,Okla. He lived in the Fields Community from 1929 until 1961, when he moved to Clovis. He was a farmer and worked for the Curry County road crew. He was a member of Fields United Methodist Church and the Fraternal Order of Eagles Clovis Aerie No. 3245. Survivors include his wife, Bonnie Faye Moberly; a son, Larry Moberly of Melrose; two daughters, Jo Marie Barnes of Artesia and Vicki Jan Hartsfield of Clovis; a brother, Wilbur Moberly of Clovis; seven grandchildren; and 12 greatgrandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Fraternal Order of Eagles Golden Eagle Fund, P.O. Box 164, Clovis, NM 88101. Amarillo Daily News, March 10, 2000 Wilbur Barnaby CLOVIS, N.M. - Wilbur "Ike" Barnaby, 72, died Tuesday, March 7, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dean Turvaville officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens. Mr. Barnaby was born in Howard, Kan., and had lived in Clovis for 34 years. He managed the Pepsi Bottling Co. until his retirement. He was active in the Clovis Noonday Kiwanis Club. He married Loretta "Dee" Lewis in 1953 at Independence, Kan. She died in 1994. Survivors include a son, Robert Barnaby of Cleburne, Texas; two daughters, Rita Martin of Keithville, La., and Anita Reid of Moscow Mills, Mo.; two brothers, Glen Barnaby of Longton, Kan., and Jim Barnaby of Barnsdall, Okla.; a sister, Millie Bryan of Independence; and seven grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Clovis Noonday Kiwanis Children's Christmas Fund, c/o Gary Young, 1705 Windsor Way, Clovis, NM 88101. Amarillo Daily News, March 10, 2000 Oklahoma Margarita M. Rodriquez GUYMON, Okla. - Margarita M. Rodriquez, 78, died Tuesday, March 7, 2000. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. today in St. Peter's Catholic Church by the Rev. Scott Adams. Burial will be in Elmhurst Cemetery by Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home. Mrs. Rodriquez was born in Bracketville, Texas and moved to Guymon in 1970 from Olton, Texas. She was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church, where she served as a Eucharist minister and lector. She also was involved with the Cursillo Club and Guadalupanas. She married Jose Rodriquez in 1959 at Ciudad Acuna, Mexico. Survivors include her husband; five children, Raul Montez of Killeen, Texas, Christina Vela of Perryton, Texas, Cora Mae Westbrook of Edmond, Irene Schaffer of Turpin and Frankie Joe Rodriquez of Okmulgee; five brothers; two sisters; 17 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the American Hearth Association, c/o Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1112, Guymon, OK 73942. Amarillo Daily News, March 10, 2000 Elsewhere Domingo Rosas ABERNATHY - Domingo D.O. Rosas, 90, died Wednesday, March 8, 2000, in Lubbock. Services will be at 10 a.m. todayin Abernathy Primera Iglesia Bautista with the Rev. Ruben Rodriguez of Plainview officiating. Burial will be in Abernathy Cemetery by Abell Funeral Home. Mr. Rosas was born in Brady. He moved to the Cotton Center area from Big Spring in the late 1940s and to Abernathy in the late 1960s. He was a farmer and a member of Baptist Mission Church. He married Margarita Martinez in 1942 at Eden. She died in 1985. Survivors include four sons, Ben Rosas of Abernathy, Ruben Rosas of Petersburg, Roy Rosas of Slaton and Salvador Rosas of Dallas; four daughters, Maria Montez of Wolfforth, Alice Martinez and Juanita Rosas, both of Amarillo, and Margie Soto of Idalou; 31 grandchildren; 59 great-grandchildren; and four great-greatgrandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Petersburg Hispanic Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 156, Petersburg, TX 79250; or Primera Iglesia Bautista, 1106 Jerome, Abernathy, TX 79311. Amarillo Daily News, March 10, 2000 Area Ruby Irene Brannon HEREFORD - Ruby Irene Brannon, 84, died Wednesday, March 8, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Rose Chapel of Gililland-Watson Funeral Home with the Rev. Woody Wiggins, pastor of Country Road Church of God, officiating. Burial will be in Rest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Brannon was born in Bushyhead, Okla., and moved to Deaf Smith County in 1953 from Las Cruces, N.M. She was a homemaker and member of Country Road Church of God. She married Lee Roy Brannon in 1931 at Bartlesville, Okla. He died in 1976. She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Betty Word, in 1996; and by twin sons in 1942. Survivors include two sons, Johnnie Brannon of Hereford and Jerry Brannon of Las Vegas; three daughters, Alice Ash, Jean Powell and Donna Fortenberry, all of Hereford; 24 grandchildren; 45 greatgrandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Kings Manor / Westgate. Amarillo Daily News, March 10, 2000 Evonne Davis BORGER - Evonne Hubbard Davis, 85, died Wednesday, March 8, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Brown Funeral Directors Chapel of the Fountains with the Rev. David FloydHarp, pastor of Wesley United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. today in Wheeler Cemetery at Wheeler. Mrs. Davis was born in Wheeler County and had lived in Borger for 50 years. She was an Avon sales representative and a member of Wesley United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bernice Davis, in 1994. Survivors include nieces and nephews, including Patricia Johnson of Pampa, Lloyd Johnson and Edgar Hubbard, both of Canyon, and Kay Bernard and Josephine Richards, both of Amarillo. Amarillo Daily News, March 10, 2000 Arlene Clark Arlene Virginia Poole Clark, 90, formerly of Amarillo, died Wednesday, March 8, 2000, in Sinton. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Church of Christ at Turkey. Graveside services will be at 3:45 p.m. in Clarendon.Arrangements are by Ritchea-Gonzales Funeral Home. Mrs. Clark was born in Graham. She graduated from high school in Quitaque and attended West Texas State Teachers College in Canyon for two years. She had owned a restaurant in Borger, where she lived from the late 1940s until 1970. Mrs. Clark moved to Amarillo and worked as a dietitian at Bivins Memorial Nursing Home until her retirement at age 80. She was a member of the Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by two husbands, Homer Poole, in 1946, and Elmo Clark in 1969. Survivors include a son, John Anthony "Tony" Poole of Amarillo; a daughter, Gwendolyn Virginia Parker of Sinton; a brother, Leonard Lusk of Lubbock; a sister, Gladys Wilson of Turkey; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Viewing will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Church of Christ in Turkey. Amarillo Daily News, March 10, 2000 Charles R. Cooley BORGER - Charles R. Cooley, 79, died Wednesday, March 8, 2000, in Amarillo. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. today in First United Methodist Church with Dr. David Jones, pastor of First United Methodist Church officiating. Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Directors. Mr. Cooley was born in Vinita, Okla., and had been a Borger resident for 57 years. During World War II, he served in the Navy. He retired as a supervisor of purchasing with Phillips Petroleum. He received the Phillips Petroleum Award for Community Service. He was a past vice president of Frank Phillips Men's club. He had been a usher, Sunday school secretary and sponsor of youth groups at First United Methodist Church. He worked with H.O.P.E. and the United Way. Mr. Cooley served three terms as president of the Borger Evening Lions Club. He was a past lieutenant governor and district governor of Lions International. The Texas Lions gave him the Melvin Jones Award. He was a life member of High Plains Eye Bank. He was president of Central PTA and Toastmasters and served on the boards of Teen Town and Girlstown USA. He was a Plainsman Partner for FPC. He married Lou Gecks in 1938 at Stillwater, Okla. Survivors include his wife; a son, John Charles Cooley of Euless; three daughters, Charlotte Jane Covington of Irving, Darla Jeanne Ferguson of Big Spring and Loue Anne Cooper of Huffman; 10 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter. The family suggests memorials be to the American Cancer Society, c/o H.O.P.E., 1600 Primrose, Borger, TX 79007. Amarillo Daily News, March 10, 2000 Jessie Gillespie CHILDRESS - Jessie Gillespie, 87, died Thursday, March 9, 2000. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Childress Cemetery with the Rev. John Givens, pastor of Central Christian Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Johnson Funeral Home of Childress. Mrs. Gillespie was born in Texas. She was a mail carrier for Cee Vee and a seamstress for the public. She married Karl Gillespie in 1929 at Childress. He died in January. Survivors include a son, Hildie Gillespie of Derby, Kan.; three daughters, Donna Hawkins of Amarillo, Della Henry of Canyon and Odessa Huff of Childress; seven grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the American Cancer Society; Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 1073, Childress, TX 79201; or Hospice of Childress, P.O. Box 1030, Childress, TX 79201. Amarillo Daily News, March 10, 2000 Jose Alvarez DIMMITT - Jose Alvarez, 76, died Wednesday, March 8, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with the Rev. Fern Couture, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in West Lawn Memorial Park in Dimmitt by Gililland-Watson Funeral Home of Hereford. Mr. Alvarez was born in Cealo Januto, Mexico, and moved to Texas in 1942. In 1949, he moved to Deaf Smith County from Edinburg. He retired as a farmer and was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Dimmitt. He married Celia Reyes in 1947 at Edinburg. He was preceded in death by two sons, Ruben Alvarez and Armondo Alvarez, and by a daughter, Maria Elvida Oviedo. Survivors include his wife; five sons, Joe Alvarez Jr., Lee Alvarez and Rene Villegas, all of Dimmitt, Frank Alvarez of Plainview and Martin Alvarez of Dallas; four daughters, SanJuana Moreno, Isabel Alvarez and Maria Castillo, all of Dimmitt, and Ann Torrez of Orlando, Fla.; two sisters, Benita Navarro Alvarez and Juana Alvarez, both of Cealo Januto; 22 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren. Viewing will be today at the church. Amarillo Daily News, March 10, 2000