Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 12 Oct 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, Oct. 12, 2000 Steve Whorton Steve Whorton, 45, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2000. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Central Church of Christ with Carroll Thomason officiating. Arrangements are by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mr. Whorton was born in Fort Carson, Colo. In 1992, he moved to Amarillo from Lubbock. He graduated from Monterey High School in Lubbock and attended South Plains College at Levelland. He was self-employed in the oil field industry from 1982 to 1990 and worked for Rhode Construction of Amarillo from 1990 to 1994. He was a member of the Central Church of Christ. Survivors include a daughter, Stephanie Weingartner of Lubbock; a son, Pfc. Stacy Shane Whorton of Amarillo; his mother, Jo Anne Whorton of Lubbock; his father, Bill Whorton of Lubbock; a sister, Suzanne Lewis of Austin; a brother, Michael Whorton of Bulverde; and a special friend, James Day of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials be to Central Church of Christ. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 12, 2000 Hurles E. Scales Hurles E. Scales, 82, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Oct. 7, 2000. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in New Hope Baptist Church with the Rev. David Hill, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Golden Gate Mortuary, 1416 N. Hughes St. Mr. Scales was born and raised in Clarksville. He served in the military during World War II, earning four bronze stars. He retired after 44 years from Santa Fe Railway and had worked part-time for Golden Gate Mortuary. He was a member of the New Hope Baptist Church. He married Frankie Roberts in 1941. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Mozella Coffey and Eulis Nelson, both of Amarillo and Elnora Jackson of St. Louis; two sons, Hurles Scales Jr. of Dallas and Alton Scales of Chanute, Kan.; a brother, Clarence English of Houston; a sister, Thelma Espy of St. Louis; 10 grandchildren; and seven greatgrandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 12, 2000 Paul Ray Gilmore Paul Ray Gilmore, 34, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Southlawn Assembly of God with Jerald Middaugh, pastor, officiating. Military rites will be rendered from the Disabled American Veterans Chapter No. 26. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St. Mr. Gilmore was born in Amarillo and attended Caprock High School. He had served in the 82nd Airborne Infantry Division in the Army. He was assistant manager at Speedco. He was a member of the Southlawn Assembly of God. He married Selina Escamilla in 1991 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Katrina Gilmore; a son, Matthew Gilmore; his parents, Paul and Denita "Cookie" Gilmore of Amarillo, a brother, Ronnie Gilmore of Amarillo; a sister, Kristi Waters of Amarillo; and his grandparents, Clarence and Christine Yarber of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials be to Alcoholics Anonymous, 1301 S. Taylor St., Amarillo, TX 79101. The family will be at 2721 S. Highland St. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 12, 2000 New Mexico Opal Jackson CLOVIS, N.M. - Opal Jackson, 79, died Monday, Oct. 9, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel with Bill Snow officiating. Burial will be in Mission Garden of Memories. Mrs. Jackson was born in Graham, Texas, and had been a longtime Clovis resident. She was a homemaker and drove a school bus for 23 years. She was a member of Prince Street Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by two husbands, Clyde Apple and James D. Jackson; and by her companion, Bill "Jonsey" Jones. Survivors include three daughters, Carinne Hardige of Hereford, Texas, Jeanie Bailey of Clovis and Norma J. Baird of San Antonio; 12 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and a great-greatgrandchild. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. The family will be at 1405 Hillcrest. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 12, 2000 Amarillo Hubert E. Gunter Hubert E. Gunter, 83, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church Chapel with the Rev. Lynn Garrett of the church officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Gunter was born in Willis. He retired in 1981 as a conductor for Santa Fe Railway. He had worked the past three years as a greeter at Wal-Mart. He was a member of First Baptist Church. He married Bertha Lowrance in 1936 at Roaring Springs. Survivors include his wife; a son, Ricky Gunter of Albuquerque, N.M.; a sister, Estelle Mize of Amarillo; two brothers, Francis Gunter of Floydada and Robert Duren of Duncan, Okla.; and three grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176. The family will be at 3500 Crockett St Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 12, 2000 Robert Carrera David Carrera Robert Kawaha Carrera, 11, of Amarillo, died Friday, Oct. 6, 2000, and his brother, David Kawaha Carrera, 13, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Oct. 8, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Fairview Assembly of God with the Rev. Cliff Houghton and the Rev. Jimmy Beggs officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Robert was born in Juarez, Mexico. He was a student at Humphrey's Highland Elementary School and was a member of Fairview Assembly of God. David was born in Juarez. He was a student at James Bowie Middle School and was a member of Fairview Assembly of God. Their survivors include a brother, Jonathon Kawaha of Juarez; their parents, Debra and Manuel Carrera of Amarillo; grandparents, Delbert and Doris Stewart of Amarillo; and a great-grandmother, Allene Stewart of Hammon, Okla. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 12, 2000 Billy Earl Hicks Billy Earl Hicks, 66, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Oct. 8, 2000. Memorial services will be at 4 p.m. today in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle, with the Rev. Robert Field, pastor of Southeast Baptist Church, officiating. Mr. Hicks was born in Briartown, Okla., and had lived in Amarillo since 1958. He worked at the Asarco plant. He married Carole Cole in 1983 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Peggy Ann Hicks, Sherry Kay Hicks and Ramona Noblitt, all of Amarillo; two stepsons, Doyle Ward of Amarillo and Jacky Ward of Lubbock; a stepdaughter, Vicki Coburn of Amarillo; two sisters, Deane Carwick of Geary, Okla., and Eunice Montgomery of Hemet, Calif.; two half-sisters, Joanee Noyes of Bethany, Okla., and Yvonne Schultz of Geary; four stepbrothers, Tom Hicks of Hydro, Okla., and James Hicks, Alvin Hicks and Mack Hicks, all of Geary; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 12, 2000 Mark Richard Hefley Mark Richard Hefley, 38, of Amarillo, died Monday, Oct. 9, 2000, in Oklahoma. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in San Jacinto United Methodist Church with the Rev. Bill Fitzgerald, pastor, and the Rev. Bobby Medford, associate pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Llano East Cemetery by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St. Mr. Hefley was born in Amarillo. He attended Amarillo High School. He worked for the Coca-Cola distribution center as facility maintenance supervisor. He was a member of San Jacinto United Methodist Church and the Buffalo Radio Control Flying Club. He married Penni Higgins in 1997 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Cassandra Whatley of Amarillo and Jennifer Kurnes of the home; a son, Mark Allen Hefley of Amarillo; two sisters, Barbara Quilla of Perth Amboy, N.J., and Daylyn Michael of Amarillo; a brother, Ronnie Hefley of Wildorado; his parents, Ron and Mary Hefley of Amarillo; and a grandmother, Ruby Hefley of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials be to San Jacinto United Methodist Church, 505 Tennessee St., Amarillo, TX 79106. The family will be at 3811 N.E. 20th Ave. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 12, 2000 Wanda L. Taylor Wanda L. Wyrick Bonds Taylor, 78, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in First Baptist Church with Dr. Howard Batson of the church officiating. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Friday in Rose Hill Cemetery at Tulia with the Rev. Jeff Raines of First Baptist Church in Amarillo officiating. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mrs. Taylor was born in Tulia. She retired in 1990 as a medical technologist. She moved to Amarillo in 1996 from Pampa. She was a member of First Baptist Church and the Women's Missionary Union and Heritage Club at FBC. She married Robert Bonds in 1940 at Plainview. He died in 1954. She married Woodrow Taylor in 1960 at Tulia. He died in 1973. Survivors include three daughters, Janette Taylor of Amarillo, Ann Marshall of Burleson and Linda Maghan of Mesquite; a son, David Taylor of Amarillo; two sisters, Lou Grossman and Laraine Willison, both of McAllen; a brother, Willis Wyrick of McAllen; seven grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors Bell Avenue Chapel, 5400 Bell St. The family will be at 6600 Plum Creek, Apt. 134. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 12, 2000 Ralph Ribble Ralph Ribble, 91, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Colonial Funeral Chapel, 1010 W. Ninth Ave. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Ribble was born in Petty and was a longtime resident of Amarillo. He had been a bus driver and retired from the maintenance department at Amarillo College. He was a member of Pleasant Valley Church of Christ. He married Christine Benson in 1944. She died in 1997. Survivors include a son, Tony Wadlow of Jefferson, Ore.; two daughters, Anna Ratliff of Amarillo and Phyllis Mitchell of Waco; 13 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and one great-greatgrandchild. The body will be available for viewing from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and the family will greet friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 12, 2000 Alex Joe Renteria Alex Joe Renteria, 35, formerly of Amarillo, died Friday, Oct. 6, 2000, in Dallas. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Arrangements were by Oak Cliff Funeral Chapel in Dallas. Mr. Renteria was born in Amarillo and attended Caprock High School. He had lived in Dallas for the past 16 years. Survivors include two brothers, Rudy Renteria and Adam Renteria, both of Amarillo; a sister, Michelle Renteria of Amarillo; his parents, Joe and Aurrora Renteria of Amarillo; grandparents, Martin and Gloria Renteria of Amarillo; and a special friend, Robert Furgunson. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 12, 2000 V.R. Wilmarth V.R. "Dick" Wilmarth, 79, of Amarillo died Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2000. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in First Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Dr. Jim Bankhead and the Rev. Dr. Murray Gossett officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Wilmarth was born in De Smet, S.D., and moved to Amarillo in 1994. He graduated from South Dakota School of Mines and received his doctorate in engineering geology from Princeton University. He was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force during World War II and served in the South Pacific. After the war, Mr. Wilmarth worked for the U.S. Geological Survey and participated in the testing of the atomic bombs in White Sands, N.M. He went to work for NASA when the agency was formed and was ultimately stationed at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. He married Mary Jackson Duckett on Dec. 31, 1969, in Webster. As a geologist, he helped train the astronauts who would gather rock samples from the lunar surface during the Apollo missions. He also studied those samples once they were returned to Earth. During the Skylab program, Mr. Wilmarth developed a package of experiments to be performed by the astronauts stationed on the country's first space station. The experiments were designed to determine how the Earth could be studied from space. He retired in 1978 as chief scientist for JSC. After retirement, Mr. Wilmarth and his wife, Mary, went into the antiques business, and he specialized in restoring antiques from the late 1700s and early 1800s. Mr. Wilmarth was a former Rotarian and a member of First Presbyterian Church. He was active in men's Bible study and the New Testament Sunday school class. Survivors include his wife; a brother, Earl Wilmarth of Kadoka, S.D.; three daughters, Kathryn Harrell of Summerville, S.C., Cynthia Hilton of Charleston, S.C., and Phyllis Sullivan of Birmingham, Ala.; two sons, William Wilmarth of Aiken, Ga., and Dorsey Wilmarth of Amarillo; three grandsons, nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials to the First Presbyterian Church building fund. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 12, 2000 Elsewhere John Houston Hasler BURNET - John Houston Eli Hasler, 67, died Sunday, Oct. 8, 2000. Services were at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Edgar Funeral Home with Rob Robertson and Pat Pilley officiating. Burial was in Post Mountain Cemetery. Mr. Hasler was born in Selah, Wash. Survivors include his wife, Mary Dean Hasler of Burnet; three daughters, Rita Francis Moore of Mesquite and Renee Jewett Reed and Laura Yvonne Craig, both of Burnet; nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 12, 2000 Jim Thomas SLATON - Jim Thomas, 57, died Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Cleve Kerby, pastor, and the Rev. Jim Wilkerson, of San Angelo, officiating. Burial will be in Englewood Cemetery by Englunds Funeral Service. Mr. Thomas was born in Oklahoma City. In 1961, he graduated from Wellington High School. He moved to Slaton from Lubbock in 1982. He was the owner of Thomas Ceramic Tile and a member of the Chain Gang Bowling League. He was active with church youth at Westview Baptist Church and the First Baptist Church. He was a member of the Men's Brotherhood, the Men's Downtown Bible class and First Baptist Church. He married Judy Fondy in 1982 at Clovis, N.M. Survivors include his wife; and three brothers, Bobby, Ray and Glenn Thomas, all of Wellington. The family suggests memorials in lieu of flowers be to Jim Thomas Memorial Fund at Citizens Bank, P.O. Box 727, Slaton, TX 79364. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 12, 2000 Fay Griffin MCADOO - Fay Griffin, 86, died Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2000. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in McAdoo First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Bud Kidwell, pastor, and the Rev. Johnnie Williams officiating. Graveside services will be at 5 p.m. today in Shamrock Cemetery at Shamrock with the Rev. Jack Lee, pastor of Shamrock First Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Adams Funeral Home of Crosbyton. Mrs. Griffin was born in Lela. In 1962, she moved from Shamrock to McAdoo. She had worked in the McAdoo School lunch room for 20 years. She was a homemaker and a member of the McAdoo First United Methodist Church. She married Robert Griffin in 1934 at Sayre, Okla. He died in 1955. She married Jim Griffin in 1962 at McAdoo. He died in 1984. Survivors include two sons, Bobby Griffin of Shamrock and Leo Griffin of Haskell; seven daughters, Modene Scott of Shamrock, Ann Grimes of Abernathy, June Sawyer of Odessa, Cleta Van Meter and Neta Hickman, both of McAdoo, Lela Dean of Artesia, N.M., and Billie Evans of Lamoni, Iowa; three brothers, Paul Pike of Groesbeck, Lemy Pike of Childress and Lonnie Pike of Brownwood; a sister, Eloise Haws of Shamrock; 25 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; and great-great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 12, 2000 Area Maggie Mae Thompson PAMPA - Maggie Mae Thompson, 77, formerly of Pampa, died Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2000, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with John Love, pastor of Trinity Fellowship Church in Amarillo, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mrs. Thompson was born in Los Angeles. She moved to Pampa in 1950 from Arizona. She was a cook at the Coronado Inn and the Black Gold. She moved to Howardwick in 1987. She was a Baptist. She married Bob Thompson in 1981 at Amarillo. She was preceded in death by a son, Jerry Dale McPherson, in 1952. Survivors include her husband; four sons, John McPherson of Amarillo, Sam McPherson of Borger, Jim McPherson of Elk City, Okla., and Bill McPherson of Fairborn, Ohio; a stepson, Robert L. Thompson of Las Vegas, N.M.; 12 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 12, 2000 Lela Valene Hayes PLAINVIEW - Lela Valene "Teeny" Hayes, 82, died Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in 11th and Amarillo Street Church of Christ with Dee Teel of Plainview officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park by Wood-Dunning Funeral Home. Mrs. Hayes was born and raised in Gunter. She attended Lippert Business College in Plainview. She married Andrew T. Hayes in 1935 at Dennison. They farmed in Grayson County until moving in 1953 to Plainview, where they continued to farm. After her husband's death in 1966, Mrs. Hayes continued to farm until retiring in 1971. She was a member of 11th and Amarillo Street Church of Christ. Survivors include two sons, Don Hayes and Bill Hayes, both of Plainview; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 12, 2000 Billie J. White HEREFORD - Billie J. White, 70, died Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in West Way Baptist Church with the Rev. Mark Purifoy officiating. Burial will be in Rest Lawn Memorial Park by Parkside Chapel Funeral Home. Mrs. White was born in Paris, Texas. She received a degree as a legal secretary at a college in Paris. She had lived in Hereford for 31 years. She had been a healthcare provider at King's Manor. She was a member of First Baptist Church and the Hereford Elks Lodge women's group. She married Jack White in 1968 at San Angelo. He died in 1991. Survivors include two daughters, Sandra Birmingham of Hereford and Sherrie Satterfield of Amarillo; a son, Ed White of Paris; two brothers, Jerry Ashford of Jacksonville and William Goforth of Edgewood, Md.; a sister, Wanda Cain of Spencerville, Okla.; four grandchildren; 10 stepgrandchildren; and great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the National Kidney Foundation. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 12, 2000 Gloria Jean Walker QUANAH - Gloria Jean Walker, 53, died Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Greg Kennedy, the Rev. Jesse Dea and the Rev. Donald Tittle, officiating. Burial will be in Quanah Memorial Park by Price-Jackson Funeral Home. Mrs. Walker was born in Lubbock and moved to Quanah. She graduated cum laude and earned a bachelor's degree in management and ethics at Mid-America Bible College in Oklahoma City. She married Ronald Walker in 1966 at Wellington and they moved to Eldorado, Okla. Mrs. Walker was a member of the First United Methodist Church and served on their finance committee. She served on the Main Street Project, Dickens Parade Committee and was a member of the Quanah and Altus Investment Club. She participated in the American Cancer Relay for Life and was office manager for Mary Ann Naylor CPA. She returned to Quanah three years ago. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Rick Walker of Quanah and Michael Walker of Edmond, Okla.; a daughter, Jill Walker Roper of Austin; her mother, Lula Mae Ross of Quanah; two brothers, Richard Ross of Quanah and Terry Ross of Killeen; a sister; Brenda Tittle of Daingerfield; and three grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to First United Methodist Church; or the American Cancer Society. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 12, 2000 Lola E. Schafer CANADIAN - Lola E. Schafer, 93, died Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2000. Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Edith Ford Memorial Cemetery with the Rev. Mike Schafer, pastor of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Lubbock, and the Rev. Les Hall, pastor of the Canadian First United Methodist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Stickley-Hill Funeral Directors. Mrs. Schafer was born in Lipscomb County and was a lifelong resident of Lipscomb and Hemphill counties. She was a homemaker and worked at Woody's Boot Shop. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church. She married William George Schafer in 1927 at Ochiltree County. He died in 1983. Survivors include four sons, Jimmy R. Schafer, Billy D. Schafer, Lynard G. Schafer and Jerry L. Schafer, all of Canadian; a sister, Lena Jones of Amarillo; 15 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson. The family suggests memorials be to Hemphill County Hospice, 1020 S. Fourth St., Canadian, TX 79014. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 12, 2000 Patsy Hopkins QUANAH - Patsy Hopkins, 58, died Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2000. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Quanah Memorial Park with the Rev. John Spangler, minister of the Trinity Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Price-Jackson Funeral Home. Mrs. Hopkins was born in DeKalb. She moved from Burkburnett to Quanah eight years ago. She was a homemaker and a member of the Trinity Baptist Church. Survivors include her ex-husband, James Tubbs of Quanah; six sisters, Frances Griffin and June Duncan, both of Quanah, Inez Campbell of Ranger, Utah, Joyce Laycek of Oklahoma City, Barbara Fay Legion of Blossom and Joan Kurkendile of Bowie; and a brother, Bobby Duncan of Vernon. The family suggests memorials be to the American Cancer Society.