Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 13 May 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, May 13, 2000, 5:04 AM Last updated; Saturday, May 13, 2000, 4:59 AM Amarillo Wanda Huddleston Wanda Huddleston, 65, of Amarillo, died Thursday, May 11, 2000. Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. today in Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with the Rev. Roland Jarnagin, pastor of House of Prayer, officiating. Mrs. Huddleston was born in Beckham County, Okla. In 1953, she graduated from Dumas High School. She was a graduate of Somerset School of Massage Therapy at Somerset, N.J. She moved to Amarillo from Dumas in 1951 and was a retired massage therapist. She was a past member of Amarillo's Artist Studios. She married Bob Huddleston in 1963 at Amarillo. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Nona Granger of Amarillo; two sons, Robert Jeffrey Huddleston and Billy Ross Huddleston, both of Amarillo; her mother, Thelma Cullison of Amarillo; and three grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Olivia's Angels; Baptist St. Anthony's Hospital; or a favorite charity. Amarillo Daily News, May 13, 2000 Norma Jeane Ray Norma Jeane Ray, 71, of Amarillo, died Monday, May 8, 2000. No services are planned. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Ray was born in Amarillo and had lived here all her life. She was a homemaker. Survivors include a son, David Clark of Albuquerque, N.M.; a brother, Harry Wheeler of Amarillo; and two grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, May 13, 2000 Linnie Akers Dowell Linnie Akers Dowell, 93, of Amarillo, died Thursday, May 11, 2000. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. John Andrews of First Christian Church officiating. Memorial services will follow at First Christian Church. Arrangements are by Colonial Funeral Chapel, 1010 W. Ninth Ave. Mrs. Dowell was born in Lockney. She moved to Amarillo in 1944 from Lubbock. She had worked in retail sales. She was a member of Pleasant Valley Christian Church. She married Burl L. Akers in 1927 at Tyrone, Okla. He died in 1950. She married Virgil Dowell in 1955 at Tucumcari, N.M. He died in 1998. Survivors include two daughters, Marian Bingham and Doris Oliver, both of Amarillo; a son, Bob Dowell of Vista, Calif.; a sister, Ora Maye Peters of Mountain View, Calif.; a brother, Lester White of Lubbock; eight grandchildren; 10 greatgrandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. The body will not be available for viewing. Amarillo Daily News, May 13, 2000 Walter Z. Baker Walter Z. Baker, 81, of Amarillo, died Thursday, May 11, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Paramount Terrace Christian Church with the Rev. Scott Greer officiating. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Mr. Baker was born in Shamrock. He moved from Fritch to Amarillo in 1976. During World War II, he served as a Navy Seabee. He worked in the oil and gas industry and was a member of the Paramount Terrace Christian Church. He married Glenda Myrick in 1959 at Stinnett. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Kelly Baker of Santa Fe, N.M., Terry Hise and Tony Hise, both of Dumas; a daughter, Lana Little of Amarillo; and seven grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Paramount Terrace Christian Church; or BSA Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. Amarillo Daily News, May 13, 2000 John W.G. Conrad John W.G. Conrad, 45, of Amarillo, died Thursday, May 11, 2000. Graveside services will be at 9 a.m. today in Memorial Park Cemetery with Dr. Charles Jones of Second Baptist Church officiating. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mr. Conrad was a lifelong resident of Amarillo. Survivors include his mother, Nita J. Conrad of Amarillo; and a brother, Charles Oates of Norman, Okla. Amarillo Daily News, May 13, 2000 Martha "Louise" Hertner Parks Martha "Louise" Hertner Parks, 83, of Amarillo, died Thursday, May 11, 2000. Private services will be held. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Parks was born in Amarillo and graduated from Amarillo High School. She was a certified apartment manager and member of the Apartment Association of the Panhandle; the Texas Apartment Association Inc.; and the National Apartment Association. She married Syemmeon E. Parks in 1940 at Amarillo. He preceded her in death. Survivors include a son, John B. Parks III of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and a grandson. Amarillo Daily News, May 13, 2000 Johnie Lamar Pugh Johnie Lamar Pugh, 81, formerly of Amarillo, died Friday, May 12, 2000, in Austin. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. Gregg Kinch, pastor of South Lawn Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Pugh was born in Calvert City, Ky. He was a longtime resident of Amarillo before moving to Austin six years ago. During World War II, he served in the Army. He had worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone. Mr. Pugh was a member of the South Lawn Baptist Church and the Masonic Lodge. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Syble Brown Pugh. Survivors include his wife, Mildred Pugh of Austin; a son, Johnie Thomas Pugh of Amarillo; a daughter, Vicky Faith of Austin; a stepdaughter, Rita Gale Welch of Canyon Lake; two sisters, Mary Ann Lindsey of Calvert City and Margie Ruth Kennedy of Benton, Ky.; and two grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to South Lawn Baptist Church, 4306 S. Washington St., Amarillo, TX 79110. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Amarillo Daily News, May 13, 2000 Rita Marie Mayes Rita Marie Mayes, 50, of Amarillo, died Thursday, May 11, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Schooler Funeral Home, Brentwood Chapel, 4100 S. Georgia St., with Glendell Smith, Baptist St. Anthony chaplain, and Rick Mayes, evangelist, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Miss Mayes was born in Olympia, Wash. She was a member of New Neighbors of Amarillo and a founding member of Miracles In Action. Survivors include two sisters, Linda L. Shelton of Aberdeen, Wash., and Elsie S. Soard, of Ridgecrest, Calif.; two brothers, Frederick W. Mayes of Novi, Mich., and Larry L. Mayes of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials be to Miracles in Action, in care of Amarillo National Bank, 6000 Bell St., Amarillo, TX 79109. Amarillo Daily News, May 13, 2000 Thurman W. Tigart Thurman W. Tigart, 75, of Amarillo, died Thursday, May 11, 2000. Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday in North Amarillo Church of Christ with Dalton Key of North Amarillo Church of Christ and Glenn Walton of Bell Avenue Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors Martin Road Chapel, 15th Avenue and Martin Road. Mr. Tigart was born in Clarksville, Tenn., and was a longtime resident of Amarillo. He attended Amarillo High School, where he played football on a "Sandie" state champion team. He was later named to the All American Team while playing at Oklahoma University. Mr. Tigart was a chemist for the Bureau of Mines, retiring in 1985. He was a member and an elder at the North Amarillo Church of Christ. He married Betty Meyer in 1946 at Norman, Okla. Survivors include his wife; a son, Michael Tigart of Amarillo; a daughter, Patricia Neusch of Amarillo and four grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176-0001. Amarillo Daily News, May 13, 2000 Pauline Russell Pauline Russell, 81, formerly of Amarillo, died Friday, May 5, 2000, in Grand Prairie. Graveside services were Monday in Southland Memorial Park at Grand Prairie. Arrangements were by Jeter & Son Funeral Directors of Dallas. Mrs. Russell was born in Alvarado and had lived in Amarillo for 53 years. She was a Baptist. Survivors include a son, Everett Leo Russell of Avalon; four daughters, Frances Cook of Wellston, Okla., Christine Anderson and Gearldine Galbraith of Grand Prairie and Doris Post of Amarillo; a sister, Ruby Hardy of Amarillo; a brother, A.R. Gregory of Amarillo; 14 grandchildren; and 37 great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, May 13, 2000 Area Frank Burge PLAINVIEW - Frank Burge, 84, died Thursday, May 11, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Lemons Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with Dr. Travis Hart, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be at Parklawn Memorial Gardens. Mr. Burge was born and raised in Fields, N.M. He served for the U.S. Calvary 1935-38 and worked for the Santa Fe Railway. He moved to Plainview in 1952 and worked as a carpenter until he retired in 1985. Mr. Burge was a member and deacon of College Heights Baptist Church and later became a member of the First Baptist Church, where he also served as deacon. Mr. Burge married Dona Wyatt in 1938 at Clovis, N.M. Survivors include his wife; and two daughters, Janet Burge of San Antonio and Joyce Burge of Topeka, Kan. The family suggests memorials be to Vista Care Family Hospice, 4418 Olton Rd., Plainview, TX 79072. The family will receive friends from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Amarillo Daily News, May 13, 2000 Joe Spinhirne VEGA - Joe Spinhirne, 89, died Friday, May 12, 2000, in Amarillo. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in the church with the Rev. Pat Carathers, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Vega Cemetery by Vega Funeral Home. Mr. Spinhirne was a lifelong resident of Vega. He was a farmer and a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Hons Spinhirne, in 1995. Survivors include three sons, Raymond Spinhirne of Austin, James Spinhirne of Albuquerque, N.M., and Charles Spinhirne of Vega; a brother, Glen Spinhirne of Vega; a sister, Rose Hons of Georgetown; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Vega E.M.T.s, P.O. Box 411, Vega, TX 79092. Viewing will be 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at the church. The family will be at Charles Spinhirne's residence in Vega. Amarillo Daily News, May 13, 2000 Arminda Nunez PERRYTON - Arminda Nunez, 73, formerly of Perryton, died Thursday, May 11, 2000, in Liberal, Kan. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. today in Ochiltree County Cemetery near Perryton with Monsignor Rex Nicholl officiating. Arrangements are by Good Samaritan Funeral Service of Booker. Mrs. Nunez was born in Alice, where she attended schools. She married Rene Benavidez at Alice and worked as a housekeeper. In 1964, she married Alfonso Nunez at Spearman. They lived in rural Hansford County and farmed. Mrs. Nunez moved to Perryton after the death of her husband. She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. In 1989, she moved to Good Samaritan Nursing Home at Liberal. Survivors include two daughters, Belinda Jimenez and Linda Hernandez, both of Perryton; a brother, Melquiades Lerma of El Paso; and four grandsons. Amarillo Daily News, May 13, 2000 Marcelina Perez DIMMITT - Marcelina "Cora" Perez, 84, died Thursday, May 11, 2000. Vigil services were Friday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in the church with the Rev. Fern Couture, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Castro Memorial Gardens by Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Directors. Mrs. Perez was born in Del Rio. She attended schools in Melvin and moved to Castro County in 1950. She was a homemaker and a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and the Guadalupanas. She married Santos Perez Sr. in 1935 at Brady. He died in 1997. She also was preceded in death by a son, Manuelito Perez; and a daughter, Selia Cabrera. Survivors include two daughters, Janie Ramirez of Dimmitt and Betty Gonzalez of Amarillo; two sons, Santos Perez Jr. of Dimmitt and Robert Perez of Milford, Ohio; a sister, Julia Arrendondo of Brownwood; 22 grandchildren; 29 greatgrandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, May 13, 2000 Mary Thelma Smith FRITCH - Mary Thelma Smith, 92, died Friday, May 12, 2000. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Westlawn Memorial Park with the Rev. Ricky Griffin, pastor of First Baptist Church in Sanford, officiating. Interment will be in the Garden of the Good Shepherd at the cemetery by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mrs. Smith was born in Calhoun County, W.Va., and had lived in Fritch since 1931, moving from Louisiana. She was a charter member of the First Southern Baptist Church, the Sunshine Club and arts and crafts clubs. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mike Smith, in 1969. Mrs. Smith is survived by a sister, Pauline Smith of Ohio, and a niece. The family suggests memorials be to the Sunshine Club. Amarillo Daily News, May 13, 2000 Canyon Hank Decker Hank Decker, 83, of Canyon, died Thursday, May 11, 2000. No services are planned. Cremation arrangements were by Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon. Mr. Decker grew up in Richmond, Ind., and moved to Canyon in 1945. He played basketball at West Texas State University and went on to play in the National Basketball Association for Detroit and New York. He toured with the "House of David" professional team in Europe and toured for one season with the Washington Sentinels. Mr. Decker left professional basketball to run casinos at Las Vegas, Reno, Lake Tahoe and Korea. He retired in 1980 to raise Malemute / Timber Wolf and pan for gold on the Snake River. He was a member of the Barn church in Hereford. Survivors include a son, Mike Decker of Canyon; and a daughter, Susan Meredith of Albuquerque, N.M. The family suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson St., Amarillo, TX 79101. Amarillo Daily News, May 13, 2000 New Mexico Erminda V. Flores CLOVIS, N.M. - Erminda V. Flores, 84, died Thursday, May 11, 2000. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday in The Chapel. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday in Sacred Heart Catholic Church by the Rev. Carlos Chavez. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens by Muffley Funeral Home Inc. Mrs. Flores was born in Puerta De Luna and moved to Clovis in 1945. She was a homemaker and a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She married Frank B. Flores in 1932 at Santa Rosa. He died in 1993. Survivors include a son, Frank M. Flores of Clovis; four daughters, Paula Rodriquez of Clovis, Patricia Witt of Ruidoso, Rita Bumgarner of Selma, Calif., and Vivianne Knobloch of Austin, Texas; two brothers, Arcenio Valverde of Whittier, Calif., and Luis Valverde of Yuma, Ariz.; eight grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and seven greatgreat-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, May 13, 2000 Pauline Alice Pape CLOVIS, N.M. - Pauline Alice Pape, 66, died Friday, May 12, 2000. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. today in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens with the Rev. James Robbins officiating. Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Ms. Pape was born in Curry County and had been a resident of Clovis for the past six years, moving from Snyder, Texas. She was a bowling alley manager and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Survivors include a son, Dwain Pape of Big Spring, Texas; a daughter, Linda Zbitowsky of San Angelo; three brothers, Earl Riley and John Riley, both of Clovis and James Riley of Fort Worth, Texas; two sisters, Betty Guthals and Margaret Brewer, both of Clovis; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, May 13, 2000 Oklahoma William E. Smith HOOKER, Okla. - William E. Smith, 80, died Wednesday, May 10, 2000, in Borger, Texas. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in First Assembly of God at Liberal, Kan., with the Rev. Jack Wilson officiating. Burial will be in Tyrone Cemetery at Tyrone by Roberts Brothers Funeral Home. Additional arrangements are by Brown Funeral Directors in Borger. Mr. Smith was born and raised in Tyrone. He farmed in the Hooker-Tyrone area. He moved to Hooker in 1962 and retired in 1975. He married Versia Jewel Liken in 1942 at Atlanta. She died in 1978. Survivors include a son, Duane Smith of Liberal; a daughter, Janet VanNatta of Stinnett, Texas; a half-brother, Johnny Paul Smith; a half-sister, Lorene Goulet of Henderson, N.C.; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Guymon Home Health Care Hospice; Crown of Texas Hospice; or a favorite charity. Memorials will be accepted at the funeral home. Amarillo Daily News, May 13, 2000 Opal Ruth Robinson TYRONE, Okla. - Opal Ruth Robinson, 56, died Friday, May 12, 2000, in Liberal, Kan. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Tyrone United Methodist Church with the Rev. Kim Alan Domnick and the Rev. Bill Prater officiating. Burial will be in the Tyrone Cemetery by Roberts Brothers Funeral Home of Hooker. Mrs. Robinson was born in Syracuse, Kan. She attended school in the Syracuse, Turpin-Baker and Tyrone areas. She later moved to Tyrone, where she operated the OK Day Care. She was a member of Tyrone United Methodist Church. She led the youth group and served as a Sunday school teacher and liturgist. She married Kennith Robinson in 1961 at Clayton, N.M. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Treva Bradford of Dumas; three sons, Trent Robinson, Tracy Robinson and Troy Robinson, all of Tyrone; three brothers, Ralph Spreier of Oklahoma City, Kenneth Spreier of Enid and Jimmy Spreier of Okeene; five sisters, Margaret McCree of Golden, Colo., Georgia Spreier of Enid, Marjorie Brown of Turpin, Arlene Hoeme of Liberal and Marlene Yarbro of Bridgeport; and seven grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Tyrone United Methodist Church. Memorials will be accepted at the funeral home. Amarillo Daily News, May 13, 2000