Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 15 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; Monday, May 15, 2000, 4:06 AM Area Loretta Bennett DALHART - Loretta "Lolly" Bennett, 86, died Saturday, May 13, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in First Christian Church with Ray M. Guy, minister, officiating. Burial will follow at 4 p.m. in Dumas Cemetery at Dumas. Arrangements are by Hass Funeral Home. Mrs. Bennett was born in Stigler, Okla., and moved to Dumas in 1934. In 1935, she married Jesse Vinson Bennett, and they were in the petroleum distributor business in Dumas, Santa Fe, N.M., and Dalhart. In Dumas, she was a deaconess at the First Christian Church, a scout leader, president of the Girl Scout Council, and a charter member of the Pilot Club. In the 1950s, she was on the City of Dumas Parks and Recreation Board, and in 1956, was named Woman of the Year by the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. She moved to Dalhart in 1962. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Mary Alice McLarty of Dallas; two sons, Jim Bennett of Dumas and Chuck Bennett of Dalhart; a sister, Grace Schlump of Middleton, Wis.; 10 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Girl Scouts of America. Amarillo Daily News May 15, 2000 Wilford L. Lance PERRYTON - Wilford L. Lance, 84, died Saturday, May 13, 2000. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in First United Methodist Church with the Revs. Jim Sutherland, Steve Ulrey and Ted Latham officiating. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Perryton. Mr. Lance was born in Ochiltree County, where he was a lifelong resident. A University of Texas graduate, he was office manager for North Plains Electric Co-Op and a director in Perryton National Bank. He was a wheat farmer and operated a bookkeeping and tax service. In 1996, he retired. He was a Methodist and past president of Wheatheart Shrine Club. He was a 50year Mason and a member of Khiva Shrine. During World War II, Mr. Lance served with the Army Air Corps Combat Intelligence in India and Okinawa. He married Letha Lawrence in 1970 at Perryton. Survivors include his wife; a son, Craig Lawrence of Dalhart; a daughter, Vickie Eccles of Beaver, Okla.; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Ochiltree Hospice, c/o Ochiltree General Hospital; Perryton Emergency Medical Technicians, c/o Perryton City Hall; or a favorite charity. Amarillo Daily News May 15, 2000 Thomas M. Littlejohn Jr. TULIA - Thomas M. Littlejohn Jr., 83, died Saturday, May 13, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Charles Davenport, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery by Wallace Funeral Home. Mr. Littlejohn was born in Tulia and graduated from Tulia High School. In 1939, he graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics and was the director and member of the Aggieland dance band that introduced the song "I'd Rather be a Texas Aggie." After serving with the Army during World War II, he returned to Tulia in 1946. He was co-owner and operator of Littlejohn Brothers Grocery Store and later of Nolen-Bagley-Littlejohn Insurance Agency. He was a Mason and a member of First Baptist Church in Tulia. He married Sally Louise Bell in 1946 at Bay City. She died in 1994. He was also preceded in death by a son, Thomas M. Littlejohn III. Survivors include a daughter, Ann Egerton of Amarillo; a granddaughter; and two great-grandsons. The family suggests memorials be to First Baptist Church, 101 N. Crosby, Tulia, TX 79088. Amarillo Daily News May 15, 2000 B.F. Ray Jr. BOVINA - B.F. Ray Jr., 75, died Saturday, May 13, 2000. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Bovina First Baptist Church with the Rev. Gary Morgan, pastor, officiating. Burial with military honors by Cannon Air Force Base Honor Guard will be in Bovina Cemetery. Arrangements are by Ellis-Blackwell Funeral Home of Friona. Mr. Ray was born in Celeste. After serving with the Army during World War II, he married Johnnie McFarland in 1947 at Dallas and moved in 1979 to Bovina, where he was a farmer until he retired. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Bovina. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Donna Smullen of Glendale, Ariz.; a son, Dan E. Ray of Texico, N.M.; five sisters, Bea Coppinger of Dallas, Joyce Smith of Nixon, Ira Turner of Greenville, Inez Taft of Floyd, and Ida Bell Waller of Waco; a brother, Byron Johnson of Merit; and three grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News May 15, 2000 Byrle Gene Hall HOWARDWICK - Byrle Gene Hall, 65, died Sunday, May 14, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Clarendon Church of Christ at Clarendon. Burial will be at 4:30 p.m. in Roaring Springs Cemetery at Roaring Springs by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon. Mr. Hall was born in Roaring Springs and lived in Amarillo before moving to Howardwick two years ago. He was a butcher and owned and operated a processing plant in Texline. He drove a truck for Affiliated Foods. He was a Sunday school teacher. Mr. Hall was a member of Church of Christ. He married Cecilia Ann Ferguson in 1995 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Sherry Hall of Hereford and Terry Summer of Texline; a stepdaughter, Christina Brown of Canyon; a stepson, Dennis Palmer of the Navy; two brothers, Travis Hall and Curtis Hall, both of Amarillo; and six grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News May 15, 2000 Barbara Marie Kesler DUMAS - Barbara Marie Kesler, 78, died Saturday, May 13, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church at Bovina with the Rev. Gary Morgan, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Bovina Cemetery at Bovina by Ellis-Blackwell Funeral Home of Friona. Mrs. Kesler was born in Bovina and moved to Dumas in 1973 from Liberal, Kan. She was a sales agent for Avon. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Bovina. She married Jack W. Kesler in 1944 at Farwell. He died in 1991. Her daughter, Shirley Jean Kesler, died in 1948. Survivors include a daughter, Betty Wireman of Shattuck, Okla.; a son, Bill Kesler of Dumas; a sister, Mary Merrel of Bovina; a brother, Floyd Englant of Bovina; 15 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News May 15, 2000 Billie Hunt DUMAS - Billie Hunt, 74, died Sunday, May 14, 2000. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. John Wagoner, pastor, officiating, and the Rev. Thacker Haynes, pastor of United Methodist Church in McClean, assisting. Burial will be in Dumas Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mrs. Hunt was born in Wellington and had lived in Dumas for 52 years. She was a homemaker and a member of First United Methodist Church in Dumas. She was office manager for Production Marketing Administration and a charter member of the Pierian Study Club and the Women's Cattle Organization. She married Morris Hunt in 1948 at Dumas. He died in 1998. Survivors include two sons, Brady Hunt and Brian Hunt, both of Dumas; a daughter, Brenda Ross of Richmond; a sister, Ruth Thompson of Amarillo; a brother, Mooney Stall of Wellington; and five grandchildren. The family will be at the Hunt family home west of Dumas and suggests memorials be to Memorial Hospice, 224 E. Second, Dumas, TX 79029; or First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 395, Dumas, TX 79029. Amarillo Daily News May 15, 2000 Amarillo Nicholaus Byron Diaz Nicholaus Byron Diaz, 17 of Amarillo, died Saturday, May 13, 2000. Services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle, with Pastor Faye Roberts of River Road Fellowship Church officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Diaz was a lifelong resident of Amarillo. He was a cook and a member of River Road Fellowship Church. Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Cindy and David Green and his father and stepmother, Jesus and Laverne Diaz, all of Amarillo; four sisters, Samantha Diaz, Jennifer Mayhue, Katherine Diaz, and Mary Green, all of Amarillo; two brothers, Solomon Diaz and Brian Green, both of Amarillo; a stepsister, Melissa Green of Amarillo; a stepbrother, Michael Green of Amarillo; his grandparents, Cecilia and Mauro Hernandez of Canyon; and Lois Green of Amarillo. The family will be at 9010 Adair and suggests memorials be to River Road Fellowship Youth Ministries, 501 E. Willow Creek Road, Amarillo, TX 79108. Amarillo Daily News May 15, 2000 Jose Gauna Jose "Pat" Gauna, 64, of Amarillo, died Friday, May 12, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Rector Funeral Home Chapel, 2800 S. Osage St., with the Rev. Robert Field, pastor of Southeast Baptist Church, officiating. Cremation and arrangements are by the funeral home. Mr. Gauna was born in Fort Sumner, N.M., and had lived in Amarillo since 1967. He retired from Plains Chevrolet in 1994 and later was a horse and tack trader. He was active with Kids, Inc., and was a member of Southeast Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Brenda; a daughter, Lisa Daulton of Amarillo; a son, Jeff Gauna of Amarillo; a brother, Henry Gauna of Friona; five sisters, Rose Mares of Roswell, N.M., Nona Samora and Fabiola Sena, both of Fort Sumner, and Cora Barela and Mary Barela, both of Clovis, N.M.; and four grandchildren. The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, memorials be to a favorite charity. Amarillo Daily News May 15, 2000 Bien Thi Nguyen Bien Thi Nguyen, 73, of Amarillo, died Saturday, May 13, 2000. Rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. today at Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Martin Road Chapel, 1505 Martin Road. Mass will be at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in Our Lady of Vietnam Catholic Church. Cremation will be by Memory Garden Crematory. Mrs. Nguyen had lived in Amarillo for 22 years and was a member of Our Lady of Vietnam Catholic Church. She is survived by a sister, Van T. Nguyen. Amarillo Daily News May 15, 2000 Buster S. Pool Buster S. Pool, 91, of Amarillo, died Thursday, May 11, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in St. Luke's Presbyterian Church with Dr. J. Pat Kennedy officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Pool was born in Duke, Okla. After graduating from Duke High School, he attended Texas Tech University and worked as a pharmacist for St. Anthony's Hospital. He served with the Army during World War II and was a member of the Elk's Club. He married Eunice Palmer in 1941 at Clovis, N.M. Survivors include his wife; a son, Bill Pool of Wimberley; two brothers, Eugene Pool of Levelland and Frank Pool of Houston; and two grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. Amarillo Daily News May 15, 2000 Nita Luna DeGrassi Nita Luna DeGrassi, 94, of Amarillo, died Saturday, May 13, 2000. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Llano Cemetery Mausoleum Chapel with Ben Mereness, pastor of Southwest Church of Christ, officiating. Entombment will be in Llano Cemetery Garden Mausoleum by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mrs. DeGrassi was born and reared in Hale Center. She lived in Pampa, where she served as adviser for Sigma Delta Sub Deb's Club in the 1950s and 1960s. She farmed in Plainview and was a Master of Duplicate Bridge. She married Hamilton Luna in 1927. He died in 1968. She married Hollis DeGrassi in 1970 and moved to Amarillo, where she was a member of First Baptist Church. Her second husband died in 1977. Survivors include a brother, L.G. Hooper of Plainview; and a sister, Essie Lowe of Plainview. The family suggests memorials be to First Baptist Church of Amarillo; or Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice and Life Enrichment Center. Amarillo Daily News May 15, 2000 Canyon Mary F. Donnell Mary F. Donnell, 79, of Canyon, died Saturday, May 13, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in First United Methodist Church of Canyon with the Rev. Richard Bales, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery by Holley Funeral Home. Mrs. Donnell was born in Hall County and worked as an accountant. She was a homemaker and a member of First United Methodist Church of Canyon. She married Deane E. Donnell in 1947 at Canyon. He died in 1999. Survivors include four sons, Scott Donnell and Greg Donnell, both of Canyon, Alan Donnell of Pilot Point, and Jody Donnell of Temple; two brothers, Joe Gidden of Canyon and George Gidden of Lubbock; and eight grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Jan Warner Adult Day Care Center in Amarillo. Amarillo Daily News May 15, 2000 New Mexico Virginia Lake CLOVIS, N.M. - Virginia Lake, 90, died Wednesday, May 10, 2000. Services will be held at a later date in Springfield, Ill. Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery at Springfield. Local arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Mrs. Lake was born in New York City. A Certified Records Manager and the first archivist for the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colo., she established the procedures for obtaining historical documents and art treasures held in permanence by the Academy Library. In 1958, she moved to Springfield, where she worked as Records Analyst in the records management division of the Illinois State Library. Before retiring in 1973, she was Methods and Procedures Adviser for the Illinois Department of Mental Health. She is listed in Who's Who of American Women, Who's Who in the Midwest, Who's Who in Library Science, The National Gold Book, Royal Blue Book, Dictionary of International Biographies, Illinois Lives, Personalities of the West and Midwest, and Two Thousand Women of Achievement. Mrs. Lake's weavings won ribbons at art shows in the Springfield area. She competed in the Illinois Senior Olympics, winning medals for swimming. She was a member of the American Society of Public Administration, Society of American Archivists, Administrative Management Society, American Association of University Women, American Academy of Political Science, American Records Management, International Platform Association, American Business Women's Association, Institute of Records Management, and Illinois Retired State Employee Association. In 1988, she moved to Clovis, N.M., where she attended First Church of God. She was a Catholic. She married Kenneth Lake in 1928 at New York City. They divorced in 1949. Survivors include her son, Richard Lake of Clovis; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News May 15, 2000 Perry Carlyle White CLOVIS, N.M. - Perry Carlyle White, 79, died Friday, May 12, 2000. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Texico Cemetery at Texico with the Rev. Paul Burwash officiating. Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home. Mr. White was born in Yeager, Okla., and attended high school in Antlers, Okla., and Clayton, Okla. During World War II, he served with the Army in Southeast Asia, the Pacific, North Africa, Germany, and Turkey. After retiring from the Air Force at Cannon Air Force Base in 1960, he worked as an equipment operator until retiring in 1982, and later as a crossing guard with Clovis schools. He was a Protestant and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 3280, the Clovis-Portales Elks Lodge No. 1244, the American Diabetes Association, and the American Cancer Society. He married Rosa L. Fowler in 1958 at Clovis. She died in 1998. Survivors include two stepsons, Melvin Cruse of Albuquerque and Dean Cruse of Waldorf, Md.; and two stepdaughters, Paula Davison of Port St. Lucie, Fla., and Easter King of Stonewall, Okla. The family suggests memorials be to the American Cancer Society, 1330 San Pedro Dr., N.E. Albuquerque, N.M. 87110; or the American Diabetes Association, 525 San Pedro, N.E. Albuquerque, N.M. 87110. Amarillo Daily News May 15, 2000