Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 16 Nov 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 ==================================================================== Mary Joan Sthapitanonda Mary Joan Sthapitanonda, 69, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2000. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Marty Hamrick, associate pastor of Polk Street United Methodist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mrs. Sthapitanonda was born in Clarendon. She had lived in Amarillo since 1951. She was a homemaker and was active at the Wildcat Bluff Nature Center. She was a member of Polk Street United Methodist Church. She married Charlie Sthapitanonda in 1954 at Tucumcari, N.M. He died in 1996. Survivors include a daughter, Prajinta Sthapitanonda of Amarillo; her mother, Susie Thompson of Amarillo; three grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. The family will be at 1909 Cedar St. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 16, 2000 Bobbie Lee Carver Bobbie Lee Carver, 56, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2000. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. today in Schooler Funeral Home, Brentwood Chapel, 4100 S. Georgia St., with Dan Moser, of First Church of Christ-Scientist, officiating. Mrs. Carver was born in National City, Calif. She co-owned Gene Carver Landscaping with her husband. She attended First Church of Christ-Scientist. She married Gene Carver in 1985 at Las Vegas. Survivors include her husband; her parents, Bill and Mildred Blalock of Everman; and a brother, David Blalock of Dallas. The family suggests memorials be to Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, P.O. Box 3024, Amarillo, TX 79101. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 16, 2000 Bernado Diaz Bernado "Benny" Diaz, 72, of Amarillo, died Monday, Nov. 13, 2000. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Friday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church by Monsignor Rex Nicholl. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Diaz was born in Kansas City, Kan., and was a longtime resident of Amarillo. He managed the airport restaurant and retired from Llano Cemetery. He was a member of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. He married Andrita Trujillo in 1977 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; a son, Dominic Diaz of Amarillo; five stepsons, Robert Martinez, Gilbert Martinez, Aquilino Martinez, Samuel Martinez and John Martinez, all of Amarillo; six stepdaughters, Angelina Holdaway, Phyllis Roman, Pauletta Flores and Camilla Craine, all of Amarillo and Adelina Navarrete and Juanita Martinez, both of Dallas; five brothers, Louis Diaz, Frank Diaz, Raymond Diaz, Joe Diaz and Gregory Diaz, all of Amarillo; eight sisters, Cecilia Garcia, Esther Lopez, Cruz Aragon, Carmen Diaz, Mary Garcia and Juana Hernandez, all of Amarillo, Antonio Lopez of Parker, Colo., and Cathy Mendoza of Aurora, Colo.; 33 grandchildren; and 65 greatgrandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 16, 2000 Erma Nichols Erma Nichols, 93, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Llano Cemetery Mausoleum Chapel with the Rev. F.M. Byford, minister at Paramount Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Nichols was born in Birmingham, Ala., and had lived in Amarillo since 1943. She was a waitress at the Herring Hotel, the Capitol Hotel and Blackstone Cafe. She was a Presbyterian. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Ralph Nichols, in 1965. Survivors include two sons, Royce Nichols of Amarillo and Robert Nichols of Grand Junction, Colo.; a daughter, Shirley Malone of Amarillo; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 16, 2000 Terry Malena Terry Malena, 30, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle, with Bill Goodwin, minister of East Amarillo Church of Christ, officiating. Mr. Malena was born in Groom and was a longtime resident of Amarillo. He was an electrician and a Baptist. Survivors include his mother, Bonnie Malena of Amarillo; his father and stepmother, Raymond and Jenny Malena of Ridgecrest, Calif.; two brothers, Robby Malena and Scott Malena, both of Amarillo; grandparents, August and May Frost of Amarillo. The family will be at 7901 Gerald Drie. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 16, 2000 Margaret C. Mills Margaret C. Mills, 90, formerly of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2000, in Ruidoso, N.M. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. John Watson, rector of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, officiating. Arrangements are by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mrs. Mills was born and raised in Amarillo. She attended Amarillo High School and graduated from Northwestern University. She was active in Amarillo Little Theatre; Amarillo Speech, Hearing and Language Center; Amarillo Junior League; and the Pierian Club. She was a Kappa Alpha Theta and a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church. She moved to Ruidoso in 1999. She married Robert Oliver Mills Sr. in 1946. He died in 1991. Survivors include a son, Robert Oliver Mills Jr. of Ruidoso. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 16, 2000 Lucille Lamkin Lucille "Lou" Lamkin, 80, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Rector Funeral Home Chapel, 2800 S. Osage St. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Lamkin was born in Charlie. She was halfowner of the Inter Urban Drive-In at Kermit and American Machine Tool Co. at Denver City. She moved to Amarillo from Kermit in 1950. She was a sales clerk for Gyros, Levines, and Kmart. She was a Baptist. She married W.W. Lamkin in 1942 at Neosho, Mo. Survivors include her husband; three sons, Chubby Lamkin and Micheal Lamkin, both of Amarillo and Jay Lamkin of Anchorage, Alaska; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family will be at 3815 N.E. 11th Ave. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 16, 2000 Richard Francis John Vaughan Monsignor Richard Francis John Vaughan, 82, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2000. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today in St. Laurence Cathedral. Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Friday in the church by Bishop John W. Yanta, Bishop Emeritus L.T. Matthiesen and priests of the Diocese of Amarillo and Lubbock. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Monsignor Vaughan was born in Chicago. He attended Sacred Heart College in Girard, Pa., St. Mary's Seminary at Techny, Ill., and St. Meinrad Seminary at St. Meinrad, Ind. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1947. in 1960, he was named Papal Chamberlain by Pope John XXIII, with the title of Monsignor. He had served as chaplain of St. Francis Convent in Amarillo and taught at Price Memorial College and Alamo Catholic High School in Amarillo. He also was diocesan youth director, CCD director and director of Propagation of the Faith. He was instrumental in the restoration of St. Mary's Church at Clarendon, making it a Shrine of Our Lady of the Panhandle. Monsignor Vaughan had served as pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Dalhart, of St. Joseph's Church in Amarillo and Blessed Sacrament Church in Amarillo. He had been chaplain of Loretto Hospital in Dalhart, auxiliary chaplain at Amarillo Air Force Base and chaplain at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls. He had been Chancellor of Diocese of Amarillo. He was named Pastor Emeritus upon his retirement in 1993. After retiring, he continued to serve as diocesan Vicar of Clergy and director of Propagation of the Faith, the Holy Childhood Association and the Mission Co-operative Program. Survivors include a brother, John Vaughan of Long Beach, Calif.; and a sister, Dorothy Hlava of Naperville, Ill. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 16, 2000 New Mexico Wess Lee Ferris ROSWELL, N.M. - Wess Lee Ferris, 49, died Monday, Nov. 13, 2000, in Moriarty. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Steve Chappell, of the church, and the Rev. Wayne Griffin, of Calvary Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in South Park Cemetery by La Grone Funeral Chapel. Mr. Ferris was born in Muskogee, Okla. He married Pam Beck Hunt in 1982 at Dumas. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Aaron Moore of Abilene, Zack Ferris of Garden City, Kan., and Lance Ferris of the home; and his parents, Earl and Mary Zumwalt Ferris of Dumas. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 16, 2000 Oklahoma Gerald L. Johnson HARDESTY, Okla. - Gerald L. "Jerry" Johnson D.V.M., 55, died Saturday, Nov. 11, 2000. Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday in St. Peter's Catholic Church by the Rev. Scott Adams. Arrangements are by Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home of Guymon, Okla. Dr. Johnson was born in Detroit. He graduated from Rochester High School in Rochester, Mich. He earned his degree in veterinary medicine in 1968 at Michigan State University in Lansing, Mich. He was a captain in the Army during the Vietnam War. He moved to Hardesty from Marquez, Texas in 1996. he was supervisory veterinary medical officer with the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service and the inspector in charge at Seaboard Farms. Dr. Johnson was a member of the St. Peter's Catholic Church, the AVMA Association and the American Quarter Horse Association. He married Debra A. Cichon in 1985 at Elmdale, Minn. Survivors include his wife, Debra Johnson; a daughter, Sarah Johnson; his father, Ray Johnson of Oxford, Mich.; three sisters, Ann Bridges of Leonard, Mich., Bonnie J. Ayers of Edmore, Mich., and Kathryn Wichman of Oxford; two brothers, James Johnson of Ossineke, Mich., and Christopher N. Johnson of Pinckney, Mich.; and a grandson. The family suggests memorials be to St. Peter's Catholic Church; or the Nebraska Children's Home. Memorials will be accepted at the funeral home. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 16, 2000 Elsewhere Ivra Mae Childers SPUR - Ivra Mae Childers, 66, died Monday, Nov. 13, 2000 in Crosbyton. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in Lakeside Baptist Church with the Dr. Ned Hicks officiating. Burial will be in Spur Memorial Cemetery by Campbell Funeral Home. Mrs. Childers was born in Satain. She had lived in Spur for 38 years, moving from Marlin. She had worked at the South Dickens County Senior Citizens Center. She also was a teacher's aide at McAdoo Schools and a cook at the nursing home at Spur. She was a homemaker and a Baptist. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Ida Lee Childers. Survivors include her husband, Joe Lee Childers; six sons, Jessie Childers and Joe Lee Childers Jr., both of Crosbyton, Harlee Childers of Roaring Springs, L.C. Childers and Bobby Joe Childers, both of Spur, and Lewis Lee Childers of Lubbock; four daughters, Annie Walker and Brinda Barnes, both of Spur, and Lula Hardge and Linda Perry, both of Lubbock. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 16, 2000 Peggy Grimes McAmis ROWLETT - Peggy Grimes McAmis, died Monday, Nov. 13, 2000. Services will be Friday in Lyons Funeral Home Chapel with her nephew, Kyle Grimes officiating. Mrs. McAmis was born in Avoca. Survivors include her husband, James McAmis; three daughters, Deborah Mayes and Candace Wilbanks, both of Big Spring and Megan Rushing of Rowlett; two sons, Chuck Black and David Black, both of Amarillo; a brother, Erwin Grimes of Kerrville; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Visitation will start at 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. The family will be at 3617 Smartt St. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 16, 2000 Melba Offield LITTLEFIELD - Melba Offield, 67, died Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Hammons Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Walter Sanders, Baptist minister from Mesa, Ariz., officiating. Burial will be in Littlefield Memorial Park. Mrs. Offield was born in Steelville, Mo. She moved to Littlefield from Umbarger in 1951. She married Dudley Offield in 1951 at Clovis, N.M. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Debra McKinney of Littlefield; two sons, Teddy Offield and Monte Offield, both of Littlefield; five brothers, Ernest Whalen of Amarillo, Gary Whalen of Madison, Ala., Raymond Whaley of Gurley, Ala., Patrick Whalen of El Paso and Roger Whalen of Las Vegas; four sisters, Agnes Sanders of Mesa, Ariz., Patricia Whalen of Santa Monica, Calif., Sue Ross of Pueblo, Colo., and Ellen Craig of Amarillo; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Area Romi Li Jacobs-Patrick-Huskey PLAINVIEW - Romi Li Jacobs-Patrick-Huskey, 85, died Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First United Methodist Church Chapel with Dr. Max Browning, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Cemetery by Lemons Funeral Home. Mrs. Huskey was born in Honey Grove. She moved to the South Plains area in the early 1930s. She graduated from Plainview High School and attended Lippert's Business College. She was a secretary for the U.S. Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service in Hale County. After retiring from the ASCS in 1973, she worked as a secretary for state Rep. Pete Laney until 1980. She was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church. She was past president of the Iva Wheeler Circle, of Las Camaradas and of the Business and Professional Women's Association. She married Richard Ray Huskey in 1980 at Plainview. He died in 1985. Survivors include a daughter, Pam Bagley of DeSoto; a son, Mike Patrick of Plainview; three sisters, Willie Mae Moon of Ballinger, Evelyn Couch of Plainview and Gwenelle Carter of Lubbock; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Hospice Hands of West Texas, P.O. Box 1118, Lockney, TX 79241; or Make-AWish Foundation of America, 3706 20th St., Lubbock, TX 79410. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 16, 2000 J.B. Green BORGER - J.B. Green, 85, died Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Gregg Simmons, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Cemetery by Brown Funeral Directors. Mr. Green was born in Erath County and had lived in Borger for the past 64 years. He was the retired owner of Green City Plumbing. He was a member of the First Baptist Church. He married Gene Eller in 1938 at Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by two sons, Barry J. Green, in 1951 and Ronnie Green, in 1992. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Richard Green of Red River, N.M., Mike Green of Borger and Jim Green of San Antonio; two daughters, Lorena Kolb of Brea, Calif., and Dorothy Owen of Borger; a brother, Calvin Green of Borger; two sisters, Lottie Evans and Ruby Cole, both of Borger; 19 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the challenge fund of First Baptist Church; or the Boy Scouts of America. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 16, 2000 Oma Neal DALHART - Oma Neal, 100, died Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2000, in Dumas. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Denver Avenue Church of Christ with Dean Whaley, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Texline Cemetery at Texline by Hass Funeral Home Inc. Mrs. Neal was born in Leonard. She moved to Nevada, Texas, and graduated from Nevada High School. She married Guy T. Neal and they moved to Texline, where they farmed before moving to the city to own and operate a service station / grocery store. In 1943, they moved to Dalhart and operated a service station and an area distributorship of Packard Motor and Co., and Jeep Autos. Her husband died in 1974. Mrs. Neal was manager of the Ben Franklin Store and later was bookkeeper for McIlroy furniture store in Dalhart. She was a member of the Church of Christ in Dalhart. She was preceded in death by two children. Survivors include a son, Guy Neal Jr. of Amarillo; two daughters, June Stewart of Casa Grande, Ariz., and Marie Hase La Habra, Calif.; and five grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the library fund of the Denver Avenue Church of Christ. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 16, 2000 Eunice Spruill MEMPHIS - Eunice Spruill, 77, died Monday, Nov. 13, 2000, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Memphis Funeral Home with the Rev. O.K. Bowen officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Mrs. Spruill was born in Collingsworth County. She was a longtime resident of Memphis. She was a homemaker and a Baptist. She married Ermie L. Spruill in 1948 at Childress. Survivors include three sons, Ermie Lee Spruill of Memphis, James Stafford Spruill and Rickie Don Spruill; two sisters, Faye Childress of Memphis and Irene Hunter of Lubbock; six grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 16, 2000 Lucy Monteen Conway CHILDRESS - Lucy Monteen Russell Conway, 83, died Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2000. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Childress Cemetery with Bill Mayes, of Childress Church of Christ, officiating. Arrangements are by Johnson Funeral Home. Mrs. Conway was born in Honey Grove. She was a member of the Childress Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Lawrence Russell. Survivors include her husband, Clinton Conway; two daughters, Dorothy Miller and Linda Huckabey, both of Childress; a sister, Naoma King of Boulder, Colo.; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 16, 2000 Katherine Pierce OLTON - Katherine Pierce, 88, died Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2000. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Kyle Streun, pastor, and Dr. Strauss Atkinson, of First Baptist Church, of Amarillo, officiating. Burial will be in Littlefield Memorial Park at Littlefield. Arrangements are by Foskey-Lilley-McGill. Mrs. Pierce was born in Harvey, N.D. She moved from Littlefield to Olton five years ago. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Olton and of Family Community Education. She married C.D. Pierce in 1930 at Clovis, N.M. He died in 1987. Survivors include a daughter, Pat Elkins of Olton; two grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a great-greatgrandchild. The family suggests memorials be to Vista Care Hospice of Plainview. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 16, 2000 Billy Wayne Emmons HEREFORD - Billy Wayne Emmons, 65, died Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2000, in Amarillo. Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday in Parkside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. H. Wyatt Bartlett officiating. Burial will be in Rest Lawn Memorial Park north of Hereford. Mr. Emmons was born in Ben Franklin. He moved to Hereford in 1969. He owned and operated Hereford Diesel and Equipment and Emmons Trucking. He was retired and a member of the Temple Baptist Church of Hereford. He married Phung Lee in 1969. Survivors include his wife; a son, Billy Emmons Jr. of Melbourne, Fla.; two daughters, Linda Ann Emmons of Austin and Susan Lee Emmons of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and a sister, Virginia Loyd of Tulia. The family suggests memorials be to Temple Baptist Church of Hereford. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 16, 2000 Lee Heaton PAMPA - Lee Heaton, 82, formerly of Pampa, died Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2000, in Corpus Christi. Private family services will be held at a later time. Cremation has taken place. Arrangements are by Charlie Marshall Funeral Home of Aransas Pass and Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Heaton was born in Breckenridge, Mo. During World War II, he served in the Army. He had lived in Pampa since 1956 and had recently moved to Ingleside. He retired as manager from Fisher & Wheeler Grain. He was a Methodist. He married Elma Abigail Reed in 1956 at Clovis, N.M. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Jane Ward of Ingleside; a sister, Martha Reynoldson of Los Angeles, Calif.; a brother, Jim Heaton of Los Angeles, Calif.; and a grandson. Amarillo Daily News, Nov. 16, 2000 Oscar Engel PAMPA - Oscar "Oz" Engel, 77, died Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church with the Rev. John Valdez, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Engel was born in Meeker, Okla., and had lived in Pampa since 1949. He was a World War II Navy veteran. He played baseball for the Pampa Oilers. He was a furnace operator for Cabot Corp. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church. Mr. Engel married Erlene Matheson in 1949. She died in 1963. He married Bernice Watson in 1966. She died in 1996. Survivors include two sons, Joseph Michael Engel of Pampa and Dr. Thomas Gregory Engel of Columbia, Mo.; a stepson, Fred Epperly of Pampa; two brothers, Martin Engel of Lawndale, Calif., and Ambrose "Bodie" Engel of Meeker, Okla.; five grandchildren; and one greatgrandchild. The family suggests memorials be to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 810 W. 23rd, Pampa, TX 79065.