Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 17 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 17, 2000, 5:00 AM Area Heather Rene Wilson PAMPA - Heather Rene Wilson, 11, died Wednesday, March 15, 2000, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with the Rev. Lynn Hancock, pastor of Briarwood Full Gospel Church, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Heather was born in Seymour and moved to Pampa in 1990. She was a fifthgrade student at Travis Elementary School and was a member of Briarwood Full Gospel Church. She was preceded in death by a brother, Heath Wilson, in 1993. Survivors include her mother and stepfather, Theresa Wilson and Sammy Doyle; a sister, Cassie Rigney of the home; two stepsisters, Erika Doyle and Amber Doyle, both of Pampa; grandparents, Judy Gates of Pampa and Jimmy Hailey of Biloxi, Miss.; step-grandmother, Betty Kitchens of Pampa; and greatgrandmother, Frances Musgrave of Borger. The family suggests memorials be to Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, P.O. Box 190567, Dallas, TX 75219-0567. Amarillo Daily News, March 17, 2000 Guy Vogt DALHART - Guy Vogt, 95, died Wednesday, March 15, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Central United Methodist Church with Jeff Taylor, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Hass Funeral Home. Mr. Vogt was born in Belgrade, Neb. He moved at age 12 to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he delivered milk bottles for the creamery managed by his family. He attended Boyles Business College. He went to work in the communication department of Rock Island Railroad in 1925. He moved in 1930 to Dalhart, where he worked as a lineman. He retired from the railroad in 1971. Mr. Vogt was a member of Central United Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge No. 613 in Brighton and Commandery No. 48, Knights Templar in Amarillo. He married Pearl Knerr in 1929 at Brighton, Iowa. She died in 1990. Survivors include a sister, Verna Lassas of Buena Park, Calif.; nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. Amarillo Daily News, March 17, 2000 Maxine T. Childers DIMMITT - Maxine T. Childers, 68, of Austin, died Tuesday, March 14, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First United Methodist Church of Dimmitt with the Rev. Rusty Dickerson, pastor, and Ronnie Parker officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park by Foskey-Lilly-McGill Funeral Home of Dimmitt. Mrs. Childers was born in Tuscola where she attended school and graduated as valedictorian. She attended McMurry College in Abilene then moved to Childress in the early 1950s and to Dimmitt in 1962. Mrs. Childers retired from First State Bank in Dimmitt. She was the first woman to serve as Dimmitt Chamber of Commerce president. In 1982, she moved to Austin where she worked at the Farm Credit Bank of Texas until 1994. President Clinton appointed Mrs. Childers as administrative assistant in Farm Credit Administration in 1994. During that time, she resided in McLean, Va. She was a member of several organizations, including the First United Methodist Church in Dimmitt. Survivors include a son, Truett Childers of Austin; a sister, Merle Franklin of Houston; two brothers, Jay Lee Touchstone and Truman Touchstone, both of Dimmitt. The family suggests memorials be to the American Cancer Society or a favorite charity. Amarillo Daily News, March 17, 2000 Harold N. Wheeler VEGA -Harold N. Wheeler, 73, died Wednesday, March 15, 2000. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church of Vega with the Rev. James Peach, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Vega by Vega Funeral Home. Mr. Wheeler was born in Jackson County, Okla. He was a police officer in Quanah. In 1956, he moved to Vega where he served as a highway patrolman and later as an investigator for Merchants/Fitzgerald Law Firm. From 1962 until 1970, Mr. Wheeler was sheriff of Vega. He moved to Hereford in 1970 where he served as deputy/investigator, retiring as chief probation officer. In 1987, he returned to Vega. He was a Mason and member of First Baptist Church of Vega. He married Wynema Barton in 1948 at Olustee, Okla. Survivors include his wife; a son, David Wheeler of Washburn; three daughters, Barbara Wheeler of LaPorte, Ind., Kathy Wheeler of Vega and Shirley Greenfield of Amarillo; two sisters, Evelyne Barger of Midlothian and Margie Wilson of Garden Grove, Calif.; two brothers, Vaden Wheeler of Midwest City, Okla., and Glen Wheeler of Lawton, Okla.; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family will be at 101 11th Street in Vega. Viewing will be from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. today and from 9 until 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, memorials be to Boy's Ranch, P.O. Box 1890, Amarillo, 79174-0001 or the Masonic Memorial Fund. Amarillo Daily News, March 17, 2000 George Clifton Elliott CLARENDON - George Clifton Elliott, 76, died Wednesday, March 15, 2000. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Citizens Cemetery. Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors Inc. of Clarendon. Mr. Elliott was born in Brice and lived in Clarendon for most of his life. In 1984, he retired from the City of Clarendon. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He married Ruby Lee Tolbert in 1946 at Memphis. He was preceded in death by a son, Jimmie Lee Elliott, in 1998. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Clifton Elliott of Amarillo and Donnie Lee Elliott and Thomas Eugene Elliott, both of Clarendon; a sister, Margie Row of Clarendon; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and four step-greatgrandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, March 17, 2000 Sybil M. Cowan FRITCH - Sybil M. Cowan, 74, died Wednesday, March 15, 2000. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in First Southern Baptist Church with the Rev. John Denton officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of Devotion in Westlawn Memorial Park by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors of Fritch. Mrs. Cowan was born in Sweetwater and had been a Fritch resident since 1939. She was a member of First Southern Baptist Church and secretary of the Serendipity Club. She married Randale Cowan in 1944 at Fritch. Survivors include her husband; a son, Charles Cowan of Amarillo; three daughters, Glenda Mattern of Denver, Fran Thompson of Baytown and Randy Jarvis of Stinnett; a sister, Nina Jones of Missouri; nine grandchildren; and six greatgrandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, March 17, 2000 Myrtle Ramsey TULIA - Myrtle Ramsey, 88, died Thursday, March 16, 2000. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Rose Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Bill Guenther, pastor of First Assembly of God Church, and the Rev. Rusty Grey, pastor of Tulia Christian Fellowship, officiating. Arrangements are by Wallace Funeral Home of Tulia. Mrs. Ramsey was born in Bonham and grew up in Bonham and Dallas. Prior to moving to Tulia in 1955, she lived in Royce City, Vernon, Hart and Plainview. She was employed by Tulia Stearn Laundry. She was a member of First Assembly of God Church in Tulia. Her first marriage was to L.B. Clark in 1928. He died in 1975. In 1980, she married Slim Ramsey who died in 1983. She also was preceded in death by a son, Fred Clark. Survivors include two daughters, Delores Kell of Boise City, Okla., and Betty Elkins of Fort Worth; nine grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and three greatgreat-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, March 17, 2000 Amarillo Mary Ware Mary Ware, 87, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, March 14, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors Pioneer Chapel, 2615 Paramount Blvd., with the Rev. Windell Taylor, chaplain at Veterans Affairs Health Care System, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Ware was born in Oklahoma and had lived in Amarillo for 52 years. She had been a foster mother for several children. She had been a member of the auxiliary and MOCA at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1475 and Fairview Baptist Church. She married Lawrence Ware in 1950 at Clovis, N.M. He died in 1997. She also was preceded in death by a son, Terry E. Ware, in 1968. Survivors include five daughters, Sally McDole of Ingleside, Patsy Lyon of Alaska, Donna Green and Freda Wolford, both of Mineral Wells, and Frances Foster of Wichita Falls; a son, Jimmy L. Ware of Wichita Falls; two sisters, Mabelle Worsham of Sacramento, Calif., and Wanda Flanagan of Amarillo; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice. The family will be at 3709 E. 17th Ave. Amarillo Daily News, March 17, 2000 Charles C. Underwood Charles C. Underwood, 65, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, March 15, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell Ave., with Dr. Howard Batson of First Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Underwood was born in Paducah and moved to Amarillo in 1946. He worked in retail sales for Lorillard Tobacco when he retired in 1991. He was a member of First Baptist Church. He married Patricia Jean Bassett in 1955 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Linda Ballew of Amarillo; a son, David Underwood of Miami; a sister, Helen Ingram of Crystal Lakes, Ill.; a brother, Leroy Belt of Abilene; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. The family suggests memorials be to Baptist-St. Anthony's Hospice. Amarillo Globe-Times, March 17, 2000 Clarence Steptoe Clarence Steptoe, 79, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, March 14, 2000. No services are planned at this time. Cremation was by Memory Gardens Crematory with other arrangements by Warford-Walker Mortuary, 509 N. Hughes. Mr. Steptoe was born in Ennis and lived in California for many years. A veteran of the Navy, he was a pharmacist for Carlin's Pharmacy. Ten years ago, he moved to Amarillo. Survivors include two brothers, James Steptoe and Edwin Led Steptoe of Amarillo and two sisters, Andrea Steptoe of Houston and Joyce Steptoe of Dallas. Amarillo Daily News, March 17, 2000 Winnie O. Boothe Winnie O. Boothe, 91, of Amarillo, died Thursday, March 16, 2000. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle, with the Rev. Larry Richardson, pastor of Palisades Fellowship Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be at 3 p.m. in Castro Memorial Cemetery in Dimmitt. Mrs. Boothe was born in Stringtown and had lived in Amarillo since 1954. She worked part-time as secretary for the YMCA. An AE Shirley member of the Order of Eastern Star, she received a lifetime certificate. She was a member of the First Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, C.A. "Buster" Boothe, in 1994; a son, Don Boothe, in 1956; and a daughter, Helen Jean Boothe, in 1930. Survivors include two sons, Phil Boothe and Ronald Boothe, both of Amarillo; two brothers, Alferd Coward and B.E. Coward, both of Lubbock; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. They suggest memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice, Box 950, Amarillo, TX 89176-0001. Amarillo Daily News, March 17, 2000 Johnnie T. McLeland Johnnie T. McLeland, 75, of Amarillo, died Thursday, March 16, 2000. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in North Mausoleum in Memorial Park Cemetery. Entombment will be in North Mausoleum by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Martin Road Chapel, 15th Avenue and Martin Road. Mr. McLeland was born in Oklahoma, moved to Silverton when he was 2 and was raised near Lockney. Fifty years ago, he moved to Amarillo from California. He owned and operated Repo-Depo Furniture Store. Mr. McLeland was a self-employed trader until his retirement. During World War II, he served in the Army with the Tank Corps in the European, Middle Eastern and African theaters. He received two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. He was preceded in death by his wife, Oweta, in 1992 and by a son, Dusty, in 1977. Survivors include two daughters, Mary Ann Reed and Jeanice Casey, both of Amarillo; a son, J.R. McLeland of Kansas City, Kan.; a brother, Charles McLeland of Upland, Calif.; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. The family will be at 3701 S. Van Buren. They suggest memorials be to American Diabetes Association, 8008 Slide Rd. #12A, Lubbock, TX 79424. Amarillo Daily News, March 17, 2000 Ruby Milton Ruby Milton, 88, of Groom, died Thursday, March 16, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Schooler Funeral Home, Brentwood Chapel, 4100 S. Georgia St. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery in Lakeview. Mrs. Milton was born in Cook County. She retired from the U.S. Postal Service and was a member of First Baptist Church in Groom. Survivors include two daughters, Sue Williams of Houston and Beth Landry of Port Arthur; a son, Jack. L. Milton of Jacksboro; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family will receive visitors from 6 until 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Amarillo Daily News, March 17, 2000 New Mexico Lena Mae Bridges CLOVIS, N.M. - Lena Mae Bridges, 77, died Tuesday, March 14, 2000, in Amarillo. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in SteedTodd Funeral Home Chapel with Van McCormick officiating. Burial will be in Mission Garden of Memories. Mrs. Bridges was born in Clovis. She retired from U.S. West Telephone Co. She was a member of Coronado Chapter No. 66 of Telephone Pioneers of America and East Side Church of Christ. She had volunteered with Plains Regional Medical Center Auxiliary. Survivors include two sisters, Faye Barton of Clovis and Aline Minner of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials be to the Auxiliary Educational Scholarship Fund at Plains Regional Medical Center. Amarillo Daily News, March 17, 2000 Howard Vinson Martin CLOVIS, N.M. - Howard Vinson Martin, 82, died Wednesday, March 15, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Central Baptist Church with the Rev. Chester O'Brien and the Rev. Keeney Dickerson officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Mr. Martin was born in Petersburg, Texas. He attended school in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, graduating from Erick High School in Erick, Okla. He moved to Clovis in 1939 and worked as a bookkeeper for Clovis National Bank. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. After the war, he returned to Clovis National Bank and was named executive vice president in 1961. He retired in 1982. He served as a director for the bank and later for Sunwest Bank. He was chairman of the Llano Estacado Study Group of the American Institute of Banking, and was chairman of the agriculture committee and a member of the executive committee of the New Mexico Bankers Association. Mr. Martin served on the board of regents of Eastern New Mexico University and the advisory board of the ENMU Clovis campus. He was the first president of the Greyhound Boosters Club and cochaired the fund drive for construction of Greyhound Stadium. He was a member and past president of the Clovis Lions Club. He was a member of the Clovis Chamber of Commerce and was past chairman of the chamber's agri-business committee. He served on the board of deacons at Central Baptist Church, was past president of the New Mexico Men's Brotherhood and was on the board of Baptist Foundation of New Mexico. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Gertrude Winkler Martin. Survivors include his wife, Devota Kincaid Martin; a son, Dr. Tom Martin of Hobbs; a stepson, Howard Lewis Kincaid; a stepdaughter, Shirley Miller of DeSoto, Texas; four brothers, Joe Martin of Plainview, Texas, Lynn Martin of Clovis, B.V. Martin of Cold Springs, Texas, and Glenn Martin of Las Vegas, Nev.; and four grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to First Baptist Church, 301 E. Snyder, Hobbs, NM 88240. Amarillo Daily News, March 17, 2000 Elsewhere John L. Gravestock MONTROSE, Colo. - John L. "Jack" Gravestock, 72, formerly of Amarillo, died Tuesday, March 14, 2000. No services are planned. Arrangements are by Crippin Funeral Home. Mr. Gravestock was born in Montrose. He moved to Amarillo as a child and graduated from Amarillo High School. During World War II, Mr. Gravestock served in the Army. He returned to Montrose in 1965 where he was a building contractor and a member of Montrose Christian Church. He married Mercedes "Dee" Allm in 1948 at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Dave Gravestock and Ed Gravestock, both of Montrose, and Jim Gravestock of Farmington, N.M.; three brothers, Robert Gravestock of Texas and Larry Gravestock and Richard Gravestock, both of California; four sisters, Jerry Gravestock of Colorado, Pat Hargis of Washington and Barbara Hamel and Virginia Perry, both of Texas; 14 grandchildren; and great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials in lieu of flowers be to Valley Manor Care Center, P.O. Box 89, Montrose, CO 81402. Amarillo Daily News, March 17, 2000 Homer Johnson LEVELLAND - Homer Johnson, 77, died Wednesday, March 15, 2000. Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. today in George C. Price Funeral Directors Chapel. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Michael's Catholic Church with the Rev. Glenn Rosendale, pastor, officiating. Graveside services will be at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in Fairview Cemetery in Pampa. Mr. Johnson was born in Bristow, Okla., and was a Coast Guard veteran of World War II. In 1983, he moved to Levelland from Pampa. He retired as production foreman for Texaco and was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church. He married Peggy Lake in 1948 at Pampa. He was preceded in death by a son, Johnny Johnson, in 1986. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Melissa Johnson of Levelland; a brother, Robert Lee Johnson of Selma, Calif.; two sisters, Vera Darling of Pampa and Virginia Reeve of Kenai, Alaska; and two grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to American Heart Association, the Hockley County Meals on Wheels or a favorite charity. Amarillo Daily News, March 17, 2000 John Graham LEVELLAND - John "Tinker" Graham, 75, died Wednesday, March 15, 2000. Services will be at 5 p.m. Saturday in George C. Price Funeral Directors Chapel with Dr. Steve Vernon, pastor of First Baptist Church, and Bill Billingsley of Levelland officiating. Burial will be in City of Levelland Cemetery. Mr. Graham was born in Aspermont and graduated from Whiteface High School. In 1942, he moved to Levelland. He was an Army veteran of World War II and served in the Air Force during the Korean War. He married Billie Jo Kennedy in 1953 at Levelland. She died in October. Survivors include a son, Joe Kennedy of Amarillo; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and four great-greatgrandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, March 17, 2000