Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 24 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 ==================================================================== William A. Griffin Jr. BORGER - Dr. William A. "Bill" Griffin Jr., 52, died Saturday, Oct. 21, 2000. Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. today in Church of Christ with Glenn Cogburn of Tyler officiating. Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Directors. Dr. Griffin was born in Memphis, Tenn., and had lived in Borger for five years. He was a member of the Church of Christ, where he preached and taught Bible classes. He served as the president of Frank Phillips College for 41/2 years. He was a member of the Lions Club. He married Debra Figgins in 1972 at Caruthersville, Mo. Survivors include his wife; a son, Luke Griffin of Chicago; a brother, Norwood James of West Memphis, Ark.; two sisters, Edna Grace Finch of North Little Rock, Ark., and Carolyn Stevens of Monette, Ark.; and a granddaughter. The family suggests memorials be to Crowley's Ridge College, 100 College Drive, Paragould, AR 72450; or the Bill and Debbie Griffin Athletic Scholarship at Allen County Community College, 1801 Cottonwood, Iola, KS 66749. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 24, 2000 James Ray Martin FRITCH - James Ray Martin, 59, died Saturday, Oct. 21, 2000, in Borger. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery Church at Yellville, Ark., with the Rev. Doyle Berckefeldt, pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery. Local arrangements are by Brown Funeral Directors in Borger. Mr. Martin was born in Norfork, Ark., and had lived in Fritch for 19 years. He served in the Air Force and worked as a boiler technician for Phillips Petroleum. He was a Baptist and a member of Billy Dixon Masonic Lodge. He married Bonnie Melton in 1961 at Bruno, Ark. Survivors include his wife; a son, James Russell Martin of Lubbock; two daughters, Daina Marie Williams of Lockesburg, Ark., and Kathy Renee Moffitt of Borger; a sister, Loretta Faye Martin of Bull Shoals, Ark.; and four grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 24, 2000 Thermon W. Chisum MIAMI - Thermon W. Chisum, 89, died Monday, Oct. 23, 2000, in Amarillo. Services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at the United Methodist Church with the Rev. Steve Patterson, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Miami Cemetery at Miami by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Mr. Chisum was born in Roberts County and was a longtime resident of Miami. He was the groundskeeper of the Miami Cemetery and did yard work for many people in Miami. He had lived in Pampa for 15 years and moved to Amarillo in 1996. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Miami. Survivors include a sister-in-law, Edna Chisum of Pampa; three nieces and four nephews. The family suggests memorials be to the United Methodist Church, 201 S. Main, Miami, TX 79059. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 24, 2000 Mable Williams HEREFORD - Mable Williams, 73, died Monday, Oct. 23, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Parkside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Milford Gresham officiating. Burial will be in West Park Cemetery. Ms. Williams was born in Weslaco. She had lived in Hereford since 1945. She retired as deputy sheriff with the Potter County sheriff's office after 21 years. She was a member of the Christian Assembly Church of Hereford. She married Hobby Williams in 1946 at Hereford. He died in 1992. Survivors include two sons, Sanford "Sandy" Williams of San Antonio and Ronnie Williams of Pampa; a daughter, Sharon Butler of Hereford; a sister, Dorothy Guilliams of Maryland; and six grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson St., Amarillo, TX 79101. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 24, 2000 Billy J. Jordan DUMAS - Billy J. Jordan, 76, died Sunday, Oct. 22, 2000. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Morrison Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, with the Rev. Jay McGaughy, pastor of Temple Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Dumas Cemetery. Mr. Jordan was born in Paducah. During World War II, he served in the Army Air Corps with the 409th Bombardment Group. He worked for Phillips 66 from 1950 to 1960. He had lived in Carlsbad, N.M. since 1964 and moved to Dumas one year ago. He was a salesman for Kirby Vacuum Cleaner Co., in Clovis, N.M., and in Carlsbad. He was a member of the Landmark Baptist Church of Carlsbad. Mr. Jordan married Vonnie LaQuita Scroggins in 1948 at Vernon. She died in 1997. Survivors include two daughters, Sheila Justice of Lubbock and Pat Raney of Dumas; two sons, Mike Jordan of Dumas and Jerry Jordan of Carlsbad; four sisters, Dixie Parker of Amarillo, Ermadean Brothers of Baton Rouge, La., Altha Parker of Eunice, N.M., and Wynona Johnson of Ukiah, Calif.; and three grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Memorial Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 302 E. Second, Dumas, TX 79029. The family will be at 105 Cedar. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 24, 2000 Flordie Reynolds TULIA - Flordie Reynolds, 80, died Sunday, Oct. 22, 2000, in Lubbock. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Jackson Chapel with the Rev. Henry Jackson officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery by Wallace Funeral Home. Mrs. Reynolds was born Highland. She moved to Tulia in 1985 and was a member of the Jackson Chapel. She married Tommy Reynolds in Highland. He died in 1957. Survivors include a daughter, Shirley Thomas of Tulia; a brother, Eddie Henry Crain of Amarillo; two sisters, Iza Lee Wade of Paris and Ruby Mae Dawson of Seminole; four grandchildren; nine greatgrandchildren; and seven great-greatgrandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 24, 2000 Freeda Swenn DARROUZETT - Freeda Swenn, 83, died Sunday, Oct. 22, 2000, in Spearman. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in St. Paul's Lutheran Church with the Rev. Gene Foster officiating. Burial will be in Darrouzett Cemetery by Good Samaritan Funeral Service of Booker. Mrs. Swenn was born south of Booker. She married Fred Swenn in 1934 at Follett, where they made their home. Later moving to a farm southwest of Darrouzett where the farmed and ranched for 54 years. They moved to Darrouzett in 1992 and then to Spearman in 1998. She attended St. John's Congregational Church at Follett. Survivors include her husband; a son, Melvin Swenn of Spearman; a daughter, Glenda Straub of Double Oak; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 24, 2000 Ruby Ann Lowery CLARENDON - Ruby Ann Bullard Lowery, 89, formerly of Clarendon, died Saturday, Oct. 21, 2000, in Willcox, Ariz. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Robertson Funeral Directors, Chapel of Memories, with the Rev. Truman Ledbetter, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Citizens Cemetery. Mrs. Lowery was born in Lelia Lake and lived in Wills Point for 13 years, then Clarendon for five years before moving to Willcox two years ago. She was a homemaker and a Baptist. She married Ray Franklin Lowery in 1936 at Los Angeles. He died in 1990. Survivors include a son, Dr. Kent Lowery of Willcox; three sisters, Melba Leathers of Clarendon, Dean Angel of Canyon and Jessie Cruse of Claude; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 24, 2000 Emmett Lee Byars MEMPHIS - Emmett Lee Byars, 75, died Monday, Oct. 23, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Travis Baptist Church with Tom Posey and the Rev. Dale Sexton officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery by Memphis Funeral Home. Mr. Byars was born in Memphis. During World War II, he served as a submariner in the Navy. He moved to Dumas in 1953, to Jal, N.M. in 1959 and then to Oklahoma in 1983. He retired from El Paso Natural Gas Co. after 30 years as maintenance supervisor. He was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy Jo Aduddel Byars, in 1985. He married Billie Murdock Waites in 1986 and moved to Memphis. Mr. Byars was a member of the Travis Baptist Church and the Memphis Country Club. Survivors include his wife; a son, Lary Byars of Farmington, N.M.; a daughter, Nawanda Fuller of Plano; a stepson, James Waites of Weatherford, Okla.; his father, Emmett "Cap" Byars of Memphis; a brother, Don Byars of Big Spring; three sisters, Joyce Barnes and Marietta Hood, both of Borger and Carol Meyer of Skellytown; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice; or, a favorite charity. The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 24, 2000 Jimmy R. LaComb Sr. HEREFORD - Jimmy R. LaComb Sr., 54, formerly of Hereford, died Sunday, Oct. 22, 2000, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Gililland-Watson Funeral Home, Rose Chapel, with Ray Sanders, Baptist minister, officiating. Burial will be in Restlawn Memorial Park. Mr. LaComb was born in Crawfordsville, Ark. He served in the Army from 1963 to 1965. He was a truck driver and a Baptist. He moved from Parkin, Ark. to Hereford in 1972 and to Amarillo in 1998. Mr. LaComb married Shirley Brummett in 1969 at Hereford. Survivors include his wife; four daughters, Sonja Satterfield, Deanna Peterson and Beatrice Bradshaw, all of Hereford and Shnelle Northcott of Stephenville; a son, Jimmy Ray LaComb Jr. of Hereford; his mother, Beatrice LaComb of Hereford; two sisters, Mamie Thaxton of Hereford and Phyllis Brue of Amarillo; two brothers, William LaComb of Hereford and James LaComb of Amarillo; 14 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice of Amarillo. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 24, 2000 Amarillo Opal Farmer Opal Farmer, 77, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Oct. 22, 2000. Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mrs. Farmer was born in Coalgate, Okla., and had lived in Amarillo for the past 52 years. She owned the Leisure Laundry for many years and also worked at Levi Strauss. She was a Baptist. She was preceded in death by her husband, Royal Farmer, in 1996; and by a daughter, Mary Ann Farmer, in 1940. Survivors include two sons, Ronnie D. Farmer and Rodney Farmer, both of Amarillo; a daughter, Diane Lindvay of Amarillo; two sisters, Lillian Archer of Ponca City, Okla., and Peggy Pickering of Wanette, Okla.; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. The family will be at 3716 Fountain Terrace. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 24, 2000 Wilma D. Gaines Wilma D. "Rusty" Gaines, 66, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Oct. 21, 2000. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle, with the Rev. Jerry Hewitt, pastor of First Assembly of God, officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. in Muleshoe Memorial Park Cemetery at Muleshoe. Mrs. Gaines was born in Hugo, Okla., and had lived in Amarillo since 1977. She worked for the Amarillo Federal Credit Union, was vice president of account and information systems at the Corpus Christi Teachers Credit Union and after retirement she traveled as a credit union accounting consultant. She attended the First Assembly of God. Survivors include two sons, Gary Mickey of Amarillo and Freddy Gaines of Austin; two daughters, Karen Mickey and Merita Fleming, both of Amarillo; three brothers, Glenn Lee of Bridgeport, Marshall Lee of Amarillo and David Lee of Carrollton; a sister, Dorothy Rierson of Clovis, N.M.; and eight grandchildren. The family suggests memorials in lieu of flowers be to children's charities; BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176-0001; or, Harrington Cancer Center, 1500 Wallace Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79105. The family will be at 906 S. Alabama St. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 24, 2000 New Mexico Betty June Holden CLOVIS, N.M. - Betty June Holden, 71, died Friday, Oct. 20, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel with Larry Tedrow officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Holden was born in Clovis. She graduated from Northwest Texas School of Nursing, earning a registered nurse degree. She worked at Clovis Memorial Hospital and Clovis High Plains Hospital and retired after 40 years of service. She was a member of the District 4 Nursing Organization and a member of Central Christian Church. Survivors include a son, David Holden of Clovis; a daughter, Sharon Vinn of Clovis; a brother, James Payne of Fort Sumner; and two grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 24, 2000 Ruth L. Simmons CLOVIS, N.M. - Ruth L. Simmons, 87, died Sunday, Oct. 22, 2000. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Mission Garden of Memories with Dr. Herbert Bergstrom officiating. Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Mrs. Simmons was born in Granbury, Texas. She was a longtime resident of the Clovis and Ranchvale areas. She was preceded in death by her husband, Otha William "Pete" Simmons; and by a daughter, June Stevenson. Survivors include three sons, Delano Simmons of Clovis and Charlie Simmons and Randy Simmons of Show Low, Ariz.; four daughters, Ann Hendricks, Joann Moore and Debbie Dayhoff, all of Clovis and Ginger Stevenson of Charlotte, N.C.; 19 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 24, 2000 Oklahoma Bessie Sides GUYMON, Okla. - Bessie Sides, 75, died Friday, Oct. 20, 2000. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Elmhurst Cemetery with Joe Cruz, deacon, officiating. Arrangements are by Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home. Mrs. Sides was born in Cimarron, N.M., and graduated from Cimarron High School in 1944. She worked for Dr. Posey in Clayton for 12 years. She moved to Guymon in 1966 from Cimarron. She was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church. She married Clarence Sides in 1958 at Clayton. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Sharon Norris of Guymon; two sisters, Mae Garcia of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Mary Martinez of Pueblo, Colo.; and a grandson. Memorials for family use will be accepted at the funeral home. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 24, 2000 Emma Kraft HOOKER, Okla. - Emma Kraft, 84, died Sunday, Oct. 22, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in St. John's Lutheran Church with the Rev. Chris Boehnke,the Rev. Mark Westcoatt,and the Rev. Timothy Dorsch officiating. Burial will be in Hooker Cemetery by Roberts Brothers Funeral Home. Mrs. Kraft was born in Ramona, Kan. In 1929 her family moved to the Hooker and Optima area where she attended Buffalo school and graduated from Optima High School. She had lived in Hooker since 1951. She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Ladies Aid, and Al-Anon. She also served as officer at Hooker Senior Citizens Center for many years. She married Reuben Kraft in 1951 at Clayton, N.M. He died in 1996. Survivors include a sister, Bertha Sturtz of Darrouzett. The family suggests memorials be to St. John's Lutheran Church or the Hooker Cemetery Fund. Memorials will be accepted at the funeral home. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 24, 2000 Elsewhere Richard Mills SLATON - Richard "Ricky" Mills, 42, died Saturday, Oct. 21, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in St. Paul's Lutheran Church at Plainview with the Rev. Gerald Boerger, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens at Plainview by Lemons Funeral Home of Plainview. Mr. Mills was born in Clovis, N.M. He attended school in Hale Center and Plainview. He worked 18 years for W&R Welding in Brownfield and was employed by B&C Gin Supply. Survivors include four daughters, Wendy Mills of Johnson, Kan., Sandee Mills and Mandee Lynn Mills of Levelland; a son, Travis Mills of Brownfield; a brother, James Mills of Irving; his father, Henry T. "Red" Bevill; and his mother and stepfather, Katherine and Dale McDonald of Plainview. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 24, 2000 Orvel Millen Reed GUNTER - Orvel Millen Reed, 78, died Friday, Oct. 20, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Scott Jordan officiating. Burial will be in Gunter Cemetery by Flesher Funeral Home of Van Alstyne. Mr. Reed was born in Gunter. He served in the Marine Corps during World War II. He moved to Amarillo in 1949 and worked at the Rex Theater, John Farrell Lumber Co., Builder's Supply and Quality Homes. He retired from St. Anthony's Hospital in 1984. For many years, he also ran Uncle Orvel's Valley Plastics, which made Formica cabinet tops. He was a Methodist. In 1994, he moved to Stigler, Okla. He moved to Mulberry, Fla., in 1997 and returned to Gunter in 1998. Survivors include a daughter, Pennye Pearcy of Mulberry; four stepdaughters, Linda Daniels of Pampa, Laveda Rust of Keota, Okla., and Alene Monday and Marsha Bush, both of Stigler; two sisters, Millie Beach and Viola Sherman, both of Las Vegas; a brother, Gordon Reed of Rockport; 12 grandchildren; and 32 greatgrandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 24, 2000 Mikie Griego PLAINVIEW - Mikie Griego, 18month-old son of Abel and Araceli Griego of Plainview, died Thursday, Oct. 19, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Lemons Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Santos Rodriguez of Iglesia Bautista Date Street officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Cemetery. Mikie was born in Plainview. Survivors include his parents; a brother, Abel Lee Griego Jr.; and grandparents, Frank R. and Senayda Griego and Sara Sauceda, all of Plainview. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 24, 2000 W.E. Mitchell LITTLEFIELD - W.E. Mitchell, 88, died Sunday, Oct. 22, 2000, in Lubbock. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Littlefield Memorial Park with Ken Horn, hospice chaplain, officiating. Arrangements are by Hammons Funeral Home. Mr. Mitchell was born in Quail. He moved to Spade in 1947 and to Littlefield in 1990. He attended Arlington State University for 2 years. He was leader of the Adult 4-H Club, past chairman of Lamb County Soil Conservation Board, and past director of Lamb County Farm Bureau and Spade Co-op Gin. He received the Outstanding Resident Farmer Award in the mid-1970s. Mr. Mitchell married Theo Merle Palmer in 1941 at Wellington. She died in 1998. Survivors include a daughter, Pat Brandenberger of Llano; a brother, Herman C. Mitchell of Burnet; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Vista Care Family Hospice, 7606 University Suite C, Lubbock, TX 79423. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 24, 2000 Kenneth Virgil Weese BIG SANDY - Kenneth Virgil Weese, 63, died Saturday, Oct. 21, 2000, in Big Sandy. Memorial services were at 7 p.m. Monday in the Church of God Big Sandy with the Rev. David Orban, pastor, officiating. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Grenville Cemetery at Grenville, N.M. Arrangements are by Croley Funeral Home of Gladewater. Mr. Weese was born in Clayton, N.M. He attended school at Grenville and graduated from Clayton High School in 1955. He had worked in the Texline and Dalhart areas before moving to Big Sandy to work for Ambassador College, where he retired from the maintenance department. He was manager of Hillcrest Manor Apartments. He married Donna Jean McBride in 1955. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Kenneth Wayne Weese of Big Sandy and Terry Gene Weese of Tyler; a brother, Bob Weese of Grenville; five sisters, Kay Paye of Big Sandy, Sue Bullard of Clayton, LeeDean Swanson of Westminster, Colo., Wendy Russell of Wheatland, Wyo., and Kim Roth of Chugwater, Wyo.; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandsons. The family suggests memorials in lieu of flowers be to Hillcrest Manor, Box 685, Big Sandy, TX 75755. Amarillo Daily News, Oct. 24, 2000 Oliver Harold Parker UNION CITY, Tenn. - Oliver Harold Parker, 89, died Sunday, Oct. 22, 2000. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday in West Park Cemetery of Hereford with the Rev. H.W. Bartlett, pastor of Temple Baptist Church of Hereford, officiating. Arrangements are by Gililland-Watson Funeral Home. Mr. Parker was born in Custer City, Okla. He was an auto salesman and a member and elder of the First Christian Church in Union City. He was a member of the Houguenot Society, the Obion County Historical Society, and was an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. He was preceded in death by a son, Oliver H. Parker Jr. Survivors include two daughters, Jean Bell of Union City and Joyce Parker of Dallas; two sons, Ed Parker and Joe Pete Parker of Dyersburg, Tenn.; 12 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Christian Church Foundation, P.O. Box 1986, Indianapolis, IN 46206.