Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 25 Aug 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 ==================================================================== Amarillo Daily News, Aug. 25, 2000 FRITCH - Verdie Ann Brown, 65, died Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2000. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. David Brasher officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park by Mintonƒ/ƒChatwell Funeral Directors. Mrs. Brown was born in Hamlin. She moved to Fritch 33 years ago from Los Angeles. She taught in the Sanfordƒ/ƒFritch Independent School District. She was a member of First United Methodist Church. She had served as honorary chair of "Hope." She was named Masonic Lodge Woman of the Year and Outstanding Volunteer at Lake Meredith Aquatic and Wildlife Museum. She also was involved with Reach for Recovery at the Don and Sybil B. Harrington Cancer Center in Amarillo. She married James "Don" Brown in 1958 at Canyon. Survivors include her husband; three daughters, Cindy Sewell and Kim Lindley, both of Fritch, and Leslie Foster of Amarillo; and five grandchildren. BORGER - George L. Harkins, 86, died Monday, Aug. 21, 2000, in Amarillo. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Tishomingo Cemetery at Tishomingo, Okla., with the Rev. Tom Caldwell officiating. Arrangements are by Mintonƒ/ƒChatwell Funeral Directors. Mr. Harkins was born in Emet, Okla. He had lived in Borger since 1943 moving from Filmore, Okla. He retired as operator for the Phillips Petroleum rubber plant. He was a member of the Fairlanes Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Neomia Harkins, in 1988. Survivors include a son, Bill Harkins of Oklahoma City; a brother, C.L. Harkins of Tishomingo; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. DUMAS - Norman Stevenson, 72, died Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2000. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Dumas Cemetery with John Green officiating. Arrangements are by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mr. Stevenson was born in Claremount and had lived in Dumas since 1962. He was owner and operator of Stevenson and Sons Pest Control. He was a member of the First Baptist Church and was involved in the scouting program. He married Maxine Sandefer in 1947 at Clovis, N.M. She died in 1994. Survivors include a daughter, Norma Lee Henthorn of Dumas; five sons, Don Stevenson and Larry Stevenson, both of Dallas, Jim Stevenson of Dalhart, Eddy Stevenson of Arkansas and Tom Stevenson of Dumas; a brother, C.J. Stevenson of Abilene; and 10 grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and Girlstown USA, P.O. Box 1890, Amarillo, TX 79174. The family will be at 716 Phillips. PERRYTON - Rocky Lane, 42, died Thursday, Aug. 24, 2000. Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in Victory Family Church with the Rev. Marlon Sparks officiating. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Mr. Lane was born in Perryton. He graduated from Perryton High School and attended Clarendon College. Five years ago, he returned to the Perryton area from Kansas. He was a self-employed carpenter. Survivors include his wife, Sunny Lane; a son, Michael Lane of Shawnee, Okla.; a daughter, April Yancey of Eufaula, Okla.; a step-daughter, Rebekah Skaggs of Perryton; a brother, Randy Lane of Perryton; three sisters, Teresa Cross of Port Neches Grove, Sara Majica of Aspen, Colo., and Christie Christmann of Garden City, Kan.; and one grandchild. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. Amarillo Daily News, Aug. 25, 2000 BORGER - Mark Eugene Grimes, 83, died Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2000, in Pampa. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Keeler Baptist Church with the Rev. Paul Anderson, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Devotion at Highland Park Cemetery by Mintonƒ/ƒChatwell Funeral Directors. Mr. Grimes was born in Kingfisher, Okla. He was a cattle ranch foreman in Kansas during World War II. In 1950 he moved to Borger and went to work for Phillips Petroleum, Plains Plant. He founded his own construction company in Borger. He married Ellena Farris Gullett in 1939 at Pawhuska, Okla. They were part of the original founding families of Bunavista Baptist Church and members of the Keeler Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Melvin Eugene Grimes of Yorba Linda, Calif., and Harold Joe Grimes of Borger; a brother, Laddie J. Grimes of Norman, Okla.; and nine grandchildren. DUMAS - Ed Brannan, 75, died Thursday, Aug. 24, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Street Church of Christ with Ben Mereness, pastor of Southwest Church of Christ of Amarillo, and Hoyt Cranfill, retired minister of Church of Christ of Graham, officiating. Burial will be in Northlawn Memorial Gardens by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mr. Brannan was born in Bowie. A former longtime resident of Sherman County he had lived in Dumas since 1975. During World War II, he served in the Army Air Corps. He retired from Diamond Shamrock in 1982. He was a Realtor for Century 21 in Dumas and a former member of the Dumas Noon Lions Club. He was a member of the First Street Church of Christ. Mr. Brannan married Colleen Yarborough in 1944 at Merced, Calif. Survivors include his wife; a son, Danny Brannan of Dumas; a daughter, Neta Clark of Dumas; two brothers, Edgar Brannan of Austin and Glen Brannan of Fritch; two sisters, Ruthie Goins of Jay, Okla., and Ruby Brewer of Cooper; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the American Cancer Society, 211 Zuak, Dumas, TX 79029; or Memorial Hospice, 224 E. Second, Dumas, TX 79029. The family will be at 505 Bennett. PLAINVIEW - Mrs. J.O. Loraine Tenery, 87, died Thursday, Aug. 24, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Wood-Dunning Funeral Home with Randy Tenery, of Sweetwater, officiating. Burial will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Tenery was born in Italy. She moved to Plainview in 1942 from Milford. She was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church. She married J.O. Tenery in 1933 at Milford. He died in October. Survivors include a daughter, Margaret Hooks of Plainview; a son, Earl Tenery of Plainview; a sister, Willie Sneed of Hillsboro; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. FRITCH - Brandt Lee Blackwell, infant son of Marc and Leslie Blackwell, died Thursday, Aug. 24, 2000, in San Antonio. Private graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Westlawn Cemetery with the Rev. Brad Foster, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church of Dumas, officiating. Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Directors. Survivors include his parents; a brother, Layn Blackwell; a sister, Elisa Blackwell; his grandparents, Mike and Robin Lucero and Sonny and Cheryl Blackwell, all of Fritch; and great-grandparents, Joe and Bob Hinds and Nina Lucero, all of Borger. HIGGINS - Bruce Farrell, 88, died Thursday, Aug. 24, 2000. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Higgins Cemetery by the Good Samaritan Funeral Service of Shattuck, Okla. Mr. Higgins was retired from the Santa Fe Railway. Survivors include two sisters, Sylvia Detrixhe of Pampa and Goldie Hedquist of Las Vegas, N.M. TURKEY - Paul Cruse, 70, died Thursday, Aug. 24, 2000. Services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Church of Christ with J.D. Nance and Stuart Smith officiating. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery by Myers-Long Funeral Directors. Mr. Cruse was born in Turkey. He served in the Army in Korea. He had worked for Braniff Airlines and was a farmer and rancher. He was a member of the Church of Christ. Survivors include three sons, Paul Don Cruse of Roanoke, Zane Cruse of Haltom City and Shannon Cruse of Justin; three sisters, Joleta Johnson of Mineral Wells, Vernel Nance of Silverton and Betty Driskill of Turkey; and 12 grandchildren. Elinor Rebecca Brown McCleskey, 83, formerly of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2000, in Kingman, Kan. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. John McClean, pastor of Saint Paul United Methodist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. McCleskey was born in Cokedale, Colo. She earned her bachelor's degree in business administration and Texas teaching certificate at West Texas State College in 1960. She taught special education for the Plainview Independent School District, retiring in 1982. Mrs. McCleskey was a member of the Phi Gamma Nu, Texas Retired Teachers Association and a member of the Shamrock Chapter No. 384 of the Order of the Eastern Star in Shamrock. She also was a member of the St. Paul United Methodist Church. She married Ramsey R. "Mac" McCleskey in 1938. He died in 1978. She also was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Medora Ann McCleskey, in 1939. Survivors include two daughters, Koy Prestridge of Overland Park, Kan., and Jackque McCleskey of Lubbock; a son, Robb R. McCleskey of Kingman; a brother, Thomas W. Brown of Sublimity, Ore.; eight grandchildren; and one great grandson. Roy Ambra Jones, 43, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Aug. 24, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Rector Funeral Home Chapel, 2800 S. Osage St. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mr. Jones was born in Amarillo and graduated from Palo Duro High School in 1975. He worked for Owens Corning Fiberglas, retiring in 1993. He married Maria De La Rosa in 1975 at Childress. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Shanda E. De Los Santos and Kimberly Jones Persefield, both of Amarillo; a son, Roy Ambre Jones of Amarillo; his parents, A.H. and Laverta Jones of Amarillo, Sammy Jones of Mesquite and Margie Colbert of Warsaw, Mo.; three brothers, Dwayne Jones of Amarillo, Randy Jones of Dallas and Lee Colbert of Warsaw; two sisters, Janie Quick of Dallas and Tammy Colbert of Warsaw; and two grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to High Plains Children's Home. CLOVIS, N.M. - Stacey J. Kimbrell, 16, died Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2000. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Assembly of God with the Rev. Joe Henegar, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Mission Garden of Memories by Muffley Funeral Home Inc. Miss Kimbrell was born in Portales. She moved to Clovis in June 1999 and was a junior at Clovis High School. Survivors include her father, Daniel L. Bayless of Clovis; legal guardians, Henry W. and Dorothy Bayless of Clovis; a grandfather and step-grandmother, D.E. and Velma Wall of Clovis; her mother, Twila Kimbrell of Portales; a brother, Dean Kimbrell of Portales; and four sisters, Janet Kimbrell of Portales, Amber Bayless and Jackie Bayless, both of Albuquerque and Felicia Bayless of Clovis. LUBBOCK - Lennis W. Baker, 88, died Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Broadway Church of Christ with Dr. Joe R. Barnett and Dr. Ken Jones officiating. Arrangements are by Rix Funeral Directors. Mr. Baker was born in Lockney and moved to Lubbock. He attended Texas Tech University. In 1931, he and his brother, James, opened Baker Printing Co. and in 1934, they opened the Baker Co., an office products store. From 1954 to 1960 he had served as mayor and city councilman of Lubbock. Mr. Baker was a member of Broadway Church of Christ. He had served on the board of trustees of Lubbock Christian University and as its chairman. He received a doctor of laws degree, and the Distinguished Service Award from the university. He served as president of the Chamber of Commerce, the United Way, and the South Plains Fair Association and was Commander of the Lubbock Commandery No. 60, of Knights Templar. He had served as director on the board of City Development, Greater Lubbock Development Association, Lubbock County Chapter of American Red Cross and Smithlawn Maternity Home. He married Verdie Mae Warren in 1940. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Carol Adams of Fort Worth, Beverly Ann Crossnoe and Janet Durham, both of Lubbock; a brother, James Baker of Lubbock; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the L.C.U. Scholarship Fund, 5601 19th St.. Lubbock, TX 79407; or the Children's Home of Lubbock, Box 2824, Lubbock, TX 79408. The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. today at the funeral home. ELK CITY, Okla. - Tyson Shelton, 80, died Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2000. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Neal Helmbacher and the Rev. Doc Ware officiating. Burial with military honors will be in Fairlawn Cemetery. Arrangements are by Martin Funeral Home. Mr. Shelton was born in Mobeetie, Texas. He graduated from Mobeetie High School and attended West Texas State Teachers College in Canyon, Texas. During World War II, he served with the Army in the South Pacific, Okinawa and the Philippines. He received a Purple Heart. He moved to Amarillo after the war and started a plumbing contractor business, which he operated until moving in 1959 to Elk City. He ran his business there until 1981. He became a building inspector for the city of Elk City in 1986. Mr. Shelton was a member of the Elk City Lions Club, Western Oklahoma Historical Society and the Far West Fiddlers. He was a deacon at First Baptist Church. He married Juanita Allen in 1940. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Allen L. Shelton of Houston and Tyson Lynn Shelton of Gallup, N.M.; two daughters, Sharon Stalcup of Gallup and Ronda Mikles of Elk City; a brother, Joe Merle Shelton of Mobeetie; two sisters, Lillie Mae Bailey of Mobeetie and Juanell Eberting of Albuquerque, N.M.; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. TULSA, Okla. - Nicholas F. Young, 73, died Monday, Aug. 21, 2000. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St., of Amarillo, with Glen Walton, minister of Bell Avenue Church of Christ of Amarillo, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Young was born in Eldorado. He served in the military during World War II. He was retired from Southwestern Bell Telephone. Survivors include four sons, Noel Young of Broken Arrow, Trent Young of Amarillo, Stewart Young of Canyon, Texas and Arland Young of Garden City, Kan.; a daughter, Dana Phelps of Lubbock, Texas; four sisters, Daphne Barry, Maddell Pillers and Una V. McGaughy, all of Amarillo, and Troyice Davis of Springdale, Ark.; and four grandchildren. BEAVER, Okla. - James Lee Calhoon, 63, died Thursday, Aug. 24, 2000. Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Beaver First Christian Church with Audie Brooks officiating. Burial will be private at Pioneer Cemetery by Clark Funeral Service. Mr. Calhoon was born in Anderson, Ind. He graduated from Beaver High School. He was a longtime resident of Beaver. He served two tours in the Vietnam War in the Navy. He attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University at Alva. He was an artist and a published cartoonist for Western Horeseman Magazine. Survivors include two daughters, Stephanie Cearley of Cushing and Danielle Lamirand of Nevada, Mo.; and a son, Scott Calhoon of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials in lieu of flowers be to a favorite charity. CLAREMORE, Okla. - John Benjamin "Benny" Cooper, 60, died Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2000. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Burkhart Cemetery at Racine, Mo. Arrangements are by Rice Funeral Service of Claremore. Mr. Cooper was born in Joplin, Mo. He grew up in Guymon, where he graduated from high school. He attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University at Weatherford. He was an insurance adjuster for General Motors Insurance Corp. Mr. Cooper had lived in Amarillo. He moved to Claremore six years ago and retired three years ago. He was a member of the First Christian Church of Lubbock, Texas, a charter member and former officer of the Elks Lodge of Hereford, Texas, and a former Odd Fellow. He also was a member of the Quiet Birdmen of El Paso, Texas, Hanger, and the Comanche Society. He married Melba Lawrence in 1960 at Hereford. Survivors include his wife; a son, Chris Cooper of Waxahachie, Texas; a daughter, Melissa Smith of Boise, Idaho; his father, John A. Cooper of White Deer, Texas; a brother, David Cooper of Las Vegas; two sisters, Anna Lewis of White Deer and Debra Cummins of Amarillo; and three grandsons. HOLDENVILLE, Okla. - Mae Turner, 85, died Thursday, Aug. 24, 2000. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Hudson-Phillips Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Earl Stephenson officiating. Burial will be in Holdenville Cemetery. Mrs. Turner was born in Texas and raised in the Mount Pleasant area. She later moved to Sweetwater. She was a gardener and longtime member of the Banner Baptist Church in Horntown. She married Burley Turner in 1937 at Tulare, Calif. Survivors include her husband; a son, Dale Turner of Holdenville; two daughters, Jean Grimm of Bethany and Linda Harmon of Broken Arrow; two sisters, Nell Stuart of Amarillo and Faye Peck of Oklahoma City; three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.