Potter Co. TX - Obits from the Amarillo newspapers 1 Oct 2001 Thanks to http://www.amarillonet.com/ for permission to upload their obits to the USGenWeb Archives. Copyright, http://www.amarillonet.com/ ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** All Obits - Text Only Tommie Finley Sturdivant MATADOR - Tommie Finley Sturdivant, 93, died Saturday, Sept. 29, 2001. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in East Mound Cemetery of Matador with Elder Matt Swan, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, officiating. Arrangements are by Seigler Funeral Home. Mrs. Sturdivant was born July 29, 1908, in Delwin, Cottle County. She was married to James P. Sturdivant in 1933. Survivors include a daughter, Pina Sue Sturdivant of Matador; a son, Tim Sturdivant of Salt Lake City, Utah; a sister, Dorothy Westfall of Denver; and five grandsons. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 1, 2001 Walter A. Nelson CLARENDON - Walter A. "Cotton" Nelson, 80, died Saturday, Sept. 29, 2001. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Citizens Cemetery with Don Stone, minister of White Deer Church of Christ, and Mike Suiter, minister of San Jacinto Church of Christ in Amarillo, officiating. Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon. Mr. Nelson was born Feb. 3, 1921, in Wellington. He was a member of the 1939 Wellington Skyrocket State Championship Football Team, and went on to play football as a Texas Tech Red Raider. His education was interrupted by World War II during which he served in the Navy from 1941 to 1945. He returned to Texas Tech where he completed his degree and met and married his wife of 53 years, Mary Beth Dupree, on March 20, 1948. They moved to Amarillo in 1951 where he worked for National Gypsum Co. for 11 years and then the Amarillo Independent School District for 14 years. They moved to Clarendon in 1978 where he farmed and retired. He was a member of the Clarendon VFW Post 7782 and a member of the Clarendon Church of Christ. Pallbearers include his grandsons, Jared Christal, Todd Dudley, Tim Dudley, Tige Tackett, Chris Paddock, Anthony Mendez, and Gabe Marinez; and two sons-in-law, Mike Christal and Russell Martin. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Rufus and Nona Ingram Nelson; a brother, Claude Nelson; and a son, Michael Walter Nelson. Survivors include his wife, Mary Beth; three daughters, Janis Dudley of Hereford, Sharon Martin of Amarillo and Jill Christal of Baton Rouge, La.; two sons-in-law, Mike Christal and Russell Martin; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice or Clarendon VFW Post 7782. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 1, 2001 Robert J. "Bob" Lemke WHITE DEER - Robert J. "Bob" Lemke, 70, died Saturday, Sept. 29, 2001. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Zion Lutheran Church with Leif Hasskarl, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Lemke was a resident of Amarillo for 20 years, Pampa for 15 years and White Deer since 1985. He worked for Lee Way Motor Freight as terminal manager for 35 years and had been self-employed since 1984. Survivors include his wife, Barbara; three sons, Daniel Lemke of Lewisville, Gary Lemke of Perryton and Joe Lemke of Dayton, Ohio; a brother, Raymond C. Lemke of Greenville; two sisters, Wilma Mae Ferrell of Corpus Christi and Velma Lemke of Valley View; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 1, 2001 Oklahoma Dennis Ray Hardesty GUYMON, Okla. - Dennis Ray Hardesty, 58, died Friday, Sept. 28, 2001. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Grace Southern Baptist Church of Guymon. Military rites will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Fort Gibson National Cemetery by Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home of Guymon. Mr. Hardesty was retired from the Army National Guard. He was a rural postal carrier in Hooker. Survivors include a daughter, Shelley Neeley of Stilwell; a son, Dennis Hardesty Jr.; a sister, Wanda Goolsby of Willcox, Ariz.; four brothers, John Hardesty of Ute Park, N.M., Earl Hardesty of Guymon, Steve Hardesty of Rock Springs, Wyo., and Jim Hardesty of Beaver; and seven grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 1, 2001 Edna O. Hardesty GUYMON, Okla. - Edna O. Hardesty, 80, died Friday, Sept. 28, 2001. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Grace Southern Baptist Church of Guymon. Burial will be in Elmhurst Cemetery of Guymon by Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home. Mrs. Hardesty was married to John H. Hardesty on June 24, 1936, in Fort Cobb. Survivors include five children, John Hardesty of Ute Park, N.M., Earl Hardesty of Guymon, Steve Hardesty of Rock Springs, Wyo., Wanda Goolsby of Willcox, Ariz., and Jim Hardesty of Beaver, Okla.; 26 grandchildren; and 35 great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 1, 2001 Amarillo Shirley J. Carlton Shirley J. Carlton, 70, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Sept. 29, 2001. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Second Baptist Church with Dr. Charles Jones, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Carlton was born in Abilene, Kan. She was a bookkeeper at Carlton Construction Co. and demonstrator for House of Lloyds. She married Jack Carlton on Nov. 5, 1948, in Amarillo. She was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Brad Maxwell and Elise Carlton. Survivors include her husband; three daughters, Elaine Seaton and husband, Jim, and Jacquie Maxwell and husband, Rick, all of Amarillo, and Linda Stafford of Lubbock; three sons, Rusty Carlton and wife, Arlene, and Kelly Carlton and wife, Christalle, all of Amarillo, and Brian Carlton and wife, Rose, of Derby, Kan.; 11 grandchildren, Eric Seaton, Mandie Seaton, Roxann Seaton, Summer McCabe, David McCabe, Craig Carlton, Matthew Carlton, Kody Carlton, Maygan Carlton, Madison Carlton and Trent Carlton; and a great-grandchild, Tristian Seaton. The family suggests memorials be to the Scholarship Fund in Memory of Brad Maxwell, Opportunity Plan, 504 24th St., Canyon, TX 79015; Amarillo Little Theatre in the name of Elise Carlton; or Second Baptist Church. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 1, 2001 Salvador Ortega Salvador "Charlie" Ortega, 74, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Sept. 29, 2001. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the church with the Rev. Harry Waldo officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Holley Funeral Home. Mr. Ortega was born March 27, 1927, in Mendota. He was a veteran of World War II and worked as a car inspector for Santa Fe Railroad for 44 years. He married Annie Marie Ramirez on July 30, 1951, in Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Canadian. He was a volunteer basketball coach for Kids, Inc. in 1973 and a volunteer coach for Alamo Catholic Boys junior varsity in 1978. He was preceded in death by a son, Charles "Chuck" Ortega, in 1999. Survivors include his wife, Annie Ortega; a son, Frank Ortega of Amarillo; four daughters, Walacie Zuber, Peggy Hawkins and Julie Ortega, all of Amarillo, and Tonia Palmer of Moore, Okla.; three brothers, Frank Ortega, Raymond Ortega and Pedro Ortega, all of Amarillo; a sister, Josephine Garcia of Virginia; 11 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice, American Heart Association or Diabetic Association. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 1, 2001 Ava Arrington Ava Arrington, 87, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Sept. 29, 2001. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Memory Gardens Cemetery with Richard Dickerson of Temple Baptist Church officiating. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mrs. Arrington married W.C. "Bill" Arrington on Feb. 17, 1935. She had worked with the infants in Baptist Church nurseries since 1950 and was a member of Temple Baptist Church. Her grandsons will serve as honorary pallbearers. Survivors include her husband, W.C. "Bill" Arrington; a son, Jerry Arrington and wife, Jo, of Pampa; a daughter, Pat Stidger and husband, Phillip, of Amarillo; a brother, Ralph Nellis of Grants, N.M.; a sister, June Covey of Reno, Nev.; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The body will be available for viewing at noon today in the funeral home. The family suggests memorials be to Ware Memorial Center, 400 W. 14th Ave., Amarillo, TX 79101. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 1, 2001 Willie Mae Branson Willie Mae Kemp Branson, 82, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Sept. 29, 2001. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle, with Bob Thomas, minister of Spiritual Care at Crown of Texas Hospice, officiating. Burial will be in Llano East Cemetery. Mrs. Branson was born Feb. 23, 1919, in Claude to W.E. "Bill" Kemp and Rennie Neighbors Kemp. She graduated from Claude High School in 1937. She later graduated from Draughn's Business School in Dallas. She married Jerall D. Branson in Clarendon on March 25, 1939. She was a Baptist. She worked for Universal Oil Co. and A.J. Weiser & Co. in Panhandle during World War II. She was a bookstore manager of the Amarillo Air Force Base Bookstore until the base closed. She retired from Northwest Texas Hospital after 12 to 15 years of work. She worked for Broome Electric for several years and was also a homemaker. She loved to fish, hunt and loved the outdoors. She loved the Eastern Star, her sisters and brothers and had dual membership in Panhandle Chapter No. 760 and Amarillo Chapter No. 787. She was preceded in death by her father, W.E. "Bill" Kemp and her mother, Rennie Neighbors Kemp; a brother, Cara Kemp; and two sisters, Dora Best and Thelma Lee Vogel. Survivors include her husband, Jerall; a sister, Noma E. Watters of Paramount, Calif.; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. The family will be at 7602 Tripp. The family suggests memorials be to Shriner's Hospital for Crippled Children, P.O. Box 328, Amarillo, TX 79105. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 1, 2001 Click here to return to story: http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/100101/obi_allobits.shtml