Potter Co. TX - Obits from the Amarillo newspapers 3 Nov 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 Bonnie May Ainsworth SILVERTON - Bonnie May Ainsworth, 84, died Friday, Nov. 2, 2001, in Lockney. Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in First Methodist Church of Silverton with the Rev. Edwin Norris and the Rev. Tony Boyd officiating. Burial will be in Silverton Cemetery by Myers-Long Funeral Directors. Mrs. Ainsworth was born Sept. 14, 1917, at Denison. She was a homemaker. Survivors include her husband, Art; a daughter, Joy Stodghill of Silverton; a stepson, Leonard Ainsworth of Spencer, Okla.; a sister, Sylvia Chloe Burgin of Denison; three granddaughters; two stepgrandchildren; two great-grandsons; and three step-great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 3, 2001 Margaret Ruth Thompson STINNETT - Margaret Ruth Thompson, 74, died Thursday, Nov. 1, 2001, in Amarillo. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Andy Dietz, associate pastor of First Baptist Church of Borger, officiating. Burial will be in Stinnett Cemetery. Mrs. Thompson was born in Wellington. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband Henry Paul Thompson in 1999. Survivors include a son, James Randall Thompson of Colquitt, Ga.; two daughters, Paula Louise Vandagriff of Ingleside and Pamela Jo Biggers of Amarillo; a brother, Mooney Stall of Skellytown; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 3, 2001 Jessie Gore FRIONA - Jessie Gore, 97, died Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2001. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in Friona United Methodist Church with the Rev. Don Boren, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Friona Cemetery by Ellis-Blackwell Funeral Home. Mrs. Gore was born Oct. 20, 1904, in Hunt County, to John and Maggie Hamlin. She graduated from high school at Alba and Wesley College in Greenville. She married Robert N. "Newt" Gore on July 20, 1923, at Emory. She moved to Friona in 1926 from Alba. She taught school in Hunt County, Jesko community in Parmer County and Bovina in 1927 and 1928. In the early 1930s, she was a correspondent for several farm magazines and the Amarillo Daily News. She was a member of Panhandle Pen Women. A lifelong member of the Methodist Church, she taught Sunday school and was a member of United Methodist Women organization. In the late 1960s, she took art lessons and began painting. Many of her paintings have been displayed at Prairie Acres where she has resided since 1991. She was preceded in death by her husband on May 9, 1994; her parents; and a brother, William D. Hamlin. Survivors include three sons, Robert Gore of San Jon, N.M., Lewis Gore of Friona and Jimmie Gore of Amarillo; nine grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 3, 2001 Chester Rigdon Chester Rigdon, 83, died Thursday, Nov. 1, 2001. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Morrison Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel with Mr. Mark Hayes, a family member of Lockney, officiating. Burial will be in Northlawn Memorial Gardens. Mr. Rigdon was born May 7, 1918, at Ben Franklin. He had been a Dumas resident since 1955. He was a member of 14th & Meredith Street Church of Christ. He farmed in Moore County for more than 33 years. He served in the Army during World War II helping build aircraft. He married Vadah Hayes on Aug. 15, 1937, at McKinney. He was preceded in death by his wife on Nov. 25, 1998. Survivors include three sons, Dwayne Rigdon of Dumas, Gene Rigdon of Mesquite, N.M., and Marshall Rigdon of Lewisville; 14 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 1535, Dumas, TX 79029 or Memorial Hospice, 224 E. Second St., Dumas, TX 79029. The family will be at 905 Shamrock in Dumas. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 3, 2001 Amarillo Lillian Lair Davis Terrill Lillian Lair Davis Terrill, 89, of Canyon, died Thursday, Nov. 1, 2001, in Amarillo. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Brooks Funeral Directors Chapel with Dr. James Garten, pastor of Pavillard Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery. Mrs. Terrill was born Jan. 4, 1912, at Canyon. She was an alumna of West Texas A&M University. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Canyon, as were her parents and maternal grandparents before her. She was an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma, the Esther McCrory Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution and many writing groups including Panhandle Professional Writers and Poetry Society of Texas. She also served for a time as a volunteer for Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum. She has pioneer ties through Judge L.C. Lair, her maternal grandfather. Judge Lair was the first Judge of Randall County. She was preceded in death by her parents, Martha Dixon Lair Davis and John Madison Davis; a brother, James Madison Davis; and her husband, Walter Andrew Terrill. Survivors include a daughter, JoAnne Smith and husband, Randy of Amarillo; four grandchildren, Julie Angala of Hawaii, Jeri Barrett of California, Army Spec. Justin Barrett, stationed in Germany, and USNR Petty Officer Brenna Smith of Amarillo; 10 great-grandchildren; and many cousins on the maternal Lair side of the family, primarily in the Texas Panhandle. The family suggests memorials be to Jan Werner Adult Day Care Center, 3108 Fillmore St., Amarillo, TX 79110. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 3, 2001 Catalina Valenzuela Catalina Valenzuela, 70, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Nov. 1, 2001. Rosary was said at 7 p.m. Friday in N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors Pioneer Chapel, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Pioneer Chapel with the Rev. Jesse Contreras, pastor of Templo Elim Assembly of God Church, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Valenzuela was born in Saragosa and has been a resident of Amarillo for more than 20 years. She was a homemaker and member of the Pentecostal Church. Survivors include her husband, Juan Martinez; four daughters, Belia Estrada of Boise, Idaho, Jessica Hurtado and Elizabeth Sanchez, both of Amarillo, and Sylvia Espinoza of El Paso; six sons, Guadalupe Lopez of Lubbock, Jose Antonio Merez of Cactus, Pedro Merez and Juan Ramon Ramirez, both of Amarillo, Edwardo Merez of Tucker, Ga., and Manuel Merez of California; a sister, Manuela Contreras of Pecos; two brothers, Lupe Carrasco and Nicasio Carrasco, both of Pecos; 29 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 3, 2001 Danny Hilburn Conklin Danny Hilburn Conklin, 66, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2001, in Houston. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in Polk Street United Methodist Church with Dr. James E. Garrett, senior minister, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Conklin was born Dec. 12, 1934, at Shattuck, Okla., to Aline and Ivan Conklin. He grew up in Canadian and graduated from Oklahoma State University. He married Carolyn Kerns Conklin on Feb. 11, 1961, at Polk Street United Methodist Church. He was past chairman of the Independent Petroleum Association of America and the Amarillo Area Foundation in 1997. He was current chairman of U.S. Oil and Gas, formerly Mid Continent, and the Texas Oil and Gas Association. He was a board member of the Harrington Foundation and in 1996 served as chairman. He was a board member of Texas Banc Shares and First National Bank of Amarillo. He was a supporter of the Kidney Foundation of West Texas. In 1995, he was appointed to Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission by the Governor. He was honored in 1996 by the Panhandle Producers and Royalty Association with the Living Legend Award. He was inducted into All American Wildcatters in 1999. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Todd H. Conklin and wife, Heather Ferguson Conklin of Tulsa, Okla., and Tim D. Conklin and wife, Yvonne Hrubesh Conklin of Houston; and three grandchildren, Jack Conklin, Grace Conklin and Alexandra Harwell. The family suggests memorials be to National Kidney Foundation of West Texas, 5920 W. Amarillo Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79106 or Polk Street United Methodist Church, 1401 S. Polk St., Amarillo, TX 79101. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 3, 2001 Oklahoma Mary Opal Chesser TEXHOMA, Okla. - Mary Opal Chesser, 88, died Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2001. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Texhoma Cemetery with the Rev. Mike Hughes, pastor of First Christian Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Dawson-Welch Funeral Home. Mrs. Chesser was born Sept. 9, 1913, at Texhoma. She married Ermel Lester Chesser on Sept. 20, 1933, at Texhoma. Survivors include a son, Kenny Chesser of Texhoma; a brother, J.C. Lyle of Wichita, Kan.; and a sister, Joy Jenkins of Texhoma. The family suggests memorials be to Texhoma Cemetery or Texhoma Senior Citizens. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 3, 2001 New Mexico Evelyn Millie Morgan Walls TUCUMCARI, N.M. - Evelyn Millie Morgan Walls, 92, died Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2001. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in First Baptist Church of Logan with the Rev. Wes McAfee officiating. Burial will be in Clayton Memorial Cemetery at Clayton by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Mrs. Walls married Elmer Edward "Sam" Walls on Jan 18, 1930, at Grenville. Grandma Millie, as she was fondly called, was a faithful Christian woman with strong family bonds. Survivors include two sons, Elmer Ray Walls of Clayton and Ervin Paul Walls of Logan; eight grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 3, 2001 Click here to return to story: http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/110301/obi_allobits.shtml