Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 5 May 2001 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 ==================================================================== Jack V. Botkin Jack V. Botkin, 77, died Thursday, May 3, 2001. Services will be at 4 p.m. today in First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Roger Harwerth, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mr. Botkin was born in Slick, Okla., and had been a Borger resident since 1951. He was a retired plant manager for Phillips Petroleum at Ryton Plant. He served in World War II as a Navy pilot. He was valedictorian and president of the student body in high school. He received a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering at Texas Tech and graduated with highest honors, Summa Cum Laude. He volunteered in Community Concert Series and was AARP Tax Aide district manager. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, an elder of the church, a member of the Bell Choir and also was an adult Sunday school teacher. His interests were computers, photography, music, woodworking and gardening. Survivors include his wife, Mary Botkin of the home; two sons, Craig Botkin and Steve Botkin, both of Austin; two daughters, Judianne Ambrosio and Becky Botkin, both of Austin; and eight grandchildren. Casket bearers will be Pat Harvey, Larry Nelson, Bob Watkins, Jim Farrell, Kenneth Deel and Bob Rawlings. The family suggests memorials in lieu of flowers be to the Community Concert Series. Amarillo Globe-News, May 5, 2001 Millard P. Brown WELLINGTON - Millard P. Brown, 97, died Thursday, May 3, 2001. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in the Church of Christ with Tom Anderson, minister of the Memphis Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Gardens Cemetery by Adams Funeral Home. Mr. Brown was born on Dec. 24, 1903, in Nashville, Ark., to Tom W. Brown and Clersy Hutson Brown. He attended school in Nashville. He came to Goodlett in 1920 from Nashville, moved to Mobeetie and began work for the USDA Farm Service Agency in 1933, later transferred to Memphis and then to Wellington in 1942. He retired from the USDA in 1968 as office manager. He was a longtime member of the Wellington Kiwanis Club and a lifetime member of the Church of Christ. He married Lula Mae Newman on April 18, 1925, in Wheeler. She died in 1981. He also was preceded in death by two sons, Newman in 1981 and Millard W. in 1991, and by a great-granddaughter, Tara Hilburn. Survivors include a son, Eugene Brown and his wife, Shirley, of Amarillo; a daughter-in-law, Janell Brown of Wellington; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Wellington Cemetery Association; or Westview Boys Home. Amarillo Globe-News, May 5, 2001 Curtis Robert Lowrance BORGER - Curtis Robert Lowrance, 47, died Monday, April 30, 2001, in Amarillo. Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Eternal Light Pentacostal Church at Borger, with Willie Adams, pastor, officiating. Arrangements are by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mr. Lowrance married Michelle Fails on Oct. 14, 1983, in Stinnett. He was self-employed. Survivors include his wife of the home; a son, Larin of Borger; two daughters, Leslie Carson of Toledo, Ohio, and Caleena Lowrance of Borger; four sisters, Cathy McNeely of Des Moines, Iowa, Leona Newvine of Borger and Sara Lowrance and Helen Amyx, both of Harrison, Ark.; and a grandchild. Amarillo Globe-News, May 5, 2001 Derek Andruw Juanes DUMAS - Derek Andruw Juanes, 6 days old, died Thursday, May 3, 2001, in Amarillo. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in Templo Elim Assembly of God with the Rev. Jose Contreras, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Dumas Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors. Survivors include his mother, Naomi Salinas of Dumas; his father, Eloy Juanes of Plainview; two sisters, Alexis Salinas and Anissa Salinas, of the home; a brother, Nikko Juanes of Plainview; grandparents, Humberto Salinas of Dumas and Juan Lewis Rodgers and Mary Ann Rodgers of Plainview; a great-grandmother, Petra Mares of Dumas; and four aunts and six uncles. The family will be at 225 N. Meredith. Amarillo Globe-News, May 5, 2001 Teresa B. Mireles TULIA - Teresa B. Mireles, 69, died Wednesday, May 2, 2001, in Amarillo. Services will be at 1 p.m. today in Church of the Holy Spirit with the Rev. John Salazar-Jimenez officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery by Wallace Funeral Home. Mrs. Mireles was a member of the Church of the Holy Spirit. Survivors include her husband, Heriberto Mireles Sr.; two daughters, Martha Belcher of Tulia and Irma Mireles of Amarillo; six sons, Johnny Mireles and Heriberto Mireles Jr., both of Amarillo, Raul Mireles, Ruben Mireles and Urban Mireles, all of Tulia, and Earnest Mireles of Plainview; a brother, Abel Basaldua Sr. of Tulia; six sisters, Juanita Garcia of Nebraska, Mary "Trine" Granado of Dumas, Mary Lou Casias of Hale Center, Maria Luisa Macias and Jane Guijosa, both of Tulia, and Elva Reyna of Lubbock; 15 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, May 5, 2001 William J. Ragsdale PAMPA - William J. "Bill" Ragsdale, 83, died Friday, May 4, 2001. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, with the Rev. Jacob Clemmens, rector, officiating. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Ragsdale was associated with the Texas Employment Commission for 41 years, retiring in 1982. He worked as the volunteer director of the Good Samaritan Christian Services from 1983 to 1998. Survivors include his wife, Iris; a son, Bill Ragsdale of Pampa; a daughter, Peggy Davis of Austin; four grandsons; and three great-granddaughters. The family suggests memorials be to St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 727 W. Browning, Pampa, TX 79065; or Good Samaritan Christian Services, 309 N. Ward, Pampa, TX 79065. Amarillo Globe-News, May 5, 2001 Amarillo Loretta Mosely Loretta Mosely, 91, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, May 1, 2001. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, Pioneer Chapel, 2615 Paramount Blvd., with the Rev. Jeff Conway, of Westminster Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Mosely was born in Clarendon and raised in the Post area. She married Harry Carl Mosely on Nov. 3, 1932, at Post. He preceded her in death in 1987. Mrs. Mosely was a real estate agent for 20 years in Amarillo. She and her husband moved to Amarillo in 1939 from Post. Survivors include a son, Arthur Mosely of Austin; a daughter, Charla McCallum and husband, Bill, of Amarillo; a brother, Dee Howell of Joshua Tree, Calif.; three sisters, Lois Vukad of Post, Lenis Joplin of Levelland and Doris Davis of Brownfield; four grandchildren, Karen Pate, Carol Jessup, Laura Cullen and Jonathan Bender; and 10 great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, May 5, 2001 Galen Heeter Galen Heeter, 48, of Amarillo, died Thursday, May 3, 2001. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Victory Church with David Brown, pastor, officiating. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. in Westlawn Cemetery at Fritch. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St. Mr. Heeter was born in Roaring Springs, Pa. He moved to Amarillo in 1997 from Fritch. He was a self-employed contractor. He married Kathy Rogers in 1969 at Dallas. Survivors include his wife of the home; two daughters, Kendra H. Whittington and Stephanie Lemons, both of Amarillo; one son, Casey Heeter of Fritch; his mother, Dorothy Heeter of Fritch; one sister, Kay Merris of Oklahoma City; three brothers, Gary Heeter of Fritch, Bary Heeter of Baltimore, Md., and Kennard McAdams of Aubrey; and nine grandchildren. The family will be at 1132 Sugarloaf. Amarillo Globe-News, May 5, 2001 Elsewhere John L. Byars LAKEVIEW - John L. "Sonny" Byars, 68, died Friday, May 4, 2001, in Amarillo. Services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday in First United Methodist Church in Memphis with the Rev. Neely Landrum officiating. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd., in Amarillo. Mr. Byars was born in Tampico. He had lived most of his life in Lakeview, graduating from Lakeview High School. After high school, he attended Clarendon College as well as Texas A&M University. Mr. Byars married Della Jo Kennedy on Jan. 8, 1954, at Lakeview. She passed away in 1988. Mr. Byars was a farmer and rancher in Lakeview for many years and was a horse breeder for many years as well. He was a 1948 Golden Gloves Boxing state champion. Survivors include a son, Dusty Byars of Lakeview; two daughters, Donnita Richburg and Sandy Augustine, both of Perryton; his mother, Mary Byars of Lakeview; a brother, Jerry Byars of Lakeview; two sisters, Vaudene Ray of Lakeview and Faydene Teal of Marietta, Okla.; and eight grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, May 5, 2001 J. Carol Nicholson SHREVEPORT, La. - J. Carol Struve Nicholson, 54, died Thursday, May 3, 2001. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Southern Hills Church of Christ with Dr. Robert Brewer officiating. Burial will be in Centuries Memorial Park by Centuries Funeral Home. Mrs. Nicholson was born Dec. 7, 1946, in Clovis, N.M. She grew up in Friona, Texas, graduating from Friona High School in 1965. Survivors include her husband, Richard J. Nicholson; a daughter, Nikki Nicholson of Shreveport; a son, Shane Nicholson of Shreveport; two sisters, Kay Ray of Amarillo and Sheila Green of Custer, S.D.; and three grandchildren. The family suggests memorials in lieu of flowers the Children's Home of Lubbock, P.O. Box 2824, Lubbock, TX 79408. Amarillo Globe-News, May 5, 2001 William Leon Stevens GRAHAM - William Leon Stevens, 52, died Thursday, May 3, 2001. Services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. James C. Hill, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Home. Mr. Stevens was born March 27, 1949, in Electra, to J.C. and the late Lena Lorene (Shoemate) Stevens. He married Joanna Gaunder on Aug. 6, 1981, in Perryton. Survivors include his wife; four daughters, Lena Louise Duncan and Belinda Joyce Gutierrez, both of Wichita, Kan., Brenda Lovell Brandt of Graham and Charlotte Brandt Boscha of Temple; three sons, David Brandt of Amarillo, Dell Brandt of Sulphur Springs and Stan Brandt of Graham; his father and mother, J.C. and Marie Stevens of Graham; two brothers, John C. Stevens Jr. of Graham and James Rogers Stevens of Alvin; and 10 grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Shriner's Hospital. Amarillo Globe-News, May 5, 2001 Elizabeth Tolleson Taylor FORT WORTH - Elizabeth Tolleson Taylor, 90, died Thursday, May 3, 2001. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Broadway Baptist Church with the Rev. Jorene Swift officiating. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. in Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Park in Dallas. Arrangements are by Thompson's Harveson & Cole Funeral Home in Fort Worth. Mrs. Taylor was born and reared in Amarillo by her parents I.J. and Mary Lee Tolleson with her brother and five sisters. After graduating from Amarillo High School, she taught piano lessons and worked in her brother-in-law's Hudson dealership. She married the late O.L. Ted Taylor and was his constant support and best friend for 53 years before his death in 1985. Elizabeth devoted her life to her family and friends and stayed young in spirit her entire life. She was an active and faithful member of Broadway Baptist Church where she was a member of the Rebecca-Ruth Sunday school class and the earliest teacher of the Baptist Center Program, an after-school club for the young girls in the neighborhood which was a missionary outreach of the church. She taught hand crafts and Bible. She also taught 4-year-old Sunday school at First Baptist Church in Amarillo. She was a member of the P.O.E. Sisterhood Chapter DL. She was part owner of Dallas Offset Inc., where she served on the board of directors, which prints the Baptist Standard. Throughout her life she pursued her interest in antiques, gardening, needlepoint and reading. She was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Mickey Heimlich. Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Ted H. and Margie G. Taylor; daughter, Kay Taylor Heimlich; grandchildren, Jennifer Taylor Petty and her husband, Jason, Ted G. Taylor, Jessica Taylor, Susan Heimlich; great-grandchildren, Luke and Logan Petty; many nieces and nephews; and countless friends. The family suggests memorials be to Cottey College, 1000 W. Austin Blvd., Nevada, Mo. 64772; Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, Amarillo, Texas; University of Oklahoma Foundation; O.L. Ted and Elizabeth Taylor Scholarship Fund; or PEO Scholarship Fund.