Potter Co. TX - Obits from the Amarillo newspapers 5 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 Iris Lewis Abraham CANADIAN - Iris Lewis Abraham, 83, died Sunday, Nov. 4, 2001. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Mert Cooper and the Rev. John L. Dunn officiating. Family graveside services will be before the service in Edith Ford Memorial Cemetery. Arrangements are by Stickley-Hill Funeral Directors. Mrs. Abraham was born in Canadian on March 13, 1918, the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. W.W. Lewis. Her family was one of the earliest to settle in Hemphill County. They came from Kentucky in 1880 and filed on eight sections of beautiful ranch land between Canadian and Miami. Their first home was a dugout, but by the time Iris was born they were living in a two-story house with a wide porch, lots of shade trees and the wonders of indoor plumbing. Thus, her early years were remembered as being beautiful in every way. Then when Iris was 12, her idyllic life fell apart. Two traumatic events were to indelibly shape this young girl. The first event was a financial collapse. Early in the Great Depression, the Lewises went broke. They lost seven sections of their ranch and the big two-story ranch house which she loved so much. They had to move to a two-room house on their one remaining section of the ranch. No staircase, no porch, and worst of all, no plumbing. As Iris was trying to adjust to all of this, the second tragedy hit. Her mother became very ill with cancer and died a long drawn-out death. By the age of 14, Iris had seen most of her world fall apart. These sad losses caused Iris to become very aware of the needs of others, of their pain and of their disappointments. Through her entire life, she was always very kind, very generous and always giving to others even if all she had to give them was a smile and a hug. After graduating from Canadian High School, she went to Texas Tech as a home economics major. It was during this time that a very bright ambitious young man from Canadian started pursuing her. His name was Malouf Abraham, but everyone knew him as "Oofie." Some people thought Oofie was too wild for her. Iris's father agreed and tried to discourage the romance. It wasn't long until love won out. Iris quit Texas Tech and married Oofie at First Presbyterian Church in Canadian, which was then a little white wooden church with a steeple and a bell. So then it was "Iris and Oofie." She was the sweet one and he was the wild one. He was in charge of bringing home the bacon, and she was in charge of cooking it. Like most of the World War II generation, they started their marriage with nothing but love. Iris devoted herself to raising her three children. Besides being a homemaker, Iris worked in the Presbyterian Church and in community projects in Canadian. She was a 60-year member of PEO. In 1983, she was honored as one of the Distinguished Women of the Panhandle. Iris and Malouf were one in their belief in giving. They established scholarship funds at 20 colleges and were major donors to many projects throughout the Panhandle. They also established the Malouf and Iris Abraham Lead Charitable Trust, which has funded many area needs for almost 20 years. Their primary concerns were always for people who were struggling, people who were struggling to obtain an education and older people who were struggling just to survive. An interesting dichotomy about Iris Lewis Abraham was that back during the oil and gas boom, as she and her husband were giving away millions to others, they were both driving second-hand cars. Iris's blue Lincoln she got real cheap from Budget Rent-A-Car. The tragic losses Iris endured through her formative years created a kind and caring lady whose main concern was for others. She really wanted very little for herself. For her, the sweetest loaf was the loaf shared. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1994. Survivors include a daughter, Betty Lee Abraham Cooper and husband, Mert of Canadian; two sons, Malouf Abraham Jr., M.D., and wife, Therese of Canadian and Bill Ed Abraham and wife, Margie of Crested Butte, Colo.; eight grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 5, 2001 Shonda Lynn Wiley TULIA - Shonda Lynn Wiley, 37, died Sunday, Nov. 4, 2001. Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Silverton Cemetery with Trey Morgan, Central Church of Christ, officiating. Arrangements are by Wallace Funeral Home. Mrs. Wiley was born April 30, 1964, in Tulia. She graduated from Stratford High School in 1983 and attended South Plains College in Levelland. Survivors include her grandmother, Zula Osburn of Tulia; a sister, Linda Finch of Garden City, Kan.; three aunts, Mike Settle of Tulia, Pat White of Plainview and Sue Nussbaun of Broadwater, Neb.; and an uncle, Wendall Osburn of Amarillo. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 5, 2001 Brandon Martinez BOOKER - Brandon Martinez, 13, died Saturday, Nov. 3, 2001. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Booker school auditorium with the Rev. David "Butch" Hearon officiating. Burial will be in Heart Cemetery by Good Samaritan Funeral Services. Brandon was born April 10, 1988, in Syracuse, Kan., to Richard and Renee (Saldana) Martinez. In August 2001 the family moved to Booker where Brandon was active on the school basketball team, playing as No. 20. Survivors include his parents; two brothers, Richard Martinez of Raton, N.M., and Jessie Martinez of Booker; and a sister, Melissa Martinez of Pueblo, Colo. The family suggests memorials be to the Brandon Martinez Scholarship Fund in care of Booker Friends Church. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 5, 2001 Georgia Bowers PAMPA - Georgia Bowers, 71, died Saturday, Nov. 3, 2001. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors, Colonial Chapel, with Dr. Randy White, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Groom Cemetery. Mrs. Bowers had been a resident of Pampa most of her life. She married Cecil "Sonny" Bowers on June 2, 1982, in Pampa. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Marcie Feldman of Bullhead City, Ariz.; three sons, Clyde "Junior" Coble of Phoenix, Bart Coble of Cottonwood, Ariz., and Glenn Coble of Laughlin, Nev.; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 5, 2001 Amarillo Sarah Kindrick Sarah Kindrick, infant daughter of Tracey D. Kindrick of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2001. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Jess Cortez, of Catholic Family Service, officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Survivors include her mother. The family suggests memorials be to Catholic Family Service of Amarillo. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 5, 2001 Evalyn E. Griffith Evalyn E. Griffith, 81, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Nov. 3, 2001. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Snyder Cemetery at Snyder with Dr. Chester Beavers officiating. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mrs. Griffith came to Amarillo in 1982. She was a member of the Church of Christ. She was born May 24, 1920, in Valera. She married N.B. Griffith on Sept. 21, 1940, in Nueces County. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1984; four brothers; and a sister. Survivors include a son, Patrick Griffith of Amarillo; two daughters, Susan Griffith and Sandy Reynolds, both of Amarillo; four grandchildren, Jim Bob Reynolds, Larry Reynolds, Renee Kenney of Dalhart and Nikki Griffith of Amarillo; and seven great-grandchildren, Alexan Reynolds, Marlee Reynolds, Morganna Kenney, Maisie Kenney, Zachary Kenney, Mariah Kenney and Shelby Reynolds, all of Dalhart. The family will be at 1907 Westcliff Parkway. The family suggests memorials be to Great Expectations in care of Paramount Terrace Christian Church; or the American Diabetes Association. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 5, 2001 Ricky Fisher Ricky Fisher, 41, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Nov. 3, 2001. Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Memory Gardens Mausoleum with the Rev. Bob Miller and the Rev. LaMerl Hamro officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Fisher was born in Dayton, Ohio. He had lived in Amarillo for the past 25 years. He was a glazer for Royal Glass Co. Survivors include a daughter, Teresa Lynn of Oklahoma City; his parents, H.M. Fisher and Jean Fisher, both of Amarillo; his grandmother, Margaret Conley of Garrett, Ky.; a sister, Jean Taff and husband, Mike, of Amarillo; a brother, Ralph Douglas Fisher of Wichita Falls; a grandson, Phillip of Oklahoma City; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 5, 2001 Lavern McGaha Lavern McGaha, 78, of Amarillo, died Saturday, Nov. 3, 2001. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Memorial Park Funeral Home, Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with Wayne Smith, pastor, officiating. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Plainview Memorial Cemetery. Mrs. McGaha married Tommy McGaha on March 31, 1946, in Plainview. She was the assistant director for the student teaching department at West Texas A&M University for 22 years before retiring in 1985. She was a graduate of Lipperts Business College in Plainview. She belonged to Plainview United Methodist Church, was a member of the Panhandle Geneology Society and was active in volunteer work for various organizations. She was preceded in death by her husband, George Thomas McGaha "Quick Lunch Tommy" in 1997; and a brother, Milford "Pete" Cundiff in 1983. Survivors include two sons, Covey Joe McGaha of Owasso, Okla., and Herman Mark McGaha of Amarillo; a daughter, Marilyn Janet Slane of Amarillo; a brother, Herman D. Cundiff of Seguin; two sisters, Dottie Jobe of Pea Ridge, Ark., and Joyce "Dyer" Silkwood of Amarillo; a brother-in-law, Bill Applewhite and his wife, Burlene, of Amarillo; and five grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 5, 2001 Oklahoma Florence Elizabeth Hamilton TEXHOMA, Okla. - Florence Elizabeth Hamilton, 69, died Friday, Nov. 2, 2001, in Guymon. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in First Baptist Church of Texhoma with Gary Stone, of the church, officiating. Burial will be in Texhoma Cemetery at Texhoma, Texas, by Dawson-Welch Funeral Home. Mrs. Hamilton was born in James Community on Aug. 11, 1932. She was involved in the activities of the church for more than 30 years where she taught Sunday school and Girls Auxiliary. She was committed to the activities of her husband, children and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a sister, Juanita Huddleston; a son-in-law, Gary Unruh; and a granddaughter, Nikki Unruh. Survivors include her husband, Dale; two daughters, Judy Unruh of Texhoma, Texas, and Belinda Gann of Fort Supply; two sisters, Laura Bodam of Phoenix and Helen Ballard of Cottonwood, Ariz.; a brother, Emerson Wright of Cottonwood; and five grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Beneficial or an organization of choice. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 5, 2001 Elsewhere Francis Haws Carthage, Mo. - Francis "Nell" Haws, 65, of Carthage, Mo., formerly of Canyon, died Saturday, Nov. 3, 2001. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Park Cemetery at Carthage. Arrangements are by Knell Mortuary of Carthage. Mrs. Francis died in her home following a short illness. She was born Sept. 10, 1936, in Armstrong County to the late Roy and Corina Hollabaough Montgomery. She married Walter Haws in 1953 at Canyon. She was a resident of Canyon for 30 years before moving to Carthage in April 2001. She was a retired district clerk for Randall County after serving in that office for 29 years. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1970; and a sister, Jeri Rozell in September 2001. Survivors include four sons, Dub Haws and wife, Debbie, Wade Haws and Dee Haws, all of Carthage, and Rob Haws and wife, Melba, of Lamar, Mo.; a brother, Jim Montgomery of Chandler; 11 grandchildren; and 2 great-grandchildren. The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, memorials be to Community Hospice of Joplin, Mo. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 5, 2001 Click here to return to story: http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/110501/obi_allobits.shtml