Potter Co. TX - Obits from the Amarillo newspapers 10 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 Robert "Bob" Williams Robert "Bob" Williams, 87, died Thursday, Nov. 8, 2001, in McLean. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Memory Gardens Cemetery at Pampa with Dan Chaney, minister of Central Church of Christ, officiating. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Williams retired from Texaco with more than 30 years of service. He was a veteran of the Army, serving in World War II. Survivors include his wife, Ova; a son, Joe Williams of Carrollton; and three sisters, Rena Coleman of Archer City, Mary Cole of Indianapolis and Faye Mahaffey of Bakersfield, Calif. The family suggests memorials be to Alzheimer's Association, Panhandle Chapter, 2200 W. Seventh Ave., Amarillo, TX 79106. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 10, 2001 Refugio Enriquez HEREFORD - Refugio Enriquez, 78, died Thursday, Nov. 8, 2001, in Amarillo. Prayer vigils will be at 7 p.m. today and Sunday in Rix Funeral Directors Chapel. Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday in La Iglesia de San Jose with Monsignor Arturo Meza and Jessie Guerrero, deacon, officiating. Burial will be in West Park Cemetery. Mr. Enriquez was born July 4, 1923, at Harlingen. He was employed by Garrison and Townsend Inc. for almost 40 years as a field contractor. Survivors include four sons, Ramon Enriquez, Little Joe Enriquez, Robert Enriquez and David Enriquez, all of Hereford; eight daughters, Margarita Guerrero, Rosie Enriquez, Linda Garcia and Lucy Enriquez, all of Hereford, and Connie Rios, Teresa Reyna, Minnie Enriquez and Janie Mendoza, all of Amarillo; two sisters, Concha Garza of San Benito and Minnie Casanova of Lubbock; a brother, Jessie Enriquez of Harlingen; 39 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 10, 2001 Lena B. Bain PAMPA - Lena B. Bain, 86, died Thursday, Nov. 8, 2001, in Amarillo. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Fairview Cemetery with the Rev. Todd Dyess, pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Ms. Bain was a self-employed bookkeeper, retiring after 30 years of service. She was a member of First United Methodist Church. Survivors include several nieces and nephews. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 10, 2001 Frances Thompson Hawkins PAMPA - Frances Thompson Hawkins, 79, died Friday, Nov. 9, 2001. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with Dr. Randy White, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Mrs. Hawkins was born Sept. 3, 1922, at Estancia, N.M. She was a lifetime resident of Pampa. She married Joe Hawkins on Dec. 24, 1942, at Panhandle. She was a homemaker and member of First Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school for 30 years. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Elaine Eddins and husband, Jack of Pampa; a son, Billy Hawkins and wife, Cynthia of Amarillo; eight grandchildren, Leslie Jabor and husband, Dr. Miled and Reagan Eddins and wife, Gracie, all of Lubbock, Judson Eddins of Dallas, Emily Hawkins of Washington D.C., Andy Hawkins of Kansas City, Kan., Melanie Hawkins of Norman, Okla., and Joey Hawkins and Will Hawkins, both of Amarillo; and six great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice, 800 N. Sumner St., Pampa, TX 79065 or First Baptist Church, 203 N. West St., Pampa, TX 79065. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 10, 2001 Mamie Jackson Gregg BORGER - Mamie Jackson Gregg, 79, died Thursday, Nov. 8, 2001. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jim Terry, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. in Claude Cemetery at Claude by Brown Funeral Directors. Mrs. Gregg began her career as a beautician in 1958 and was owner of her own shop "Mamie's." She was a member of First United Methodist Church. Survivors include her husband, Louis S. "Bud" Gregg Sr.; two sons, Rex E. Gregg of Borger and Louis S. Gregg Jr. of Spearman; a brother, Leon H. Jackson of Borger; a sister, Evelyn Storey of Amarillo; 14 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson, Amarillo, TX 79101. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 10, 2001 Albert B. "Puney" Griffin WHEELER - Albert B. "Puney" Griffin, 73, died Friday, Nov. 9, 2001. Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in Wheeler Cemetery with Chris Osborne of Wheeler officiating. Arrangements are by Wright Funeral Home. Mr. Griffin was born to Albert Beauregard and Hettie Pearl Fair Griffin. He was a member of Wheeler Church of Christ. Survivors include a sister, Sarah Loiselle of Salt Lake City; and two brothers, Tony Griffin of Wheeler and Joe B. Griffin of Pampa. The family suggests memorials be to Wheeler Church of Christ. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 10, 2001 Julia Leal Garza BOVINA - Julia Leal Garza, 84, died Thursday, Nov. 8, 2001, in Amarillo. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Friona Cemetery with the Rev. Juan Carlos Barragon of St. Ann's Catholic Church in Bovina officiating. Arrangements are by Ellis-Blackwell Funeral Home. Mrs. Garza was born May 22, 1917, at Robstown. She moved to Bovina 35 years ago. She was Catholic. The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff and volunteers of Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice of Amarillo for their loving care and compassion given to our loved one during this difficult time. She was preceded in death by her husband, Pedro Garza on Dec. 15, 1972; and four brothers, Pedro Leal, Santiago Leal, Guadalupe Leal and Jose Leal. Survivors include a son, Jessie Leal Soliz of Amarillo; a daughter, Jesusa Garibay of Bovina; two brothers, Seferino Leal of Bovina and Raymundo Leal of Hereford; six grandchildren, Jessie Soliz Jr., Jimmy Soliz, Janette Soliz, Jerry Soliz, Julie Willis and Janie Seymour; and nine grandchildren, J.J., Brianna, Samantha, Jade, Devin, Brodie, Joshua, Faith and Kaylee. The family suggests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 10, 2001 Amarillo James A. "Jim" Hedgecoke Jr. James A. "Jim" Hedgecoke Jr., 63, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Nov. 8, 2001. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in First Christian Church with Dr. John Bridwell officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Hedgecoke was born in Amarillo. He managed Mattie Hedgecoke Properties from 1965-1980. He developed and managed Western Plaza shopping center. He handled property management of a 56,000-acre cow and calf operation and a 2,000-acre farm. He was a founding board member of Foundation for Pastoral Care and a former board member of the Tri-State Fair. He was a member and participated in a special two-year study on the Governor's Committee to study the water resources of Texas. He was preceded in death by his wife, Sallye Dees Hedgecoke in 1993. Survivors include two daughters, Grace Hedgecoke and Sallye Hedgecoke Hand, both of Amarillo; a sister, Dianna Bilbrey of Clarendon; a brother, Gary Hedgecoke of Amarillo; and a grandchild, Braley Hand of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials be to American Red Cross. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 10, 2001 Shields Bland Decker Shields Bland Decker, 65, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2001, in Dallas. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Memory Gardens Cemetery with the Rev. Jeff Raines of First Baptist Church officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler-Gorden Funeral Directors, 5400 S. Bell St. Mr. Decker was born Oct. 10, 1936, at Waco. He married Rose Harned in 1996. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Johnny Decker of Amarillo and Calvin Decker of Davis, Okla.; a brother, Jimmy Decker of Amarillo; and three grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 10, 2001 Faye L. Ford Faye L. Ford, 82, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Nov. 8, 2001. Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. today in Paramount Christian Church chapel with the Rev. Brent Ashby officiating. Cremation and arrangements are by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 S. Bell St. Mrs. Ford graduated from Amarillo High School in 1939. She married Billy O. Ford on June 28, 1945, at Amarillo. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Ron Ford of Amarillo and Rick Ford of Brighton, Mich.; a sister, Josephine E. Branum of Amarillo; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family suggests memorials be to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 10, 2001 Mary Joyce Land Mary Joyce Land, 61, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Nov. 8, 2001. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. today in Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel with the Rev. Robert Bennett of Freedom Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Holley Funeral Home of Canyon. Mrs. Land was born March 17, 1940, at Fresno, to James Rector Mitchell and Olive Annes Hedger. She married Kenneth Land on March 17, 1978. She worked as an office manager at First National Bank, West Texas State University and Lee Milligan. She was a member of San Jacinto United Methodist Church. Survivors include her husband; a son, Richie Allen Lowdermilk of Anderson, S.C.; two stepdaughters, Callie Haney and Sue Shields, both of Amarillo; a stepson, Charlis Land of San Diego; two sisters, Geraldine Jordan of Amarillo and Bobbie Jo Gibson of College Station; numerous grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 10, 2001 Oklahoma Nickalus Ray Jones GUYMON, Okla. - Nickalus Ray Jones, 21, died Thursday, Nov. 8, 2001, in Balko. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Victory Memorial United Methodist Church of Guymon with the Rev. Mike Chaffin, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Elmhurst Cemetery by Henson-Novak Funeral Directors. Mr. Jones was a 1999 graduate of Guymon High School. He was a volunteer firefighter and an Emergency Medical Technician Intermediate with Guymon Emergency Service. Survivors include his parents, Janet Tillery Jones of Balko and Mr. and Mrs. Randy Jones of Dallas; a sister, Lindsey Jones of Oklahoma City; his grandparents, Ray and Phyllis Tillery of Woodward and Carroll and Darlene Jones of Buffalo. The family suggests memorials be to Nick Jones Emergency Services Scholarship or National Cancer Institute in c/o Henson-Novak Funeral Directors, P.O. Box 1306, Guymon, OK 73942. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 10, 2001 Click here to return to story: http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/111001/obi_allobits.shtml Property developer, investor James Hedgecoke Jr. dies James A. "Jim" Hedgecoke Jr., longtime property developer and investor, died Thursday, Nov. 8, 2001. He was 63. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in First Christian Church with Dr. John Bridwell officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Directors, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Hedgecoke was born in Amarillo and graduated from Amarillo High School in 1956. He graduated from Texas Tech University in 1961 with a degree in accounting. He managed Mattie Hedgecoke Properties from 1965-1980. He was instrumental in developing and managing Western Plaza shopping center which opened on Feb. 29, 1968, at Interstate 40 and Western Street. He handled property management of a 56,000-acre cow and calf operation and a 2,000-acre farm. He owned and operated British House of Antiques, Bicycle Works sports shop from 1978-1981 and managed Hedgecoke Motors from 1961-1979. He was a founding board member of Foundation of Pastoral Care and a former board member of Tri-State Fair, Tascosa National Bank, St. Andrew's Day School, Amarillo Humane Society, YMCA of Amarillo, Amarillo Chamber of Commerce and Panhandle Livestock Association. He was a member of Revitalize Amarillo committee. In 1973, he served as president of Downtown Kiwanis Club. That year he was a member of the Governor's Committee to study the water resources of Texas. In 1982, he was appointed to the Texas Tech Foundation. In 1995, he joined Jack Fuqua and Associates as a financial planner. He was preceded in death by his wife, Sallye Dees Hedgecoke in 1993. Survivors include two daughters, Grace Hedgecoke and Sallye Hedgecoke Hand, both of Amarillo; a sister, Dianna Bilbrey of Clarendon; a brother, Gary Hedgecoke of Amarillo; and a grandchild, Braley Hand of Amarillo. Amarillo Globe-News, Nov. 10, 2001 Click here to return to story: http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/111001/obi_property.shtml Newspaper executive Taylor Lee Gillespie dies Longtime newspaper executive Taylor Lee Gillespie, formerly of Amarillo, died Thursday, Nov. 8, 2001. He was 56. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Isle of Faith United Methodist Church, 1821 S. San Pablo Road, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Rev. Ray Guy of Weirsdale, Fla., and the Rev. George Guy of Amarillo, will officiate. Lt. Aaron Martin of Fort Knox, Ky., will give the scripture reading. Mr. Gillespie worked for 27 years at the Amarillo Globe-News before transferring to the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville eight years ago. In Jacksonville, he was advertising scheduling manager for the newspaper. Born in Lubbock on April 2, 1945, Mr. Gillespie became a football star. He attended Southwestern State College in Weatherford, Okla., on an athletic scholarship. "He had legs like tree trunks," said Mike Begue, the Times-Union's advertising services manager and Mr. Gillespie's boss in Jacksonville about 30 years later. "He was a great lineman." An illness forced an end to his college football career, so he returned to Amarillo. He graduated with a bachelor's of business administration degree from West Texas State University. His first job at the Globe-News was advertising copy runner. He became the paper's national advertising manager in 1991. Mr. Gillespie married his wife, Sandie, in 1968. In addition to being involved with his family and career, he was active in the community. "He was a quiet gentlemen, both professionally and personally," said Bryce Cockerham, former advertising director for the Amarillo Globe-News. "He got a lot done." In Amarillo, Mr. Gillespie helped found The Bridge-Children's Advocacy Center for abused children. "He was in at the beginning. He went to Huntsville, Ala., where the first advocacy center ever was," said Gil Farren, victim assistance coordinator for Randall County and former executive director of The Bridge. Farren remembered Mr. Gillespie's contributions on both personal and professional levels. "Not only was Taylor a neighbor of mine, he was the one who got me hired at The Bridge," Farren said. "He was there for the difficult times and worked like a Trojan." Mr. Gillespie served in many capacities to aid those in need. "He was on the board of directors, went to conferences, gave day-to-day help and worked to get advocacy centers across the state," Farren said. He was named a Citizen of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers in 1990. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Amarillo. He was a member of the Polk Street United Methodist Church. He was past president of the American Cancer Society and was on the board of directors of the National Child Abuse Prevention Coalition. When he moved to Florida, he found new opportunities. "It was like a whole new life for him," said his daughter Kristin Parton. "He loved being around the trees, the beach, the weather. It was like his paradise." He became a devoted fan of the Jacksonville Jaguars, joining the Jacksonville Jaguars booster club. Times-Union Publisher Carl Cannon, former publisher of the Amarillo Globe-News, called Mr. Gillespie an asset and a friend. "He has been a valuable employee and will be missed by many friends from Texas and Florida," Cannon said. Mr. Gillespie was preceded in death by his parents, Elvan and Lois Gillespie. Survivors include two daughters, Kristin Parton of Amarillo and her husband Jeffrey, and Kimberley Gillespie of Jacksonville; a brother, Ron Gillespie of Amarillo; four sisters, Leticia Goodrich, Debbie Dougan and Donna Skrabits, all of Amarillo, and Gloria Selby of Houston; and twin grandsons, Spencer and Taylor Parton, both of Amarillo. Memorials should be sent to The Bridge-Children's Advocacy Center, 1419 S. Polk St., Amarillo, TX 79101. Amarillo Globe-News Nov. 10, 2001 Click here to return to story: http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/111001/obi_newspaper.shtml O.J. Simpson's mother dies SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - O.J. Simpson's mother, Eunice Simpson, was found dead of natural causes Friday at her home, the medical examiner's office said. She was 80. Simpson was a longtime resident of the city's Bayview District and lived in a home bought for her by her football-star son, who was acquitted in 1995 of murdering his ex-wife Nicole and a friend of hers. Click here to return to story: http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/111001/obi_ojsimpsons.shtml Computer pioneer dies STANFORD, Calif. (AP) - Robert Floyd, who pioneered computing techniques at Stanford University, died Sept. 25 of pneumonia. He was 65 and had suffered from a neurological illness for years. Floyd helped develop designs for proving software would work. Click here to return to story: http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/111001/obi_computer.shtml