Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 13 Jul 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 ==================================================================== Lena Pearl Forgey DARROUZETT - Lena Pearl Forgey, 66, died Monday, July 9, 2001. Graveside services will be at 7:30 p.m. today in Darrouzett Cemetery with the Rev. Gary McDonald officiating. Arrangements are by Good Samaritan Funeral Service of Booker. Mrs. Forgey was born July 5, 1935, in Lipscomb, to Emery and Rheva (Stevens) Hamilton. Following her retirement in 1992, she lived in Darrouzett. Survivors include her husband, Bob; three sons, Robert Forgey of Rose Hill, Kan., Jerry Forgey of Greensboro, N.C., and Brian Forgey of Haysville, Kan.; five sisters; two brothers; and seven grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the American Legion Darrouzett Texas Post. Amarillo Globe-News, July 13, 2001 Nita Cotner PAMPA - Nita Cotner, 57, died Thursday, July 12, 2001, in Amarillo. Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel, with the Rev. Rick Parnell, associate pastor of Central Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mrs. Cotner was born Jan. 26, 1944, in Borger. She had been a resident of Pampa for 30 years, moving from Borger. Survivors include her husband, Cecil; two sons, Jerry Lee Brown and Cecil Ray Cotner Jr., both of Clarksville, Ark.; a daughter, Mary Ellen Shacklett of Nashville, Tenn.; her father and stepmother, Charles and Audrey Darnell of Borger; three sisters, Kathy Ryan and Mary Havron, both of Borger, and Cleta Gillchrist of Salt Lake City, Utah; a brother, Gayland Darnell of Borger and five grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, July 13, 2001 Vera Elzora Amerson SHAMROCK - Vera Elzora Amerson, 90, died Thursday, July 12, 2001, in Pampa. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Dozier Church of Christ with Bob Garton of Hollis, Okla., officiating. Burial will be in Shamrock Cemetery by Wright Funeral Directors. Mrs. Amerson was born Feb. 26, 1911, in the Price community of Collingsworth County. She lived in Collingsworth County for 80 years before moving to Pampa in 1989. Mrs. Amerson loved to sew western shirts, quilt, garden and can the food she raised in her garden. She was a dedicated homemaker, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Survivors include a son, Don Carl Amerson of Alvin; two daughters, Joyce Williams of Pampa and Lois Knoll of Shamrock; two sisters-in-law, Etta Breeding and Tess Breeding; seven grandchildren, Victor Williams, Velda Shults, Jody Knoll, Steven Knoll, Stacey Morgan, Wade Amerson and Shelley Mayhew. The family suggests memorials be to Dozier Cemetery Association; or the Dozier Church of Christ. The family will receive friends and family from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. The family will be at 909 S. Madden St. Amarillo Globe-News, July 13, 2001 Mark W. Ford - Mark W. Ford, 69, died Wednesday, July 11, 2001, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in St. Paul United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jim Teeter, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Ford served in the military and worked in law enforcement for many years. He was active with the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Texas Department of Mental Health. Survivors include is wife, Madeline; four sons, Dr. Mark Ford Jr. of Pampa, Albert Ford of Costa Mesa, Calif., Matthew Ford of Cottage Grove, Ore,. and Staff Sgt. Luke Ford of Vandenburg AFB, Calif.; four sisters, Mary Eubanks of Ardmore, Okla., and Dorothy Finley, LaVerne Prince and Barbara Pharis, all of Vernon; a brother, Roy Ford of Lubbock; and five grandchildren. The family suggests memorials in lieu of flowers be to BSA Hospice, 800 N. Sumner, Pampa, TX 79065. Amarillo Globe-News, July 13, 2001 Janis Hope Wells SHAMROCK - Janis Hope Wells, 63, died Wednesday, July 11, 2001. Services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Jack Lee, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Shamrock Cemetery by Wright Funeral Directors. Mrs. Wells was born May 18, 1938, in Tulia. She had lived in Shamrock since 1964. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by a grandchild. Survivors include her husband, Don Wells; two sons, Scott Wells of Richland, Wash., and Mark Wells of Azle; two daughters, Lee Ann Malone of Shamrock and Debbie Herbert of Perryton; and nine grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to American Cancer Society; or First Baptist Church family life center. Amarillo Globe-News, July 13, 2001 Sharon Terry BORGER - Sharon Orsak Terry, 38, died Wednesday, July 11, 2001, in Dallas. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in St. John's Catholic Church in Borger with Monsignor Norbert Kuehler, pastor, officiating. Cremation and arrangements by Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mrs. Terry graduated from Borger High School in 1981. She received her bachelor's degree in accounting from West Texas State University in 1985. Survivors include her husband, John Terry; her mother, Barbara Orsak of Waxahachie; two sisters, Lisa Roden of Denver City and Jana Benton of Wichita Falls; and a brother, Greg Orsak of Austin. The family suggests memorials in lieu of flowers be to National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Lone Star Chapter, 8111 N. Stadium Drive, Suite No. 100, Houston, TX 77054. Amarillo Globe-News, July 13, 2001 Richard Patterson DALHART - Richard Patterson, 87, died Thursday, July 12, 2001, of Dumas. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Christian Church in Dalhart with Barry Walker, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Hass Funeral Home. Mr. Patterson was born June 2, 1914, in Bishop, to Claude and Hattie (Purcell) Patterson. He graduated from Dalhart High School and Texas Tech University. Richard married Frances Dean on May 28, 1946, in Raton, N.M. He retired from the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1981. Richard attended First Christian Church. He was a member of United Transportation Union Local No. 0923, since 1942. Richard was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Billy; and a granddaughter, Teresa Guthrie. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Frances Ann Guthrie and her husband, Mearl, of Pampa; a sister, Virginia Patterson of Dalhart; a grandson, James Lee Guthrie and his wife, Kelli, of Pampa; and a great-granddaughter, Codi Guthrie and a great-grandson, Khale Guthrie of Pampa. The family suggests memorials be to Memorial Hospice 115 W. First St., Dumas, TX 79029. Amarillo Globe-News, July 13, 2001 Elsewhere Gustavo R. Barrera HOUSTON - Gustavo R. Barrera, 43, died Tuesday, July 10, 2001. Rosary will be at 7:30 p.m. today at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in the main chapel of the funeral home. Burial will be in Forest Lawndale Cemetery. Mr. Barrera was born July 14, 1957, in McAllen. He was preceded in death by his parents, Delfino Barrera Sr. and Amparo Romero Barrera. Survivors include two sons, Gustavo Barrera Jr. and Eric Barrera; two brothers, Delfino Barrera Jr. and Jesse Barrera; three sisters, SanJuanita Rios, Margaret Caballero and Maria Ellena Reyes; and the mother of his sons, Gloria Barrera. Pallbearers will be Eric Barrera, Gustavo Barrera Jr., Alfonso Caballero, Thomas Reyes, Jesse Barrera and Delfino Barrera. Honorary pallbearers will be Mark Caballero, Rudy Caballero and Jacob Daniel Barrera. Visitation and viewing will be after noon today at the funeral home. Amarillo Globe-News, July 13, 2001 Pauline Heredia Cruz SHAFTER, Calif. - Pauline Heredia Cruz, 68, formerly of Amarillo, died Wednesday, July 11, 2001. Rosary was at 6:30 Thursday at Peters Funeral Home Chapel. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. today in St. Therese's Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Shafter Memorial Park by Peters Funeral Home of Shafter. Mrs. Cruz was a member of St. Therese's Catholic Church. She worked for Jackson & Perkins for 25 years before retiring. She kept busy crocheting, doing puzzles, gardening and following Tiger Wood's golf tournaments. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker who found pleasure in being with her family and grandchildren. She always thought of her grandchildren and gave each child special attention. They also received a Christmas card from their grandmother every year. Everyone loved Pauline and she had many close friends. Pauline was preceded in death by her son, Manuel Cruz, who passed away October 19, 2000. Survivors include her husband, Eleno Cruz of Shafter; four sons, Robert and wife, Hope, and Marcos and wife, Isabella, all of Bakersfield, Alexander and wife, Ceceila, Daniel and wife, Yolanda, and Jesse Cruz, all of Shafter; three daughters, Gloria Hernandez of Shafter, Josephine Salazar and husband, Edward, of San Jose, and Sabrina Wallace and husband, Barry, of Bakersfield; five sisters, Isabel Heredia, Petra Alonzo, Mary Ramirez, Carol Liebsch and husband, Eddie, all of Texas, and Angela Heredia of Shafter; 28 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 8 to 10 a.m. today at Peters Funeral Home. Amarillo Globe-News, July 13, 2001 Pauline O'Neal WICHITA FALLS - Pauline O'Neal, 90, died Tuesday, July 10, 2001. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in the chapel of Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Burial will be in Panhandle Cemetery at Panhandle by Hampton Vaughan Crestview of Wichita Falls. Mrs. O'Neal was born Oct. 2, 1910, in Kansas. She married James O'Neal. Survivors include a son, Michael O'Neal of Dallas; a sister, Allyne Whelchel of Amarillo; a brother, Thomas W. Whelchel of Riverside, Calif.; and two grandsons. The family suggests memorials be to Texhoma Christian Care Center, 300 Loop 11, Wichita Falls, TX 76301; or First Christian Church, 3701 Taft Blvd., Wichita Falls, TX 76308. Amarillo Globe-News, July 13, 2001 Amarillo Will C. Thirlkill Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Mount Zion Baptist Church. Officiants are E.B. Demerson, superintendent, Tom E. Jones, elder and pastor of Langston Church of God in Christ, and Bishop W.H. Watson, jurisdictional prelate of Texas Northwest Jurisdiction. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Warford-Walker Mortuary, 509 N. Hughes St. Rev. Thirlkill was born Aug. 30, 1926, in Henderson. He was reared in Henderson. He served in the Army during World War II. He attended Bible classes at Wayland Baptist University, and several trade schools for auto mechanic and auto body repair. He served as pastor of the Church of God in Christ. He had been pastor of Langston Memorial Church of God in Christ since 1966. Rev. Thirlkill served as a county commissioner of Potter County for three terms. Survivors include his wife, Deloris Thirlkill; four sons and daughters-in-law, Irvin C. Thirlkill and wife, Virginia, and Lucious Thirlkill and wife, Eula Kay, all of Fort Worth, Fabian Hyman and wife, Muriel, of Amarillo and Vincent Hyman of Atlanta, Ga.; two daughters, Shirley Thirlkill Richardson of Fort Worth and Lena Thirlkill Turner and husband, Benny, of Amarillo; 15 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, July 13, 2001 William Rex Powell William Rex "Billy" Powell, 53, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, July 11, 2001. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at 2703 S. Houston St. with Errol Hainer, pastor, officiating. Mr. Powell graduated from Palo Duro High School in 1966. He ran successful machine shops in Houston and Amarillo. He was a loving father and devoted husband. Survivors include his wife, Regina Gayle Powell of Miraloma, Calif.; two sons, Billy Powell II and Samuel Cader Powell, both of Amarillo; a sister, Patricia Rae Sylvester of Houston; and three grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, July 13, 2001 Grace Vaughn Grace "Tiddle" Vaughn, 85, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, July 11, 2001. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Bykota Baptist Church with the Rev. Danny Lucas and the Rev. Rick Rice officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mrs. Vaughn was born and raised in Greer County, Okla. She married Leodus Vaughn in 1934 in Duke, Okla. He passed away in 1973. Mrs. Vaughn moved to Amarillo from Oklahoma in 1947. She was a charter member of the Bykota Baptist Church. She was a homemaker. She was a member of the Happy Hearts Quartet. Mrs. Vaughn was a past member of the Rebekah Lodge. Survivors include two daughters, Linda Webb and Gayenell Brown, both of Amarillo; a son, Virgil Vaughn of Big Sandy; a sister, Gladys Roberts of Susanville, Calif.; a brother, Richard Pence of Amarillo; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice. Amarillo Globe-News, July 13, 2001 Yvette Fletcher Yvette Fletcher, 68, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, July 11, 2001. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Mark's Anglican Episcopal Church (in the chapel of First Presbyterian Church) with the Rev. Robert T. Hardin, pastor, officiating. Cremation by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mrs. Fletcher was born and raised in England. She married Brian John Fletcher in 1956 in East Sussex, England. He passed away in 1989. She lived in California for many years before moving to Amarillo in February. She was a member of University Bible Church in California. She was a homemaker. Mrs. Fletcher also was preceded in death by three daughters, Michelle Fletcher, Yvonne Fletcher and Natilie Ferguson; and by a son, Paul Fletcher. Survivors include a daughter, Danielle Gonzales and her husband, Robert, of Amarillo; a son, David Fletcher and his wife, Diane, of Globe, Ariz.; a brother, Peter Ferguson of Gardena, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandsons. Amarillo Globe-News, July 13, 2001 Wayma Rae Sturgeon Wayma Rae Sturgeon, 65, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, July 11, 2001. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle, with Gene Shelburne, minister of the Anna Street Church of Christ, officiating. Additional memorial services will be at 6 p.m. Monday in Unity Church at 6525 Forest Lane in Dallas. Mrs. Sturgeon was born on May 25, 1936, in Briscoe County, to Modean and Lowell Callaway. She grew up and raised her family in Briscoe County for 39 of her 65 years. She was a longtime resident of Amarillo. She married Ben Sturgeon on Sept. 16, 1989, in Lockett. They lived in nearby Vernon until 1992, when they moved to Dallas. She was active member of the Unity Church of Dallas on Forest Lane. She was a loving wife, friend, mother and grandmother. Wayma made her transformation on July 11, 2001, in Amarillo surrounded by family and friends. Survivors include her husband; a son, Kelly Bomar of Dallas; two daughters, Kaedean Hammond of Amarillo and Kathryn Bomar of Louisville, Ky.; three stepsons, Britt Sturgeon of Austin and John Sturgeon and Scott Sturgeon, both of Amarillo; a sister, Gay Eddleman of Amarillo; and six grandchildren, Joshua, Ryan, Ky, Katelyn, Jackson and Alix. The family suggests memorials be to Paula McClure Brain Cancer Research Foundation. Amarillo Globe-News, July 13, 2001 Betty Lou Tolleson Betty Lou Tolleson, 75, formerly of Amarillo, died Tuesday, July 10, 2001, in Colorado Springs, Colo. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. Jeff Matsler, chaplain of Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Miss Tolleson was born in Amarillo to Hugh Tolleson and Grace Sockwell Tolleson. She graduated from Southern Methodist University. She was an accountant. A longtime Amarillo resident, she moved to Colorado Springs in 1985. Survivors include three nieces, Mary Mignon Lance, Susan Grace Gordon and Diane Tolleson; two nephews, John Earl Simpson and Craig Hugh Tolleson. The family suggests memorials be to First Presbyterian Church, missions outreach, 219 E. Bijou, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. The family will receive friends from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. today at the funeral home. Amarillo Globe-News, July 13, 2001 New Mexico Barbara Seery CLOVIS, N.M. - Barbara Seery, 80, died Thursday, July 12, 2001. No services will be scheduled. Burial will be Monday at Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe. Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home. Mrs. Seer married Martin Seery. She was a waitress and owner of a candy store.