Potter Co. TX - Obits from the Amarillo newspapers 18 Oct 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 Leonard W. Gaines WHEELER - Leonard W. Gaines, 65, died Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2001. Services will be at 11 a.m. today at First Baptist Church in Wheeler with the Rev. Toby Henson and the Rev. Stephen Gaines officiating. Burial will be at Wheeler Cemetery by Wright Funeral Home. Mr. Gaines was born April 8, 1936, in Clarksville. He lived in Wheeler since 1940. He married Sandra Pearce on Feb. 2, 1957, in Pampa. He was an auto mechanic for 40 years, the last 30 years with Burton Ford in Wheeler until he retired. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Wheeler. Survivors include his wife, Sandy; two sons, Stephen W. Gaines of Stinnett and Ronald L. Gaines of Wheeler; a daughter, Samantha Herbel of Oklahoma City,Ok.; four sisters, Martha Hogan and Gloria Swires, both of Pampa, Loria Jennings of Tulsa,Ok. and Judy Chandler of Amarillo; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. The family suggests memorials be to Wheeler Public Library or a favorite charity. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 18, 2001 George Lewis Stone CLARENDON - George Lewis Stone, 91, died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2001. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday with the Rev. Don Stone of White Deer Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be at Silverton Cemetery by Robertson Funeral Directors. Mr. Stone was born June 16, 1910 in Blue, Okla. and was a resident of Silverton before moving to Clarendon in 1929. He was a rancher and general laborer much of his life. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and a member of Clarendon Church of Christ. Survivors include two sisters, Louise Riley of Clarendon and Sue Hardage of Altus, Okla.; two brothers, Ken Stone of Howardwick and Jay Stone of Clarendon; and five nieces and nephews. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 18, 2001 Sis Stayton GRUVER - Sis Stayton, 84, died Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2001. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today at Gruver Cemetery with the Rev. Gary Gumfory officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Ms. Stayton was a member of First Baptist Church of Gruver. She was a homemaker. Survivors include her sister, Mary Alice Thomas of Gruver; a sister-in-law, Vera Mae Hays of Spearman; two nieces, Sadie Goodall of Gruver and Carrie Russell of Canyon; and two nephews, Toby Thomas of Spearman and Curtis Hays of Lubbock. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 18, 2001 Brian Frank Cheevers DUMAS - Brian Frank Cheevers, 43, died Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2001. Services will be at 4 p.m. today at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Tom Stribling, paster of Hunt Memorial United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be at Northlawn Memorial Gardens under the direction of Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors. Mr. Cheevers was a resident of Dumas his entire life. He worked as an engineer in the oil and gas industry. He married Robin Stout on Dec. 18, 1982, in Dumas. He received a bachelor of science degree in animal science and a master's degree in agriculture economics from Texas A&M University. He was a devoted alumni of Texas A&M University. He attended First Presbyterian Church. Survivors include his wife, Robin; two daughters, Brandi Cheevers and Brogan Cheevers, and a son, Riley Cheevers, all of Dumas; his father, Frank Cheevers of Lubbock; and his mother, Hollie Cheevers of Dumas. The family requests memorials to American Diabetes Foundation, P.O. Box 50433, Amarillo, TX 79159. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 18, 2001 Roscoe Carter PLAINVIEW - Roscoe Carter, 85, died Friday, Oct. 12, 2001. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Lemons Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Willie Ansley Sr. of Greater New Hope Holy Baptist officiating. Burial will be at Plainview Memorial Park under the direction of Lemons Funeral Home. Mr. Carter attended schools in Wortham before moving to Littlefield. He moved to Plainview in 1943 and worked in the oil mills, then for Southwestern Bell Telephone for 29 years before retiring in 1978. Survivors include the mother of his children, Rosie Carter of Amarillo; two daughters, Chinnie Carter of Amarillo and Telissa Carter of Plainview; a son, Fredrick Carter of Amarillo; a brother, John Carter of Plainview; a sister, Ella Smoots of Plainview; and six grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 18, 2001 Jessie Dee Hightower QUANAH - Jessie Dee Hightower, 80, died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2001. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jesse Dea officiating. Burial will be in Quanah Memorial Park under the direction of Sullivan Funeral Home. Mrs. Hightower was born April 22, 1921, in Canton. She and John Thomas Hightower Jr. were married Feb. 21, 1943, in Terrell. Survivors include a daughter, Dee Ann Stockstill of Buna; a sister, Mrs. Kenneth Berry of Saline; a niece, Nan Knowles of Quanah; three grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family will be at the funeral home today from 7 to 9 p.m. for visitation. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 18, 2001 Oklahoma Marie Elgiva Starks GUYMON - Marie Elgiva Starks, 82, died Monday, Oct. 15, 2001. Services will be today at 2 p.m. at Bunch-Roberts Chapel with Charles Cullum officiating. Burial will be in Tyrone Cemetery in Tyrone under the direction of Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home of Guymon. Mrs. Starks was born Oct. 21, 1918, in Tyrone to Severee Lovell and Ruby Jane Kimble Massie. She received her master's degree in education from Abilene Christian College in Abilene, Texas. Survivors include five stepchildren, Robert Starks of Hazel, Ky., John Starks of Cincinnati, Ohio, Jane Houghten and Edith Kaminski, both of Almo, Ky., George Starks of Canton, Ky.; 14 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Retta McKenna. The family suggests memorials be given to Guymon Church of Christ Youth Group. Memorials will be accepted at Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1112, Guymon, OK, 73942. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 18, 2001 Elsewhere Rillia Crump Batson DALLAS - Rillia Crump Batson, 91, died Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2001. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at First Baptist Church in Memphis with Tom Posey officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery in Memphis under the direction of Memphis Funeral Home. Mrs. Batson was a resident of Hall County until 1964, when she moved to Dallas. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank David Batson, her son, Billy Floyd Batson and six infant children. Survivors include four daughters, Mary Beth Blevins of Amarillo, Ethel Lloyd Batson of Balch Springs, Nelda Lou Briggs of Mesquite and Dorothy Faye Welch of Dallas; three sons, Boyd Reece Batson of Palmer, Newell Elbert Batson of Mesquite and Thomas Wesley Batson of Denver, Colo.; a brother, E.A. "Doc" Crump; 38 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 18, 2001 William Keith Hoover IOWA PARK - William Keith Hoover, 23, died Monday, Oct. 15, 2001. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Lakeview Church of God with the Rev. Rickey Rasco officiating. Burial will be at Highland Cemetery under the direction of Dutton Funeral Home. Mr. Hoover graduated in 1996 from Iowa Park High School, where he played football for the Iowa Park Hawks. He placed in the state weightlifting meet in 1996. Survivors include his parents, Bruce Lee Hoover and Tammy Hoover of Iowa Park; a daughter, Maggie Rae Newman of Frederick, Okla.; a brother, Kevin Dewayne Hoover of Dallas; a sister, Krysha Marie Hoover of Iowa Park; grandparents, Ralph Fudd and Pauline Sherrill of Frederick and Bub and Mary Hoover of Northfield; two great-grandparents; and several aunts, uncles, cousins and a niece. The family suggests memorials be to Maggie Newman Account, #013-4325 at American National Bank, 219 West Park Ave., Iowa Park, TX 76367. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 18, 2001 Amarillo Billy Junior Bills Billy Junior Bills, 77, died Monday, Oct. 15, 2001. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church with Dr. Howard Batson, senior pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery under the direction of Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Bills was the son of William Craig and Zona Erma Tinnin Bills and was born at the family-owned Tinnin Tourist Hotel in Floydada. During World War II he joined the Navy as a Corpsman and served with the First and Third Marine Corps under Adm. Bill Halsey. He was engaged in the first wave attack in Guadalcanal and later in Guam with the purpose of establishing field hospitals. For these actions he received the Presidential Citation with five battle stars, a Purple Heart and other citations. During the Korean Conflict he was recalled to service at the Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, Calif. After his military service, he and his wife, Freddie, settled in San Diego with their growing family. He was married for 57 years and renewed his wedding vows on Valentine's Day. He owned barbershops for many years in the San Diego area. In 1978, he and Freddie decided to return to their roots in the Texas Panhandle. He was an agent for ICX Special Commodities Division and Columbine Carriers. Subsequently he became president of Bluebonnet Leasing Company, retiring in 1990. He joined the Co-ed Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church in 1978 where he will be missed by many loving friends. "And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God, unencumbered? And when the Earth shall claim your limbs then you shall truly dance." His son, James Michael Bills, preceded him in death in 1972. Survivors include his wife, Freddie Nell Beckham Bills; two daughters, Nell Bartlett and her husband, Jim, of San Diego, and Janice Huddleston and her husband, Bryan, of Salt Lake City, Utah; a son, John Randall Bills of Amarillo; a brother, W.C. Bills and his wife, Ginger, of Tulsa, Okla.; a cousin, Glenette Tinnin Golightly and her husband, Don, of Beaver, Okla.; seven grandchildren, Richard Hill and wife, Dana, Kris Hill, John Shank and his wife, Claudia, Erick Shank, Josh, Chris and Julia Huddleston, all of Salt Lake City; and four great-grandchildren, Jackson Davis Hill, Katie Marie Shank, Megan Shank and Timothy Brock. He also has many other much-loved extended family. The family suggests memorials be to Heritage Choir Music Ministry, c/o First Baptist Church, 1300 S. Tyler St., Amarillo, TX 79101. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 18, 2001 Click here to return to story: http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/101801/obi_allobits.shtml