Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Online Newspapers 21 Apr 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 ==================================================================== H. Lee Ritenour H. Lee Ritenour, 64, of Amarillo, died Thursday, April 19, 2001. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, Pioneer Chapel, 2615 Paramount Blvd., with Windell Taylor, Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System chaplain, officiating. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery. Mr. Ritenour was born in Somerset, Pa. He married Mary Webb on Oct. 15, 1955, in Carlsbad, N.M. Mr. Ritenour served in the Air Force for 28 years, retiring as chief master sergeant in 1981. He also served in the Vietnam War. After retirement, he was a service officer for the Disabled American Veterans. He was a member of the Elk Lodge, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the DAV. He was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Charles F. Waddle III, in 1994 and James D. Waddle, in 1994. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Gwen Waddle and husband, Charles, of McGregor, Katie Medelberg of Amarillo and Paula Pownell of Atlanta, Ga.; three brothers; a sister; and five grandchildren, Christina Waddle and Jacob Waddle, both of McGregor, Jennifer Medelberg of Oklahoma City, Heidi Medelberg of Amarillo and Rainer Nix of Atlanta. The family suggests memorials be to Disabled American Veterans. Amarillo Daily News, April 21, 2001 Artell McNett Artell "Mongo" McNett, 90, of Amarillo, died Thursday, April 19, 2001. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street, with the Rev. Bill Austin, retired Baptist minister, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. McNett was born in Bells in 1911. She moved to Amarillo in 1927. She married Byron "Mack" McNett in 1928 at Clovis, N.M. He died in March 1980. She was a member of Bell Avenue Baptist Church. Mrs. McNett retired in 1972 from the Amarillo Independent School District, where she was employed for 25 years as a cafeteria worker. She worked at McKinley, San Jacinto and Tascosa High School. Mrs. McNett was a charter member of the Amarillo Senior Citizens Association and was active in this organization until her illness. She also was preceded in death by a son, Jerry F. McNett, who was killed in 1976. Survivors include a daughter, Wanda McNett Gause of Amarillo; six grandchildren, Melissa Gause Hess of Lubbock, Mike Gause, Danny Gause and Timmy Gause, all of Lewisville, Julie McNett Hulsey of Amarillo and Susan McNett Gordon of Dumas; and 11 great-grandchildren. The body will be available for viewing from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday. Amarillo Daily News, April 21, 2001 Clyde O. Morgan Dr. Clyde O. Morgan, 84, of Amarillo, died Wednesday, March 21, 2001, in Houston. Memorial services will be held June 17, 2001, in St. Lukes Episcopal Church in Denver. Arrangements are by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Dr. Morgan was born and raised in Houston. In 1943, he graduated from Texas A&M University. He was director of Franklin Laboratory and American Home Products in Amarillo from 1949 to 1963. Dr. Morgan served as a consultant for American Home Products until the time of his death. He had been active in the Army Reserves. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy, in 1997. Survivors include two stepsons, Granger Whitney of St. Paul, Minn., and Gary Whitney of Houston; and three stepgrandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, April 21, 2001 Cleo Heath Brian Cleo Heath Brian, 87, of Amarillo, died Thursday, April 19, 2001. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in First Baptist Church. Officiants are Dr. Howard K. Batson, pastor of First Baptist Church, the Rev. J. Craig Lawless, her nephew and assistant pastor / administrator of Lakeside Baptist Church in Dallas. Arrangements are by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mrs. Brian was born in Wichita Falls. She graduated from West Texas State Teachers College in 1935 with a degree in home economics. In 1936, she married William H. Brian in Canyon. They moved to Amarillo in 1938. Mr. Brian died in 1988. Mrs. Brian was a homemaker. She was a member of First Baptist Church for more than 50 years and worked in the preschool for more than 20 years. She was a member of the Pilgrim Sunday school class and the Women's Missionary Union. She also was a member of the Amarillo Lawyers Auxiliary. She was preceded in death by a sister, Dorothy Heath Newcomb, in 1985. Survivors include two daughters, Dr. Beverly Gilbert of Lubbock and Linda Brian of Amarillo; a son, Bill Brian and daughter-in-law, Carol, of Amarillo; two sisters, Hellen Wilkins of Muskogee, Okla., and Geraldine Sims of Ozark, Ark.; and many nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to First Baptist Church of Amarillo, 1208 S. Tyler St., Amarillo, TX 79101; Samaritan Pastoral Counseling Center, 2929 Duniven Circle, Amarillo, TX 79109; or Buckner Children and Family Services, 6000 W. Ninth Ave., Amarillo, TX 79106. Amarillo Daily News, April 21, 2001 Donald Odell Heath Donald Odell Heath, 61, of Amarillo, died Thursday, April 19, 2001. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Golden Plains Church of Christ with Paul Camp, minister, officiating. Burial will be at 4 p.m. Monday in Gruver Cemetery of Gruver by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Heath was born in Gruver. He had lived in Amarillo since 1994. He served with the Army from 1962 to 1964. He was a member of the Church of Christ. He worked for Toot'n Totum Stores. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Twylah Heath, in 1981. Survivors include his wife, Louise Heath; two daughters, Shelah Heath and Karlah Heath, both of Amarillo; a son, Donald O. Heath Jr.; three brothers, Winson Heath of Kimberling City, Mo., C.C. Heath of Gruver and J.B. Heath of Stinnett; and a sister, Irene Huber of Tewksbury, Mass. Amarillo Daily News, April 21, 2001 Oklahoma Nell Tucker KENTON, Okla. - Nell Tucker, 92, died Wednesday, April 18, 2001, in Stratford, Texas. Services will be at 10 a.m. MDT today in Kenton Community Building (Old Schoolhouse). Burial will be in Kenton Cemetery by Cimarron Mortuary of Boise City. Mrs. Tucker, the daughter of the late Robert Moore Bressie and Emma Grant (Powers) Bressie, was born on the Figure 3 Ranch near Marland, Okla. Nell was united in marriage to Fred Tucker in 1942. Survivors include two sons, Dana Leas Jr. of Moore and Fred Vogel Tucker of Kenton; two daughters, Danelle Hall of Oklahoma City and Linda Coon of Los Altos, Calif., three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Soutar Memorial Library. Memorial may be left with the mortuary. Amarillo Daily News, April 21, 2001 Area Amrine C. Easley DALHART - Amrine C. Easley, 92, died Wednesday, April 18, 2001, in Amarillo. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Llano Mausoleum Chapel in Amarillo. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street, of Amarillo. Mr. Easley was born in Hemphill County north of Old Mobeetie on Aug. 24, 1908. He had resided in Dalhart since 1949. He was a World War II veteran, serving from 1941 to 1946. He was stationed in South Africa, France, Italy and Germany. He farmed and ranched in Sunray and Dallam County until his retirement. Mr. Easley was preceded in death by his wife, Ola Burk Easley, in 1990; and by six brothers and three sisters. Survivors include 10 nieces and nephews, R.L. Easley, Gary Easley and Pam Purdy, all of Spearman, Martha Booher of Amarillo and Bobby Easley, Tim Easley, Karen With, Glennis Easley, Gwendolyn Easley and Jane Bermzweig, all of the San Francisco area. The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176-0001. Amarillo Daily News, April 21, 2001 Haskell Thomas Phelps CLARENDON - Haskell Thomas Phelps, 84, died Monday, April 16, 2001. No services are planned. The body was donated to Texas Tech School of Medicine in Lubbock. Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors. Mr. Phelps was born Jan. 24, 1917, at Lelia Lake and was a lifetime resident of Donley County. He was a farmer and later worked as a barber for several years before his retirement. He was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, having served in the 411th Bomb Squadron. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Clarendon. Mr. Phelps was preceded in death by a brother, Harold Phelps, on Feb. 7, 2000. Survivors include a brother, Hugh Phelps of Terrell; and three sisters, Dorothy Breedlove of Clarendon, Mildred Hayes of Panama City, Fla., and Frances Lloyd of Rock Hill, S.C. Amarillo Daily News, April 21, 2001 Benjamin Franklin Simms Jr. DUMAS - Benjamin Franklin Simms Jr., 82, died Wednesday, April 18, 2001. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Park Place Towers Retirement Center with the Rev. Murray Gossett, of First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Cremation and arrangements by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mr. Simms married Mary Wiseman June 15, 1947, in Dumas. He was a veteran of the Army Air Corps, serving during World War II. Survivors include his wife; a son, Mike Simms of Dumas; two granddaughters; and a great-granddaughter. The family suggests memorials be to Memorial Hospice, 224 E. Second, Dumas, TX 79029; or Dumas Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 438, Dumas, TX 79029. Amarillo Daily News, April 21, 2001 Walter Elliott LEFORS - Walter "Pea Picker" Elliott, 92, died Friday, April 20, 2001. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Lefors Church of Christ with Howard Sweeney, retired Church of Christ minister, and Rick Pearce, minister of Lefors Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Heights Cemetery in Lefors by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Mr. Elliott went to work for Skelly Oil in 1934 and retired in 1974 as a pumper. He had been a resident of Lefors since 1950, moving from Kellerville. Survivors include his wife, Joeldine; two daughters, Feleice Powell of Lefors and Alpha Jo Quinn of Abilene; two sons, Sanford Wayne Elliott of Abilene and Don Alvin Elliott of Tampa, Fla.; a brother, Joe Pegram of Cincinnati; five grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, April 21, 2001 Don L. Allred VEGA - Don L. Allred, 88, died Wednesday, April 18, 2001, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Vega United Methodist Church with Randy Bird, pastor of Barn Church in Hereford, officiating. Burial will be in Palo Duro Cemetery at Wildorado by Vega Funeral Home. Mr. Allred was born in Wildorado. He had lived his entire life in Oldham County until moving to Vega in 1998. Mr. Allred served with the Army during World War II. He was a farmer and rancher. He graduated from Vega High School in 1930. He was a life member of American Hereford Cattle Association. He was a member of Vega United Methodist Church. He married Anna Lois Arden on Oct. 18, 1942, in Clayton, N.M. She preceded him in death on Jan. 10, 1999. He also was preceded in death by a brother, James N. Allred of Albuquerque, N.M., in 1999; and by a sister, Rena Hobbs of Amarillo, in 1998. Survivors include a son, Don R. "Donnie" Allred of Vega; a daughter, Cheryl Ann Burk of Durant, Okla.; a brother, R.M. Allred Jr. of Amarillo; three grandchildren, Amanda Beth Westlake, Blair Don Burk and Meredith Ashley Allred; and a great-grandson, Ryan Scott Westlake. The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176-0001; Olivia's Angels, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176-0001; or Vega United Methodist Church. The body will be available for viewing from noon to 7 p.m. today and Sunday and from 10 a.m. to noon Monday at the funeral home. Amarillo Daily News, April 21, 2001 Mary B. Belt UMBARGER - Mary B. Belt, 81, died Friday, April 20, 2001. No services are planned. Burial will be in Forrest Park Cemetery at Shreveport, La. Cremation and arrangements are by Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon. Mrs. Belt was born on Feb. 29, 1920, to Elmer and Mae Bramlet, in Little Elm. A navy veteran, she worked as a nurse for the Veteran Hospitals until retiring in 1977 in Bossier, La. Survivors include two nieces, Debbie Batenhorst of Umbarger and Shirlee Wilder of Amarillo; and a nephew, Scott Hamner of Laramie, Wyo. The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176-0001. Amarillo Daily News, April 21, 2001 Charles H. Smiley LEFORS - Charles H. Smiley, 82, died Thursday, April 19, 2001. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel in Pampa with the Rev. John Glover, associate pastor of First Baptist Church in Pampa, officiating. Mr. Smiley had been a resident of Lefors since 1953. He worked for Phillips Petroleum Co. as an electrician, retiring after 43 years. Survivors include two daughters, Barbara Louise Smith of Amarillo and Carolyn Kay Morton of Eldorado; a son, Charles Everett Smiley of Amarillo; a brother, Harold Phillip Smiley of Arkansas; four grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and 16 step-great-grandchildren. Amarillo Daily News, April 21, 2001 Raymond Harkins SHAMROCK - Raymond Harkins, 74, died Thursday, April 19, 2001. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Shamrock Cemetery with Joe G. Jernigan officiating. Arrangements are by Wright Funeral Directors. Mr. Harkins was born March 2, 1927. He retired as the terminal manager for Curry Motor Freight in Shamrock. Mr. Harkins was a veteran, serving in World War II. Survivors include a son, Johnnie Harkins of Amarillo; a sister, Vivian Lax of Lela; and a granddaughter.