Potter Co. TX - Obits from the Amarillo newspapers 31 Aug 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 Marion Gibbs BORGER - Marion "Rachel" Gibbs, 89, died Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2001. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Minton / Chatwell Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Tunis Schurman of Borger and the Rev. A.F. Casey of Fritch, officiating. Burial will be in Eastlawn Garden at Highland Park Cemetery. Mr. Gibbs was born in Ranger. He was a retired tool pusher for B&C Well Service Co. Survivors include four sons, Don Gibbs of Fritch, Kin Gibbs of Canyon, Jerry Gibbs of Red Oak and Melvin Gibbs of Burleson; three daughters, Sandra Joslin of Borger, Annette Brooks of Fritch and Wanda Melvin of Ashdown, Ark.; a brother, Henry Gibbs of Ranger; a sister, Ruth Jordan of California; 23 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 31, 2001 Ruth Helen Skinner SPEARMAN - Ruth Helen Skinner, 79, died Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2001. Services were at 5 p.m. Thursday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Daryl Birkenfeld, of Stratford, and the Rev. Ken Cole, of Spearman, officiating. Burial was in Hansford Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors of Spearman. Mrs. Skinner was a member of the First United Methodist Church. She was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. She worked in a mobile army surgical hospital during World War II in Europe. She worked in the Liberation of Dachau Concentration Camp. She was the first registered nurse in Hansford County and helped to start Hansford Hospital. She was a public health nurse, surgical nurse and a school nurse. Mrs. Skinner was instituted in licensed vocational nurse training at Hansford Hospital. She assisted with Medivac planning with Panhandle Regional Planning Commission. Mrs. Skinner nursed until her health prevented her from doing so. She was a Silva Mind Control instructor. She loved painting and playing bridge. She was past president of the Texas Nursing Association. Survivors include her husband, Robert V. Skinner; two sons, Mike Skinner and Bill Skinner, both of Spearman. The family suggests memorials be to Hansford Hospice, 707 S. Roland, Spearman, TX 79081; or Ruth Skinner Nursing Scholarship Foundation, c/o First State Bank, P.O. Box 247, Spearman, TX 79081. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 31, 2001 Garrett Akemon WELLINGTON - Garrett Akemon, 40, died Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2001. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Fairview Cemetery with Joe Martin of Wellington officiating. Arrangements are by Adams Funeral Home. Mr. Akemon was born on Aug. 26, 1961, in El Paso to Ray Akemon and Nancy Leizuer Akemon. He married Jeniva Stephens on Aug. 27, 1980, in Pampa. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Christine Akemon, in 1998. Survivors include his wife, Jeniva of Wellington; two sons, Buck Ray Akemon and Joseph Edward Miles Akemon, both of Wellington; three sisters, Lola Burrows of Pampa, Holly Hernandez and Kallie Akemon, both of Wellington; and a stepsister, Sherry Gouen of Dayton, Ohio. The family suggests memorials be to Wellington Cemetery Association. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 31, 2001 Gordon Wayne Whitener WHEELER - Gordon Wayne Whitener, 92, died Thursday, Aug. 30, 2001, in Canadian. Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Toby Henson, pastor, William Arthur Whitener, his son, and Nancy Miller, his daughter, officiating. Burial will be in Wheeler Cemetery by Wright Funeral Home. Mr. Whitener married Bennie May Williams on June 10, 1934, in Wheeler. She died in 1999. He was a farmer and a cattle raiser. Survivors include a son, William Arthur Whitener of Valdosta, Ga.; a daughter, Nancy Miller of Wheeler; two brothers, Hiram Whitener of Wheeler and Herbert Whitener of Tyler; a sister, Louise Plowman of Garland; five grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and nine step-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to C.E.F. of West Texas, 1500 Travis St., Amarillo, TX 79102; First Baptist Church in Wheeler; or Abraham Memorial Home of Canadian. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 31, 2001 Amarillo Ernest B. Taylor Ernest B. Taylor, 85, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2001. Memorial graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Citizens Cemetery of Clarendon with Jerry Davey, pastor of Pleasant Valley Christian Church of Amarillo, officiating. Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon. Mr. Taylor was born Aug. 23, 1916, in Canton, Van Zandt County. He had lived in Donley County most of his early life, having moved to Amarillo in 1951. He married Amolene Mary Tollett on Jan. 7, 1938, at Clarendon. He was a truck driver for Foxworth Galbraith Lumber Co. for several years. Later he was a self-employed carpenter before his retirement. He was born a triplet. He was a member of the First Baptist Church. Mr. Taylor was preceded in death by his parents, J.A. and Doskey Taylor; a daughter, Mary Ernestine Taylor, in 1983; three sisters; and seven brothers. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Ronald W. Taylor and Tony Richard Taylor, both of Amarillo; a daughter, Joyce McDonald of Billings, Mont.; 16 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren. The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, memorials be to IHS Hospital of Amarillo; and BSA Hospice of Amarillo. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 31, 2001 Cecil Ray Williams Cecil Ray Williams, 50, of Amarillo, died Monday, Aug. 27, 2001. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Fairview Cemetery at Pampa with the Rev. LaVonie Thompson officiating. Cremation and arrangements are by Warford-Walker Mortuary Inc., 509 N. Hughes St. Mr. Williams was born in Hollis, Okla., and lived in Amarillo for several years. He was a mechanic for RSM Builder Supply Co. Survivors include four sons, Erick Williams of Azle, Michael Williams and Marshall Williams, both of Graham, and Randy Lee Ford of Amarillo; four daughters, Mary Littrell of Springtown, Danielle Williams of Pampa, Katie Murphy of Wheeler and Alexia Williams of Amarillo; a brother, Jimmy Looper of Amarillo; and a sister, Cathy Henson of Pampa. The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, memorials be to BSA Hospice, 600 N. Tyler St., Amarillo, TX 79107. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 31, 2001 Victor Stone Hinchey Victor Stone Hinchey, 74, of Amarillo, died Thursday, Aug. 30, 2001. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle, with Don Conner, retired Baptist minister, and the Rev. Bob Miller, pastor of South Georgia Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Llano East Cemetery with military rites rendered by the Disabled American Veterans Chapter No. 26. Mr. Hinchey was born in Dierks, Ark. He had been resident of Amarillo since 1989. He was a retired maintenance engineer for the Oklahoma Department of Highways. Mr. Hinchey served with the Army during World War II and the Korean War. He married Geneva Crump on Sept. 8, 1989, at Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Bruce Hinchey of Muleshoe and Bryan Hinchey of Hammond, Okla.; two brothers, Lyndle Hinchey of Amarillo and Jim Hinchey of Pineville, La.; four stepdaughters, Mary Williams, Debra Kile and Janet Butler, all of Amarillo, and Nancy Clymer of Oklahoma City; two stepsons, Darrell Coon of Amarillo and Ricky Coon of Wichita, Kan.; two grandchildren; 22 step-grandchildren; and 16 step-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, 79176-0001. The family will be at 1617 N. Apache St. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 31, 2001 New Mexico George Tom Poling CLAYTON, N.M. - George Tom Poling, 56, died Monday, Aug. 27, 2001. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First United Methodist Church. Officiants will be the Rev. Bob Boyd, pastor, the Rev. Jeff Bayley, pastor of Texline United Methodist Church, and the Rev. Phil Herndon, pastor of First Baptist Church in Fort Worth. Burial will be in Garcia Plaza Cemetery at the Blue Front Ranch by Hass Funeral Directors of Clayton. Mr. Poling was born April 8, 1945, in Clayton, to John Milton Poling Jr. and Wendla Mae (Robinett) Poling. He was a lifelong resident of Union County, where he farmed and ranched most of his life. Survivors include his wife, Patsy Poling; a daughter, Audra Poling of Clayton; two sons, Todd Poling and Trent Poling, both of Clayton; four brothers, J.M. Poling III of Clapham, Don Poling of Vega, Texas, Fred Poling of Clayton and Barry Poling of Texline, Texas; and a grandson. The family suggests memorials be to American Heart Association, P.O. Box 90790, Albuquerque, NM 87199-0790. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 31, 2001 Elsewhere Timothy Olin Ferguson EL DORADO SPRINGS, Mo. - Timothy Olin Ferguson, 48, died Monday, Aug. 27, 2001. Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in Elkhart Cemetery at Elkhart, Kan., with Tom Alshiemer and David Johnson, officiating. Arrangements are by Harrell Funeral Home of Elkhart. Mr. Ferguson was born Sept. 24, 1952, at Elkhart, the son of Charlie and Edith Davolt Ferguson. He was a graduate of Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Mo. Survivors include his wife, Terry Ferguson; a son, Dusty Lee Ferguson; a daughter, Tara Dawn Ferguson; his parents, Charles and Edith Ferguson of Keyes, Okla,; three brothers, Donnie Ferguson of Creede, Colo., Charles Ferguson of Guymon, Okla., and Monty Ferguson of Phoenix; and three sisters, Connie Bryan of Edmond, Okla., Elva Ponder of Ashville, N.C., and Elaine Louthan of Westminster, Colo. The family suggests memorials be to Australian Mission Memorial, c/o Harrell Funeral Home, 514 Kansas Ave., Elkhart, KS 67950. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 31, 2001 Steve Hackley ARLINGTON - Steve Hackley, 42, died Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2001, in Dallas. Services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle, with the Rev. Dr. George Martin, interim rector of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Hackley was born in Dallas. He graduated from Caprock High School in 1978. He was living in Arlington at the time of his death. He was a certified heating and air conditioning technician and had worked for many years in Amarillo, Dallas and Austin. He was the grandson of the late Angeline and Homer Duvall and Abigale and Frank Hackley of Amarillo. Survivors include two daughters, Jessica Hackley of Amarillo and Heather Cross of Fort Worth; his parents, Jean and Jack Chick of Eufaula, Okla., and the Rev. Staley Hackley of Harlan, Ky.; two brothers, Charles Hackley of Longmont, Colo., and Staff Sgt. Thomas Chick of DeRidder, La.; two sisters, Karlene Schrader of Amarillo and Adele Chick of Jinks, Okla.; and numerous nieces and nephews. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 31, 2001 Charles Cleopas Higgins of Amarillo, a longtime printer, died Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2001. He was 81. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Trinity Lutheran Church with Mark Cattau, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery with military honors rendered by Fort Hood Military Base. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Higgins was born in Hereford. He graduated from Corsicana High School with honors in 1936. Mr. Higgins began his career in the printing business with the Amarillo Globe-News for a total of 21 years, interrupted only by his service during World War II. He was deployed first to Glasgow, Scotland, went through England, Paris and finally to Metz, Germany, with the 712th Tank Battalion 90th Infantry Division, 3rd Army. Mr. Higgins published a daily news sheet aboard the Queen Mary for 19,000 troops. When President Roosevelt declared the United States victory over the Germans, General Patton requested Mr. Higgins transfer to the 4th Armored Division in order to publish Patton's "Rolling Review" in Reigensberg, Germany. Mr. Higgins returned with the troops in April 1946 to the United States via New York harbor aboard the George Washington, on which he also published a daily news sheet. In business in Austin, Mr. Higgins set the daily Texas House Bills for the Legislature. Mr. Higgins and his wife, Maxine, began and operated the first independent hot metal typesetting service in the Panhandle, Publishers Typographic, setting the Amarillo High School Sandstorm newspaper, the Tascosa High School newspaper and the National Directory of College Athletics for about 20 years. Mr. Higgins also farmed between Canyon and Amarillo and ranched near Bushland, raising Black Angus cattle. Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Maxine; two daughters, Donna McCafferty and Charline Sprouse; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Trinity Lutheran Church, 5005 W. Interstate 40, Amarillo, TX 79106; or BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79105. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 31, 2001 Click here to return to story: http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/083101/obi_allobits.shtml