Potter Co. TX - Obits from the Amarillo newspapers 8 October 2002 Thanks to http://www.amarillonet.com/ for permission to upload their obits to the USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved. Amarillo Globe-News http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ------------------------------------------------------ All Obits - Text Only Area Richard L. Graves CLAUDE - Richard L. Graves, 69, died Sunday, Oct. 6, 2002. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in First Baptist Church in Claude with the Rev. Max Beggs officiating. Burial will be in Claude Cemetery by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors of Amarillo, 5400 Bell St. Mr. Graves married Christene Phelps on Dec. 31, 1951, in Wellington. They were married for 50 years. He was preceded in death by his mother, Eula Graves, on Sept. 11, 2001. Survivors include his wife; a son, Jerry Graves of Claude; his father, J.P. Graves of Denison; two brothers, Jerry Graves of Colbert, Okla., and Jack Graves of Denver; three sisters, Pat Chambless and Doris McKalwee, both of Denison, and Glenda Graves of Garland; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Claude EMS, P.O. Box 231, Claude, TX 79019. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 8, 2002 Robert H. Jones QUANAH - Robert H. Jones, 77, died Sunday, Oct. 6, 2002, in Amarillo. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. today in Quanah Memorial Park with the Rev. Clinton Young officiating. Arrangements are by Smith Funeral Home. Mr. Jones was born Jan. 3, 1925, in Dallas County. He was a retired Navy veteran of World War II and also served in the Air Force. Survivors include a brother, C.O. Jones Jr. of Quanah; and several nieces and nephews. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 8, 2002 Rena E. Armsworthy BORGER - Rena E. Armsworthy, 89, died Saturday, Oct. 5, 2002, in Amarillo. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today in Westlawn Cemetery with the Rev. John Dorn, pastor of St. Andrew United Methodist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Directors. Mrs. Armsworthy was a homemaker. She was a member of St. Andrew United Methodist Church. Survivors include a son, Ronald Armsworthy of Borger; a daughter, Elaine Chadwick of Colorado Springs, Colo.; a sister, Jackie Anderson of Madill, Okla.; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 8, 2002 Jack C. Florer BORGER - Jack C. Florer, 79, died Sunday, Oct. 6, 2002, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Brown Funeral Directors Chapel of the Fountains with the Rev. Bill Sizemore, pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Pampa. Mr. Florer was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Army in the South Pacific. He received the Purple Heart and was a retired electrician. Survivors include his wife, Corine; four sons, Billy Jack Florer, Dale Florer, Dean Florer and Drew Florer, all of Borger; a daughter, Jacquelyn James of Borger; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to VFW, 101 S. Main St., Borger, TX 79007; or American Legion 671, P.O. Box 310, Borger, TX 79008. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 8, 2002 Hart Warren PAMPA - Hart Warren, 83, died Saturday, Oct. 5, 2002, in Houston. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with Butch Shepherd officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Mr. Warren was born Oct. 16, 1918, in Caliente, Ariz., to Eva I. Lamb and husband, John D. Warren. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1946. He was a member of Professional Golfers Association of America and served as the club professional at Pampa Country Club for 30 years, retiring in 1984. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and was a member of Top O' Texas Masonic Lodge No. 1381 AF&AM. He and his wife, Ava, moved from Pampa to Houston in 2001 to be closer to their family. He loved golf and golfers alike and taught the game to many. All will remember his sympathetic response to anyone complaining about a bad lie on the course: "That ball just ended up somewhere you ought not to have hit it!" Everyone who met him also quickly realized that, although he might not always be right, he was rarely in doubt. He will be missed. He was preceded in death by his first wife and the mother of his children, Maggie Lou Steward Warren. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Tom Warren of Brookshire and Skip Warren of Houston; a sister, Peggy McDonald of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; and two grandchildren, Paul Warren of Dallas and Lisa Warren of Katy. The family suggests memorials be to National Parkinson's Foundation, 1501 N.W. Ninth Ave., Bob Hope Road, Miami, FL 33136-1494. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 8, 2002 Stephen Clay Jones FRIONA - Stephen Clay Jones, 44, died Saturday, Oct. 5, 2002. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church of Friona with the Rev. Mark Stovall, pastor, and Leon Talley of Friona officiating. Burial will be in Friona Cemetery by Blackwell Funeral Home. Mr. Jones had been a resident of Friona since 1981, moving from Melrose, N.M. He was a Baptist. He was a 1976 graduate of Melrose High School. He married Donice Glover on Dec. 1, 1984, in Friona. He was a 17-year veteran of the Friona Police Department retiring in 1997 as sargeant. He was most recently owner of Jones Pulling Service and had been employed with 4-Way Pump of Friona for more than 20 years. He had served more than 20 years with the Friona Volunteer Fire Department and was named firefighter of the year in 1999. He served as training officer for many years and was a captain. He was a member of the Texas State Fire Fighters and Fire Marshall's Association and a member of the South Plains chapter of the Texas Ground Water Association. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Stephenie Allyn Jones and Kimberlee Denise Jones, both of Friona; his parents, Jim and Hazel Jones of Friona; and a sister, Katie Graham of Clovis, N.M. The family suggests memorials be to the Friona Volunteer Fire Department; or to Crown of Texas Hospice. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 8, 2002 Vera "Granny" Liles MEMPHIS - Vera "Granny" Liles, 99, died Sunday, Oct. 6, 2002. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Travis Baptist Church with Wayne Ziegler, John McQueen and Johnny Snider officiating. Burial will be in Rowe Cemetery by Hughs Funeral Home. Mrs. Liles was born Sept. 10, 1903, in Waxahachie. She was a member of Travis Baptist Church and was a homemaker. Survivors include a son, Rayford Earl Ziegler of Odessa; four daughters, Vivian "Cle" McQueen and Joy Coffman, both of Memphis, Imogene Gilchrest of El Paso and Trudie Mae Wooten of Barstow; 17 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Travis Baptist Church, 708 N. 13th St., Memphis, TX 79245; or Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson St., Amarillo, TX 79101. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 8, 2002 Amarillo George Merchant George Merchant, 88, of Amarillo died Monday, Oct. 7, 2002. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in N.S. Griggs and Sons Funeral Directors Pioneer Chapel, 2615 Paramount Blvd., with Coy Wylie, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Merchant was born in Amarillo. He graduated from Dalhart High School in 1932 and attended West Texas State University. He married Vera Randolph on Jan. 23, 1937. He was a State Farm agent for 39 years before retiring in 1990. He received numerous achievement awards from State Farm including the Million Dollar Travel Club Award. He was a member of Elks Club and a charter member of Palo Duro Chapter of the American Business Club. He was president of the ABC in 1966, was awarded District Mr. Ambuc in 1966, National Mr. Ambuc in 1967 to 1968 and served as district governor from 1969 to 1970. He was an avid golfer and fisherman. He was preceded in death by his wife in 1992; a sister, Lenora Walker; and a brother, Charles Merchant. Survivors include two daughters, Penny Cunningham and husband, Bobby, of Amarillo, and Myrna Pillers and husband, Morris, of South Fork, Colo.; a son, Byron Merchant of Amarillo; a sister, Anita Morrison of Sedona, Ariz.; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Palo Duro Chapter of American Business Club. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 8, 2002 Sammie J. Garcia Sammie J. Garcia, 79, of Amarillo died Saturday, Oct. 5, 2002. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. today in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with the Rev. Rex Nicholl of the church officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Garcia was a lifelong resident of Amarillo. He was a painter and a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Survivors include a daughter, Judy Valario of Colorado Springs, Colo.; his wife, Lupe Garcia of Colorado Springs; two brothers, Jose Garcia of Amarillo and Raymond Garcia of DeQueens, Ark.; five sisters, Josie Molina of Amarillo, Nora Salas of Wichita Falls, Vera Lanphar of Florida, Amy Gutierrez of Borger and Rosemary Valdez of Houston; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 1210 E. 10th Ave., Amarillo, TX 79103. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 8, 2002 Sadie Josephine Andrews Sadie Josephine Andrews, 92, of Amarillo died Monday, Oct. 7, 2002. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Lamesa Memorial Park Cemetery in Lamesa with the Rev. Clifton Igo, Baptist minister, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Andrews was born in Farmersville. She had lived in Lamesa for many years before moving to Amarillo in July 2002. She was a member of Second Baptist Church of Lamesa. Survivors include three sons, Weldon Rogers of Perryton, William Rogers of Yucca Valley, Calif., and David Rogers of Amarillo; two daughters, Christine Lindsey of Shreveport, La., and Betty Bernard of Colorado Springs, Colo.; 13 brothers and sisters; 13 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News Oct. 8, 2002 Cora Virginia East Cora Virginia East, 89, of Amarillo died Sunday, Oct. 6, 2002. Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Exchange Avenue Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. Local arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Oklahoma arrangements are by Vondel L. Smith and Son Mortuaries. Mrs. East was born Dec. 29, 1912, in Grand Junction, Tenn., to Estill and Rosetta Jones. She graduated from high school in Memphis, Tenn., and Central State University in Edmond, Okla. She taught school for 33 years in Oklahoma City. She married James Boyd East in 1932. Mr. East was minister of music and education at several Baptist churches including Quanah, Midland, Albuquerque, N.M., and several others in Fort Worth and Oklahoma City. Her oldest son, Major James B. East Jr. was killed in 1969. He was an Air Force fighter pilot and was shot down in Laos while on a bombing mission in Vietnam. Her husband died in 1978. She moved to Amarillo in 1999 and lived at Craig Methodist Retirement Center. She was a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include a son, William R. East, M.D., and wife, Suzanne, of Amarillo; a sister, Martha Christensen and husband, Boyd, of Ponca City, Okla.; a brother, the Rev. J. Estill Jones and wife, Violet, of Chatsworth, Ga.; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176-0001. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 8, 2002 Thomas Steele Clopton Jr. Thomas Steele Clopton Jr., 88, of Amarillo, died Monday, Oct. 7, 2002. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in First Presbyterian Church with Dr. Jim Bankhead, senior minister, and Dr. Murray Gossett, associate minister, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery with military rites by DAV Chapter 26. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mr. Clopton was born Sept. 2, 1914, in Amarillo, to Thomas Steele and Mary Browning Clopton. He graduated from Amarillo High School and then attended Texas A&M University, earning a bachelor of science degree in petroleum engineering in 1939. That same year he joined Diamond Shamrock and remained there until retiring in 1979 as vice-president in production. He served as a captain in the Army during World War II. On July 16, 1944, in Colorado Springs, Colo., he married Jane Spaulding. Mr. Clopton was honored by the Texas Society of Professional Engineers as Outstanding Engineer in 1973; he was a member of Amarillo Rotary Club, serving as president in 1973 to 1974 and served on the Llano Cemetery Board and was a past president. He was chapter chairman of the American Red Cross during 1980 to 1981; served on the board of directors and was president of Goodwill Industries in 1984 and 1985, was a Meals of Wheels volunteer and was a member of Sons of the American Revolution. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, serving as a deacon and elder there. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Thomas Steele Clopton and wife, Linda A., of Littleton, Colo., and Paul Spaulding Clopton and wife, Jan. L., of Indian Hills, Colo; two granddaughters, Suzanne Snell and Deborah Rhodes; and 12 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to First Presbyterian Church, 1100 S. Harrison St., Amarillo, TX 79101; or a favorite charity. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 8, 2002 Michael Ray Wallace Michael Ray Wallace, 52, of Amarillo died Friday, Oct. 4, 2002. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street, with Bob Thomas of Crown of Texas Hospice officiating. Mr. Wallace died Oct. 4, 2002, at Crown of Texas Hospice in Amarillo. He was born July 25, 1950, in Alva, Okla., and grew up in Kiowa and Medicine Lodge, Kan. He spent 30 years in Las Vegas in the gaming industry. He worked with the Amarillo Globe-News at the time of his death. Survivors include a daughter, Renee Tutlow of Gasville, Ark.; his mother, Lula Wallace of Medicine Lodge; two sisters, Kathy Russell and husband, Bob, and Janice Schuman, all of Amarillo; two grandsons of Gasville; three nieces of Amarillo; a nephew of Amarillo; and two great-nephews of Amarillo. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 8, 2002 Gordon M. Keetch Gordon M. Keetch, 69, of Amarillo, died Sunday, Oct. 6, 2002. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Memory Gardens Cemetery with Glen Walton of Bell Avenue Church of Christ officiating. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors Martin Road Chapel, 1505 Martin Road. Mr. Keetch moved to Amarillo in 1941. He graduated from Amarillo High School in 1951. He enlisted in the Navy in October 1951 and served in the Commander In Chief Pacific Fleet Command. He went to West Texas State College. He married Phyllis Moore in 1973. He worked for Bernson Millwright Co. He worked at IBP from 1976 to 1983, then he worked for Allstate Bail Bonds from 1996 to 2001. He was a member of Comanche Trail Church of Christ. He was preceded in death by a sister, Pat Keetch Maples; and a daughter, Rhonda Keetch. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Tracey Burcham of Sublett, Kan., Mary Ann Kennedy of Kankakee, Ill., and Kathy Christian of Dumas; two sons, Butch Moore of Amarillo and Robbin Todd Keetch of Perryton; 11 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Children's Home, P.O. Box 7448, Amarillo, TX 79114. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 8, 2002 New Mexico Frank "Pingo" Sena CLOVIS, N.M. - Frank "Pingo" Sena, 89, died Sunday, Oct. 6, 2002. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. today in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the church with the Rev. Sotero Sena officiating. Burial will be in Mission Garden of Memories by Muffley Funeral Home. Mr. Sena married Felicita Marquez on June 2, 1934, in Clovis. He was a member of American Legion Post No. 25 and VFW Post 3015. Survivors include three sons, Frank Sena Jr. of Santa Rosa, Bernie Sena of Albuquerque and Tommy Sena of Clovis; six daughters, Patsy Baca of El Paso, Texas, Catherine Montano, Margie Lopez, Gloria Chavez and Dolores Chavez, all of Clovis, and Molly Urioste of Portales; a brother, Joe "Chueey" Sena of California; two sisters, Auerlie Martinez and Serapia Sandoval, both of Clovis; 37 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 8, 2002 Kent L. Leslie CARLSBAD, N.M. - Kent L. Leslie, 77, died Saturday, Oct. 5, 2002. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in Epworth United Methodist Church with the Rev. Keath Baskett officiating. Burial will be in Carlsbad Cemetery by Denton-Funchess Funeral Home. Mr. Leslie was born Nov. 11, 1924, in Denver. He married Audrey Elmore in Clovis on Jan. 20, 1945. Survivors include his wife; a son, Jim Leslie of Tujuanga, Calif.; a daughter, Kay Tigert of Carlsbad; a sister, Jeanne Ewing of Laguna Beach, Calif.; and three grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 8, 2002 This story printed from the Amarillo Globe-News Online at amarillonet.com: http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/100802/obi_ob100802-18.shtml