Potter Co. TX - Obits from the Amarillo newspapers 27 February 2003 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 Delbert "Jack" Whitfill LOCKNEY - Delbert "Jack" Whitfill, 89, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2003. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. today in Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home Memorial Chapel. Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday in San Jose Catholic Church with the Rev. Jim McCartey officiating. Burial will be in Lockney Cemetery. Mr. Whitfill married Lillian Wilson on May 9, 1936, in Plainview. He was a farmer and member of San Jose Catholic Church. Survivors include a son, Anthony Whitfill of Floydada; four daughters, Margaret Kitchens of South Plains, Helen Dixon of Avondale, Ariz., Laura Neff of Dalhart and Carolyn Newton of Lubbock; a brother, Deward Stewart of Ennis; a sister, Vera Macon of Ennis; 11 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Hospice Hands of West Texas, P.O. Box 1118, Lockney, TX 79241. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 27, 2003 Stewart McCracken TULIA - Stewart McCracken, 67, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2003, in Lubbock. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. today in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Rob Lindley, pastor, and the Rev. Richard Edwards, pastor of St. Luke's Methodist Church of Midland, officiating. Burial will be in Quitaque Cemetery in Quitaque by Wallace Funeral Home. Mr. McCracken was born May 14, 1935, in Lubbock. He married Lavada Davidson in August 1952, in Quitaque. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Jo Beth Edwards of Midland; a son, Ronald McCracken of Andrews; five grandchildren; two sisters, Paulita Young of Tucson, Ariz., and Glenda Francis of Silverton. The family suggests memorials be to First United Methodist Church of Tulia, 119 N. Briscoe St., Tulia, TX 79088; or Arthritis Foundation, 3001 W. Fifth St., Fort Worth, TX 76107. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 27, 2003 Vivian Jaunice O'Neal Biggs PANHANDLE - Vivian Jaunice O'Neal Biggs, 85, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2003. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Bill Fuller, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Panhandle Cemetery by Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mrs. Biggs was born May 26, 1917, in Texico, N.M. She graduated from Panhandle High School and attended Amarillo College. She married Harold D. Biggs on July 3, 1936, in Panhandle. She and her husband were ranchers and farmers. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Panhandle and had been a member of Alturian Club. She was preceded in death by her husband in 2001; her parents, Lenard and Ola O'Neal; a brother, Harold V. O'Neal; and a sister, Virginia O'Neal Hawkinson. Survivors include a son, Jerry Biggs and wife, Judy, of Panhandle; a daughter, Jean Walker of Panhandle; a sister, Lenola Gray of Panhandle; four grandchildren, Ryan Biggs and wife, Amy, of Frisco, Ric Biggs and Clint Walker, both of Panhandle, and Sarah Sturm and husband, Matt, of Bloomington, Ind.; and a great-grandchild, Halee Biggs of Frisco. The family suggests memorials be to First Baptist Church of Panhandle. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 27, 2003 Emigdio C. Castanon PERRYTON - Emigdio C. Castanon, 38, died Monday, Feb. 24, 2003, in Wichita, Kan. Services and burial will be in Mexico at a later date. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Mr. Castanon was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. He worked for PFT. Survivors include his wife, Flor de Maria; a daughter, Bianca Flor Castanon of Perryton; two sons, Marcos Castanon and Yael Castanon, both of Perryton; his parents, Jose and Herlinda Castanon of Mexico; two sisters, Yolanda Castanon of Mexico and Herlinda Lozano of Perryton; and eight brothers, Noe Castanon, Eloy Castanon, Jesus Castanon, Saul Castanon and Isauro Castanon, all of Perryton, Crecencio Castanon of Plainview, Abraham Castanon of Friona and Rene Castanon of Mexico. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 27, 2003 Gladys Mae Stidham QUANAH - Gladys Mae Stidham, 92, died Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in First Assembly of God Church with the Rev. Fred Weaver and the Rev. Pete Sellers officiating. Burial will be in Quanah Memorial Park by Smith Funeral Home. Mrs. Stidham was born Dec. 25, 1910, in Montgomery, Ala. She was a homemaker. Survivors include three sons, Willie Joe Stidham of Chillicothe, Gaylord Warren Stidham Jr. of Hobbs, N.M., and Paul Stidham of Quanah; a sister, Opal O'Neal of Annona; 17 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to American Cancer Society; or First Assembly of God Church. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 27, 2003 Marie Lawson OLTON - Marie Lawson, 82, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2003. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Main Street Church of Christ with Mike Reed, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Olton Cemetery by Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Home. Mrs. Lawson was born Feb. 14, 1921, in Bowie. She married Drexel Lawson on Feb. 24, 1938, in Plainview. Survivors include a daughter, Caroline Little of Austin; two sons, Jim Lawson and Gary Lawson, both of Olton; nine grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Olton Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 155, Olton, TX 79064; or Runningwater Draw Care Center, P.O. Box 409, Olton, TX 79064. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 27, 2003 James C. Martindale SHAMROCK - James C. Martindale, 66, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2003, in Elk City, Okla. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in First Baptist Church in McLean with the Rev. Truman Ledbetter of Clarendon and the Rev. Lewis Ellis of Pampa officiating. Burial will be in Dozier Cemetery in Dozier by Wright Funeral Directors. Mr. Martindale was born Oct. 5, 1936, in Lone Mound. He married Sherrie Grogan in June 1955. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Kim Martindale and Scot Martindale, both of Wellington, and Gib Martindale of Clarendon; a daughter, Leitha Watson of Clarendon; a brother, Kenneth Martindale of Shamrock; two sisters, Joy Uselton of Amarillo and Judy Abernathy of Kelton; nine grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 27, 2003 Levi C. Bailey Jr. PAMPA - Levi C. Bailey Jr., 81, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2003. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in First Christian Church with the Rev. Barry A. Loving, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Bailey retired from Santa Fe Railway as an engineer in 1985. He was a veteran of the Army, serving during World War II. Survivors include three sons, Raymond Bailey of Leadville, Colo., Levi Bailey III of Lafayette, La., and Brent Bailey of Duncanville; five daughters, Dianne Widener of Moore, Okla., Joyce Hadley and Helen Barnett, both of Pampa, Debrah Taylor of Kaw City, Okla., and Charlene Williams of Denver; four brothers, Carl Bailey of Lubbock, Eddie Bailey of Fritch, Roy Bailey of Amarillo and Ray Bailey of Stinnett; 16 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to First Christian Church Roof Fund, 1633 N. Nelson St., Pampa, TX 79065. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 27, 2003 Pearlie Lee Followill Boggess BORGER - Pearlie Lee Followill Boggess, 84, died Sunday, Feb. 23, 2003. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. today in Westlawn Memorial Park with the Rev. Leonard Forsythe, pastor of Bible Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mrs. Boggess was born Nov. 1, 1918, in Grady County, Okla. She was a homemaker. Survivors include a son, Donald Followill of Fritch; two daughters, Linda Wigart of Borger and Shirley Kirkham of Stratford; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 27, 2003 Amarillo Alice C. Ruelas Alice C. Ruelas, 81, of Amarillo died Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003. No services are scheduled. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Ruelas was born Alice Catherine O'Neil on July 31, 1921, in Marion, Ohio, to Helen Tyler O'Neil of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, and James O'Neil, a salesman from Pittsburg, Pa. She grew up in Marion and graduated from St. Mary's High School in Marion on June 9, 1939. Mrs. Ruelas joined the Army in 1942 and served as a sergeant during World War II. After the war she cared for her brother, Robert O'Neil, who suffered from a war-related illness and died in 1955. They traveled to several veterans hospitals in the Southwest, including Long Beach, Calif., and Tucson, Ariz. Mrs. Ruelas came to Tucson in the late 1940s, and took a secretarial job at the University of Arizona. There she met rancher and postal carrier P. Rudolph Ruelas, who delivered mail to her office. They were married April 14, 1951, in Tucson. Mrs. Ruelas helped run the Ruelas ranch on the north slope of the Santa Rita Mountains near Tucson. She kept the books and raised her children on the small ranch, without electricity or a telephone. She was a devout Catholic. She was preceded in death by her husband in November 2002. Survivors include a daughter, Mary Ann Ruelas and husband, Scott Braucher, of Amarillo; a son, Robert A. Ruelas; three sisters-in-law, Tillie R. Hagey of Tucson, Lois O'Neil of Geneva, Ohio, and Jo O'Neil of Frankfurt, Ky.; special friends, Shirley and John Skarbek of San Antonio and Bettye and Bill Braucher of Tucson; and many nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, WTAMU Box 60967, Canyon, TX 79016. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 27, 2003 Johnnie Imogene Toland Johnnie Imogene Toland, 80, of Amarillo died Monday, Feb. 24, 2003. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2820 Virginia Circle. Burial will be at 2 p.m. in Quanah Cemetery in Quanah. Mrs. Toland was born March 4, 1922, in Quanah, to Rueben "Earl" and Mattie Redman. She married Robert Othell "Bob" Toland in 1945, in Quanah. Mr. and Mrs. Toland had lived in Amarillo since 1946. Mrs. Toland retired in 1975 after working many years as a school secretary. She was active in Women's Auxiliary of Disabled American Veterans and was a longtime member of West Amarillo Christian Church. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother and "Granna," and will be missed by all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her husband on Dec. 24, 2001. Survivors include a son, Randy Toland and wife, Paula, of Amarillo; a sister, Gladys Rigsby of Snyder; and three grandsons, Paul Toland, John Toland and Mark Toland, all of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice Foundation, 1000 S. Jefferson St.; or a favorite charity. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 27, 2003 Gordon T. Perryman Gordon T. Perryman, 81, of Amarillo died Monday, Feb. 24, 2003. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Southwest Baptist Church. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 S. Bell St. Mr. Perryman was born July 21, 1921, in Amarillo, to Omry and Mary Perryman. Gordon married Jessie Mae Brooks on July 21, 1942, in Amarillo. He retired from Santa Fe Railway with more than 40 years of service. He was preceded in death by a son, Joe Perryman in 1978; and a brother, Glen Perryman in 1955. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Jan Payne and husband, Mike, of Amarillo; a son, Gary Perryman and wife, Toni, of Claude; a sister, Sandy Perryman of Virginia; a brother, Jack Perryman of Portland, Ore.; seven grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Southwest Baptist Church Missions Fund, 8201 Canyon Drive, Amarillo, TX 79110. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 27, 2003. Richard M. "Ballou" Preciado Richard M. "Ballou" Preciado, 37, of Amarillo died Monday, Feb. 24, 2003. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street, with the Rev. Robert Field, retired Baptist minister, officiating. Mr. Preciado was born in Amarillo on Oct. 3, 1965. He worked in maintenance and was a Catholic. He was looking foward to the birth of his first granddaughter. Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Louise and Frank Persson of Amarillo; his stepfather, Ellie Martinez of Amarillo; a sister, Michelle Weatherly of Amarillo; four brothers, Mondo Martinez, Eddie Martinez, Dominic Martinez and Shennon Martinez, all of Amarillo; a daughter, Crissy Preciado of Amarillo; two sons, Damon Preciado and Justin Preciado, both of Amarillo; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles. The body will be available for viewing from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 27, 2003 Earl Jean Brown Earl Jean Brown, 74, of Amarillo died Friday, Feb. 21, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in New Hope Baptist Church with the Rev. David Hill officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Warford-Walker Mortuary, 509 N. Hughes St. Mr. Brown was an Amarillo resident for more than 40 years. He was a veteran of the Army and a member of New Hope Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Ada; two daughters, Doris Fletcher of Amarillo and Jessie Polk of Dallas; four sons, Curtis Brown, Robert Brown and Kenny Burks, all of Amarillo, and Eldwin Brown of Tyler; and a sister, Helen Barefield of Amarillo. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 27, 2003 New Mexico Barbara "Carlette" Fox ROSWELL, N.M. - Barbara "Carlette" Fox, 73, died Thursday, Feb. 20, 2003. Memorial services will be at 5 p.m. Saturday in Country Club Road Church of Christ. Arrangements are by Anderson-Bethany Funeral Home. Mrs. Fox was born Jan. 19, 1930, in Tipton, Okla. She and Harold Fox were married in Springlake-Earth, Texas. Survivors include her children, Dean Fox and Jimmy Fox, both of Amarillo, Texas, Bob Fox, Billy Fox and David Fox, all of Roswell, and Laura LeCompte of Tucumcari; three sisters, Jean Hestand and Ann Olmstead, both of Huntsville, Ark., and Kay Rogers of Roswell; a brother, Burton Seymour of Beland, Fla.; 15 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Christian Children's Home in Portales; or National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 733 Third Ave., New York, NY 10017. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 27, 2003 Alta M. McClelland TUCUMCARI, N.M. - Alta M. McClelland, 72, died Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Friday in Dunn Funeral Home Memorial Chapel. Mass will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in St. Anne's Catholic Church with the Rev. Leo Padget officiating. Mrs. McClelland was born May 13, 1930, in Mitchell, S.D. She was a member of St. Anne's Catholic Church. Survivors include her husband, Robert; two daughters, Kay McClelland of Tucumcari and Patricia Marie Paiz of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; two sons, Bob McClelland Jr. of Tucumcari and Michael McClelland of Page, Ariz.; seven grandchildren; a great-grandchild; three sisters, Bernie Madden of Omaha, Neb., Maxine Cordes of Sturgess, S.D., and Gayle of Indiana; and two brothers, Bob Madden of Arkansas and Larry Madden of Rapid City, S.D. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 27, 2003 Oklahoma Carl Raymond Cooper GUYMON, Okla. - Carl Raymond Cooper, 63, died Monday, Feb. 24, 2003, in Amarillo, Texas. Services will be at 1 p.m. today in Guymon First Baptist Church with the Rev. Derek Cox, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Gruver Cemetery in Gruver, Texas, by Bunch-Roberts Funeral Home. Mr. Cooper moved to Guymon from Gruver in 1985. He was engaged in farming and sales, retiring in 2002. Survivors include his wife, Bobbie; his mother, Elva Cooper of Guymon; three children, Chris Cooper of San Diego, Cappi Davis of Panhandle, Texas, and Craig Cooper of Gruver; three stepchildren, Clif Gibson of Fort Worth, Sandi Welch of Guymon and Kerrie Landes of Guymon; 13 grandchildren; and a sister, Carolyn Erickson of Eaton, Colo. The family suggests memorials be to Guymon Rodeo Renovation Fund and may be sent to the funeral home, P.O. Box 1112, Guymon, OK 73942. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 27, 2003 Elsewhere Maybelle "Suzy" Rapp AUSTIN - Maybelle "Suzy" Rapp, 85, died Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First United Methodist Church of Childress. Arrangements are by Austin Peel and Sons Funeral Home. Mrs. Rapp lived a rich, full life and touched the lives of many around her. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerrel Rapp in 1981. Survivors include a son, Jodie and wife, Jenny, of Amarillo; three daughters, Cherri Rapp and Anne Rapp, both of Austin, and Jan Rapp of Dallas; two grandchildren, Jackie Rapp and Jennie Rapp, both of Amarillo; and a great number of friends. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 27, 2003 This story printed from the Amarillo Globe-News Online at amarillonet.com: http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/022703/obi_ob022703-20.shtml