Potter Co. TX - Obits from the Amarillo newspapers 17 March 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 Dee Ann Ferguson BOWIE - Dee Ann Ferguson, 34, died Thursday, March 13, 2003. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Texhoma Cemetery with Mike Hughes officiating. Arrangements are by Dawson-Welch Funeral Home of Texhoma, Okla. Mrs. Ferguson was born Jan. 23, 1969, in Fort Worth to Harry Adam Bettinger Jr. and Nikki Helen Cook. She worked at Bellmire Nursing Home as a certified nurses aide. Survivors include two sons, J.D. Claude Lewis and Ryan Vernon Ferguson, both of Texhoma; a daughter, Holly Ann Ferguson of Springtown; her mother of Texhoma; her stepfather, Robert Hale Duncan of Benbrook; grandparents, Dorothy Nell and Frank C. Cook, both of Granbury; a brother, David Duncan of Texhoma; and a sister, Mary Nell Diehl of Fort Worth. The family suggests memorials be to Dee's children's college fund in care of Dawson-Welch Funeral Home, P.O. Box 445, Texhoma, OK 73949. Amarillo Globe-News, March 17, 2003 Walter Leal DIMMITT - Walter Leal, 78, died Saturday, March 15, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Dimmitt with Juan Carlos Brennagan, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park of Dimmitt by Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Home. Mr. Leal was born Dec. 26, 1924, in LaPaloma. He was a farm laborer. Survivors include his wife, Eloisa; a son, Johnny Leal of Dimmitt; five daughters, Gloria Garcia, Maria Navarro, Anna Valdez and Linda Lopez, all of Dimmitt, and Paula Garcia of Odessa; five sisters, Ida Campos of Combes, Elva Leal, Lee Martinez and Ninfa Rodriquez, all of Santa Rosa, and Mary Lou Gonzales of Harlingen; his mother, Fransisca Quintero of Santa Rosa; 14 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, March 17, 2003 Pat Nunnally HEREFORD - Pat Nunnally, 61, died Saturday, March 15, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Hereford Church of the Nazarene with Ted Taylor, pastor of the church, officiating. Burial will be in Rest Lawn Cemetery by Gililland-Watson Funeral Home. Mrs. Nunnally was born Aug. 14, 1941, in Honey Grove. She married James Robert "Jimmie" Nunnally on Oct. 15, 1977, in Hereford. Survivors include three daughters, Nita Chandler of Lubbock, Tracy Butler of Hereford and Marcy Varner of Amarillo; a stepson, Scott Nunnally of Florida; two stepdaughters, Gail Tanner of Louisiana and Suzie Nunnally of California; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice. Amarillo Globe-News, March 17, 2003 Milburn "Tex" Conard DIMMITT - Milburn "Tex" Conard, 84, died Sunday, March 16, 2003. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Abundant Life Church of Dimmitt with Tom Mullins, pastor, Charles Godfrey, Don Conard and Bonz Norman officiating. Burial will be in Castro Memorial Gardens by Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Home. Mr. Conard belonged to Lee Street Baptist Church. He served in the Army. Survivors include his wife, Norma; two daughters, Sharon Kay Sadler of Sunnyside and Nora Juanelle Winsor of Fort Worth; a sister, Bertha Godfrey of Hart; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. Amarillo Globe-News, March 17, 2003 Dolores "Jean" Thompson FRITCH - Dolores "Jean" Thompson, 75, died Saturday, March 15, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Trinity Church of the Nazarene with the Rev. Ron Ellington officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery by Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. Mrs. Thompson was a member of Trinity Church of the Nazarene. She had been in the area since 1941 coming from Oklahoma. Survivors include three daughters, Laura Jeanne Taylor and Paula Gay Rankin, both of Fritch, and Angela Marie Eads of Bartlesville, Okla.; a sister, Carole Lu Newman of Blackwell, Okla.; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, March 17, 2003 Elsie Allen PADUCAH - Elsie Allen, 92, died Saturday, March 15, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church of Paducah with the Rev. James Mantooth, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Paducah Garden of Memories Cemetery by Seigler Funeral Home. Mrs. Allen was born Dec. 17, 1910, in Honey Grove to James Robert and Lillie Mae West Martin. She was a homemaker and member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include a son, Alfred Allen of Olton; two daughters, Freddie Russell of Paducah and Delia Goodgame of Midland; two sisters, Mary Fish of Dallas and Frances Stewart of Carrollton; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, March 17, 2003 Amarillo Russell Latham Russell Latham, 30, of Amarillo died Saturday, March 15, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Coulter Road Baptist Church with Ron Whitt, senior pastor, and the Rev. Larry Payne, former pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Latham was born March 21, 1973, in Hereford. He graduated from Tascosa High School in 1992. He married Melissa Parkhurst in Amarillo on June 7, 1992. He managed Cox Video for 10 years before working for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He was a coach for Kids Inc. and was an avid hockey fan. He enjoyed spending time with his kids. He was a member of Coulter Road Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Ashton Latham of Amarillo; a son, Jacob Latham of Amarillo; four sisters, Karen Fox, Tammy McSmith and Katrina Sirmon, all of Amarillo, and Kyla Villegas of Odessa; two brothers, Danny Proctor Jr. of Amarillo and Christopher Proctor of North Carolina; his mother, Alice Proctor and husband, Danny, of Amarillo; his father, Hugh Latham and wife, Sharon, of Amarillo; and his grandmother, Edna Latham of Dayton. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 940, Amarillo, TX 79176-0001; the Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center, 1500 Wallace Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79106; or to the trust fund for Aston and Jacob Latham in care of PNB Financial Bank, 724 S. Polk, Amarillo, TX 79101. Amarillo Globe-News, March 17, 2003 Laverta Fore Laverta Fore, 78, of Amarillo died Friday, March 14, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, Bell Avenue Chapel, 5400 Bell St., with the Rev. Bill Fitzgerald, of San Jacinto United Methodist Church, and Mr. Van Earl Hughes, retired minister, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Fore was born April 13, 1924, at the farm home near Windom, Kan., to Albert and Viola Knackstedt. She graduated from Frankfort High School in Kansas in 1942. She grew up in Marshal County, Kan., and came to Amarillo in 1950. She married Gordon G. Fore on Aug. 18, 1950, in Clovis, N.M. She worked for K Drugs and Bob Bacon Americana Crop and Hail Insurance Agency. She moved to Dimmitt in 1967 and she and her husband owned and operated Gordons Liquor Store. She retired in 1984 and moved back to Amarillo in 1989. She was an accomplished oil painter and seamstress. She was a very loving and giving mother and grandmother. She was a member of San Jacinto United Methodist Church and a lifetime member of Ladies VFW Auxiliary of Dimmitt. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon, in 1985; a granddaughter, Courtney Kay Ingland, in 1985; two brothers-in-law; and a special friend, Dorothy Wilke Cook. Survivors include a daughter, Janis K. Ingland of Amarillo; a son-in-law, R. J. Ingland of Amarillo; sisters, Bernadine Corbin of Hutchinson, Kan., and Joyce Lord of Blue Rapids, Kan.; a brother, Boyd Knackstedt and wife, June, of Russell, Kan.; a granddaughter, Stephanie A. Ingland of Amarillo; her babies, "Pepper," "Sandy" and "Belle"; and Sherry Hanson of Amarillo and Donna Vertreese of Red River, N.M. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m to 7:30 p.m. today at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials be to San Jacinto United Methodist Church of Amarillo. Amarillo Globe-News, March 17, 2003 Johnny "Buddy" Miller Johnny "Buddy" Miller, 53, of Amarillo died Saturday, March 15, 2003. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday in Memorial Park Cemetery with Mr. Bob Thomas, chaplain of Crown of Texas Hospice, officiating. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Martin Road Chapel, 15th Avenue and Martin Road. Mr. Miller was born in Broken Bow, Okla., and had lived in Amarillo for 50 years. He was a painter. He will be deeply missed and will carry on through family and friends. Survivors include three sons, Ray Lynn Harris, Aaron Blake Miller and Adam Quintin Miller, all of Amarillo; two sisters, Gwen Jennings of Amarillo and Charlotte Neveling of Scurry; a brother, Glen Gold of Tucson, Ariz.; and two grandchildren. The body will be available for viewing from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Amarillo Globe-News, March 17, 2003 Bobby C. Barton Sr. Bobby C. Barton Sr., 67, of Amarillo died Saturday, March 15, 2003. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Memory Gardens Cemetery with Mr. Bob Thomas, chaplain of Crown of Texas Hospice, officiating. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mr. Barton moved to Amarillo in 1982 from Medford, Ore. He was a retired clothing salesman. He had served in the Air Force during the Korean War with the rank of staff sergeant. Survivors include a son, Bobby C. Barton Jr. of Amarillo; and a daughter, Vanessa Barton of Dalhart. Amarillo Globe-News, March 17, 2003 Allene Chambers Allene Chambers, 82, of Amarillo died Friday, March 14, 2003. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors Bell Avenue Chapel, 5400 S. Bell St. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Chambers was born in Love County near Marietta, Okla., on May 20, 1920. She was the oldest of eight children born to John and Ruby Lee Williams Nichols. She married Clarence Chambers on Dec. 23, 1942, in Hobart, Okla. A loving woman, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she was a woman of multiple roles. She knew when to be quiet and when to speak. The "master of the one-liner," with her uplifting remarks and quirks, she enlivened every crowd. Everyone who knew her was touched by the kindness of her heart. She knew when to give and what is to be given. Though reserved in her emotions, her unspoken "I love you" was always understood. She was strong willed and not afraid of adventure, nor the novel. A woman of great patience and understanding, she was blessed with four sons and five daughters, with an extra blessing of 22 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. Loved by everyone and touched by all who knew her, we will miss her greatly - the hardest word is "goodbye." She was preceded in death by her father, John Nichols; her mother, Ruby Lee Harris; her stepfather, John Harris; two brothers, Bill Nichols and Elmer Nichols; a sister, Mary Lou Woodward; a grandson, Brian Chambers; and a great-grandson, Brett Tucker. Survivors include four sons, Clarence Chambers Jr., Jerry Chambers and wife, Nancy, Andy Chambers and wife, Trisha, and Charles Chambers; five daughters, Wilma Palmer and husband, Michael, Janice Chambers, Betty Judy and husband, George, Brenda Arands and Donna Webb; a brother, Leroy Nichols; three sisters, Martha Wright, Nellie Lubeski and husband, Jerry, and Wynona Laaker and husband, Dale. The family suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson St., Amarillo, TX 79109. Amarillo Globe-News, March 17, 2003 Oklahoma Herbert Andrew Nelson Sprague BEAVER, Okla. - Herbert Andrew Nelson Sprague, 100, died Thursday, March 13, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Beaver United Methodist Church with John Breon and David Glascock officiating. Burial will be in Mountain View Cemetery by Clark Funeral Service. Mr. Sprague was born June 7, 1902, south of Hydro Territory to Herbert Andrew and Minnie Alice Nelson Sprague. He married Vena Belle Getz on Aug. 11, 1927, in Canadian, Texas. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Herb Sprague and John Sprague, both of Beaver; two daughters, Beulah Winchester of Beaver and Lavona Bell of Weed, N.M.; 11 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. Amarillo Globe-News, March 17, 2003 Elsewhere Tilden Bennett Armstrong ABILENE - Tilden Bennett Armstrong, 94, died Saturday, March 15, 2003. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in St. Paul United Methodist Church in Abilene with David Hamblin and Steve Chappell officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Memorial Park by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home. Mr. Armstrong was born Jan. 4, 1909, in Rusk County. He was one of 11 children born to William Bennett and Lula Virginia Irwin Armstrong. He graduated in 1938 with a bachelor of science degree from North Texas State Teacher's College in Denton by teaching school for nine months every year to earn enough money to attend college in the summers. He taught school in Swearingen and Sunray and was also the postmaster in Sunray. When he became a Methodist minister in 1943 he at last followed the "call" that he had known since the age of 7. He married Kathryn Holmes in 1932; she died in 1968. He then married Pearl Loar in 1972; she died in 2002. He considered himself very fortunate to have loved and been loved by two lovely Christian women. He served churches in the Northwest Texas Conference of the Methodist Church: Follett, Roby, Throckmorton, Floydada, Andrews, Abilene, Seminole and Albany/Moran. He was the district superintendent of the Pampa and Abilene districts. After retiring from active ministry, he continued to serve when needed as interim pastor in Jayton, Crowell and Vernon. He also served the First Presbyterian Church in Quanah on three separate occasions, the First Christian Church of Paducah twice, and the Assembly of God Church in Paducah. He often said, "There are many who 'talk' about the Ecumenical Spirit. I have experienced it. It's wonderful! Did I change my message according to the denomination? Not at all. I said, with Paul, 'For I am determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified' (I Corinthians 2:2). That was, and is, my witness!" He was a loving and compassionate man. He cared about people and their needs. He truly left this world better than he found it. He will be greatly missed. Survivors include a daughter, Glynell Hughes and husband, Harold, of Abilene; a son, Keith Armstrong and wife, Carolyn, of Austin; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, James and Shelley Hughes, Michelle, Nicole and Pate of Abilene, Robert and Cindy Hughes, Kristin, Allison, John and Matthew of Southlake, Kathryn Hughes of Houston, Elizabeth Hughes of College Station, Kelly and Gary Schierman, Jonathan and Timothy of Austin/Indonesia, Kathryn and Doug Taylor and Kylie of Brandon, Miss., Michael and Jennifer Armstrong of Jonesboro, Ark.; a sister, Jewel Smith of Henderson; a brother, W.B. Armstrong Jr. and wife, Linda, of Hermleigh; and many loving nieces, nephews and friends. The family suggests memorials be to the Methodist Children's Home; Boys Ranch, Waco; or to St. Paul United Methodist Church, Abilene. Amarillo Globe-News, March 17, 2003 James Joseph McDonald MEMPHIS, Tenn. - James Joseph McDonald, 71, died Friday, March 14, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in St. Mary's Catholic Church. Burial will be in Memphis Memory Gardens by Memphis Funeral Home, Poplar Chapel. Mr. McDonald was the owner of McDonald Motor Co. He served in the Air Force. Survivors include four daughters, Amy M. Clark of Southaven, Miss., Jeannie Smith of Amarillo, Nancy Corzine of Bartlett, and Stephanie Burns of Hernando, Miss.; five sons, Terry J. McDonald of Memphis, James J. McDonald Jr. of Lake Delton, Wis., Charlie Harrell of Lowell, Ariz., Robert Harrell of Arlington, Texas, and Barry Harrell of Ashland, Miss.; three sisters, Florence Salvemini of East Patchogue, N.Y., Mildred Williams of Cordova and Betty Landis of Canon City, Colo.; a brother, John McDonald of Memphis; 24 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family suggests memorials be to St. Jude Children's Hospital or to a charity of choice. Amarillo Globe-News, March 17, 2003 Ina E. "Tommie" Epperson LANDER, Wyo. - Ina E. "Tommie" Epperson, 89, died Saturday, March 15, 2003. Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Davis Funeral Home of Riverton. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. in Mount Hope Cemetery of Lander. Mrs. Epperson was born May 5, 1913, in Clarendon, Texas, the daughter of John Nelson Riley and Bessie May Doom Riley. She was a retired school teacher. Survivors include two sons, Marvin Epperson of Casper and Kenneth Epperson of Vista, Calif.; two brothers, Jack Riley of Amarillo, Texas, and Bruce Riley of Truth or Consequences, N.M.; seven grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and 14 great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Lander Senior Citizens or a charity of choice. Amarillo Globe-News, March 17, 2003 New Mexico LaRona R. Spell CLOVIS, N.M. - LaRona R. Spell, 50, died Saturday, March 15, 2003. Services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday in West 21st Street Church of Christ with Cecil Bunch officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens by Muffley Funeral Home. Mrs. Spell married Mike Spell July 21, 1973, in Clovis. She was a housewife and member of the West 21st Street Church of Christ. Survivors include her husband; a son, Christopher of Clovis; a daughter, Alisha of Clovis; a brother, Dwight Allen of Sweetwater; a sister, Gwen Howard of Kyle; and a grandson. The family suggests memorials be to Juvenile Diabetes Association, New Mexico Branch, 209-D Palomas Drive N.E., Albuquerque, N.M. 87108. Amarillo Globe-News, March 17, 2003 This story printed from the Amarillo Globe-News Online at amarillonet.com: http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/031703/obi_ob031703-18.shtml