Potter Co. TX - Obits from the Amarillo newspapers 2 June 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 Amarillo Marilyn Word Marilyn Word, 80, of Amarillo died Wednesday, May 28, 2003. Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. Rusty Dickerson, pastor, and the Rev. Perry Hunsaker, associate pastor, both of St. Paul United Methodist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Word was born Aug. 29, 1922, in Beaver, Okla., to Wade and Edith Loofbourrow. She married Walter D. Word Jr. on June 5, 1954. Mrs. Word loved her church and family. She was an avid bridge player and will be dearly missed by family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband in 2001; and a grandson, Christopher in 1982. Survivors include a daughter, Barbara Gaylor and husband, Bob, of Amarillo; a granddaughter, Andrea Gaylor of Amarillo; a brother, Robert "Bob" Loofbourrow and wife, Jean, of Amarillo; and several nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to St. Paul United Methodist Church, 4317 W. Interstate 40, Amarillo, TX 79106; or a favorite charity. Amarillo Globe-News, June 2, 2003 Elvina Bea Short Elvina Bea Short, 79, of Amarillo died Saturday, May 31, 2003. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Memorial Park East Mausoleum with the Rev. Terry Lowe, associate pastor of St. Stephen United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2820 Virginia Circle. Mrs. Short was born in Floyd County and had lived in Amarillo most of her life. She worked in Amarillo Independent School District cafeterias for 10 years. She attended St. Stephen United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by two husbands, C.B. Crosby, in 1971, and Bud Short in 1998. Survivors include two daughters, Linda Hoskinson and Charlotte Windham and husband, Miles, all of Amarillo; a brother, R.T. Furrow of Lubbock; four grandchildren, Dale Geist of Colorado Springs, Colo., Gary Geist and Gina, Robert Windham and Shanda, and Nicole Windham and Brandon Bargas, all of Amarillo; and six great-grandchildren. The family will be at 5209 Sherrill. Amarillo Globe-News, June 2, 2003 Oklahoma Gracie Jewel McCurdy Holt MANGUM, Okla. - Gracie Jewel McCurdy Holt, 74, died Saturday, May 31, 2003. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Trinity Baptist Church of Mangum with David Moore, Mike Larson and Emmett Hayslip officiating. Burial will be in Hobart Rose Cemetery by Peoples Cooperative Funeral Home of Lone Wolf. Mrs. Holt was born July 19, 1928, in Gotebo to Samuel Monroe McCurdy and Ida Mae Maxwell Adams. She was a member of Hobart Church of Christ. Survivors include her husband, Tab; a son, Timothy Tab Holt of Quanah; a daughter, Tracie Idella Holt Mayabb of Mangum; two brothers, Larry McCurdy of Midwest City and Darrell McCurdy of San Antonio; a sister, Genevea McCurdy Mannon of Joshua, Texas; and four grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, June 2, 2003 Frank D. Sutton STRATFORD - Frank D. Sutton, 82, died Friday, May 30, 2003. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in First Christian Church with the Rev. Bob Sweeten, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Stratford Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors of Dumas. Mr. Sutton was born Feb. 13, 1921, in Plains, Kan. He had been a Sherman County resident since 1929. He was a Stratford postmaster from 1963 until he retired in 1980. He served in the Air Force during World War II. Survivors include his wife, Marcelle; a daughter, Lynda Ann Sutton Hauser and husband, Ray, of Stratford; two grandsons, Neal Hauser of Amarillo and Dean Hauser of Stratford; and several nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to First Christian Church, Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 626, Stratford, TX 79084; or to Coldwater Manor Activity Fund, P.O. Box 1189, Stratford, TX 79084. Amarillo Globe-News, June 2, 2003 Johnny Ray Vaughn MULESHOE - Johnny Ray Vaughn, 44, died Saturday, May 31, 2003. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in First Assembly of God Church in Muleshoe with the Rev. Jack Stone officiating. Arrangements are by Ellis Funeral Home. Mr. Vaughn was born in Ralls and lived in Muleshoe most of his life. He was a truck driver. Survivors include a son, Jeremy Ray Vaughn of Fort Worth; his mother, June Vaughn of Muleshoe; two sisters, Kathy Strickland of Muleshoe and Peggy Robinett of Dumas; and three brothers, Larry Don, Ricky Lee and Robby Lynn Vaughn, all of Muleshoe. Amarillo Globe-News, June 2, 2003 R.C. Grider PAMPA - R.C. Grider, 88, died Saturday, May 31, 2003. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Fairview Cemetery with Masonic rites by Pampa Masonic Lodge No. 966 AF and AM. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Grider was born July 8, 1914, in Cooper to Robert Cornelius Grider and Audrey McClanahan Grider. A lifetime Methodist, he was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Pampa for more than 60 years. Survivors include a son, Robert C. Grider III of Jackson, Miss.; a daughter, Dr. Sylvia Grider of Bryan; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Pampa Senior Citizens Center, 500 W. Francis, Pampa, TX 79065. Amarillo Globe-News, June 2, 2003 Elsewhere Helen Beem TOPEKA, Kan. - Helen Beem, 62, died Saturday, May 31, 2003. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Davidson Funeral Home. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery. Mrs. Beem was born Dec. 5, 1940, in Baldwin City, the daughter of Albert "Swede" and Nellie Gilmore Larson and was raised by Claude and Nellie Hunter. She married Paul E. Beems on Jan. 4, 1958, in Topeka. Survivors include her husband; a son, Michael P. Beem of Topeka; seven sisters, Betty Taul of Baldwin City, Mary Aldridge of Amarillo, Jo Lynn Ginter, Donna Roberts and Jackie Ables, all of Topeka, Cora Maye of Tacoma, Wash., and Sylvia Malott of Gower, Mo.; and two brothers, Gary Hunter of Topeka and Raymond Larson of Hartford. The family suggests memorials be to Midland Hospice, 200 S.W. Frazier Circle, Topeka, KS 66606; or to a charity of choice. Amarillo Globe-News, June 2, 2003 Thelma McWilliams AUSTIN - Thelma McWilliams, 99, died Wednesday, May 28, 2003. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Fairview Cemetery in Pampa with John Curry officiating. Arrangements are by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home in Austin and Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Mrs. McWilliams was a resident of Pampa for nearly 50 years, before moving to Austin in 1980. She was a member of Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin. Survivors include a daughter, Betty Lou Patterson of Oklahoma City; a son, Kenneth Ripley McWilliams of Austin; a brother, O.G. McClain of Houston; 12 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Lone Star Hospice, 1212 Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock, TX 78664; or the American Cancer Society. Amarillo Globe-News, June 2, 2003 George Williams WEST MONROE, La. - George Williams, 87, died Saturday, May 31, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Kilpatrick Funeral Home with the Rev. David Maxwell, the Rev. Charles Holstead and the Rev. Les Colvin officiating. Burial will be in New Chapel Hill Church Cemetery. Mr. Williams went to his heavenly home to spend eternity with his Lord. He was a former 40-year resident of Amarillo, Texas, and lifelong resident of Panhandle, Texas. He was born July 21, 1915, in Wellington, Collingsworth County, Texas. He worked for Shamrock Oil for 10 years before beginning his career with the United States Bureau of Mines. He received the second highest award presented by the Department of the Interior, the meritorious award for outstanding service, in 1973. He was cited in the award especially for his improvements in procedures to reduce frequency of engine overhauls, for his special design of a major piece of plant processing equipment and for the redesign of compressor cylinder and rings. Mr. Williams earned many awards during his service to the government. After 31 years of service, he retired as chief of production for Helium Operations with the U.S. Government. He was a member of Ridge Avenue Baptist Church in West Monroe and a deacon in the Southern Baptist faith for 59 years. He was a faithful Christian and very active in each church he attended. "It takes us back to brighter years, To happier, sunlit days, And to precious golden moments That will be with us always. And those fond recollections Are treasured in the heart To bring us always close to those From whom we've had to part. There is a bridge of memories From earth to heaven above. It keeps our loved ones near us - It's the bridge that we call Love." Author unknown Pallbearers will be Ken Pettitt, Mark Shaffer, Stephen Shaffer, Randy Williams, Dudley Gillespie and Ross Johnston. Honorary pallbearers will be the men of his Sunday school class. He was preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin F. and Willie Tibbetts Williams; six brothers; and a great-granddaughter, Randi Layne Williams. Survivors include his wife of 69 years, Dorothy; a daughter, Sammie Williams Pettitt and husband, Kenneth, of West Monroe; four sisters, Faye Flynn and Sue Green, both of Amarillo, Bennie Smith and Jane Herndon, both of McLean, Texas; a special sister-in-law, Jewel Carter of Gainesville, Texas; grandchildren, Mark Shaffer and wife, Loretta, of Calhoun, Stephen Shaffer and wife, Rebecca, of Downsville, Nikki Pettitt Williams and husband, Randy, of Farmerville; seven great-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren; two step-great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to service time today. The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, memorials be to the American Parkinson's Disease Association, 60 Bay Street, Suite 401, Staten Island, NY 10301; or to a favorite charity. Amarillo Globe-News, June 2, 2003 This story printed from the Amarillo Globe-News Online at amarillonet.com: http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/060203/obi_allobits.shtml