Potter Co. TX - Obits from the Amarillo newspapers 14 August 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 Publication Date: 08/14/03 Myrtle Hall MEMPHIS -- Myrtle Hall, 78, died Saturday, Aug. 9, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Mount Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. Charles Coleman officiating. Arrangements are by Hughs Funeral Home. Mrs. Hall was born Oct. 17, 1924, in Lockenburg, Ark., to the late Mr. Elige Nelson and Mrs. Maudie McElroy Nelson. She married Ivory Hall on Sept. 14, 1955, in Hugo, Okla. Survivors include a son, Earl Pierson of Memphis; two daughters, Helen Pratt of Hugo and Mary Johnson of Amarillo; a brother, D.W. Carter of Hugo; a sister, Ruby McCarty of Hugo; nine grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 14, 2003 Loretta Fern Rankin MIAMI - Loretta Fern Rankin, 73, died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Miami United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jeff Booth, pastor of Christian Church of God in Amarillo, officiating. Burial will be in Miami Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Mrs. Rankin was born Dec. 30, 1929, in Miami, where she had been a lifelong resident. She married Rudolph Rankin on Sept. 18, 1948, in Miami. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Janet Voss of Miami; two sons, Newell Rankin and Ted Rankin, both of Miami; a brother, Sid Talley of Miami; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice, P. O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176, or Christian Church of God, 801 Quail Creek Drive, Amarillo, TX 79124. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 14, 2003 Ruby Mae Akin PLAINVIEW - Ruby Mae Akin, 93, died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Ninth and Columbia Church of Christ with Robert B. Hawkins of Clovis, N.M., former minister, and Dr. Max Browning, pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park Cemetery by Bartley-Silva Funeral Home. Mrs. Akin was born Dec. 22, 1909, in Texico, N.M. She married Raymond K. Akin on Oct. 7, 1933, in Apache, Okla. Survivors include two sons, Larry Akin of Plano and Kent Akin of Plainview; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to VistaCare Hospice, 4418 Olton Road, Plainview, TX 79072. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 14, 2003 Della Casaus DALHART - Della Casaus, 91, died Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2003. Prayer vigil will be at 7 p.m. today in St. Anthony's Catholic Church with deacon Ron Hein officiating. Services will be at noon Saturday in the church with the Rev. Robert Busch, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Horizon Funeral Home. Mrs. Casaus was born April 17, 1912, in Roy, N.M., to Julian and Anselma Rivera. She was a member of the Legion of Mary and enjoyed her family. Survivors include a daughter, Mary Helen Rubio of Dalhart; four granddaughters; and seven great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 14, 2003 R.H. "Bob" Goundie CHILDRESS - R.H. "Bob" Goundie, 76, died Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2003. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Childress Cemetery with Jerry Henderson officiating. Arrangements are by Johnson Funeral Home. Mr. Goundie was born June 17, 1927, in Cottle County. He was a veteran of the Army, serving in World War II. Survivors include his wife, Rudiene; two daughters, Janet Canada of Iowa Park and Diann Shoffner of Childress; a son, Dale Goundie of Woodward, Okla.; nine grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 14, 2003 Eula Johnson Brown TULIA - Eula Johnson Brown, 80, died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Rose Hill Cemetery. Arrangements are by Wallace Funeral Home. Survivors include a son, Jim Rossi of Kingsland; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 14, 2003 Clinton Gossett QUANAH - Clinton Gossett, 77, died Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Smith Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Frank Mitchell, minister of Eldorado First United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Eldorado Cemetery. Mr. Gossett was born Sept. 7, 1925, in Eldorado, Okla., son of the late A.L. and Willie Brownlow Gossett. He served during World War II in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations, in the Army 27th infantry, 52nd combat engineers and stationed at Kavajalien, Einowetak, Saipan and Okinawa. Survivors include his wife, Peggy; three sons, Jim Gossett and Buddy Gossett, both of Quanah, and Mike Gossett of Ruidoso, N.M.; a sister, Lois Smith of Eldorado; and eight grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 14, 2003 Amarillo Wanda Evelyn Taylor Wanda Evelyn Taylor, 78, of Amarillo died Monday, Aug. 11, 2003. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Hawkins Funeral Home Chapel in Bridgeport with the Rev. Donald Stone officiating. Burial will be in Willow Point Cemetery in Bridgeport. Mrs. Taylor was born Dec. 24, 1924, in Boonsville. She married Melvin Thomas Taylor on March 5, 1949, in Boone County, Mo. The couple moved to Amarillo in 1952, when Mr. Taylor was stationed at Amarillo Air Force Base. Following his death in 1961, Mrs. Taylor became a hairdresser until her retirement 22 years later. She was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Amarillo. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents, Chi and Fannie (Koeninger) Franklin; and a brother, Pete Franklin. Survivors include a daughter, Kathy E. Jones and husband, Mark A., of Amarillo; two grandsons, Brandon Jones and Dustin Jones and wife, Carrie, all of Amarillo; a sister, Lucille Burns of San Antonio; and a brother, Lavern "Jack" Franklin of Fort Worth. Pallbearers include Carroll Franklin, Brandon Jones, Dustin Jones, Billy Stone, Bobby Wharton and Frankie Mauney. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 14, 2003 Thomas "Tom" Wright Thomas "Tom" Wright, 74, of Amarillo died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003, in Brownfield. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Llano Cemetery with Bob Orear of Grand Street Church of Christ officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Wright was born in Menard County. He married Betty Curley in 1955 in Lovington, N.M. They moved to Amarillo in 1969 and started the Grand Street Church of Christ. He owned and operated Tom Wright Truck Repair. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Judy Morris of Moore, Okla.; a son, Tommy Wright of Amarillo; a sister, Billie Jean Robinson of Sand Springs; a brother, Bud Wright of Sand Springs; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Alzheimer's Association, 2200 W. Seventh Ave., Amarillo, TX 79106. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 14, 2003 Dorothy Jo Sawyers Dorothy Jo Sawyers, 74, of Amarillo died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Soul Harbor Church with the Rev. Sherman Eastland, chaplain of Northwest Texas Hospital, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Miss Sawyers was born April 27, 1929, in McCamey. Survivors include two nieces, Sharon Howeth of Amarillo and Carol Henry of Brownwood; and a nephew, Fred Polk of Amarillo. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 14, 2003 Esther M. Bingham Esther M. Bingham, 63, of Amarillo died Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Memorial Park Funeral Home, Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with Richard Dickerson, pastor of Bykota Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Bingham was born Sept. 5, 1939, in Enid, Okla. She was a member of Bykota Baptist Church. She retired from Helium Operations in Amarillo. She married W.P. Bingham on April 3, 1981, in Amarillo. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Elizabeth White. Survivors include her husband; a son, James White of Arizona; two stepsons, Tony Bingham of Canyon and Raymond Bingham of Amarillo; five sisters, Leona Stewart of Oklahoma City, Kathy Earls of Hare, Okla., Ruth Billings and Stella Labrue, both of Oklahoma, and Rosie Loven of Kansas; three brothers, Frank Peters, George Peters and Chester Lettrell, all of Oklahoma; and three grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 14, 2003 Canyon Alvin Foster Alvin Foster, 60, of Canyon died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Dreamland Cemetery with the Rev. Glen Stocker officiating. Arrangements are by Brooks Funeral Directors. Mr. Foster was a past member of REACT. He was a loving family man. Survivors include his fiance, Kelly Hudson of Canyon; three daughters, Tonya Foster of Decatur and Alva Lee Upchurch and Cindy Faulk, both of Andrews; two sons, Alvin Lee Foster Jr. and Sammie Lee Foster, both of Andrews; his mother, Annie Gipson of Canyon; his father and stepmother, Buddy and Sharon Foster of Canyon; a sister, Linda Foster of Amarillo; a brother, Larry Foster of Canyon; and 10 grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Dreamland Cemetery, P.O. Box 38, Canyon, TX 79015. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 14, 2003 New Mexico Jennifer Dawn Tibbetts CLOVIS, N.M. -- Jennifer Dawn Tibbetts, 30, died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in First Assembly of God with the Rev. Mack Barnard officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens by Muffley Funeral Home. Mrs. Tibbetts was born June 22, 1973, in Clovis where she attended Clovis schools until her sophmore year. She then attended Onate High School in Las Cruces where she served as her senior class president. Survivors include her husband, Buck; a son, Steven Tibbetts of Clovis; her parents, Mark and Connie Sweetman of Clovis; her father, Jack Head of Alamogordo; her grandparents, Robert and Betty Lucero and F.J. and Naomi Head, all of Clovis, and Marilyn Sweetman of Manitowoc, Wis.; and a brother, Jason Head of Alamogordo. The family suggests memorials be to Jennifer Tibbetts Christian Education Fund in care of First Assembly of God, 517 W. 21st, Clovis, N.M. 88101. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 14, 2003 Elsewhere Claude Thompson DERIDDER, La. - Claude Thompson, 73, died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003, in Houston. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Myers Colonial Funeral Home in DeRidder. Mr. Thompson was a resident of Kirbyville, Texas. Survivors include his wife, Barbara; seven children, Claudette Lansford and husband, Darrell, and their son, Tanner, of Texhoma, Okla.; Carla Soileau and husband, Emery, and their son, Nick, of Bastrop, Texas, and their daughter, Katie Iovinelli and husband, Frank, of Carpentersville, Ill.; Cathy Zielke and husband, Don, and their daughters, Elisha and Ember, and their son, Lance and wife, Jana, all of Whitesboro, Texas; Dayton Thompson of Bastrop and his daughter, Crystal, of San Antonio; Ray Dee Thompson and wife, Rhonda, of Lafayette, La.; Brent Thompson and his children, Constance, Joe Pete and Colten, all of Mauriceville, Texas; and Beryl Thompson and wife, Bonnie, of Gulfport, Miss., and their son, Taylor, of Spur, Texas; a sister, Jackie Stephenson of Lake Charles; two brothers, Pete Willis and Elton Thompson, both of Merryville; an uncle, Bill Thompson and wife, Dorris, of Merryville; and three aunts, Annie Hoffman of Waco, Texas, Eula Thompson of Dumas, Texas, and Bess Lambert of Galena Park, Texas. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 14, 2003 Oklahoma Donald Max Fowler BOISE CITY, Okla. - Donald Max Fowler, 75, died Friday, Aug. 1, 2003. A private memorial service will be Saturday in Boise City. Burial will be at a later date in Boise City Cemetery by Cimarron Mortuary. Mr. Fowler, the fifth child of Don and Lily (Gore) Fowler, was born on Aug. 7, 1928, in Elkhart, Kan. On hand to welcome him were brothers Millard and Dale and sister, Dorothy. Another sister, Ruth, had died after contracting measles at the age of 6, three years before Max was born. In 1933, the family moved to Boise City, where they farmed and later established a Pontiac dealership and shop called Fowler Motor Co. Max grew up amid the hustle and bustle of life on Main Street and was known by many folks around town as a sweet and shy little boy. As a youth, Max enjoyed the hobby of building airplane models. In 1942, at the age of 14, he received a citation from the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics making him a commander aircraftsman for his scale model aircraft. By the age of 16 airplanes gave way to cars, and Max found joy and freedom behind the wheel and under the hood of automobiles, be it a Model A, his dad's Pontiac or a Bantum. Max graduated from Boise City High School in 1946. After a few semesters of college at Panhandle A&M College (OPSU) and Oklahoma State University, he returned to Boise City and went into business with his brother, Dale, opening a body shop. Later he would work for the Chevrolet and Ford garages, farm for his father-in-law, R.J. French, and work for his brother, Millard, at F&G Construction. Ultimately he owned his own business, Northside Mobil, which included a bulk fuel and fertilizer plant; Cukie and the children worked at his side to make it a successful business. Max married Mary Ione "Cukie" French in 1949. They brought into the world five children, Nancy Lark, Robbie Don, Heather Ann, and Shelley Beth. Lance Munson was stillborn and became the family's angel. Max and his family enjoyed the small pleasures of life. There were camping trips to Cimarron Canyon and lots of wiener roasts. Many years the family participated in the Easter Pageant and attended St. Paul's United Methodist Church and Sunday School as a family. Max was active in the Masonic Order and attained the rank of 32nd Degree Mason. He took the honor and responsibility of being a Mason very seriously and recently received his 50-year Award for his membership. He was a vital member of his church, teaching Sunday School, serving as a lay minister and singing in the choir. With Cukie, he served as sponsor for the youth of the MYF group for many years. Max had a great love for God and was a witness as he went about his life in the community. On Aug. 21, 1969, Max was in a pickup wreck that left him immobilized and with brain trauma. It was a dark time for him and his family as he endured surgeries and slowly emerged from a coma, forever changed, but still Max. During the next 33 years Max became a touchstone for his family. Wherever they went, the life they each lived was shared with him. His father and his brother Dale died during those years. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren were born; the world kept spinning even as he lay immobile in bed. The miracle of it all was that Max remained open to love and was able to talk and listen, remembering family, old friends and events. He knew he was still God's child. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Dale; a sister, Ruth; a son, Lance; his stepmother, Eva; and his special friend and cousin, Kenneth Fowler. Survivors include his wife; his children, Nancy Roberts, Heather Ritchie and husband, Rob, of Vici, Okla., Robbie and Shelley; a brother, Millard Fowler and wife, Esther; a sister, Dorothy Sechler; his stepmother, Bertha Fowler of Indianapolis; his grandchildren, Amy Roberts, Heath Ritchie, Lori and Richard Dyer and Ryan Roberts; his great-grandchildren, Ariana Roberts, Kaytlyn and Tambre Dyer; his many cousins, nephews and nieces, who loved their "Uncle Max"; and all of those lives he touched along the way. The family suggests memorials be to Cimarron Memorial Hospital for hospital equipment and may be sent to the funeral home. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 14, 2003 Click here to return to story: http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/081403/obi_allobits.shtml © The Amarillo Globe-News Online