Potter Co. TX - Obits from the Amarillo newspapers 8 September 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: 09/08/03 Amarillo Julius Durwood "J.D." Ballew Julius Durwood "J.D." Ballew, 79, of Amarillo died Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003. A celebration service will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church with Dr. Howard K. Batson officiating. A second celebration will be in his hometown of Ennis at 2 p.m. Saturday in Keever Funeral Home. Burial will be in Myrtle Cemetery in Ennis. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Heaven was made abundantly sweeter Sept. 4, when J.D. went home to be with his Lord after enduring a stroke. J.D. was born Oct. 24, 1923, in Ennis. He graduated from Ennis High School in 1940 and entered Texas Tech, where he joined ROTC and served as a saddle tramp. J.D. received his commission as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps from Yale University on July 12, 1943. He married Carolyn Fountain in Louisville, Ky., on May 6, 1944. During World War II, he risked his life flying supplies as an engineering officer over the Hump from Burma to China. After the war, he returned to Texas Tech and graduated with a BS in mechanical engineering in 1948. Upon graduation, J.D. became an engineer with Southwestern Public Service in the Denver City power plant. In 1951, he was transferred to Amarillo with Southwestern Public Service as an assistant plant manager. During his career, he was promoted to power plant manager for East Plant and then Nichols Station. Prior to his retirement from Southwestern Public Service in 1985, he held the position manager of performance engineering. In 1980 the American Society of Mechanical Engineers bestowed the highest honor the society awards, Centennial Medallions, to J.D. and Cleon Ligon of Amarillo. In 1985, he served as president of the River Road School Board. J.D. had many passions. He served the Lord with zeal as a member of First Baptist Church in Amarillo, where he served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and a Gideon. He spent much of his free time on mission trips throughout the United States. He was also a member of Texas Society of Professional Engineers. He loved being with his family and was a devoted husband and loving father. He jogged regularly at the Family Life Center and was an avid fly fisherman, enjoying many trips to Lake City, Colo., with family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sye and Minnie Mae Ballew of Ennis, and a son, Teddy Durwood Ballew. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Gloria Cowan and husband, Lee, of Cedar Hill; two sons, David Ballew and wife, Ann, of Abilene and Dan Ballew and wife, Linda, of Amarillo; a brother, Kenneth Ballew and wife, Francie, of Lantana, Fla.; six grandchildren, J.D. Hix of Bedford, Mindy Bible and husband, Tommy, of Midland, Brad Ballew of Abilene, and Daniel Morris, Michael Morris and Kayla Morris, all of Amarillo; two great-grandchildren, Landan Bible and Berkleigh Nicole Shook; a nephew, Mark Ballew and wife, Mina; and a very special aunt and uncle, Wanda and Forrest Fountain of Mephis The family suggests memorials be to Gideons International, 2200 W. Seventh Ave., Amarillo, TX 79106. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 8, 2003 Mrs. W.R. "Opal" Haley Mrs. W.R. "Opal" Haley, 90, of Amarillo died Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount, with Dr. Chester O'Brien officiating. Burial will be at 3 p.m. in Eastview Cemetery in Vernon. Mrs. Haley was born July 7, 1913, in Mobeetie to Daisy and Lafayette Blake. She had last worked as an interior decorator. She was a member of First Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, W.R. "Bob" Haley. Survivors include a son, Bob Haley of Palm Harbor, Fla.; a brother, L.F. Blake of Amarillo; a grandson, Rick Haley of Crowley; a granddaughter, Susan O'Toole of Louisville, Ky.; and a great-grandson, Matthew Blake Haley. The family suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson St., Amarillo, TX 79101. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 8, 2003 Donald Runyon Donald Runyon, 83, of Amarillo died Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003. Mass will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church with Monsignor Joe Tash, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Mr. Runyon was born in Napa, Calif. He and his wife, Trudy, ran the Middleton Star newspaper for six years in the middle '50s. He then worked for a congressman as administrative assistant, handling speeches and news releases. Later, he worked at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the REA division, chief information branch, until retirement. He had been in the Texas Panhandle since 1978. He was a veteran in the 3rd Infantry Division of the Army, serving in World War II. He received the Purple Heart. He married Gertrude Britten in 1944 in California. He was preceded in death by his wife in 1998; and a brother, Allan Runyon. Survivors include a son, Bill Runyon and wife, Mona, of Amarillo; a sister, Helen Millard of El Cajon, Calif.; three grandsons, Wiley and wife, Cindy, Jermiah and Waylon; and two great-granddaughters, Megan and Karly. The family will be at 3602 Van Tassel. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 8, 2003 Elsewhere Lauren Brooke Mason GLADSTONE, Mo. - Lauren Brooke Mason, infant daughter of Josh Mason and Patricia Stillman, died Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in D.W. Newcomer's Sons White Chapel Funeral Home. Lauren was born May 6, 2003, in Kansas City. Survivors include her parents; grandparents, James and Lesley Bolton and William and Cathy Mason; great-grandparents, Donald and Patricia Seager; a sister, Paige Dominguez; and a brother, Braxton Mason. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 8, 2003 Bayne McCurry PLAINVIEW - Bayne McCurry, 72, died Friday, Sept. 5, 2003. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Lemons Funeral Home, Memorial Chapel, with the Rev. Glenn Harlin, of First Baptist Church in Springlake, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park. Mr. McCurry was born Aug. 16, 1931, in Wapanucka, Okla. He joined the Army in 1953 and served until 1955. Survivors include his wife, Bettye; a daughter, Baynetta Jordan of Lubbock; a son, Roger McCurry of Sherman; a stepdaughter, Terrye Sue Stevens of Baird; two stepsons, Steve Stevens of Amarillo and Mark Stevens of Marble Falls; a brother, Robert McCurry of Springlake; two sisters, Emma Joyce Talley of Carbon and Inez Hanshaw of Oakland, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 8, 2003 Dolly Foust Cole CLARENDON - Dolly Foust Cole, 85, died Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. today in Citizens Cemetery with Dr. Howard Batson, pastor of First Baptist Church in Amarillo, officiating. Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors. Mrs. Cole was born March 20, 1918, in New Mexico and had been a resident of Claude and then Clarendon most of her adult life. She married Abram Thornton "Abe" Cole Jr. on July 7, 1935, in Clarendon. She had been very active in the Donley County Senior Citizens Association in Clarendon for many years. She was a homemaker and a Baptist. She was preceded in death by her husband on Feb. 20, 1991. Survivors include a daughter, Betsy Keeney and husband, Dale, of Amarillo; a sister, Clara Bell Gristy of Lubbock; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice in Amarillo or the Donley County Senior Citizens Association in Clarendon. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 8, 2003 Billie Jo Stephenson SKELLYTOWN - Billie Jo Stephenson, 72, died Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Fines Marchman, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Mrs. Stephenson was born July 8, 1931, in Shamrock to Bernard and Myrtle Willoughby. She was a 1950 graduate of Evergreen High School in Evergreen, Colo. She married Billy Joe Stephenson on Aug. 30, 1952, in Denver. She had been a resident of Skellytown since 1963. She was a homemaker and devoted wife and mother. She was an active member of First Baptist Church of Skellytown. She was preceded in death by two sons, David and Randy Stephenson; a sister, Jeanette Griffin; and her parents. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Lynda Truelove of The Colony; a son, Danny Stephenson of Florence, Colo.; a sister, June Bunn of Amarillo; a brother, Briggs Willoughby of Oak Harbor, Wash.; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to First Baptist Church Youth Fund, P.O. Box 176, Skellytown, TX 79080. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 8, 2003 Ann Gee FRIONA - Ann Gee, 63, died Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Sixth Street Church of Christ in Friona with Leon Talley, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Friona Cemetery by Blackwell Funeral Home. Mrs. Gee had been a Friona resident since 1969, moving from Athens, Tenn. She was the local Avon representative for more than 15 years. Survivors include her husband, James Gee of Friona: a son, Tony Nunley of Friona; a daughter, Teresa Burkart of Friona; three sisters, Sally Smith and Essie Merle Sewell, both of Lenoir City, Tenn., and Minnie Wooliver of Knoxville, Tenn.; a brother, Charlie Ray McKelvey of Spokane, Wash.; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family suggests memorials be to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 8, 2003 Click here to return to story: http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/090803/obi_allobits.shtml © The Amarillo Globe-News Online