Potter Co. TX - Obits from the Amarillo newspapers 24 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: 09/24/03 Virginia Gaines DALHART - Virginia Gaines, 58, died Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2003. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in the Spiritual Life Center with Leon Laney, pastor, and the Rev. Roger Johnson, pastor of North Side United Pentecostal Church in Amarillo, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Horizon Funeral Home. Mrs. Gaines was born Dec. 7, 1944, in Hollis, Okla. She was a member of Church of the Living God in Amarillo and attended Spiritual Life Center in Dalhart. Survivors include her husband, Herman; two sons, Charley Tiggs of Fort Worth and Greg Tiggs of Dalhart; a brother, R.C. Loyd of Dalhart; and five grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Memorial Hospice, 209 S. Bliss St., Dumas, TX 79029. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 24, 2003 Geraldine Louella Vandiver CANADIAN - Geraldine Louella Vandiver, 83, died Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003, in Amarillo. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Elliott's Mortuary in Anthony, Kan., with Steven Vandiver, her son of Amarillo, officiating. Burial will be in Spring Grove Cemetery in Anthony. Local arrangements are by Stickley-Hill Funeral Directors. Mrs. Vandiver was born near Nashville, Kan., on Aug. 25 1920, to Claude and Glenna Jewell Newberry Catlin. She graduated from Attica High School in Attica, Kan., on May 19, 1939. She then attended Northwestern State College at Alva, Okla., Fort Hays State College in Hays, Kan., and received a Kansas State Teacher's Certificate at Emporia, Kan. On Dec. 16, 1947, she married JD Vandiver at Kingman, Kan. Mr. and Mrs. Vandiver and son, Steven, moved to Canadian in 1960. Mrs. Vandiver was a secretary at Hemphill County Welfare Office and later a deputy clerk for Hemphill County and district clerk's office in Canadian. She was eventually elected to the position of county and district clerk, where she served unopposed until retirement. Mrs. Vandiver was elected president of Canadian Woman's Club in 1980. She was a member of First Christian Church of Canadian, taught Sunday school and served as a Cub Scout Den Mother. For the last several months, Mrs. Vandiver had been a resident of Edward Abraham Nursing Home in Canadian. She was preceded in death by her husband on July 3, 1995; her parents; four brothers, Charles, Melvin, Arnold and George Catlin; and a sister, Ruby Einfalt. Survivors include a son, Steven Vandiver and wife, Donna; three grandchildren, Jason David Vandiver and Lorelei Natasha Vandiver, both of Amarillo, and Chris Vandiver of Mobile, Ala.; a brother, Dee Catlin of Attica; two sisters, her twin, Jean Fitsimmons of Omaha, Neb., and Connie Ruth Wilson of Hutchinson, Kan.; two brothers-in-law, Paul Vandiver of Winslow, Ark., and Ralph George Vandiver of Lincoln, Neb.; three sisters-in-law, Ruth Claxton of Oklahoma City, Birdie Vandiver of Winslow and Bobbie Sparkman of Wichita, Kan.; and many nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to First Christian Church of Canadian or Hemphill County Library. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 24, 2003 Ethlyn Marie Messner FOLLETT - Ethlyn Marie Messner, 83, died Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2003, in Booker. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Fairmont Cemetery with the Rev. L.J. Ehrlich officiating. Arrangements are by Myatt Seeger Funeral Home. Mrs. Messner was born May 31, 1920, in Shattuck, Okla. She married Wyette Victor Messner on April 25, 1940, in Beaver, Okla. Survivors include a son, Victor Elmer Messner of Follett; a daughter, Beth Marie Messner of Follett; three brothers, Eldon Baldwin of Gage, Okla., Keith Baldwin of Kingfisher, Okla., and Roger Baldwin of Ulysses, Kan.; three sisters, Bethel Brain of LaJunta, Colo., Zella Hennigh of Darrouzett, and Tressie Tucker of Amarillo; five grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Ethlyn Messner Memorial Fund and may be sent to the funeral home. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 24, 2003 Clara Bell Harrison MULESHOE - Clara Bell Harrison, 88, died Monday, Sept. 22, 2003, in Springdale, Ark. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in First Baptist Church with Dr. Stacy Conner of Muleshoe and the Rev. Randy Miller of Fort Worth officiating. Burial will be in Muleshoe Memorial Park Cemetery by Ellis Funeral Home. Mrs. Harrison was born Oct. 11, 1914, in Wellington. She married Walter Franklin Harrison on Dec. 24, 1931, in Wellington. Survivors include three sons, Ted Harrison, Donald Harrison and Jerry Harrison, all of Muleshoe; three daughters, Jeanetta Precure of Muleshoe, Denise Poor of Bella Vista, Ark., and Noretta Miller of Lowell, Ark.; a sister, Willie Wade of Wellington; 17 grandchildren; and 34 great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 24, 2003 Odessa "Nanny" Kirkland VEGA - Odessa "Nanny" Kirkland, 85, died Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2003, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. James Peach officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors of Vega. Mrs. Kirkland was born Feb. 24, 1918, in Bomar, Okla., to Lester and Etha Harvey. She married Dick Kirkland on Oct. 20, 1941, in Las Vegas, Nev. They moved to Vega in 1956, and were engaged in farming for many years. She was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Vega, taking an active part in all aspects of the church. Odessa moved to Potter House in Amarillo in April 1999; she loved living there and became a very active resident. She was preceded in death by her husband in September 1997; a sister, Carrie Easterwood; and a brother, Floyd Harvey. Survivors include a daughter, Judy Nichols of Amarillo; four sons, Richard Kirkland and wife, ShaRon of San Antonio, Lester Kirkland and wife, Frances, and Perry Kirkland and wife, Melanie, all of Vega, and Larry Joe Kirkland and wife, Dana, of Levelland; three brothers, L.C. "Doc" Harvey of West Covina, Calif., Ambros "Hoss" Harvey of Wilson, Okla., and Rowe Harvey of Hemet, Calif.; three sisters, Vannie Scott of Buena Park, Calif., Lorene "Bo" Belcher of Grants Pass, Ore., and Marie "Tootsie" Hughes of Shawnee, Okla.; 13 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to First Baptist Church of Vega, P. O. Box 414, Vega, TX 79092, or BSA Hospice, P. O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176. The body will be available for viewing from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday in Vega. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 24, 2003 New Mexico Virgie Gladys Crownover Schaaf FORT SUMNER, N.M. - Virgie Gladys Crownover Schaaf, 92, died Monday, Sept. 22, 2003, in Farwell, Texas. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Fort Sumner Cemetery with Bill Bridwell officiating. Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home. Mrs. Schaaf married George Crownover in 1927 in Fort Sumner. After his death she married Alva Schaaf in Truth or Consequences. Survivors include three daughters, Billie Erven of Alamo, June Doolittle of Clovis and Joyce Ann Rutherford of El Paso, Texas; a son, Jimmy Crownover of Albuquerque; 15 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 24, 2003 Amarillo Dorothea Watson Ledbetter Dorothea Watson Ledbetter, 85, of Amarillo died Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd., with Dr. James A. Hale officiating. Burial will be at 3 p.m. in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Truman Ledbetter, pastor of First Baptist Church of Clarendon, officiating. Mrs. Ledbetter was born June 23, 1918, in Clarendon into a pioneer family. Her mother, Leslie Antrobus, was the first white female born in Donley County. Her father, Oscar C. Watson Sr., owned and operated Watson-Antrobus Hardware Store in Clarendon for more than 60 years. Dorothea was a graduate of Clarendon High School. She moved to Amarillo in 1961 and worked as an operator of PBX and mailroom supervisor at Amarillo College for 30 years, retiring in 1997. She loved her God, her family, her country and her friends; she was very dedicated and loyal to all of them. She trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal savior and had a strong faith in God. She prayed for and supported missionaries and Bible ministries around the world. She was a devoted mom to her beloved son, Gary. Dorothea was very patrotic and concerned about her country's future. Her hobby was listening to big band and classical music. She was preceded in death by her parents, and two brothers, Oscar C. Watson Jr. and George Watson. Survivors include a son, Gary Ledbetter of Amarillo; two nephews, Jack Watson of Dillon, Colo., and Rex Watson of Colorado Springs, Colo.; a niece, Hope Galbraith of Joplin, Mo.; and a great-niece, Wendy Weiss of Woodbridge, Va. The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice, P. O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176, or Radio Bible Class, P. O. Box 266, Grand Rapids, MI 49501. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today at the funeral home. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 24, 2003 Hope Evans LaShier Hope Evans LaShier, 92, of Lawrence, Kan., formerly of Amarillo, died Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Covenant Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Franklin Williams officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 S. Bell St. Mrs. LaShier was born Jan. 2, 1911, in Millerton, Okla., the daughter of Lon and Susan Leona McClain Evans. She married William S. LaShier in 1930 in Clovis, N.M. She was a dental assistant for 25 years for doctors C.D. Ewing and Kingston Smith. Hope was a 50-year member of Amarillo Chapter No. 787 Order of the Eastern Star. She had been a member of Clovis Chapter in 1930. She was a longtime member of Senior Citizens Association and of Covenant Presbyterian Church since 1933, and Panhandle Professional Writers. She was the organizer of the "Scribblers" and "Craig Crooners." She was also a member and secretary of her PEO Chapter in Amarillo. Hope moved to Lawrence from Amarillo in July 2003. She was preceded in death by her husband on March 2, 1993. Suvivors include a son, William S. LaShier Jr. of Lawrence; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1400 Wolflin Ave., Amarillo, TX 79109. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 24, 2003 Lance Kelly Briley Lance Kelly Briley, 22, of Amarillo died Friday, Sept. 19, 2003. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors Bell Avenue Chapel, 5400 S. Bell St., with Mark Ensign officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Briley was born Sept. 5, 1981, to Hazel Reinert and Steven Briley in Amarillo. He was baptized in Cedar Park on Jan. 11, 1998. He spent eight years living in Austin, where he enjoyed the live music scene. He was a self-taught guitar player and composed his own songs. He was an artist at heart; drawing, writing and enjoying poetry. Lance was a gentle soul who loved his family. "We'll see you soon Lance." Survivors include his father and mother; his stepfather, Curtis Reinert; a sister, Season Craven; a stepsister, Charity Hrabel; two grandmothers, Nina Jo Briley and Frances Crawford; two brothers-in-law, Ray Craven and Shawn Hrabel; two nieces, Madison Craven and Ana Hrabel; and a nephew, Garrett Craven. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 24, 2003 Christopher Randall Morton Christopher Randall Morton, 20, of Amarillo died Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003. Services will be at 4 p.m. Thursday in St. Andrew's Episcopal Church with the Rev. Jo Mann and the Rev. John Watson officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Mr. Morton was the loving son of Lisa Brent and Randy Morton. He was born April 18, 1983. He attended St. Andrew's Episcopal School, Tascosa High School, Alameda High School, San Francisco Art Institute and Long Beach Community College. Chris was an accomplished painter, an avid reader of literature and a movie buff, who loved the arts, music and snow and water skiing. His family will remember him as an honest and loving person with a great sense of humor. He was known for his gentleness and sweetness, and will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched. Survivors include his parents, Randy Morton and wife, Nancy Barbera, of Gilbert, Ariz., and Lisa Brent and husband, Bob, of Amarillo; his brother, Will Morton of Amarillo; two sisters, Hallie Brent and Phoebe Brent, both of Amarillo; two stepsisters, Michelle Barbera and Annie Barbera; an adopted sister, Rose Ann Dubiel; two uncles, Craig Morton of Albuquerque, N.M., and Marc Morton of Spokane, Wash.; an aunt, Martha Field of Amarillo; a cousin, Shelton Triplett; and his grandparents, Retired Col. William R. and Gloria Morton of Albuquerque, and Sharon Brumley Brent and Bob Brent III, both of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials be to Citychurch, 205 S. Polk St., Amarillo, TX 79101, and the Lillian Blanche Brent Memorial Scholarship at the Center for the Study of Addiction, Texas Tech University, P. O. Box 41162, Lubbock, TX 79409-1162. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 24, 2003 Margaret "Midge" Bowers Lawrence Margaret "Midge" Bowers Lawrence, 76, of Amarillo, formerly of Lubbock, died Monday, Sept. 22, 2003. Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in Resthaven Memorial Park in Lubbock with the Rev. John Ballard officiating. Arrangements are by Resthaven Funeral Home of Lubbock. Mrs. Lawrence was born Sept. 22, 1927, in Pike County, Ky. She married Allen Lawrence on Nov. 15, 1970, in York, S.C. Survivors include her husband; a son, David Dale Barnes of Watauga; two daughters, Cynthia Ellen Barnes of Lubbock and Paula Jean Leggett of Amarillo; a sister, Violet Pabst of Hope Mills, N.C.; a brother, Melvin Bowers of Concord, N.C.; and two grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 24, 2003 Hill A. Lopez Hill A. Lopez, 83, of Amarillo died Saturday, Sept. 20, 2003. Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. today in St. Laurence Cathedral with L.T. Matthiesen, bishop emeritus of the Amarillo Diocese, officiating. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors Martin Road Chapel, 1505 Martin Road. Mr. Lopez had lived in Amarillo for 45 years. He retired from the Atomic Energy Commission after 27 years. He was a member of Knights of Columbus, and served as a Marine during World War II. He was preceded in death by an infant son, Lawrence; a sister, Juanita Montoya; a brother, Tony Lopez; and his parents, Antonio and Gregoria Lopez. Survivors include his wife, Zita; a son, Gilbert Lopez and wife, Margaret, of Balch Springs; a daughter, Zita Evans and husband, Ronald, of Amarillo; a brother, Tommy Lopez of Seligman, Ariz.; three sisters, Lucy Garcia of Lakewood, Calif., Cecelia Duran of Barstow, Calif., and Henriqueta Martinez of Seligman; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Caleb Lopez, Aaron Lopez, John Robertson, Amy Lunday, Carson Lunday and Colton Lunday. The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice, P. O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 24, 2003 Victorianas Delgadillo Victorianas Delgadillo, 91, of Amarillo died Monday, Sept. 22, 2003. Services will be Tuesday in St. Polycorp Catholic Church in Stanton, Calif. Burial will be in Westminster Memorial Park Cemetery in Westminster, Calif. Local arrangements are by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 S. Bell St. Mrs. Delgadillo was born Oct. 29, 1911, in Hermanas, N.M. She was a resident of Amarillo and was formerly of Dalhart. She married Ralph Delgadillo in 1929 at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Amarillo. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, as well as a devoted Christian. She was preceded in death by her husband, and a daughter, Mary Delgadillo Flores. Survivors include a daughter, Basilla Rhodes and husband, James, of Amarillo; two sons, Raymond Delgadillo and wife, Amelia, of Anaheim, Calif., and Ralph Delgadillo and wife, Sophia, of Albuquerque, N.M.; 11 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 24, 2003 Neal Arrant Neal Arrant, 50, of Amarillo died Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Memory Gardens Cemetery with Dr. Charles Jones, pastor of Second Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mr. Arrant was born in Lubbock and had lived in Amarillo most of his life. He was a 1972 graduate of Tascosa High School. Mr. Arrant, along with his wife, Debi, owned and operated Neal Arrant Body Shop for 22 years. He was a member of Elks Lodge No. 923 and a past member of Southwest Amarillo Optimist Club, where he served on the board of directors. He was a past member of Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Texas Plains, past wish coordinator and past member of the board of directors. Mr. Arrant was always trying to better the lives of others and would sacrifice almost anything to do so. Those who wish to carry on his memory should do so through compassion, kindness and giving. He married Debi Henry in 1977 in Amarillo. He was preceded in death by his father, James H. Arrant on Aug. 21, 2000. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Aimee Coleman of Amarillo; a son, Kyle Arrant of Amarillo; his mother, Martha Arrant of Amarillo; and two brothers, Bryan Arrant of Artesia, N.M., and Gayland Arrant of Bedford. The family suggests memorials be to Elks National Foundation. Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 24, 2003 Maria Pearly Chung Maria Pearly Chung, 16, of Amarillo died Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003, in Wichita Falls. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today and Thursday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors Martin Road Chapel, 1505 Martin Road. Rosary and vigil Mass will be at 6 p.m. Friday in Our Lady of Vietnam Catholic Church. Mass will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in the church with the Rev. Joseph Nam of the church officiating. Miss Chung was a junior at Palo Duro High School. She was a piano student, attended modeling classes, played tennis and was a "Diamond Girl." She was in the top ten percent of her class and involved in the charismatic movement. Survivors include her parents, Le and Thong Kim Chung of Amarillo; a sister, Kim My Chung of Amarillo; and her grandmother, Nghia Nguyen of Santa Ana, Calif. Amarillo Globe-News Sept. 24, 2003 Click here to return to story: http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/092403/obi_allobits.shtml © The Amarillo Globe-News Online