Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Globe-News - December 29, 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 =================================================================== Amarillo Globe-News, December 29, 2003 Obituaries Area Opal Jewel Gardner WHEELER - Opal Jewel Gardner, 92, died Friday, Dec. 26, 2003. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Wright Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Francis White, of Chickasha, Okla., officiating. Additional services will be Friday in San Bernardino, Calif. Burial will be in Mount View Cemetery by Featheringill Mortuary of San Diego, Calif. Mrs. Gardner was born to Robert and Margaret Ann Smith West on July 30, 1911, in Eldorado, Okla. She married Gola Dewees in 1929. He died in October 1947. She then married William Connell in 1952, and he died in 1975. She married Sidney Gardner on Jan. 6, 1977, and he passed away in 1984. Mrs. Gardner moved to Wheeler in 1986 from San Bernardino. She was a member of Wheeler Christian Center Church. Survivors include a sister, Ruby Brown of Wheeler; and several nieces and nephews. The family requests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice in Pampa, Texas. Amarillo Globe-News, Dec. 29, 2003 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elsewhere Clifton McNeely IRVING - Clifton McNeely, 84, of Irving died Friday, Dec. 26, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Plymouth Park Baptist Church with Dr. Jim Bond and the Rev. Ken Branam officiating. Burial will be in Oak Grove Memorial Gardens by Donnelly's Colonial Funeral Home. Mr. McNeely was born June 22, 1919, in Greenwood to Albert McNeely and Fannie Lee Clifton. He graduated from Slidell High School, Decatur Baptist Junior College and Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth. He was college basketball's leading scorer in the nation in 1947 and earned All-American honors. He was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. He married Peggy Jean Gallagher on June 14, 1947, in Cisco. He coached high school basketball in Pampa for 13 years where the gym, McNeely Fieldhouse, was named in his honor. His Pampa basketball teams advanced to state six times, winning four state championships. After his coaching career, he was assistant principal at Castleberry High School in Fort Worth, principal at Bridgeport High School and Denton High School and an admnistrator at Irving Independent School District from 1973 until retiring in 1985. He was inducted into Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame, Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame and Texas Wesleyan University Hall of Fame. A resident of Irving since 1973, he was a member and deacon of Plymouth Park Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife; his children, Mike McNeely and wife, Debbie, Phil McNeely and wife, Renee, all of Duncanville, Sheryl Shaw and husband, Kenny, of Crosby; grandchildren, Scott McNeely, Taylor McNeely, Kristin McNeely, Clifton Shaw and Wayne Stewart and wife, Shelley, of The Woodlands; and two great-grandchildren, Christopher and Kennedy Stewart. The family suggests memorials be to Clifton McNeely Scholarship Endowment Fund, in care of Amarillo Area Foundation, 801 S. Filmore St., Suite 700, Amarillo, TX 79101. Amarillo Globe-News, Dec. 29, 2003 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amarillo Charles W. "Butch" Crouch Jr. Charles W. "Butch" Crouch Jr., 55, of Amarillo died Thursday, Dec. 25, 2003. Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. today in St. Stephen United Methodist Church with Dr. Jim Smith, pastor, officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler- Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 S. Bell St. Mr. Crouch was born Aug. 27, 1948, in Amarillo. He attended Tascosa High School, Amarillo College and West Texas State University, during which time he was a member of the band and orchestra and played a number of instruments -- his favorite being the saxophone. He owned and operated several businesses in Canyon and Amarillo during his lifetime. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying scuba diving, fishing and hunting. Known as "Butch" to his friends, he was a compassionate man who never failed to lend a helping hand to a friend in need. He was a member of National Hot Rod Association and International Hot Rod Association for more than 30 years and enjoyed the companionship of the many friends he made. He had many accomplishments but two he was most proud of were winning the Competition Eliminator Class at the 1975 NHRA Winter Nationals and setting the class record in IHRA F1 B/SA in 1975. He was always willing to help his friends and fellow racers and enjoyed seeing his friends do well, on and off the track. He was preceded in death by his father, C.W. Crouch. Survivors include his mother, Ann Crouch; and special friends, Jackie Ferguson and Les Hastie, both of Amarillo, Rik Andersen of Canyon, and Jerry Anderson of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. Amarillo Globe-News, Dec. 29, 2003 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Merle Nall Merle Nall, 91, of Amarillo died Saturday, Dec. 27, 2003. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors Pioneer Chapel, 2615 Paramount Blvd., with the Rev. Thacker Haynes officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. in Hillcrest Cemetery in McLean. Mrs. Nall was born Aug. 16, 1912, in Dumont to James and Dora Davidson. She cooked for ranch hands on the Ro Ranch at McLean for many years and also at the 6666 Ranch at Guthrie. The family moved to Amarillo in the 70s and has lived here since. She worked at Sam's Warehouse and Homeland as a demo lady until retiring in her late 80s. She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmo, in 1992; two brothers; and a sister. Survivors include two sons, Ollie Nall of Amarillo and Shannon Nall and wife, Ellen, of Bushland; a daughter, Rosita Nall of Amarillo; a brother, Dale Davidson of Cathage, Mo.; a sister, Glena Roy "BB" Rogers of Flomot; four grandchildren, Steven, Shane, Denise Nall and Jill Rios; and a great- granddaughter, Skylur Mooring. The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice, 1600 Wallace Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79106. Amarillo Globe-News, Dec. 29, 2003 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vergie Heinen Vergie Heinen, 77, of Amarillo died Friday, Dec. 26, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in San Jacinto Church of Christ with Jerry Klein officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mrs. Heinen was born Jan. 21, 1926, in Collingsworth County to Andrew and Pearl Honeycutt. She graduated from Samnorwood High School and Draughan's Business School in Amarillo. On Jan. 21, 1953, she married Leo G. Heinen in Amarillo. She worked at Bell Helicopter during the 1970s, the entire time that Bell was initially in Amarillo. She proudly finished her working career at the Amarillo Bible Chair at Amarillo College and at San Jacinto Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters; and four brothers. Survivors include her husband of nearly 51 years; a son, Pete Heinen and wife, Jayne, of Amarillo; two stepsons, Jim Heinen and Tom Heinen and his wife, Kay, all of Tulsa, Okla.; two sisters, Lillie Clevenger of Dallas and Nora McDaniel of San Antonio; grandchildren, Dustin, Danielle and Hunter and their mother, Denese, all of Amarillo, Steve, Brenda and Dena; many nephews and nieces, including a very special niece, Becky Cassler of Dallas. The family suggests memorials be to Amarillo Bible Chair at Amarillo College, 2501 Jackson St., Amarillo, TX 79109. Amarillo Globe-News, Dec. 29, 2003 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen "Mike" Burkett Stephen "Mike" Burkett, 56, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2003, in Cozumel, Mexico. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Llano Cemetery with Scott Greer, senior pastor of Paramount Terrace Christian Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 S. Bell St. Mr. Burkett was born Oct. 27, 1947 in Muskogee, Okla., to Deak and Ann Burkett. He was raised in Amarillo and graduated from Amarillo High School in 1965. He received a full scholarship to Tulsa University where he played basketball for three years and football for one. He married Janis Smith on Dec. 27, 1969 in Amarillo. He was self-employed in billboard sales. He loved to travel and was an avid golfer. He was a member of Paramount Terrace Christian Church and Tascosa Country Club. He was an extremely loving husband for 34 years, a proud and supportive father and a caring brother. He was truly everyone's friend and will be missed dearly. He was preceded in death by a son, Brandon Burkett, and parents. Survivors include his wife; a son, Judd Burkett and wife, Tara, of Hurst; three brothers, Jeff Burkett and Randy Burkett, both of Amarillo, and Adam Burkett of Absecon, N.J.; and a sister, Susan Shankle of Amarillo. Visitation and lunch will be after the service in Paramount Terrace Christian Church Activity Center, 4000 Mays. The family suggests memorials be in Mike's name to Faith City Mission, 401 E. 2nd Ave., Amarillo, TX 79101. Amarillo Globe-News, Dec. 29, 2003 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------