Potter Co. TX - Obits from Amarillo Globe-News - February 13, 2004 ==================================================================== 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 Obituaries Friday, February 13, 2004 Area Geneva Jane McNeil Snelgrooes PAMPA - Geneva Jane McNeil Snelgrooes, 85, died Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Wheeler Cemetery in Wheeler with Scott Porter, minister, officiating. Arrangements are by Wright Funeral Home of Wheeler. Mrs. Snelgrooes was born April 24, 1918, to William and Mary McNeil in Elmore City, Okla. She graduated from Briscoe High School in 1937, at which time she entered nursing school at Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Oklahoma City. Mrs. Snelgrooes received her registered nurse's license in 1941 and was commissioned into the Army Nurses Corp., in 1942, serving in World War II. Subsequently, she was discharged in 1946 as a first lieutenant. Mrs. Snelgrooes was employed by Shamrock General Hospital from 1949 to 1963, during which time she held the position as director of nursing for 10 years. She was then employed by Parkview Hospital in Wheeler from 1963 to 1972, and held simultaneous positions of hospital administrator and director of nursing for several years. In 1972, Mrs. Snelgrooes returned to Shamrock General Hospital as charge nurse and worked there until her retirement in 1997. Mrs. Snelgrooes retired from nursing at the age of 79, after serving both her country and her community for 56 years. Mrs. Snelgrooes married Cecil O. Snelgrooes in December 1945. She was a dedicated mother, a loving grandmother and a beloved friend. She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Wheeler. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1995; her father in 1968; her mother in 1977; and a brother, J.B. McNeil in 1980. Survivors include a son, Daryl Snelgrooes and wife, Tillie, of Wheeler; a daughter, Debbie Beesley and husband, Tom, of Pampa; a sister, Vera Myrtle Rogers of Wellington; four grandchildren, Dana Zaiontz and husband, John, of Shamrock, Shane Baird and wife, Kiley, of Pampa, Mique Snelgrooes of Big Spring and Will Snelgrooes and wife, Misty, of Dalhart; eight great-grandchildren, Will Zaiontz, Tyler Zaiontz, Lauren Baird, Charity Baird, McKinley Brown, Kyle Brown, Maci Ellis and Megan Ellis; and many nieces, nephews and dear friends. The family suggests memorials be to Wheeler Volunteer Fire Department; Wheeler Volunteer Ambulance Service; Wheeler Library; Crown of Texas Hospice; or a favorite charity. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 13, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dale Smith HEREFORD - Dale Smith, 56, died Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004. Prayer vigil was at 7 p.m. Thursday in Rix Funeral Directors Chapel. Memorial Mass will be at 11 a.m. today in St. Anthony's Catholic Church with the Rev. John Valdez officiating. Mr. Smith was born Oct. 6, 1947, in Dimmitt, to Clifford and Ruby Riley Smith. He married Claudia Loerwald on Dec. 13, 1969, in Hereford. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Nathan Smith and Marcus Smith, both of Hereford, and Matthew Smith of Mannheim, Germany; three sisters, Dortha Fulkerson of Bosque Farms, N.M., Mary Crist of Hereford and Betty McQuigg of St. Francis, Kan.; two brothers, Clifford Smith Jr. of Burbank, Calif., and Don Smith of Alamogordo, N.M.; and three grandsons. The family suggests memorials be to St. Anthony's Endowment Fund, 114 Sunset Drive, Hereford, TX 79045; or Hereford Regional Medical Center, Khuri Foundation, 801 E. Third St., Hereford, TX 79045. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 13, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mary L. Foster STRATFORD - Mary L. Foster, 86, died Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2004, in Beloit, Kan. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Stratford Cemetery with Dennis Finch, pastor of Simpson Community Church in Simpson, Kan., officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors of Dumas. Mrs. Foster was born Jan. 15, 1918, in Clovis, N.M., to Claude Randolph and Sallie Vanlier McAdams. She was a homemaker and had spent most of her life in Stratford. She married Gene Foster on Dec. 24, 1939, in Clayton, N.M. She was preceded in death by her husband on March 27, 2000. Survivors include two sons, Gene Foster Jr. of Beloit and Carl Randolph Foster of Thornton, Colo.; a brother, Randy McAdams of Dumas; two sisters, Rowena Williams of Dumas and Alice Gomez of Washington, D.C.; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Soloman Valley Hospice, 310 W. Eighth St., Beloit, KS 67420. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 13, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nellie Maye Killebrew CANADIAN - Nellie Maye Killebrew, 89, died Thursday, Feb. 12, 2004. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First United Methodist Church with Dr. Richard Bales of Big Spring officiating. Burial will be in Edith Ford Memorial Cemetery by Stickley-Hill Funeral Directors. Mrs. Killebrew was born May 1, 1914, in the little stone house at Fourth and Summitt in Canadian. Her father, Arthur Theodore "Slim" Davidson, was a line foreman for the Tandy Ranch in Roberts County, and her mother, Ella Lee Knox, was employed by Mrs. Tandy as her companion. Mrs. Tandy encouraged Slim Davidson to court Ella and often sent them by buggy to the Hamiltons, over five miles to the west, for milk or eggs. Newt and Mary Hamilton were the parents of Carrie Killebrew, who with her 45-month-old son, Wilbur, were Nellie's first visitors. Wilbur used to say he picked Nellie from the cradle. Nellie and her parents joined the Methodist Church at Middlewater, in Hartley County. The Davidson family returned to Canadian in 1928 and Nellie graduated from Canadian High School in 1933. She and Wilbur Killebrew were married in the parlor of the Methodist Church in Canadian on Sept. 8, 1935. As a youth, Nellie was active in Epworth League, now known as United Methodist Youth. As an adult she was active in the Women's Society of the Methodist Church at Canadian, Pampa and Canyon, serving in various capacities, including president. She also taught Sunday school at Canadian and Canyon for many years. She was active in Eastern Star at Canadian, Pampa and Canyon, serving in various officer capacities, including Worthy Matron. She was also a member of PEO at Canyon, was active in the book clubs at Pampa and Canyon and in the Home Demonstration Clubs at Canadian and Pampa. She was a homemaker and was honored as Homemaker of the Year by the Home Demonstration Club of Pampa. She was preceded in death by her husband in March 1969. Survivors include four sons, Wilbur N. Killebrew of Pampa, James A. Killebrew of Odessa, Robert L. Killebrew of Lubbock and Dr. Flavius C. Killebrew of Canyon; six grandchildren, Charles N. Killebrew of Guilford, Conn., Kathryn Anne Killebrew of Austin, Kimberley P. Killebrew of the Dallas area, James Craig Killebrew of Midland, Cari-Amber "Amber" Gary of Monument, Colo., and Arian Jaye Killebrew, R.N.; and five great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 13, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Land Daugherty Wall PLAINVIEW - Land Daugherty Wall, 77, died Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004. Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday in First United Methodist Church in Quanah with Dr. Max Browning, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Plainview, officiating. Arrangements are by Bartley Funeral Home. Mr. Wall was born Dec. 25, 1926, in Quanah. He married Rita Roberts on June 23, 1951, in Plainview. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Lauren Wall Craig and Judy Wall Kunz, both of Lubbock; a sister, Almarie Wall Owen of Blanchard, Okla.; and five grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to First United Methodist Church of Plainview and God's Learning Channel, Channel 18. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 13, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Milton Leon Best McLEAN - Milton Leon Best, 47, died Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004, in Clinton, Okla. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Thacker Haynes officiating. Arrangements are by Bailey-Ware Funeral Home. Mr. Best was a loved father, a man of many words and a friend to many. He was a truck driver and had previously owned a gas station and The Cowboy Cafe in McLean. He moved to McLean when he was 10 years old and graduated from McLean High School in 1974. Dad, You're the greatest Dad in all the world, Wise, loving and true. I've been so lucky, All my life, To have a Dad like you. He was preceded in death by his father, Lloyd Best in 1989. Survivors include two children, Nicole Best of Mount Pleasant, Mich., and Derek Best of McLean; his mother, Etoyle Nichols of Pampa; two brothers, Allen Dean Carlile and wife, Carol, of Odessa and Don Best and wife, Donna, of Owasso, Okla.; two sisters, Wanda Wood and husband, Weldon, of Delores, Colo., and Loretta Howard and husband, Leon, of Upland, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to any church children's home. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 13, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alton Don Evans PLAINVIEW - Alton Don Evans, 66, died Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2004. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. today in Bartley Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with Jim Ritter, pastor of Seth Ward Baptist Church, officiating. Mr. Evans was born June 14, 1937, in Plainview. He was a self-employed auto mechanic and was a veteran of the Navy. Survivors include a son, Donnie Walker of Oklahoma City; two sisters, Maurine Selby of Hereford and Berniece Donathan of Wildorado; three brothers, Herb Evans of Plainview, H.C. Evans of Hereford and Winston Evans of San Angelo; and three grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to American Diabetes Association. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 13, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- F. Wayne Shook GRUVER - F. Wayne Shook, 78, died Thursday, Feb. 12, 2004, in Spearman. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Gruver Cemetery with the Rev. Scott Curry officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Mr. Shook was a farmer and rancher. He retired in 1990 and liked to go fishing and camping. He served in the Navy from 1944 to 1946 on the USS Teton and USS Halford. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ross and Leona (Cannon) Shook; and two sisters, Jane Stewart and Eloise Moore. Survivors include his wife, Floydean; two sons, Eddy Shook and wife, Mary, of Sunray and Rex Shook and wife, Nena, of Dumas; a daughter, Rhonda Stafford and husband, Vernon, of Dumas; two brothers, Robert Shook and wife, Georgia, and Clyde Shook and wife, Georgia, of Newcastle; 10 grandchildren; and four great- grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Hansford Hospice, 707 Roland St., Spearman, TX 79081; or First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 608, Gruver, TX 79040. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 13, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- W.H. "Bill" Lavender TULIA - W.H. "Bill" Lavender, 79, died Thursday, Feb. 12, 2004, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Rob Lindley, pastor, and the Rev. Tommy Ewing officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery by Wallace Funeral Home. Mr. Lavender was born July 29, 1924, in Hall County. He married Vern T. Duren on May 28, 1943, in Memphis. Survivors include his wife; four sons, John Lavender and wife, Rosa, of Kerrville, Jim Lavender and wife, Kathy, of San Antonio, Joe Lavender and wife, Nancy, of Tulia and Jack Lavender and wife, Gay, of Seminole; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandson. The family suggests memorials be to the Senior Citizens Center, 619 S.E. Second St., Tulia, TX 79088; or Tulia Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 116, Tulia, TX 79088. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 13, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aurelia "Bunny" Urbanczyk HEREFORD - Aurelia "Bunny" Urbanczyk, 83, died Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today in Gililland-Watson Funeral Home Rose Chapel. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in St. Anthony's Catholic Church with the Rev. John Valdez, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in St. Anthony's Cemetery. Mrs. Urbanczyk was born Nov. 20, 1920, in Evansville, Ind. She married Conrad Urbanczyk on June 3, 1941, in Hereford. Survivors include three sons, Connie Urbanczyk, Martin Urbanczyk and Bill Urbanczyk, all of Hereford; three daughters, Vicky Schmucker and Evelyn Morrison, both of Hereford, and Julia Burton of North Redington Beach, Fla.; 11 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to St. Anthony Catholic School Endowment Fund; or a favorite charity. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 13, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amarillo Roy Lee Hadley Roy Lee Hadley, 67, of Amarillo died Sunday, Feb. 8, 2004. Private family services were held. Arrangements were by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors Martin Road Chapel, 1505 Martin Road. Mr. Hadley was born in Clovis, N.M., and had lived in Amarillo since the 1950s. He was a farmer. Survivors include his wife, Mona of Mulvane, Kan.; six daughters, Shasta Abbott, Sheila Rose Bruce and Sherry Joellen Pilgrim, all of Amarillo, Sheena Gale Trask of Friona, Shawna Beth Hamilton of Panhandle and Dawn Sheri Beaulieu of Clovis, N.M.; five sisters, Lottie Bails of Friona, Margaret Hanson of Athens, Betty Freeman of Hereford, Carrol Watson of Cranfill Gap and Mary Shomaker of Hico; 22 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 13, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Mexico Leroy Garcia CLAYTON, N.M. - Leroy Garcia, 63, died Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Clayton Gospel Church with Mike Phipps, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Clayton Memorial Cemetery by Hass Funeral Directors. Mr. Garcia was born Feb. 7, 1941, in Denver to Felix Augustine and Maria Senaida (Romero) Garcia. He was a lifelong resident of Clayton. Survivors include a daughter, Rebecca Cruz of Clayton; three sons, Johnny Garcia and James Garcia, both of Newton, Kan., and Joseph Garcia of Fort Campbell, Ky.; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a sister, Cecilia Sanchez of Clayton; and two brothers, Al Garcia of Guymon, Okla., and Felix Garcia Jr. of Dumas, Texas. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 13, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elsewhere Jimmie Rouse LUBBOCK - Jimmie Rouse, 64, died Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2004. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in White Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with Mr. Godfrey officiating. Burial will be in Peaceful Gardens Memorial Park in Woodrow. Mrs. Rouse was born Sept. 13, 1939, in Kansas City, Mo. She worked at Amarillo National Bank for 20 years before moving to Lubbock five years ago. Survivors include three sons, James Rouse of San Antonio, and Joel Rouse and Darin Rouse, both of Lubbock; two daughters, Debbie Farmer of Amarillo and Raylene Sexton of Lubbock; two sisters, Linda Ivey and Judi Brown, both of Lubbock; 15 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to American Heart Association. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 13, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Helen Ileene Woods Mayden CLEBURNE - Helen Ileene Woods Mayden, 69, died Thursday, Feb. 11, 2004. Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Granbury Street Church of Christ in Cleburne with Kevin Rhodes officiating. Burial will be in the Bono Cemetery by Rosser Funeral Home. Mrs. Mayden was born Sept. 20, 1934, in Oklahoma to George Harvey Woods and Lillie Rawson Woods. She married James Mayden on Oct. 6, 1951, in Shamrock. Mrs. Mayden was a homemaker and a member of the Granbury Street Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Billy Clyde Woods; and a sister, Mellie Maurine McAnear. Survivors include her husband; three sons, Jackie Mayden and wife, Jane, and Kevin Mayden and wife, Sue, all of Cleburne, and Leslie Mayden and wife, Paula, of Crowley; a daughter, Kathy Flagg and husband, David, of Graham; two sisters, Nellie Ruth Reeves of Amarillo and Doris Jean Smith of Canadian; a brother, James Melvin Woods of Shamrock; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 13, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- James Ray Forbis PARIS - James Ray Forbis, 43, died Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004. Services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in Bright-Holland Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Tiny Freelen officiating. Burial will be in East Post Oak Cemetery. Mr. Forbis was born Dec. 11, 1960, in Amarillo. He moved to Lamar County in 1977 from Amarillo. Survivors include his wife, Cathy Spann; his father and stepmother, Charles and Jo Forbis of Paris; two daughters, Rena Sisson and Ashley Story, both of Paris; a granddaughter; and a brother, Billy Forbis of Paris. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 13, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maria Garcia LITTLEFIELD - Maria Garcia, 73, died Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today in St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Anton. Services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday in the church with the Rev. Malcom Nayland and LeRoy Behnke, deacon, officiating. Burial will be in Anton Cemetery by Hammons Funeral Home. Mrs. Garcia was born Nov. 21, 1930, in Sinton. She married Jose G. Garcia on Dec. 6, 1946, in Rio Grande City. Survivors include her husband; three sons, Johnny Roy Garcia of St. John, Kan., Primitivo Garcia of Lyons, Kan., and Joey Garcia Sr. of Lefors; four daughters, Dora Garcia, Orie McDonald and Marilyn Carillo, all of Anton, and Beatrice Cantu of Colleyville; four brothers, Francisco Cantu and Abel Cantu, both of Medera, Calif., Jesse Cantu of Hereford and Albert Cantu of Port Lanca; three sisters, Locaha Bravo of Medera, Terry Guzman of Raymondville and Janie Hermosillo of Fort Worth; and 14 grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Vista Care Hospice of Lubbock, 1010 Slide Road, Lubbock, TX 79416. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 13, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Armon T. Mays LEWISVILLE - Armon T. Mays, 97, formerly of Amarillo, died Friday, Feb. 6, 2004. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel in Amarillo, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Burial will be in Marshall, Ark. Mr. Mays was born July 5, 1906, to James Franklin and Dora Box Mays in Comanche County. He lived most of his youth with his parents and five brothers and sisters in the Arkansas Ozarks. When he was 18, he went to St. Louis and worked in a bank for eight years, went to night school and passed the state bar examination. In 1934, when all of the banks were closed, he returned to the Ozarks and went into the automobile finance business with his family. In 1936, he married Ruth Calbert, whom he had met while in St. Louis, and they moved with Armon's family to Amarillo. Armon, his brother, Bill Mays, and nephew, Troy Mays, were in the finance business there until 1966. Armon had a small investment business for another 30 years. For many years he was treasurer of the Audubon Society and a member of First Baptist Church. Armon was known to many as the man who, until he was 85, walked the two miles from his home to his office downtown and back, sometimes twice a day. He had many friends along the way. Survivors include a sister, Lavada Hampton of Alamogordo, N.M.; a daughter, Marilyn Mays-Shelp of the Lewisville area; his grandchildren, Elaine Williams, Katherine and Daniel Williams and Vivian Stewart, all of the Lewisville area; a son-in-law, Phillip Shelp of the Lewisville area; and a grandson-in-law, Tim Williams of the Lewisville area. The family suggests memorials be to Ruth and Armon Mays Scholarship Fund, Amarillo College, P.O. Box 447, Amarillo, TX 79178. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 13, 2004 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------