Potter Co. TX - Obits: Amarillo Globe-News - February 22, 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 Sunday, February 22, 2004 Area Ora Lee Blackburn HEREFORD - Ora Lee Blackburn, 91, died Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2004. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in First Baptist Church of Spearman with the Rev. Patrick Six, the Rev. Brad Holmes and Dr. Jim Ownbey officiating. Burial will be in Old Hansford Cemetery in Spearman. Arrangements are by Parkside Chapel Funeral Home. Mrs. Blackburn was born Nov. 5, 1912, in Izora the daughter of Lee and Phoebe Smith. She was known then as "Polly Smith" and was the baby and only girl of her family. As a little girl living on a farm in Central Texas, she adored her two older brothers, wanting to follow and be like them. If she would promise to do what they said, she could go with them. So, of course, she got to dig worms and bait the hooks along with any other chores they decided not to do. She fished, swam, ran and developed a deep love and appreciation for birds, squirrels and all animals. That love continued her entire life. The squirrels and birds in Spearman will miss her as she fed them countless bushels of corn and sunflower seeds. At the age of 15, she married Chester Blackburn in 1928 at Hamilton. He always drove a very "sporty" car, so their wedding must have been the first "drive-up" wedding as he drove to the Justice of the Peace's house and the couple sat in his car as the wedding was performed. As a young bride, she and Chester lived with Chester's parents in one part of the original log house Chester's father built when he homesteaded his land. Living through the Depression on a farm, she grew large gardens raising beans, which she dried, sweet potatoes and Irish potatoes, which she stored, tomatoes, corn, green beans and berries for preserves and cobblers. She kept chickens and turkeys, sold cream, butter and homemade cottage cheese. She, in later life, was known in Spearman as "Granny." She was always ambitious and wanted a better education and life for her children. She cleaned houses and did washing and ironing. She than learned to be a florist, first working for Mrs. Sheets in Spearman on Main Street and later at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home, where she was not only a florist, but an ambulance driver as well. In 1967, she was in her kitchen and a group of friends surprised her with a collection of old flower vases, a new adding machine and some personalized note pads saying, "You're going to open your own shop." She did, making flower arrangements in her kitchen at first, and then opening Blackburn Flowers of Spearman. She continued in the business for more than 35 years until her retirement in 1982. She was a volunteer at the Hansford Manor for several years, many times caring for residents younger then herself. She was also an honorary member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Hansford Auxiliary and a member of First Baptist Church of Spearman. She was a marvel. At 79, she broke an arm and knee, had an eight hour surgery that was complicated by pneumonia only to dance a year later at a granddaughter's wedding in 3-inch heels. Later that year, while on a trip to Maui, Hawaii, she went parasailing. At age 76, wearing a surgical boot, was snowbound in Amarillo and passed the time dancing and was known to do the Charleston better than anyone. One winter at her home, she broke her pelvis by dragging a limb to the alley during an ice storm. She mowed her lawn while using a walker and once was trapped in a car wreck with a broken sternum and hand. During her recovery, she made countless loaves of fresh bread for "hand therapy." She loved to spend time with her daughter, Elaine, and her family in Alaska, spending some 20 plus summers there. Always a gracious hostess, she loved to entertain and for many years upon her return from Alaska, she had her famous "Alaska dinners." She would serve baked salmon, smoked salmon, beer battered halibut, moose steak fingers, home baked bread and jelly and preserves from the berries she picked and preserved. She taught her family not to be afraid of hard work and you could accomplish anything if you wanted it badly enough and worked for it hard enough. She taught her family to love and to give to others, taught by example and by the way she lived her life. She was preceded in death by her husband; two sons, Eddie Blackburn and the Honorable Judge J.E. Blackburn; and two brothers. Survivors include a son, Bill Blackburn of Llano; two daughters, Elaine Cessnum of Soldotna, Alaska, and Bodil Bradley of Hereford; 10 grandchildren, 17 great- grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Odyssey Hospice, formerly Crown of Texas Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson St., Amarillo, TX 79109. Visitation will be today in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home in Spearman. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 22, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ruth Edwards Monce PAMPA - Ruth Edwards Monce, 75, died Thursday, Feb. 19, 2004. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Cornerstone Baptist Church with Paul Nachtigall, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mrs. Monce moved to Lefors in 1933 and attended school in Lefors. She had been a resident of Pampa and Lefors most of her life. Survivors include a daughter, Elaine White of Pampa; a son, Randy Williams of Pampa; a brother, Jack Edwards of Pampa; two sisters, Biddie Taylor of Pampa and Cecelia Geneva of Howardwick; five grandsons; a granddaughter; and eight great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice, 800 N. Sumner, Pampa, TX 79065. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 22, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Janna Lee Cleveland Lechner DUMAS - Janna Lee Cleveland Lechner, 65, died Thursday, Feb. 19, 2004. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in North Plains Christian Church with Lad Boothby, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Northlawn Memorial Gardens by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mrs. Lechner had been a Dumas resident since 1973. Survivors include her mother, Lilly Cleveland of Dumas; two daughters, Debora Miller of Amarillo and Rebeca Milam of Brawley, Calif.; a son, Harvey Lechner of Dumas; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to North Plains Christian Church, P.O. Box 742, Dumas, TX 79029 or to Memorial Hospice, 224 E. 2nd St., Dumas, TX 79029. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. today in the funeral home. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 22, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Theresa Brown DUMAS - Theresa Brown, 78, died Saturday, Feb. 21, 2004. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Benjamin D. Seller officiating. Burial will be in Northlawn Memorial Gardens by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mrs. Brown was born May 31, 1925, in Hickory Ridge, Ark. She was a homemaker and had lived in Dumas for 49 years. She was in the restaurant business for 15 years. She was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church and a volunteer with Dumas Memorial Hospice. Survivors include a son, Raymond Root of Prescott, Ariz.; a daughter, Denise McDonald of Colleyville; a stepdaughter, Charmaine Robertson of Darrouzett; a stepson, Joe Brown of Dumas; a sister, Helen Liemer of Yukon, Okla.; two brothers, Joe Robinson of Velvet Ridge, Ark., and Larry Robinson of Longview; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Memorial Hospice, 224 E. 2nd, Dumas, TX, First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 1118, Dumas, TX or Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, Channing, TX. Visitation will be at the home of Curtis and Theresa Chamblee, 1112 N.E. 4th. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 22, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earlene V. English CLAUDE - Earlene V. English, 80, died Thursday, Feb. 19, 2004, in Amarillo. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Jeff Raines, associate pastor of First Baptist Church in Amarillo, officiating. Burial will be in Claude Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers at Claude. Mrs. English was born April 9, 1923, in Carson County to Troy and Veva Vance. She graduated from Panhandle High School and attended Texas Tech University. She worked as a legal secretary during World War II until her marriage. She was a member of First Baptist Church. She married John Pressley "J.P." English on Nov. 27, 1946, at First Presbyterian Church in Amarillo. She was preceded in death by her husband on Jan. 22, 2000. Survivors include two daughters, Pamela Beckham and husband, James, and Lynette Villa and husband, Andrea, all of Amarillo; her mother, Veva Vance of Claude; two granddaughters, Jamie Beckham Boyle of Claude and Sarah Beckham of Amarillo; and a grandson, Andrew Villa of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials be to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 170, Claude, TX 79019 or to BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176. Visitation will be from 12 noon to 5 p.m. today at the funeral home. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 22, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Frances Freeman McCall Mock PLAINVIEW - Frances Freeman McCall Mock, 74, died Friday, Feb. 20, 2004, in Lubbock. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Saint Mark's Episcopal Church with the Rev. Bruce Green officiating. Burial will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens by Bartley Funeral Home. Mrs. Mock marrried the Rev. James A. Mock on Sept. 22, 1951, in Oklahoma City. They lived in Plainview from 1961 until 1982 and moved back to Plainview from Bunkie, La., in 1993. Survivors include her husband; a son, James A. Mock Jr. of Plainview; two daughters, Helen Frances Mock Richardson of Plano and Mary McCall Mock of Alexandria, Va.; two sisters, Louise Barnard of Osprey, Fla., and Gena Jones of Tulsa, Okla.; and two grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Saint Mark's Episcopal Church, 710 Joliet, Plainview, TX 79072. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 22, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amarillo Gary "A.J." Pace Gary "A.J." Pace, 59, of Amarillo died Thursday, Feb. 19, 2004. The family will hold private services. Arrangements are by N.S. Griggs and Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mr. Pace graduated from West Texas State University in 1966. He was employed at Goody's for many years. Survivors include his mother, Billye Holmes of Amarillo; and two stepbrothers, Barry Holmes of Temple and Lynn Holmes of Philadelphia. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 22, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alfred Burdette Brown Alfred Burdette Brown, 54, of Amarillo died Saturday, Feb. 21, 2004. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd., with Scott Schlotfelt, associate minister of Paramount Terrace Christian Church, officiating. Mr. Brown was born May 12, 1949, at Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo. He was a Vietnam veteran. Survivors include his wife, Doris; a son, Chance Brown of Amarillo; a grandson, Craig Brown of Amarillo; his mother, Eula Brown of Amarillo; two sisters, Jewel Downing of Lubbock and Debbie Bernson of Amarillo; a brother, Claud Brown of Amarillo; and his stepmother, Marie Brown of Atascadero, Calif. The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176-0001. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 22, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Benny Clyde Bishop Benny Clyde Bishop, 64, of Amarillo died Thursday, Feb. 19, 2004. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Cox Funeral Home Benton Chapel, 4180 Canyon Drive, with Sherman Eastland, chaplain at Northwest Texas Hospital, officiating. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday in Longwood Cemetery in Ponca City, Okla. Mr. Bishop was born in Plaska and graduated from Memphis High School. He graduated form West Texas Sate University in 1974 and served in the Army in Germany. He moved to Amarillo from Dumas in 1965. He married Wanda Stiver in 1973 in Amarillo. He worked as an accountant and financial manager for various Amarillo companies. He attended Texas State Technical Institute's boot making program and and he owned and operated Ben's Boot and Shoe Repair in Amarillo from 1988 to 1997. He was an avid sportsman who loved bird hunting and fishing. He loved woodworking, was friendly, enjoyed helping others and liked to tease. He was a true "Texan," very patriotic and a convincing storyteller. He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife; three brothers, Alvin Bishop and wife, Vada, of Mesquite, W.A. "Dub" Bishop and wife, Rosetta, of Clovis, N.M., and Jim Bishop and wife, Mona, of Pampa; two sisters, Helen Inman and husband, Jerry, of El Paso and Judy Johnson of Haltom, City; and several nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to American Vets, Faith City Mission, or to Empty Stocking Fund. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 22, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dennis Robert Jones Dennis Robert Jones, 89, of Amarillo died Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2004. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Jones was born Nov. 10, 1914, in Russell, Okla. He was a member of Polk Street Methodist Church and was a former member of the Forty-Five Uppers Dance Club. He served in the Army in the 1940s and was a veteran of World War II. He had resided at the VA Nursing Home for the past eight years. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 22, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elsewhere Eloise Feagin ROANOKE, Va - Eloise Feagin, 85, formerly of Childress, Texas, died Friday, Feb. 20, 2004. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Parkview Baptist Church in Childress with Don McFarland, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery by Johnson Funeral Home. Mrs. Feagin was a homemaker and worked at a photography store. Survivors include a son, Larry Feagin of Roanoke; two grandchildren; and a brother, Hudson Thomas, of Albuquerque, N.M. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 22, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elsewhere Raymond William Estess LUBBOCK - Raymond William Estess, 70, died Friday, Feb. 20, 2004. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Trinity Church Chapel. Arrangements are by Agape Funeral Chapel. Mr. Estess owned and operated the Coronado Inn in Amarillo for several years. Survivors include a daughter, Deborah Yarnell of Lubbock; and a granddaughter, Taylor Yarnell of Lubbock. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 22, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Mexico Fortunato "Nato" Martinez CLOVIS, N.M. - Fortunato "Nato" Martinez, 78, died Thursday, Feb. 19, 2004. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Our Lady of Guadulupe Catholic Church with Father Sotero Sena officiating. Burial will be in Mission Garden of Memories with military honors. Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home. Mr. Martinez served in the Army from December of 1943 until April of 1946, receiving the Purple Heart for his injuries during World War II. He married Grace Tenorio on June 28, 1946. Survivors include eight daughters, Lizzie Martinez of Albuquerque, Marce Zielinski and Barbara Battista, both of Las Vegas, Nev., Leona Cottman and Rachel Martinez, both of Goldsboro, N.C., Karen Semenec of Fall River, Mass., Darlene Ewing of Wichita Falls, Texas, and Rosemary Martinez-Villa of Clovis; three sons, David Martinez, Jimmy Martinez and Leo Martinez, all of Clovis; two sisters, Beatrice Saiz and LaLa Worley, both of Clovis; 31 grandchildren; and 36 great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 22, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Frances Rose Harne AMISTAD, N.M. - Frances Rose Harne, 55, died Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2004. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday in Amistad United Methodist Church with the Rev. Bob Boyd, pastor, officiating. Arrangements are by Hass Funeral Directors of Clayton. Mrs. Harne was born on March 18, 1948, in Washington D.C. to Jerimiah Keesler and Kathrine E. "Eli" Keesler. She moved to Amistad in December of 2000, where she had many friends and fell in love with what she called "God's Country." Survivors include her husband, Preston Lee Harne; two daughters, Kim Sutterfield of Stratford, Texas, and Robyn A. Swan of Buffalo, N.Y.; a son, Eric D. Harne of Rochester, Mass.; and four grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Amistad United Methodist Church. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 22, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Canyon June Jones June Jones, 63, of Webster, formerly of Canyon, died Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2004. Private family services will be held at a later date. Arrangements are by Abell Funeral Home of Abernathy. Mrs. Jones was born Jan. 19, 1941, in Athens and graduated from Muleshoe High School in 1958. She married Jack Jones on May 19, 1959, in Muleshoe. She continued her education earning a degree in social work from West Texas State University in 1974 and earning her master's degree from the University of Texas in 1989. After living in Muleshoe, she and her husband moved to Canyon where they raised their family. In 1980 they moved to Austin. She was employed by the Department of Human Services and was voted Social Worker of the Year by the Foster Parents Association of Amarillo in 1975. The following year she began working with the Amarillo Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (MHMR) where she remained until 1979 when she began working in Canyon for the Department of Health. She moved to Austin and continued working for the Department of Health until 1987 when she began her own consulting business, Social Work Services. She worked in Friendswood at Friendship Haven Nursing Home from 1995 until retiring in 1996. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1992; a daughter, Tiffani Anne Jones in 1972; and her father, A.D. Ward, in 2002. Survivors include a son, Mike Jones of Plainview; a daughter, Nikki Jones and husband, Brad Thompson, of Friendswood; six grandchildren, Josh, Jake, Zach and JackEdward Thompson, all of Friendswood, and Ben and Mandi Jones of Plainview. The family suggests memorials be to the Jack and June Jones Memorial Fund, in care of Opportunity Plan, Inc., P.O. Box 1035, Canyon, TX 79015. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 22, 2004 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------