Potter Co. TX - Obits: Amarillo Globe-News - April 18, 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, April 18, 2004 Okla. educator, lawmaker Jack V. Begley dies at 70 GOODWELL, Okla. - Jack V. Begley, 70, former educator, coach and state representative died Friday in Oklahoma City. Services are pending with Henson-Novak Funeral Directors of Guymon. Mr. Begley was born Jan. 27, 1934, in Kellyville. He grew up there and graduated from Kellyville High School in 1952. He attended Northeastern A&M Junior College, where he played basketball and earned an associate's degree. Following a semester at Oklahoma State University, he enlisted in the Army. After the Army, he enrolled at Panhandle A&M College where he played basketball, earning all-conference honors, and met many lifelong friends. After graduating from Panhandle A&M in 1958 with a degree in commerce, he accepted a coaching position at Texhoma, where he coached baseball and basketball. Begley led the THS girls to the state tournament. While at Texhoma, he met and married Christine LaVern Jones on Dec. 26, 1959, in Holdenville. The family moved to Clinton, where Begley coached basketball, baseball and football with all teams advancing to the state tournament. After qualifying for the state title for two years, Begley was honored as the Tulsa Daily World's Basketball Coach of the Year. He completed his master's degree at Oklahoma State University. He coached at Caprock High School in Amarillo before returning to his alma mater, Panhandle State, and to Goodwell. Over the next 20 years, Begley served in a variety of positions involving athletics as well as registrar and director of admissions. He was a member of Panhandle Centenary United Methodist Church and Goodwell Lions Club. In 1988, Begley was elected to the Oklahoma State House of Representatives in District 61. During his 14 years in state government, he took special interest in education issues, agriculture, transportation and promoting the best interest of Oklahoma Panhandle State University. In 2002, Gov. Brad Henry appointed Begley as commissioner of the transportation department. Survivors include his wife of 44 years; two sons, Rafe Begley of Hugoton, Kan., and Eric Begley of Goodwell; three sisters, Glendora Jaco of Fresno, Calif., Vida Chambers of Tulsa and Kay Beth Allen of Hugoton; a brother, James Begley of Atwood, Kan.; three grandsons, Ben Sumner, Travis Begley and Michael Begley; his in-laws, Leta and Robert Jones of Oklahoma City, June and Lindon Jones of San Antonio, Texas, and Saundra and Ronnie Stringfellow of Holdenville. Amarillo Globe-News, April 18, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amarillo Clyfton Wilkerson Clyfton Wilkerson, 82, of Amarillo died Friday, April 16, 2004. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Lake Tanglewood Community Church with Dr. Roger Hubbard officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Wilkerson was born to Mr. and Mrs. M.T. Wilkerson in McLean on March 29, 1922. After attending two years of business college in Oklahoma, he went to work for Shamrock Oil and Gas Co. in 1941. He married Lettie Jo Wardlaw in Amarillo on April 17, 1942. He then served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. In 1981, he retired from Diamond Shamrock after 40 years of employment. He was preceded in death by a sister; a brother; and a daughter, Sherry Cowan. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Becky W. McNeil and husband, Robert, of Arlington and Carol D. Webb and husband, K. Michael, of Amarillo; a son, Mike J. Wilkerson and wife, Marlyce of Peachtree City, Ga.; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Lake Tanglewood Volunteer Fire Department or to a favorite charity. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. today at the funeral home. Amarillo Globe-News, April 18, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- George Carl Lutz George Carl Lutz, 79, of Amarillo, died Friday, April 16, 2004. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Trinity Lutheran Church with the Rev. Brian Hesse, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Mr. Lutz was born in Harrold and proudly served in the Army in the Burma/India Campaign during World War II. Following 18 years in Vernon, he moved to Amarillo in 1962 where he owned and operated Mary Carter Paints, now Lutz Decorating. He was married to Edna Klinkerman Lutz for 54 years. He was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Amarillo since 1962 and served numerous church and civic roles. His 50 years in Lutheran choirs exemplified his special passion for music. He was preceded in death by his parents, Katie and George Lutz; and five sisters, Bertha Kohl, Louise Frank, Elsie Obenhaus, Clara Schoppa, and Katherine Jouett. Survivors include his wife; two sons, George Lutz and wife Sheri, of Dallas and John Lutz and wife Cullen, of Amarillo; a sister, Dorlene Barnett of Chillicothe; three grandchildren, Elizabeth Lutz, Ben Lutz and Olivia Lutz; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to Trinity Lutheran Church, Organ Pipe Project, 5005 I-40 West, Amarillo, TX 79106 or to Texas Talking Book Program, P. O. Box 12927, Austin, TX 78711-2927. Amarillo Globe-News, April 18, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lucretia Inez Gierhart Hubbard Lucretia Inez Gierhart Hubbard, 83, of Amarillo died Friday, April 16, 2004. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Memory Gardens West Mausoleum in Pampa with the Rev. Carl Novian, associate pastor of First Baptist Church in Pampa, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Pampa by Carmichael- Whatley Funeral Directors. Mrs. Hubbard was born Nov. 6, 1920, at Twitty and had been a resident of Amarillo since 1965. She was a former longtime Pampa resident. She married William Lewis Hubbard on June 19, 1942, in Wheeler. She worked for the Soil Conservation Service in both Pampa and Amarillo, and she retired from the research station in Bushland in 1983. She was a member of San Jacinto Baptist Church in Amarillo and was a former member of Central Baptist Church in Pampa. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1961. Survivors include two daughters, Kaye Ramey and husband, Bob, of Dumas and Sue Hagar and husband, Roger, of Hedley; a son, Billy Hubbard of Bartlesville, Okla.; a brother, Milton Gierhart of Shamrock; four grandchildren, Randy Ramey of Dumas, Kelly Patton of Hedley, Staci Kidd of Vega and T. J. Hubbard of Denton; three great-grandchildren, Jayda Cae Ramey of Skellytown and Miles Patton and Wesley Scott Patton, both of Hedley. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. Please sign our online register at www.carmichael-whatley.com. Amarillo Globe-News, April 18, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Christina A. Lindsey Christina A. Lindsey, 17-month-old daughter of Sterling and Tischa Lindsey of Amarillo died Thursday, April 15, 2004. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in First United Methodist Church of Robert Lee in Robert Lee. Burial will be in Robert Lee Cemetery by Shaffer Funeral Home. Memorial services will be at 4 p.m. April 25 in South Lawn Assembly in Amarillo. Christina was born Nov. 11, 2002, in Amarillo. Survivors include her parents; a brother, Sterling Lindsey of Amarillo; two sisters, Chaffany Fronterhouse and Checutah Beck, both Amarillo; her grandparents, Arnold and Sherry Beck of Goodwell, Okla., and Francis Lindsey of Robert Lee. The family suggests memorials be to The Ronald McDonald House in Amarillo. Amarillo Globe-News, April 18, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Imogene Sloan Imogene Sloan, 78, of Amarillo died Thursday, April 15, 2004. Memorial services will be at 5 p.m. Monday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd., with the Rev. James Peach, pastor of First Baptist Church of Vega, officiating. Miss Sloan retired from the Department of State working in the Foreign Service, where she was highly regarded. She worked in files and communications serving in Germany, Czechoslovakia, Saudi Arabia, England, Belgium and South America. She was an accomplished musician, playing the French horn and had played with the Chattanooga Symphony. Survivors include her special friend, Anna Elkington of Salinas, Calif.; and several other close friends. In lieu of flowers, it is asked that memorials be to BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176. Amarillo Globe-News, April 18, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- L.V. Thomas Sr. L.V. Thomas Sr., 86, of Amarillo died Friday, April 16, 2004. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Schooler Funeral Home Brentwood Chapel, 4100 S. Georgia St., with Glen Walton, of Bell Avenue Church of Christ, officiating and Dwight Cheek presiding. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Thomas was born July 1, 1917, in Sulphur Springs. He moved to the Panhandle area in 1926. He was employed in the trucking industry for more than 60 years as a driver and owner operator with Groendyke Transport and Dwight Cheek Trucking. He married Evelyn Louise Reeves on Sept. 21, 1939. He was preceded in death by a son, L.V. Thomas Jr. in 1966 and a grandson, Heath Wright in 1986. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Charlene Flow, Brenda Fox and Melba Glass and husband, Dennis, all of Amarillo; a son, Tony Thomas and wife, Janice, of Cheyenne, Wyo.; a sister, Wannie Stevens of Albuquerque, N.M.; 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today in the funeral home. Amarillo Globe-News, April 18, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Area Vi Hysinger Ward HEREFORD - Vi Hysinger Ward, 76, died Thursday, April 15, 2004, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Hereford Church of the Nazarene with the Rev. Ted Taylor officiating. Burial will be in Rest Lawn Cemetery by Gililland-Watson Funeral Home. Mrs. Ward was born Nov. 27, 1927, in Clarendon to Herbert Albert Ziegler and Birdie Dyer Simmons. She married Joe Ray Hysinger in 1947 in Plainview. She married Charles W. Ward in 1979 in Clovis, N.M. She came to Deaf Smith County in 1962. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Ray Hysinger, in 1977. Survivors include her husband; a son, Joe Ray Hysinger Jr. of Amarillo; two daughters, Renee Coker of Amarillo and Vickie Bolz of Pampa; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the American Heart Association. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. today at the funeral home. Amarillo Globe-News, April 18, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tommie Jack Bruce SPEARMAN - Tommie Jack Bruce, 68, died Wednesday, April 14, 2004. Memorial services will be held at a later date. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Mr. Bruce was a lifetime resident of Spearman. He was born Oct. 21, 1935, in Waka. He was a member of the volunteer fire department for many years. He and his father owned and operated Bruce Motors for a number of years also. He was living in Rowlett in an assisted living facility before his untimely death. He suffered a massive stroke. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tommy and Mary Bruce. Survivors include a sister, Virginia Pio of Hardesty, Okla.; two daughters, Donna K. Fitzgerald of Rowlett and Dana C. Braun of Charlotte, N.C.; three grandchildren; and a great-grandson. The family suggests memorials be to Hansford Hospice, 707 Roland St., Spearman, TX 79081 or to Spearhead Group, (Alcoholics Anonymous, a non-profit organization) in Tommie Jack Bruce's name, in care of First State Bank, Attention: Vana Reed, Spearman, TX 79081. Amarillo Globe-News, April 18, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Juan C. Tijerina Sr. HEREFORD - Juan C. Tijerina Sr., 62, died Saturday, April 17, 2004. Prayer vigils will be at 7 p.m. today and Monday in Rix Funeral Directors Chapel. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in La Iglesia de San Jose with Monsignor Arturo Meza officiating. Private family burial will be in St. Anthony's Catholic Cemetery. Mr. Tijerina was born Nov. 20, 1941, in Asherton to Jose Tijerina and Teofila Casanova. He married Maria Sifuentez on March 5, 1958, in Asherton. Survivors include five sons, Juan Carlos Tijerina of Amarillo, David Tijerina of Lamesa, Armando Tijerina of Liberal, Kan., and Adam Tijerina and Juan Tijerina Jr., both of Hereford; three daughters, Annabell Cabrera of Austin and Loretta Martinez and Eva Zepeda, both of Hereford; six brothers, Joe Tijerina of Nissen, Ore., Julian Tijerina of Amarillo and Gilbert Tijerina, Fred Tijerina, Jessie Tijerina and Mario Tijerina, all of Hereford; five sisters, Adelina Galvan, Rosa Fitchett, Grace Mendiola and Beanida Garza, all of Hereford, and Maria Elena Villarreal of Saginaw, Mich.; 25 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, April 18, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oklahoma Robert "Bob" O. Spillers ELK CITY, Okla. - Robert "Bob" O. Spillers, 64, died Friday, April 16, 2004. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Prairie View Baptist Church of Elk City with Kendell Hamilton, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Fairlawn Cemetery by Martin Funeral Home. Mr. Spillers served his country in the 82nd Airborne during the Korean conflict. He met Chiquita Beaty in Amarillo, Texas, and they were married in Cheyenne in 1963. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Kimberly Dawn Spillers of Elk City, Sheri Spillers of Dumas, Texas, and Bobbi Yarbrough of Childress, Texas; three brothers, Vernon C. Spillers of Adel, Iowa, Charles W. Spillers of Amarillo and Press Spillers of Elk City; a sister, Virginia Lenocker of Dexter, Iowa; and four granddaughters. Amarillo Globe-News, April 18, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elsewhere Verneil Koetting LUBBOCK - Verneil Koetting, 61, died Thursday, April 15, 2004. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Franklin-Bartley Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in City of Lubbock Cemetery. Mrs. Koetting married Fred Koetting on Nov. 27, 1977, in Lubbock. She worked in Lubbock for many years as a hairstylist. Survivors include her husband; three daughters, Laura Speer of Abernathy, Sarah Koetting of Lubbock and Stacy Koetting of Oklahoma City; a son, Michael Koetting of Lubbock; three grandchildren; her mother, Ida Beckham of Lubbock; and a brother, Wayne Beckham of Mount Pleasant. The family suggests memorials be to Hospice of Lubbock, P.O. Box 16800, Lubbock, TX 79490-6800. Amarillo Globe-News, April 18, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vivian E. Bilderback DENVER - Vivian E. Bilderback, 84, formerly of Amarillo died Thursday, April 15, 2004. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Llano Cemetery in Amarillo, Texas, with the Rev. Bob Brown, of New Life Church of the Nazarene in Dumas, Texas, officiating. Arrangements are by Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mrs. Bilderback was born July 20, 1919, in Dodson, Texas. She married Arthur Bilderback on Nov. 11, 1942, at Frederick, Okla. She lived in Amarillo from 1948 until 1997 when she moved to Denver. She was a homemaker and an active member of the Church of the Nazarene in Amarillo. She was also a member of Young at Heart Club. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1994 in Amarillo; and her first son, Glenn Bilderback in 1998 in Lubbock, Texas. Survivors include a son, Floyd Bilderback of Denver; a daughter-in-law, Betty Bilderback of Lubbock; a granddaughter, Michelle Wischkaemper and husband, Chris, and their children, Jake and Aspen, all of Post, Texas; her grandchildren, Randy Rangle and Ronnie Rangle; and a niece, Glenda Cheverier and husband, Robert, and their children, Michael and wife, Darlene, and Patty and daughter, Alexandra. She had too many relatives across America to name each and every one. Amarillo Globe-News, April 18, 2004 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------