Potter Co. TX - Obits: Amarillo Globe-News - July 26, 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 Monday, July 26, 2004 ----------------------- Amarillo Thomas J. "Tommy" Cooks Thomas J. "Tommy" Cooks, 76, of Amarillo died Wednesday, July 21, 2004. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Jenkins Chapel Baptist Church with the Rev. D.D. Fincher, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Warford-Walker Mortuary, 509 N. Hughes St. Mr. Cooks was an Amarillo resident for 72 years. He was employed with the Amarillo Club for 47 years. He was an Air Force veteran, attaining the rank of staff sergeant. Survivors include his wife, Billie; a brother, Edgar Cooks Sr. of Dallas; a special daughter-in-law, Cleater Cooks of Amarillo; a special sister-in-law, Herese Cooks of Dallas; a granddaughter, Chiffon Goss of Amarillo; three God children, Rouchell Hamilton Jr. of Amarillo, Pvt. Yatasha O'Neal stationed in Iraq and Sgt. Shanta Clemmons stationed in Germany; an aunt, Jessie Denzy of Lubbock; and a host of nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends. Amarillo Globe-News, July 26, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Irene DeSierra Irene DeSierra, 80, of Amarillo died Saturday, July 24, 2004. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors Chapel, 5400 S. Bell St. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in St. Hyacinth's Catholic Church with Monsignor Rex Nicholl officiating and Monsignor Smyer assisting. Burial will be in Memory Gardens. Mrs. DeSierra met "Dom" Dominick DeSierra during World War II. They married in April of 1946 at Sacred Heart Catholic Cathedral in Amarillo. She lived most of her life in Amarillo. She was owner and operator of Irene's Beauty Shop for many years. She and her husband loved to dance and were award-winning ballroom dancers. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary. She also loved all animals. She was preceded in death by her husband. Survivors include two daughters, Loretta Jordan of Amarillo and Susan Angel and husband, Don, of Memphis, Tenn.; a son, Larry Don DeSierra and wife, Debra, of Amarillo; two sisters; five grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family suggests memorials be to the Animal Rescue Center, 12500 S. Washington St., Amarillo, TX 79118 or to a favorite charity. Amarillo Globe-News, July 26, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Area Ramon Pena Martinez STRATFORD - Ramon Pena Martinez, 67, died Saturday, July 24, 2004, in Wheeler. Rosary will be said at 7:00 p.m. today in St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the church. Burial will be in Stratford Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors in Stratford. Mr. Martinez was born in Mendoza on Sept. 25, 1936. His parents were Andres and Emiliana Martinez. Mr. Martinez was one of seven children. Ramon married Julia G. Albear on Nov. 26, 1960, and had four children. Mr. Martinez was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother. He will be missed by all. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Velma Martinez of Liberal, Kan., Ramona Martinez-McClintock of Castle Rock, Colo., and Amy Martinez-Flores of Amarillo; a son, Julian Martinez of Phoenix; four sisters, Lupe, Manuela, Lucilla and Rumalda; two brothers, Andy and Juan Manuel; and seven grandchildren, Thomas, Marcus, Andrea, Vicki, Adam, Emiliana and Olivia. Amarillo Globe-News, July 26, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- J. Chester Elliff TULIA -J. Chester Elliff, 91, died Saturday, July 24, 2004, in Lubbock. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Charles Davenport, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery by Adams Funeral Home of Ralls. Mr. Elliff was born in Swisher County on May 27, 1913, to Daniel Hodges and Cordelia Mae Rodden Elliff. He was raised in Tulia and attended Tulia Schools. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Tulia. He married Mary Victory Harman on Dec. 19, 1936, in Union Hill Community. After their marriage, they established Victory Jersey Farm. From the combination of merchandising superior breeding stock and selling milk from their registered Jersey herd, they paid for a farm and raised and educated a family of seven healthy children. Building on foundation cows from West Texas breeders, many of which were rich in the genetic influence of sires from the bull circles formed in Swisher and Hale counties in the 1920s, they bred a registered Jersey herd which led the Jersey breed nationwide in milk and butterfat production in the 1960s and 1970s. Although Chester and Mary Elliff retired from the dairy business more than 20 years ago, the international genetic impact of cows and bulls bred in the Victory Jersey Farm herd continues into the 21st century, and the breeding program that produced these animals is still respected and studied today by serious students of dairy cattle genetics worldwide. In 1958, Chester Elliff received the Master Breeder Award from the American Jersey Cattle Club (now Association), and his portrait is permanently displayed in the gallery of honorees at the organization's national headquarters office in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. He was a life member of the American Jersey Cattle Association, National Dairy Shrine and the World Jersey Cattle Bureau. In 1987, while visiting the Isle of Jersey with family members, he was asked to judge cows at the Island Spring Show. During the same trip, he accepted a special invitation to visit the Windsor Jersey herd in Great Britain, owned by the Queen of England. He was preceded in death by his wife on July 7, 2002. Survivors include two sons, John Elliff and wife, Nelda, and Gary Elliff, all of Tulia, five daughters, Catherine Hoodenpyle and husband, Jim, Vicky Driskill and husband, Jack, Dana Sullivan and Lorene Cole, all Lubbock, and Becky Tucker and husband, Daryl, of Tulia; 19 grandchildren; and 32 great- grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Youth Programs of the American Jersey Cattle Association, 6486 E. Main St., Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-2362 Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the home of Daryl and Becky Tucker, 310 N. Jackson in Tulia. Viewing will be in First Baptist Church until service time. Amarillo Globe-News, July 26, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Anna "Anita" Beltran STRATFORD - Anna "Anita" Beltran, 26, died Saturday, July 24, 2004, in Dumas. Services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Ricardo Chabolla, minister of Roca De Salvacion, officiating. Burial will be in Stratford Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors in Stratford. Ms. Beltran was born in San Juan Gro. Chihuahua, Mexico, on Nov. 15. 1977. She had lived in Stratford for the past 18 years. She was a homemaker. Survivors include her father and stepmother, Martin and Celia Beltran of Stratford; two sisters, Alicia Gonzales of Dallas and Cecilia Barajas of Stratford; and a brother, Martin Beltran Jr. of Stratford. Amarillo Globe-News, July 26, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- George W. Weldon SHAMROCK - George W. Weldon, 87, died Saturday, July 24, 2004, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church with Mark Thomas officiating. Burial will be in Shamrock Cemetery by Wright Funeral Directors. George W. Weldon was born July 17, 1917, in Shamrock to Newton Albert and Gertrude Wallace Weldon. He married Irlene Hall on Nov. 3, 1945, in Shamrock. George owned and operated the Water Tower Texaco and Jay's Grill for several years. He had worked in the bus maintenance department for Shamrock ISD for 25 years. He was a veteran, having served in the Army during World War II. He was preceded in death by his wife on March 18, 2003. Survivors include two sons, Gary Weldon of Wheeler and Rodney Weldon of Lubbock; four daughters, LaJuana Kettler of Arlington, Zadonna Boydston of Tabor, Ill., Eugenna Wright of Lawton, Okla., and Tasha Farner of Amarillo; a brother, N.A. Weldon of Amarillo; a sister, Bessie Barker of Sayre, Okla.; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, July 26, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- George Thomas Lovett Sr. STRATFORD - George Thomas Lovett Sr., 79, died Saturday, July 24, 2004. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Brent Farney, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Stratford Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors. Flag detail will be performed by the American Legion Post 224 of Dumas. Mr. Lovett was born Oct. 16, 1924, in Enterprise, Miss. He had been a resident of Stratford for 63 years. He was married to Mary Walker for 61 years. He was a World War II veteran. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Tommy Lovett Jr. of Stratford and Michael Lovett of China; two daughters, Stephanie Folley and MiChelle Lovett, both of Amarillo; two sisters, Minnie Alma Weldon of Tucson, Ariz., and Birdell Williams of Georgia; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Dumas Memorial Hospice, 224 E. Second, Dumas, TX 79029. Visitation will be at 601 Purnell in Stratford. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amarillo Globe-News, July 26, 2004 Courtney Denise Tyree WAYSIDE - Courtney Denise Tyree, 17, died Friday, July 23, 2004, in Amarillo, Texas Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church of Happy with the Rev. Byron Williamson, executive director of Hidden Falls Ranch, officiating. Graveside services will be at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in Wheeler Cemetery in Wheeler. Arrangements are by Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon and Happy, 1702 Fifth Ave. Courtney Denise Tyree was born Nov. 12, 1986, in Canyon to Thomas and Sonya Hill Tyree. She was a lifelong Happy student and was a Happy High School cheerleader. She also served as mascot her sophomore year. She attended Wayside Community Church and was active in the youth at First United Methodist Church in Happy. She was a member of FFA, Science Club and a U.I.L. participant. She was on the A-B honor roll and was in band. She placed second in pastels at the Tri State Fair. She was an outgoing and loving person. Survivors include her parents of Wayside; a brother, Ethan Tyree of Wayside; her grandparents, Jimmy and Bobbye Hill of Wheeler and Johnny and Cleta Tyree of Wayside; and numerous uncles, aunts and cousins. The family suggests memorials be to Hidden Falls Ranch, P.O. Box 136, Wayside, TX 79094 or to Ceta Canyon Methodist Church Camp, 37201 FM 1721, Happy, TX 79042. Viewing will be at Brooks Chapel in Happy. Amarillo Globe-News, July 26, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Herman W. "Buster" Gloyna PLAINVIEW - Herman W. "Buster" Gloyna, 79, died Saturday, July 24, 2004. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Wood-Dunning Funeral Home Colonial Chapel with the Rev. Robert Blum, of Kress United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park. Mr. Gloyna was a World War II veteran. He married Eileen Mansel on Nov. 15, 1947, in Plainview. Survivors include a daughter, Dianne Williams of Joshua; three brothers, Ernest Gloyna and Robert Gloyna, both of Austin, and Emmett Gloyna of Edna; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, July 26, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- James L. Trammell Jr. PLAINVIEW - James L. Trammell Jr., 71, formerly of Coleman, died Sunday, July 25, 2004. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Stevens Funeral Home Chapel in Coleman with Dr. Charles Sheffield officiating. Burial will be in Coleman City Cemetery. James was born to James L. Trammell Sr. and Ruby Owens Trammell on May 26, 1933, in Coleman. After graduation from Coleman High School in 1952, he spent two years as a heavy artillery mechanic in the Army during the Korean War. On June 16, 1953, he married Mary Baker in Coleman. They celebrated 48 years of marriage before her death in 2000. As a young couple, they moved to West Texas. He worked for Columbia Carbon Plant in Seagraves for seven years and then began a 32-year career with Southwestern Public Service in Littlefield and in Lubbock as plant chemist at Jones Station. During his years in Littlefield, he was active in Boy Scouts and Little League Baseball. During his many years in Lubbock, he served as an election judge for Lubbock County and was precinct chairman for the Republican Party of Lubbock County. He was a member of the Republican Presidential Task Force and a sustaining member of the Republican National Committee. He retired to Coleman in 1995 and was a member of Concho Baptist Church. He moved to Plainview in 2002. He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; a brother, Vonceal Trammell; and two sisters, Betty Creek and Peggy Henson. Survivors include a son, Jay Trammell and wife, Terry, of Colleyville; a daughter, Marci Owens and husband, Kenny, of Plainview; six grandchildren, Stephanie Boyd and husband, Glenn, of Amarillo, Marci Ann and Lauren Trammell, both of Colleyville, Jason Gower and wife, Annetta, of Dallas and Jared Gower and Jonathan Gower, both of Lubbock; two great-grandchildren, Logan and Gracie Boyd, both of Amarillo; a brother, Donald Trammell of Lufkin; and two sisters, Billie Wells of Abilene, and Pauline Strictland of Corpus Christi. Visitation will be from 6 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Amarillo Globe-News, July 26, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Mexico Billie Jean Harrell MELROSE, N.M. - Billie Jean Harrell, 65, died Saturday, July 24, 2004. Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Melrose Cemetery with the Rev. Coy Brewer officiating. Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home of Clovis. Mrs. Harrell married Don Harrell on Sept. 11, 1957, in Clayton. She was of the Methodist faith. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Caroline Harrell of Boaz, Ala.; two sons, Jerry Harrell of Fyffe, Ala., and Tom Harrell of Melrose; three sisters, Mattie Cotton of Panhandle, Texas, Barbara Davis of Topeka, Kan., and Sandy Rye of Van Buren, Ark.; a brother, George Rankin of Pueblo, Colo.; eight grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. The family suggests memorials be to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1856, Clovis, NM 88102. Amarillo Globe-News, July 26, 2004 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------