Potter Co. TX - Obits: Amarillo Globe-News - October 20, 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 Wednesday, October 20, 2004 Amarillo Opal M. Elgin Opal M. Elgin, 79, of Amarillo died Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Rector Funeral Home Chapel, 2800 S. Osage St., with Max Beggs, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Elgin was born in Altus, Okla. She worked as a registered nurse for 23 years. She was a faithful member of Caprock Fellowship. She married Gilbert Elgin in 1941. She was a wonderful mother and granny who will be missed by all. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1982. Survivors include a daughter, Joy Ann Elgin Clark of Amarillo; a sister, Wanda McAffrey of Midwest City, Okla.; a brother, Thomas James Maley of Burleson; a granddaughter, Renee Stewart of Amarillo; a grandson, Cpl. James E. Clark of Borger, currently serving in Iraq; and two great-grandsons, Derick Wade Clark and Dustin Zane Clark, both of Borger. The family suggests memorials be to American Heart Association, 6605 W. Interstate 40, Suite B-6, Amarillo, TX 79106. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 20, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Area Ruby June Gersch CARSON COUNTY - Ruby June Gersch, 74, died Monday, Oct. 18, 2004. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jeff Matsler, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Panhandle Cemetery by Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors of Panhandle. Mrs. Gersch was born June 4, 1930, in Panhandle. She was a homemaker and member of First Christian Church. She married Bill Gersch on Oct. 1, 1950, in Panhandle. She was a member of Garden Club and the 99ers Club. She was a pilot. She graduated from North Texas State in 1950, getting her degree in home economics. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Roger Brian Gersch and Barry Lynn Gersch and wife, Elizabeth, all of Panhandle; a brother, Buddy Vance of Panhandle; a sister, Virginia Vincent of Lubbock; two grandchildren, Kristie Lee Smith and Kelly Ann Gersch; a stepgranddaughter, Crystal Deanna Crocker; two great-grandchildren, Kohner Michelle Smith and Kaylan Marie Crocker. Casket bearers will be Don Vance, Erskine Sinclair, Dale Gabel, Glen Cockrell, Jones Hedrick, Mike Vance, Jerry Parker and Wayne Browers. Honorary casket bearers will be Elten Vance, Howard Lane and Paul McMullen. The family suggests memorials be to Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center; The American Cancer Society; or to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 549, Panhandle, TX 79068. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 20, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- J.D. Lee FRITCH - J.D. Lee, 63, died Monday, Oct. 18, 2004. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel with Ricky Griffin, pastor of Grace Fellowship Church, officiating. Mr. Lee was born May 7, 1941, in Borger. He was the previous owner of C.J.'s Bait Shop and Lee's Auto Salvage. Survivors include his wife, Connie; two sons, Randy Lee of Fritch and Ricky Dale Lee of Borger; a daughter, Vickie Temple of Stinnett; three brothers, B.J. "Red" Lee of Borger, Tommy Gene Lee of Kingston, Okla., and Jerry Don Lee of Fort Worth; a sister, Pauline Bowlin of Napa Valley, Calif.; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 20, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leon Carroll Dockins WHEELER - Leon Carroll Dockins, 68, died Monday Oct. 18, 2004. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Mobeetie Cemetery in Mobeetie with Alberta Helton of the Reydon Community Church officiating. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St. Mr. Dockins was born in Melbourne, Ark. He moved to Mobeetie in 1971 from Wheeler. He worked as a cowboy around Wellington, Memphis and Mobeetie. He had also worked for the M.C. May Company as a steel hanger. He retired in 1971. He married Rose Mary Hammontree in 1961 at Wheeler. Mr. Dockins was a Christian. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Ivan Marie Prosser and husband, Larry, of Amarillo and Lisa Rose Barton of Mobeetie; a brother, Elray Dockins and wife, Gwyn, of Washburn; two sisters, Katherine Humphreys and husband, Don, of Wheeler and Kathleen Mote and husband, Eugene, of Wellington; four grandchildren, Dena Allen, Desiree O'Donnell, Haley Barton and Kasey Barton; and three great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center, 1500 Wallace Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79106; or Odyssey Healthcare, 1000 S. Jefferson St., Amarillo, TX 79101. The body will be available for viewing at First Baptist Church of Mobeetie from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 20, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Betty Jo Bowen PAMPA - Betty Jo Bowen, 76, died Saturday, Oct. 16, 2004, in Albuquerque, N.M. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with the Rev. Barry Owens, associate pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Mrs. Bowen retired from Ingersoll-Rand in 1989. She was a member of the First Baptist Church. Survivors include her twin sister, Peggy J. Fowler of Albuquerque; and a brother, Paul Jenks of Austin. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 20, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ramon Martinez Sr. FRIONA - Ramon Martinez Sr., 46, of Amarillo and Stratford, died Monday, Oct. 18, 2004. Mass will be at 11 a.m. today in St. Teresa's Catholic Church in Friona with the Rev. Ed Sweeney, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Friona Cemetery by Blackwell Funeral Home. Survivors include four sons, Ramon "Rico" Martinez Jr. and Jamie Martinez, both of Dallas, Oscar Martinez of Amarillo and Alexander Martinez of Stratford; a daughter, Rachel Martinez of Stratford; a stepdaughter, Mayra Mendez of Stratford; his father, Antonio Martinez Sr. of Friona; four sisters, Frances Trevino and Janie Ramirez, both of Dumas, and Irma Mendoza and Lupe Martinez, both of Friona; four brothers, Antonio Martinez Jr., Albert Martinez and Lazaro Martinez, all of Dumas, and Pablo Martinez of Bovina; and five grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 20, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Farris Wade Martin TURKEY - Farris Wade Martin, 81, died Monday, Oct. 18, 2004. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in the Church of Christ with Stuart Smith and Melvin Clinton officiating. Burial will be in Flomot Cemetery in Flomot. Arrangements are by Myers-Chancellor Funeral Directors. He was preceded in death by a stepson, Mickey Price of Dumas. Survivors include his wife, Novella; two daughters, Ginger Mullin and Brenda Smith, both of Turkey; a son, Butch Brannon of Abilene; four grandchildren, Derek Mullin, Shadi Buchanan, Brandon Smith and Jason Smith; six great- grandchildren; nine stepgrandchildren; a great-grandchild; and three stepchildren, Mona Wheeler of Turkey, Max Price of Arizona and Monty Price of Illinois. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 20, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bernita Mae Lockhart HOWARDWICK - Bernita Mae Lockhart, 70, died Monday, Oct. 18, 2004, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 6969 E. Interstate 40, with the Rev. J. Alan Ford officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Lockhart was born March 31, 1934, in Oklahoma. She married James "Eldon" Lockhart on April 12, 1980. She was preceded in death by her husband in 2003; a son, Glen Storm in 1996; and a brother, Glen Wayne West in 1999. Survivors include a daughter, Fern L. Stout of Amarillo; two sons, Charles H. and Donald E. Storm of Howardwick; a brother, Clovis West of Howardwick; three sisters, Cathy Hasselbacher of Galesburg, Ill., Mabel Moore and Joan Bergemann of Minnesota; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 20, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Heriberto Zapata Mireles Sr. TULIA - Heriberto Zapata Mireles Sr., 82, died Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004, in Amarillo. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Church of the Holy Spirit with the Rev. Scott Raef, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery by Kornerstone Funeral Directors. Mr. Mireles married Teresa Basaldua on Dec. 31, 1945, in Mission. Survivors include two daughters, Martha Belcher of Tulia and Irma Mireles Feehan of Amarillo; six sons, Juan Manuel Mireles, Heriberto Mireles Jr. and Raul Mireles, all of Amarillo, Earnest Mireles of Plainview, Ruben Mireles of Tulia and Urbano Mireles of Canyon; two brothers, Margarito Mireles of Monterey, Mexico, and Eduardo Mireles of Sabinas, Hidalgo, Mexico; 15 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 20, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mary Kathryn Gunter McManigal HAPPY - Mary Kathryn Gunter McManigal, 84, died Monday, Oct. 18, 2004. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in First Baptist Church with Dr. Travis Hart, pastor of First Baptist Church in Plainview, and the Rev. Paul Burwash, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Happy Cemetery by Holley Funeral Home of Canyon. Mrs. McManigal was born Dec. 13, 1919, in Claude to James Harley Gunter and Ophie Scribner Gunter. She was a member of the Baptist Church in Happy and a graduate of Texas Tech University. She married Morlan McManigal on Feb. 8, 1941, in Claude. Survivors include a son, Jim McManigal and wife, Willa Jane, of Happy; two daughters, Janie Hart and husband, Travis, of Plainview and Susan Belmore of Odessa; a brother, James Harley Gunter of Claude; six grandchildren, Christy Johnson, Jana McManigal, Sarah Kate Hoestenbach, John Vernon, Harrison Hart and Ellen Hart; and three great-grandchildren, Bailey, Teagen and Kyton Johnson. The family suggests memorials be to First Baptist Church of Happy, P.O. Box 95, Happy, TX 79042. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 20, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Mexico Elva A. "Sue" Hauser CLAYTON, N.M. - Elva A. "Sue" Hauser, 78, died Monday, Oct. 18, 2004. Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday in Amistad United Methodist Church with the Rev. Billy Rammage, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Hayden Cemetery by Hass Funeral Directors. Mrs. Hauser was born Oct. 31, 1925, to Addie Belton Duncan and Lily Erma Riley Duncan. She was a member of Hayden Baptist Church in Hayden. Survivors include a son, Earnest Floyd Hauser of Hayden; a grandson; and a brother, Kenneth Duncan of Lubbock, Texas. The family suggests memorials be to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, P.O. Box 1890, Amarillo, TX 79105. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 20, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oklahoma Everett Berten Maphet Sr. ROSSTON, Okla. - Everett Berten Maphet Sr., 99, died Monday, Oct. 18, 2004. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday in Gate Friends Church in Gate with the Rev. Lyle Whiteman and the Rev. Larry Bowen officiating. Burial will be in Gate Cemetery by Myatt Seeger Funeral Home. Mr. Maphet was born Oct. 31, 1904, in Sylvia, Kan. He married Leona Lucille Carpenter on Nov. 9, 1926, in Ashland, Kan. Survivors include a son, Darrell Leroy Maphet of Rosston; two daughters, Betty Ann Lively of Rosston and Patsy Lou Bayliff of Tuttle; a sister, Lillian Eells of Gate; 11 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and a great-great- grandchild. The family suggests memorials be to Gate Cemetery or a favorite charity. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 20, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elsewhere Jesse Ray Merrell Jr. DUNCANVILLE - Jesse Ray Merrell Jr., 80, died Monday, Oct. 18, 2004. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Bluebonnett Hills with the Rev. James Scirrat officiating. Arrangements are by David Clayton and Sons Funeral Home. Mr. Merrell, my daddy, reached out and took the hand of Jesus on Monday after a courageous battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family and will remain in our hearts forever. Daddy was born in Somervell County on May 5, 1924, to Jesse Ray Merrell Sr. and Catherine Allison Merrell. Graduating from Polytechnic High School and attending the University of Texas at Arlington, he grew up to be a man of compassion and integrity, with a deep faith in Jesus Christ that sustained him until his eyes closed at last. My parents began their life together May 7, 1942, and I was born the following year. They were married for 62 years. He joined the Army Air Corps as a member of the 355th fighter squadron, proudly serving in Germany and France during World War II. For 33 years he worked for Sherwin Williams Co. providing a good life for mother and me. They lived in Amarillo for 40 years before moving back to Fort Worth. He was a 32nd Degree Mason. I, we, will miss his sweet smile, his sense of humor and treasure always our memories of him and all that he gave us. We were blessed to have daddy share in our lives for so many years. He was my daddy, my best friend, and the man I have looked up to all my life. He lived his life with dignity, grace and love for all. The family is so grateful for Jackie, of Home Instead, who lovingly cared for daddy, staying by his side and comforting all of us. She was his angel sent by Jesus. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Vernon; and a sister, Oleta. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, me, Joyce Ann and husband, Carroll; his adoring grandson, Michael L. Porter and wife, Jeanette, of Mesa, Ariz.; three sisters, Addie Ray, Ophelia and husband, Warren, and Earnesteen and husband, Dick; a brother, Byram and wife, Jean; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Honorary pallbearers will be all of his golfing buddies from North Richland Hills Baptist Church. Their faithful visits to daddy will always be appreciated and remembered for the smiles on his precious face. He had a wonderful voice and enjoyed singing with them during their visits. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. today at Bluebonnett Hills. Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 20, 2004 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------