Potter Co. TX - Obits: February 2, 2005 ============================================================== 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 Wednesday, February 2, 2005 Amarillo Taylor Burk Taylor Burk, 21, of Amarillo died Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2005. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints, 5401 S. Bell St., with Bishop Douglas Bingham officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Burk was born Aug. 26, 1983, and raised in Amarillo. In his youth he developed a great love of sports, playing both soccer and football. Taylor deeply loved his family and as a young man was nurtured by his "Mom," Tracy and mentored by his "Dad," Larry. Wheeler, Taylor's brother, was his best friend and Taylor was truly a "big brother" to his sister Julie. Taylor's youth was filled with both the love of his family and many close friends. He graduated from Randall High School before enlisting in the Army, attending boot camp at Fort Sill, Okla. Taylor trained as a medic at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio and was later stationed at Fort Hood prior to his deployment to Baghdad, Iraq. Last year, Private Taylor Burk, a medic, was riding with a group of Humvees on a nighttime patrol when Iraqi gunmen suddenly raked his vehicle with gunfire. Burk, a rural Amarillo native, was riding in an unprotected Humvee when a tracer bullet ricocheted through his boot and lodged in his foot, family members said. Another soldier called out to Burk and said he'd been hit. Private Joseph Bridges had been shot in the thigh and suffered severe bleeding. Although wounded himself and under enemy fire, Burk worked quickly saving the soldier's life as the gunfire continued striking Private Bridges again. Burk insisted to his commander that they take the soldier directly to a surgical hospital in unfamiliar territory. The Humvees rushed through Baghdad streets with their lights off to the medical facility. Burk's actions were credited with saving his friend's life, and he was awarded the Bronze Star for his valor in combat, the Combat Medic Badge and the Purple Heart. Taylor returned to Fort Hood for rehabilitation of the wounds he sustained during that conflict. He received a 30-day medical leave and enjoyed quality time with his family and friends. Taylor was a young man with a pure heart and deep spiritual conviction. He was honored to serve this nation and demonstrated courage and valor in his duties. At the time of his death, he was serving his second tour of duty in Baghdad. Taylor was killed while on patrol in a heated area when a homemade bomb detonated. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends. He will never be forgotten by Company C, 1-8 Calvary for his courage and bravery as a hero in the line of duty. Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Tracy J. and Larry R. Preddy of Amarillo; his father and stepmother, Tim and Kimberly Burk of Edmond, Okla.; three sisters, Julie Burk of Amarillo, Heidi Aucoin of Mittie, La., and Heather Falconer of Jacksonville, Fla.; three brothers, Wheeler Preddy of Amarillo, Matthew Burk of Goodyear, Ariz., and James Preddy of Las Vegas; and his grandmothers, Betty Glover of Amarillo and Polly Dunn of Boerne. The family suggests memorials be to Tsunami Disaster Relief in care of American Red Cross, 1800 S. Harrison St., Amarillo, TX 79102. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 2, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Betty Baughman Betty Baughman, 84, of Amarillo died Monday, Jan. 31, 2005. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd., with the Rev. Wayne Griffin, pastor of Second Baptist Church, and the Rev. Renae Haiduk, associate pastor of Polk Street United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Baughman was born April 16, 1920, in Connellsville, Pa., and had lived in Amarillo since 1962. She worked with Mother's Day Out at Buchanan Street Baptist Church and Polk Street United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Baughman; and two sons, Keith and Woody. Survivors include two sons, Terry Van Baughman and wife, Barbara, and Donald L. Baughman and wife, Marjorie, all of Amarillo; a brother, Ed Lape and wife, Lou, of Scottdale, Pa.; a brother-in-law, Howard Baughman and wife, Jean, of Amarillo; a sister-in-law, Lucille Baughman of Amarillo; seven grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. The family will be at 210 N. Maryland St. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 2, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jacqualene "Chiquita" Knight Jacqualene "Chiquita" Knight, 61, of Amarillo died Sunday, Jan. 9, 2005, in Erin, Tenn. Memorial services will be at 6 p.m. Friday in Pinnacle Community Church with Kurt Oheim, pastor, officiating. Mrs. Knight married James M. "Jimmy" Knight on May 30, 1958. She was preceded in death by her husband on Oct. 22, 2004; and two sons, Timmy and Toby Knight. Survivors include a son, Tony Knight of Amarillo; two sisters, Brenda Burton of Erin and Regina Northrup of Amarillo; eight grandchildren; four great- grandchildren; and two special friends, Susan Baker of Dallas and Bobby McReynolds of Amarillo. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 2, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Juston Blake Littlefield Juston Blake Littlefield, infant son of Jason and Jessica Littlefield of Amarillo, died Monday, Jan. 31, 2005. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Memory Gardens Cemetery with Jim Shelburne, pastor of Washington Avenue Christian Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home Coulter Chapel, 8310 S. Coulter St. Juston was born in Amarillo on Nov. 17, 2004. Survivors include his parents; a brother, Jerry Littlefield of Amarillo; his grandparents, Kelly Fox, Steve Fox and Wayne and Susan Strickland, all of Amarillo; and his great-grandparents, Shirley McMinn of Amarillo, J.L. and Zelma Kennedy of Paris and R.J. and Teresa Sisco of Midland. The family suggests memorials be to Children's Miracle Network, 1600 Wallace Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79106. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 2, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Area Lizzie Goree TULIA - Lizzie Goree, 101, died Monday, Jan. 31, 2005. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Jackson Chapel Church of God in Christ with the Rev. Matthew Veals, pastor of New Fellowship Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery by Kornerstone Funeral Directors. Mrs. Goree was born April 27, 1903, in Brenham. She was a homemaker and a Baptist. Survivors include a son, Lee Burton of Tulia; a granddaughter; four great- grandchildren; and 11 great-great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 2, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Don Lynn Lawson HEREFORD - Don Lynn Lawson, 44, died Monday, Jan. 31, 2005, in Amarillo. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Temple Baptist Church in Hereford with Shaun Lynch, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at 11:30 a.m. in Happy Cemetery in Happy by Gililland-Watson Funeral Home. Mr. Lawson was born Oct. 21, 1960, in Amarillo to Reece and Sarah (Oertli) Lawson. He grew up in Hereford and graduated from Hereford High School. Survivors include his mother; three sons, Reece Lynn Lawson, Eric Dean Lawson and Cole Eathan Lawson, all of Dalhart; a brother, Paul Lawson of Wimberly; and a sister, Willa Zandi of Coppell. The family suggests memorials be to Happy Cemetery, P.O. Box 216, Happy, TX 79042. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 2, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ruth Ledbetter WHEELER - Ruth Ledbetter, 94, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2005. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Ricky Carstensen, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Kelton Cemetery by Wright Funeral Home. Mrs. Ledbetter was born Aug. 26, 1910, in Lamar, Ark., to Henry and Lillian Hink. She married Elmer Vernon Ledbetter on Jan. 8, 1938, in Shamrock. Mrs. Ledbetter had lived in Texas since 1933 and moved to Wheeler in 1986 from Kelton. She was a member of Kelton Home Demonstration Club and First United Methodist Church of Wheeler. She was preceded in death by her husband on March 5, 1961; a sister; and two brothers. Survivors include two daughters, Zuana Ford and husband, Alfred, of Irving and Carolyn Buckingham and husband, Billy, of Kelton; a son, Gail Ledbetter and wife, Sally, of Wheeler; a brother, Harold Hink of Amarillo; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to First United Methodist Church of Wheeler. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 2, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joe McWaters SILVERTON - Joe McWaters, 93, died Sunday, Jan. 30, 2005, in Lockney. Services were at 2 p.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church with Harold Abney, chaplain of Hospice Hands of West Texas, and Chad King, pastor, officiating. Burial was in Silverton Cemetery by Myers-Chancellor Funeral Home. Mr. McWaters was born March 11, 1911, in Freestone County. He had been a resident of Silverton for 71 years. Survivors include his wife, Ruby; two sons, Dale McWaters of Silverton and Glen McWaters of Quitaque; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Silverton EMS or Hospice Hands of West Texas. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 2, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leona Mae Stayton HEREFORD - Leona Mae Stayton, 84, died Monday, Jan. 31, 2005. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Gililland-Watson Funeral Home Rose Chapel with Dr. Murrell Tull, pastor of Seventh-day Adventist of Amarillo, officiating. Burial will be in West Park Cemetery. Miss Stayton was born Feb. 26, 1920, in Blair, Okla., to Leonard F. and Goldie Mae Kamenzind Stayton. She came to Texas in 1929 with her family from Blair. She was preceded in death by a brother, Charles Stayton; a sister, Doris Turner; and her parents. Survivors include a brother, James Stayton of Lampasas; six sisters, Lorene Sessums, Mary Jo Tuck, Betty Smith and Ouida Mandaville, all of Canyon, Wynelle Thursby of Jacksonville, Fla., and Wanda Lou Evans of Dumas; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to Odyssey Health Care, 1000 S. Jefferson St., Amarillo, TX 79101. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 2, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Betty Irene Word PAMPA - Betty Irene Word, 74, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2005. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with the Rev. C. W. Parker, pastor of Central Baptist Church, and the Rev. Rick Parnell, associate pastor of Central Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Mrs. Word had been a resident of Pampa since 1950. She was a member of Central Baptist Church. Survivors include a daughter, Connie Jo Morrison of Houston; a son, Robert Glen Yeager of Fritch; two sisters, Joan Yeager and Lucybell Duff, both of Canyon; four granddaughters; and three great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to The Lighthouse of Houston, 3602 W. Dallas St., Houston, TX 77019; or American Cancer Society in care of Gerry Caylor, 2130 Charles St., Pampa, TX 79065. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 2, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Mexico Fidelia Garcia Gallegos CLOVIS, N.M. - Fidelia Garcia Gallegos, 92, died Saturday, Jan. 29, 2005. Mass will be today in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Villa Nueva with the Rev. Patrick Duffy officiating. Burial will be in Villa Nueva Cemetery by Muffley Funeral Home. Mrs. Gallegos was born Dec. 5, 1912, in Villa Nueva. She married Adolfo Gallegos on Aug. 29, 1934, in Villa Nueva. Survivors include two sons, Flavio Gallegos of Albuquerque and Thomas Gallegos of Raton; seven daughters, Katie Walker of Pittsburg, Calif., Reyes Smith of Belen, Patricia Standback of Las Vegas, Frances Large of El Paso, Texas, and Lupe Patton, Isabel Gallegos and Christine Gallegos, all of Clovis; two sisters, Frances Trujillo of Albuquerque and Rita Quintana of Lagarita; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 2, 2005 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------