Potter Co. TX - Obits: May 15, 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 Sunday, May 15, 2005 Amarillo Elmer Lee Ritter Elmer Lee Ritter, 74, of Amarillo died Thursday, May 12, 2005. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in St. Paul United Methodist Church with the Rev. Rusty Dickerson, senior minister, officiating. Private burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Mrs. Ritter, the youngest of six children born to Glennis and Elmer Williams of Duncan, Okla., was born April 13, 1931. She loved a good game of bridge, her kids, grandchildren, great-grandchild and her dog, Precious. She married Keith Ritter on July 3, 1955. Mrs. Ritter was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church, a member of the New Image Sunday School Class and United Methodist Women. Survivors include her husband; five children, Mark Ritter of Austin, Steve Ritter and wife, Patty, Karen and Don Craghead and Cary Ritter and wife, Robbie, all of Amarillo, and Susan Brickey and husband, Mike, of St. Joseph, Mo.; eight grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and a sister, Mildred Ross of Porterville, Calif. The family suggests memorials be to St. Paul United Methodist Church Endowment Fund, Epilepsy Association or to a favorite charity. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ida May Hamblen Rogers Ida May Hamblen Rogers, 94, of Amarillo died Friday, May 13, 2005. Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday in First Baptist Church of Canyon with the Reverends David Lowrie, pastor, and Brian Hill of First Baptist Church of Levelland, a grandson-in-law, officiating. Private family burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Holley Funeral Home of Canyon. Mrs. Rogers was born May 9, 1911, in the Wayside Community to Will and Ada Sprayberry Hamblen, early Armstrong County settlers. She married Carl F. Rogers on Aug. 14, 1930, in Clayton, N.M. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Canyon, being active in the Kings Daughters Sunday School Class and the LLL Club. She was also active in the Canyon Senior Citizens and the Eastern Star. She was a 50-year member of the Canyon Eastern Star Chapter 105 and was Mother Adviser to the Rainbow Girls. She was a longtime Canyon resident, moving to the Potter House Assisted Living in Amarillo in 1999. Survivors include three daughters, Carlene Rogers Morton and husband, Bill, of Lubbock, Wanda Rogers Phillips and husband, Bob, of Granbury and Gayle Rogers Zundel and husband, Emil, of Amarillo; a son, William Gene Rogers and wife, Suzanne, of Amarillo; a sister, Osce Parsons of Childress; a brother, Olef Hamblen of California; 10 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Hinston Nicholson John Hinston Nicholson, 87, of Amarillo died Thursday, May 12, 2005. Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Monday in First Presbyterian Church with Dr. Murray Gossett officiating. Private burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Mr. Nicholson was born in Galveston to Roscoe and Ruby Nicholson on March 24, 1918. He graduated high school in San Antonio. He earned a bachelor of science degree in geology from the University of Texas in Austin. He then joined the Army Air Corps in 1943. He attended photography school at Yale, navigation school in Los Angeles and intelligence school in Pennsylvania. He was sent to England as an aerial photo interpreter under Gen. Doolittle. Capt. Nicholson returned to the United States in 1946. He earned a master's degree in geology from the University of Texas. He went to work for Standard Oil in Midland. He married Letta Moore in 1949 and moved to Amarillo in 1950 as district geologist. They had two daughters. After a few years, he resigned and became an independent geologist and consultant. His profession took him to Australia, the Philippines, Mexico, Canada and nearly every corner of the United States. He flew his own plane a lot of the time. He was a Boy Scout scoutmaster for many years; 50-year member of American Association of Petroleum Geologists; member since 1983 of Society of Independent Professional Scientists and the Society of Petroleum Engineers; a longtime member of the YMCA; Amarillo Symphony; Art Center; Amarillo Club; Tascosa Country Club; and several business clubs. He taught Sunday school and held several offices at Covenant Presbyterian Church and later joined First Presbyterian Church. His wife died in 1980. He married Joy Bradley in 1983. After years of travel and working, he retired in 2000 because of his health. Our gratitude and thanks to the staff and nurses at Ware Memorial Care Center for their loving care. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Jena Butler and husband, Billy, of Quinlan and Judy McCullough and husband, Mike, of Albuquerque, N.M.; two stepchildren, Cliff Bradley and wife, Mary, of Poulsbo, Wash., and Janet Bradley of Dallas; two grandsons, Jake and Cody Butler, both of Quinlan; and several nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to The Village at Ware Memorial Care Center, 400 W. 14th Ave., Amarillo, TX 79101, Alzheimer's Association, 2200 W. Seventh Ave., Amarillo, TX 79106 or a favorite charity. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lodena Virginia "Tooley" Cone Lodena Virginia "Tooley" Cone, 82, of Amarillo died Friday, May 13, 2005. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Brooks Funeral Directors Chapel in Canyon with the Rev. Clark Williams, pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery. Mrs. Cone was born April 13, 1923, to Oscar W. Tooley and Mattie Sellers Tooley in Tolbert. She was raised in Tolbert and graduated from Vernon High School. She married Garl W. "Todd" Cone in Solomons, Md., in 1944. He preceded her in death in 1991. She received her bachelor of science in education from West Texas State Teachers College. She received her master's degree in library sciences from the Texas Woman's University in Denton. She was employed by Borger Independent School District as a teacher and librarian. She was a member of Faith Covenant Church of Borger. She was also a member of Friends of the Library, Texas State Teacher's Association, Chi Omega sorority and the Texas Association of Librarians. Survivors include two sons, Stan Cone and wife, Sally, of Sugar Land and Steve Cone of Borger; a daughter, Cindy Pavillard and husband, Dan, of Amarillo; a brother, Kenneth Tooley and wife, Doris, of Austin; seven grandchildren, Kevin, Russell, Scott and Court Pavillard, Trevor and Sean Cone and Erin Hemelstrand; and a great-grandson, Dillon Cone. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert L. "Bill" Simmons Robert Layton "Bill" Simmons, 97, of Amarillo died Thursday, May 12, 2005. A memorial service is pending. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Mr. Simmons went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on May 12 in Amarillo after a brief illness. He began his 97 wonderful, satisfying years in Emory, then moved to a ranch in Roberts County with his family at the age of 7. He graduated from Miami High School and attended Texas Tech. Family legend has it that he picked up his nickname "Bill" after drawing and riding a buffalo at a Tech rodeo. After completing his ride, he acquired the name "Buffalo Bill"! He began his long career in the grain business in 1933. Always a man of his word and respected by all, Bill retired from a distinguished career with Producers Grain Corporation in 1976 as vice president in charge of operations. He provided consistent leadership as president of several local, national and international professional grain organizations. In the grain business and in life, Bill was appreciated and recognized for his integrity, loyalty, dedicated service and friendship. A loving and caring man, he was devoted to his family and thoroughly enjoyed them up to his death. Bill served his community faithfully as a member of Polk Street United Methodist Church, the Rotary Club and the Kiwanis Club. God is to be praised for a long life lived well. Bill was an excellent example of a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and friend, who, having finished his life in faith, now finds eternal rest and refreshment. The family gratefully acknowledges the tender care and compassion of the staffs of Windflower Nursing Center at Craig Methodist Retirement Community and BSA Hospice. He was preceded in death by a son, Robert L. Simmons Jr. Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Pauline Winders Simmons; a daughter, Katina Simmons of Santa Fe, N.M.; a daughter-in-law, Cindy Brinker Simmons and grandson, William Simmons, both of Dallas; two nieces, Marva Hohertz of Spearman and Annette Lippold of Canyon and their families; two cousins, Doug McCrum and Susan McCrum Marshall, both of Dallas; sisters and brothers-in-law; and nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to the Robert Layton Simmons Jr. Translational Cancer Research Fund, in care of Southwestern Medical Foundation, 2305 Cedar Springs Road, Suite 150, Dallas, TX 75201. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Canyon Orlena Devin Allen Orlena Devin Allen, 92, of Canyon died Wednesday, May 11, 2005, in Amarillo. Friends and family will celebrate memories of her at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 21, in First United Methodist Church of Dimmitt with the Rev. Donna Johnston, associate pastor of First United Methodist Church of Canyon, officiating. Arrangements are by Brooks Funeral Directors. Ms. Allen was born Oct. 10, 1912, in Swisher County. After graduating from Tulia High School in 1931, she attended West Texas State University. In 1940, she married Louis Allen of Dimmitt, where they shared 40 years of life until his death in 1981. They were members of First United Methodist Church. Ms. Allen later lived at Palo Duro Village Cooperative in Canyon and was nurtured in her final months by Hudson House Assisted Living in Canyon. She was preceded in death by her husband; two sisters, Mattie Devin and Catherine Sprawls; and five brothers, Robert Devin, Lloyd Devin, Clayton Devin, Edward Devin and Albert Devin. Survivors include a daughter, Tommie Almond and husband, Robert, of Wilmington, Del.; two granddaughters, Aundrea Almond-Wallace and husband, Rodney, of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and Alyssa Almond of Wilmington; a brother, Delbert Devin and wife, Betty, of Tulia; and four sisters-in-law, Mildred Devin of Reno, Nev., Margaret Devin of Canyon and Virginia Devin and Pat Devin, both of Tulia. The family suggests memorials be to Meals on Wheels, 2616 13th Ave., Canyon, TX 79015. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Area Carmen Alvarez TULIA - Carmen Alvarez, 54, died Friday, May 13, 2005, in Amarillo. Prayer services will be at 7 p.m. today in Kornerstone Funeral Directors Chapel. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Mrs. Alvarez was born April 10, 1951, in Hayes County. She grew up in Tulia and attended schools there. After high school, she attended Amarillo College for a couple of years. She married Joe Alvarez on Nov. 2, 1984, in Tulia. She worked at a number of jobs, but was mainly a homemaker and housewife. She was preceded in death by a sister, Jovita Rodriguez and her mother, Jovita Zuniga. Survivors include her husband; six children, Rosie Ramirez, Toni Ramirez, Bibo Ramirez, Joey Alvarez and Amos Alvarez, all of Tulia, and Eric Ramirez of Livingston; her father, Seledonio Zuniga Sr. of Tulia; four brothers, Jesse Zuniga, Jimmy Zuniga and Federico Zuniga, all of Tulia, and Seledonio Zuniga Jr. of Amarillo; three sisters, Mary Ann Madrigal and Silvia Rosales, both of Tulia, and Lucy Cansino of Plainview; and nine grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Odyssey Health Care, 1000 S. Jefferson St., Amarillo, TX 79101. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kenneth Bozeman PERRYTON - Kenneth Bozeman, 59, died Friday, May 13, 2005. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Greg Kennedy officiating. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Mr. Bozeman was born Sept. 20, 1945, in Tulia. He married Bobbie Turner on Oct. 21, 1973. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Neal Bozeman of Indianapolis and Travis Bozeman of Perryton; four brothers, George Bozeman Jr. of Deerfield, N.H., Harvey Bozeman of Tulia and Clem J. Bozeman and John Bozeman, both of Perryton; two sisters, Joyce Daly and Dr. Nancy Bozeman, both of Arlington; and two grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Museum of the Plains, 1200 N. Main St., Perryton, TX 79070 or to Perryton Activity Center, P.O. Box 829, Perryton, TX 79070. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lee Aileen Graziano MIAMI - Lee Aileen Graziano, 41, died Friday, May 13, 2005. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Lance Wood, pastor, and Bill Burkhalter officiating. Additional services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Cadieu Funeral Home in Menominee, Mich. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery in Menominee County, Mich. Arrangements are by Carmichael- Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa and Cadieu Funeral Home of Menominee. Ms. Graziano was born March 30, 1964, in Menominee and had been a resident of Miami for 2 years. She was a cashier at Market Square in Miami. Survivors include a son, Michael Todd Graziano of Menominee; a daughter, Crystal Lee Graziano of Miami; her father and stepmother, William and Mary Ann Rivard of Daggett, Mich.; her mother, Darlene Mortinson of Menominee; and a brother, Randy Rivard of Menominee. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marjorie Lea Powell QUANAH - Marjorie Lea Powell, 75, died Friday, May 13, 2005. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Clinton Young officiating and Dennis Trammell assisting. Burial will be in Rock Cemetery in Duke, Okla., by Smith Funeral Home. Mrs. Powell was born May 28, 1929, in Eldorado, Okla., to C.W. and Mattie Devoll Ince. She married James Powell on June 4, 1945, in Hollis, Okla. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Myrna Kretzer of Odin, Ill.; four sons, David Powell, Danny Powell, Chester Powell and Paul Powell, all of Quanah; two sisters, Zolla Marshall of Everett, Wash., and Velma Ritter of Mangum, Okla.; two brothers, William Ince of Amarillo and Charles Ince of Washington; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florence May Gillespie FOLLETT - Florence May Gillespie, 88, died Friday, May 13, 2005, in Booker. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in United Methodist Church with Dan Carter, pastor, and Shannon Gillespie officiating. Burial will be in Fairmont Cemetery by Mason Funeral Home of Shattuck, Okla. Mrs. Gillespie was a dedicated mother and grandmother and was Mom to every child in Follett. Survivors include five children, Jim Gillespie of Dumas, Beverly Schneider of Perryton, Sylvian Gillespie of Roswell, N.M., Karen League of Enid, Okla., and Gordy Gillespie of Sweetwater; 12 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to United Methodist Church in Follett. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Area Stephen Ray "Steve" Dewey PAMPA - Stephen Ray "Steve" Dewey, 58, died Friday, May 13, 2005. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Scott Penrod, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery with Masonic graveside rites courtesy of Top O' Texas Masonic Lodge No. 1381 AF & AM. Military honors will be accorded by the Navy. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Dewey was born Dec. 28, 1946, in Borger and had been a Pampa resident since 1972. He graduated from Borger High School in 1966 and attended West Texas State University. He married Virginia Wiens on Dec. 27, 1970, in Pampa. Mr. Dewey was employed as a plant operator for Cities Service Gas Co. for 13 years, was a mechanic for Leonard Hudson Drilling Co. for a few years, was employed as a field operator for Phillips Petroleum for 15 years and served as a corrections officer for the TDCJ Jordan Unit for four years. He formerly owned and operated V & S Outfitters, and he was an avid bow hunter and fisherman. He was a member of First United Methodist Church, where he sang in the church choir. He was a member of Top O' Texas Masonic Lodge No. 1381 for the past 25 years, and he was a past member of the Pampa Lions Club. He was a former high school football official, and he was a softball umpire. In 1967, he sang in the musical "Texas" in Palo Duro Canyon. He was a veteran of the Navy during the Vietnam War, serving on the USS Oriskany aircraft carrier. While serving in the Navy, he was asked to sing a solo for the premier of Austria. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Vivian Dewey. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Carrie Williams of Pampa; a son, Kelley Dewey and wife, April, of Pampa; a sister, Susan Simmons of Radium, Kan.; his father-in-law, Ed Wiens of Pampa; and four grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Harrington Cancer Center, 1500 Wallace Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79106; First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1981, Pampa, TX 79066-1981; or Odyssey Health Care, 1000 S. Jefferson St., Amarillo, TX 79101. Sign the online register book at WWW.CARMICHAEL-WHATLEY.COM. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oklahoma Ilene Jones TEXHOMA, OKLA. - Ilene Jones, 92, died Friday, May 13, 2005, in Spearman, Texas. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Texhoma First Christian Church with Mike Hughes officiating. Burial will be in Texhoma Cemetery by Dawson-Welch Funeral Home. Mrs. Jones was born March 13, 1913, in Salem, Ind., to Harry and Arvada Criswell Bullington. She married Elmo Hershel Jones on April 3, 1933, in Boise City. Survivors include two sons, Tommy Jones of Texhoma and Larry Jones of Grants Pass, Ore.; three grandchildren; and a sister, Lahoma Lamb of Gruver, Texas. The family suggests memorials be to Texhoma First Christian Church. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elsewhere Robert Wood LITTLEFIELD - Robert Wood, infant son of Robert Michael Wood and Kari Ann Nunn Wood of Fort Worth, died Tuesday, May 10, 2005, in Fort Worth. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Joe Stewart, pastor, officiating. Private family burial will be prior to the service in Littlefield Memorial Park by Hammons Funeral Home. Survivors include his parents; his grandparents, Gene and Marsha Nunn of Amarillo and Joe and Paula Wood of Littlefield; and his great-grandparents, Melvin and Vondee Mears of Littlefield, Mary Wood of Sudan and Dee Inglis of Tulia. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------