Potter Co. TX - Obits: May 20, 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 Friday, May 20, 2005 Amarillo Mickie Douglas Mattiza Mickie Douglas Mattiza, 54, of Amarillo died Monday, April 25, 2005 Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in Cowboy Church and Arena. Arrangements are by OakCrest Funeral Home of Waco. Mr. Mattiza, devoted son, husband and father, made his last round-up surrounded by his family at his home in Amarillo following a courageous two- year struggle with cancer. He was born March 11, 1951, in McCamey. He started school at Clark Air Force Base, Philippine Islands, and graduated from Gatesville High School in 1969. He attended Ranger Junior College and Tarleton State University, where he graduated with a bachelor of science in agribusiness in 1974. He later met the love of his life, Jo Ann Ilbery, and they were married on July 3, 1976. They had been married almost 29 years. Mickie had been a member of St. John's Lutheran Church since his baptism in 1954. Mickie always loved working in agriculture. He was a member of 4-H and FFA in Gatesville, and earned his Lone Star Farmer's Degree in 1969. Following his graduation from Tarleton, Mickie worked various agriculture-related jobs before joining the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He worked for that organization for more than 22 years, primarily in the agribusiness area, before retiring in 2000. His retirement allowed him to devote full time to his true vocation of working as a cowboy. He was a member of The Working Ranch Cowboys' Association, and was only truly happy when he was horseback and working cattle. Above all else, he was a cowboy. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Emmett and Almira Dickie and Charlie and Bertha Buth; two uncles, Rhabb Dickie and Kenneth Kettler; and his father-in-law, Gilbert A. Ilbery. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Chris Mattiza and wife, Tammy, of Coryell City and Justin Mattiza of Amarillo; two grandchildren, Kaylee and Tyler Mattiza of Coryell City; his parents, Ira D. "Tex" and Bettie Kate Mattiza of Coryell City; a brother, Dann "Rusty" Mattiza and wife, Jean, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; a sister, Rebecca Sue Kirby and husband, Dale, of Corpus Christi; three aunts, Dodie Kettler and Joy Dickie, both of Gatesville, and Madie Deavers and husband, Glenn, of Dublin; his mother-in-law, Jane Ilbery of Waco; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Sign our online guest book at WWW.OAKCRESTWACO.COM. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Belen Calderon Belen Calderon, 67, of Amarillo died Thursday, May 19, 2005. Rosary will be said at 6 p.m. today in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Llano East Cemetery with the Rev. Adalberto Ramirez officiating. Mrs. Calderon was born Dec. 31, 1937, in Durango, Mexico. She was a homemaker. Survivors include her husband, Jesus Chacon; five sons, Ernesto Chacon of Washington, and Jesus Chacon, Jorge Chacon, Luis Chacon and Rojelio Chacon, all of Amarillo; a daughter, Virginia Chacon of Amarillo; a sister, Mageelano Ortiz of Mexico; and 11 grandchildren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Harvey Joe Cornelius Harvey Joe Cornelius, 82, of Amarillo died Tuesday, May 17, 2005. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors Bell Avenue Chapel, 5400 S. Bell St., with Dr. Howard Batson of First Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mr. Cornelius was born July 22, 1922, in Bokchito, Okla., to Luther and Hattie Cornelius. He worked for Bureau of Mines Helium Field Operations and retired as the superintendent of the Exell Helium Plant in 1979. He was a 55-year Master Mason and a member of First Baptist Church. He was married to his devoted loving wife, LaVon, for 64 years. Harvey Joe Cornelius is loved dearly and always by family and friends. The family would like to give special thanks to his physicians and BSA Hospice for their care and kindness to Joe and his family. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Faye, Royce and Boots; and a sister, Wilma Lee. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Kennith and David; six grandchildren, Tammy, Jana, Melissa, Jason, Amie and Dena; 10 great-grandchildren, Matthew, Stephanie, Austin, Cortlyn, Stetson, Alexis, Mason, Preston, Paige and Holden; and three sisters, Estelle, Ethel and Marva. The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79101; or Masonic Children's Hospital, 2222 Welborn St., Dallas, TX 75219. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vesta Beal Vesta Beal, 75, of Amarillo died Wednesday, May 18, 2005. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Cox Funeral Home Benton Chapel, 4180 Canyon Drive, with the Rev. Ken Keller officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Beal was born and raised in Blue, Okla. She graduated from Blue High School. She married Earl Beal in Durant, Okla., on April 3, 1948. Mrs. Beal had been a resident of Amarillo since 1949. She was a homemaker and loved her family very much. She enjoyed crafts and sewing. Mrs. Beal was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Cherry Sanders of Hedley; two sons, Rob Beal of Amarillo and Freddie Beal of Quail; four brothers, Don Miller and Jerry Miller, both of Amarillo, Edward Miller of Albuquerque, N.M., and A.J. Miller of Paxton, Ill.; two sisters, Iva Draper of Boyd and Nelda Propst of Fort Worth; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Edward Leon Merritt Edward Leon Merritt, 74, of Amarillo died Tuesday, May 17, 2005. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Rector Funeral Home Osage Chapel, 2800 S. Osage St., with Chuck Garrison, pastor of Oakdale Grace Fellowship Church, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Merritt was a truck driver for 51 years. He was married to Mildred Merritt for 28 years and then married to Joan Merritt for 20 years. He was a wonderful loving father and Paw Pa, he will be missed by all. He was preceded in death by a son, Ronald Greenwald. Survivors include four daughters, Patricia Medina of Gunnison, Colo., Tonya Crawford of Lake Meredith, Barbara Burke of Woodsfields, Ohio, and Dezra Gable of Amarillo; two sons, Dave Merritt of Phoenix and Gary Merritt of Gunnison; two sisters, Doris Bunn of Vega and Gwen Holybee of Hotchkiss, Colo.; a brother, Gail Merritt of Seattle; 14 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and his beloved Cat. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Canyon Irma Lisle Irma Lisle, 88, of Canyon died Wednesday, May 18, 2005, in Amarillo. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in University Church of Christ with David Lough, minister, and Bob Shepard, elder and Bible chair director, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery in Amarillo by Brooks Funeral Directors. Mrs. Lisle was born Jan. 31, 1917, in Fort Worth to Harry and Emma Walker Meyer. She graduated from Amarillo High School in 1935 and married Hampton Lisle Jr. in Amarillo on Jan. 21, 1940. They moved to Canyon in 1941. He preceded her in death in 1997. When Hampton retired from the Postal Service in 1975, Irma went to work at Thompson's in Canyon as a permanent part-time employee for 12 years. She was a member of University Church of Christ and taught the Cradle Roll Bible class for 25 years. Irma was fondly known as a loving wife, mother, aunt and grandmother. Her grandchildren called her "Mimi" and her great- grandchildren called her "Mimi Grape." She was a dear and encouraging woman to young and old, family and friends. Her life was a picture of untiring service to others. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Mamie Louise Lene in 1970 and Pauline Schindling in 1930. Survivors include two sons, Howard Hampton Lisle and wife, Ann, of Scurry and Harry Albert Lisle and wife, Claudia, of Amarillo; two daughters, Sharon Plummer and husband, Mike, of Searcy, Ark., and Julie Brown and husband, Rick, of Amarillo; 11 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Christian Relief Fund, P.O. Box 19670, Amarillo, TX 79114; or Margaret M. Plummer Memorial Research Fund in care of Harding University, Searcy, AR 72143. Visitation will be from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. today at University Church of Christ. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Area J.W. Bryant HARTLEY - J.W. Bryant, 90, died Wednesday, May 18, 2005, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Hartley Christian Fellowship Church. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Dalhart by Horizon Funeral Home of Dalhart. Mr. Bryant was born March 18, 1915, in Hartley to Ervin and Eufala Haynes Bryant. He was raised in Hartley and graduated from Hartley High School in 1934. He attended business college in Lubbock before marrying Minnie Lee Welch on March 20, 1939. He was a member of Hartley Christian Fellowship Church. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Terri Hatfield and husband, Jerry, of Hartley and Sherri Cornett and husband, Bill, of Amarillo; three grandchildren, Kim Hofferichter and husband, Darin, of Friona, Bryant Cornett and wife, Mary, of Atlanta and Curt Cornett of Amarillo; and three great- grandchildren, twin boys, Peyton and Dylan Hofferichter of Friona and William Cornett of Atlanta. The family suggests memorials be to Hartley Christian Fellowship Church, P.O. Box 196, Hartley, TX 79044; or Arthritis Foundation, P.O. Box 96280, Washington, DC 20090. Sign our online guest book at WWW.HORIZONFUNERAL.COM. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeanie Koehn DALHART - Jeanie Koehn, 62, died Tuesday, May 17, 2005. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with John Nightingale, Jeff Giesel and Stan Unruh, all ministers, officiating. Burial will be in Countryside Mennonite Cemetery in Hartley by Horizon Funeral Home. Mrs. Koehn was born Oct. 17, 1942, in Fairview, Okla. She married Verlin Koehn on April 18, 1965, in Fairview. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Vanessa Koehn of El Campo; a son, Todd Koehn of Dalhart; a granddaughter; three sisters, Verna Mae Koehn and Dorothy Dirks, both of Scott City, Kan., and Evelyn Unruh of Fairview; and a brother, Wayne Unruh of Fairview. The family suggests memorials be to Harrington Cancer Center, 1500 Wallace Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79106; or Dumas Memorial Hospice, 224 E. Second St., Dumas, TX 79029. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fontella McKee SPEARMAN - Fontella McKee, 84, died Monday, May 16, 2005. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Ochiltree Cemetery in Perryton with the Rev. Jim Medley officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Mrs. McKee was born Jan. 8, 1921, in Conway City, Kan. She was a member of First Christian Church of Perryton and was director of Planned Parenthood in Spearman. Survivors include a daughter, Sue Drum of Yorba Linda, Calif.; and four grandchildren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Porter Brown PANHANDLE - Porter Brown, 91, died Wednesday, May 18, 2005, in Amarillo. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Panhandle Cemetery with Dr. Jim Howard, pastor of St. Stephen United Methodist Church in Amarillo, officiating. Arrangements are by Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors. Mr. Brown was born Dec. 26, 1913, in Coleman County. He had been a Panhandle resident since 1938. He was a farmer and member of First United Methodist Church and Farm Bureau. He married Laura Pullen on March 19, 1938, in Panhandle. Survivors include his wife; a son, Billy Bob Brown of Panhandle; a sister, Ione Medlin of Wichita Falls; three grandchildren; and six great- grandchildren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Randall Lynn Lamberson HEDLEY - Randall Lynn Lamberson, 45, died Thursday, May 19, 2005. Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in the United Methodist Church with the Rev. Darrell Burton officiating. Arrangements are by Hughs Funeral Home in Memphis. Mr. Lamberson was born on Nov. 2, 1959, in Pampa to Buddy Lamberson and Alma (Alvey) Lamberson. He graduated from Pampa High School in 1978. He went on to McMurry College and Texas Tech, where he obtained his bachelor of science degree. He graduated from Methodist School of Nursing in Lubbock with his RN degree. Randy worked in the neonatal intensive care unit in Lubbock, then as a nurse in Pampa, Borger, Uvalde and Houston. The family wishes to express their sincere thanks to Rev. Darrell Burton, Geneva Mays and Dr. Mark Drew for their help and care during this time. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Fred and Lola Mae Alvey. Survivors include his parents of Hedley; a brother, Mike Lamberson of Stinnett; a sister-in-law, Donna Lamberson of Darrouzett; his grandparents, J.T. and Helen Lamberson of Hedley; his friend and caretaker, Robert Sauceda of Hedley; his aunts and uncles, Jim and Beth Alvey of Wheeler, Freda Morris of Huntsville and J.T. and Jacki Lamberson of Pasadena; four nieces, Mikala, Ashley, Landa and Kalan Lamberson; a nephew, Justin Lamberson; a great-nephew, Kyler Lamberson; a great-niece, Mykah Lamberson; and several cousins. The family suggests memorials be to Odyssey Health Care of Amarillo, 1000 S. Jefferson St., Amarillo, TX 79101. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------