Potter Co. TX - Obits: June 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 Wednesday, June 15, 2005 Amarillo Rubye Jo Crowder Rubye Jo Crowder, 92, of Amarillo died Monday, June 13, 2005. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Memory Gardens Cemetery with the Rev. Arthur Hickox of Full Gospel of the Body of Christ Fellowship officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mrs. Crowder was born on Sept. 1, 1912, on the Harris Farm west of Ralston, Okla., to Henry and Mary Jane Harris. She graduated from Ralston High School in 1930 and took the teacher's examination. She began teaching in one-room rural schools near Pawnee, Okla., at the age of 18. She later earned her bachelor of arts degree from Central State University in Edmond, Okla. She also taught at Kingfisher, Dewey, and Ponca City, Okla. After she retired from Ponca City schools, she continued to substitute teach. She taught a total of 58 years. Mrs. Crowder was chosen to serve as a certified teacher on the evaluation team at Union School and the Opportunity Center in Ponca City. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Oklahoma Education Association and Retired Teachers Association. She was a member of First Christian Church in Ponca City. She and her husband moved to Amarillo in May 1999. We would like to thank all the staff at the Cottages at Quail Creek for their love and support for Rubye and her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Mary Jane Harris; her husband, Carl Crowder on June 13, 2003; two brothers, John and George Harris; and a sister, Opal Lawson. Survivors include a daughter, Carol Ann Wheatley and husband, Mack, of Amarillo; and several nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, 411 S. Fillmore St., Amarillo, TX 79101. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reynaldo "Rey" Ramirez Reynaldo "Rey" Ramirez, 51, of Amarillo died Saturday, June 11, 2005. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors Martin Road Chapel, 1505 Martin Road. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home chapel with Oscar Maldonado, pastor of New Life Embassy Church, officiating. Burial will be in Llano East Cemetery. Mr. Ramirez was born June 6, 1954, in Bakersfield, Calif. He was in the Army for 11 years. He was a dedicated and devoted husband, father and grandfather. He enjoyed golfing and being in the presence of his grandchildren, family and friends. He was married to his loving and caring wife, Guadalupe, for 21 years. Those who knew him knew he was a caring and loving man. We know that you are in a better place where you will no longer suffer but rest in peace. We will miss and love you forever. He was preceded in death by his mother, Adela Ramirez; and a brother, John Ramirez. Survivors include his wife; his children, Angelica Ramirez, Reynaldo Ramirez Jr. and Javier Ramirez, all of Iowa, Juan Lopez Jr., Dolores Garza, Hopie Sapien and Nancy Griffen, all of Amarillo, Lillie Ellefson of Denton, Anita Davis of San Angelo, Tita Linda Gillian of Abilene and Rebecca Lloyd of League City; his father, Reymundo Ramirez; a brother, Joe Ramirez; a sister, Angie Ramirez; 27 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Family and friends will be at 1308 N. Lake St. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kenneth D. Farmer Kenneth D. Farmer, 76, of Amarillo died Monday, June 13, 2005. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in First Baptist Church with Dr. Howard K. Batson officiating. Private burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Farmer was born Dec. 9, 1928, in Houston to Major and Cleda Kathleen Farmer. He graduated from Amarillo High School in 1946 and attended Amarillo College and West Texas State University. He married Ann Deem in 1962 in Shawnee, Okla. Mr. Farmer retired from the post office in 1984 after 35 years of service. He was a longtime member of First Baptist Church and West Amarillo Rotary Club. He also served on the United Way Board and was a member of NARFE (National Association of Retired Federal Employees). He was known for his poems he wrote for his family and friends. Mr. Farmer will be remembered as a loving Christian husband, father and grandfather. He was preceded in death by a sister, Lewan Garlin; a nephew, Mark Garlin; and a son-in-law, Nigel Wise. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Kenna Wise of San Antonio and Kelly Robertson and husband, Clark, of Amarillo; two sons, Philip and Patrick Farmer, both of Amarillo; a brother, Kyle Farmer and wife, Karolyn, of Amarillo; his mother-in-law, Dorothy Deem of Shawnee; two brothers-in-law, Harry Garlin of Amarillo and Dick Deem and wife, Cody, of Shawnee; three grandchildren, Rachelle Wise of San Antonio, and Ashley and Abby Robertson, both of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials be to Make-A-Wish Foundation, 411 S. Fillmore St., Amarillo, TX 79101; or a favorite charity. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Area Afton "Bobbie" Brown DUMAS - Afton "Bobbie" Brown, 88, died Monday, June 13, 2005. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in First United Methodist Church in Sunray with Lad Boothby, minister of North Plains Christian Church in Dumas, and the Rev. David Purl, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Northlawn Memorial Gardens by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mrs. Brown was born Jan. 6, 1917, in Alva, Okla. She was a homemaker. She was a member of North Plains Christian Church in Dumas. She was a Moore County resident since 1951. She loved music and loved to play chicken foot. She loved to drink coffee with anyone at Albert's, loved to travel and loved people. She married Virgil M. "Brownie" Brown on Nov. 10, 1951, in Bernalia, N.M. She was preceded in death by her husband on Feb. 14, 1991; and a son, Buddy Brown in 1997. Survivors include three daughters, Glenn Doris Byerly of Belleview, Fla., Jackie Hammett and husband, Gary, of Amarillo and Jo Ann Ragoni of Dumas; a son, Max Brown and wife, Twila, of Sunray; a daughter-in-law, Konda Shelton of Sunray; 16 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and four great-great- grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to High Plains Children's Home, P.O. Box 7448, Amarillo, TX 79114-7448. The family will be at 1105 Triangle Drive. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home in Dumas. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mable "Alice" Bull FRITCH - Mable "Alice" Bull, 89, died Monday, June 13, 2005, in Borger. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Westlawn Memorial Park with the Rev. Isaac Myers officiating. Arrangements are by Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. Mrs. Bull was born March 18, 1916, in St. Jo. She was a published writer, writing for the Eagle Press in Fritch. Survivors include a son, Hughie McAllen of West Germany; three daughters, Gail Bradley of Woodward, Okla., Catherine Phillips of Fritch and Mary Norling of Hutchinson, Kan.; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and five great- great-grandchildren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- L.V. "Pee Wee" Thrasher TURKEY - L.V. "Pee Wee" Thrasher, 70, died Monday, June 13, 2005. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Dreamland Cemetery with the Rev. Melvin Clinton, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Seigler Funeral Home of Matador. Mr. Thrasher was born Oct. 4, 1934, in Idabel, Okla. L.V. was well known in Quitaque and Turkey. He was preceded in death by his parents, Doc and Eula Thrasher; his wife, Naomi "Dutch" Thrasher; three sisters, Lucille Farmer, Rose Parker and Fay Bacon; and a brother, Ray Thrasher. Survivors include a sister, Pat Carnes and husband, Gerald, of Turkey; his twin brother, L.C. Thrasher and wife, Jane, of Milwaukee, Wis.; and numerous nieces and nephews. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elsewhere Josephine "Jo" Beckman KEARNEY, NEB. - Josephine "Jo" Beckman, 80, died Monday, June 13, 2005. Vigil will be at 6 p.m. Thursday in Prince of Peace Catholic Church. Memorial Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in the church with the Rev. Mike McDonald officiating. Burial will be at a later date in Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell. Arrangements are by O'Brien-Straatmann-Apfel Funeral Home. Mrs. Beckman was born March 6, 1925, in Maxwell, N.M., to Solomon and Wadia (Ata) Ata. She grew up in Maxwell and Miami, N.M., and attended school at those places. She married Lawrence Beckman on Nov. 29, 1947, in Raton, N.M. After they were married, the couple made their home in Miami, at Cal Farley's Boys Ranch in Texas, Lincoln and later in Kearney. Josephine was a nurse at Cal Farley's Boys Ranch in Texas, and continued in her nursing profession when they moved to Kearney and later to Lincoln, where she was an LPN. They moved back to Kearney in 1991. She was a member of Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Kearney. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers; and two sisters. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Lawrence II of Axtell and Richard of Lincoln; a daughter, Helen Matzner of Gibbon; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Prince of Peace Catholic Church or a favorite charity. Sign our online guest book at WWW.OSAFH.COM. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen Edward Wilbur FARMERS BRANCH - Stephen Edward Wilbur, 48, died Tuesday, June 14, 2005. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Mineola. Arrangements are by North Dallas Funeral Home. We celebrate the incredible life of Stephen Edward Wilbur of Farmers Branch, who has won his long battle with cancer by going home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday. He had an honest relationship with Christ. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved to fish, hunt and ski. He loved to laugh, loved a good joke and could always be counted on for a smile. He was a very genuine and compassionate young man and could always be counted on as a friend. Stephen was born Feb. 13, 1957, in Tyler and lived his early years in Canyon. He graduated from Canyon High School and Texas Tech University in Lubbock. Stephen's short journey of life brought joy, hope, pleasure, encouragement and love to all with whom he came in contact. He touched many during his lifetime and his legacy will live on and on. Survivors include his mother, Hellon Kindle Wilbur of Amarillo; and a sister, Susan Elaine Wilbur of Mabank. The family suggests memorials be to Foundation for End of Life Care, Vitas Hospice Charitable Fund, 8585 Stemmons Freeway, Suite 700, Dallas, TX 75247; or a favorite charity. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today at the funeral home. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fannie LaGrone Sanders TEXARKANA - Fannie LaGrone Sanders, 90, died Sunday, June 12, 2005. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Genoa Baptist Church in Genoa, Ark., with Rick Carthel, Rodney LaGrone and Don Oliver officiating. Burial will be in Sylverino Cemetery by East Funeral Home. Mrs. Sanders was born Aug. 7, 1914, in Coryell County. She was a homemaker, insurance agent and bookkeeper. Survivors include four children, Winnie Carthel of Amarillo, Rose Raines of Purcell, Okla., Andy LaGrone of Genoa and Lewis LaGrone of Texarkana, Ark.; 12 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; two stepgreat-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Dorman Blackwell of Killeen; and two sisters, Daisy Fleming of Athens and Maude Bassett of Anchorage, Alaska. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------