Potter Co. TX - Obits: June 29, 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 29, 2005 Amarillo Helen Ruth George Neeley-Hart Helen Ruth George Neeley-Hart, 69, of Amarillo died Monday, June 27, 2005. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in St. Hyacinthís Catholic Church with the Rev. Pat Carathers officiating. Arrangements are by N.S. Griggs and Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mrs. Neeley-Hart was born in Oklahoma City on April 4, 1936. She attended Midwest City Public Schools and graduated from Midwest City High School in 1954, where she was an active pep squad member and a majorette. Upon high school graduation, Helen entered St. Anthonyís School of Nursing the following year, and in 1956 was one of only three nursing students in Oklahoma accepted into a new Army student nurse program. She continued her education at St. Anthonyís, where she graduated in 1957 as a registered nurse and entered the Army as a second lieutenant. While in the Army, she met and married her husband of 43 years, Bobby Harrison Neeley. Helen attended the University of Central Oklahoma and graduated with honors with a bachelor of science in nursing in 1975. She continued her education at the University of Oklahoma, where she earned a master of science in nursing in 1980. Helen was a tireless worker and held numerous staff nurse, head nurse and administrative roles during her working years. Helen moved into the nursing education field and taught at Oklahoma State University Technical Institute, San Diego State University, University of Phoenix and Amarillo College of Nursing. She recently retired from Amarillo College, where she was a clinical instructor in nursing. In 1990, they moved to California and eventually built Helenís dream home in Hemet, Calif. Helen loved traveling, sightseeing and wine tasting, which flourished there. Helen also loved collies. She had three white collies who were all named after the Oklahoma State University mascot, Pistol Pete. Bobby H. Neeley preceded Helen in death in 2001. She was fortunate to meet Ken Hart in 2002 in a bowling league. They married in November 2004. She was looking forward to the birth of her second great-grandchild. We will truly miss you with all our hearts and we know you will be watching those volleyball games and eating chocolate from Heaven. We love you, Mom. Survivors include her husband; three sons, Bobby, Michael and Shawn; two daughters, Katrina Pace and Karen Ware; a brother, Fred Hayes; six grandchildren, Bryan, Jeff, Steven, Taylor, Scott and Amy and husband, Tanner; and a great-granddaughter, Tristen. The family suggests memorials be to the American Heart Association; or Amarillo Panhandle Humane Society, 3501 S. Osage St., Amarillo, TX 79109. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maria E. Flippo Maria E. Flippo, 67, of Amarillo died Monday, June 27, 2005. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Pampa. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Mrs. Flippo married James Flippo on Sept. 13, 1988, in Abilene. She had been a resident of Amarillo for 10 years. Survivors include her husband. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Curtis H. ìCountryî Downs Jr. Curtis H. ìCountryî Downs Jr., 81, of Amarillo died Sunday, June 26, 2005. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Chester OíBrien officiating. Masonic graveside services will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Mr. Downs was born Jan. 12, 1924, in Dell, Ark., and graduated from Dell High School. Following graduation, Mr. Downs worked at a local grocery and served in the Army. In May 1944, he married his high school sweetheart, Betty Lou. The couple had three sons and lived in Dell until 1951 when Country was hired by Pantex. The family made their home in Pantex Village where the boys were reared, all graduating from Panhandle High School. Many lifelong friendships were forged during the years at Pantex Village, where Country helped establish Pantex Baptist Chapel, serving as a deacon. In 1970, the couple moved to Amarillo, joining First Baptist Church and becoming active in the Khiva Shrine. Country retired from Pantex in 1986 after 35 years of service. One of his greatest joys was aiding children who could benefit from the services of Shriner hospitals. As recently as last week, Klown Kountry made visits to local hospitals, leaving young and old with a balloon animal and a word of encouragement. His Klown calling card read, "Jesus loves you and I love you, too." He was a York and Scottish Rite Mason and a member of Carson Lodge 1167. He also belonged to the Khiva Shrine, where he was a Klown and Muleskinner. Country was a member of First Baptist Church in Amarillo. He enjoyed the friendship of members of his Sunday school class, especially that of Flo Bramblett, who became a loving friend and like one of the family. He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; a brother; and two grandsons, Curtis H. Downs IV and Shane Downs. Survivors include three sons, Curtis H. ìRedî Downs III and wife, Dondra, of Groom, James ìBubbaî Downs and wife, Denise, and Hershell ìHerkyî Downs and wife, Lynn, of Amarillo; nine grandchildren, Melissa Estrada, Jamie Downs, Denai Vaughn, Collin Downs, Ashley Downs, Dusty Downs, Jeremy Grady, Ben Grady and Mathew Grady; and seven great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Khiva Shrine Center, 305 E. Fifth Ave., Amarillo, TX 79101. The family will receive visitors at 6903 Windridge St. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Area Lillie M. Billingsley SHAMROCK ó Lillie M. Billingsley, 87, died Monday, June 27, 2005. Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in Shamrock Cemetery with Joe G. Jernigan, pastor of Calvary Christian Fellowship Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Wright Funeral Directors. Mrs. Billingsley was born Feb. 19, 1918, in Kentucky. She had lived in the Shamrock area for 35 years. Survivors include two daughters, Martha Crowley of Spring Valley, N.Y., and Donna Arnold of Kentucky; a sister, Eva Marie Cox of Amarillo; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- A.C. Boren BORGER ó A.C. Boren, 81, died Monday, June 27, 2005. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Stinnett Cemetery in Stinnett. Arrangements are by Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. Mr. Boren was born Jan. 22, 1924. He was a roustabout for City Services. Survivors include his wife, Madge; two sons, Larry Kossey of Stinnett and David Kossey of Borger; a daughter, Kay Ferguson of Tulsa, Okla.; a brother, Dave Boren of Lubbock; 12 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vera Lorene Castleberry PLAINVIEW ó Vera Lorene Castleberry, 97, died Monday, June 27, 2005, in Canyon. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in First Baptist Church Chapel in Plainview with Dr. David L. Lowrie, pastor of First Baptist Church of Canyon, and family members officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park by Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon. Mrs. Castleberry lived with her daughter, Evelyn Ogden Trice, in Canyon for the last three years and passed away at home on June 27, 2005. Vera Lorene Castleberry was born Nov. 14, 1907, to J.E. and Cora Churchwell in Comanche County. She moved with her family in 1925 to the Prairieview Community at Plainview. She was baptized into the Bagget Tabernacle Church, Comanche County, at the age of 10, and she became a member of First Baptist Church of Plainview in 1937. On Aug. 21, 1937, she married Herbert Castleberry in Lubbock. They farmed south of Plainview. She served her Sunday school classes as president and outreach leader. She, along with Maxine Skaggs, Marie Cooper, Joan Ragland and Lucille Anderson, organized the First Baptist Church of Plainview library. Vera had been a member of Order of Eastern Star, Plainview Chapter No. 30 for many years, and had served there as mother advisor to the Rainbow Girls. She was also an avid bowler and a staunch Democrat. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; a baby sister, Woody Doyal Churchwell; five brothers, Charlie Churchwell, L.B. ìDocî Churchwell, James ìBillî Churchwell, Marvin Churchwell and Wendlan ìMuttî Churchwell; a son-in-law, Lavern Roach; a grandson, Terry Trice; and a great-granddaughter, Constance Pearl Hutcherson. Survivors include a daughter, Evelyn Ogden Trice and husband, Weldon, of Canyon; two sisters, Cora Lee Vaughn of Hale Center and Mavis McClain and husband, Wayne, of Bentonville, Ark.; three grandchildren, Ronnie Roach Birdsong and husband, Jon, of Portales, N.M., Richard Roach of Canyon and Ted Trice and wife, Buffi, of Dumas; nine great-grandchildren, Ronda Riggin and husband, Caid, of Portales, Tayte Trice of Dumas, Michael Hutcherson and wife, Kim, of McKinney, Jason Trice and wife, Kari, of Amarillo, Tyson Trice of Hershey, Pa., Jon Birdsong and wife, Chaja, of Belgium, and James Roach, Kris Roach and Kyler Roach, all of Pampa; four great-great-grandchildren, Jayci Trice and Jaksen Trice, both of Amarillo, Ruby Birdsong of Belgium and Nolan Riggin of Portales; numerous devoted nieces and nephews; and her precious Maltese, Buddy. The family suggests memorials be to First Baptist Church Library Fund, Plainview, Texas; or a favorite charity. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at 310 Vermont in Plainview. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leslie G. Loudder DIMMITT ó Leslie G. Loudder, 89, died Sunday, June 26, 2005. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery with Larry Odem and Russell Mackey officiating. Arrangements are by Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Home. Mr. Loudder was born Aug. 8, 1915, in Gunsight. He married Jettie Faye Lovell in 1951 in Gunsight. Survivors include three daughters, Nancy Kirby of Amarillo, and Paula Gray and Sandy Odom, both of Pottsboro; five grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; a brother, Alton Loudder of Sunnyside; and two sisters, Verba Sadler of Breckenridge and Ernestine Bowden of Dimmitt. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beulah Shockley GROOM ó Beulah Shockley, 89, died Sunday, June 26, 2005. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Groom United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jerry Moore and the Rev. Weldon Rives officiating. Burial will be in Groom Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home of Amarillo, 4100 S. Georgia St. Ms. Shockley was a lifelong resident of Groom. She was born Sept. 21, 1915, to John and Phoebe Shockley in Groom. She graduated from Groom High School in 1933. She worked for Lee Sadler at the Groom Drug Store until she started working for the county as tax collector and secretary. She then worked as bookkeeper for Groom Memorial Hospital until its closing. She was board secretary of Groom United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Opal Stamps and Clora Black; and a brother, William Shockley. Survivors include 11 nieces and nephews; 23 great-nieces and great-nephews; and several great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews. The family suggests memorials be to Groom United Methodist Church, 303 E. Second St., Groom, TX 79039. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Obereta Sudderth BOVINA ó Obereta Sudderth, 90, formerly of Bovina, died Monday, June 27, 2005. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Bovina United Methodist Church in Bovina with the Rev. Steve Venable of Ceta Canyon and the Rev. Amelia Gonzales, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Bovina Cemetery by Blackwell Funeral Home. Mrs. Sudderth moved to Parmer County in 1918 from Oklahoma. She married Billie Sudderth on Dec. 19, 1934, in Clovis, N.M. He died April 8, 1993. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by a great-grandson, Corbin Sudderth in 2005. Survivors include two sons, Glenden Sudderth of Bovina and Ronnie Sudderth of Springtown; a brother, Loren West of Lubbock; six grandsons; five great- grandsons; and a great-granddaughter. The family suggests memorials to Bovina United Methodist Church or Bovina EMS. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oklahoma William Judson ìJudî Strain GOODWELL, Okla. ó William Judson ìJudî Strain, 90, died Sunday, June 26, 2005. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Panhandle Centenary United Methodist Church with the Rev. Greg Keith, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Goodwell Cemetery by Henson-Novak Funeral Directors of Guymon. Mr. Strain was born Jan. 4, 1915, in Hooker. He was a longtime volunteer for Goodwell fire and ambulance departments and was recently honored as the 2005 Texas County Pioneer Day Marshal. Survivors include a sister-in-law, Rita Strain of Goodwell. The family suggests memorials be to Goodwell EMS, Box 759, Goodwell, OK 73939. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chester Eugene Palmer LOGAN, Okla. ó Chester Eugene Palmer, 70, died Saturday, June 25, 2005. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in Beaver First Christian Church in Beaver with Rick Main officiating. Burial will be in Pioneer Cemetery in Beaver by Clark Funeral Service. Mr. Palmer was born May 11, 1935, in Beaver County. He married Earlene Phelps on Feb. 28, 1953. Survivors include his wife; a son, Craig Eugene Palmer of Houston; two daughters, Christine Fanning of Woodward and Edna Carol Dodd of Houston; a sister, Merlene Sharp of Beaver; and eight grandchildren. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------