Potter Co. TX - Obits: July 4, 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 Monday, July 4, 2005 Amarillo Alvin Dayle Tipton Sr. Alvin Dayle Tipton Sr., 77, of Amarillo died Friday, July 1, 2005. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Southwest Church of Christ with Dayle Tipton Jr. and Russell Bailey officiating. Private burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Tipton, 77, of Amarillo died Friday, July 1, with his family at his bedside. Mr. Tipton was born April 18, 1928, to Claude and Leona Hoover Tipton in Grandfield, Okla. He attended schools in Grandfield and Westview, Okla., and in Dodson. In December 1945, he joined the Navy and was stationed on Guam. He was called back into service in September 1950 for the Korean War and was assigned to a minesweeper. After discharge, he began farming in Childress County. On June 11, 1949, he married Jimmie Wynn. In 1957, Mr. Tipton sustained severe injuries in a farming accident near Levelland. Despite the permanent limitations, Mr. Tipton exceeded doctors' expectations for recovery by his strong will, determination and work ethic. The family moved to Amarillo in January 1960, where Mr. Tipton worked for the Texas Department of Highways and Transportation for 27 years. He will be remembered as a hard worker who loved his family and friends and served his fellow man. In 1961, Mr. Tipton confessed his faith in Jesus and was baptized for the remission of his sins. He was a member of Church of Christ. The family wishes to especially thank the staff of the VA Nursing Home and hospital for their excellent care of Mr. Tipton over the last three years. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Cathy Bailey and husband, Russell, of Amarillo; a son, Dayle Tipton Jr. and wife, Joe Ellen, of Amarillo; two sisters, Peggy Riedel and husband, Glenn, of Burleson and Nancy Robinson and husband, Dan, of Mead, Okla.; an uncle, Sam Hoover and wife, Chris, of Marble Falls; an aunt, Mildred Kerr of Temple, Okla.; five grandchildren, Claire Bailey, Reid Bailey, Sam Tipton, Joe Tipton and Austin Tipton all of Amarillo; three nephews; two nieces; and in-laws whom he loved and respected. The family suggests memorials be to High Plains Food Bank, 815 Ross St., Amarillo, TX 79102 or Community and Patient Relations Service (135), in care of Amarillo VA Medical Center, 6010 Amarillo Blvd West, Amarillo, TX 79106. The family will be at 3707 Farwell Drive. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. today at the funeral home. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joe Oscar "Buddy" Anthony Joe Oscar "Buddy" Anthony, 79, of Amarillo died Sunday, July 3, 2005. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street, with Ray Anthony officiating. Mr. Anthony was born March 18, 1926, in Portales, N.M., and lived in Amarillo for 44 years. He was a veteran of the Navy, serving in World War II with combat service in the Philippine Campaign. He married Marie Gary on March 16, 1985. He retired from Pantex after 25 years of service and was active playing lead guitar at the Senior Center. Survivors include his wife; five children, Billy Joe Anthony of Whitney, Liana Sue Andrews of Wichita, Kan., and Lyman Ray Anthony, Vicki Johnson and Robert Gordon, all of Amarillo; 13 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Virgil "Gene" McGee Virgil "Gene" McGee, 72, of Amarillo died Friday, July 1, 2005. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Mr. McGee was born Feb. 24, 1933, in Oklahoma. He worked as a butcher. Survivors include a daughter, Dixie Fugit of Amarillo; three stepsons, Brian McGee and Gary Chandler, both of Amarillo, and Ronnie Chandler of Kirkland, N.M.; four stepdaughters, Debra Edwards of Amarillo, Sonnia Pruitt of Stinnett, Shirley Rodriguez of Borger and Carolyn Bustillos of Fritch; several stepbrothers and stepsisters; several grandchildren; and two great- grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176-0001. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Area Kipp Goodwin SUNRAY - Kipp Goodwin, 48, died Friday, July 1, 2005, in Dumas. Services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday in Sunray Baptist Church with the Rev. David Purl, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Sunray, officiating. Burial will be in Lane Memorial Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mr. Goodwin was born Oct. 30, 1956, at Hobbs, N.M. He was a lifetime Sunray resident. He married Julie Pearson on Aug. 13, 1977, at Ulysses, Kan. He was Dumas Rodeo sponsor for three years. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Sunray. He was a graduate of Sunray High School and Amarillo Police Academy. His tenure with the Moore County Sheriff's Department began in April 1989 as a jailer. He was promoted to a field deputy in October 1989 and then in 1996, was promoted to sergeant in charge of the Civil Department. Survivors include his wife; three children, Matthew Goodwin, Mindy Goodwin and Monty Goodwin, all of Sunray; two sisters, Pam Perdue of Brenham and Jamie Draper of Amarillo; and a brother, Chris Goodwin of Fairplay, Colo. Pallbearers will be the Moore County Sheriff's Department. The family suggests memorials be to Memorial Hospice, 224 E. Second, Dumas, TX 79029; Dumas Fire Department, 106 N. Bliss, Dumas, TX 79029; or Sunray Lions Club, Sunray, Texas 79086. The family will be at 915 Highway Avenue in Sunray. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ethel Viola Fry DIMMITT - Ethel Viola Fry, 96, died Sunday, July 3, 2005. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in First Christian Church with Jack Weems, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park by Foskey- Lilley-McGill Funeral Directors. Mrs. Fry was born Sept. 30, 1908, in Hot Springs, Ark. She married Othele Fry on May 13, 1928, in Mead, Okla. Survivors include two sons, Paul L. Fry of Dimmitt and Ranor C. Fry of Georgetown; a daughter, Valmeta Streetman of Camden, Del.; a brother, Otis Vanderburg of Carlsbad, Calif.; two sisters, Marie Woldrick of Gilbert, Ariz., and Pauline Harrington of Casa Grande, Ariz.; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to First Christian Church, 600 Western Circle Drive, Dimmitt, TX 79027 or Hospice Cares, 112 West Jones St., Dimmitt, TX 79027. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ronald Dale Kitchens FLOYDADA - Ronald Dale Kitchens, 66, died Friday, July 1, 2005. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Silverton Cemetery in Silverton with Rance Young officiating. Arrangements are by Myers-Chancellor Funeral Home of Silverton. Survivors include his wife, Margaret; a son, Blake Kitchens; two daughters, Ronette Depriest and Meredith Robinson; a brother, Bobby Kitchens; a sister, Sandra Frizzell; and six grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Willard H. Skelton CLARENDON - Willard H. Skelton, 88, died Saturday, July 2, 2005. Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Terry Tamplen of Odessa officiating. Burial with Masonic Graveside Rites by Clarendon Masonic Lodge No. 700 will be in Citizens Cemetery by Robertson Funeral Directors. Mr. Skelton was born to Mamie and Luther Skelton on Oct. 7, 1916. He married Frances Sanford on July 30, 1937. Willard served in the Medical Corps of the Navy and was stationed in San Diego. After discharge, he traveled the Panhandle for 30 years for Bennets Printing Co. of Dallas. He never forgot a customer and looked forward to seeing each of them. He loved people. He and his wife organized the Fellowship Sunday School Class in 1977, and it is still very active. He joined First United Methodist Church in 1924. He greeted everyone who entered the south door each Sunday, was an usher and was appointed to many committees. Mr. Skelton was an election judge for 35 years and was active in local politics. He served on the school board, was a city commissioner, on the library board, a member of the Chamber of Commerce and was selected as Pioneer of the Year. He joined the Masonic Lodge at the age of 22, was Past Master and served as secretary for 15 years. He received the Golden Trowel Award. He was a director of the Saints Roost Museum for 20 years. He loved to travel and play golf. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Durwood, Cecil and Fred; and a granddaughter, Graham Davidson of Vermont. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Paula Odom and husband, Gene, of Aledo and Candace Scarborough and husband, Charles, of Abilene; a son, Sanford K. Skelton of Austin; a brother, Bob Skelton of Amarillo; a nephew, Durwood Skelton of Midland; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and a great- great-grandchild. The family suggests memorials be to the Saints Roost Museum or First United Methodist Church, both in Clarendon. Sign the online guest register at WWW.ROBERTSONFUNERAL.COM. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maria Amparo Reyes DIMMITT - Maria Amparo Reyes, 74, died Saturday, July 2, 2005. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with the Rev. Ken Keller officiating. Burial will be in Castro Memorial Gardens by Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Directors. Mrs. Reyes was born Nov. 18, 1930, in Edinburg. She married Nasario "Frank" Reyes on Sept. 14, 1945, in Edinburg. Survivors include five sons, Reynaldo Reyes and Guadalupe Reyes, both of Booker, and Ramiro Reyes, Andres Reyes and Ernesto Reyes, all of Amarillo; three daughters, Esther Rodriguez of Dimmitt and Ofelia Smith and Susan Reyes, both of Levelland; a brother, Paul Rodriguez of Anton; 34 grandchildren; 53 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Phyllis Ann Wisdom QUANAH - Phyllis Ann Wisdom, 63, died Friday, July 1, 2005, in Vernon. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Smith Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bud Kidwell, minister of First Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in Eastview Cemetery in Vernon. Ms. Wisdom was born June 20, 1942, in Vernon to William May Wisdom and Reba Pauline Grimsley Wisdom. She was a longtime resident of Medicine Mound and a member of Quanah First United Methodist Church. Survivors include two brothers, Don Wisdom of Lafayette, Colo., and Billy Wisdom of Greenville. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Mexico Ralph M. Mendez Jr. TUCUMCARI, N.M. - Ralph M. Mendez Jr., 33, died Saturday, July 2, 2005. Prayer services will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Dunn Funeral Home Memorial Chapel. Mass will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with Dale Cordova, minister of End of Times Ministry, officiating. Burial will be in Tucumcari Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Mendez was born Oct. 24, 1971, in Glendale, Calif. He had been making his home in Tucumcari since 1991. Survivors include his mother, Lillian Mendez of Tucumcari; a brother, Jesus Mendez of Tucumcari; two sisters, Lilia Rivera of Amarillo, Texas, and Anna Mendez of Sun Valley, Calif.; and his grandmother, Josephine Martinez of Tucumcari. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------