Potter Co. TX - Obits: July 10, 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, July 10, 2005 Amarillo James B. "Jim" Matthews James B. "Jim" Matthews, 83, of Amarillo died Friday, July 8, 2005. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Matthews, loving husband and father, avid sportsman, practical engineer and good friend, died July 8. He was born in Vera, Okla., on July 18, 1921, to Dorsey and Leah Matthews. He attended public school in Shidler and Edmond, Okla. He attended Central State College and joined the Army Air Corps and was trained as a photo reconnaissance pilot. He flew more than 50 missions during World War II. He married Betty Jane "Janey" Hill in Edmond in 1943. After the war, he attended Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State) University and earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. After graduation, he began work for Southwestern Public Service Co. (SPS) as a junior engineer at the Moore County plant near Sunray. In 1957, he became plant manager of, then new, Cunningham Station, near Hobbs, N.M. In 1968, he transferred to the Generation Plant Design in Amarillo. Mr. Matthews was made manager of generation design and construction in 1974. He became vice president in charge of generation and construction in 1978. He was a professional engineer in the state of Texas and on the planning board of the OSU engineering curriculum. He was named Engineer of the Year by the Panhandle chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers in 1977. He later was instrumental in the establishment of Utility Engineering Corporation as a design entity of SPS and was its first president and CEO. He retired from Utility Engineering and SPS in 1986. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Susan Stevenson and husband, Bob, of Amarillo and Sallie Matthews Sapp and husband, Justin, of Albuquerque, N.M.; two sons, Marc and wife, Catherine, of Lubbock and Paul of Amarillo; three grandsons, Matt Stevenson, Micah Stevenson and wife, Keri, and son, Brice, and Toby Stevenson; a granddaughter, Emily Stevenson; and a sister, Billie Kathryn Ransom and husband, Robert "Bob" of Redondo Beach, Calif. The family suggests memorials be to Amarillo Kidney Specialists, Inc., 8604 S. Coulter St., Amarillo, TX 79119, in memory of James B. Matthews. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOLLIS WASSON MITCHELL Hollis Wasson Mitchell, 64, of Amarillo died Sunday, July 3, 2005. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Schooler Funeral Home Brentwood Chapel, 4100 S. Georgia St., with Richard Dickerson, pastor of Bykota Baptist Church, officiating. Mr. Mitchell was born in Springer, N.M., on Jan. 27, 1941. He retired from Pantex. Survivors include a sister, Sybil Smith and husband, John, of Fremont, Calif.; three nieces, Valorie Wagner of Newark, Calif., Jimmi Ross of Austin and Holli Patterson of Amarillo; a nephew, Skye Smith of San Jose, Calif.; and his close friends, Tim and Sue Worcester and Vaughn Worcester, all of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials be to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 50433, Amarillo, TX 79159. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wanda Margot Reyna Wanda Margot Reyna, 38, of Amarillo died Wednesday, July 6, 2005. Private services were held. Arrangements were by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Ms. Reyna was a registered nurse at Baptist St. Anthony's Hospital. She attended San Jose Catholic Church in Hereford. She was a very loving person and will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Survivors include her parents, Tomas and Mary Reyna of Hereford; her grandmother, Rosa Jimenez of Edinburg; five brothers, Thomas Reyna of Hereford, Ricky Reyna, Oscar Reyna and Adam Reyna, all of Amarillo, and Rusvel Reyna of San Antonio; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to the Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center, 1500 Wallace Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79106 or the American Cancer Society - District Office, 3915 S. Bell St., Amarillo, TX 79109. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vert W. Winfield Vert W. Winfield, 86, of Amarillo died Friday, July 8, 2005. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Llano Cemetery with Dick Marcear, pastor of Church of Christ of the Colonies, officiating. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home Coulter Chapel, 8310 S. Coulter St. Mr. Winfield played football for Amarillo High and served under General Patton in World War II. He was married to his wife, Jena Winfield, for 54 years. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Gloria Johnson of Houston and Karen Pietsch of Amarillo; two sons, James R. Winfield and Dale E. Winfield, both of Amarillo; and seven grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Veterans Affairs Health Care Systems Nursing Home, 6010 Amarillo Blvd. West, Amarillo, TX 79106. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bobby Joe Burwell Bobby Joe Burwell, 67, of Amarillo died Thursday, July 7, 2005. Memorial services will be at 4 p.m. Monday in Celebration Baptist Church with the Rev. Anthony Pennington, pastor, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Mr. Burwell was born March 13, 1938, in Fritztown, Okla. He worked as a ranch hand. Survivors include a daughter and two sons. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Area Verdalee Page Cooper PAMPA - Verdalee Page Cooper, 93, died Thursday, July 7, 2005, in Canadian. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Wheeler Cemetery in Wheeler with the Rev. Dr. Earl Cooper and the Rev. Dr. Mert Cooper officiating. Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Monday in First United Methodist Church in Pampa. Arrangements are by Hughs Funeral Home of Canadian. Mrs. Cooper was born Jan. 26, 1912, in Wheeler County to the late Mr. James Amos and Mrs. Madge Page. She was a graduate of Wheeler High School and attended Baylor, McMurry and West Texas Normal. She taught school in Wheeler as an 18-year-old. She married Marvin Ellis Cooper on Christmas Day 1930. He preceded her in death on June 19, 1998. Much of their life was spent in Pampa, where Verdalee worked for 25 years at the Purviance Clinic as office manager. Verdalee was a voracious reader and daily crossword puzzler, but one of her proudest accomplishments besides educating three boys, was attaining the status of life master in duplicate bridge. She was a fierce competitor and mentor for many years. She was also a faithful member of First United Methodist Church in Pampa, where she taught Sunday school for many years. In December 1997, Verdalee and Marvin moved to Amarillo to reside at Craig Retirement Center. Survivors include three sons, Lt. Col. David Cooper and wife, JoAnn, of Canyon, the Rev. Dr. Earl Cooper and wife, Penny, of Yuma, Ariz., and the Rev. Dr. Mert Cooper and wife, Betty, of Canadian; seven grandchildren, Cathy, Deana, Townley, Kelley, Conrad, Clay and Samantha Cooper; 12 great- grandchildren, Joanna, Will and Ellen Parker, Cameron, Olivia, Colton, Hunter, Kathleen, Pachin and Camille Cooper, Luci Sparkman and Cooper Haskins. The family suggest memorials be to the Edward Abraham Memorial Home, 803 Birch, Canadian, TX 79014. Sign the online guest register at WWW.HUGHSFUNERALHOME.COM. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Franklin "Dee" Shackelford PAMPA - Franklin "Dee" Shackelford, 72, died Thursday, July 7, 2005, in Amarillo. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Mobeetie Cemetery in Mobeetie with the Rev. Doug Yates, pastor of Plainview Family Church of the Nazarene, officiating. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Shackelford was born March 5, 1933, in Redmoon, Okla., to John and Ethel Shackelford. He married Ernalene Hornback on Dec. 29, 1962, in Pampa. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Tina Anderson and Missy Martin, both of Pampa; two sisters, Ruth Hatton of Oregon and Viola Bender of Panhandle; and a granddaughter. The family suggests memorials be to the Amarillo Kidney Specialists, 8604 S. Coulter St., Amarillo, TX 79119. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Delila W. Elkins QUANAH - Delila W. Elkins, 74, died Thursday, July 7, 2005, in Vernon. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Roselawn Cemetery in Fort Collins, Colo. Arrangements are by Smith Funeral Home. Mrs. Elkins was born Dec. 22, 1930, in Erie, Wyo., to Glen and Iva Kidman Peterson. She married Cecil Elkins on Nov. 8, 1948, in Golden, Colo. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Janeen Elkins of Ogden, Utah; four sons, Dauane Elkins of Erie, Colo., Dwight Elkins of Lumberton, Duran Elkins of Harlingen and Darwin Elkins of Evergreen, Colo.; and six grandchildren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Makay Jordan Mayes HEREFORD - Makay Jordan Mayes, infant daughter of Les and Lisa Mayes, died Wednesday, July 6, 2005, in Amarillo. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in First Baptist Church with Dr. O.K. Bowen, Art George, retired pastor, and the Rev. Rody Chesser officiating. Graveside services will be at 3:30 p.m. Monday in Plains Cemetery in Plains. Arrangements are by Hereford Heritage Funeral Home. Survivors include her parents; a brother, Blaze Mayes of Hereford; her grandparents, Bud and Sydna Lowrey of Cleburne, Thomas J. Mayes of Roswell, N.M., and Serena Fernau of Show Low, Ariz; and her great-grandmother, Foy Lowrey of New Home. The family suggests memorials be to the Ronald McDonald House, 1501 Streit Drive, Amarillo, TX 79106. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- San Juana Martinez Plunkett HEREFORD - San Juana Martinez Plunkett, 34, died Thursday, July 7, 2005, in Amarillo. Prayer services will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday in Hereford Heritage Funeral Home Chapel of Memories with the Rev. Mace Saenz of Without Walls Praise Center Church, officiating. A Vigil will follow at 7 p.m. Monday with Vicente Garcia, deacon of San Jose Catholic Church, officiating. Mass will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in La Iglesia De San Jose Catholic Church with the Rev. David Contreras officiating. Mrs. Plunkett was born Sept. 10, 1970, to Cornelio and Romana Martinez. She married William Lee Plunkett in 2000 at San Jose Catholic Church. Survivors include her mother; her husband; a daughter, Adela Mejia; four sons, Robert Barrios, Ricardo Barrios, Jerry Saucedo and Salvator Plunkett; two sisters, Ernestino Mejia and Maria Padilla; and five brothers, Gilbert, Rudy, Raul, Martin and Elias Martinez. The family suggests memorials be to the San Juana Plunkett Fund at FirstBank Southwest, 300 N. Main St., Hereford, TX 79045. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oklahoma Edward McCracken WILLIS, OKLA. - Edward McCracken, 84, died Wednesday, July 6, 2005, in Fort Worth, Texas. Services were at 10 a.m. Saturday in Willis Baptist Church with Russell Hughes and Gary Dempsey officiating. Burial was in Willis Cemetery by Watts Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Madill. Mr. McCracken was born Jan. 14, 1921, in Dexter, Texas, to Claude and Linnie Verdell McCracken. He married Dorothy Marie Fuller on May 14, 1971, in Gainesville, Texas. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Donna West of Saginaw, Texas; a son, John David Dove of Celina, Texas; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Bruce McCracken of Amarillo, Texas, and George McCracken of Fort Worth; and two sisters, Nadine Sonleiter of Altus and Aletha Richardson of Brenham, Texas. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elsewhere Joni Suzette Robinson VALLEY PARK, MO. - Joni Suzette Robinson, 45, formerly of Wichita, Kan., died Saturday, July 2, 2005. A celebration of her life will be held in Amarillo, Texas, and Wichita. Arrangements are by Cornerstone Cremation Society of Wichita. Mrs. Robinson was born May 10, 1960, in Wichita to Carl and Norma Watkins Robinson. She was a 1978 graduate of Amarillo High School in Amarillo. Survivors include a daughter, Breara Robinson of St. Louis; a sister, Sydney Sampson of Wichita; and two brothers, Rich Gray and David Duncan, both of Wichita. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mary Rutillia "Marue" Miller DALLAS - Mary Rutillia "Marue" Miller, 94, died Thursday, July 7, 2005. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Cox Chapel of Highland Park United Methodist Church. Arrangements are by Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home. On a stormy, autumnal equinox Sept. 23, 1910, in Commerce, Mary Rutillia "Marue" O'Neil was born at home and put into a wood-burning oven to make her entry into this world warmer and happier. She obtained her bachelor of arts and master of arts from East Texas State Teachers College, now Texas A&M at Commerce. Along the way she traveled to 46 states, Canada and Mexico, summer schools at East Texas, Southern Methodist University and the University of Texas at Austin. During the Depression she was hired for numerous teaching jobs, eventually ending up in Amarillo. There she met "The Man of Her Dreams," Herbert Lee Miller, whom she married. They lived in Amarillo for 40 years, and then they moved to Dallas in 1984 to be near their grandchildren. She received numerous teaching awards during her career and served as a docent at the Amarillo Museum of Art. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, P.E.O., as well as Polk Street United Methodist Church in Amarillo, and Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas. The family would like to thank her loving caregivers, Lucy, Anna, JoAnne and Maudrie, without whom we could not have honored her wishes to remain at home. Also, we would like to thank Ryanne and Jackie, her hospice caregivers. When asked about her life, Marue said she had no regrets: "Above and beyond the happiness I shared with my family, I had the satisfaction of awakening the joy of learning, and the teaching of reading to little children-all this and heaven too." She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 56 years, Herb, and her cherished granddaughter, Maran Rauscher. Survivors include two daughters and their spouses, Nita and David Smith, and Malee and Monroe Helm; five grandchildren and their spouses, David and Heidi Smith, Tolly and Mark Salz, Patrick and Melissa Smith, Randal Rauscher and Howard Rauscher; three great-grandchildren, Michael Patterson, Marshall Salz, and Mary Carolyn Smith; a brother, Tom O'Neil and wife, Lucille; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to the Nightowl Program at Highland Park United Methodist Church or the Maran Rauscher Fund for Critical Care Nursing at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------