Potter Co. TX - Obits: August 26, 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, August 26, 2005 Amarillo Frank Griffin Higgins Frank Griffin Higgins, 73, of Amarillo died Thursday, Aug. 25, 2005. Services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd., with the Rev. Roy Wheeler and the Rev. Bob Schroeder officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Higgins was born Feb. 11, 1932, in Sterling City. He attended Rotan High School, graduating at 16 as valedictorian of his class. He graduated from West Texas State with a degree in business. He married Peggy Anderson Youngblood in August 1969 in Amarillo. He served in the Army during the Korean conflict. Mr. Higgins was self-employed with the Woodburn Co. He was an accountant and bookkeeper. Mr. Higgins was a member of Paramount Terrace Christian Church. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Stacey Wright and husband, Randy, of Borger and Krystyna Whalin and husband, Randall, of Amarillo; two sons, Larry Youngblood and wife, Martha, of Hobbs, N.M., and David Higgins of Amarillo; three sisters, Norma Ruth Hagy of Plantation, Fla., Clarice Ray of Elgin and Bem Higgins of San Francisco; a brother, Sam Higgins of Antioch, Calif.; a favorite nephew, Ken Marshall of Lubbock; and his grandchildren, Myles and Chance Youngblood, Kellen and Logan Lane, Andrew and Madelyn Robinett and Rachael, Kathryn and Austin Whalin. The family suggests memorials be to Odyssey Hospice, 1000 S. Jefferson St., Amarillo, TX 79101. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- CARROLL "GUS" GUSTIN Carroll "Gus" Gustin, 75, of Amarillo died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd., with the Rev. Dale Bigham, pastor of Arden Road Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Gustin was born July 10, 1930, in Pampa to Sam and Inez Gustin. He was raised in Dalhart and Sunray. He retired from Asarco where he was an operator. He was a member of Arden Road Baptist Church. He married Jewel Mae Beatrice Gustin on Dec. 18, 1959, in Amarillo. He was preceded in death by his wife on June 16, 2004; a son, Steven "Ronney" Daniels; and a daughter, Donna Sue Montano. Survivors include a daughter, Bernice Laster of Erick, Okla.; eight grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charles "Chuck" March Charles "Chuck" March, 75, of Amarillo died Thursday, Aug. 25, 2005, in Temple. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd., with Lynn Garrett, minister to senior adults at First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. March was born Oct. 6, 1929, in Ashtabula, Ohio, to Claude R. and Theda Roberts. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on Oct. 23, 1946, and pursued his military career through the Army. He served during the Korean conflict and later with the Army Reserves. He retired from the 974th Supply Co. after 36 years of service. Chuck went to work for Southwestern Public Service Co. on July 2, 1942, in Borger. He then moved to Amarillo and retired on Dec. 1, 1991. He was a member of First Baptist Church, a lifetime member of VFW Post 1475 and American Legion. He married Willetta March on March 14, 1986, in Amarillo. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Lisa March of Amarillo; a stepdaughter, Cindy Johnson of Amarillo; three stepsons, David Johnson of Amarillo, Kurt Johnson of Bartlesville, Okla., and Al Johnson of Taos, N.M.; a brother, Bill March of Ashtabula, Ohio; and five grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, P.O. Box 1890, Amarillo, TX 79174-0001. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- LEONE ROWELL HUGG Leone Rowell Hugg, 85, of Amarillo died Thursday, Aug. 25, 2005. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors Pioneer Chapel, 2615 Paramount Blvd., with Jerry Klein of Comanche Trail Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Hugg was born July 31, 1920, near Brice to Charles and Martha Roy Rowell. She married Linley Ewin Hugg on June 14, 1946, in Amarillo. She was a member of the Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband on Dec. 26, 1991. Survivors include two sons, Charles Hugg and wife, Sandi, of Abilene and Hoyt Hugg and wife, Becky, of Amarillo; a daughter, Linda Stratton and husband, George, of Amarillo; a sister, Loise Wallen of Yuma, Ariz.; four granddaughters, Christina Stratton Rios of Phoenix, Kimberley Stratton Clifton and Kathryn Hugg, both of Amarillo, and Andrea Hugg of Dallas; a grandson, Nathan Hugg of Amarillo; two great-granddaughters, Simone Harris and Madeline Harris of Phoenix; and a great-grandson, Cole Clifton of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials be to Amarillo Bible Chair, 2501 S. Jackson St., Amarillo, TX 79109. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Area Jaelyn Ann Miersma DALHART - Jaelyn Ann Miersma, infant daughter of Curt and Rachel Miersma, died Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2005. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. today in First Baptist Church with Rodney Weatherly, minister, officiating. Arrangements are by Horizon Funeral Home. Survivors include her parents; two brothers, Ryan and Nicholas, both of Dalhart; her grandparents, Curt and Jeannette Miersma of Dalhart and Ken and Cheryl Hudson of Moreno Valley, Calif.; her great-grandparents, Dorothy Miersma of Chino, Calif., and Jan and Carl Larsen of Dalhart; and her great- great-grandmothers, Sara Wigbaldy of Chino and Evelyn Furseth of Edgerton, Wis. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Veta Kizer Bryan WELLINGTON - Veta Kizer Bryan, 98, died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Truman Ledbetter, retired Baptist minister of Claude, officiating. Burial will be in North Fairview Cemetery by Adams Funeral Home. Mrs. Bryan was born Aug. 5, 1907, in Ozark, Ark., to Taylor Kizer and Annie Thompson Kizer. She married Rolan C. Bryan on Jan. 18, 1925, in Mount Hope, Ark. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1974; two sons, William J. Bryan and Harold R. Bryan; a grandson, Ronald J. Bryan; and a sister. Survivors include a son, Earl W. Bryan of Amarillo; a sister, Kay Reynolds of Forbestown, Calif.; a daughter-in-law, Novilla Bryan of Dalhart; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Wellington Cemetery. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ervin R. Shoulders SUNRAY - Ervin R. Shoulders, 72, died Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2005. Services were at 2 p.m. Thursday in Sunray Baptist Church with the Rev. Philip Hilton, pastor, officiating. Burial was in Lane Memorial Cemetery by Morrison Funeral Directors. Mr. Shoulders was born May 10, 1933, in Idabel, Okla. He had been a resident of Sunray since 1955. He was a farmer for 20 years before going to work for Sherman County from 1977 to 1995. He was an avid fisherman. He married Bette Rae Folsom on Feb. 17, 1956, in Sunray and was a longtime member of Sunray Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Shelia Russell and her friend, Roy Davis, of Dalhart, Linda Reeves of Edmond, Okla., and Dawna Roach and husband, Danny, of Friona; two sons, Rusty Shoulders and wife, Debbie, of Texhoma and Brent Shoulders and wife, Linda, of Goodwell, Okla.; a brother, James shoulders of Mountain Home, Idaho; a sister, Juanita Gay and husband, C.E., of Valliant, Okla.; 18 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family will be at 300 Avenue R. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jesus B. Espinoza Sr. BOVINA - Jesus B. Espinoza Sr., 86, died Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2005. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Alvino Alvarez of Amarillo and the Rev. Guadalupe Silva of Kress officiating. Burial will be in Bovina Cemetery by Blackwell Funeral Home. Mr. Espinoza had lived in Bovina for the past 53 years and was a farmer. Survivors include his wife, Margarita; 11 sons, Jose Luis Espinoza and Jesus Espinoza Jr., both of Bovina, Hugo Espinoza of Uvalde, Mario Espinoza of Happy, Guadalupe Espinoza of Dumas, Carlos Espinoza of Clovis, N.M., Valentine Espinoza of Evans, Colo., Paul Espinoza and Erasmo Espinoza, both of Geary, Okla., David Espinoza of Downey, Calif., and Samuel Espinoza with the Marines in Iraq; three daughters, Beatrice Mesa of Uvalde, Carolina Dulin of Cambridge, Ill., and Rachel Espinoza of Amarillo; two sisters, Josepina Espinoza of Chicago and Lucia Sanchez of El Paso; a brother, Manuel Espinoza of Eagle Pass; 50 grandchildren; 70 great-grandchildren; and seven great- great-grandchildren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Exie Errington Jones WHEELER - Exie Errington Jones, 87, died Monday, Aug. 22, 2005. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Dennis Williams, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Wheeler Cemetery by Wright Funeral Home. Mrs. Jones was born Aug. 17, 1918, to R.E. and Annie Laura Errington. She married W.O. Jones on Dec. 10, 1935, in Wheeler. She lived in Amarillo off and on for 51 years. Exie resided in Wheeler for more than 35 years. She worked in Amarillo in retail bookkeeping and managed several businesses in Wheeler. She was active in the women's division of barrel racing and square dancing for many years with Range Riders Association. Exie was a very loving wife, aunt, sister and friend. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Ray Edward and Ross Errington; and six sisters, Addie, Bertie, Halcy, Jessie, Nancy and Velma. Survivors include her husband; 10 nephews; and eight nieces. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fred Lucero CHANNING - Fred Lucero, 94, died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Dalhart with the Rev. Robert Busch, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Channing Cemetery by Horizon Funeral Home of Dalhart. Mr. Lucero was born July 14, 1911, in Roy, N.M. Fred and Lillie Rita Sasueda Lucero were married on Dec. 31, 1933, in Channing. Survivors include three daughters, Beatrice Wilson of Bardstown, Ky., Gladys Gallegos of Channing and Marie Shakleford of Dalhart; three sons, Mack Lucero of Guymon, Okla., Jessie J Lucero of Dalhart and Ernie Lucero of Channing; 27 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Phillip Pothuisje FRITCH - Phillip Pothuisje, 41, died Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2005. Services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday in Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel in Borger with the Rev. Calvin Winters, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Fritch, officiating. Burial will be in Ochiltree County Cemetery in Perryton. Mr. Pothuisje was born Sept. 6, 1963, in Elkhart, Kan. He married Lori Talbert on July 29, 2003. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Evan Pothuisje of Borger, and Geoffrey Metcalf and Gregory Metcalf, both of Fritch; his mother, Clara Pothuisje of Beaver, Okla.; a brother, Keith Pothuisje of Lakin, Kan.; and four sisters, Jonnie Cox of Booker, Toni Powell of Tulsa, Okla., Jackie Rowe of Fritch and Jamie Burkhalter of Perryton. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ingram Smith QUANAH - Ingram Smith, 81, died Thursday, Aug. 25, 2005, in Childress. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with Dr. David Smith, her son of Mount Vernon, Ga., and the Rev. Clint Young, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Goodlett Cemetery by Smith Funeral Home. Mr. Smith was born Oct. 29, 1923, in Hardeman County. He married Genevieve Gushee on Aug. 22, 1948, in Goodlett. Survivors include three sons, Bill Smith Jr. and Wes Smith, both of Goodlett, and Dr. David Smith of Mount Vernon; a daughter, Ginger Hill of Houston; three sisters, Neita Lou Saloschin of Bethesda, Md., Billie Marie Johnston of Houston and Lucy Lorado Gibson of Oklahoma City; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Verna Sara Ellen Wells DALHART - Verna Sara Ellen Wells, 95, died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Peoples Church with Jerry Davis of Carthage, Mo., officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Horizon Funeral Home. Mrs. Wells was born Dec. 6, 1909, in West Plains, Mo. On May 22, 1968, she married Robert W. Wells. Survivors include a brother, Roy A. Hays of Highland, Calif.; and two sisters, Eva Davis of Dalhart and Mello Huggins of Austin. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elsewhere SUE ANN EASTERLING TYLER - Sue Ann Easterling, 58, died Thursday, Aug. 25, 2005. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Southern Oaks Baptist Church with the Rev. Ron Wells officiating. Burial will be in Cathedral in the Pines by Lloyd James Funeral Home. Mrs. Easterling was born in Ennis on Aug. 10, 1947, to Bill and Eula Mae Smith, who preceded her in death. She graduated from Ennis High School and was employed with Gollob Morgan Peddy and Company PC for 18 years. She was a member of Southern Oaks Baptist Church, active in Celebration Choir and Empty Nesters Sunday School Department. She was married on July 9, 1966, to the love of her life, Lank Easterling. Lank and Sue Ann were blessed with three children, who married three very special daughters-in-law and son-in-law. Their family grew quickly with the births of nine grandchildren. Survivors include her husband; her children, Jon Mark Easterling and wife, Teresa, Jason Lank Easterling and wife, Leslie, and April Easterling Mauldin and husband, Chad; nine grandchildren, Parker, Taylor and Martin Easterling, Ginger, Andrew and Emma Easterling and Clayton, Jackson and Carly Mauldin, who loved their Grandmom, and whom she adored; five brothers and sisters, Elaine Eubanks and Cindy Fain, both of Tyler, Bill Smith of Ennis, Jim Smith of Amarillo and Gay Tucker of Lingle, Wyo., who will forever cherish the memories of their dear sister; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in law, nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles and dear precious friends who will forever remember and hold dear Sue Ann's joy of life and her sweet-spirit. Pallbearers are Sgt. 1st Class, Rodney Eubanks, Byron Eubanks, Chris Fain, T.J. Smith, Josh Smith, Benjamin Smith, Caleb Brown and Derek Brown. The family suggests memorials be to Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75701 or Happy Hill Farm, 3846 N. Highway 144, Granbury, TX 76048. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Canyon Mary Elizabeth Cornette Mary Elizabeth Cornette, 95, of Canyon died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005. Private graveside services will be Saturday in Dreamland Cemetery with Dr. David Lowrie Jr., pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Brooks Funeral Directors. Mrs. Cornette was born Sept. 9, 1909, in Logan County, Ky., to John Henry and Hallie (Brister) Lawson. She attended public schools in Russellville, Ky., and received her baccalaureate degree from Bowling Green Business University and her masterís degree from Western Kentucky University. She taught at Bowling Green Business University from 1932 to 1944 and was the longtime owner of the Canyon Art Gallery. Mary Elizabeth married James P. Cornette on Feb. 26, 1930. Three sons were born and raised in early childhood while both parents were full-time instructors and each received two college degrees. They moved to Waco in 1945, where James was dean of Baylor University, and to Canyon in 1948 where James became president of West Texas State College. Wherever she lived, Mary Elizabeth was involved in family and community responsibilities. At Waco and Canyon she enjoyed entertaining the faculty at monthly coffees and hosting frequent social affairs for students and university guests. Encouraging the arts and the spread of various cultures through them was a lifelong commitment. In 1965, with strong support from James, Mary Elizabeth established the Canyon Art Gallery, a major cultural institution for the Texas Panhandle with international influence reaching from the Panhandle to England, France and Japan. She was instrumental in extending the Panhandle culture to those countries and incorporating the cultures from those countries into the Panhandle. Because of these endeavors, she was awarded the West Texas Chamber of Commerce "Cultural Award for Outstanding Achievement" in 1972. She was herself an artist, but seldom showed her work, even to family. Nevertheless, she received recognition, including two second place oil awards, for paintings that she entered in the Gallery-La Luz National Miniature shows in La Luz, N.M., during 1979 - 1984. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1986; and a sister, Mildred Irene Lawson in 1993. Survivors include three sons, Marvin Brister Cornette and wife, Wilma, of Canyon, James Lawson Cornette and wife, Carolyn, of Ames, Iowa, and William Richard Cornette and wife, Sylvia, of Forsyth, Mo.; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and two stepgreat-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Cornette Library at West Texas A&M, WTAMU Box 60748, Canyon, TX 79016; or a favorite charity. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Mexico Janice Gayle Ward CLOVIS, N.M. - Janice Gayle Ward, 51, died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Steed-Todd Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens in Clovis. Mrs. Ward was born March 3, 1954, in Clovis. People who entered Janiceís life loved her joyous laughter, her feisty nature and her desire to make things better for everyone. Survivors include two sisters, Jeannie Marie Ward and Jennifer ìJennoî Dirindia Ward, both from the Albuquerque/Rio Rancho area; and a brother, Joel Denton Ward of the Albuquerque/Rio Rancho area. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oklahoma Melba Ellen Moffitt EDMOND, Okla. - Melba Ellen Moffitt, 83, died Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2005. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Pampa, Texas, with the Rev. C.W. Parker, pastor of Central Baptist Church of Pampa, officiating. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Mrs. Moffitt had been a resident of Pampa for 40 years, moving to Houston in 2003, and then to Edmond in 2004. She was a former member of Calvary Baptist Church in Pampa. Survivors include a daughter, Mary Yost of Edmond; three sisters, Wanda Frost of Roswell, N.M., and Janette Stonecipher and Jean Gaither, both of Amarillo, Texas; and three grandsons. The family suggests memorials be to American Cancer Society in care of Gerry Caylor, 2130 Charles St., Pampa, TX 79065. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------