Potter Co. TX - Obits: October 13, 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 Thursday, October 13, 2005 Amarillo John Lee "Big John" Jennings John Lee "Big John" Jennings, 81, died Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2005. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Bible Baptist Temple with the Rev. Greg Waggoner of Bible Baptist Temple and the Rev. Randy Davis of Lifeway Fellowship officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. John Lee Jennings was born June 5, 1924, in Wellington, Kan., to Curtis and Bessie Jennings. He grew up in Canadian and attended Amarillo High School. He married the former Viola Serpan in Wichita, Kan., on Oct. 26, 1942. Mr. Jennings enlisted in the Army Air Corps in February 1943 and served in the European Theater during World War II. He was honorably discharged as a corporal in 1945. In 1984 he retired after 35 years from Santa Fe Railway as a conductor. After retirement he kept busy working on rental properties he owned and spent many evenings at Carolyn's Caf drinking coffee with his railroad friends. John and Viola would have celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary on Oct. 26 of this year. Mr. Jennings never met a stranger and was loved by all that knew him. He will be dearly missed. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Cathorine Schwartz and Jean Milton and two grandchildren. Survivors include his wife, Viola J. Jennings; four daughters, Lavina Pendley, Norma Barnett and Joann Smart, all of Amarillo, and Rosalie Arnold of Austin; a son, John H. Jennings of Bedford; a nephew, Jimmy Phares of Amarillo; 11 grandchildren; and 12 great- grandchildren The family suggests memorials be to the American Heart Association, 6605 W. Interstate 40, Bldg. A-6, Amarillo, TX 79107 or the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 50433, Amarillo, TX 79159. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Elmer "Mack" McCrary Robert Elmer "Mack" McCrary, 95, of Amarillo died Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2005. Graveside services will be at noon Friday in Llano Cemetery with the Rev. Mary Rogers-Ellsworth of First Presbyterian Church officiating. Arrangements are by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mr. McCrary was born Jan. 29, 1910, in Wood County and married Alva Jean Church in 1935 in Dallas. They moved to Amarillo in 1941, where he was a manager for Borden Co. and owner of Nest Fresh Egg Co. He was a longtime member of the Khiva Shrine and Masonic Lodge. He attended First Presbyterian Church for 57 years. He was preceded in death by his wife on Oct. 17, 1998. Survivors include a son, Nick McCrary of Amarillo; a daughter, Susan Jean Smith of Hope, Ark.; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Doris Irene Banks Doris Irene Banks, 73, of Amarillo died Sunday, Oct. 9, 2005. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Channing Cemetery in Channing with Bob Miller officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 S. Bell St. Survivors include three children, Pam Banks of Lubbock, Joe Banks of Seattle and Mike Banks of Booker; and two grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Amarillo Humane Society. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Emma Frances Moser Emma Frances Moser, 83, of Amarillo died Monday, Oct. 10, 2005. Prayer vigil will be at 7 p.m. today in Rix Funeral Directors in Hereford. Mass will be at 11 a.m. Friday in St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Hereford with the Rev. John Valdez officiating. Burial will be in St. Anthony's Cemetery. Mrs. Moser was born April 30, 1922, in Nazareth to Philip and Gertrude Behrens Acker. She attended schools in Nazareth. Survivors include three sons, Marvin Kuper of Vici, Okla., John Kuper of Temple and Larry Kuper of Carrollton; three daughters, Carolyn Evers of Hereford, Dolores Fleming of Optima, Okla., and Lynda Herrin of Temple; three sisters, Margaret Gallagher of Olton, Doris Britten of Groom and Phyllis Podzemny of Sedan, N.M.; three brothers, Dave Acker and Dennis Acker, both of Amarillo, and Anthony Acker of Nazareth; and 25 grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the VFW or the American Cancer Society. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Area E. M. "Bob" Keller Jr. PAMPA - E. M. "Bob" Keller Jr., 77, died Saturday, Oct. 8, 2005, in Lowell, Mass. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with the Rev. Barry Owens, associate pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Masonic rites are by Top O' Texas Masonic Lodge No. 1381. Mr. Keller was owner/operator of E. M. Keller Trucking from 1943 until retiring in 1981. He was a member of Top O' Texas Masonic Lodge No. 1381 AF&AM, Scottish Rite Bodies of El Paso and Lubbock, York Rite Bodies of Borger and First Baptist Church. Survivors include a son, Eddy M. Keller of Westford, Mass.; two sisters, Jean Stewart of Alamogordo, N.M., and Dorothea Spalding of Wichita Falls; and four grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Top O' Texas Masonic Lodge No. 1381, P.O. Box 2391, Pampa, TX 79066-2391 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Eugene "Bob" Beard CLARENDON - Robert Eugene "Bob" Beard, 75, died Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2005 in Alamo, Calif. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with the Rev. Bryan Knowles, pastor of Community Fellowship Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors Inc. of Clarendon. Mr. Beard was born Aug. 14, 1930, in Wichita Falls to Johnie W. and Bertha Moore Beard. He moved to Clarendon when he was a baby. He attended Clarendon schools and graduated from high school in 1948. In 1949, he married Juanita Carpenter, whom he had gone to school with since kindergarten. He joined the Navy and after being honorably discharged, began a long and successful career with Santa Fe Railway in Amarillo. Promotions took him to various cities such as New Orleans, Dallas, Galveston, Albuquerque, N.M., and Chicago. After 38 years he retired as Director of Marketing. He and his wife lived in Naperville, Ill., for 30 years before moving to Concord, Calif., in 2004. He enjoyed working in his garden and visiting with friends and neighbors. He was a Mason and a Shriner. He was preceded in death by his parents; and three brothers, Johnie, Donald and Jimmie. Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Juanita; a son, William "Gene" Beard and wife, Kathy, of Winfield, Ill.; a daughter, Marguerite "Elaine" Robinson and husband, Rendal, of Antioch, Calif.; and four grandchildren, Robert and David Beard of Downers Grove, Ill., and Ryan and Kelleigh Ives of Antioch. The family will receive visitors from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials be to Shriners Hospital, 2211 N. Oak Park Ave., Chicago, IL 60707 or Shriners Hospital, 815 Market St., Galveston, TX 77550-2725. Sign the online guest book at www.RobertsonFuneral.com. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Mexico Nilen Ellis "Bird" Birdsong CLOVIS, N.M. - Nilen Ellis "Bird" Birdsong, 73, died Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2005. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in The Chapel in Clovis with Chaplain Capt. Donald Bridges officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens in Clovis. Mr. Birdsong was born Jan. 8, 1932, to Fred and Beaula Triple Birdsong in Hooks, Texas. He married Setsuko "Miko" Tomikawa on Sept. 21, 1960, in Okinawa. Survivors include two daughters, Linda Birdsong and Carol Birdsong, both of Clovis; five grandchildren; four brothers, Wayne Birdsong, Frederick Birdsong, Gerald Birdsong and Donald Birdsong; and three sisters, Lois Jean Birdsong, Joy Beth Lewis and Velma Bernard. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Howard "Chili" Chilcote CLAYTON, N.M. - John Howard "Chili" Chilcote, 79, died Monday, Oct. 10, 2005. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Kevin Phillips, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Clayton Memorial Cemetery by Hass Funeral Directors. Mr. Chilcote was born Oct. 23, 1925, in Clayton to Fay Howard "F.H." Chilcote and Ida Evangaline Gill Chilcote. He purchased the Eklund Dining Room and Saloon and later formed the Eklund Association. Survivors include a sister, Mary Alice Lewis of Tucumcari. The family suggests memorials be to any of his favorite charities or organizations. Sign the online guest book at www.hassfuneralhome.com. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rita Armijo Dodge CLOVIS, N.M. - Rita Armijo Dodge, 73, died Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2005, in Lubbock, Texas. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today in Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Mass of the Resurrection will be at 10 a.m. Friday in the church with the Rev. Sotero Sena officiating. Burial will be in Mission Garden of Memories in Clovis by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Mrs. Dodge was born Aug. 17, 1932, in Clovis to Juan and Margaret Armijo. She married Miguel Dodge on Feb. 1, 1964, in Clovis. Survivors include her husband; six sons, Michael Dodge, George Dodge, Terry Dodge and Tommy Montoya, all of Clovis, David Dodge of Dephew, Okla., and Ruben Dodge of Princeton, Ind.; four daughters, Martina Garcia of Littleton, Colo., Joann Montoya of Tulsa, Okla., Loretta Garduno of Irving, Texas, and Margaret Lopez of Clovis; a brother; 62 grandchildren; and 47 great- grandchildren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Lee "Bob" Moore CLOVIS, N.M. - Robert Lee "Bob" Moore, 87, died Monday, Oct. 10, 2005. Services will be at 1 p.m. today in The Chapel with the Rev. Hayden Walsh officiating. Burial will follow in Mission Garden of Memories by Muffley Funeral Home. Mr. Moore was born Aug. 3, 1918, to Charles Oscar and Lockey Ola Clayton Moore in Dimmitt, Texas. He married Elizabeth Bell on Feb. 24, 1940, in Clovis. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Keith Moore of Clovis and Ronald J. Moore of Las Vegas; a daughter, Sue Nicholson of Abilene, Texas; a sister, Christine Nunn of Clovis; 12 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elsewhere Viola Mae Johnson SAN ANTONIO - Viola Mae Johnson, 75, died Sunday, Oct. 9, 2005. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens in Clovis, N.M., with Dale Moore officiating. Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home of Clovis. Mrs. Johnson was born Jan. 2, 1930, to Jerome and Viola E. Repp Warner in St. Louis. She married Joe Johnson on Jan 7, 1948, in Weatherford. Survivors include three sons, Joe Johnson of Sunnyvale, Calif., Lee Johnson of San Antonio and Jerome Johnson of Albuquerque, N.M.; a brother, Jerome Warner of Las Cruces, N.M.; a sister, Geraldine Wright of Truth or Consequences, N.M.; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------