Potter Co. TX - Obits: September 10, 2006 ============================================================== 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, Sept. 10, 2006 Sunday, September 10, 2006 Area Josepha G. Alvarez SUNRAY - Josepha G. Alvarez, 69, died Friday, Sept. 8, 2006. Prayer services will be at 7 p.m. today in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel in Dumas. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in First Baptist Church in Sunray with Deacon Wayne Norrell of Christ the King Catholic Church officiating. Burial will be in Lane Memorial Cemetery in Sunray. Mrs. Alvarez was born June 30, 1937, in McDonna to Jose Angel and Teresa Garcia Deleon. She was a homemaker. Survivors include five sons, Bryan Alvarez of Boise City, Okla., Herman Alvarez of Turpin, Okla., Randy Alvarez of Addison, Albert Alvarez of Sunray and Chris Alvarez of Amarillo; a daughter, Estella Alvarez of Sunray; two half sisters; three half brothers; nine grandchildren; five stepgrandchildren; and four stepgreat-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to a local charity. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lillis Louise Chadwick SHAMROCK - Lillis Louise Chadwick, 71, died Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006, in Amarillo. No services are scheduled. Arrangements are by Wright Funeral Directors of Shamrock. Mrs. Chadwick was born Sept. 17, 1934, in Skellytown to Lyle and Mable Gariepy Wells. She married Robert Chadwick on Oct. 6, 1951, in Borger. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Diana Nall of Shamrock; two sons, Jerad Chadwick of Shamrock and Larry Chadwick of Amarillo; four brothers, Bill Wells of Guymon, Okla., Don Wells of Denison, Roger Wells of Electra and Leon Sutton of Canadian; two sisters, Vinnie Alexander of Shawnee, Okla., and Faye Curren of Powell, Mo.; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elsie Lee Hamilton CHILDRESS - Elsie Lee Hamilton, 91, died Thursday, Sept. 7, 2006, in Quanah. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery by Johnson Funeral Home. Mrs. Hamilton was born Sept. 29, 1914, in Eastland County to James and Manerva Green Sanders. She married John on June 21, 1939, in Paducah. Survivors include two daughters, Shelba Lacy of Childress and Selinda Heilig of Denver; two stepdaughters, Neva Smith and Mary Stratton, both of Horseshoe Bend, Ark.; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and four great- great-grandchildren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clara Magness HAPPY - Clara Magness, 94, died Friday, Sept. 8, 2006, in Canyon. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Brooks Funeral Directors Chapel in Canyon. Burial will be in Happy Cemetery. Clara Magness was born Aug. 11, 1912, to William E. and Mae Wesley Guest in Happy. She graduated from Happy High School. Clara married Bert "Hank" Magness in Happy in 1932. Clara was a homemaker, a member of First Baptist Church in Happy and a lifelong resident of Happy. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bert "Hank" Magness, in 1975. Survivors include two sons, Phil Magness of Canyon and Don Magness of Happy; three granddaughters, Donna Collins of The Colony, and Debbie Bell and Aletha Magness, both of Canyon; two great-grandchildren, Dalton Bell and Dixie Bell, both of Canyon; a great-great-grandchild, Boston Bell of Canyon; and two sisters, Alice Neal of Amarillo and Mildred Zachry of Hugo, Okla. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Venita Rae Richerson FRITCH - Venita Rae Richerson, 73, died Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006, in Borger. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in First Southern Baptist Church in Fritch with John Denton, former pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park by Minton-Chatwell Funeral Directors of Fritch. Mrs. Richerson was born Sept. 3, 1933, in Pampa to Alfred and Naida Cowan. She attended Miami schools until 1947, when the family moved to Pampa. She graduated from Pampa High School in 1951 and then attended the University of Texas at Austin. Venita married Alvin Dale Richerson on Aug. 8, 1953, in Pampa. She was a member of First Southern Baptist Church and had been a resident of Fritch since 1969. She was the secretary to the president of Frank Phillips College in Borger and then she became the secretary to the principal of Sanford-Fritch High School until her retirement. Survivors include her husband, Dale; two sons, Scott Richerson and wife Kellie of Beaver, Okla., and Clay Richerson and wife Kenet of Olton; a daughter, Rene Parker and husband Joe of Fritch; a brother, Richard Cowan of Tampa, Fla.; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the Panhandle Alzheimer's Association. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Anita Hall Rodgers BORGER - Anita Hall Rodgers, 81, died Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Highland Park Cemetery with Ron Maxwell officiating. Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Directors. Mrs. Rodgers was born Oct. 14, 1924, in Doole to Frank and Cora Deason. She married Robert Rodgers in March 2000. Survivors include five daughters, Joy Ratcliff and Ruth Arnold, both of Borger, Cheryl Thompson of Halstead, Kan., Mary Kurr of Newton, Kan., and Lida Whitehead of Texroy; and a son, Tommy Lusk of Borger. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joe Salas Jr. PLAINVIEW - Joe Salas Jr., 70, died Thursday, Sept. 7, 2006. Family prayer services will be at 6 p.m. today in Lemons Funeral Home Chapel. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in First Baptist Church in Lockney. Burial will be in Lockney Cemetery in Lockney. Mr. Salas was born Aug. 7, 1936, in Shelton to Jose Salas Sr. and Elvira Zavala Salas. He married Jesusa Sanchez on Sept. 14, 1954, in Floydada. Survivors include his mother; seven daughters, Irene Favila, Vickie Flores, Norma Tijerina, Minerva Neteaga and Rosa Cedillo, all of Plainview, and Nora Vasquez and Melissa Bybee, both of Lubbock; four sons, Abel Salas of Lago Vista, Steven Salas of Lockney, Renee Salas of Lubbock and Tony Garces of Plainview; 22 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Edward F. Crofton Jr. CLARENDON - Edward F. Crofton Jr., 87, died Friday, Sept. 8, 2006. Graveside services will be at 3:30 p.m. Monday in Memorial Park Cemetery in Amarillo with Monsignor Harold Waldow officiating. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40, in Amarillo. Mr. Crofton was born Jan. 5, 1919, in Bay City to Luline and Edward Crofton Sr. He graduated high school in 1938 and then attended NTAC. He served in the Army from 1941 to 1945 in the 36th Division. He married Bettie Beynon on April 14, 1942. Mr. Crofton worked for South West Life Insurance in Dallas for about a year. He moved to Amarillo and worked for SPC for 36 years. He was a Catholic. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Margarite Harmon. Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Bettie, of Clarendon. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be to the Salvation Army or a favorite charity. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amarillo Patty Jean "Pat" Hathcock Patty Jean "Pat" Hathcock, 80, of Amarillo died Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2006. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Llano Cemetery Mausoleum Chapel with Bob Thomas, chaplain of Odyssey Health Care Systems officiating. Arrangements are by N. S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mrs. Hathcock was born Dec. 17, 1925, in Tucumcari, N.M., and was raised there. She graduated from Tucumcari High School and moved to Amarillo in 1947 from Florida. She was employed by Diamond-Shamrock as an executive secretary for 25 years before retiring. She loved music and reading and will be missed by all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her husband, Johnny Hathcock, in 2000; and a son, John A. Hathcock, in 1997. Survivors include two daughters, Debbie Dudley and Jeanie Mariner, both of Amarillo; two sisters, Mary Pillow of Frazier Park, Calif., and Margaret Birch of Tucumcari; two grandchildren, Lori Davidson and Adrienne Wade, both of Amarillo; six great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the American Diabetes Association, 8008 Slide Road, No. 12, Lubbock, TX 79424. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wesley M. "Wes" Beecher Wesley M. "Wes" Beecher, 84, of Amarillo died Friday, Sept. 8, 2006. Memorial services will be in Bellevue, Iowa. Burial will be in Crystal Township Cemetery in Traer, Iowa. Local arrangements are by Cox-LaGrone Funeral Home, 4180 Canyon Drive. Mr. Beecher was born Sept. 13, 1921, in Dinsdale, Iowa, and was raised there. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marines Corps in World War II, where he served in the aviation division. He married Phyllis Ploen in 1941 in Lancaster, Mo. She passed away in 2005. He worked for the state of Iowa as a game warden for 27 years, until his retirement in 1983. He loved the outdoors, hunting and fishing. He moved to Amarillo in 2005 from Dubuque, Iowa. He was a 50-year member of the American Legion and had received his 50-year pin as a Mason. He was past master of Bellevue lodge No. 51 in Bellevue, and served as master of the lodge two different times. He was a longtime member of Bellevue Presbyterian Church. He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Rebecca Beecher; a brother, Claire Beecher; a sister-in-law, Josephine Beecher; and a nephew, Tommy Beecher. Survivors include a son, Rick Beecher and wife Terry of Amarillo; a daughter, Sharon Beecher of Hoschton, Ga.,; a brother, Richard W. Beecher of Traer; four grandchildren, Nathan Israel, Tim Beecher and wife Jennifer, Jennifer "Jenny" Beecher and Larissa Roth; and a great-grandson, Trey Beecher The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. today at 7033 W. 42nd Ave. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lydia F. Diewock-Horn Lydia F. Diewock-Horn, 77, of Amarillo, formerly of Pampa, died Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2006. Memorial services were Friday in Atlanta. Arrangements were by H.M. Patterson and Son Arlington Chapel of Atlanta. Survivors include a son, John H. Horn III; a daughter, Bettina F. Alam; three grandchildren, Jessica Horn, Jennifer Horn and Daniel Alam; and a cousin, Erich Diewock and wife Joanne. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be to the Alzheimer's Association, 1925 Century Blvd, Suite 10, Atlanta, GA 30345 or The American Foundation for the Blind, 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300, NY, NY 10001. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ed Geurin Ed Geurin, 80, of Amarillo died Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2006. Services for the family will be private. Arrangements are by N. S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mr. Geurin was born Dec. 7, 1925, in Snyder and grew up in Western Oklahoma. He served in the U.S. Army in the European Theater during World War II. He moved to Amarillo in 1957. He was a carpenter and owned and operated Best Self Storage and other real estate investments. He was a Christian. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Stephen Burl Geurin, who was killed in Vietnam in 1969; a brother; and two sisters. Survivors include a son, Bryan Geurin of Amarillo; and a special friend, Myrtis Mosley of Amarillo. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hattie Jo Heard Hattie Jo Heard, 95, of Amarillo died Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006. A celebration of Hattie Jo's life will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Park Place Towers Parlor with Alan Williamson, chaplain of Park Central Retirement Center, officiating. Private burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Hattie Jo Heard, 95, of Amarillo, entered Eternal Life on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006. She was born May 11, 1911, to Charles Edward and Josie Greer Bryson on their family ranch in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Hattie Jo Heard was reared in Texas, and graduated with honors from both Aspermont High School and Hardin Simmons University. Hattie Jo did graduate work at West Texas A&M University. She met her husband, Harold, in rural Texas where she taught school and he was a principal. They moved to Amarillo in 1942 and settled in the River Road community where Hattie Jo taught until her retirement in 1969. Harold Heard entered Eternal Life in 1992 leaving his wife of 55 years. Hattie Jo moved to Park Place Towers and enjoyed the blessing of friends and family until for medical reasons she moved to Ware Living Care Center. Hattie Jo's family is thankful to the entire Park Central Retirement staff for their kind care, assistance and compassion in navigating the unexpected twists and turns of Hattie Jo's golden age. Hattie Jo was a charter member of River Road Baptist Church. She was the proud author of the history of the organization of the church as a mission of First Baptist Church of Amarillo. Hattie Jo was a Sunday school teacher as well as a public school teacher. She was a member of the Llano Estacado Chapter of the Daughters of American Revolution, Eastern Star, Amarillo Senior Citizens, River Road Senior Citizens and the Amarillo Retired Teachers Association. Hattie Jo is fondly remembered for many humorous quips, enduring patience, eternal optimism, indomitable spirit and unconquerable courage. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers; and three sisters. Survivors include two daughters, Shirley Heard of Amarillo and Sarah Ashburn and husband Pat of Bryan; four beloved grandchildren, Stephen Ashburn and wife Gwen of Amarillo, Lisa Robinson and husband Lindy of Seabrook, Robert Ashburn and wife Bronwen of Johnson City, Tenn., and Denise Corkill and husband John of Vienna, Va.; seven cherished great-grandchildren, Jim and John Ashburn, Elizabeth and Christopher Robinson, Justin and Bryson Ashburn and Ryan Corkill; and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be to the Hattie Jo Bryson Heard scholarship fund, in care of Jim Brokenbek, 411 S. Kentucky St., Amarillo, TX 79106-8854 or a favorite charity. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kevin Ray Kirkland Kevin Ray Kirkland, 48, of Amarillo died Thursday, Sept. 7, 2006. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Rowe Cemetery in Hedley with Dr. Stan Coffey, pastor of The Church at Quail Creek, officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Kevin was born Aug. 25, 1958, in Amarillo. He worked as a mechanic in the automotive industry. Survivors include his mother, Norma Kirkland of Amarillo; an aunt and uncle, Berniece and Bo Evers of Lubbock; three uncles, Ralph Mote of Estelline and James Kirkland and Dale Johnson, both of Amarillo; three aunts, Joan Wagner and Joyce Walter, both of Amarillo, and Barbara Escamilla of San Antonio; a cousin, Jack Martin of Memphis; and several other cousins. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wayne Parish Wayne Parish, 72, of Amarillo died Friday, Sept. 8, 2006. Memorial services will be at 7 p.m. Monday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Mr. Parish was born in Mount Pleasant and had lived in Amarillo since 1954. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, and served in Vietnam. Mr. Parish married Sharlotte Mock on Sept. 14, 1974. He was a musician at heart and played the keyboard. He was a fun-loving, kind and great husband, friend and coworker. He was a Christian. Survivors include his mother, Floye Parish of Amarillo; his wife, Sharlotte Parish; a son, Kenneth Hayes of Waskom; and 10 grandchildren. There will be no viewing. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jolene Dale Hightower Jolene Dale Hightower, 68, of Amarillo died Friday, Sept. 8, 2006. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Rector Funeral Home Osage Chapel, 2800 S. Osage St., with Dr. Dana Moore of Pleasant Valley Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Hightower was born Sept. 6, 1938, near Lipscomb to Jacob Babitzke and Edna Mae Karbs Babitzke. She graduated from Higgins High School and Draughons Business College. Mrs. Hightower married Bobby Carroll Hightower on Sept. 15, 1956, in Lipscomb. They lived in Amarillo and Clarendon, where she worked as a homemaker and with her husband as owners and operators of Hightower Cash Register for more than 20 years. Mrs. Hightower was a wonderful mother who enjoyed fishing, needlework and quilting as hobbies. She was preceded in death by her husband and parents. Survivors include three sons, Jake L. of Amarillo, Farris K. and wife Monica of Lubbock and Barry D. of Little Rock, Ark.; two daughters, Bobbie Dale Kerrigan and husband Everett and Judy G. Geisler, all of Amarillo; 14 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; three brothers, Duane Everett Babitzke and wife Dorothy of Canyon Lake, Delvin James Babitzke of San Angelo and Dennis Ray Babitzke and wife Linda of San Angelo. Viewing will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wanda Ballard Lewis Wanda Ballard Lewis, 80, of Amarillo died Thursday, Sept. 7, 2006. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Memorial Park Cemetery in Vega with Charles Cox of Disciples of Christ Christian Church officiating. Arrangements are by N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd. Mrs. Lewis was born March 26, 1926, in Breckenridge. She graduated from Hereford High School and married J. W. Andrews in 1944. Mrs. Lewis then married Walter Ballard in 1950. After Mr. Ballard passed away, she married Doug Lewis. Mrs. Lewis was an avid reader with special interests in history and biblical scholarship. She was an accomplished artist and businesswoman. Mrs. Lewis was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and will be missed by all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers; and a son. Survivors include her husband, Doug Lewis; a son, James W. Andrews of Lubbock; a daughter, FayeLee Cox of Rockdale; two sisters, Bonnie Nickel of Plainview and Janie Ledbetter of Joshua; numerous nieces and nephews; five grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family suggests memorials be to Hospice Care of the Southwest, 1500 S. Coulter St., Amarillo, TX 79106. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elmo Jones Elmo Jones, 83, of Amarillo died Friday, Sept. 8, 2006. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Cowboy Church Arena of Life with Murray McKenzie, associate pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Mr. Jones was born Sept. 11, 1922, in Blanket to Homer P. and Ruby Jones. He had been a building contractor. He was nominated Commercial Builder of the Year two times in Austin. He was a member of the Jaycees in Littlefield. He married Jo Ann Jones on Nov. 18, 1944, in Littlefield. She preceded him in death in 1999. Survivors include a son, Ty Jones and wife Lou Ann of Amarillo; three granddaughters, Stephanie Bowery and husband Jeff of Pilot Point, Brooke Busby and husband Cody and Brandi Bennett and husband Travis, all of Amarillo; three great-grandchildren, Hunter, Wyatt and Addison; and several nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to Llano Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 563, Amarillo, TX 79105 or Cowboy Church Arena of Life Youth Building, P.O. Box 8577, Amarillo, TX 79114. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Mexico Ann Marie Jurkovich CLOVIS, N.M. - Ann Marie Jurkovich, 88, died Sunday, Sept. 3, 2006, in Ruidoso. Graveside memorial services will be in Calmet Park Cemetery in Merreville, Ind., at a later date. Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home. Mrs. Jurkovich was born Oct. 25, 1917, in Ralphton, Pa., to Michael and Helen Patrick and was raised in the Catholic faith. On July 24, 1948, she married Steve Jurkovich in Gary, Ind. Survivors include a sister, Mary Sofiak of Keyser, W.Va.; a daughter, Sandra Roose of Clovis; two granddaughters; and three great-grandchildren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elsewhere Annie Myrtle Blair VISTA, CALIF. - Annie Myrtle Blair, 96, formerly of Plainview, Texas, died Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2006. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Lemons Funeral Home Chapel in Plainview with Kenneth Coats officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park. Mrs. Blair was born Oct. 31, 1909, in Italy, Texas, to Charles L. Bradford and Beulah Cleburne Stockton Bradford. She married Arthur Line in 1933 and later married Oliver Blair in 1965. Survivors include a son, Billy Line of Vista; and three grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to the First Baptist Church library in Plainview. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, September 10, 2006 Services Services Pending Elma Jameson, 84, of Channing died Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006. Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors of Dumas. Juan Carlos Morales, 32, of Dumas died Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006. Morrison Funeral Directors. Margart P. Robinson, 84, of Amarillo died Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006. Rector Funeral Home Osage Chapel, 2800 S. Osage St. Services Scheduled R.C. "Pete" Kellison, 93, of Amarillo died Friday, Sept. 8, 2006. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park Cemetery in Plainview. Services Today Josepha G. Alvarez, 69, of Sunray. Prayer services will be at 7 p.m. in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel in Dumas. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in First Baptist Church in Sunray. Burial will be in Lane Memorial Cemetery in Sunray. Audrey Earnest "Penny" Pennington, 88, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. in Temple Baptist Church. Burial will be in Cochran Cemetery in Butler County. Cotrell Funeral Service. Joe Salas Jr., 70, of Plainview. Family prayer services will be at 6 p.m. in Lemons Funeral Home Chapel. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in First Baptist Church in Lockney. Burial will be in Lockney Cemetery in Lockney. Lorretta Nora Smith, 97, of Shamrock. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. in Calvary Christian Fellowship Church in Shamrock. Wright Funeral Home of Wheeler. ---