Potter Co. TX - Obits: September 30, 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 - Obituaries Saturday, September 30, 2006 Amarillo Glen Burgess Glen Burgess, 75, of Enid, Okla., formerly of Amarillo, died Monday, Sept. 25, 2006, in Casper, Wyo. Services are pending. Arrangements are by Newcomer Family Funeral Home of Casper. Mr. Burgess was born Aug. 22, 1931, in Canyon to Bob and Jewel Burgess. He was raised in Amarillo. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Carol Burgess and his twin brother, Gwen Burgess. Survivors include his wife, Maxine; a son, Billy Bayert of Casper; a daughter, Tamora Anthony of Ocala, Fla.; a brother, Robert Burgess of Artesia, N.M.; a sister, Minnie Pearl Villarreal of Amarillo; a sister-in-law, Florence Burgess of Amarillo; and four grandchildren, Chris, Melody, Jessica and Jason. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Area Eula Dee Duncan PAMPA - Eula Dee Duncan, 95, died Thursday, Sept. 28, 2006. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Memory Gardens Cemetery with the Rev. Jay McGaughy, pastor of Temple Baptist Church of Dumas, officiating. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mrs. Duncan was born Aug. 26, 1911, in Headrick, Okla. She married Jess Randall in 1925 and she later married John H. Duncan in 1947. Survivors include five grandchildren, Connie McDowell and Lois Moxon, both of Pampa, Debbie Smith of Dumas, Robert Gage of Fort Worth and Johnny Randall of Tildon; 11 great-grandchildren; and 14 great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Henrietta Holdeman PERRYTON - Henrietta Holdeman, 93, died Thursday, Sept. 28, 2006. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Victory Family Church with the Rev. Marlon Sparks officiating. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Perryton. Mrs. Holdeman was born May 6, 1913, in Granby, Mo., to Joe and Martha Hatcher. She married Frank Holdeman on Nov. 17, 1935, in Granby. Survivors include a daughter, Judy Charlson of Perryton; two sons, Dicky Holdeman of Perryton and Kenneth Holdeman of Roswell, N.M.; 12 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Senior Village, 3101 S. Main St., Perryton, TX 79070 or a favorite charity. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ora Lee King TURKEY - Ora Lee King, 92, died Thursday, Sept. 28, 2006, in Plainview. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church with Melvin Clinton, pastor, officiating and Jerry Jones, Mrs. King's son-in-law of Bowie, assisting. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery by Myers-Chancellor Funeral Home. Ora Lee was born July 15, 1914, in Collinsville to Tobe and Callie Christopher. She married Elwin Dennis King on Dec. 24, 1929, in Durant, Okla. They moved in the mid-1940s with their family to the Turkey area, where they made their home and farmed until Elwin's death in November 1970. Up until that time she had basically been a homemaker and helpmate on the farm. After his death, she worked at Turkey Drive In and was Turkey's Avon and Amway representatives for many years. She baby-sat many of Turkey's little ones to support herself and her three youngest children, who were all still in high school. She was a member of First Baptist Church, a charter member of Turkey Senior Citizens, a member of the Turkey Quilting Club and served on the committee for the cemetery fence project. She was also preceded in death by her parents; three brothers; a grandson; and two sons-in-law. Survivors include four sons, Bob King and wife Marvis of Grand Prairie, Johnny King and wife Kim of Hedley, Mike King and wife Joyce of Plano and Dennis King and wife Doris of Pampa; seven daughters, Ladell Ramsey and husband Doyle of Plainview, Loretta Zinsmeyer of Pearsall, Joy Turner and husband Jan of Turkey, Phyllis Geissler of Earth, Iva Gafford and husband Connie of Arlington, Evorie Jones and husband Jerry of Bowie and Elaine Hobbs of Round Rock; a brother, Leland Christopher and wife Muriel of Dallas; a sister, Martha Flowers and husband Gerald of Collinsville; three sisters-in-law of Collinsville; 30 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; five great-great- grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to First Baptist Church in Turkey or Dreamland Cemetery in Turkey. Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be Mrs. King's grandsons. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Edith McGinnis DUMAS - Edith McGinnis, 90, died Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2006. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in Morrison Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Winfred Walker, staff minister of Morrison Funeral Directors, officiating. Burial will be in Northlawn Memorial Gardens. Mrs. McGinnis was born Jan. 7, 1916, in Fisher County. She married H.A. McGinnis in 1937. Survivors include a son, Sid McGinnis of Katy; a daughter, Marsha Keathley of Las Vegas; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Sign the online guest book at www.morrisonfuneraldirectors.com. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Walter E. Via ABERNATHY - Walter E. Via, 82, died Thursday, Sept. 28, 2006. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Happy Cemetery in Happy with Rev. David Menefee officiating. Arrangements are by Abell Funeral Home of Abernathy. Mr. Via was born Nov. 13, 1923, in Abilene. He attended Morton High School. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II with the 782nd Tank Batallion. He married Gui Fay Harrison on June 10, 1945, in Canyon. He moved to Abernathy from Happy in 1976 to manage ranches in Texas and New Mexico for J.C. Mills. He farmed in the Arney community west of Happy for 30 years. In 1982 he opened Walt's Boot-Shoe Repair and served the Tulia, Floydada and Abernathy areas. He retired in 1989 and worked part-time at Security Bank. He enjoyed painting, wood carving and gardening. Survivors include his wife, Gui Via; his children, Ronnie Via and wife Sheila of Tulia, Gary Via and wife Jo of Plano, Joe Bob Via and wife Kathy of Canyon, Becky Rainer and husband Joe of Floydada and Guy Walt Via and wife Jan of Muleshoe; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Juanita Sparks of Magalia, Calif., and Floritta Vaughn of Holly Lake Ranch. The family will receive friends following the services today at First Baptist Church in Happy. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Canyon Claire Louise Littleton Brandon Claire Louise Littleton Brandon, 97, of Canyon died Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2006, in Amarillo. Private burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery by Brooks Funeral Directors. Claire Louise Littleton Brandon was born Aug. 8, 1909, in San Bernardino, Calif., to Arthur Davis Littleton and Edith Fanny Harding Littleton and graduated from San Bernardino High School in 1927. She worked at Jennings Dress Shop for many years and later retired from West Texas State University Book Store on Jan. 31, 1985, after many years of service. Claire was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and a member of First Baptist Church of Canyon. She married Lewis Fields Brandon in Yuma, Ariz., on Feb. 15, 1930. He preceded her in death on March 3, 1966. Claire was known to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren as "Nanny." She set a constant positive example and taught all of her family the value of unqualified love. She was also preceded in death by two brothers, John and Dwight Littleton; and two sisters, Gladys Chandler and Lois Snow. Survivors include three sons, Larry Brandon and wife Tina of Amarillo, John Brandon of Round Rock and David Brandon of Boulder, Colo.; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity or Dreamland Cemetery, P.O. Box 38, Canyon, TX 79015. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elsewhere Johnnie Giesbrecht Jr. MONTEZUMA, KAN. - Johnnie Giesbrecht Jr., 75, died Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2006. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in Church of God in Christ Mennonite with Charles Schmidt and John Nightengale, ministers, presiding. Burial will be in North Mennonite Church Cemetery by Montezuma Funeral Home. Mr. Giesbrecht was born May 23, 1931, in Walsh, Colo., to John and Ida Unruh Giesbrecht. He and Verda Jean Nichols were married Sept. 17, 1950, in Cimarron. Survivors include his wife; a son, Steve Giesbrecht of Athens, Ga.; three daughters, Sharlene Koehn of Montezuma, Ks., Rita Koehn, of Sedan, N.M., and Pamela Koehn of Texline, Texas; two brothers, Vernon Giesbrecht of Montezuma and Frank Giesbrecht of Louisville, Ga.; six sisters, Frances Koehn and Susie Nickel, both of Montezuma, Lenora Ensz of Louisville, Dorothy Boeckner of Moundridge,Ks., Evelyn Unruh of Blossom, Texas, Mary Ann Dirks of Paris, Texas, and Ruby Unruh of Copeland,Ks.; 18 grandchildren; and 22 great- grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Hospice of the Prairie in Dodge City, and may be sent in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 421, Montezuma, KS 67867. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shelby Ann Brown HOUSTON - Shelby Ann Brown, 51, died Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2006, in Pennsylvania. A memorial and celebration of Shelby's life will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Follett United Methodist Church in Follett. Shelby Ann Brown, beloved wife and mother, daughter and sister, died Sept. 19, 2006, in an automobile accident in rural Pennsylvania at the age of 51. Shelby was born Feb. 14, 1955, in Houston. As a child of a career military officer, she traveled the world, eventually living in Germany, Pennsylvania, Michigan, California and Hawaii by the time she graduated high school summa cum laude from Culver Academy for Girls in Culver, Ind. Shelby went on to graduate from California State University at Hayward, and began her career as a CPA in 1979. Eventually she became a systems analyst for Exxon and worked for many years in "corporate America," rising through the ranks. In her late 40s, she decided to follow her heart and her love of farming, and she left her traditional lifestyle to begin life anew as the proprietor of Earth Mother Farms and the Anala Goat Co. Shelby and Teg built their business in Beasley, acquiring a reputation as top- quality goat breeders with their prize-winning stock. They began their raw goat milk dairy in 2003 and have offered their exceptional line of dairy products in farmer's markets all over the Houston area. Shelby was especially proud that the farm was finally beginning to show a profit. She was committed to the importance of raw goat milk for the overall wellness of her many clients and loved to speak about its many health benefits. Shelby was the earth mother of Earth Mother Farms, and loved to laugh about her radical lifestyle change. She leaves a legacy of fearless adventure to all who loved her. Survivors she leaves behind include her husband, Thomas "Teg" Gregory; two children, Eric Ekeroth and Lisa Ekeroth Mack and husband Danny, all of Houston; a granddaughter, Ariel Mack of Houston; her parents, John S. and Trixie Brown of Monterey, Calif.; a brother, John M. Brown and wife Jo of Amarillo; a sister, Sydney Brown Shepperd and husband Mike of Livermore, Calif.; and a large and loving extended family, as well as treasured friends. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be to the Heifer Project International, P.O. Box 8058, Little Rock, AR 72203, (800) 422-0474 or a favorite charity. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mae Slack Coffee THE WOODLANDS - Mae Slack Coffee, 100, formerly of Canyon, died Friday, Sept. 29, 2006. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Dreamland Cemetery in Canyon. Arrangements are by Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon. Born Dec. 29, 1905, in Randall County, Mae was the daughter of Thomas Vanoy and Sarah "Sadie" Cleveland Slack. She graduated from Canyon High School and West Texas State Teachers College, class of 1925, before moving to Los Angeles, where she studied English Literature at U.S.C. and piano at the Grabill Piano School. Mae married Herschel Coffee in 1929. They made their home in Canyon, where she taught piano for many years in the Canyon public schools and in her home. She had moved to the Austin area in 1996 to be closer to her daughters and moved to The Woodlands in the spring of 2006. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two sisters, Jimmie Bonds and Sarah Thompson; and three brothers, Joe Slack, Herbert Slack and Thomas Vanoy Slack Jr. Survivors include two sisters, Ila Jennings of Canyon and Jean Lockhart of Lakeway; two daughters, Nelda Passero of The Woodlands and Florence Gould of Georgetown; six grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Saturday, September 30, 2006 Services Services Pending Ralph Citron, M.D., 86, of Amarillo died Friday, Sept. 29, 2006. Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Esteban Escobar, 30, of Amarillo died Friday, Sept. 29, 2006. Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors Martin Road Chapel, 1505 Martin Road. Services Scheduled Vada Ruth Zemer Axe, 91, of Hereford died Friday, Sept. 29, 2006, in Amarillo. Celebration of life services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Frio Baptist Church. Burial will be in West Park Cemetery by Hereford Heritage Funeral Home. Harold Edward Fickling, 71, of Amarillo died Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2006, in Dallas. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Robert Newton, 43, of Groom died Friday, Sept. 29, 2006, in Amarillo. Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Monday at The Cross in Groom. Daniel A. "Danny" Ramirez, 55, of Amarillo died Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2006. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Sunday in Cox-LaGrone Funeral Home Benton Chapel, 4180 Canyon Drive. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in St. Anthony's Cemetery in Hereford. William "Bill" F. Rawlings, 75, of Amarillo died Thursday, Sept. 28, 2006. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Washington Avenue Christian Church. Private burial will be in Shamrock Cemetery. Rector Funeral Home Osage Chapel, 2800 S. Osage St. Eduardo Francisco Rodriguez, 17, of Amarillo died Thursday, Sept. 28, 2006. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in The Door Christian Fellowship. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Cox-LaGrone Funeral Home, 4180 Canyon Drive. Mildred Laverne Frost Smith, 94, of Amarillo died Friday, Sept. 29, 2006. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the original building of First Baptist Church. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Services Today Maria Socorro Blea, 67, of Clayton, N.M. Mass will be at 10 a.m. in St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Burial will be in Clayton Memorial Cemetery. Hass Funeral Directors. Eula Dee Duncan, 95, of Pampa. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Johnnie Giesbrecht Jr., 75, of Montezuma, Kan. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. in Church of God in Christ Mennonite. Burial will be in North Mennonite Church Cemetery. Montezuma Funeral Home. Travis Gilkeyson, 61, of Swannanoa, N.C., formerly of Silverton, Texas. Graveside services will be at 11:30 a.m. in Silverton Cemetery in Silverton. Hughs Funeral Home of Memphis, Texas. Richard Davis Greer, 54, of Childress. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. in Childress Cemetery. Johnson Funeral Home. Henrietta Holdeman, 93, of Perryton. Services will be at 10 a.m. in Victory Family Church. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery. Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Perryton. Mary Alice Pitzer Hood, 95, of Boise City, Okla. Services will be at 2 p.m. in Cimarron Mortuary Chapel. Burial will be in Boise City Cemetery. Bobby Dwight Jackson, 36, of Amarillo. Services will be at 10 a.m. in Rector Funeral Home Coulter Chapel, 8310 S. Coulter St. Burial will be in Llano East Cemetery. Ora Lee King, 92, of Turkey. Services will be at 2 p.m. in First Baptist Church. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery. Myers-Chancellor Funeral Home. Edith McGinnis, 90, of Dumas. Services will be at 11 a.m. in Morrison Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel. Burial will be in Northlawn Memorial Gardens. Elsa Porter, 85, of Amarillo. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. in Polk Street United Methodist Church. Private burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery in Canyon. Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Don Ray, 69, of Channing. Services will be at 2 p.m. in Cal Farley's Boys Ranch Chapel. Burial will be in Channing Cemetery. Horizon Funeral Home of Dalhart. Vena Bell Sprague, 98, of Beaver, Okla. Services will be at 2 p.m. in Beaver United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Mount View Cemetery in Logan. Clark Funeral Service. Jimmie Howard Trammel, 75, of Childress. Services will be at 10 a.m. in First Baptist Church. Burial will be in Childress Cemetery. Johnson Funeral Home. Walter E. Via, 82, of Abernathy. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. in Happy Cemetery in Happy. Abell Funeral Home of Abernathy. ---