Potter Co. TX - Obits: March 23, 2007 ===================================================== 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 - March 23, 2007 Amarillo Rodney E. Killen Rodney E. Killen, 64, of Amarillo died Wednesday, March 21, 2007. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd., with Dr. Howard Batson, pastor of First Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Mr. Killen was born May 13, 1942, in Amarillo to Ellis and Myrtle Killen. He graduated from Amarillo High and from West Texas State University. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Rod was a contractor for the Texas Highway Department for many years and owned "Rod Knows" The Dome sports cards. He married Barbara Hill on Aug. 7, 1965, in Amarillo. Survivors include his wife, Barbara; a son, Blake Killen and wife Karen of Springdale, Ark.; a daughter, Christy Boxwell and husband Bart of Amarillo; two brothers, Bill Killen and Kenneth Killen, both of Amarillo; and seven grandchildren, Madison, Megan, Blakely, Brett, Walt, Samantha and Cody. The family suggests memorials be to the Leadership Foundation, P.O. Box 1782, Colorado Springs, CO 80901; Meals on Wheels, 219 W. Seventh Ave., Amarillo, TX 79101; or Young Life, 1806 S. Harrison St., Amarillo, TX 79102. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Erma Jean Myles Briscoe Erma Jean Myles Briscoe, 70, of Amarillo died Tuesday, March 20, 2007. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Temple of Praise Community Church with John C. Brown, assistant pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Warford-Walker Mortuary, 509 N. Hughes St. Erma J. Myles Briscoe was born July 12, 1936, in Hester Grove to Cliff and Louella Russell Myles. She attended T.M. Terrell High School in Fort Worth. She was a licensed real estate broker. Survivors include a brother, Hubert Earl Myles and wife Amalene; four sisters, Eula Mae Wilson, Annie Terrell and husband Charlie, Geraldine Mickens and Evangelist Debra Reagans and husband Moses; a niece, Lois Denise McDowell; two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and an aunt, Dora Russell. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kaoru "Carl" Takano Kaoru "Carl" Takano, 87, of Amarillo died Wednesday, March 21, 2007. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Schooler Funeral Home Brentwood Chapel, 4100 S. Georgia St., with Sherman Eastland, chaplain of Northwest Texas Healthcare System, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery East. Mr. Takano was born June 15, 1919, in Mountain View, Calif., to Takayo and Tamakichi Takano. He grew up on a cherry orchard with five sisters until World War II when the family was interned in the Amache Center in Colorado. Mr. Takano was later drafted into the U.S. Army and served with the 442nd RCT in Italy, France and Germany. After the war he returned home, and later moved to Chicago where he studied to be a tool and die maker. He married Ruth Bergquist on June 22, 1966, in Stinnett, and they moved to California. After retirement they moved to Amarillo in 1981. He was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters; and three stepsons, Ronald, Donald and David Bergquist. Survivors include his wife, Ruth Takano; a daughter, Carol Takano of Dallas; a daughter-in-law, Betty Bergquist of New Orleans; a grandson, Eric Bergquist of New Orleans; a granddaughter, Ashleigh Mauer and husband Nick of Monroe, La.; a sister, Rose Hijikata and husband Frank of Cockeysville, Md.; a special niece, Cindy Scarborough and husband Jim of Canyon; and many other loving nieces and nephews. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mary Lou Laughlin Mary Lou Laughlin, 82, of Amarillo died Thursday, March 22, 2007. Private family services will be at a later date. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mrs. Laughlin was born July 5, 1924, in Clairton, Pa., to Robert and Genevieve Herron. She graduated from high school in Pennsylvania. On Aug. 7, 1948, she married Chuck Laughlin in Clairton. The family moved to Amarillo in 1956. Mrs. Laughlin worked for the Hartford Insurance Co. until her retirement and was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church. She was preceded in death by her husband on Jan. 12, 1982. Survivors include a daughter, Patty Christian of Amarillo; a sister, Ann Davis of Seminole, Fla.; and a brother, Robert Herron Jr. of Palm City, Fla. The family suggests memorials be to Amarillo Humans Society, 3501 S. Osage St., Amarillo, TX 79103. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mark Allan Pettit Mark Allan Pettit, 54, of Newport, Wash., died Thursday, March 22, 2007, in Amarillo. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd., with David Lozano officiating. Mr. Pettit was born July 14, 1952, in Amarillo to Allan and Patsy Pettit. Mark graduated from Caprock High School in 1971. He worked for VECO Corp. in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, for 19 years. He was a Christian. He served in the Army from 1972 through 1975. He was a fun guy with a free spirit. He loved his family, spending time outdoors and riding Harley- Davidsons. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, E.S. and Geneva Westerfield and W.B. and Alice Pettit. Survivors include his wife, Ruth Pettit; three daughters, Racheal Jones and Heather Bernett and husband Scott, all of Amarillo, and Cassi Pettit and husband Robert of Scottsdale, Ariz.; his parents, Allan and Pat Pettit of Amarillo; two sisters, Denise Pettit and Renee Turner, both of Amarillo; eight grandchildren, Slade, Madison and Abbi Jones, Dylan Pettit, MacKenzie Wall, Alexis Hazelwood and Corbin Pettit. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79105. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Louella G. Robinson Louella G. Robinson, 81, of Amarillo died Tuesday, March 20, 2007. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church with the Rev. Vurn Martin, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery by Warford-Walker Mortuary, 509 N. Hughes St. Mrs. Robinson was born Feb. 14, 1926, in Corsicana to Melvin and Emma Sanford. She was a longtime resident of Amarillo and a domestic worker. She was a member of Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church. Survivors include a son, Willie E. Ford and wife Isabella of Amarillo; and three stepsons, Milton Forge of Corpus Christi, James T. Forge of Houston and Gregory of Paris, Texas. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Area Jesse Gerald Barnett QUANAH - Jesse Gerald Barnett, 71, died Wednesday, March 21, 2007. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Quanah Memorial Park with the Rev. John Spangler officiating. Arrangements are by Smith Funeral Home. Mr. Barnett was born March 5, 1936, in Quanah to John Marion and Mabel Evelyn Wright Barnett. He married Hazel Marie Grizenbeck on Nov. 15, 1965. Survivors include a daughter, Dana Smith of Fort Worth; five sisters, Joyce Ritchie and Dora Hale, both of Quanah, Kaye Tilley of Terlton, Okla., and Claudia Morris of Longview; and a brother, Willie Barnett of Quanah. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fronnie "Susie" Durham PAMPA - Fronnie "Susie" Durham, 64, died Sunday, March 18, 2007, in Oklahoma City. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Mark CME Church with the Rev. Raymond McKever, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mrs. Durham had been a resident of Pampa most of her life. She was a cashier at Wal-Mart for more than five years and a member of St. Mark CME Church. Survivors include three daughters, Janice Pitts of Bethany, Okla., and Delores Crawford and Evelynn Ridley, both of Oklahoma City; a son, Marvin Oliver of Oklahoma City; her mother, Lorraine Anderson of Pampa; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to St. Mark CME Church, 406 Elm, Pampa, TX 79065. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Donald Milton Killough FARWELL - Donald Milton Killough, 80, died Wednesday, March 21, 2007, in Hobbs, N.M. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Westbrook Baptist Church in Clovis, N.M., with Fergus Tunnell, Stan White and Kenneth Heck, pastors, officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens in Clovis by Steed-Todd Funeral Home of Clovis. Mr. Killough was born May 4, 1926, in Brown County to James and Pearl Pressley Killough. He spent most of his life contracting, building houses and also worked at Triangle Home Center for 14 years. Survivors include his wife, Nina Ann Killough; three daughters, Joanne Byrd of Monument, N.M., Donita Harkey of Lubbock and D'Ann Beavers of Farwell; three sons, Weldon Killough of Clovis, Bill Killough of Los Lunas, N.M., and Johnny Killough of Astubula, Ohio; and six sisters, Jimmilee Coffey of Midland, Louise Bush of Arlington, Doris Jones of Rising Star, Betty Remmele of Paradise, Ruby Parker of Eastland and Mary Fisher of Brownwood. The family suggests memorials be to Westbrook Baptist Church building fund. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Darlene Ramsay PLAINVIEW - Darlene Ramsay, 76, died Tuesday, March 20, 2007. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. Mark Weiss officiating. Burial will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens by Bartley Funeral Home. Mrs. Ramsay was born April 22, 1930, in Nedosha, Kan., to Herman and Etta Meriwether. She married Jerrold D. Ramsay on Sept. 22, 1945. Survivors include two sons, Mikelle Ramsay of Clarksville, Tenn., and Donald Ramsay of Plainview; two daughters, Linda Adams of Lubbock and Jacqulynn Smith of Plainview; two sisters, Bonnie Allen and Wanda Meriwether, both of Tolar; 12 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clinton Lee "Clint" Sidwell TEXLINE - Clinton Lee "Clint" Sidwell, 92, died Thursday, March 22 2007, in Dalhart. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Texline Church of Christ with Dean Whaley, minister of Dalhart Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Texline Cemetery by Horizon Funeral Home of Dalhart. Mr. Sidwell was born April 1, 1914, in Archer City to David S. and Margaret "Maggie" E. Jones Sidwell. He married Juanita Pryor in 1933. Survivors include his wife; a son, Don Sidwell of Texline; a daughter, Leta Sidwell Myers of Quartzsite, Ariz.; six grandchildren; eight great- grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Sign the online guest book at horizonfuneral.com. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Delores Jean Bledsoe Thurston FRITCH - Delores Jean Bledsoe Thurston, 68, died Wednesday, March 21, 2007, in Amarillo. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in First United Methodist Church in Fritch with the Rev. Charlie Johnson officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. today in Llano Cemetery in Amarillo by Brown Funeral Directors. Delores Jean Bledsoe Thurston, 68, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 21, 2007, in Amarillo. Delores "Dee" Thurston was born March 7, 1939, in Amarillo to Monroe and Gladys Bledsoe. She married John Thurston on Dec. 31, 1955, in Tucumcari, N.M. They lived three years in Bentwaters, England, 22 years in Amarillo and 22 in Fritch. She was a homemaker and a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great- grandmother. Delores was a strong Christian woman who always had a helping hand and a bright smile for everyone. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Fritch. She was also a member of the Fritch Arts and Crafts Club for 21 years and was a very gifted artist. She enjoyed camping with her husband and family. She was blessed with three grandsons, one granddaughter, and a great-granddaughter who adored their "GG." She was loved dearly by her family and will be missed. She was preceded in death by her parents. Survivors include her loving husband of 51 years, John; two sons, Tim and wife Patty of Fritch and Mitch and wife Debbi of Taos, N.M.; two brothers, Hugh Bledsoe and Rex Bledsoe and wife Glenda, all of Amarillo; a sister, Peggy Taylor of Fritch; three grandsons, Matthew, Bradly and John; a granddaughter, Jennie and fiance Jerid Stevens; a great-granddaughter, Julia; several nieces and nephews; and many dear friends. The family suggests memorials be to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 638, Fritch, TX 79036 or to BSA Hospice of Amarillo, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79105. The family will be at 113 Cherry Lane in Fritch. Send personal condolences at www.brownfuneraldirectors.net. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dennis Wayne Taylor PAMPA - Dennis Wayne Taylor, 53, died Wednesday, March 21, 2007. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors Colonial Chapel with the Rev. Rick Parnell, associate pastor of Central Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Mr. Taylor was born July 6, 1953, in Pampa, where he graduated from Pampa High School. He was employed by Sullins Plumbing and Crall Products. Survivors include his stepmother, Margaret Taylor of Pampa; and a sister, Kathy Schiffman of White Deer. The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elsewhere Diane Woodruff ROWLETT - Diane Woodruff, 48, died Saturday, March 10, 2007. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Lake Tanglewood Community Church with Mike Ecker, pastor, officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Ms. Woodruff was born and raised in Amarillo. She spent the last 19 years residing in Dallas. She was a loving mother and friend and she will be dearly missed. Survivors include a daughter, Kaylee Moore of Dallas; two sons, Jeremy Woodruff and Justin Woodruff and wife Kendra, all of Amarillo; a sister, Charlotte Jones of Amarillo; two brothers, Emmett Hall II and Eric Hall, both of Amarillo; her mother, Paula Hall of Amarillo; a special friend and sister- in-law, Cookie Rutherford of Rowlett; and numerous nieces and nephews. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Services Services Pending Helen R. Braafladt, 94, of Dimmitt died Thursday, March 22, 2007. Colonial Funeral Home. Adrian Hughes, 81, of Amarillo died Wednesday, March 21, 2007, in Harlingen. Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Ted Lizamo, 85, of Amarillo died Thursday, March 22, 2007. Cox-LaGrone Funeral Home, 4180 Canyon Drive. John James Vandale, 91, of Amarillo died Thursday, March 22, 2007. Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Services Scheduled Elsie Higdon, formerly of Canyon, died earlier this year. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Dreamland Cemetery in Canyon. Miguel "Mike" Marquez, 74, of Clovis, N.M., died Wednesday, March 21, 2007. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today in Our Lady of Guadalupe. Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in the church. Burial will be in Mission Garden of Memories. Muffley Funeral Home. Edward Lee Sewell, 65, of Dallas, formerly of Dumas, died Wednesday, March 21, 2007, in Dallas. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Northlawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Dumas. Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon. Bill Weaver, 83, of Olton died Thursday, March 22, 2007. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Olton Cemetery. Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Home. Services Today Rose Birkenfeld, 97, of Dimmitt. Mass will be at 10 a.m. in Holy Family Catholic Church in Nazareth. Burial will be in Holy Family Cemetery in Nazareth. Foskey-Lilley-McGill Funeral Home of Dimmitt. Nora Adelia Perkins Brandon, 83, of Odessa. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. in Memorial Park Cemetery in Amarillo. N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd., in Amarillo Barbara Floyd Davis, 52, of Pampa. Graveside services will be at 3:30 p.m. in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Ronald Thomas Jones, 73, of Amarillo. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. in Edith Ford Cemetery in Canadian. Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd., in Amarillo. Billie "Jack" Kemper, 80, of Amarillo. Services will be at 2 p.m. in South Georgia Baptist Church. Entombment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery Mausoleum. Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Thomas George Kenney III, 64, of Amarillo. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. in Shattuck Cemetery in Shattuck, Okla. Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Alfred King, 85, of Amarillo. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. in Edith Ford Cemetery in Canadian. Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Devena Geneva Phillips, 69, of Pampa. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. in Memory Gardens Mausoleum. Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Grace Jones Piper, 85, of Paducah. Services will be at 2 p.m. in Paducah First Baptist Church. Burial will be in Paducah Garden of Memories. Seigler Funeral Home. Darlene Ramsay, 76, of Plainview. Services will be at 2 p.m. in Calvary Baptist Church. Burial will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens. Bartley Funeral Home. O.B. Smith, 86, of Dumas. Services will be at 2 p.m. in Boxwell Brothers Memorial Chapel. Burial will be in Northlawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Delores Jean Bledsoe Thurston, 68, of Fritch. Services will be at 10 a.m. in First United Methodist Church in Fritch. Burial will be at 2 p.m. in Llano Cemetery in Amarillo. Brown Funeral Directors. Kimberly Upton, 41, of Amarillo. Memorial services will be at 4 p.m. in Saint Stephen United Methodist Church. Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Wade Williams, 56, of Conroe. Services will be at 11 a.m. in Bowers Funeral Home in Teague. Burial will be in Union Cemetery.