Potter Co. TX - Obits: April 22, 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 - April 22, 2007 Area Joe G. Torres HEREFORD - Joe G. Torres, 74, died Thursday, April 19, 2007. A prayer Vigil will be at 7 p.m. today in Hereford Heritage Funeral Home Chapel of Memorials. Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday in San Jose Catholic Church with the Rev. David Contreras officiating. Burial will be in St. Anthony's Cemetery. Mr. Torres was born Nov. 21, 1932, in Geronimo to Quirino and Guadalupe Gonzales Torres. He married his sweetheart and wife of 57 years, Victoria Gonzles in 1949 in Lubbock. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Diane Torres of Alamagordo, N.M., and Silvia Ramirez of Andrews; five sons, Joe Torres Jr. of Houston, John Torres of Rolla, Kan., Armando Torres of Hereford, Danny Torres of Lubbock and David Torres of Midland; three sisters, Maria Torres and Isabel Rubullso, both of San Juan and Jesusca Torres of Salt Lake City; 27 grandchildren; 65 great- grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Odyssey Health Care, 6900 W. I-40, Suite 150, Amarillo, TX 79106. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------. Polly Brown MEMPHIS - Polly Brown, 86, died Friday, April 20, 2007. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Gary Boles officiating. The family will hold a private burial service. Arrangements are by Hughs Funeral Home of Memphis. Mrs. Brown was born April 7, 1921, in Sulphur Springs to Mr. Fred Allen Kerr and Lillian Mills Kerr. She spent some of her childhood in Childress, and graduated from Childress High School. She married Lee Brown on Dec. 26, 1938, in Hollis, Okla. He preceded her in death on April 10, 2006. Polly was a member of Memphis First United Methodist Church, very active in both local and district endeavors. She worked with Methodist youth for many years. She was a member of the 86ers Quilting Club, two bridge clubs and the Red River Red Hatters. Polly also participated in reading programs at Stephen F. Austin school and was a former member of the Hall County Hospital Auxiliary. She was a housewife. She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Fredna Bowman on Jan. 23, 2006; and two sisters, Miriam Kerr and Connie Swain. Survivors include a son, Randy Brown and wife Diane of Lubbock; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a brother, Bobby Kerr of Athens; and a sister, Tommy Roark of Panhandle. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be to First United Methodist Church, 121 N. Eighth, Memphis, TX 79245; or to a favorite charity. Sing the online guestbook at www.hughsfuneralhome.com. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- E.M. "Curley" Rives SHAMROCK - E.M. "Curley" Rives, 84, died Saturday, April 21, 2007. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Mike Martin, pastor, and the Rev. Joe G. Jernigan, pastor of Calvary Christian Fellowship, officiating. Burial will follow in Shamrock Cemetery by Wright Funeral Directors. E.M. Rives was born Nov. 4, 1922, in Kelton to Don Preston and Ruby Mae Teakell Rives. He had lived in Wheeler County most of his life. He graduated from Shamrock High School in 1941. He married Marcia J. Cox on Oct. 9, 1942. He served in the Navy Seabees during World War II in the Pacific theater. After WWII, he returned and moved to Albuquerque, N.M., where he attended the University of New Mexico. In 1950, he moved back to the Twitty community where he was engaged in farming and ranching for the rest of his life. He served on the Shamrock School Board for nine years and is a member of the Shamrock First Baptist Church, where he has served as a deacon since 1983. He has served on numerous committees in the church through the years. "Curley" enjoyed fishing, hunting, and taking care of his cows. Curley's grandchildren were the "light" of his life. He was preceded in death by his mother, Ruby Rives; his father, Don Rives; and a brother, Thurman Rives. Survivors include his wife of 64 years; two sons, Billy Don Rives and wife Diane of Bertram and Douglas Rives and wife Betty of Wheeler; two grandchildren, Rochelle Rives and husband Matthew Wadiak and Amanda Rives and husband Marcos Tiburcio, all of New York; a great-grandchild, Ruby Tiburcio of New York; his faithful dog Babe and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. The family suggests memorials be to the Parlor Fund at First Baptist Church, 401 N. Main St., Shamrock, TX 79079; or Odyssey Health Care, 6900 West Interstate 40, Suite 150, Amarillo, TX 79106. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crystal Nicole Womack Crystal Nicole Womack, 7 months, of Shamrock died Tuesday, April 17, 2007, in Amarillo. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Crystal was born Aug. 27, 2006, in Amarillo to Justin Womack and Heather Thomas. Survivors include her parents; a brother, Dakota; a sister, Adrian; her grandparents, Fletcher and Mary Thomas, Ada Tenorio and Rolando Silva; and a stepgrandmother, Pam Douglas. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Theresa Kotara WHITE DEER - Theresa Kotara, 90, died Saturday, April 21, 2007. A prayer vigil will be at 7 p.m. today in Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday in the church with the Rev. Mieczyslaw Przepiora, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Mrs. Kotara was born Aug. 9, 1913, in White Deer, where she had been a lifelong resident. She graduated from St. Mary's Academy in Amarillo. She married John Kotara Jr. on Oct. 19, 1937, in White Deer. He preceded her in death on May 1, 1990. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the Altar Society, and the Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre. She was a member of the Daughters of the Pioneers. She was a homemaker. She was also preceded in death by three sons, Kenny, Gary and Maynard Kotara; a brother, Conrad Urbanczyk; two sisters, Rusty Stengel and Irene Dzuick; two grandchildren, Thercie Mangus and Jon Blaylock; a great-granddaughter, Jessica Mangus; and a great-great-grandson, John Oliver Kotara. Survivors include four daughters, Joy Grange of White Deer, Marilyn Voyles and husband L.B. of New Braunfels, Debbie Hugg of Grand Prairie and Gaylene Blaylock of San Antonio; a son, John Kotara III and wife Betty of White Deer; three sisters, Edna Reinart and Leona Mazurek, both of Hereford, and Ethel Stengel of Amarillo; a brother, Tony Urbanczyk of Hereford; 30 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, P.O. Box 427, White Deer, TX 79097; or Odyssey Healthcare, 6900 W. I-40, Suite 150, Amarillo, TX 79106. Sign the online guestbook at www.carmichael-whatley.com. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Geraldine B. Meyer BORGER - Geraldine B. Meyer, 84, died Thursday, April 19, 2007, in Amarillo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in First Baptist Church with C.W. Parker, hospice chaplain, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Amarillo by Brown Funeral Directors of Borger. Mrs. Meyer was born May 31, 1922, in Clovis, N.M., to Albert and Bessie Burns. She married Walter Meyer on Dec. 2, 1950, in Raton, N.M. Geraldine was a bookkeeper and a member of First Baptist Church of Borger. She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Clifford Burns; and a sister, Ruth Burns. Survivors include her husband; three daughters, Donna Hawkins of Abilene, Rene Cook and husband Bob of Fritch and Marquette Jeffcoat and husband Jordan of Hopkinsville, Ky.; a brother, Lloyd Burns and wife Margaret of Borger; a sister, Monte Jean Cribbs of Winslow, Ariz.; 13 grandchildren; and 16 great- grandchildren. Casket bearers are her grandsons, Terry Jeffcoat, Damon Crawford, Kelly Jeffcoat, Eddie Cook, Devin Cook and Jake Walker. Honorary bearers are Jordan Jeffcoat and Bob Cook. Sign the online guest book at www.brownfuneraldirectors.net. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amarillo Archie Lynn Curtis Archie Lynn Curtis, 20, of Amarillo died Thursday, April 19, 2007. Services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at the family home, 4621 Slope. All are welcome to drop by. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors. Archie was born Sept. 8, 1986, at Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo to Archie and Michelle Curtis. He graduated from Palo Duro High School and had worked as an auto mechanic. He touched the lives of countless people and was loved by all who knew him. He was a good man, his smile, his loving eyes and his kind heart will be forever missed. Our world will be a smaller place without him. He is now with the angels who watch over us all. He lived large. Survivors include his parents; a sister, Lyssa; a brother, Daniel Hutchinson and Tony Ragsdale; his grandparents, Flo Curtis, Don and Patty Bannister and Joyce and Tom Schimpf; his fiance, Lauren Blake; aunts and uncles, Ricky and Craig Curo, Mike Bannister, Allen and Jerry and Yvonda Curtis, Billy Bannister, Brandy Miller, Stella Webb, Pat Russell, Dorothy Richardson; and eight cousins, Liberty Kinney, Chris Perry, Jayson and James Webb, Matthew and Daniel Curtis and Pattie and David Richardson. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lavern Clay Lavern Clay, 86, of Amarillo died Saturday, April 21, 2007, in McKinney. Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Burial will follow in Llano Cemetery. Mrs. Clay was born May 8, 1920, in Twitty to Herbert and Maude Birdine Reeves. She married T.J. Clay on Sept. 4, 1938, in Amarillo. Mrs. Clay worked at Alexander's in Amarillo as a fashion coordinator for 17 years. She and T.J. were Shaklee coordinators for over 30 years. She was also a member of Church of Christ at the Colonies. Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband; two sisters; and two brothers. Survivors include her daughter, Pam Schmidt and husband Ed of McKinney; two grandchildren, Kelly Camp and husband Robert and John Schmidt, all of McKinney; four great-grandchildren, Sharra Spencer, Ashley Schmidt, Tanner Allen and Carter Camp; two great-great-grandchildren, Madalynne Spencer and Trent Spencer; and a host of other loving family and friends. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today. Sign the online guestbook at www.tjmfuneral.com. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leslie Hilton Balmain Leslie Hilton Balmain, 78, of Amarillo died Friday, April 20, 2007. Services will be at 4 p.m. Monday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street, with Reverend Murray Gossett of First Presbyterian Church officiating. Cremation will be by Memory Gardens Crematory. Mr. Balmain was born Nov. 10, 1928, in Oklahoma City to Lester Hilton Balmain and Vera Kouba. He was a graduate of Amarillo High School and Oklahoma University. After college, he was commissioned a lieutenant in the Navy and was a naval jet pilot. Following his time in the service, he moved to San Francisco. There he was an accomplished artist. After 40 years he returned home to retire with his family. He was an avid tennis player and played in many Texas tennis tournaments. He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include a sister, Betty Higgs; an uncle, Gordon Kouba; a niece, Kerry Clark Tiffany and husband George; a nephew, Shane Allm and wife Yvonne; three cousins, Lynnette Budd and husband Robert, Connie Zufelt and husband Buzz and Eileen Higgins and husband Mike; and his friends at Heritage Convalescent Center. The family suggests memorials be to the Scholarship Fund, Tennis Dept., Oklahoma University, 660 Parrington Oval, Norman, OK 73019-0390; St. Jude's Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or a favorite charity. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fred Emory Hill Fred Emory Hill, 47, of Amarillo died Thursday, April 19, 2007. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in First Presbyterian Church with Dr. Murray Gossett officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 Georgia St. Fred was born July 21, 1959, in Amarillo to Sam C. and Jean Hill, the eldest of six children. Upon graduation from Tascosa High School in 1977, Fred continued the third generation of the Hill family in the cattle business. His grandfather, Fred A. Hill, was a well known pioneer of the cattle buying business. Along with his father, Sam, this father and son team formed the partnership of Croselle Ranch Company. Fred's education in ranching and cattle buying began as a child, attending cattle auctions and working alongside his father and grandfather. He also gained expertise from his maternal grandfather, John Nix, a farmer and rancher in Texline. Fred became one of the largest independent cattle order buyers in the nation. He was the principal buyer for Hitch Cattle Co. of Guymon, Okla., and Five Rivers Ranch, the largest cattle feeding organization in the world. Fred married the former Sally Portwood in 1981 and they had three beautiful children. He greatly enjoyed his kids, and was a proud and devoted father. The Hill pioneer spirit flowed in his veins, and Fred thrived on living with a sense of discovery and adventure. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, but always respected the balance of nature. He loved the sound of birds singing, the piney scent of rosemary and crisp morning air, and listening to all types of music. He was full of compassion for animals, people and especially children. Fred enjoyed cooking and entertaining family and friends, or anyone who needed a warm meal. He had a kind and giving nature and his home was open to all. He delighted in striking a bargain, telling a good story, having fun, collecting vintage cars, and riding Harleys. He had an artist's eye and a creative mind. He was strong, not only in stature, but in integrity and honor. Every person that encountered Fred was blessed to have known this one-of-a- kind gentle soul. He lived life to the fullest. His family and friends considered Fred's time on Earth a precious gift. He was deeply loved and respected and will be greatly missed. Fred was preceded in death by his grandparents, John and Theo Belle Nix and Fred A. and Nellie Hill; and his father, Sam C. Hill. Survivors include his mother, Jean Hill of Amarillo; his fiance, Trena Beckmann of Amarillo; a daughter, Kammi Lohne and husband Chris of Norman, Okla.; two sons, Ben Hill and John Hill, both of Norman; two sisters, Marjorie Ellis and husband David of Amarillo and Belinda Hill of Gailsburg, Ill.; three brothers, Sam Winston Hill of Amarillo, Warren Hill and wife Caralee of Broken Arrow, Okla., and Frank Hill and wife Darenda of Amarillo; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, business associates and friends all over the nation. Fred was so looking forward to the arrival of his first grandchild this fall. It would have warmed his heart to know this little boy will carry on his namesake, Fred Emory Lohne. The family suggests memorials be to The Ben and John Hill College Fund in care of FirstBank Southwest, P.O. Box 32552, Amarillo, TX 79120; Attention: Lori West. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elsewhere Jan Curry MCGREGOR - Jan Curry, 56, died Friday, April 20, 2007. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Cole Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Mickey Fugitt officiating. Mrs. Curry was born June 20, 1950, in Amarillo, the daughter of Bill and Edith Frisbie Fain. She graduated in 1968 from Caprock High School. On June 18, 1969, she married Richard Paul Curry in Amarillo. In 2001, she moved to McGregor from Fort Worth. Throughout her life, she enjoyed gardening and genealogy. Survivors include her husband, Richard of McGregor; her mother, Edith Pair of Amarillo; two sons, Richard William Curry and wife Nina of Georgetown and Christopher Robert Curry and wife Sheri of Graham; a brother, Billy Fain and wife Kris of San Antonio; three sisters, Vicki Chavez and husband Domingo, Tammy Tredway and Lisa Chipman and husband Darrell Gellner, all of Amarillo; five grandchildren, Derek, Krista, Ericha, Kati and Braxton; two nephews; five nieces; two great-nephews; and five great-nieces. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today in the funeral home. Sign the online guestbook at www.mem.com. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Mexico Kimberly Kay Stickley-Cloward CLOVIS, N.M. - Kimberly Kay Stickley-Cloward, 41, died Thursday, April 19, 2007. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in The Chapel. Arrangements are by Muffley Funeral Home. Mrs. Cloward was born July 30, 1965, in Newport Beach, Calif. She moved to Clovis with her family 12 years ago. Survivors include her husband, Bruce Cloward; a daughter, Samantha Cloward; her mother, Candice Miller-Spell of Texico; her father, Lionel Attaway of Clovis; a sister, Tammy Burger of Clovis; and a brother, Raymond Attaway of San Francisco. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- John M. "Mickey" Mixon LOVINGTON, N.M. - John M. "Mickey" Mixon, 95, died Friday, April 20, 2007, in Hobbs. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church in Mobeetie, Texas, with the Rev. Aaron Laverty, pastor of Gageby Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will follow in Mobeetie Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Mr. Mixon was born Dec. 11, 1912, in Johnson County, Okla. He married Dorothy Golleher on Dec. 21, 1935, in Canadian. Survivors include a daughter, Omega Leavitt of Happy, Texas; a son, Fred Mixon of Lovington; a sister, Fannie Joe Gales of Oklahoma City; five grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Community Relief Fund in care of First Baptist Church of Mobeetie, 206 W. Second, Mobeetie, TX 79061. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earl Taylor SEDAN, N.M. - Earl Bryan Taylor, 79, died Monday, April 23, 2007. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Clayton Gospel Church with Mike Phipps, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in Clayton Cemetery by Horizon Funeral Home. Mr. Taylor was born Jan. 22, 1928, in Manassa, Colo., to Homer and Iva Taylor. He married Barbara Scribner on Feb. 16, 1968, in Artesia. Survivors include his wife; four sons, Larry Taylor of Pharoah, Okla., Ronald Taylor of Clayton, Jonathan Taylor of Nara Visa and Mike Taylor of Sedan; two daughters, Frances McSmith of Nara Visa and Roylene Taylor of Moriarty; two brothers, C.B. Taylor of Dumas and Art Taylor of Brighton, Colo.; three sisters, Marie Parman of Sedan, Martha McDonald of Clayton and Anna Vandiver of Dumas, Texas; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- SERVICES Services Pending James Richard McCullough, 77, of Amarillo died Saturday, April 21, 2007. Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Alice Irene McLaughlin, 90, of Panhandle died Saturday, April 21, 2007. Minton Chatwell Funeral Directors of Pampa. Ben H. McMullin, 84, of Amarillo died Thursday, April 29, 2007. Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Vernon Neel, 91, of Guymon, Okla., died Saturday, April 21, 2007. Henson-Novak Funeral Directors. Robert E. Patrick, 61, of Amarillo died Saturday, April 21, 2007. Cox-LaGrone Funeral Directors, 4180 Canyon Drive. Kevin Stinger, 33, of Floydada died Friday, April 20, 2007. Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home. Services Scheduled Thomas Leslie Asher, 85, formerly of Amarillo died Thursday, April 19, 2007. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Cox-LaGrone Funeral Home, 4180 Canyon Drive. Cebie Margaret Audry, 94, of Longview died Friday, April 20, 2007. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40. Julienne Epps, 83, of Amarillo died Saturday, April 21, 2007. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors Chapel, 8400 Bell St. Burial will follow in Quanah Memorial Park. Betty Tom Riddle Graham, 80, of Pampa died Friday, April 20, 2007, in Lubbock. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in First United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery. Services Today Lynn De Juan Abel, 70, of Kerrville. Services will be at 2 p.m. in Greer Funeral Home Chapel in Mangum, Okla. Burial will be in Ladessa Cemetery in Greer County, Okla. Archie Lynn Curtis, 20, of Amarillo. Services will be at 3 p.m. in the family home, 4621 Slope. Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors. Bernie Sternberg, 74, of Clovis, N.M. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. in Sacred Heart Church. Muffley Funeral Home. ---