Potter Co. TX - Obits: April 23, 2007 ===================================================== Contributed by: Lola Withrow 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 23, 2007 Area Alice Irene McLaughlin PANHANDLE - Alice Irene McLaughlin, 90, died Saturday, April 21, 2007, in Muleshoe. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Faye Roberts, pastor of River Road Fellowship, officiating. Arrangements are by Minton Chatwell Funeral Directors of Panhandle. Ms. McLaughlin had been a panhandle resident since 1944, coming from Oklahoma. She married Leonard J. "Buddy" McLaughlin on July 30, 1932, in Blair, Okla. Survivors include a son, Louie McLaughlin of Amarillo; two daughters, Diane Grumbles of Muleshoe and Patsy McNeal of Lubbock; 20 grandchildren; 45 great- grandchildren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Melton Ray "Ace" Womiche CLAUDE - Melton Ray "Ace" Womiche, 76, died Saturday, April 21, 2007. Private committal services will be held at a later date. Arrangments are by Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc. of Clarendon. Mr. Womiche was born May 9, 1930, in Amarillo. He was a U.S. Marine Corps. Veteran of the Korean Conflict. Survivors include a sister, Carmel Spann of Amarillo. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Theresa Kotara WHITE DEER - Theresa Kotara, 93, died Saturday, April 21, 2007. Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. today in Sacred Heart Catholic Church with the Rev. Mieczyslaw Przepiora, pastor, and Bishop John Yanta of the Amarillo Catholic Diocese 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 Huff of Grand Prairie and Gaylene Blaylock and husband Robert 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Betty Tom Riddle Graham PAMPA - Betty Tom Riddle Graham, 80, died Friday, April 20, 2007, in Lubbock. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jeff Taylor, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mrs. Graham was born Sept. 2, 1926, in Altus, Okla., the daughter of Allan and Vera Nipp Riddle, a pioneer family in Jackson County, Okla. She received a B. S. degree from Oklahoma College for Women and a master's degree from West Texas State University. In 1948, she came to Pampa to begin a teaching career which spanned 38 years. She taught girls' physical education, coached girls' volleyball at Pampa High School, and was registrar at the "old" Pampa Junior High School. Later, she taught mathematics in each middle school and concluded her teaching career as the coordinator of mathematics for the elementary schools. She served on the first state board which designed the proficiency test in mathematics for all elementary students in Texas. Betty Tom married Howard Graham on Aug. 6, 1960, in the chapel of the First United Methodist Church in Pampa, and the ceremony was performed by the Rev. W. W. Adcock. She was active in the First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, and served as the Church Membership Chairman. She took an active role in the American Cancer Society, especially its Relay for Life. Survivors include her husband; a sister, Margaret Riddle Whisenant of San Diego; a sister-in-law, Darlene Riddle Wallace of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; two nieces, Darla Perry of St. Simon Island, Ga., and Sherry Evans of San Diego; a nephew, James Riddle of Bakersfield, Calif.; three great-nieces; and four great-great-nieces and -nephews. The family suggests memorials be to First United Methodist Church Missions Fund, P.O. Box 1981, Pampa, TX 79066-1981; or the American Cancer Society, in c/o Gerry Caylor, 2130 Charles, Pampa, TX 79065. Sign the online guestbook at www.carmichael-whatley.com. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amarillo Julienne "Julie" Epps Julienne "Julie" Epps, 83, died Saturday, April 21, 2007. Services will be at 10 a.m. today in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors Bell Avenue Chapel with the Rev. Jerry Coffman officiating. Burial will follow in Quanah Memorial Park. Mrs. Epps was born Sept. 6, 1923, in Wichita Falls to Tom and Edna Preston, and grew up in Quanah. She married Joe Epps, who preceded her in death in 1975. She was the family caregiver, raising her daughters and helping them when they became grandmothers. She also touched the lives of countless others throughout her life and will be missed by all who knew her. She was also preceded in death by two step-daughters, Gwen Epps and Wanda Coffee. Survivors include two daughters, Connie Holbrook and Roxy Fiel, both of Amarillo; three sisters, Maxine Barnett of Dallas, Leta Johnston of Bellevue, Neb., and Peggy Pressley of Commerce; a brother, Jack Preston of Lindale; a step-daughter, Darlene Harrison of Texola, Okla.; two stepsons, Duard Epps of Amarillo and Jerry Epps of Las Vegas; six grandchildren, Chuck Covalt, Diane Casey, Terri Breedlove, Preston Rider, Klint Rider and Tyrel Hamlin; and seven great-grandchildren. The family sends special thanks for the care she received from Odyssey Hospice and Comfort Care. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carl R. Roop Carl R. Roop, 76, of Amarillo died Wednesday, April 18, 2007. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Schooler Funeral Home Brentwood Chapel, 4100 S. Georgia St. Mr. Roop was born and raised in Amarillo. He was the fourth of 14 children and lived in Amarillo the majority of his life. He was a graduate of Amarillo High School. He served in the United States Marines during the Korean Conflict. Mr. Roop was an avid and accomplished woodcarver. He was a Baptist. Survivors include two daughters, Debra Roop and Sherry Gibson, both of Tecumseh, Okla.; five sisters, Charlene Blackburn of Caney, Okla., Barbara Holland of Amarillo, Theodora Gibbard of Lubbock, Valeria Fry of Kerrville, and Elonia Beth Roop of San Antonio; a brother, Donald Roop of Amarillo; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, April 23 2007 Bobby Patrick Bobby Patrick, 61, of Amarillo died Saturday, April 21, 2007. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are by Cox- LaGrone Funeral Home. Mr. Patrick was born Robert Edwin Patrick on Nov. 21, 1945, in Cincinnati to Frank and Thelma Patrick. He lived most of his life there and graduated from Cincinnati Norwood High School in 1963. He served our country in the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Benning, Ga. Mr. Patrick also lived in Pensacola, Fla., for eight years before moving to Amarillo. He worked as a painter for many years and he was a member of Bible Believer's Church here in Amarillo. Survivors include a sister, Gail Taylor of Amarillo; a brother, William Patrick of San Antonio; and several nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dale Brauchi Dale Brauchi, 79, of Amarillo died Saturday, April 21, 2007. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in St. Luke Presbyterian Church with Dr. J. Pat Kennedy officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors, 5400 Bell St. Mr. Brauchi was born and raised in Amarillo. He married Billie Hays in Amarillo on Oct. 16, 1948. Mr. Brauchi began his career as a field appraiser with the combined Amarillo City, School, Junior College and Hospital districts in September 1955. He retired from that office on June 30, 1980, as Assistant Tax Assessor/Collector. He was involved in writing textbooks and courses of instruction and teaching classes to train ad valorem tax collectors and appraisers since 1962. He received many commendations for his efforts in the instructional field from the Texas Association of Assessing Officers; from the University of Texas for his participation in their annual seminars, and from Texas Tech University for teaching courses.Mr. Brauchi was the last active member who took the first examination for the Institute of Texas Assessors (now the Institute of Texas Tax Administrators) and held membership number 26. He served from 1975 to 1979 as a member of the Board of Directors of this state-wide organization, and as a Chairman in 1970 through 1980. His membership was elevated to "Fellow" in 1980. He held membership number 29 with the Board of Texas Professional Examiners, with the highest possible certification in both appraising and collecting. He was also an accredited Senior Residential Appraiser with the Society of Real Estate Appraisers (now the Appraisal Institute) since 1968. This organization is a national professional organization of civil fee appraisers and he was one of the very few in Texas to practice in the ad valorem tax fields. He is preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and a sister. Survivors include his wife, Billie Brauchi; a son, Randy Brauchi and wife Marcy; two daughters, Linda Quillin and husband Dale and Lisa McNutt and husband Scott; a brother, V.A. Brauchi and wife Doris; and three grandchildren, Brian and Brent Quillin and Leila Frazier. The family suggests memorials be to St. Luke Presbyterian Church, 3001 Bell Ave, Amarillo, TX 79106. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert W. "Bob" Lea Robert W. "Bob" Lea, 82, of Amarillo died Sunday, April 22, 2007. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Coulter Road Baptist Church with the Rev. Bob Miller, pastor of South Georgia Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery by Cox-LaGrone Funeral Home. Mr. Lea was born and raised in Bucyrus, Ohio, and was a graduate of Findley High School in Findley, Ohio. He earned a Chemistry Degree from ICS School of Industrial Chemistry. He served in the United States Navy in WW II, as well as the U.S. Naval Reserves. During the war, he served in the European Theatre, Pacific Theatre, Asiatic Theater as well as the American Theater. He received the U.S. Navy citation for outstanding service and devotion at the battle of Okinawa. He moved from Houston to Stratford in 1978 and to Amarillo in 1991. He married Paulette Dosher in 1988 in Stratford. He was an Aircraft Mechanic for Cooley Aircraft and later was a Job Coach for ADVO Companies. At the time of his death, he worked for McCartt and Associates. Mr. Lea had a great passion for his airplanes and loved to fly very much. He enjoyed cooking out and drinking coffee at the hanger with his friends. He had a great zeal for life. He was a member of Coulter Road Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Paulette; three sons, Kim Lea of Howe, Michael Lea of Missouri and Bobby Lea of Springfield, Mo.; four daughters, Sandra Hancock of Bucyrus, Barbara Lea of Coppell, Deborah Brogdon of Barnhart, Mo., And Valerie Lea of Springfield, Mo.; a stepson, Darrell Dosher of Canadian; a stepdaughter, Kristi Carr of Shallowater; a brother, Dave Harrison of Waller; four special grandchildren, Micah, Kendra, Dallas and Jerrod; 18 other grandchildren; and 12 great grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be to Special Olympics Texas, Team Oreo Blast, Attn.: Kristi, 1407 9th. Street, Shallowater, TX 79363. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elsewhere Cebie Margaret Audry LONGVIEW - Cebie Margaret Audry, 94, died Friday, April 20, 2007. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. today in Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home. Mrs. Audry was born Sept. 11, 1912, to Arthur and Clara Parker. She enjoyed gardening and singing hymns in her church. Survivors include two sons, Roger Collis and wife Rose and Don Collis and wife Joanie; five grandsons, Allan Cameron and wife Allison and Kenneth Cameron and wife Kathy and Dan, Jim and Clay Collis; and several other grandchildren and great-grandchildren. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- SERVICES Services Pending James "Buck" Anthony, 79, of Amarillo died Sunday, April 22, 2007. Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd. . Joe Fristoe, 64, of Amarillo died Sunday, April 22, 2007. Boxwell Brother Funeral Directors, Cleo Garrett, 69, of North Richland Hills died Sunday, April 22, 2007. Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. John Hauschild, 52, of Plainview died Sunday, April 22, 2007, in Lubbock. Bartley Funeral Home. Eva Myers, 99, of Amarillo died Sunday, April 22, 2007. School Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Antonio Jiminez, 62, of Amarillo died Sunday, April 22, 2007. Angel Funeral Home, 2209 S. Arthur St. State Norvell, 58, of Amarillo died Saturday, April 21, 2007. Hereford Heritage Funeral Home. Doug Slagle, 54, of Amarillo died Saturday, April 21, 2007. Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Wilma Jean Washburn, 73, of Borger died Saturday, April 21, 2007. Minton Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger. Cecil West, 67, of Amarillo died Saturday, April 21, 2007. Blackburn-Shaw Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Services Scheduled James Richard McCullough Sr., 77, of Amarillo died Saturday, April 21, 2007. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Llano Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Services Today Leslie Hilton Balmain, 78, of Amarillo. Services will be at 4 p.m. in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. Polly Brown, 86, of Memphis. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. in First United Methodist Church. The family will hold a private burial service. Hughs Funeral Home of Memphis. Richard "Rich" Clark, 70, formerly of Hereford. Celebration of life services will be at 10 a.m. in Parkside Chapel Funeral Home in Hereford. Burial will be in Rest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Hereford. Lavern Clay, 86, of Amarillo. Services will be at 11:30 a.m. in Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Burial will follow in Llano Cemetery. Jan Curry, 56, of McGregor. Services will be at 10 a.m. in Cole Funeral Home Chapel. Frances Follis, 87, of Perryton. Services will be at 2 p.m. in Perryton First Baptist Church. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Perryton. Arthur "Art" L. Harryman, 86, of Keyes, Okla. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. in Keyes United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Willowbar Cemetery with military graveside honors by Boise City VFW. Cimarron Mortuary. Fred Emory Hill, 47, of Amarillo. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. in First Presbyterian Church. Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 Georgia St. George Hinshaw Sr., 69, of Perryton. Services will be at 11 a.m. in Word of Life Church. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Perryton. Clara Culpepper Clark Johnston, 93, of Clovis, N.M. Services will be at 10 a.m. in First Church of the Nazarene. Burial will be in Mission Garden of Memories by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Theresa Kotara, 93, of White Deer. Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. in Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Geraldine B. Meyer, 84, of Borger. Services will be at 2 p.m. in First Baptist Church. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Amarillo by Brown Funeral Directors of Borger. Bessie Irene Sanders Pittman, 91, of Clovis, N.M. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. in Mission Garden of Memories. Muffley Funeral Home. William David Poling, 65, of Childress. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. in Arlie Cemetery. Johnson Funeral Home of Childress. Bernie Sternberg, 74, of Clovis, N.M. Mass will be at 10 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Memorial by Muffley Funeral Home. Bessie Mildred Thomas Taylor, 95, of Spearman. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. in Texline Cemetery in Texline. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Spearman. Earl Bryan Taylor, 79, of Sedan, N.M. Services will be at 2 p.m. in Clayton Gospel Church. Burial will follow in Clayton Cemetery by Horizon Funeral Home. Joe G. Torres, 74, of Hereford. Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday in San Jose Catholic Church. Burial will be in St. Anthony's Cemetery. Crystal Nicole Womack, 7 months, of Shamrock. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street. ---