Archives for November 2005

The Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated for John William “Johnny Bill” Hermesmeyer, age 77, at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 2, 2005, in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Groom with Father Jose Palathara, officiating.  Burial was held in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Groom under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Hermesmeyer died Sunday, October 30, 2005, in Amarillo.  He was one of seven children born to Frank and Nell Ruyle Hermesmeyer.  He grew up loving the great outdoors on the Hermesmeyer Brothers Ranch at Jericho.  He was an expert horseman, breaking and training horses at a young age.  He worked along with his brother, Hunk, helping local ranchers round up and ship cattle when he was young.  He enjoyed sports, especially football, which he played in high school.  He served in the US Army in the Signal Corps at Fort Gordon, Georgia, during the Korean Conflict.  He returned home to Jericho to operate the ranch and also worked for Montie Johnson and Les Darcy.  He was active in the community services and served as a director of the Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association since 1964.  He was a member of the Southwest Cattle Raisers Association for many years.  He married Eva Lee Farr on June 21, 1968.  Johnny Bill will always be in the heart of his family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, and two sisters.

Survivors include his wife, Eva; one daughter, Cindy Foster and husband Brett of Borger; one son, Shawn Hermesmeyer of Borger; six grandchildren, Courtney, Crystal, Brody, Brady, Chad, and Mickey; one brother, Phillip Hermesmeyer and wife Jerry of Jericho; two sisters, Pauline Kline of Panhandle and Joan Guide of Amarillo; a nephew that they raised, Bill Hermesmeyer and wife Carolyn of Panhandle; and a host of nieces and nephews.

The family requests that memorials be to the American Cancer Society, 3915 Bell, Amarillo, TX 79109 or to a favorite charity.

Graveside services for Christine Moreland Hightower, age 75, were held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, October 31, in Fairview Cemetery in Memphis with Johnny Snider, Pastor of the Travis Baptist Church in Memphis, officiating.  Arrangements were by Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc.

Mrs. Hightower died Thursday, October 27, 2005, in Dumas.  She was born January 17, 1930, in Lake-view and had been a resident of Hall County most of her life.  She married J.H. Murdock, Jr., in 1947, and he preceded her in death in 1961. She then married Delbert Hightower in 1965, and he preceded her in death in 2001.  She had worked at various places throughout her life.  She was a homemaker and a member of the Travis Baptist Church in Memphis.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, her parents, one brother, one sister, and one son.

Survivors include a daughter and special son-in-law, Patsy and Charles Black of Dumas; one son, John “Skipper” Murdock of Dumas; one sister, Dorothy Anthony of Lubbock; two brothers, Bo Moreland of Bryan-College Station and J.T. Moreland of Lowell, Arkansas; a special person in her life, Connie Murdock of Memphis; and five grandchildren, Tracie and Steve Shillings of Amarillo, Stacie Murdock of Granbury, Corey Murdock of Memphis, and Hunter Murdock of El Reno, Oklahoma.

The family requests that memorials be to a favorite charity.