Helen Arline Hartzog Estlack

Helen Arline Hartzog Estlack, who educated three generations of Donley County students, died Wednesday, September 23, 2009, in Amarillo after a lengthy illness.

Services were held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 27, at the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon with Rev. Terry C. Lowe, pastor, officiating. Interment was in Citizens Cemetery with arrangements by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Mrs. Estlack was born March 3, 1939, in Brownfield to Arlin and Bernice Hartzog. The family settled in Parmer County in 1949, and she graduated as the valedictorian from Bovina High School in 1957. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Texas Technological College in 1961 and married Allen H. Estlack, Jr., on July 28, 1962. She received her Master of Arts degree in English from West Texas State University in 1976.

Mrs. Estlack’s teaching career began in 1961 when she started teaching English and Language Arts at Clarendon Junior High.  In 1964, she taught English I and Spanish I and II at Clarendon High School, and returned the following year to CJH to teach Language Arts. She then moved to Hedley for four years and taught English 7, 8, 9, 10; Spanish I; and Social Studies 8. In 1970, she returned to Clarendon Junior High where she taught sixth, seventh, and eighth grade English until her retirement in 2000. In addition to the writing and grammar skills she instilled, she also left her students with fond memories of gold leaf paintings, writing poetry in calligraphy, studying local history, authoring their own books, and performing eighth grade plays. Over the years, she sponsored or coached junior high cheerleaders; the UIL Spelling, Ready Writing, Impromptu Speaking, and Modern Oratory contestants; the Odyssey of the Mind team; the Gifted & Talented class; and the junior high yearbook.

She was named the 1997 Teacher of the Year by the Region XVI Education Service Center and the Southwestern Bell Foundation. And in 2000, she was named the Outstanding Middle School Teacher by the Texas Middle School Association for Region 16.

Outside of the classroom, Mrs. Estlack has spent a lot of time and energy guiding youth through the Boy Scouts of America for more than 30 years.  In 1987, she received the District Award of Merit from the BSA and was presented in 1991 with the Silver Beaver Award — the highest award given to an adult Scouter at the council level.

Mrs. Estlack also served as the bookkeeper of her husband’s business, Estlack Electric, beginning in 1981. She was the Copy Editor of The Clarendon Enterprise since 1995; and following her retirement from teaching, she helped Clarendon ISD apply for and secure a large technology grant. She also penned a history of Donley County. In 2007, she fell into the role of teaching again as she became the pen pal of a special student in another town and inspired him to read using her unique skills and creativity. In her final days, she advised a daughter-in-law pursuing a master’s degree and gave insight to a niece writing a senior research paper.

She served for a time with the Donley County chapter of the American Cancer Society, was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Clarendon, and was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 6. In 2008, she was named the Saints’ Roost Award winner by the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce for a lifetime of service to her community.

In addition to her many civic and professional activities, her passions included fishing, hunting arrowheads, playing the piano, polishing rocks and gems, reading, learning, cooking for her family, caring for all of her loved ones, and spoiling her grandchildren. She was a beloved wife, mom, Memaw, sister, aunt, and friend and will be missed by many people who loved her sense of humor, wisdom, and sound advice.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her loving husband.

She is survived by two sons, Roger Estlack and wife Ashlee and Russell Estlack and wife Scarlet, all of Clarendon; four grandchildren, Nathan, Benjamin, Daniel, and Elaina Estlack; two sisters, Kay Strawn and husband Jerry of Panhandle and Dixi Jones and husband Dick of Pueblo, Colo.; a brother, Roy Hartzog and wife Trudy of Farwell; a sister-in-law, Donna Estlack Hicks and husband Larry of Clarendon; a special family member, Janice Richards of Friona; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Casket bearers were Charlie Strawn, Mike Strawn, Marvin Elam, Donnie Carroll, Earl Hartman, Cody Dennison, and Dewayne Stephens. Honorary bearers were her grandsons.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Homer Estlack Memorial Scholarship Fund at Clarendon College or to Citizens Cemetery Association in Clarendon.