Archives for December 2010

Billy Geyer Thornberry, 86 died Sunday, Thursday, December 16, in Amarillo.
Services were held December 18 in the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon with Rev. Lloyd Stice, pastor, officiating. Interment was held at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon. Services were under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Billy Geyer Thornberry was born November 23, 1924, in Wichita Falls, Texas, to William Carey Thornberry and Mary Geyer Thornberry. He was the great-grandson of Amos and Cynthia Thornberry, who were early day settlers in Wichita County at a community later named “Thornberry”. The family moved to Donley County in 1925, when his grandfather, A.L. Thornberry, bought a portion of the Murphy Ranch southwest of Clarendon. Bill grew up here.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon and attended Clarendon schools. He participated in 4-H under the guidance of county agent “Flip” Breedlove, and played football under famed coach O.C. Warden. He graduated from Clarendon High School with the Class of 1942. He attended Clarendon Junior College, and when he became 18, was drafted into the Army. He served with the 747th Sqdn., 456th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force at Cerignola, Italy. He received his honorable discharge September 9, 1945, and returned to the family ranch.

Bill married Patricia Grady June 20, 1946, at The Little Chapel in the Woods, Denton, Texas. They made their home in Clarendon until 1948 when they moved to the Grady Ranch where they lived the remainder of their lives.

They raised commercial and registered Hereford cattle and belonged to the American Hereford Association, the Texas Hereford Association, and the Texas and the Southwestern Cattle Raiser’s Association. He was a member of the American Legion, VFW, and the 456th Bomb Group Association. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband on August 1, 1993.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include, his wife, Pat; 2 sons, Richard Thornberry and wife Leane,of Lubbock, Texas, and William Don “Sandy” and wife Bobbie, of Clarendon, Texas; four grandchildren: Tricia DuBose and husband Jason, of Lubbock, Texas, Seth Thornberry and wife Tara, of Plano, Texas, Amy Thornberry of Washington, D.C., and Carey Thornberry and wife Ashley of Brownwood, Texas; eight great-grandchildren, Midora “Mia” Green, Perry Creede, Phoebe Scout DuBose, Hallie Rose, Harper Kate Thornberry, Hayden Welch, Minerva Leane, and Evelyn Josephine Thornberry; one brother, Don Thornberry and wife Tookie, of Clarendon and their three sons, Mac, Drew, and Lance and their families.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be to the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 153, Clarendon, TX 79226 or to Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio 75250-0301, or to the charity of one’s choice.

Betty Lou Johnson, 77, died Sunday, Thursday, December 9, in Amarillo.
Services were held December 11, at 2:30 p.m. in the First Baptist Church in Early, Texas with Rev. Eddie Ailshie, pastor, officiating. Interment was held at Eastlawn Cemetery in Early. Services were under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Betty was born June 11, 1933, in Harrison County, Texas to Horace and Lucille Morris Weaver. She married Charles Lonzo Johnson on December 25, 1949, in Texarkana, Texas. She had been a longtime resident of Brownwood before moving to Clarendon in 2005. She loved sports, especially bowling. She was a wonderful well known seamstress and sewed many outfits. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Early where she was a GA teacher, sang in the choir, and taught Sunday school.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband on August 1, 1993.

Survivors include a son, Charles Johnson, Jr. and wife Pamela of Lubbock; 2 daughters, Kathy Hommel and husband Gene of Clarendon and Donna Knorpp and husband Todd of Clarendon; 5 sisters, Billy Finch of Baton Rouge, LA, Jane Washington of Linden, Dot Perkins of Shreveport, LA, Sue Merritt of Dangerfield, and Louise Cook of Nashville, TN; 8 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; and 1 great-great grandchild.

The family request memorials be sent to BSA Hospice in Amarillo.

Wyoma “Dolly” Huey, 93, died December 8, in Amarillo.

Graveside Services were held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 14, in Lusk Cemetery in Lusk, Wyoming. Texas Arrangements were under Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon. Wyoming Arrangements were under Pier Funeral Home of Lusk, Wyoming.

Wyoma was born at the homestead of her parents – Emma Charlotte Damme and Roy Leslie Rogers of Prairie Center Community, south of Van Tassel, Wyoming. When she was two years old the family moved to Lusk where they lived for five years and then moved to a ranch south of Lusk, where she lived till graduating from Lusk High School.

She was also a graduate of Parks Business College of Denver, Colorado.

Wyoma was baptized as an infant and confirmed at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lusk at the age of 14, and remained a faithful member until her death. She was also an active member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Ridgecrest, CA, from 1980 – 2009.
Wyoma was married to Archie Huey on March 31, 1935, in Hot Springs, South Dakota, and they had two children, Robert J. and William R. Huey.

Wyoma and her late husband built the Trail Motel in Lusk in 1954 and operated it until 1965. They also had a small ranch in the Manville area. She was active in her church, taught in Sunday School and was a member of the Lutheran Women’s League. She was a member of the American Legion Auxillary, Daughters of the American Revolution, Farm Bureau, Stock Growers Association, and was one of the organizers of the Niobrara County Hospital Auxillary of Lusk and was its first president.

She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

Survivors include her sons – Bob and wife Kathy of Ridgecrest, CA, and Bill and his wife Ann of Clarendon, TX; Grandchildren (Rob and Bonnie Huey of Ft. Collins, CO; Jenelle and Bart Spedden of Superior, CO; Aaron and Kristin Huey of Seattle, Washington; Jennifer and Scott Cooper of Angleton, TX, and Jim Huey of Amarillo, TX;); Great Grand Children (Orion, Nolan and Phoebe Huey; Ryan and Emily Cooper and Hawkeye Huey); Sister Minnie McCleerey of Manville, WY; Nieces (Nancy Fitzwater, Shelley and Brian Bruch); Nephews (Bill McCleerey, Raymond Fitzwater); and many grand nieces and nephews.