Santa’s helpers
Archives for November 2017
Eunice Carolyn Johnson Halbert
Eunice Carolyn Johnson Halbert was called home to be with Jesus in heaven on November 17, 2017, in Wichita Falls. Celebration services were held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 22, 2017, at the Crowell United Methodist Church with Rev. Pat Rodriguez, Pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Crowell Eunice officiating. Burial will follow at the Crowell Cemetery.
Carolyn Halbert was born on January 31, 1913, in Clarendon to Carrie and David Johnson. She attended public schools there and attended Clarendon Junior College. She graduated valedictorian from Clarendon Grade School, Clarendon High School and Clarendon Junior College. Then she spent two summers at Simmons University and one full year at the University of Texas in Austin where she graduated with honors in 1936.
At age 19 she joined forces with Bob Dillard, principal, and Agatha Taylor, teaching two years at the intermediate grades, at Windy Valley, some four miles south of Lelia Lake. Then, for one year, she taught at Chamberlain School, which was a three-teacher school but by attending college in the summers she emerged from UT with three years of college and three years of teaching. Following her final college year, she accepted the position of English teacher at Ozona.
On February 20, 1937, she married Grady Halbert of Foard County, Texas. When his father, EV Halbert, died in 1939, the couple moved to Foard City where Grady became manager of his mother’s farms. They lived there and later a Crowell until 2000 when they moved to Wichita Falls, living at rolling meadows, a retirement center. Eunice was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Sybil and two brothers, Hooker who died at nine months and Gilbert who died as a teenager and finally her husband William Grady Halbert who died in 2004.
Eunice excelled in her grades, enjoyed high school and college plays, studied expression from the fourth grade until her Senior speech recital in 1932. She was a member of the Little Theater of Clarendon. She then shared her talent by giving private lessons for nine years in speaking and book reviews. She became an award winning speaker. She was an active member in the Columbian study club from 1938 and various civic clubs until moving to Wichita Falls. She taught Sunday School at the Crowell United Methodist Church.
She and Grady spent many happy summers on and in the mountains around South Fork County making lifelong friends and memories. They also traveled the world with health and vigor.
She authored three novellas, two concerning Cynthia Ann Parker, wife of Comanche Chief Quanah Parker: Two Feathers and Comanche Love and, finally, the third, her biography, The Tin Cup relating to her remarkable memories from the age of three until she left the nest to teach in Ozona.
She is survived by son Bill Halbert from Denver, Coloradp and daughter Hollis Harper from Granbury, Texas and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Crowell, Friends of the Library in Crowell or a charity of your choice.
Cloe Ann Noles Newhouse
Cloe Ann Noles Newhouse, 80 died Thursday, November 16, 2017, in Murphy, Texas.
Services were held on Monday, November 20, 2017, in the Clarendon Church of Christ with Don Stone, officiating and Bright Newhouse, III, assisting.
Cremation & arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Cloe Ann was born February 26, 1937, in Fisher County to Cleo Austin Noles and Bessie Louise Noles. She married Bright Newhouse, Jr. on October 1, 1955, in Fisher County, Texas. Cloe Ann has been a resident of Clarendon since 1962. For over ten years, she taught Special Needs Children through the Clarendon School District. For the next 30 years, she worked at the same location under the bank names of: Farmers State Bank, First Bank and Trust, Herring National Bank and retired as one of the Vice Presidents of the Herring Bank.
Following retirement, Cloe Ann assisted for years at the Donley County Senior Citizens Center by volunteering her time with the Meals on Wheels program or where ever she was needed. Cloe Ann was a member and served alongside her husband Bright, as he was the minister of the Hedley Church of Christ where he preached for over 50 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Bright Newhouse, Jr; her parents, Cleo and Bessie Louise Noles; a brother, Ralph Noles; a granddaughter, Amy Newhouse; and a grandson in law, Dustin Monroe.
She is survived by 2 sons, Mike Newhouse and wife Rhonda and Bright “Bubba” Newhouse, III and wife Theresa all of Clarendon; a daughter, Kim Maxfield and husband Ken of Murphy; 10 grandchildren; and 26 great grandchildren.
The family request memorials be sent to either the Donley County Senior Citizens, PO Drawer B, Clarendon, TX 79226 or the Christian Relief Fund, PO Box 19670, Amarillo, TX 79114-1670.
Sign our online guest book at www.RobertsonFuneral.com
Earline Stavenhagen Strand
Earline Stavenhagen Strand, 81, passed away November 12, 2017.
Services were held on Saturday, November 18, at Calvary Church of Weatherford, Texas.
Interment followed in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon following a memorial service on Sunday, November 19.
Earline was born on July 25, 1936, in Cotton Center. She attended school in Lelia Lake, where she graduated in 1955. She was active in sports and was on the girls’ basketball team.
Earline married Billy Gene Strand and they moved to Clovis, New Mexico. They had three children together and raised their family there. Earline and her identical twin Pearline had the same profession in cosmetology. She had her own beauty shop for a while in Clovis. Earline moved to Texas and resided there until her death.
Earline was preceded in death by her parents, John and Ira Elizabeth Stavenhagen; two brothers, Ed Stavenhagen and James Stavenhagen; twin-sister, Pearline Jobe McCuiston; and two grandsons, Nicholas “Nick” Miner and Christopher Rogers.
She is survived by one daughter, Kathy Perry; two sons, Billy Dwayne Strand and Bryan Derek Strand; three grandchildren, Kirstyn, Brandon and Braydon Strand; one great-grandson, Aaron Rogers; and three brothers, Mac Stavenhagen and wife Jean, Billy Wayne Stavenhagen and wife, Annis; and W.G. “Wimp” Stavenhagen and wife Liz and sister-in-law Virginia Stavenhagen.
City searching for new water board representative
The Clarendon City Council is looking for a new person to represent its interests on the Greenbelt Water Authority Board following last week’s council meeting November 9.
Gary Campbell who has held Clarendon’s seat on that board for six years told the board he did not wish to be reappointed as his term expires.
“I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve had a good time, but right now I’m overloaded,” Campbell said. “I think it’s time for me to step down.”
Campbell said he would continue to be available if the city ever needed him with questions about water treatment.
City Administrator David Dockery praised Campbell’s contributions to the city and noted his work on the Greenbelt Board in development of water wells and the acquisition of groundwater rights.
Aldermen discussed the need to find someone quickly to fill Campbell’s seat but took no action on the topic. The city council will not meet on its next regular date, November 23, due to the Thanksgiving holiday. The Greenbelt position will be considered at the following regular meeting on December 14.
In other city business, the council voted to cast all 450 of the city’s votes on the appraisal board in favor of the candidacy of Alderman Jacob Fangman.
Aldermen also approved reappointing three members of the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation Board. Those members are Terri Floyd, Doug Kidd, and Brandon Frausto.
In his administrator’s report, Dockery said the city is looking at possible houses for demolition and specifically looking at properties than have been on the delinquent tax list for ten years or longer.
Donley courthouse to be featured in upcoming book
The 1890 Donley County Courthouse was recently photographed as part of new project to publish a pictorial book of all 254 Texas county courthouses.
Curtis Smith of Houston retired as a financial planner in 2000 and soon took up photography as hobby after taking pictures on a trip to Europe.
“I ended up taking a photography class at Rice University, and built up my quality of camera equipment,” Smith said during a recent visit to Clarendon and the Enterprise.
Smith said he saw a lawyer posting courthouse pictures online and wondered who all could say they had been to all of Texas’ 254 counties. That was four years ago, and now he’s shot nearly 200 of the buildings all across the state.
The project is taking a lot of time because, as Smith notes, “they aren’t in a straight line.”
Smith’s October visit to the Panhandle with his wife Debbie finished off photographing the courthouses in this part of the state, but he says it will probably be about two years before a book is completed.
“There are a lot of courthouse books out there,” Smith says, “but they are outdated.”
Smith, who is a close friend of Clarendon native Will Lowe, also has an eye for details and unique features that he says is lacking in the current books.
He has a few favorites among the ones he’s shot so far, including Clarendon’s courthouse.
“This is definitely the jewel of the Panhandle,” he says, noting that other favorites are Ellis County, Presidio County, Grimes County, and the 1910 Harris County Courthouse surrounded by ancient oak trees.
When he’s finished with Texas’ courthouses, Smith says his next project will be cars with a focus on details, lines, and rust.
Byars, Holladay win Howardwick election
The winds of change hit the City of Howardwick when voters went to the polls last Tuesday, November 7.
Greta Byars was easily elected to the vacant mayor’s seat 75-46, over Mayor Pro-tem Eric Riddle; and Doc Holladay beat Jada Murray for a vacant alderman’s position, 76-44.
City Hall said Tuesday that 121 people voted in last week’s election. Despite losing the election, Riddle remains on the city board as an alderman.
The election results has already caused a bit of a shake-up at City Hall. The city said Municipal Judge Heidi Phelps resigned her position effective last Friday, and Code Enforcement Officer Will Jordan resigned effective Tuesday.
Mayor Byars first meeting with the board was happening Tuesday night as the Enterprise went to press this week.
Community Thanksgiving events planned
Two traditional Thanksgiving events will be held in Clarendon over the next week.
First, the Donley County Ministerial Alliance will host its annual Community Thanksgiving Service this Sunday at 6 p.m. at the Arena of Life Church on Kearney Street.
Then next Thursday, on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, the annual Clarendon Community Thanksgiving dinner will be held. The dinner is free and will be served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Clarendon school cafeteria.
Take-outs are available and deliveries will be made to the handicapped and shut-ins by calling in advance. Donations can be made at Pilgrim Bank or mailed to PO Box 45.
For further details about the dinner or to volunteer, call 874-2007.
Broncos focusing on playoffs
The Broncos went up against Wellington, who is a top ten team in the state rankings, last Friday night and were defeated 0-49.
The Broncos finished District play in second place to the Skyrockets and will have a playoff game in Hereford Friday night at 7:00 p.m. against Vega.
Things just did not go well against Wellington last Friday night according to head coach Clint Conkin.
The Broncos’ rushing yards, which have been great all season, only amounted to 42 yards against Wellington. Daquawne Oliver, who has been unstoppable, carried the ball six times for only three yards on the night.
Damarjae Cortez has also racked up several yards for the year was stopped at 11 yards on seven carries.
Dalton Benson carried the ball six times for 13 yards, and Ryan McCleskey had eight carries for 20 yards.
Noab Elam was seven of nineteen passing for 76 total yards. Cortez, Preston Elam, Colt Wood, Andy Davis, and Benson each had catches on the night. But the Broncos were unable to find the end zone.
“Our defense played well,” Conkin said. “We had several guys with tackles. We just have to regroup and get ready for the playoffs.”
The Broncos finished their regular season at 9-1 and were 4-1 in District play.
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