All grins
Family loses everything in fire
The two-story residence of Nathan and Shonda Lowrie, located on 198 Becky Drive in Howardwick, burned on June 23. First Assistant Chief Jeremy Powell of the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department said the fire started at 2:26 a.m. from a BBQ pit.
The family, consisting of Nathan and Shonda and their 17-year-old son, 12-year-old daughter, 16-year-old niece, and family friend, were asleep when the fire started, a
family member said.
Alicia Medina, who was staying with them at the time, got up to get a drink of water and thought she smelled something. Meanwhile, Nathan got up to check on his coughing daughter and smelled smoke. They evacuated the house, and Shonda dialed 911. They only got out with the clothes they had on: no shoes or car keys.
The Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department arrived on scene at 2:36 a.m.
The fire destroyed the house, two vehicles, a small fishing boat, tools, mowers and other equipment that Nathan used to earn a living, damaged two other vehicles, and claimed the life of their small dog before the firefighters extinguished it at 6:30 a.m. There were no injuries.
The Lowries had full coverage on the two vehicles but had no insurance on their house. They are currently staying with Nathan’s parents.
A fund for them is set up at the Donley County State Bank.
“People have been very nice,” Nathan’s mother Paula said. “There’s been an influx of clothing come in, and they now have several changes of clothes.”
A total of 13 volunteer firefighters from Clarendon and Howardwick Volunteer Fire Departments and ten trucks responded to the fire. The Donley County Sheriff’s Office and Clarendon EMS also arrived on scene.
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Mary Ann Koetting-Robinson
Mary Ann Koetting-Robinson, 76, died March 20, 2011.
Rosary was said Monday at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Groom. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Tuesday in the church, with the Fr. Arokia Raj Samala, officiating.
Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Groom. Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Mrs. Koetting-Robinson was born March 7, 1935, to Paul and Agnes Sestak in Eugene, Mo., one of four children. After attending Eugene High School and the University of Columbia in Columbia, Mo., she moved to Texas, where she married Marvin Koetting and they had 11 children.
She was a Groom resident for more than fifty-five years. She was a homemaker and babysitter for many years, caring for many of the children around town while she raised her children.
She then went to work at the Groom Memorial Hospital in the accounting department, before taking a similar position with Celanese Chemicals near Pampa. She retired from that job after nineteen years in 1999.
A special occasion in her life came in 1986, when she received a kidney transplant, giving her a new chance at life.
She married Keith Robinson in 2002, and together they made their home in Groom for the final years of her life.
Throughout the many years of raising her children and the struggles of health, her life was a constant example of her undying faith in God and she lovingly gave of herself to all who crossed her path.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Paul and Ralph Sestak; a grandson, Logan Koetting; and a daughter-in-law, Diane Koetting.
Survivors include her husband; six sons, Paul Koetting and wife Mary of Ferris, Henry Koetting and wife Margie of Liberal, Kan., Mike Koetting and wife DeNise of Amarillo, Mark Koetting and wife Carla of Groom, Neil Koetting and wife Cheryl of Lelia Lake, and Richard Koetting and wife Camille of Pueblo West, Colo.; five daughters, Mary Carol Falconer of Brownwood, Kay Ledbetter and husband Randy of Amarillo, Jean Noggler and husband John of Adrian, Jane Meyer and husband Richard of Vega, and Kathleen Barkley and husband Keith of Groom; a sister, Cyrilla Galbreath of Columbia, Mo.; three sister-in-laws, Elizabeth Sestak of Rolla, Mo., Bonnie Sestak of Panama Beach, Fla., and Jean Stewart of Pampa; 16 grandsons, Paul Ryan Koetting and wife Tamara, Ambrose Gallardo and wife Maria, Jeremy Noble and wife Sarah, Cody Wilson and wife Jessica, Joshua Ledbetter, Seth Koetting, Brayden Bennett, Clay Koetting, Justin Noggler and wife Jenna, Wade Meyer, Chance Barkley, Thane Barkley, Chad Barkley, Kyler Barkley, Malachi Villegas and Zachary Koetting; 16 granddaughters, Marissa Koetting, Katrina Koetting, Tamara Petrosky and husband Dale, Carol Wilson, Cady Wilson, Kaycee Ledbetter, Brittney Conway and husband Justin, Shandy Koetting, Jessica Bezner and husband Trey, Jendi Noggler, Janae Noggler, Keely Artho and husband Kyle, Staci Britten and husband Clay, Lindsay Meyer, Halle Barkley and Katherine Koetting; and eight great-grandchildren, Addie Koetting, Ember Koetting, Hunter Noble, Madison Rhea, Ryder Rhea, Tanner Wilson, Kelsey Artho and Dawson Britten.
In remembrance, memorials may be directed to the Groom Ambulance Service and the National Kidney Foundation.
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Glenn Harry Robertson
Glenn Harry Robertson, 88, died Monday, December 27, 2010, in Amarillo.
Services were held Wednesday, December 29, in Robertson Funeral Directors Saints’ Roost Chapel in Clarendon, with Rev. Dave Stout, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Howardwick, officiating. Interment was held at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.
Services were under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Glenn was born on June 5, 1925 in Clarendon to George Andrew “Andy” and Sallie Elizabeth Rattan Robertson. He was a US Navy veteran and proudly served our country during World War II. He married Velma Geraldine Hommel on October 12, 1962 in Clarendon. He had been a resident of Amarillo for most of his life. He had worked for International Harvester in Amarillo and the former Village Cadillac in Amarillo as the new car service manager prior to his retirement. He was a member of the Southlawn Baptist Church in Amarillo.
He was preceded in death his parents; his wife on February 28, 1983; and a sister, Maxine Howe.
Survivors include 2 daughters, Glennda Robertson and Elizabeth Robertson both of Amarillo; 3 sons, Wallace Reisner of Albuquerque, Glenn Robertson, Jr. of Canton, and Mark Robertson of Amarillo; a brother, Delbert Robertson of Clarendon; 2 sisters, Margaret Vines of Wellington and Georgia Speed of Clarendon; 10 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren.
The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity.
Ogetha Rene Shults
Ogetha Rene Shults, 86, died Saturday, November 27, 2010, in Clarendon.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, November 30, 2010, in the Calvary Baptist Church in Clarendon with Rev. Rob Seale, Pastor, and Rev. Lance Wood, Pastor of the First Baptist Church, officiating. Internment followed at Rowe Cemetery in Hedley. Services were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Ogetha was born April 20, 1924, in Childress County to William Columbus and Sarah Elizabeth Long Shults.
She had been a resident of Clarendon since 1974. She had worked at several restaurants and cleaners prior to her retirement. She was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Clarendon.
She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Martin, Herman, Mark, and JD Shults; a sister, Clara Hammond; and two nephews.
Survivors include her brother, Tom Shults of Clarendon; three nieces; three nephews; 10 great-nephews; 12 great-nieces; 33 great-great-nieces and nephews; and 6 great-great-great-nieces and nephews.
The family request memorials be to Calvary Baptist Church, Community Care Center of Clarendon or a favorite charity.
Senior-itas
Clarendon to be featured on ESPN2
In December of 2009, Jason Roark, a professional outfitter who films his hunts for ESPN2 was in town.
Roark was providing a free hunt for Ken Bowen, a veteran, who had sustained third-degree burns during an explosion while stationed in Afghanistan. Over fifty percent of Bowen’s body had been burned and he spent nine months recovering in the hospital.
As soon as Bowen was released, Roark was contacted by the Riverbreaks Ranch about taking Bowen on a hunt.
While the hunt took place on the ranch they also filmed around Donley County, including City Hall during the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.
Roark had this to say about their trip to Donley County, “Judy Berlin, the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce and the Clarendon VFW went above and beyond for this guy. They really rolled out the red carpet for Ken. We only gave them about a week’s notice in advance and we were extremely impressed with everything they had planned and how they treated Ken”.
“Grateful Nation” will air July 31, at 7 a.m. on ESPN2.
For more information contact Judy Berlin at 806-874-2421.
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