Reduced to rubble
Volunteer service
Chuckwagon roundup
The American Chuck Wagon Association recently chose the Saints’ Roost Museum as its site for its annual members meeting held November 3 and 4.
The museum board welcomed 35 association members with a reception in the Depot Friday night. On Saturday morning, museum board members transported association members to the JA Ranch headquarters for lunch served from an historic JA chuck wagon.
Museum board members coordinated the morning events along with JA foreman Randal Gates and his wife, Julie.
The Chuck Wagon Association is an international organization whose purpose is to preserve the history of the chuck wagon era.
This group was instrumental in having the chuck wagon designated as the official state vehicle of Texas in 2005.
The American Chuck Wagon Association named the Saints’ Roost Museum’s annual cookoff its Event of the Year in 2014.
Earl Wayne Cole
Earl Wayne Cole, 75, died Wednesday, November 1, 2017, in Memphis.
Services were held Saturday, November 4, 2017, in the Fellowship Community Church in Clarendon with Rev. Larry Capranica officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Wayne was born September 28, 1942 in Hereford to Raeman and Kathleen Cole. He was a funeral director in Olton for several years where he was a member of Lions Club, Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance service, as well as the director of civil defense. He married Mary Braddock on October 13, 1988, in Clarendon.
He had been a resident of Clarendon for more than 35 years where he worked at Clarendon College as well as operated his own Heating and Air Conditioning business. He was a member of the Community Fellowship Church in Clarendon. He loved woodworking, coin collecting, reading, his family, and helping people.
He was preceded by his parents; his first wife and mother of his children, Julia Ann “Jan” in July 1982.
He is survived by his wife Mary Cole of Clarendon; two sons Anthony Cole of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Brad Braddock of Amarillo; two daughters Taralena David and husband Shane of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Tonya Braddock of Clarendon; two brothers Carol Cole and wife Barbara of Salado and Jessy Cole and wife Jody of Weatherford; three sisters Loretta Bills and husband Clifford of Earth, Frances Watkins of Salado, and Regina Meeks and husband Jim of Amarillo; three grandchildren Brianna Braddock, Brock Braddock, and Cason David; and numerous nieces and nephews
In lieu of flowers the family suggests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society
Sign our online guest book at www.RobertsonFuneral.com
Bill Dale Hill
After living every day to the fullest, Bill Dale Hill passed away in his sleep on November 3, 2017.
Bill entered this world in Clarendon., on August 30, 1937. His parents must have given this new baby one look and knew what joy he would bring to others so they gave him the name that just makes you smile — “Bill Hill”. Bill lived his life as a warm, friendly and positive force that made everyone in the room better for knowing him. Bill was a true man of faith and had the gift of making every person he met feel heard and accepted.
After graduating from Clarendon High School, Bill earned both a Bachelors and Masters in Education from West Texas State University. Next, Bill began his career with the Amarillo Independent School District where he opened Puckett Elementary School as the principal. Principal Hill met every Puckett student at the front door to provide love and support for their school day. A hero at school and outside, his large extended family and friends can attest that Bill came to the aid of anyone who needed encouragement during a challenging time. Bill also received the highest national honor from the American Red Cross for saving a man from drowning by lassoing him from a river.
A devoted husband, Bill met the love of his life, Mary Ann Garner, in Clarendon and they were married for 62 years. The two were a dynamic couple both working in education and spending many of their summers as co-directors of a Christian camp in New Mexico. Bill and Mary also worked together at church, charity and fun – cruising and exercising. After retiring from the Amarillo ISD, Bill and Mary moved to central Texas. Bill continued to mentor others and share his expertise as an adjunct professor at Texas State University supervising student teachers.
A man of deep faith, Bill lived a way that all could see the light inside of him. At family gatherings a collective sigh of relief came when Bill was called to say the prayer knowing that his prayer would be a genuine and easy to understand conversation with God that would be sprinkled with humor and never boring. When someone in the family passed away and did not have a “go to” pastor, Bill was the “go to” family member called upon to lead the service. Grieving loved ones knew that Bill would make all that attended feel better. Bill served as a Deacon at Trinity Baptist Church of Amarillo, and later as a deacon and Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church of Canyon Lake.
Bill is predeceased by his father Dale Roy Hill, mother Marie Hill and sister Phyllis June Damm. He is survived by his wife Mary, daughter Phyllis Clary and husband Charles, and son Trent Hill and wife Carole. He is also survived by grandchildren, Reed Redus and wife Amy, Rily Redus and wife Rebekah, John Wayne Hill and wife Megan, Naudia Vasquez, Nikolaus Roark, and Alex Clary and great grandchildren, Noah and Emmarie Redus, Sierra, Ella,and Caleb Redus , Ryan and Jace Hill, Lauren Clary. Bill will be forever remembered by his large family and numerous dear friends.
Visitation and services were held at First Baptist Church of Canyon Lake, Texas, on Tuesday, November 7. Graveside service was at Fischer Cemetery at 2:30.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be sent to the Bill and Mary Hill Fund at the Amarillo Area Foundation. This fund supports numerous charities including Clarendon ones and the Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch. Amarillo Area Foundation, 801 South Fillmore, Suite 700, Amarillo, TX 79101, 806.376.4521.
Billy J. Hodges
Billy J. Hodges, 86, of Clarendon passed away on Wednesday, November 1, 2017.
Services were held on Saturday, November 4, 2017, in the Community Fellowship Church in Clarendon, with Rev. Anthony Knowles officiating. Burial follwed in Llano Cemetery in Amarillo. Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Bill was born at home in Aubrey on February 3, 1931. His parents were Samuel and Martha Weddle Hodges. After graduating from Pilot Point High School, he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was a member of the VFW and the American Legion. He married Judy Malone Hodges on February 3, 1968, at Pleasant Valley Christian Church in Amarillo. Bill was selling rose bushes for the Pleasant Valley Lions Club the day they married. After his retirement from the City of Amarillo, Bill and Judy moved to Clarendon to grow a garden. They found the people very friendly as they are many times in a small town. He was a member of the Donley County Senior Citizens and a charter member of the Community Fellowship Church. Bill enjoyed reading books, serving others by volunteering, and watching God’s beautiful sunset. Peace is seeing a sunset and knowing who to thank. He was a humble and gentle man with a great sense of humor. Bill had that special deep down kind of love.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Charles Hodges and Sam Hodges; one sister, Kathryn Griffin; and one great-grandson, Dylon Miller.
Survivors include his wife Judy; two daughters, Reba Zollars and Teresa Hodges; one sister, Evalynn Lefler; four grandchildren, Mike Sells, Travis Stroope, Bobbie Jo Muffley, and Candance Smith; and 11 great-grandchildren
Thank you and many blessings to all of the individuals who cared for him. The family requests that memorials be sent to a favorite charity of your choosing.
Sign our online guest book at www.RobertsonFuneral.com
Wayne “Sambo” Kotara
Wayne “Sambo” Kotara was born in Pampa on March 4, 1943, to Sam and Irene Kotara alongside his twin sister Elayne.
Wayne was a resident of Groom for all of his 74 years, attending school in Groom and living in the family home until he married wife Adela in 1964. He then moved into a house just across the road, living on the same five acres for his entire life. He farmed and raised cattle, and started Kotara Cattle Company with his brother Ronald. Wayne was an active member of the Groom community. He served as a member of the Carson County ASCS committee and Groom Lions Club (often instigating the wet napkin fights at the member luncheons). On Groom Day weekends he was head barbecue chef and donkey race organizer.
More recently, he attended the daily meeting of the Coffee Shop Drinkers. Sambo considered himself a lifelong “real Groom Tiger.” He had near-perfect attendance to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, attending 30+ times with a collection of NFR baseball caps to prove it. He was an expert at grilling burgers, fixing tractors, and making everyone laugh.
He was preceded in death by his father Sam, his mother Irene, his brothers Ronald and Denny, and his twin sister Elayne.
Wayne is survived by his wife Adela, daughter Kim Guinn and husband Lynn of Wichita, Kansas, daughter Lindy Craft and husband Jack of Clarendon, daughter Staci Kotara of Groom, daughter Halee Kotara of Dallas, sister Cecilia Pounds of Albuquerque, sister Sandie McWherter of McKinney, and four granddaughters: Carson and Darby Guinn, and Charlotte and Elizabeth Craft.
In lieu of flowers, please put a $20 bill in the $5 Wheel of Fortune slot machine at the end of the second row in the high slots area of the Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas. (Or alternately make a donation to the Groom Helping Hands Food Pantry, P.O. Box 616, Groom, TX 79039 or the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 130, Groom, TX 79039.)
Clarendon Dairy Queen may not close
The fate of Clarendon’s Dairy Queen is not yet settled as franchise owner Vasari LLC goes through bankruptcy proceedings.
Several media sources have reported that the Clarendon location is one of 29 Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma DQ restaurants to be liquidated.
But a spokesman told the Enterprise Wednesday afternoon the list is just one of possible closures and not a definitive list.
“After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday, Oct. 30, Vasari LLC, a Dairy Queen franchisee based in Texas, has announced the closure of 22 underperforming restaurants in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico,” public relations account manager Whitney Albert said. “Contrary to some earlier reports, no decision has been made on remaining locations, although some may close within the next 90 days. Ultimately, Vasari will restructure to create a smaller but financially stronger company.”
Dairy Queen was still open in Clarendon as of noon Wednesday, and a local employees said they had been given no information about the possible closure of the restaurant.
Vasari closed five Dairy Queens – including the ones in Shamrock, Perryton, and Dumas – prior to its bankruptcy filing. Among the additional 17 locations that closed this week were those in Wellington and Claude.
CC receives medallion award for marketing
Clarendon College received a Medallion Award from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations at the NCMPR District 4 annual conference in Dallas last Saturday.
CC’s Chief of Staff Ashlee Estlack was awarded the Silver Medallion of Excellence for the College’s 2017 billboard promoting its cosmetology program in Amarillo.
“We are very proud of Ashlee’s accomplishments in our marketing and PR department,” CC President Robert Riza said. “It’s amazing the campaigns and materials that she can produce and that she wins against colleges whose marketing budgets are larger than our College budget. She has been an integral part of our success here at Clarendon College.”
The Gold Medallion was awarded to the Dallas County Community College’s Mountain View College and the Bronze Medallion went to Austin Community College and South Texas College.
“It is an honor to be recognized by our peers, especially considering the competition is much larger institutions with staffs of more than one,” Estlack said. “I’m blessed to do what I love every day.”
The NCMPR Medallion Awards honor outstanding achievement in communications. The competition is the only regional contest of its kind that honors excellence exclusively among marketing and public relations professionals at two-year colleges.
NCMPR, an affiliate of the American Association of Community Colleges, represents marketing and public relations professionals at community and technical colleges throughout the United States.
NCMPR’s District 4 includes colleges in Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming.
PCS office offers help for open healthcare enrollment
Help is available for residents trying to figure out how to secure health insurance for their families thanks to Panhandle Community Services (PCS) in Clarendon.
“We have a local enrollment office staffed by trained healthcare.gov navigators,” said PCS Assistant Director for Health Services Kaitlin Mosley. “Our enrollment specialists provide free, in person assistance to individuals who need help signing up for or re-enrolling in health insurance.”
November 1 through December 15 is open enrollment time through healthcare.gov.
Mosley said the local PCS office in the Christ’s Kids building at 416 S. Kearney is open every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“We also have a family development specialist who is in and out of the office during the week and is available for appointments by calling 874-2573,” Mosley said.
PCS says eight out of ten people who enrolled in health coverage through HealthCare.gov qualify for financial help to make their monthly premiums more affordable and that signing up for a quality insurance plan is often cheaper than people think.
Mosley said the health insurance assistance is for working people who have some sort of job to provide income for their families, but she also said that people who don’t qualify for a subsidy can still benefit from letting PCS help them navigate healthinsurance.gov.
“We have farmers – who are basically self-employed – that use our services to help find the best health insurance for themselves and their families,” Mosley said.
Mosley said people just need to bring their recent W2 form or earnings statement along with their Social Security number to get started.
At the appointment, the PCS specialist will talk through options and share other important advice, including how to qualify for financial help, how to start an application, or how to enroll.
The PCS also offers help throughout the year to assist low income residents in applying for benefits such as Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, and Chip.
To find out more, call Panhandle Community Services at 874-2573.
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