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Three boards to have competitive elections this year
Three local governments will hold competitive elections this spring, while three other governments might cancel their elections due to a lack of candidates.
The City of Clarendon, the Clarendon ISD, and the City of Hedley have contested races and will hold elections.
Clarendon Mayor Larry Hicks has filed to run for his office again, and three candidates are running for the two open aldermen’s positions – incumbent Janice Knorpp former aldermen Tommy Hill and Terry Noble.
Clarendon ISD has three candidates for two trustees’ positions up this year. Incumbent Weldon Sears is seeking re-election, and Che Shadle and former board member Renee Betts have also filed as a candidate.
The City of Hedley has four candidates for its three alderman positions – incumbents Tonya Metcalf, Travis Ruthardt, and David Wells and challenger Michelle Copelin.
Hedley ISD and the Donley County Hospital District each has one candidate for each position, while the City of Howardwick has only one candidate filed. Each of those governments may end up canceling their elections if no write-in candidates emerge in the next few days.
Hedley ISD had four positions open and four candidates declared. Incumbents Ted Wright, Tonja Ruthardt, and Karen Watt were all seeking re-election; and Bobby Lindsey also filed to run.
Donley County Hospital Board Directors Wayne Tubbs (Place 1) and Melinda McAnear (Place 3) are seeking re-election, and Bob Watson has filed to run for Place 2.
Howardwick has only candidate at this time. Mayor Del Essary is seeking another term, but there were no candidates file for the two aldermen’s positions up this year.
Positions on city boards of aldermen and the hospital board are two-year terms, and school board terms are for three years.
Write-in candidates can file through March 21. Election Day will be Saturday, May 14, 2011.
Gayle E. Finch
Gayle E. Finch, 70, died Wednesday, March 9, 2011, in Las Cruces, NM. Funeral services were held Saturday, March 12, at Cuba Av Church of Christ in Alamogordo, NM with Al Maxey, officiating. Interment was held Monday, March 14, at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon, TX.
Arrangements were under the direction for Alamogordo Funeral Home.
Gayle was born on Saturday, July 27, 1940, in Tacoma, WA. She was a Registered Nurse for the County of Santa Barbara. She liked to write novels and enjoyed decorating the house.
She is survived by her husband, Richard F. Finch of the family home; one son and three daughters.
Should friends desire, contributions may be made to the Cuba Ave. Church of Christ Food Pantry.
Mary Ann Auldridge
Mary Ann Auldridge, 70, died Saturday, March 12, 2011, in Amarillo.
Services were held Tuesday, March 15, in Robertson Funeral Directors Saints Roost Chapel in Clarendon with Patrick Robertson, officiating. Internment was held at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon. Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Mary was born April 26, 1931, in Adams County, Iowa the daughter of Albert “Swede“ and Nellie Gillmore Larson and was raised in Kansas and Washington. She married Oris Calvin McCrary in September 1948, and became a resident of Clarendon, TX where she raised her four children.
She left Donley County in 1970, and she moved to Lubbock and eventually settled in Amarillo. She later married Michael Shannon and then James Auldridge, both of whom preceded her in death. In 2008 she returned to Clarendon where she was residing at the time of her death. Mary Auldridge was a retired LVN with a twenty-six year career of ministering to the needs of others. She began her career as an OB/GYN nurse bringing new life into the world and ended as a geriatric nurse, helping the elderly move on to a better world. She loved dancing, country music, parties and celebrations. She was the “spice of life” to all who knew her. Her greatest pride in life was to be “Momer” to her precious grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Jesse McCrary and wife Sharon; four sisters and two brothers.
Survivors include two daughters, Kathy McCrary Shields and “forever“ son in law, Brent Shields of Clarendon and Karen McCrary Dunlap and husband Dwight of Amarillo; a son, Jimmy Dean McCrary of Sturgis, SD; three sisters, Betty Taul of Baldwin City, KS, Jo Lynn Ginter and Donna Roberts of Topeka, KS; one brother, Gary Hunter of Topeka, KS; fourteen grandchildren; twenty-six great grandchildren; several “grandchildren of endearment“; her faithful companion, Banda and many beloved friends and family members.
The family request memorials be sent to BSA Hospice or a favorite charity.
James Harold Wright
James Harold Wright, 88, died Thursday, March 10, 2011, in Clarendon.
Services were held Monday, March 14, in Robertson Funeral Directors Saints Roost Chapel in Clarendon with Rev. Darrell Burton, Chaplain of Hospice of the Southwest, and David Lowrie, Minister of Agape Christian Church in Clarendon, officiating. Interment was with US Navy Honors will be in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon. Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Mr. Wright was born May 24, 1922, in Detroit, Michigan to Ernest Walter and Elizabeth Margaret Koenders Wright.
He was a Veteran of the US Navy serving in WW II and was in Pearl Harbor on the day of attack on December 7, 1941. James retired from Mobil Oil working as a Refinery Operator. He was a great athlete and especially enjoyed playing baseball in school, Navy, and for Mobil Oil. While traveling, James stopped in Clarendon, decided to stay, and has been a resident since 1990. He was a member of Agape Christian Church in Clarendon.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Barbara Wright; and his brother, Ernest Wright.
Survivors include his son, Stephen Wright, of Barboursville, VA; two daughters, Jeri Musso, of Gilbert, AZ and Linda Lowe, of Dallas, TX; his sister, Dru Cook, of Placerville, CA; his special friend, Freida Tucker, of Clarendon; seven grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren.
The family suggests memorials to the Donley County Senior Citizens, PO Drawer B, Clarendon, Texas 79226 or to Agape Christian Church in Clarendon.
James Harold Wright
James Harold Wright, 88, died Thursday, March 10, 2011, in Clarendon.
Services were held Monday, March 14, in Robertson Funeral Directors Saints Roost Chapel in Clarendon with Rev. Darrell Burton, Chaplain of Hospice of the Southwest, and David Lowrie, Minister of Agape Christian Church in Clarendon, officiating. Interment was with US Navy Honors will be in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon. Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Mr. Wright was born May 24, 1922, in Detroit, Michigan to Ernest Walter and Elizabeth Margaret Koenders Wright.
He was a Veteran of the US Navy serving in WW II and was in Pearl Harbor on the day of attack on December 7, 1941. James retired from Mobil Oil working as a Refinery Operator. He was a great athlete and especially enjoyed playing baseball in school, Navy, and for Mobil Oil. While traveling, James stopped in Clarendon, decided to stay, and has been a resident since 1990. He was a member of Agape Christian Church in Clarendon.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Barbara Wright; and his brother, Ernest Wright.
Survivors include his son, Stephen Wright, of Barboursville, VA; two daughters, Jeri Musso, of Gilbert, AZ and Linda Lowe, of Dallas, TX; his sister, Dru Cook, of Placerville, CA; his special friend, Freida Tucker, of Clarendon; seven grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren.
The family suggests memorials to the Donley County Senior Citizens, PO Drawer B, Clarendon, Texas 79226 or to Agape Christian Church in Clarendon.
Bobby J. Skelton
Bobby J. Skelton, 89, of Amarillo, died Sunday, March 13, 2011, in Claude.
Graveside services will be at 11:00 am Saturday, March 19, 2011, at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Rev. Lloyd Stice, Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Clarendon, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Bob was born November 22, 1921, in Clarendon to Luther and Mayme Skelton. He was a 1938 graduate of Clarendon High School and served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1942 until 1945 during which time he participated in the occupation of Okinawa.
Bob was a self-employed retail businessman with stores in Clarendon and the Capitol and Herring Hotels in Amarillo. He was a member of the Clarendon Masonic Lodge #700 AF & AM for sixty-five years and was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon. He was an avid football fan.
He was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers, Durwood, Cecil, Fred, and Willard Skelton. Survivors include his sister-in-law, Frances Skelton of Clarendon; nephew, Durwood Jr. of Midland; niece, Paula Skelton Odom and husband Gene of Aledo; nephew, Sandy Skelton and wife Diane of Clarendon; niece, Candy Skelton Scarborough and husband Charles of Abilene; eight great nieces and nephews; ten great-great nieces and nephews; one great-great-great niece; and his good friend Eddie Taylor of Amarillo.
The family request that memorials be made to First United Methodist Church, PO Box 157, Clarendon, Texas 79226 or to Citizens Cemetery Association, PO box 983, Clarendon, Texas 79226.
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