McClendon retires from Greenbelt Electric; White new manager
Stan McClendon, general manager of Greenbelt Electric Cooperative (GEC), retired Jan. 3 after almost 37 years of service. His tenure as manager of GEC began in March 1985.
Previously, he served as director of member services for Lighthouse Electric Cooperative in Floydada.
A native of Gould, Okla., Mc-Clendon graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in agriculture education in 1978. His service and leadership have contributed significantly to the accomplishments of GEC.
During his tenure, the co-op’s annual sales grew from 40 million kilowatt-hours to more than 200 million kWh. McClendon spearheaded and instituted aggressive system maintenance programs for right-of-way clearing and pole testing.
Elected to Golden Spread Electric Cooperative’s (GSEC) board of directors in June 1985, McClendon has served as chairman of the board for the past nine years. During his 36 years on the GSEC board, McClendon served as a member of several committees, including those pertaining to performance and salary reviews, policy reviews, legislative affairs, audits and the political action committee. The experience he brought to GSEC’s formative years were instrumental to its success.
McClendon has left his mark on other organizations in his community too. He served as president of the Kiwanis Club in Wellington and has been a member of the Collingsworth County Hospital District board for the past 16 years. He is currently chairman of Greenlight Gas Company.
McClendon and his wife, Nancy, plan to retire to Jacksonville, Ark., where they can explore all the state parks, lakes and recreational areas Arkansas has to offer.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with a phenomenal board, employees and membership over the years,” McClendon said. “They are who have made Greenbelt what it is today. I am honored to have had the opportunity to lead such a great cooperative. I will truly miss the camaraderie and friendships we’ve made during our time here in Wellington.”
The GEC Board of Directors has selected Randy White as the co-op’s new chief executive officer and general manager, effective Jan. 1. White, GEC’s former assistant general manager, has worked at the co-op since 2001. He served as manager of member services before becoming assistant general manager in 2015.
Prior to his years at the cooperative, White co-owned and managed White’s Feed and Seed for 17 years, and he served as a Donley County Commissioner.
White brings continuity and familiarity to the employees and members of GEC. He will serve as the co-op’s fifth general manager.
GEC wishes Stan and Nancy McClendon a happy retirement and looks forward to White’s leadership and vision.
COVID vaccines to be given in H’wick
A free COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic will be held at the Howardwick Community Center on January 7 and February 11 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Pediatric vaccinations for ages 5-11 (Pfizer) will be available. Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be available for those ages 12 and up, and boosters will be available for those who are eligible ages 16 and up.
This is a free, walk-in event. No insurance is required.
Howardwick Community Center is located in McMorries Memorial Park at 245 Rick Husband Blvd.
Donley County had 71 total COVID-19 cases confirmed at the Clarendon Family Medical Center for the month of December, down from 85 in October.
There were 21 active cases of COVID-19 reported Tuesday compared to 20 two weeks ago.
There have now been 704 positive cases of the virus since the pandemic began that have been treated at the local clinic, up from 659 on December 20. Those numbers do not reflect local residents who were diagnosed with elsewhere, such as facilities in Amarillo, Pampa, or Childress.
Eighteen residents of Donley County have died from COVID since the pandemic began last year, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Ag Conference to be held January 12
The Southeast Texas Panhandle Ag Conference will be held Wednesday, January 12, in Memphis at the Kathy Fowler Insurance Agency building.
Registration will be from 8:30 to 9:00, and the program will immediately follow.
This years’ speakers will include Dr. John Robinson, state cotton economist; Dr. Pete Dotray, Extension weed specialist; Suhas Vyavhere Cotton entomologist; Ben Knight, cotton agronomist; Cecelia Monclova, plant pathologist and David Parker, irrigation specialist. Lunch will be provided by Bertie Fannie’s of Memphis.
Five CEUs will be offered. The cost will be $10. RSVP to the Donley County Extension Office at 806-874-2141 or the Hall County Extension Office at 806-259-3015.
Chamber seeking award nominations
The Clarendon Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for its annual community awards banquet.
Honorees will be announced during the banquet Thursday, February 10, at the Bairfield Activity Center.
Nominations are being sought for Man of the Year and Woman of the Year – two individuals who have made a significant contribution to the community in the last year, and the Saints’ Roost Award – honoring an individual for a lifetime of service to the community.
Written nominations should specify what award the person is being nominated for and a brief paragraph stating the reason for the nomination. The nominations should be no more than one page in length.
Nominations can be mailed to the Chamber at PO Box 986, Clarendon, TX 79226, or delivered to the Visitor Center inside the Mulkey Theatre. Nominations must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, January 14, 2022.
Patsy Blanks Spier
Patsy Blanks Spier, 92, of Hedley passed away on December 29, 2021, in Memphis.
Memorial services will be held at a later date.
Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Patsy was born in Hedley, Texas, on her mother’s birthday, March 4, 1929. The last of seven children born to Roy C. Blanks and Ruby (Sanford) Blanks. She attended Hedley School and graduated in 1946. She married Windoal C. Spier on April 16, 1945. She then finished school while he was overseas in World War II in the Army. Three children were born to this union; Patricia Kathleen (Kathy), David Windoal and Jacey Lynn. Patsy was a “stay-at-home” Mom until they were in High School. She loved to have a homemade “treat” for them when they came home from school, especially when they were in grade school.
She worked 7 years for Burlington Industries in Memphis, Texas, being an inspector for the sheet factory and then payroll clerk in the office, 19 years as a Beauty Consultant for Eckerd Drug in Ft. Worth where she won many awards and accolades, and 15 years as Directors of Hedley Senior Citizens where she retired in August 2017 along with Kathy; she and Kathy worked hard for the new Senior Citizen building.
She enjoyed going to the Hedley Methodist Church; she was a member at the church since her early teens, was a member of the Hedley Lioness Club, and Clarendon Red Hatters. She was an avid reader and she met one of her favorite writers, Jodi Thomas. Jodi knew her as “Aunt Pat” and she even wrote one book with “Aunt Pat” as a main character. Even Pat Boone (her favorite celebrity) sent her a birthday wish and an autographed picture for her 80th birthday (of course Kathy wrote to him and asked him for it and he was gracious enough to do it.)
She was preceded in death by her husband, Windoal Claud; one son, David Windoal; her parents, Ruby and Roy Blanks; sister, Merylene Sargent; five brothers, Charles, Leroy, Joe, Don, and Jack Blanks.
She is survived by her daughter, Kathy Spier of the home; son, Jack and wife, Shirley, of Burleson, TX; three grandchildren, Marci Spier of Portland, Oregon (daughter of David and Judy (Leggitt)), Jennifer (Spier) Harris (daughter of Jack and Shirley) and husband, Rosco, of Burleson, and Christopher (son of Jack and Shirley) and wife, Kendra, of Burleson; 6 great-grandchildren, Emory, Dasia, Amiya, Hannah, Josh, and Caleb. She had many friends and she had much family who loved her. She had many nieces and nephews; some were in the 5th generation.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Patsy Blanks Spier please visit our Sympathy Store.
Jeane Spencer Bartlett
Jeane Spencer Bartlett, 95, of Amarillo, Texas, died on January 2, 2022.
Memorial services under the direction of Boxwell Brothers will be at 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at First Baptist Church Chapel with Dr. Howard K. Batson officiating. Private graveside services will be at Llano Cemetery.
Jeane was born on July 8, 1926, in Gilmer, Texas, the twin daughter of Lorene McCaslin Spencer and Woody Lee Spencer, Sr. Her twin was Imogene Spencer.
She was a long-time member of First Baptist Church and a member of the Ruth Class.
She attended school in Clarendon and Draughon’s Business College in Amarillo. She was a 55-year employee of the Amarillo Globe News (1945-2001). She held several positions with the newspaper beginning with five years in the Classified Advertising Department. She became secretary to a number of the executives in 1950 and in 1972 was named the newspaper’s first Personnel Director, a position she held until retirement. She directed the newspaper-sponsored National Spelling Bee for over 30 years.
She married Harry Bartlett, also a Globe News employee, in 1959.
Jeane was active in the community and volunteered with a number of organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce. The Women’s Division named her the first Woman of the Year in 1990. She was secretary to the board of the Amarillo Chapter of the American Red Cross. Amarillo Women’s Network honored her with a lifetime achievement award. She was inducted into the Panhandle Press Hall of Fame in 2004. In 1993, Jeane was the recipient of a special award given by the Newspaper Personnel Relations Association for her work in the human resource field. She was honored by West Texas State University with the Distinguished Service Award. She participated in Leadership Texas in 1987 and was a lifetime member of Beta Sigma Phi.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Harry Moody Bartlett, her twin sister, Imogene, three brothers, Woody Lee Spencer, Jr., Jack Howard Spencer, and Morris Mack Spencer.
Jeane is survived by several nieces and nephews.
The family requests that memorial donations are made to First Baptist Church of Amarillo, Texas.
Susan Henson
Susan Henson, a lifetime resident of Clarendon, 70 years young passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by loved ones after battling cancer.
Services were held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Stephania Gilkey, pastor, and Rev. Kirk Watson, pastor of Panhandle Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.
She married her high school sweetheart, Wes Henson, on September 17th, 1970 in Denton, Texas. She wore many hats throughout her lifetime. She started as a cosmetologist, then joined the family business where she worked for many years before becoming the dietary supervisor at the nursing home, and her most recent happiest moments were greeting all the worldly travelers that came through the Best Western here in Clarendon.
She was a woman of many talents. Her passion was cooking and trying new recipes. Any and everyone was welcome at her table. She fully enjoyed doing anything creative from sewing, needlepoint, painting and many more. She loved to help others. Her favorite and most endearing role was one of wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and aunt. Her favorite place was in her home surrounded by her friends and family.
Susan was preceded in death by; her parents; a brother, Don McAnear; and a grandchild, Grady Henson. She is survived by her husband, Wesley Henson of Clarendon, a son, Jeffrey Henson of Clarendon; a daughter, Suzzette Williams and husband Myles of Frisco; a sister, Deanna McCleskey of Denton; three grandchildren, Shelbie Germany, Copeland Williams, Emmalyn Henson; three great grandchildren Hailey Germany, Braxton Germany, and Layken Germany.
Family request memorials to be made to The First United Methodist Church PO Box 157 Clarendon, Texas 79226.
J.T. “Tack” Moreland
J.T. “Tack” Moreland, 93, of Lowell, Arkansas died Wednesday, December 15, 2021 in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Services were held on December 20, 2021, in Robertson Funeral Directors Saints’ Roost Chapel in Clarendon with Masonic Rites by Clarendon Masonic Lodge. Private burial will follow in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.
Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
J.T. “Tack” Moreland or “Papaw” to his great grandsons, was a proud mason, hardworking business man who served in the US Navy during World War II on the USS Fall River. He raised two sons with his wife of 72 years, Bernese Moreland. He ran a chain of gas stations, and was a regional distributor for Speedy Mart. He enjoyed hunting with his grandkids and going to the lake. Fishing and hunting with his friend, Dean Garmin. Tack and Bernese loved to travel all over. Too many places to name their favorite trips. More recently, he enjoyed the simpler things. He enjoyed having his Dr. Pepper’s, Hershey bars, watching Jeopardy, and learning how to play Xbox games with his great grandsons.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his sons, Ernest Meral Moreland and John Thomas Moreland; and several brothers and sisters.
He is survived by his wife, Susie “Bernese” Moreland; 3 grandsons, Jason Moreland wife Tory, Eric Moreland and wife Dawn, and Dagon Moreland and wife Melissa; his great grandsons, Hayden, Hunter, Wyatt, and Marshall; and several nieces and nephews.
Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com
Don McQuien
Don McQuien, 69, of Howardwick died Saturday, December 18, 2021, in Amarillo.
Memorial services will be 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 29, 2021, at the Clarendon Country Club with Greta Byars, officiating.
Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Donald Ross McQuien, Jr. was born November 7, 1952, in Lamesa to Lavelta June and Donald Ross McQuien, Sr. He married Joyce Elaine Fickling on July 10, 1980, in Big Spring, Texas.
He was a US Army veteran serving for 3 years. He retired from AT&T in 2008 after working 20 plus years. He had been a resident of Howardwick since 1994 where he loved fixing things around the house, and helping his neighbors. He loved his family, enjoyed life, and will be dearly missed.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and his brothers, Vin and Greg McQuien.
He is survived by his wife Joyce McQuien; his son, Kyle McQuien; his daughter, Kelsey Douglas and son in law, Austin; his grandchildren, Connor Douglas and Macklin Douglas; his sister, Amy Howden; 3 nieces, 2 nephews, 1 great niece, 2 great nephews, and a brother in law, Terry Fickling.
Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com
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