Obituaries

Sandra E. “Sandy” Stephens, 57, of Burnet, passed away Friday, July 29, 2011, at her residence.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, August 4, 2011, in Hill Country Fellowship, 200 Clinton Dr., Burnet, with Bro. Doug Lindley, officiating. Interment to follow at Lakeland Hills Memorial Park in Burnet.

She was born July 25, 1954, in Madera, California to Vincent Jack David and Erma Jean Peacock David,
She attended school in Pampa. She was employed in the Landscaping/Bobcat construction business. She was an accomplished doll maker and had a extensive doll collection.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Jean Brobst; father, Vincent J. David; brothers, Dale Hunt, Vincent David Jr., and Steve David; and a step-son, Levi Stephens.

Survivors include her husband whom she married in 2004, Ronald Stephens; a daughter, Melissa Lucero; sons James Edwards, Bobby Sheeds, and Daniel Sheeds; a step-son, Aron Stephens; a step-daughter, Misty Stephens; grandchildren, Erika, Devin, Essy, Ryan, Jamie, Sandie, Trey, J.D., AmyAnne, Daniel Jr., and Christopher; a sister, Darlene Hunt; and brothers, Jack David and Milton David.

Judith Ann Crow, 54, of Howardwick died Friday, July 22, 2011.

Graveside services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 28, 2011 in the Alanreed Cemetery in Alanreed.

Ms. Crow was born on October 21, 1956, in Groom, Texas to Anna and Harold Crow. She graduated from Palo Duro High School. Ms. Crow had worked at Levis Strauss as a presser for 14 years.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Anna.

She is survived by her father, Harold Crow and wife Cathy, of Greenville, TX; two sisters, Deana Crow and Rhonda Jaramillo and husband Tom, all of Howardwick; one brother, David Crow of Valley de Oro, TX; and one nephew, Kaleb Crow of Amarillo.

James Wendell Kirby, 76, died July 2, 2011 in Muldrow, OK.

Services were held Wednesday, July 6 at Roland Church of Christ in Roland, OK, with Dr. Phil Smith officiating. Interment was held at the Akins Cemetery in Sallisaw, OK. Active pallbearers were Chris O’Bryant, John O’Bryant, Brad O’Bryant, Sean Reilly, Bryan Reilly, Joey Paquette, Andrew Paquette, and Christian Casey.

James was born January 21, 1935 in Olustee, OK to Amos and Louise Blair Kirby. He married Peggy Robinson in December 3, 1960 in Elko, Nevada. He was a retired ranch and oil rig worker. He is preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Peggy; daughters Terri O’Bryant of San Antonio, Anne Reilly of The Woodlands; Kristy Paquette of Cleveland, OK, and Jenni Casey of Greenwood, AR; sister Wanda Beddingfield of Clarendon; and one brother and sister in law, Lloyd and Mary Kirby of Alma, AR.

Theola Leeper, 76, died Wednesday, July 6, 2011 in Clarendon.

Services were held Saturday, July 9, in Robertson Funeral Directors Saints Roost Chapel in Clarendon with Rev. Darrell Burton, officiating. Internment was held at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon. Arrangements were held at Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Theola was born April 11, 1935, in Groom to Theo & Minnie Johnson Noble. She married Lloyd Leeper on October 7, 1953, in Clovis, New Mexico. She had been a resident of Clarendon for fifty-two years where she had worked at the Sandell Drive In and the old Mulkey Theater and was known for her delicious hamburgers. She had also worked for several years in the Cafeteria at Clarendon ISD. She was a past member of the Clarendon Jaycettes & First Church of the Nazarene in Clarendon. She was known as Nana to her loving grandchildren and several others.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lloyd in 1995; and her son, Bobby Ray.

Survivors include her daughter, Nita Ellis and husband Steve of Clarendon; her son, Michael Leeper and wife Teresa of Arvada, CO; her daughter in law, Lacreta Leeper Watson of Amarillo; her grandchildren, Neil

Leeper and wife Catrina of Pampa, Nika Roser and husband Cole of Tucson, AZ, Tara Hutaff and husband Jeremy of Arvada, CO, Jeff Leeper and wife Melissa of Germany, Holly Leeper of Thailand, Chad Ellis and wife Kerri of Shamrock, Keena Ellis Jimenez and husband Hugo of Clarendon, and Jaclyn Benson and husband Robert of Clarendon; her great grandchildren, Kelsi and Toby Leeper, Cole and Jason Roser, Brylee Ellis, Grace Hutaff, Korban, Ian, and Sophie Leeper, Dalton, Jade, Colton, and Madi Benson.

The family requests that memorials be sent to the Donley County Senior Citizens or a favorite charity.

Robert Olin Bain 75, of Wilburton passed away Wednesday, June 21, 2011, at his home in Wilburton. Memorial services were Saturday, June 25, 2011 at Jones-Harkins Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Kevin Fitzgerald officiating. Burial will be at Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Wilburton, OK.

Robert was born July 13, 1935, in Clarendon. He was the son of Olin and Martha Baskerville Bain. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Wilburton where he served as Lay Pastor. He was raised in West Texas and got to Oklahoma just as fast as he could. He was Salutatorian of the 1953 class at Clarendon High School.

Robert was in the U.S. Army and in 1955 he was stationed in Korea for 16 months. He was also stationed in Kansas and Arizona. Robert went to college at Panhandle State in Goodwell and Southwestern University in Weatherford earning his Master’s degree in Education. While attending college he worked various jobs. After earning his degree he started his teaching career teaching at Yukon High School for three years and in 1970 moved to Wilburton to teach at Eastern Oklahoma State College. He later was employed by Kiamichi Economic Development District of Oklahoma (KEDDO) working several years in a variety of different programs before becoming the Executive Director. He retired in 2000 from KEDDO.
After his retirement from KEDDO, Robert worked for the Wilburton Chamber of Commerce, Eastern Oklahoma State College, Panola Public School, Wilburton Housing Authority and Wilburton Public Schools.

Robert was also an avid volunteer participating with Kiwanis Club, Robbers Cave Fall Festival Committee, Wilburton Main Street, Wilburton Chamber of Commerce, Ministerial Alliance and the Latimer County Free Clinic.

Survivors include his wife Kay of the home, one son Scott Bain of Wilburton, Okla., and one daughter and son-in-law Leigh and Danny Baldwin of Wilburton, Okla., five grandchildren; Jake Blackwood, Misty Blackwood Hampton and husband Tony, Kelly Baldwin Franklin and husband Broc, Cody and Eldon Bain; five great grandchildren; Alyssa Blackwood, Haley and Kristie Blackwood, Lane and Drey Franklin.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Bliss Bain, son John Todd Bain and his in-laws George and Lois Schollenbarger.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Harrel Lee Kennedy, Chester Dennis, John Cook, Rob Reager, Gerald Foster and Joe Conley

Arrangements are entrusted to Jones-Harkins Funeral Home, Wilburton, Okla.

Burton Dale Ayers, 74, died Friday, May 27, 2011, in Rio Rancho, NM.

An informal celebration of life gathering for family and friends was held Saturday at Holiday Inn Express South, 6701 Hollywood Road in Amarillo. Arrangements were by French Funerals and Cremation of Albuquerque.

Dale was born Nov. 28, 1936, in Donley County to Clarence and Grace Ayers. He graduated in 1955 from Lelia Lake High School in Lelia Lake, Texas, and in 1965 from West Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in education.

Dale taught school and served as principal at Lelia Lake schools. He also was in the
National Guard.

Dale retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, where he traveled the United States, establishing schools on reservations. He then worked with Maloy Mobile Storage.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Grace Ayers; his wife, Sue Wesson Ayers; and a brother, Joe Ayers.

Survivors include two sons, Greg Ayers and wife Trina and Mike Ayers and wife Nikki; three grandchildren, Alex, Connor and Jack; a brother, Ralph Ayers and wife Bonnie; two sisters, Lola Marie Gardener and Marilyn Swindle and husband Ted; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be to Alzheimer’s Association of New Mexico, 9500 N.E. Montgomery Blvd., Suite 121, Albuquerque, NM 87111.