Obituaries

Jimmy Lynn Garland, 84, of Goodnight passed away on Thursday, March 16, 2023, in Amarillo.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 20, 2023, at 10:30 AM at First Baptist Church of Clarendon with Rev. Lance Wood officiating. Burial will follow in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.

Viewing will be held at the funeral home in Clarendon on Sunday, March 19th from 1:00 – 6:00 PM with family receiving friends from 4:00 – 6:00 PM.

Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Jimmy was born on August 14, 1938, in Goodnight to AJ and Alberta (Reed) Garland. He started working at the young age of 9 working cattle. He attended Goodnight High School and graduated from Clarendon High School. He was also a graduate of Clarendon JR College and Sul Ross University. He served in the National Guard. He was a farmer and rancher most of his life. He obtained his Realtor Broker license in 1970. He started to work at First National Bank of Memphis. He later worked at First National Bank of Amarillo as a cattle inspector. He started at First Bank & Trust of Clarendon in 1981. He opened Pilgrim’s Bank in 1998 until his retirement in 2000. He then did his Realty business full time. He actually closed his last deal in February 2023.

His hobbies were hunting, birddogs, shooting sports( trap, skeet, sporting clays). He enjoyed traveling to places to shoot and made life long friendships. He enjoyed watching his grandchildren grow up and his great grand child grow up.

Jimmy is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Audrey Beth Garland; and brother, Marion Dave Garland.

He is survived by his son, Stan Garland of Quanah; daughter, Twanna Kiker and husband, Richie, of Allison; grandson, Matt Kiker and wife, Kinsey, of Allison; granddaughter, Kaylynn Kerns and husband, Matt, of Kansas City, MO; great-grandson, Keegan Kiker; nephew, Allen Garland and wife, Neyra, of Dumas; niece, Kelly Strawn and husband, Duane, of Mansfield; as well as numerous great nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Clarendon Masonic Lodge #700, PO Box 932, Clarendon, TX, 79226.

Sign our online guest book at www.robertsonfuneral.com.

Retired architect Kent Derelle Rattan, 71, died Oct. 17, 2022, in his Buena Vista, Va., home.

The son of Dennis Meral Rattan of Quitaque, Texas, and Toni Ethelyn (nee McBrayer) Rattan of Memphis, Texas, and younger brother of Ronald Rattan, Kent was born Feb. 28, 1951, at Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo, Texas.

The Rattans lived in Amarillo where Kent spent the first few years of primary school at Alice Landergin Elementary School. The family briefly moved to Springdale, Ark., where Kent attended Springdale Elementary School. The Rattans then settled in Clarendon, Texas, where Dennis started his own successful TV repair and cable management shop, Rattan TV. The family was a member of the local Baptist church, which instilled in
Kent the importance of God’s love that he would carry with him throughout his life.

As a child in Clarendon, Kent played baseball, directed plays in the local community theater, and attended Sunday school. Kent showed an early talent for academics, graduating from Clarendon Junior High School as Salutatorian. Kent graduated from Clarendon High School as the Class of 1969 Valedictorian and was president of the local National Honor Society chapter as well as the Spanish Club.

After high school, Kent accepted a scholarship to Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, where he graduated cum laude in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. After college, Kent taught at a prep school in Little Rock, Ark.,
and then pursued his graduate studies at the University of Texas, Austin, earning his Master of Architecture in 1983. Between 1983 and 1986, Kent lived and worked as an architect in Dallas, San Antonio, and Little Rock. In 1986, he moved to Bethesda, Md., where he worked as a Senior Project Manager at Marriott International.

Kent met Nicki A. Miller, of Erie, Pa., at the American Institute for Architects in Washington, DC. On March 25th, 1989, Kent and Nicki married. Together they raised their four children, Sean M. Porterfield, Julia R. Porterfield,
Elizabeth S. Rattan, and Claire H. Rattan in Frederick, Md. Kent remained with Marriott from 1986 until 1998, and then accepted a construction management and design position at Sodexo USA from 1998 to 2005. In 2005, the Rattan family moved to Austin, Texas, where Kent launched his own business, Design Services Plus, Inc. as the President and Project Director, using his project management and design skills for architecture projects. In 2011, Kent and Nicki moved to Buena Vista, Va., where Kent based his business until 2019, when he retired.

In his free time, Kent enjoyed fly fishing, hiking, traveling, playing the harmonica, making bad jokes, staying on top of current affairs, reading travel novels and British comedy, and spending time with family, friends, and pets.

He leaves behind his children: son Sean Porterfield, of Frederick, Md., and daughters Julia Porterfield of Baltimore, Md.; Elizabeth Rattan of Philadelphia, Pa.; and Claire Rattan of Staunton, Va.; older brother –
Dennis Ronald Rattan and sister-in-law Pam Rattan of Austin, Texas; nephew Brandon Rattan of San Francisco, Calif.; niece Jessica Fetzer of Houston, Texas; as well as ‘brothers’ Larry Springer of New Braunfels, Texas; and Nathan Noble of Alexandria, Va. Nicki A. Miller, his spouse of 33 years, died on Nov. 28, 2022.

A graveside memorial service for Kent will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 22, 2023 at Citizens Cemetery, SH 70, Clarendon, Texas.

Sam Shelley, 72, of Clarendon died Sunday, March 5, 2023, in Clarendon.

Rosary was said on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, in Robertson Funeral Directors Saints’ Roost Chapel in Clarendon. Mass was celebrated on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, in St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Clarendon with Rev. Arokia Raj Samala, as the celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Clarendon.

Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Sam was born November 22, 1950, in Amarillo to Francis and Samuel Shelley. He married Leitha Martin on August 20, 1977, in Tucumcari, New Mexico. He worked as an airplane mechanic for many years prior to his retirement. Sam loved cooking, fishing, swimming, taking trips with his family, and the outdoors. He also loved helping people. He had been a resident of Clarendon since 1992 and was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife in 2016; and a sister, Cindy Malone.

He is survived by his sons, Sam Shelley, III and wife Roxy of Lubbock and Jeremy Shelley and wife Jamie of Clarendon; his daughters, Luichi Shelley of Amarillo, Samara Shelley and Nicky Shelley both of Clarendon; a sister, Cathy Penn of Amarillo; 13 grandchildren; and 5 great grandchildren.

Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com

Charles Paul Brown, 86, of Dumas died Saturday, March 4, 2023, in Dumas.

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 9, 2023, in Robertson Saints’ Roost Chapel in Clarendon. Burial will follow in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.

Viewing will be Wednesday at the funeral home with family receiving friends for visitation from 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Charles was born January 20, 1937, in Wellington to Ross and Ellen Gossett Brown. He married Barbara Gail Hewett on June 27, 1958, in Clarendon. Charles served our country in the US Navy. He had been a longtime resident of Amarillo before moving to Dumas four years ago. He had worked for City Machine and Welding as Vice President for 18 years prior to his retirement. He enjoyed working in the yard and outside, wood working, and remodeling his daughter’s house. He also loved his pets and hunting. Charles was a member of the Masonic Lodge.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Barbara in 2009; three brothers, Leroy Brown, Ray Brown, and Troy Brown; and a sister, Margaret Leffew.

He is survived by his daughter, Angela Blackshear and husband Brandon of Dumas; his brothers, Tommy Brown and wife Elma of Fort Worth and Mack Brown of Borger; his sister, Jo Ward and husband Dal of Flower Mound; two grandsons, Tyler Borron and Chad Borron both of Dumas; a step grandson, Ryan Blackshear and wife Brittney of Dumas; his step great grandchildren, Chloe and Braun; and several nieces and nephews.

The family request memorials be sent to Dumas Memorial Hospice.

Kensy Robyn Morrow, 38, of Clarendon died Friday, February 24, 2023, in Dallas.

Graveside services will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 28, 2023, in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon. Viewing will held Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Kensy was born September 13, 1984 ,in Honduras to Earl B. and Sharyn Bruce Morrow. She had been a lifetime resident of Clarendon and was a 2003 graduate of Clarendon High School. She had worked for several years at the Clarendon Outpost, where she always had a smile for every customer. Kensy was very talented and was a great artist and she loved to draw and paint. She also enjoyed laughing all the time. Kensy loved life, her kids, her family, her dogs, her friends, and her classmates. She always supported her kids and backed them in everything they did.

She is preceded in death by her father, Earl B. Morrow; and a sister, Delease Kilgore.

Survivors include her mother, Sharyn Morrow of Clarendon; her kids, Coltyn Campbell of Abernathy, Alexis Phiilips and Xander Phillips both of Clarendon; her brothers, Micheal Morrow of Clarendon and Ryan Murphy of California; her sisters, Dorothy Burkhalter of Amarillo, Kelly Ellis of Arizona, and Tracy Morrow of Amarillo; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com

Billy Cathell Gardner, 61, of Clarendon died Tuesday, February 14, 2023, in Amarillo.

Funeral Services were held at 10:00 AM Saturday, February 18, 2023, at the First Baptist Church in Clarendon. Burial followed in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.

Viewing was held at the funeral home on Friday, February 17.

Arrangements were by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Billy was born in Clarendon, Tx to Billy Mack and Doris (Smith) Gardner on June 6, 1961. He graduated from Clarendon High School and attended Clarendon College. Billy was a retired juvenile probation officer. He married Nadine Terrell Gardner on June 23, 1993 in Clarendon. He was a longtime resident of Clarendon and attended the True Church of God in Christ.

Billy deeply loved watching football and cheering on his favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys. He also enjoyed fishing, although his family cannot recall him actually catching any. Billy also liked to work out and was always up for a game of dominoes.

He was preceded in death by his father, Billy Mack Gardner; son-in-law, Brylon Bradic; and grandson, Emerson Cota.

Survivors include his wife, Nadine Terrell Gardner of Brownwood; mother, Doris Gardner of Clarendon; 3 daughters, Nicole Terrell (Joseph) of Plainview, Shantel Terrell of Plainview, and Doris Ellis of Fort Riley, KS; brother, Stanley Gardner (Corliss) of Dallas; 2 sisters, Angelia Miller (Richard) of Plainview, and Jacquline Jackson (Dean) of DeSoto; 8 grandchildren, Joseph, LaKia, Zabrin, LaTrey, LanZell, Heiress, Chancellor, and Allaya; as well as numerous extended family, cousins, and friends.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be sent to the Trisomy 18 Foundation.
Sign our online guest book at www.robertsonfuneral.com.

Wilma Ruby Lahr Kyle was born in Hedley, March 28, 1926, the 2nd youngest of nine children to Chalmer and Lydia Isabel Kyle. Her parents came from Oklahoma in a covered wagon during the Dust Bowl times. They stopped in Hedley because it was raining. While there, her papa looked around and rented a farm, and did share cropping. As a young girl she picked cotton in the Texas fields with her family.

Wilma was born in a one room house, as the 8th child born. Her younger sister, Velma, also born in Hedley in 1928. She attended school in Clarendon, one room, called Bairfield School House. She was the only one in her grade, with only five children attending, two of them her sisters. The schoolhouse was relocated to Lubbock, Texas as a museum. Just before WWI, the family moved to Amarillo, about 1940. All four of her brothers went into the service.

They were only supposed to be gone a year, and she recalls a song, “I’ll be back in a year lil darling, don’t you worry, don’t you cry, I’ll be back in a year.” But of course, it was years before they all made it back. She graduated from Amarillo High School, in 1945, and later went to business school to be a secretary and learn shorthand. Her first job was at Kraft Cheese.

Wilma was raised as a God-fearing Baptist girl who continued to love God and family her entire life. She attended Buchanan Baptist Church of Amarillo, where she met and later married Robert John Lahr, an army medic veteran in WWII. They had four children together, the first three born in Amarillo and the last one in Los Angeles, Calif. They went back and forth from California to Texas until they finally settled in Calif. in 1955. Wilma lived in California until 1994 when she traveled back home to Texas with her daughter and be near her sister. They settled in Fort Worth, and remained there until the time of her death, January 22, 2023.

She was a homemaker for the first 25 years of her marriage raising her four children. She then worked as a secretary, bookkeeper until she retired in 1993.

She lived a fulfilled live, leaving a legacy with her four children, Timothy, Esther, Elizabeth & Dawn, and 32 grandchildren and great grandchildren. She continued to love God and family her whole life. She never missed a day reading her Bible or praying for her family.

She is survived by her younger sister, Velma Kyle Gilliam.

The memorial service will be graveside at Rowe Cemetery in Hedley. The cemetery was originally a garden in a rancher’s homestead. It was later donated and established in 1892. Her great grandmother Aldecka Bradley was buried there in 1929, and her older Sister Augusta Latimer in 1996. Hedley is where Wilma, “Grandma” as she was fondly called by everyone, wanted her final resting place. The family will meet there to celebrate her 97th birthday in March.

Ray Steele, 76, of Memphis died Sunday, January 22, 2023, in Amarillo.

Services will be 1:00 p.m. Thursday, January 26, 2023 in the First Baptist Church in Memphis with Rev. Daniel Downey, officiating. Burial will follow in Silverton Cemetery in Silverton.

Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Memphis.

Ray was born July 20, 1946, in Tulia, Texas to J.R. and Jeanetta Jean Stites Steele. Ray, a numismatist, owned a successful rare coin shop in a popular mall in Anchorage, Alaska. In addition to his coin shop, he owned a fruit stand in Hedley and ran cattle for a number of years. Besides being an avid rare coin collector, Ray enjoyed skeet shooting, playing pool, bowling, and working with antique furniture. His greatest pleasures were spending time with his family and visiting his daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter in Florida. He also volunteered at Senior Citizens for several years. Ray was an avid member of the First Baptist Church in Memphis.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Connie Steele.

He is survived by his daughter Toni Futrell and husband Benji and his granddaughter Kira of Debary, Florida; his sisters, Kim Jeffrey and husband Bill of Hedley and Joanne Garcia of Bull Head City, Arizona.

If you’d like to send a donation in lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com

Connie McAnear Sparks, 63, of Clarendon died Wednesday, January 11, 2023, in Amarillo.

Services were held on Monday, January 16, 2023, in the Community Fellowship Church in Clarendon with Pastor Seth Shipman and Pastor Seth Seale, officiating. Burial followed in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.

Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Connie was born November 9, 1959, in Rupert Falls, Idaho to Samuel and Mary McAnear. She grew up in Clarendon and was a graduate of Clarendon High School. She started working as secretary at the Texas Saddlery, before starting a 30 plus year career taking care of “her boys” as secretary at the Dept. of Public Safety, until her retirement in 2015. She was a resident of Clarendon for most of her life, until she married the love of her life Tony Sparks on Aug. 25, 2007. They enjoyed the beginning of their life together in Clarendon before moving to the 6666 Ranch near Borger, Texas. There she became a full-time ranch wife and eventually began cooking for the cowboys and sewing for the 6666 Supply Store in Guthrie, Texas. Connie and Tony recently moved back to Clarendon to sit back and begin enjoying the retired life.

Connie had lots of hobbies through the years. She loved to crochet and cross stitch; she loved to sew and quilt for family and friends from young to old. She loved being in the kitchen cooking meals for family and was excited to get back to cooking for her church family. Connie was a bright light to everyone and a beacon to more people than she could ever comprehend, her smile and kindness will be missed by many.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her husband, Tony Sparks of Clarendon; her daughters, Dawn McAnear and husband Thomas Vail of Houston, Johnnie Ova and husband Chris and Jamee Emo and husband Danny all of Paola, Kansas; her brother, Stuart McAnear of Clarendon; her grandchildren, Chase, Harley, CynRah, Zaylee, Zion,

Ezra, Juniper, and one on the way; and her church friends, friends, and extended family.

The family request memorials be sent to the Calvary Baptist Church in Clarendon.

Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com

Wanda Sibley Root, 86, of Canyon, passed away on Monday, January 9, 2023. Graveside services were held on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at Dreamland Cemetery in Canyon with Rev. Gene Jones officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Brooks Funeral Directors.

Wanda was born on October 28, 1936, in the Martin Community near Clarendon in Donley County. She attended school in a one room schoolhouse in the Martin Community until the sixth grade. She then attended school in Clarendon and was a graduate of Clarendon High School and Clarendon Junior College. Wanda married Harold Root on January 13, 1964, in the First Baptist Church parlor in Amarillo with her uncle, Spencer Sibley, officiating.

Wanda was Harold’s partner in every aspect of living. She was the office manager and partner with Harold in the H. Root Company for 59 years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Canyon and the Randall County Historical Commission. She enjoyed word search puzzles, crocheting, and was a wonderful cook. She was very quick-witted, and one seldom got the last word with her. Wanda’s greatest joy was her family, and she loved attending the many activities of her grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, JoAnne Brown.

She is survived by her husband of almost 59 years, Harold Root of Canyon; her daughter, Gena Richardson and husband, Jerry of Canyon; her son, Dan Root and wife, Natalie of Canyon; four grandchildren, Kristen Flowers and husband, Darren of Canyon, Ben Barrett of Berlin, Germany, and Ripley Root and Jaidyn Root of Canyon; two great grandchildren, Leah and Koen Flowers; nephew, Richard Benton of Clarendon; as well as beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends.

The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity.