Obituaries

David Patterson, 75, of Canyon died Friday, November 19, 2010.

Services were held at 10 a.m. Monday in First United Methodist Church in Canyon with the Rev. John McClean officiating. Burial was in Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Arrangements were by Brooks Funeral Directors.

David Patterson was born July 29, 1935, in Doyle, Okla., to John and Clara Burton Patterson. He was a graduate of Groom High School and then graduated from West Texas State University.

He completed his graduate work at Oklahoma University and did additional graduate work at Texas A&M University. He married Jackie Estlack on November 11, 1956, in Clarendon. He taught school in Hereford from 1960 to 1964 and was a professor of Mathematics at WTSU for 31 years, retiring in 1995.

David was a veteran of the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He loved antique cars, bluegrass and country music and enjoyed traveling.

He was the founder of Panhandle Council of Car Clubs and was a member of Amarillo Antique Auto Club, Early V-8 Ford Club, Studebaker Club, Porsche Club and First United Methodist Church.

He founded the Make-A-Wish Car Show in Amarillo which has been held annually for 27 years now and has raised $2 million for the Children’s Make-A-Wish Foundation.He will be remembered for his great sense of humor.

Survivors include his wife, Jackie; a daughter, Marcella Cropper and husband Chris of Fort Worth; a grandson, James Wilson, of Fort Worth; two sisters, Shirley Sustaire and husband T.C., and Charlotte Aldy and husband Roy, all of Groom; his mother-in-law, Ruby Estlack of Clarendon; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family suggests memorials to Meals on Wheels, 2616 13th Ave., Canyon, TX 79015; Make-A-Wish Foundation, 411 S. Fillmore St., Amarillo, TX 79101; High Plains Food Bank, 815 Ross St., Amarillo, TX 79102; or a favorite charity.

Billie Ruth Gaines-Law, 66, died Thursday, November 18, 2010, in Clarendon.

Services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, November 21, 2010, at the First Baptist Church in Clarendon with Elder Jeff Riles, Elder Roy Williams, Elder Harry Williams, and Elder Ella Bowser, officiating. Interment followed in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon. Services were under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Billie Ruth was born August 3, 1944, in Gilmer, Texas, to Leroy Lee and Rosie Lee Childs Wilson. She married Alton Gaines, Sr., on August 23, 1962, in Clarendon.

She has been a lifelong resident of Clarendon where she worked at Western Skies and Lowe‘s. She loved her family, was a dedicated mother and grandmother, and was known as the neighborhood mom. She loved gardening and all else that God blessed her with. She was a member of the True Church of God in Christ in Clarendon.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her stepfather; her husband, Alton Gaines, Sr. on April 25, 1974; her son, Ben Gaines; and three sisters.

Survivors include her six sons, Alton Gaines, Jr., and wife Gina of Clarendon, Johnnie Gaines of Clarendon, Danny Gaines and wife Angie of Clarendon, Randy Gaines of Amarillo, Brent Gaines and wife Tasha of Amarillo, and Richard Gaines of Clarendon; her daughter, Glenda Wilson and husband Billy of Clarendon; her brother, Dale Childs of Amarillo; five sisters, Dorothy Hawthorne and Othella Bowie, both of Amarillo, Norma Lee and Estella Mae both of Orange County, Texas, and Carolyn Polk of Amarillo; 21 grandchildren; and several great grandchildren.

Graveside services for George Keith “Butch” Schollenbarger, a 70 year-old Clarendon and Howardwick resident were held at 2 p.m. Thursday, November 4, 2010, in the Darrouzett Cemetery in Darrouzett. Pastor Gary McDonald officiated with services are under the direction of Good Samaritan Funeral Service of Booker.

George Keith “Butch” was born on September 13, 1940, in Perryton to William George and Eloise (Roper) Schollenbarger. The family owned a laundry service on the Air Base in Liberal, Kan., until Butch was five, then the family moved to Clarendon. Butch graduated from Clarendon High School and right after became a “Wheatie,” traveling to different areas custom cutting wheat.

After his time cutting wheat, Butch worked for GTE as a lineman. He retired from Santa Fe Railroad, owned and operated Bob’s Video stores, and retired from The Department of Public Safety as a safety inspector.

Throughout Butch’s life and careers it was golf that brought him the most enjoyment. Butch was a member of the Clarendon Country Club, had served as the Golf Pro at Sycamore Springs Golf Course in Wilburton, Okla., and had owned Butch’s Golf Goodies.

Butch had at least one confirmed hole-in-one, and was always sharing stories of playing with professional golfer Lee Trevino.

Butch passed away on October 31, 2010, at his home in Howardwick and is preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include a son Chris Schollenbarger and wife Teresa of Clarendon; a daughter Connie Sprang and husband Walter of San Antonio; a sister Kay Bain and husband Robert of Wilburton, Okla.; a grandson Lucas Longan of Lubbock; a nephew Scott Bain; and a niece Leigh Baldwin and husband Danny.

The family requests memorial donations be to the Darrouzett Cemetery Fund in care of Good Samaritan Funeral Service P.O. Box 341 Booker, TX 79005.

Cora Vanell Littlefield, 74, died Thursday, October 21, 2010, in Clarendon.

Services were held at 10 a.m. Monday, October 25, 2010, at the Church of Christ in Clarendon with Chris Moore, Minister, and Sam Line, Minister of the Groom Church of Christ, officiating. Interment followed at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon. Services were under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Cora was born on November 25, 1935, in Groom to Barry and Grace M. Posey James.  She married Doyle R. Littlefield on January 24, 1954, in Groom.  She had been a lifetime resident of Donley County.  She was a wonderful seamstress, quilter, and caretaker.  She loved her family dearly and enjoyed family camping trips. While rocking grandkids, she taught each of them at a young age to sing “Jesus Loves Me”. She was a faithful member of the Church of Christ in Clarendon.   

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Eldred James and Ike James; two sisters, Lyndell Poindexter and Rosa Lee Lehnick.

Survivors include her husband, Doyle R. Littlefield of Clarendon; her son, Ricky Littlefield and wife Daphne, of Beaver, Okla.; three daughters, Tollene Owen and husband George of Amarillo, Vanell Stevenson and husband Jim of Clarendon, and Betty Watson and husband Larry of Washburn; four sisters, Floreda Neal, Verda Lee Littlefield, Elizabeth Crites, and Nelda Meissner; 10 grandchildren; and 13 great grandchildren.
Casket bearers were her grandsons.

The family requests that memorials be to the Navaho Nation, in care of Clarendon Church of Christ, PO Box 861, Clarendon, TX  79226.