Obituaries

Lee Ann Palmer Beverly, 58, died Friday, March 19, 2010, in Dallas.
Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 26, 2010, in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Rev. Nancy Ruff, officiating. Services are under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Lee Ann was born on January 22, 1952, to Herschel Lee and Ann Pinkney Varble Palmer in Borger. She was raised in Clarendon and graduated from Clarendon High School in 1970. She married Charles Beverly on March 10, 1974, in Clarendon. She then moved to Garland in 1974 where she had been residing until her death.  She was a Presbyterian. 

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Survivors include her husband, Charles Beverly of Garland; her stepmother, Betty Palmer of Amarillo; a brother, Ward Palmer of Amarillo; and several nieces and nephews.

The family requests that memorials be to Kids Inc. of Amarillo.

Marti Blassingame (formerly Ruth Annirene Martin) died on March 14, 2010, at Paris Regional Medical Center.

She was born July 25, 1946, in Clarendon, Texas to Clyde “Shine” Martin and Nadine Haile-Martin. She married Jackie E. Blassingame on February 14, 1976, and he adopted her two daughters from a previous marriage. Together they had a son.

Mourning her loss are her husband Jackie Blassingame; two daughters, Keli Argo and husband Alan, and Toni Blassingame; her son Casey Blassingame and wife Lacy; three grandsons Christian Vargo, Isaac Vargo, Lochlann Blassingame; her granddaughter, Kieran Blassingame; her sister, Betty Lane and husband David of Clarendon; and her brother Clyde Martin and wife Lindell of Cortez, Colo.

Memorial services will not be held, as she donated her body to the Southwestern Medical Center of Dallas, Texas. Family and friends are welcome at her home at 2235 Briarwood Dr. Paris, Texas 75460, at any time. Phone calls are also welcome at 903-785-3776.

Memorial donations may be sent to the American Diabetes Association at P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, Virginia 22312, or by visiting http://www.diabetes.org.

Pauline “Polly” Vanderburg Arnold died March 13, 2010. 

A graveside service and burial was held at Fairview Cemetery in Pampa, on March 17 at 4:00 p.m.
She was born November 25, 1919 in Pampa, Texas to J.B. ‘Ben’ and Allie Barrett.  She married W.F. “Van” Vanderburg from 1936 until his death in 1969.  She married Grover Arnold in 1983. Polly was a member of First Baptist Church, Dallas since 1963 and was devoted to her love for God, family, and friends.  You could not know her without being touched by the passion she had for these commitments in her life. 

She is survived by her husband Grover Arnold, daughters Paula Jo Johnson, Debbie Dufford, Denese Johnson; siblings Floyd Barrett, Doris Bateman, and Raymond Barrett.  Seven grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren, and countless other family members provide a long legacy of her life.

Notes of encouragement are welcomed, but the family has requested, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Annie Armstrong (home) or Lottie Moon (foreign) missions of First Baptist Church, Dallas in memory of Polly Vanderburg Arnold.

R.O. Johnson, 87, died March 4, 2010, in Amarillo.
Services were held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 9, 2010, at Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel, with Pastor Paul Nachtigall of Highland Baptist Church, officiating.

Entombment was held at Memory Gardens Mausoleum with military honors courtesy U. S. Air Force, Atlus, Oklahoma. Arrangements were under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors.

Mr. Johnson was born November 7, 1922 in Kelton, to A. C. and Minnie Johnson, and had been a lifelong resident of Pampa. He entered the U. S. Air Force in 1942, training in Oklahoma, Missouri, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia and New Jersey. He served in England, France and Germany during World War II. He was awarded GC, ETO, Victory and ATO ribbons, 4 battle stars and the meritorious service plaque. He was Sgt. At the time of his discharge in 1946. R. O. married Billie Ruth Ray in January 31, 1947 in Shamrock. He was an employee of Cabot Corporation for 38 years, retiring in 1984. He enjoyed wood working, fixing odds and ends, and loved to golf.

He was preceded in death by his parents: A. C. and Minnie Johnson; a son, Gary Ray Johnson; and a sister, Rena May Sivage.

Survivors include his wife, Billie Johnson of the home; his daughter, Sharon Jochetz and husband Tommy of Clarendon; daughter-in-law: Annette Johnson of Hamshire; six grandchildren: Jeremy Jochetz and wife Dombie of Amarillo, Angela Monroe and husband Jeremy, and Ashley Jochetz and husband Frederick Cooley, all of Clarendon, Tabatha Hale and husband Doug of Beaumont, and Garrett Ray Johnson and Santa Fe Johnson, both of Hamshire; six great-grandchildren; brother-in-law: Donnie Ray and wife Shirley of Pampa; sister-in-law: Winnie Vinyard of Shamrock; many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks memorials be made to a favorite charity.

Garre Reed, 62, of Amarillo died Monday, March 1, 2010.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Friday in Cox-LaGrone Funeral Home Benton Chapel, 4180 Canyon Drive, with the Rev. Chris Downer, pastor of Bible Baptist Church of Tahoka, officiating. Burial followed in Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Mr. Reed was born May 14, 1947, in Memphis to Kenneth Rex Reed and Billlie Jo LaGrone Reed. He was raised in Amarillo and Canyon, and graduated from Caprock High School in 1966. He worked in food sales for Artic and Kraft Foods for many years. He also owned and operated Reed’s Bar-B-Que in Dallas for several years. He lived at the Canyon Country Club, where he was very active for many years prior to moving to Dallas. Garre loved the Dallas area because fishing, cooking and the Dallas Cowboys were his favorite pastimes. In recent years, he had devoted his life to his daughter and son-in-law and his grandchildren and all their activities. He was an excellent salesman and earned many awards through the years. He had a gift of communication for sharing stories and jokes like no other. Garre was an expert cook and loved to cook for his family and friends. He was dearly loved and will be deeply missed by all his family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include a daughter, Kimberly Miller and husband Daniel of Wylie; two grandchildren, Reed Miller and Abigail Miller, both of Wylie; the mother of his daughter, Mary Reed of Mesquite; his longtime friend and business partner, Patricia Clark; two brothers, Kenny Reed and wife Ramona of Conroe and Cal Reed and wife Liz of Amarillo; a sister, Nancy Kidd and husband Doug of Clarendon, three uncles, Odell LaGrone and wife Betty and Tommy LaGrone and wife Louise, all of Amarillo, and Sam LaGrone of Roswell, N.M.; an aunt, Cora Thweatt and husband Harry of Amarillo; and many loving cousins, nieces and nephews.
Sign the online guest book at www.coxlagrone.com.

Beverly Jean Lorenz, 57, formerly of Amarillo died on Saturday, February 20, 2010, in Colorado.
Services were held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 27, 2010, at the First Baptist Church of Bushland with Darrell Burton, Pastor, Martin Baptist Church in Clarendon, officiating. Burial followed at Dreamland Cemetery. Arrangements were by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.
Mrs. Lorenz was born on July 11, 1952, in Dimmitt, to Frank and Betty Martin. She had lived in Amarillo for ten years before moving to Colorado and had worked as an assistant manager for Walmart.
She was preceded in death by her father, Frank T. “Rowdy” Martin.
Survivors include two children, Shawn Lorenz of Bushland and Lana Lorenz of Elkhart, Kansas; her mother, Betty Martin; two brothers, Jack Martin of Lamar, Colorado and Frank T. Martin, Jr. of Gunnison, Colorado; two sisters, Shirley Whiteman of Monte Vista, Colorado and Sandy Rose of Tucson, Arizona; three grandchildren, Jetti Lorenz, Logan Lorenz and Lafe Lorenz.

Wanda Nell Cardwell, 70, died Wednesday, February 24, 2010, in Clarendon.
Services were held at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 26, 2010, in the Robertson Funeral Directors Chapel of Memories in Clarendon with Johnny Thomason, officiating. Interment followed at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon. Services were under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon. Wanda was born November 17, 1939, to Charlie and Margurite Martin McCrary in Clarendon. She had been a resident of Amarillo for the past 43 years. She had been a surgery aide at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Amarillo. She loved to dance and was a Christian.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a stepfather, Ivan Mays; and a son in law, Leon Hall.
Survivors include a son, Randy McDonald and wife Lisa of Amarillo; a daughter, Debbie Hall of Amarillo; two brothers, Doug McCrary and wife Sarah of Clarendon, and Richard McCrary of Garland; two sister, Alice Ewing and husband Butch of Garland and Betty Mays of Clarendon; 11 grandchildren, Janet Hall, Blair Hall and wife Mandy, Neil Hall and wife Brandy, Amber Hall, Jennifer McDonald, Nick McDonald and wife Brandee, Wendy McDonald, Brady McDonald, Lacey Stewart, Amber Maples, and Brandon Cox; and nine great grandchildren.
The family requests that memorials be to the Community Care Center of Clarendon or Odyssey Hospice.

Many of you knew Bill and Jackie Russell, attending the services for him in April, 2007. Knowing him at the College library, and knowing Jackie at the elementary school where she worked directly with children. Jackie fell ill in July, 2009, and while bravely intending to recover; Regrettably, she passed on January 14, 2010. Bill Russell was born on March 28, 1938, in Castilla, California. His three story home, built by his grandfather, was in the midst of a forrest near a stream of water. At the tender age of three, he wandered off the porch to play with bear cubs down at the stream. His mother, Bernice stayed back out of sight of the mother bear, who seemed to be scolding her two cubs for their wanderings. Once the trio left  Bill behind, Bernice was able to safely bring her adventurer home. Bill joined the Navy, traveling the world, and he met my beautiful mother. They wrote letters often. When he was in Vietnam, we lived in Canton, Ohio. I, Vicki, their daughter, was age nine, usually received the mail. The mailman asked me if he could meet “Princess Jacqueline Dale,” as that is how Bill addressed letters to my mom.
Jackie Dale was delivered by a midwife in a home in Canton, Ohio, on February 22, 1935. She was the oldest of seven brothers and sisters: David Morrow, Judi Rider, Dick Morrow, Molly Martino, John Morrow, and Amy McClure. Her mother, Roberta Morrow, age 97, resides with Amy. Bill and Jackie have four children: Vicki, Dan, Dave, and Grey; Nine grandchildren: Jeremy & Autumn Honor, Josh, Melinda, Heidi, Christy, Jesse, Jennifer, Lisa Nicole Vogelgesang, and three great grandchildren: Emily Rose Rupe, Sklar Childress, and Ethan Walker Vogelgesang.
The meaning of Bill and Jackie’s life is to promote furthering another’s education by having access to read, do art, horticulture/agriculture and attend college,  as these are what Bill and Jackie had a creative lively passion. A bench “In Memoriam to Bill and Jackie Russell,” will be established at the Clarendon College to honor them for their passions and college support. Further, it is my intention to establish an endowed scholarship in their memory. If you would like to do something to honor their life, please donate to the Clarendon College. You may consider many possibilities such as donating a gift in their names, by choosing to fund the library with books, or making a gift in their name toward a discipline (Fine Arts, Drama, Speech or Agriculture, etc.)
Bill and Jackie made us proud, and while we are never ready to lose a loved one, they are reunited.

Florita Branigan, 84, of Memphis died Friday, February 12, 2010.
Graveside services were at 10 a.m. Tuesday, February 16, in Fairview Cemetery by Cox-LaGrone Funeral Home, 4180 Canyon Drive. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. in First United Methodist Church of Memphis with Rob Blum and Neely Landrum officiating.
Mrs. Branigan was born August 7, 1925, in Oklahoma City. She attended high school in Hitchcock, Okla. She married Elmont Branigan in Clinton, Okla., on March 20, 1945. Mrs. Branigan received a teaching certificate from Southwestern Oklahoma State. The Branigans moved to Memphis and purchased the business from Dr. Charles Oren, and it became Branigan Jewelry on February 1, 1947. The store moved to its present location on November 1, 1960. Mrs. Branigan worked with the youth of Hall County with service to Boy and Girl Scouting, for more than 25 years, working as a staff member at the last Girl Scout Roundup, as well as 4-H, Memphis Band Booster and Methodist youth groups. Mrs. Branigan had an art of engraving and much of her handiwork was donated in support of the youth of Memphis and the surrounding communities.
After the death of Elmont, she continued supporting businesses in Memphis, as she served as the Women’s Council President of Memphis Chamber of Commerce, and was honored by being elected the “First Lady President” of the regular Chamber of Commerce, receiving the “Work Horse of the Year” award. In 1981, she was selected Beta Sigma Phi Women of the Year, and then again in 1986-87. The Branigan family was also chosen as “Family of the Year” by the Memphis Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Branigan received several awards in the past few years of her life, receiving the highest award from Girl Scouting with the “I Can” award, along with being honored with the 2009 Women of Distinction. One of Mrs. Branigan’s passions was her church family, as she was a member of the First United Methodist Church, serving as secretary to the Administrative Council almost 40 years and had the privilege of teaching the Victory Sunday School class for over 30 years. She was also a charter member of the Club 51.
During the last several years, Florita began chronicling her life in Memphis and several of her quotes follow: “Memphis has been very generous to my family and me. I can think of no better community in which to live. It is like having one big family, everyone helping the other, and there is much love in Memphis, Texas. Only through the help and encouragement I have received could any of these many things been accomplished.” “Through our doors walk the most wonderful people in the world, Our Friends, Our Customers, for this I say “Thank You.”
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Elmont Branigan, in 1982; and her sister, Olive Simmons in 1991.
Survivors include one son, Mike Branigan and wife Linda of Memphis; a daughter, Elmonette Bivens and husband Paul of Clarendon; grandchildren, Michelle Bryant and husband Matt of Memphis, Shayne Branigan and wife Angie of Memphis, Stephen Bivens and wife Katrina of Amarillo and Scott Bivens and wife Alyssa of Lubbock; 12 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews, MaryLou Lozier and husband Tad of Fritch, Mark Simmons and wife Betty of Calhan, Colo., Dwight Branigan and wife Pat of Euless, Galen Branigan and wife Kay of Amarillo, Gary Branigan and wife Dianna of Arlington, Norman Freeman and wife Patsy of Martin, Tenn., and Linville Freeman and wife Martha of Martin, Tenn. She is also survived by 19 great-nieces and great-nephews.
The family requests memorials be made to the McLean Dance Club, Box 177, Wheeler, TX 79096; the Donley County Senior Citizens, PO Drawer B, Clarendon, TX 79226; the United Methodist Church in Clarendon or Memphis; or your favorite charity.

Jane Whicker Gilkey, 82, died Saturday, February 27, 2010, in Amarillo.
Services were held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 28, 2010, in the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon with Rev. Terry Lowe, Pastor, officiating. Interment followed at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon. Services were under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Jane was born on May 19, 1927, to J.E. and Catherine Smith Whicker in Lubbock. She had moved to Amarillo when she was 11 years old and later graduated from Amarillo High School in 1945. She attended Amarillo College and then West Texas State University where she met and later married James Ray Moore on February 9, 1947. James and Jane moved to Clarendon in 1948.  He preceded her in death on October 31, 1961. She then married Dr. Richard Lee “Rip” Gilkey on March 21, 1963. After 39 years of marriage, he preceded her in death on August 14, 2002. She had moved back to Amarillo on October 2001 at Park Place Towers where she was a resident until her death. She was very active member of the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon where she sang in the choir and served on virtually every committee.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, James Ray Moore on October 31, 1961; her second husband, Dr. Richard Gilkey on August 14, 2002.
Survivors include two sons, Jim Moore and wife Karen of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and John Moore and wife Cathy of Waxahachie; two daughters, Melinda McAnear and husband Ronnie of Clarendon and Tina Putnam and husband David of Austin; nine grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.
The family requests that memorials be to Hospice Care of Southwest, 1301 South Coulter Suite 404, Amarillo, TX 79106 or the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon.