Obituaries

Edgar Wayne Collins, 71, died Sunday, September 2, 2007, in San Marcos, Calif.

Services were held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, September 7, 2007, in the Robertson Funeral Directors Chapel of Memories with Rev. Bill Hodges, Pastor of the First Church of the Nazarene in Clarendon, officiating. Burial with Military Honors was held at Citizens Cemetery. Services were under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Mr. Collins was born September 2, 1936, in Clarendon to Otis Cranford and Onnie Mae Oakley Collins. He had been a resident of San Marcos, Calif., for 3 years coming from Oregon and Borger. He was an Air Force and Navy veteran. He was an air craft electrician for the civil service and was last employed at North Island Naval Air Station. He was a great guy and a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was a Christian.

Mr. Collins was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Rodney Glover.

Survivors include his wife, Darleyne Collins of Vista, Calif.; two sons, Gregory Collins of Vista, Calif., and Michael Collins of Vista, Calif.; two daughters, Pam Collins of Vista, Calif., and Vista Exline of Colo.; three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Ruby May Thompson, 93, died Saturday, September 8, 2007, in Amarillo.

Services were held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 11, 2007, in the First Baptist Church with Rev. Lance Wood, Pastor, officiating. Burial followed at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon. Services were under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Mrs. Thompson was born February 27, 1914, in Marysville to George and Elizabeth Witt Wood. She had been a resident of Clarendon most of her life. She married Herschel Hanson “Shorty” Thompson on November 2, 1936, at Goodnight. She was a homemaker and an active member of the First Baptist Church.Mrs. Thompson was preceded in death by her husband on November 8, 1981; and by a foster daughter, Peggy Jackson on March 10, 1970.

Survivors include one son, San Thompson of Lazbuddie; a foster daughter, Debbie Shields of Amarillo; a foster son, Charles Jackson of Weatherford; two sisters, Lovie Taylor of Clarendon and Dupree Linsteadt of Dennison; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Marilyn Jo Burkhalter Simpson, 60, died September 2, 2007, in Amarillo.

Services will be held today at 10:30 a.m. in the First United Methodist Church in Shamrock with Rev. Terry Lowe, pastor and Rev. Joe G. Jernigan, Calvary Christian Fellowship, officiating. Burial will be in Shamrock Cemetery.

Mrs. Simpson was born December 12, 1946, in Shamrock to N.J. and Ferrol Bradley Burkhalter. She had worked in Wheeler Co. as Chief Appraiser. She was a realtor, a teacher’s aide and had lived in Clarendon since 2002. She married James Simpson, May 15, 1992.

Survivors include her husband; two sons, Richard Darren Copeland of San Angelo and Trenton Derik Copeland of Chillicothe, Mo.; one daughter, Jayme Allison Leatherman of Fritch; two step-daughters, Lourena Kay Ellis of Ft. Worth and Donda Michelle Simpson of Clarendon; two sisters, Coralene Henderson of Clifton, Co. and Jaye Nell Schlegel of Shamrock; one brother, Donald Burkhalter of Plano; nine grandchildren; and one great grandchild.

Marion Dave Garland, 71, died August 26, 2007.  Church services were held Tuesday, August 28, 2007, at 1:30 p.m. at Sunray Baptist Church in Sunray, with Brother Philip Hilton, pastor, officiating.  Graveside services followed at Citizens Cemetery and included Masonic and Military ceremonies.

Marion Dave Garland was born May 20, 1936, in Donley County, to A.J. and Alberta Garland.  He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Agronomy from Texas Tech University in Lubbock.  He married Ginny Garland in 1961 in Frederick, Maryland.  He and his wife moved to Sunray in 1967.  They farmed for 46 years and owned Seed, Inc. for 20 years.

Marion was a member and deacon of Sunray Baptist Church, a member of Sunray Lion’s Club, Past Master of Dumas Masonic Lodge #1009 AF&AM, Past Master of Clarendon Masonic Lodge #700 AF&AM, active in the American Agriculture Movement, served on the Moore County Crops Committee, and was a member of the Southern Seed Association.  He served in the Army  at Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland, where he worked in germ warfare.

He was survived by his wife of 46 years, Ginny Garland; one son, Allen Garland of Sunray; one daughter Kelly Strawn and husband, Duane Strawn, of Mansfied, Texas; three grandchildren, Bethany Garland, ShaLee Strawn, and Tyler Strawn; one brother, Jimmy Garland and wife, Audrey of Goodnight; one nephew, Stan Garland and wife, Jaimie of Waco; one niece, Twanna Kiker and husband, Richie of Allison; several great nieces and nephews, cousins, and a host of friends.

The family suggests memorials be made to Sunray Baptist Church, P.O. Box 550, Sunray, Texas 79086, or Memorial Hospice, 224 East 2nd Street, Dumas, Texas 79029

B.L. “Mutt” Graham, 85, died Tuesday, August 14, 2007 in Clarendon, Texas.

Services with Firefighter Honors were held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 18, 2007, in the First Baptist Church in Clarendon with Rev. Darrell Burton, Odyssey Hospice Chaplain, officiating. Burial was held at Citizens Cemetery. Services were under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Mutt was born March 11, 1922, to Luke and Lola Statser Graham in Crowell, Texas. He married Juanita “Nita” Mabery on June 2, 1941, in Wheeler. Mutt began his cooking career in the US Navy in World War II. He and his wife Nita opened their own café, Mutt’s Café in Clarendon in 1947, which they owned and operated for 34 years. He was a member of the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department for 60 years and served as Chief from 1957 until 1963. He also held other ranks and served in various offices throughout his career with the Department. He was a volunteer ambulance driver for the Clarendon EMS for several years. A very busy man, Mutt was also a former Mayor of Clarendon and was a former recipient of the Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year Award. He was a member of the Moose Lodge, Masonic Lodge #700, and the VFW. Mutt, along with Billy Jack Land and Maurice Hart, organized the Clarendon Little League program in the 1950s. He was a devoted husband for 66 years, a wonderful father of two, a dearly loved grandfather and great grandfather, a precious brother and uncle to many. To know Mutt was to love him. He was one of the beautiful people who walked among us and had no idea that he was so special to so many.

Mr. Graham was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Earl Graham and Billy Graham.

Survivors include his wife Nita of Clarendon; one daughter, Carol King of Spring; one son, Ted Graham of Clarendon; two sisters, Nella Hix of Colorado and Mary Hendley of McLean; one brother, Pete Graham of Tucumcari, NM; four grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.

The family requests memorials be to Odyssey Hospice or Coffee Memorial Blood Center in Amarillo.

Cleta Inez Johnston, 88, died Saturday, August 18, 2007, in Clarendon.

Services were held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 20, 2007, at the First Baptist Church in Clarendon with Rev. Lance Wood, Pastor, officiating.  Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery. Services were under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Mrs. Johnston was born November 7, 1918, in Henrietta to Joe Harvey and Pauline Murdock Bridges. She married Walter Hunnell Johnston on January 17, 1934, at the First Baptist Church in Wellington. She had been a resident of Naylor Community for 64 years until moving to Clarendon in 1998. She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge. She was also a member of the Naylor quilting club and home demonstration club. She attended Lelia Lake Baptist Church and accepted Christ as her savior in 1953 and was baptized by Brother John Denton. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Clarendon.

Mrs. Johnston was preceded in death by her husband on May 19, 1998; a son, Charles Kenneth Johnston; her parents; 11 brothers and sisters.

Survivors include five sons: Billy Ray Johnston and Ernest Neal Johnston both of Clarendon, Redell Johnston of Howardwick, Gary Keith Johnston of Amarillo, and Dan Foster of Little Elm; two daughters, Cleta Wilkerson of Dimmitt, and Pam Mason of Clarendon; 14 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

The family requests memorials be to Odyssey Hospice or First Baptist Church in Clarendon.

Jewell Anna Dickson Quisenberry, 94, died Thursday, August 9, 2007, in Gladewater, Texas.

Services were held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 11, 2007, in the First Baptist Church in Hedley with Rev. Bruce Howard, Pastor, officiating.  Interment was held at Rowe Cemetery in Hedley. Services were under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Mrs. Quisenberry was born October 23, 1912, in Hedley to John G. and Mollie Mary Dukes Dickson.  She married William Carlton “Brownie” Quisenberry on October 31, 1931, in Hollis, Oklahoma.  She had been a lifetime resident of Hedley.  She was a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church in Hedley.

Mrs. Quisenberry was preceded in death by her parents; 2 sisters, Mae Thornberry and Golden Johnson.

Survivors include her husband, W.C. “Brownie” Quisenberry; a son, Jack Quisenberry and wife Carroll of Winona; a brother, J.M. Dickson of Turkey; one sister, Opal Thomas of Amarillo; four grandchildren; and six great-great grandchildren.

The family requests memorials be to First Baptist Church of Hedley.

Vada Shadix Morrison, 87, died Friday, August 3, 2007, in Clarendon.

Services were held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 6, 2007, in the First Assembly of God Church in Clarendon with Rev. Matthew Stidham, Pastor, and Rev. Robert Burns, officiating. Burial followed in Citizens Cemetery. Services were under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors.

Mrs. Morrison was a longtime resident of Clarendon and Claude. She was born November 1, 1919, to Andy and Ester Shadix in Erick, Okla. She married Ernest “Red” Morrison on January 15,1938, in Floydada. She was a faithful, born again Christian and member of the Assemblies of God Church since 1938. Her lifelong position was leading others to Christ through her singing and Christian living.

Mrs. Morrison was preceded in death by her parents; her husband on May 21, 1997; and one son, Herman Morrison, and his wife, Joyce, in 2005. Survivors include a daughter, Carolyn Clark & husband Mickey of Amarillo; two sons, Jackie Morrison and wife, Cheryl, of Lawton, Okla., and Larry Morrison and wife Deby of Amarillo; a brother, Lendal Shadix of Amarillo; 14 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great grandchildren.

The family requests memorials be to First Assembly of God Church, PO Drawer F, Clarendon, TX 79226.

Richard Lewis Tipton, 65, died Tuesday, July 31, 2007, in Huntsville. Services and internment were at 11 a.m., Friday, August 3,  in Alanreed Cemetery with Rev. David Kelly, Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Groom, officiating and arrangements by Robertson Funeral Directors.

Mr. Tipton was born July 9, 1942, in Groom, to Herman Lewis and Hattie Lorene Terbush Tipton.  He had been a resident of Willis for the past three years.  He was a Vietnam veteran who had served in the US Navy and US Coast Guard for many years. He had also been a trucker for several years before his retirement.  He was a protestant.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Leslie Tipton on July 28, 1996. Survivors include a daughter, Kimberly Tipton of Arlington; a son, Richard Scott Tipton of San Antonio; a sister, Shirley Joyce of Fort Worth; a sister-in-law, Sharon Tipton of Willis; seven grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

The family request memorials be to the American Cancer Society.

Charles “Chuck” Roland Shields, 85, died Tuesday, July 24, 2007, in Clarendon, Texas.

Services were held at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, July 27, 2007, at the Clarendon Church of Christ with Tom Harguess, Minister of 2nd & Adams Church of Christ in Elk City, Oklahoma, officiating.  Interment was held in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.  Services were under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Mr. Shields was born December 25, 1921, in Hopper, Arkansas, and was an Arkansas resident before moving to Clarendon in 1961.  He married Elvie Bercini on October 29, 1945, at Detroit, Michigan.  He had been a farmer most of his life and was a past officer of the Clarendon Bronco Booster Club. 

He was a lifetime member of the Harley Owners Group “H.O.G.” and had ridden a million miles on Harley-Davidson motorcycles.  He was a member of the Clarendon Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife, Elvie of Clarendon; two daughters, Darlene Spier and husband Bill and Audrey Hall and husband Jack, all of Clarendon; one son, Tommy Shields and wife Karen of Sherman; a brother, Jim Shields of Humble; nine grandchildren, Gina Spier Reeves, Brigett Spier Cash, Stephanie Coulter, Stacy Dalton, Brett Hall, David Hall, Caitlan Hall, Brandon Shields, Meredith Shields; seven great grandchildren, Ty Reeves, Cameron Cash, Shaelee Coulter, Emily Coulter, Padon Coulter, Dylan Hall, and Chase Hall.

The family request memorials be to Medical Center Nursing Home, P.O. Box 1007, Clarendon, Texas 79237-1007.