Obituaries

Funeral services for Imogene Smith Glass, age 94, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 6, 2005, at Bailey-Ware Funeral Chapel in McLean, Texas, with Rev. Thacker Haynes, First United Methodist Church, officiating.  Burial was held in Hillcrest Cemetery in McLean under the direction of Bailey-Ware Funeral Home.

Mrs. Glass died Thursday, November 3, 2005, in Mesquite, Texas. She was born November 28, 1910, in Yukon, Oklahoma, to Arthur and Ruth Smith.  She graduated from Groom High School and attended West Texas State Teachers College.  She taught at Skillet, where she met and married Ted Glass.  They lived on the family farm for several years.  Later they moved to McLean where she worked in their retail business. She lived in Amarillo and Clarendon for several years before moving to Mesquite in 2000 to be near her brother and family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ted Glass, and brother, Emmitt Smith.

Survivors include one brother, Dennis Smith; one sister, Genevieve Rains; numerous nieces, nephews, and many beloved friends.

Memorials can be made to First United Methodist Church, McLean, Texas 79057.

Funeral services for William Chauncey Hommel, age 74, were held on Saturday, November 5, 2005, at 3:00 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon with Rev. Tom Garmon, Pastor, and Rev. Darrell Burton, Pastor of the Martin Baptist Church in Clarendon, officiating. Burial with Masonic Rites was held in Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Hommel died Wednesday, November 2, 2005, in Amarillo.  He was born December 12, 1930, in Clarendon and was a lifetime resident of Donley County.  He married Laura Ann Thompson on June 2, 1956, at Clarendon.  He had been self-employed in ranching, the oil and gas business, and as a property appraiser.  In his earlier life, he was very active in the Jaycees, where he was recognized as the outstanding area VP, the Texas outstanding local Secretary, and had received the George Wilson award.  He was a former member of the Clarendon College Board of Regents, the Clarendon City Council, and was a member of TAAO and KAIROS.  He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Skelton Fellowship Class, and the Mission Committee.  He was a member of the Clarendon Masonic Lodge #700 and the Khiva Shrine Club.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Gladys Hommel; a son, William Kyle Hommel; and a sister, Geraldine Robertson.

Survivors include his wife, Ann Hommel of Clarendon; two daughters, Cindy Reid of Austin and Cathy Jo Holland and husband Dallas of Amarillo; two sons, Gene Hommel and wife Kathy of Clarendon and Frank Hommel and wife Terri of Clarendon; two sisters, Frankie Henson of Clarendon and Lois Marie Moore of Dallas; twelve grandchildren; and 15 great grandchildren.

Casket bearers were Chad Hommel, Aaron Harper, Doug Haglar, Jason Carr, Jeff Dishong, Josh Lovato, Greg Proffitt, Tony Ballard, Matthew Heard, and Justin Reid. Honorary bearers were Tom Higley, Delbert Robertson, Wes Henson, Billy Fred Jones, the Skelton Fellowship Class, Bright Newhouse, and Joey Yankee.

The family requests that memorials be to a favorite charity.

Funeral services for Grady B. Jones, age 93, were held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 7, 2005, in Robertson Chapel of Memories in Clarendon with Rev. Darrell Burton, Pastor of Martin Baptist Church in Clarendon, officiating.  Burial was held in Fairview Cemetery in Memphis under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Jones died Friday, November 4, 2005, in Clarendon.  He was born in Terrell County, Arkansas, on July 21, 1912, to Dan and Myra Jones.  He married Pauline Cockerham on April 2, 1931, in Hollis, Oklahoma.  He was a citizen of Lelia Lake and Clarendon most of his life.  He was a farmer.  He also loved playing dominoes and raising game chickens.  He and his wife have been married for over 74 years. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Gerald Jones, in 1994; and a daughter, Roberta Molder Lewis in 1995.

Survivors include his wife, Pauline; four sons, Dan Lee “D.L.” Jones of Parachute, Colorado; Bobby Ray Jones of Chandler; Troy Eugene Jones and wife Carol of Amarillo; and Grady B. Jones and wife Sue of Big Sandy; one daughter-in-law, Mary Jones of Lindale; one half brother, Robert Clark “R.C.” Hubbard of Amarillo; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren.

Casket bearers were Charles Jones, Paul Jones, Bobby Jones, Paul Cemer, John Molder, and Doug Shelley.

The family requests that memorials be to Medical Center Nursing Home, PO Box 1007, Clarendon, TX 79226-1007.

The Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated for John William “Johnny Bill” Hermesmeyer, age 77, at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 2, 2005, in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Groom with Father Jose Palathara, officiating.  Burial was held in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Groom under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Hermesmeyer died Sunday, October 30, 2005, in Amarillo.  He was one of seven children born to Frank and Nell Ruyle Hermesmeyer.  He grew up loving the great outdoors on the Hermesmeyer Brothers Ranch at Jericho.  He was an expert horseman, breaking and training horses at a young age.  He worked along with his brother, Hunk, helping local ranchers round up and ship cattle when he was young.  He enjoyed sports, especially football, which he played in high school.  He served in the US Army in the Signal Corps at Fort Gordon, Georgia, during the Korean Conflict.  He returned home to Jericho to operate the ranch and also worked for Montie Johnson and Les Darcy.  He was active in the community services and served as a director of the Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association since 1964.  He was a member of the Southwest Cattle Raisers Association for many years.  He married Eva Lee Farr on June 21, 1968.  Johnny Bill will always be in the heart of his family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, and two sisters.

Survivors include his wife, Eva; one daughter, Cindy Foster and husband Brett of Borger; one son, Shawn Hermesmeyer of Borger; six grandchildren, Courtney, Crystal, Brody, Brady, Chad, and Mickey; one brother, Phillip Hermesmeyer and wife Jerry of Jericho; two sisters, Pauline Kline of Panhandle and Joan Guide of Amarillo; a nephew that they raised, Bill Hermesmeyer and wife Carolyn of Panhandle; and a host of nieces and nephews.

The family requests that memorials be to the American Cancer Society, 3915 Bell, Amarillo, TX 79109 or to a favorite charity.

Graveside services for Christine Moreland Hightower, age 75, were held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, October 31, in Fairview Cemetery in Memphis with Johnny Snider, Pastor of the Travis Baptist Church in Memphis, officiating.  Arrangements were by Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc.

Mrs. Hightower died Thursday, October 27, 2005, in Dumas.  She was born January 17, 1930, in Lake-view and had been a resident of Hall County most of her life.  She married J.H. Murdock, Jr., in 1947, and he preceded her in death in 1961. She then married Delbert Hightower in 1965, and he preceded her in death in 2001.  She had worked at various places throughout her life.  She was a homemaker and a member of the Travis Baptist Church in Memphis.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, her parents, one brother, one sister, and one son.

Survivors include a daughter and special son-in-law, Patsy and Charles Black of Dumas; one son, John “Skipper” Murdock of Dumas; one sister, Dorothy Anthony of Lubbock; two brothers, Bo Moreland of Bryan-College Station and J.T. Moreland of Lowell, Arkansas; a special person in her life, Connie Murdock of Memphis; and five grandchildren, Tracie and Steve Shillings of Amarillo, Stacie Murdock of Granbury, Corey Murdock of Memphis, and Hunter Murdock of El Reno, Oklahoma.

The family requests that memorials be to a favorite charity.

Graveside services for Robert Eugene “Bob” Beard, age 75, will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 15, 2005, in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Rev. Bryan Knowles, Pastor of Community Fellowship Church in Clarendon, officiating.  Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Beard died Tuesday, October 4, 2005, in Alamo, California.  He was born August 14, 1930, in Wichita Falls, Texas to Johnie W. and Bertha Moore Beard.  He moved to Clarendon when he was a baby.  He attended Clarendon schools and graduated from high school in 1948.  In 1949, he married Juanita Carpenter, whom he had gone to school with since kindergarten.  He joined the Navy, and after being honorably discharged, he began a long and successful career with the Santa Fe Railroad in Amarillo.  Promotions took him to various cities such as New Orleans, Dallas, Galveston, Albuquerque, and Chicago.  After 38 years, he retired as Director of Marketing.  He and his wife lived in Naperville, Illinois, for 30 years before moving to Concord, California, in 2004.  He enjoyed working in his garden and visiting with friends and neighbors.  He was a Mason and a Shriner.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and three brothers, Johnie, Donald, and Jimmie.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Juanita; a son, William “Gene” Beard and wife Kathy of Winfield, Illinois; a daughter, Marguerite “Elaine” Robinson and husband Rendel of Antioch, California; and four grandchildren, Robert and David Beard of Downers Grove, Illinois, and Ryan and Kelleigh Ives of Antioch, California.

The family will receive visitors at the funeral home from 11:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday.  They request that memorials be made to the Shriner’s Hospital, 2211 N. Oak Park Ave., Chicago, IL 60707 or Shriner’s Hospital, 815 Market St., Galveston, TX 77550-2725.

Delpha Justice, age 62, of Howardwick, died Saturday, October 8, 2005.  The family will hold services at a later date in Cement, Oklahoma.  Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors of Amarillo.

Mrs. Justice was born December 17, 1942, in Cement, Oklahoma.  She had been a waitress.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Clara and Dick Riley; a brother, Jack Riley; and a grandson, Adam Shields.

Survivors include four sons, Terry Shields of Groom, Joe Voiron of Pampa, Donald and Jimmy Rusmey, both of Oklahoma; a daughter, Shiela Burney of Howardwick; a sister, Beulah Yal of Ridgeway, Pennsylvania; three brothers, Gary Riley of Lexington, Oklahoma; Bill and Kenneth Riley, both of Blanchard, Oklahoma; eleven grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.

Funeral services for Kaylee Nichole Needham, 8 days old, were held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 1, 2005, at the Fundamental Baptist Church with Rev. Tom Lewis, pastor, officiating. Burial was held at North Fairview Cemetery in Wellington under the direction of Adams Funeral Home of Wellington.

Kaylee died September 28, 2005, in Amarillo. She was born September 20, 2005, in Childress to Johnathan Needham and Stephanie Duke.

Survivors include her parents; grandparents, Johnny and Romie Needham, Rick and Nanette White, and Cecil and Mildred Duke, all of Wellington; and great grandparents, Norma Parker and Greta Lewis, both of Wellington, and Elvis and Betty White of Clarendon.

Pall bearers were Jeremy Duke, Jason Duke, Clarence Duke, Jeff Needham, Jacob Needham, Devin White, and Jordon White.

Perry Allen “Pat” Beville, age 90, of Prairie Village, Kansas, passed away September 20, 2005.  Funeral services were held on Saturday, September 24, 2005, in the chapel at Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, Kansas.  Burial will be held October 1, 2005, in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon at 3:00 p.m. Arrangements  were under the direction of D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Overland Park Chapel of Overland Park, Kansas.

Mr. Beville, a retired IBM sales executive, was born November 19, 1914, in Clarendon to Lelia Ross Beville and Harwood Beville.  He graduated from Texas A&M in 1939 with a degree in Business.  As a Major in the US Army’s 90th infantry division, he landed on Normandy Beach on D. Day.  Throughout his life he lived in Clarendon; Amarillo; Dallas; Beaumont; Armonk, New York; Wichita; and Prairie Village, Kansas. He was active in the Leawood Lions Club, the Masonic Lodge, Town and Country Investment Club, and St. Lukes Cardiac Rehab and Village Presbyterian Church. In 1955, he became one of the first owners of the original Ford Thunderbird. This began one of his lifetime passions of owning and driving Ford Thunderbirds.  Pat’s positive attitude and friendly personality was an inspiration to everyone he associated with, whether for a few minutes or for many years.  He will be greatly missed by those who knew him.

He was preceded in death by two wives, Bernice C. Beville in 1974 and by Mary Lou Beville in 2003 and by his brothers, John Ross Beville and Ross Harwood Beville.

Survivors include his son, Don Ross Beville and daughter-in-law Gayle Lamborn of Beville; and his two adored grandsons, Kevin Patrick Beville and Brandon Cole Beville, all residents of Colleyville, Texas.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the American Heart Association.

Cecil Heckman, age 84, of Walsenburg, Colorado, passed away September 12, 2005.  He was born December 12, 1920, to George and Annie Heckman in Antelope Flat, Texas.  He attended Clarendon schools and graduated in 1940.

PFC Heckman served in the US Army Seventh Infantry Division in the Pacific during World War II from 1942-1945.  He married Gertrude Naomi Williams on December 22, 1950.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Leola Gillmore of Clarendon.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Kenton and Kim; a daughter, Betty Jo; eleven grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; two brothers, Lowell Heckman of Pampa and Ray Heckman of Claude.

A graveside military flag presentation and interment were held Thursday, September 15, 2005, at Fort Lyon National Cemetery in Fort Lyon, Colorado.