Obituaries

Marilyn J. Goatley, age 77, of Hedley died Sunday, April 24, 2005, in Amarillo.  Family graveside services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 27, 2005, at locust Hill cemetery in Rush Center, Kansas, with Pastor Bryan Knowles of Community Fellowship Church of Clarendon.

Memorial services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, 2005, at Community Fellowship Church in Clarendon with Pastor Knowles officiating.  Arrangements were under the direction of Rector Funeral Home Osage Chapel in Amarillo.

Mrs. Goatley married Loy Goatley in August of 1946 in Ness City, Kansas.

Survivors include her husband of the home; one son, Cecil L. Goatley of Houston; three daughters, Mary E. Paxton of Broomfield, Colorado; Pamela J. Casteel of Hedley; and Nancy A. Vincent of Brighton, Colorado; ten grandchildren; and nine great grand children.

The family requests in lieu of flowers donations be made to Baptist Saint Anthony’s Hospice; PO Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79106.

Walter Wayne Lewis, age 61, of Pampa died April 1, 2005, in Amarillo.  Private family memorial services will be held at a later date.  Cremation and arrangements are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa.

Mr. Lewis was born October 14, 1943, in Clarendon.  He had been a resident of Pampa since 1990.  He married Virginia Burden on September 11, 1987, in Amarillo.  He was a former National Guardsman.

Survivors include his wife, Virginia Lewis of Pampa; three sons, Mitch Lewis and Keelan Lewis, both in the US Navy, and Greg Lewis of Amarillo; three sisters, Norma Lee Brown of Amarillo, Wanda Moore of Vega, and Carolyn Phillips of Richardson; one brother, Jack Lewis of Clarendon; and several grandchildren.

Boyd Brock of La Pine, Oregon, died April 3, 2005, at the age of 79.

Mr. Brock was born July 13, 1925, in Ink, Ark., as one of triplets. He and his brothers served in France in World War II, and his brothers both were killed during that war.

He is survived by four children: Steve Brock of Carlsbad, Calif., Janet Brock of American Canyon, Calif., Marlene Sanders of Moraga, Calif., and Robert Brock of Concord, Calif.; four siblings, Irene Stewart of White Deer, Orin Brock of Benicia, California, Marjory Holland of Hedley, and Mable Dean Wilson of Clarendon; six grandchildren; and one great grandchild.

Funeral services for Perry Edward Jordan, age 68, of Glendale, Arizona, were held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 25, 2005, at the Hansen Mortuaries in Phoenix, Arizona.  Burial was held at Resthaven Park Cemetery in Glendale, Arizona, under the direction of Hansen Mortuaries.

Mr. Jordan died March 22, 2005.  He was born in Clarendon to William Lee and Ruby Mae Wood Jordan.  He moved to Arizona 34 years ago from Texas.  He was a member of The Church of Arrowhead.  He was Assistant Director of Arizona Good Sams and past president of Arizona Drifting Sams.

Survivors include his wife, Orbie Joyce; one daughter, Deborah Jordan; two sons, Perry L. and Glenn Jordan; grandsons, Christopher Glenn and Jacob Edward Jordan; daughter-in-law, Kristy Jordan; step granddaughter, Karliegh Jones; and step grandson, Daniel Jones.

Memorial services were held Friday, March 18, 2005, for Sam Owens, Jr., of Weatherford, Texas, at 1:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church with the Rev. Ronnie White from Cross Plains officiating.

Sam was born November 15, 1927, in Amarillo to Sam and Cassie Owens.  He grew up in Hedley, where he received his elementary and high school education. He attended Clarendon College and Texas Tech University, and he received his Bachelor’s Degree from West Texas State College in 1949. He and his family moved to Weatherford in 1983. He retired from General Dynamics in 1986.

Sam was a godly man, a member of the First Baptist Church, active in the Gideon Society, Senior Citizens Center, Adult Choir, and the Christian Men’s Fellowship of Parker County of which he was a founding member and director.

He will be greatly missed by family, friends, and persons he ministered to.

He was preceeded in death by his son, David Owens; and his parents, Sam and Cassie Owens.

Survivors include his wife, Bobbie of the home; three daughters, Mary Elizabeth Sedberry of Boyd, Texas; Donita Lynn Gill of Aurora, Colorado; and Deborah Ann Light of Weatherford; nine grandchildren; three great grandchildren; four brothers, Jimmie Owens, Berle Owens, and Douglas Owens, all of Amarillo and Merle Owens of Goodnight; and three sisters, Faye Naylor of Hedley, Virginia Gafford of Amarillo, and Willi Pigg of Fritch.

Honorary bearers were members of the Gideon Society and members of the board of directors of the Christian Men’s Fellowship of Parker County.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Gideon International, Box 122, Weatherford, TX 76086.

Funeral services for William Harold Browning, age 85, were held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 23, 2005, in the Clarendon Church of Christ with Eddie Stegall, minister, and Lynn and Brad Thompson, grandsons, officiating.  Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., in Clarendon.

Mr. Browning died Thursday, May 19, 2005, in Amarillo.  He was born October 16, 1919, in Saint Jo, Montague County, Texas, to William Henry and Fannie Alice Whaley Browning.  He moved to Vega, Oldham County, Texas in 1938.  He married Naveta Thelma Farnsworth on May 13, 1941, at Vega.  He farmed wheat and milo in Oldham County for 33 years and also raised registered Black Angus cattle and Quarter Horses.  He moved to Lelia Lake in Donley County in April 1975 where he farmed and raised wheat, cotton, and hogs until he retired in 1998 and moved into Clarendon.  He was an active member of the Clarendon Church of Christ and served as a deacon for several years.  He also served in the US Army for a period of time.

Survivors include his wife, Naveta Browning of Clarendon; three daughters: Sue Thompson and husband Marvin of Clarendon, Patty Browning and Tippy Browning, both of Lamesa; two sons, Bill Browning and wife Susan of Bushland and Sam Browning and wife Linda of Miami, Texas; one sister, Lorene Ivins of Gainesville, Texas; nine grandchildren; eleven grandchildren; one great great grandchild; four nephews, and three nieces.

The family requests that memorials be to the American Cancer Society or the High Plains Children’s Home in Amarillo.

You can sign the online guest books at www.RobertsonFuneral.com.

Former Donley County Sheriff Jimmy Thompson died Monday, March 21, in Amarillo. He was 70 years old.

Services were held here Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the Church of Christ with Rev. Bryan Knowles, pastor of Community Fellowship Church, and Eddie Stegall, minister, officiating. Burial with military honors was conducted in Dozier Cemetery with arrangements by Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc.

William James “Jimmy” Thompson was born October 15, 1934, in Clarendon, where he lived most of his life. He attended Clarendon Schools and married Aleta Ellen Coleman on December 21, 1959, at Dozier. He was the former owner of the Dozier Country Store and had worked for various ranches in Donley and Hutchinson counties and in Clayton, New Mexico. He served in the US Marine Corps for four years during the Korean Conflict in the 3rd Marine Division Medical Company Support Division. He was a member of the Clarendon Church of Christ.

Thompson served as a Donley County Deputy for four years under Sheriff Truett Berhens and was elected sheriff in 1980. He held that position for 20 years.

Upon his retirement in 2001, Thompson talked openly with the Enterprise about his accomplishments in office.

“When I took office, we had only one deputy, no 24-hour services, no 24-hour dispatch.” Thompson said.

The late sheriff also listed Donley County’s modern jail as one of his proudest accomplishments.

“This jail is one of the most easily operated jails in the state. It can be run by just one person under normal circumstances.”

He was also proud of holding the line on expenses, catching a lot of “dopers” and a lot of burglars, and overseeing approximately 7,500 arrests over 20 years.

Thompson’s time in office drew him both praise and criticism, and one disgruntled resident even plotted to have him assassinated. He later said he never got too “stirred up about it” and considered it “just part of the job.”

“You can’t suit everybody,” Thompson said, “but I got elected five times.”

Thompson was preceded in death by his parents, Palmer Otto Thompson and Cordia May Sowell Thompson, and by two sisters, Anna Lee Thompson and Nanna Ree Thompson.

He is survived by his wife, Aleta Thompson of Clarendon; two sons, William Thompson and wife Lynn of Clarendon and Walt Thompson of Borger; a brother, George Thompson of Hamilton; a sister, Katherine Lane of Carson City, Nev.; two grandchildren, Todd and Emilie Thompson; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family requests that memorials be to the Hollis Boys Town or the Lubbock Children’s Home.

Funeral services for Terri Ann Karnes were held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 26, 2005, at the St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Clarendon.  Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.  She was buried beside her grandparents, Clyde and Madeline Slavin.

Ms. Karnes died March 16, 2005. She was born May 21, 1960 in Amarillo. 

She was preceded in death by her father, Cloyce William Karnes.

Survivors include her grandmother, Lenora Karnes of Clarendon; mother and step-father, Ann and Steve Ray of El Paso; daughter, Jessica Miller of Amarillo; son, Michael Miller and his wife Ashlei of Andrews; granddaughters, Alyssa Martinez and Christine Miller; grandsons, Angelo Martinez and Tilo Martinez; brother, Phil Karnes of Amarillo; sisters, Lyn Curran and husband Chris of McKinney and Donna Martijuchin and her husband Demitri of Corinth; and step-brothers, Donnie Ray of Richardson, Larry Ray and wife Martha of Amarillo, and Michael Ray of Richardson.

Graveside services for Beaulah Faye Swindle, age 73, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 18, 2005, in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Rev. Bryan Knowles, Pastor of the Community Fellowship Church in Clarendon, officiating.  Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mrs. Swindle died Wednesday, March 16, 2005, in Amarillo.  She was born February 23, 1932, in Pampa and was a Pampa resident most of her life.  She married Clarence Edward Swindle on June 19, 1954, at Pampa.  She was a homemaker and had been an active member of the Wayside Club for almost 25 years.  She was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Pampa.

She was preceded in death by a son, Michael Swindle, in 1966; and by several of her siblings.

Survivors include her husband, Clarence Swindle of Pampa; two daughters, Valerie Conrad of Lebanon, Oregon, and Paul Ann Hendrick of DeSota, Missouri; one brother, Jay Teague and wife Verna of Clarendon; two sisters, Gertie Ingram of Springdale, Arkansas, and Peggy Miller of Denton; and one grandson, Kyle Taylor Henrick of DeSoto, Missouri.

Honorary casket bearers were William Conrad and Mikel Hendrick.

The family requests that memorials be to BSA Hospice, PO Box 950, Amarillo, TX 79176.

Funeral services for Mary Ellen Craig Banister, age 87, were held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 8, 2005, in the Community Fellowship Church in Clarendon with Rev. Bryan Knowles, Pastor, and Dr. Randy Davis, Pastor of Lifeway Fellowship Baptist Church in Amarillo, officiating. Burial was held in Rowe Cemetery in Hedley under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mrs. Banister died Friday, March 4, 2005, in Amarillo. She was born August 4, 1917, in Hughes, Oklahoma, and had lived in Donley County since 1935.  She married Hollis Martin Banister on February 2, 1935, at Memphis.  She was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church in Clarendon.

She was preceded in death by her husband on June 16, 1988.

Survivors include two daughters, Sue Leeper of Clarendon and Patricia Johnston of Canon City, Colorado; two sons, Basel Banister of McKinney and Kelsey Banister of Amarillo; eight grandchildren; and twelve great grandchildren.

The family requests that memorials be to Douglas Banister Memorial Scholarship Fund, Lifeway Fellowship Church, 3315 Hancock, Amarillo, Texas 79106.