Obituaries

Rufus Jones, 87, of Fredericksburg, died Saturday, November 13, 2004.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, Nov. 16, at 2 p.m., in the chapel of Beckmann Funeral Home with the Rev. Monte Marshall officiating. Interment followed in the Greenwood Cemetery.

Jones was born June 30, 1917, in Turkey, Texas, the son of William Fowler Jones and Stella Clark Jones. He married Dorothy Nell Holman on September 23, 1949, in Austin. She preceded him in death on May 16, 2004.

Prior to retirement, Jones was a maintenance supervisor with the Texas Department of Transportation.

Survivors include two sons, David S. Jones of Fredericksburg, and Robert C. Jones of Dallas; and two siblings, Carmen Wright of Clarendon and Billy Joe Hall of Stafford.

In addition to his wife and parents, Jones was preceded in death by a sister, Vivian Schubert, and a brother, Orvle E. Jones.

Memorials may be made to Hill Country Memorial Hospital, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, or to the charity of choice.

Members of the family served as pallbearers.

Funeral services for Charles Ray “Putt Putt” Roberts, age 67, were held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 23, 2004, at the N.S. Griggs and Sons Pioneer Chapel in Amarillo with Dr. David Evans, Trinity Baptist Church, officiating.  Burial was held in Memorial Park Mausoleum in Amarillo under the direction of N.S. Griggs and Sons Funeral Directors of Amarillo.

Mr. Roberts died November 20, 2004, in Amarillo.  He was born in Lelia Lake.  He built and raced cars for Route 66 Speedway in Amarillo.  He was a member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary.  He retired after 24 years with Santa Fe Railroad and retired from TxDOT after working for them for seven years.

Survivors include his mother, Mrs. Willie Roberts of Amarillo; one sister, Jovida Davis of Amarillo; two sons, Charles Ernest Roberts and wife Amy of Austin and Ronald Gene Roberts and wife Leila of Weatherford; two daughters, Marelina Brown and husband Mike of Brady and Stephanie Carole Woodard and husband Ronny of Amarillo; nine grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Trinity Baptist Building Fund, 1608 Wolflin Ave, Amarillo, TX 79109.

Grace Bivens, daughter of Allan and Elzie (York) Hill, was born February 17, 1908, at Enterprise, Okla.  She departed this life late Sunday, November 21, 2004, at BSA Hospital in Amarillo at the age of 96.

Grace was raised and educated at Quinton, Okla., graduating from high school there in the class of 1925. She furthered her education at Phillips University in Enid, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education, May 27, 1929. She taught school in various schools including Seiling Public School in Oklahoma.

She was united in marriage to Harry S. Bivens, July 22, 1935, at McAlester, Oklahoma.  They made their home in Seiling, where they raised two sons: Allan and Paul.  Harry and Grace owned and operated Bivens Drug Store in Seiling for many years.  She was a member of the First Christian Church, where she was church organist for many years.  She was also active in the Seiling Music Lovers Club.

She is survived by one son, Paul Bivens and wife Elmonette of Clarendon; one daughter-in-law, Dorothy Bivens of Amarillo; four grandsons, Doug Bivens and wife Angie, Chris Bivens and wife Krista, Stephen Bivens and wife Katrina, and Scott Bivens and wife Alyssa; and four great grandchildren.  She is also survived by other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Harry Bivens in 1968; one son, Allan Bivens in 2002; and one sister, Thelma Hill.

A family graveside service was held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 23, 2004, at the Brumfield Cemetery in Seiling.  A memorial service followed at 3:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church with Pastors Ewel Vaughan and Dennis Adair, officiating.  Services were under the direction of the Redinger Funeral Home in Seiling.

Memorial services for William A. Holden, age 49, were held on Saturday, November 13, 2004, at 2:00 p.m. at Schooler-Gordon Bell Avenue Chapel in Amarillo with Truman Ledbetter officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors of Amarillo.

Mr. Holden died November 10, 2004, in Amarillo.  He was born September 1, 1955. He married Carol Boon June 25, 1977, at NWS Earl Naval Base in Colts Neck, New Jersey. He was in the United States Marine Corps Mr. Holden was the owner of W.N.C. Marketing as well as the Quartermaster of Texas VFW #7782 and VFW Dept. Texas District 9 Commander. He also served on the Child Welfare Board in Clarendon. While living in New Jersey, he was a Police Officer, a member of the Volunteer Fire Department, First Aid Squad, VFW #2179 Color Guard, and the Cooties. Mr. Holden was a member of First Baptist Church in Clarendon, Texas. Mr. Holden was a “Life Member” of the VFW as well as a “Life Member” of the Fraternal Order of Police.

He was preceded in death by both of his parents and his sister, Patricia “Pat” Holden.

Survivors include his wife, Carol Holden; his daughter, Danielle Holden; his daughter, Christine Holden; his brother, Frank Holden and wife Carol; his brother, John Holden and wife Jeri; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Graveside services for S.J. Johnson, Sr., age 74, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, November 15, 2004, in Rowe Cemetery in Hedley with Rev. Bill Hodges officiating.  Arrangements were under the direction of Cox Funeral Home in Amarillo.

Mr. Johnson died Thursday, November 11, 2004, in Amarillo.  He was born January 9, 1930, in Antioch, Oklahoma, and raised in Hedley. He served in the Army in Korea.  He was awarded the Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars. 

He married Gail Weaver in Chickasha, Oklahoma, on July 13, 1961.  He owned and operated Johnson Home Repair. He retired to Hedley from Amarillo in 1979.  He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and Eastern Star in Clarendon.  He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Hedley.

Survivors include his wife; four sons, Dennis King, Jr., of Memphis, Clifford Johnson of Hedley, and S.J. Johnson, Jr., and Kevin Johnson, both of Clarendon; two daughters, Debbie Knox of Lake Kickapoo and Alice Like of Hedley; a brother, K.J. Johnson of Amarillo; 17 grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials be to the Clarendon Masonic Lodge.

Memorial services for Pauline Shepard Early, age 71, were held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 4, 2004, in the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon with Rev. James Ivey Edwards, Pastor, officiating.  The body was cremated.  Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mrs. Early died Tuesday, November 2, 2004, in Amarillo.  She was born January 31, 1933, in Graham, Texas, and was a resident of Amarillo before moving to Howardwick in 1995.  She married Julius E. Early on November 10, 1953, at Graham.  She had worked as a legal secretary and library and was the treasurer for NWT/NM Credit Union from 1975 until retiring in 1990.  She was a homemaker and a member of the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon.

Survivors include her husband, Rev. Julius Early of Howardwick; two daughters, Glenna Hatley and husband Jimmy of Amarillo and Dr. Theresa Early and husband Doug Mooney of Columbus, Ohio; three brothers, Clinton Shepard of Titusville, Florida; James W. Shepard of Ford Worth; and Bill H. Shepard of New Orleans, Louisiana; two grandchildren, Jeremy Hatley and wife Jessica of Lubbock and Shanna Hatley of Amarillo.

The family requests that memorials be made to BSA Hospice in Amarillo or the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon.

Funeral services for Leland Wayne “Skeet” Glisson, age 90, were held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 5, 2004, in Robertson Chapel of Memories in Clarendon with Rev. Bryan Knowles, Pastor of the Community Fellowship Church in Clarendon, officiating.  Burial was held at Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Glisson died Tuesday, November 2, 2004, in Amarillo.  He was born February 18, 1914, in Kermit, Texas, and came to New Mexico with his family in 1916.  He married Ethel Cleo Garrison on August 9, 1937, at Clovis, New Mexico.  Together they worked on various ranches in the Texas Panhandle and Eastern New Mexico and retired from Dale and Sam Cluck ranches after 22 years.  He was a Baptist.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Oscar Lee Glisson in 1957 and Wayne D. Glisson in 1998; and by two brothers and two sisters.

Survivors include his wife, Ethel C. Glisson of Amarillo; one daughter, Paula Hall of Amarillo; one son, J.A. Glisson and wife Sharon of Amarillo; two sisters, Zela Cortese of Fort Sumner, New Mexico, and Ruby Montgomery of Gonzales, Texas; 13 grandchildren; 38 great grandchildren; and three great great grandchildren.

Casket bearers were grandsons and great grandsons.

Graveside services for Charles Weldon Petty, age 89, were held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 6, 2004, in Olton Cemetery in Olton, Texas, with Rev. Sharon Wiese, Pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Olton, officiating.  Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Petty died Wednesday, November 2, 2004, in Amarillo.  He was born July 4, 1915, in Vernon, Texas, and was a resident of Olton prior to moving to Donley County 18 years ago.  He married Elsie I. Gordon on June 13, 1959, at Vernon.  He was self-employed as a painter most of his life prior to his retirement.  He liked to play the piano and the fiddle.  He was a Nazarene.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Wanda Katherine Slover.

Survivors include his wife, Elsie Petty of Hedley; one son, Harold Gordon and wife Jan of Trapper Creek, Alaska; a brother-in-law, Leroy Bodkin and wife Evelyn of Hereford; one sister, Margie James of Hemet, California; one niece, Meredith Long of Amarillo; six grandchildren; and several great grandchildren.

Edna Mae LaFon Beville, the daughter of early Clarendon settlers and cherished wife of Ross Harwood Beville died in Bethesda, Maryland, on November 4, 2004, after a very brief illness.

Edna Mae was raised in Lelia Lake from 1911 until she and her family moved to Clarendon in 1924 so the LaFon girls and brother Lowell could attend Clarendon High School. They all belonged to the little white church in Lelia Lake until they moved to Clarendon and joined the Clarendon Methodist Church.  In high school, Edna Mae was a pom pom girl while Ross Harwood was on the football team.  They were able to maintain high school friendships throughout a lifetime on the East Coast by regularly attending their high school reunions here in Clarendon.  Their children were brought to Clarendon regularly from Washington, DC.

Edna Mae cherished the memories of life here and wrote a book about their family life in Lelia Lake, a copy of which will be presented to the Burton Memorial Library in Clarendon.

She and Ross moved to the East in 1936, where Ross pursued a career in radio and was recognized as “the father of FM radio.”

Edna Mae was the “First Lady” of Takoma Park, Maryland, while Ross was the mayor for several years.  She was an artist and the founding president of the Takoma Park Art Association. Her interests also include fashion design, and she was recognized by awards from Vogue magazine, one award being a three-week trip to the fashion centers of Europe where she was entertained by the haute couture houses in Paris, Rome, and London.

She and Ross traveled extensively in Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada, and the United States.

Survivors include a daughter, LaFon Beville Ward of Jackson Hole, Wyoming; a son, Ross Harwood of Carmel, California; a son-in-law, Bill; a daughter-in-law, Judy; seven grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; a sister, Roberta Currie of Amarillo; a brother, Lowell LaFon of Albuquerque; and a multitude of nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

She has been surrounded by a great and loving family all her life and she, Ross, and their children have been blessed by the regular family reunions held on the Currie Ranch.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 13, 2004, at the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon.  Burial will be held at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Rev. Terry Tamplen of the First United Methodist Church in Odessa, officiating.  Arrangements are under the direction of Blackburn-Shaw Memorial Chapel of Amarillo.

Loyd “Duck” Dickerson, Jr., age 73, died Friday, November 5, 2004, at Henrick Hospital in Abilene, after a long illness.  Graveside services were held on Saturday, November 6, 2004, in Hawley Cemetery near Abilene under the direction of Girdner-Brown Funeral Home.

Loyd was born October 24, 1931, in Elk City, Oklahoma.  He was a farmer most of his life.  Mr. Dickerson lived in Clarendon before moving to Abilene in 1997.

Mr. Dickerson was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, and one daughter.

Survivors include his wife, Martha Doris of Abilene; three daughters, Jane Odom of Como, Alice Dickerson and Cynthia Heathington, both of Childress; one son, Mark Dickerson of Hawley; 11 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; and two sisters, Neoma Rippetoe and Jay Guinn, both of Clarendon.