Obituaries

Mass for Dave Browder, Jr., 81, of Giles, was held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 6, 2004, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Memphis, Texas, with Father Hector Madrigal, officiating.  Burial was held at Diamon Tail Ranch under the direction of Hughes Funeral Home of Memphis.

Mr. Browder died Saturday, July 3, 2004, in Memphis.  He was born January 14, 1923, in Memphis to the late Mr. D.C. Browder, Sr., and Mrs. Lelia Smith Browder.  He attended schools at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Price College High School. He also graduated from Sul Ross College in Alpine, Texas.  He was a veteran of the United States Navy serving during World War II.  He was a life long resident of Donley County.  He married Pearl Ball on February 2, 1960, in Amarillo.  Dave was a longtime rancher and a member of the Arabian Cutting Horse Association for over 35 years.  He was also a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

He was preceded in death by two sisters.

Survivors include his wife, Pearl Browder of Giles; one daughter, Linda Keith and husband David of Ft. Worth; one brother-in-law, Tom Growney of Albuquerque, New Mexico; two nephews, Tom D. Growney and Dan Growney, both of Albuquerque, New Mexico; two grandchildren, Kris Keith and Kyle Keith, both of Ft. Worth; two great grandchildren, Katherine Keith and Kassidy Keith both of Ft. Worth.

The family suggests memorials be made to a favorite charity.

Graveside services for David Eugene Carlson, age 51, were held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 21, 2004, at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Rev. Darrell Burton, Pastor of Martin Baptist Church, officiating.  Burial was held with Marine Corps military honors.  Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Carlson died Thursday, June 17, 2004, in Clarendon.  He was born November 2, 1953, in Amarillo and was raised at Buckner Orphanage.  He lived in Amarillo most of his life and moved to Clarendon three years ago.  He was a welder, machinist, and framing carpenter and ran his own construction business for 15 years before his retirement.  He was a Vietnam veteran, having served in the US Marine Corps from 1971 to 1974.  He married Ramona Romero on December 15, 1976, in Potter County.  He was a member of and Junior Vice Commander of Clarendon VFW Post 7782.  He was a wood and stone carver and enjoyed gardening.  He was a member of the Martin Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his father, Ivan Pat Carlson; his mother, Donna Lanell Bryan; and his stepfather, Garland Bryan.

Survivors include his wife, Ramona of Clarendon; one son, David A. Carlson of Clarendon; two daughters, Amanda Carlson and Sarah Carlson of Amarillo; two brothers, Royal E. Carlson of Amarillo and Mike Mayhugh of Wichita Falls; four sisters, Donna Carlson of Fort Worth, Nelda Cockerham of Brownwood, Patty Martin of Amarillo, and Kathy Rainey of Picher, Oklahoma; and a grandson, Colten Alex Mashburn of Amarillo.

Casket bearers were Royal Carlson, Michael Mayhugh, Stan Rickwartz, Dale Adams, John Mark Yankee, and Tom Stauder.  Honorary bearers were members of the Clarendon VFW Post 7782.

Graveside services for Velma M. Knight, age 87, was held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 22,  in Fairview Cemetery in Pampa with Pastor Leland Lewis, First Assembly of God Pastor, officiating.  Arrangements were under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa.

Mrs. Knight died June 19, 2004, in Clarendon.  She was born February 1, 1917, in Canyon, Texas.  She married George Knight on September 9, 1934, in Canyon.  She has lived in Pampa most of her life.  She was a member of First Assembly of God Church in Pampa and a homemaker.

She was preceded in death by one son, George Knight, Jr., and one daughter, Georgia Mae Knight.

Survivors include her husband, George Knight of Clarendon; two sons, Ellis Knight of Howardwick and Leland Knight of Gallup, New Mexico; two brothers, R.E. Prichard of Lubbock and Wayne Prichard of Dallas; one sister, Fannie Self of Canyon; four grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the First Assembly of God Church, 521 S. Russell St, Pampa, TX 79065; or Medical Center Nursing Home, Hwy. 70 North, Clarendon, TX 79226.

Michael Bryan Harlan, 21, of Amarillo, died Saturday, June 12, 2004.

Services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 19, 2004, at the Community Fellowship Church in Clarendon with Pastor Bryan Knowles officiating and assisted by Pastor Kent Winters.  Burial will be held in Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Harlan was born June 3, 1983, in Memphis, Texas.  He attended Caprock High School and Clarendon High School.  He worked at Amarillo Nursing Center as a Certified Nurses Assistant.  He was formerly employed at Medical Nursing Home in Clarendon and Tri-State Baking Company.

He was preceded in death by O.T. and Nola Hill.

Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Millie and Keith Barnett of Amarillo; his father and stepmother, H.W. and Michelle Harlan of Clarendon; a sister and brother-in-law, Lesley and Brandon Lemons of Amarillo; a brother Robby Barnett of Amarillo; a step brother and sister-in-law, Chris and Marsha Bruce of Clarendon; a step brother, Michael Bruce of Clarendon; a step sister, Andrea Coxey of Clarendon; a step sister, Tabaitha Martinez of Memphis; a niece, Melanie Brook Lemons of Amarillo; his grandparents, Ross and Robbie Hill of Clarendon, Jeannie Phillips of Pampa, Doyle and Kathy Watson of Memphis, Norma Bruce of Clarendon, and Pee Wee Barnett of Memphis; numerous other aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Serenity House, 1546 N. 2nd St, Abilene, TX 79601 or the Community Fellowship Church Building Fund.

Graveside services for James Otis Bohanon, age 73, were held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 12, 2004, in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Rev. Bryan Knowles, Pastor of the Community Fellowship Church in Clarendon, and Rev. Allen Ford, Pastor of Southwest Baptist Church in Amarillo, officiating. Burial with military rites by Clarendon VFW Post 7782 were held.  Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Bohanon died Tuesday, June 8, 2004, in Amarillo.  He was born October 3, 1930, in Springdale, Arkansas, and had been a resident of Donley County since 1969.  Prior to his retirement, he was a pipe fitter in the fire protection business.  He was a US Army Veteran of the Korean Conflict and was a member of Clarendon VFW Post 7782.  He was also a member of Amarillo Local Pipefitters Union 669.  He was a Baptist.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, one brother, and by two sons, James Gregory Bohanon on December 19, 1970, and Bradley Wade Bohanon on January 19, 1980.

Survivors include one daughter, Gwen Simpson of Canyon; his former wife, Elizabeth Smith of Amarillo; one brother, Roy Bohanon of Amarillo; three sisters, Dorothy Shawhart of Amarillo, Argie Johnson, and Ardie Spears both of Springdale, Arkansas; and by three granddaughters, Halee, Jessica, and Jolee.

Honorary bearers were members of the Clarendon VFW Post 7782.

Neal Devon Harris, age 10, died Sunday, June 6, 2004.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 12, 2004, at the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon with Rev. Melvin Brooks officiating. Burial will be in Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc.

Neal was dead on arrival at Amarillo Emergency Receiving Center on Sunday after drowning at Greenbelt Lake. He was born February 6, 1994, in Amarillo and had been a lifetime resident of Clarendon. He had just completed the fourth grade at Clarendon Elementary School. He was involved in Pee-Wee Football and Little Dribblers Basketball and loved riding and working on his bicycle. He was a Boy Scout and attended the First United Methodist Church summer camp. He was a member of St. Stephen’s Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Neal Smith and Alphonso Finney, and a brother, Timothy Jackson.

Survivors include his mother, Martha Harris of Clarendon; his father and stepmother, Tony and Cassandra Finney of Amarillo; seven sisters, Jaqueda Harris and Reanna Jackson of the home, Tamekia Whitley of Newark, New Jersey, Latoya Finney, Adriane Woods, and Alessandra Finney, all of Amarillo, and Bada Jasso of Houston; four brothers, Staff Sgt. Laron Moore of Ft. Hood, Kileen, Texas, Alphonso Mills, Kendrick Mayes, and Ja’Toris Finney, all of Amarillo; his grandmothers, May D. Harris of Clarendon and Ruby Finney of Amarillo; a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, friends; and a special cousin, Wesley Williams.

Funeral services for Johnny Dwayne Morrow, age 43, were held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 9, 2004, in Robertson Chapel of Memories with Rev. Bryan Knowles, Pastor of the Community Fellowship Church in Clarendon, officiating.  Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Morrow died Monday, June 7, 2004, in Amarillo.  He was born in Groom on February 13, 1961.  He was a 1979 graduate of Post High School and had lived in Amarillo for approximately 20 years.  He was a computer technician at BSA and Northwest Texas Hospitals in Amarillo and at the time of his death, was employed by Hastings in the shipping and receiving department.  He was a Methodist.

Survivors include his father, John Tom Morrow and wife Mary Louise of Clarendon; his mother, Barbara Ford and husband Earl of Clarendon; one sister, Missy McKeever and husband Carroll; a niece Kyleigh and nephew Tyler, all of Burkburnett; and numerous loving aunts, uncles, and cousins.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to BSA Hospice in Amarillo.

Smiley Eugene Johnson, 69, died May 28, 2004.

Smiley was born the son of Harper Stewart “Major” and Bess Graham Johnson September 20, 1934, at State College, MS.  He graduated from Starkville High and Miss. State College. He married Floyce Jane Shaw on August 4, 1956, at College Hill near Oxford, MS.

He was a pilot and photo interpreter in the US Air Force and then graduated from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Kentucky.  He served as mobile minister and pastor at Reserve, Glenwood, Apache Creek, Datil, and Quemado, NM.  He was director of Geneva Conference Center for the Synod of Indiana at Rochester, IN, a civil engineer technician in Indianapolis, then pastor at Canadian, TX.  He was a landman and pilot for George Arrington Oil, pilot for King Drilling, operated the Hemphill County Airport, flight instructor, EMT intermediary, and retired from America West Airlines as Captain. 

He served as pastor at Clarendon and was honorably retired from the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 2001.

While in Clarendon, Smiley served on the Board of Aldermen and spent many hours working to improve the city’s airport, which in April was renamed the Smiley Johnson Municipal Airport in his honor.

Survivors include his wife, Jane; children, Janet Cullender, her husband, Jeff, and their children, Patricia and Joey; Steve Johnson, his wife, Lisa, and their children, Austin, Lacey, Jet, and Emma; Edward Johnson, his wife, Renee, and their children, Ashley, Erica, Amber Ford, her husband, Chris, and son, Taylor; Pam Flowers, her husband, Charlie, and son, Rhett; Bruce Johnson, his wife, Lori, and their children, Brock and Mae, all of Canadian; Harper Johnson and his wife, Cindy, of Flagstaff, AZ; a brother, H.S. “Buddy” Johnson, of Weatherford, TX; and two sisters, Ollie Gannaway of Louisville, KY, and Anne McWhorter of Starkville, MS.

A service of thanksgiving for his life was held at the First Presbyterian Church of Canadian with the Rev. John Duncan leading the worship. 

A memorial service is also scheduled to be held at the Presbyterian Church in Clarendon next Tuesday, June 8, at 6 p.m.

The family suggests memorials be made to the First Presbyterian Church, Box 1122, Canadian, TX 79014 or First Presbyterian Church, Box 217, Clarendon, TX 79226, or to Hemphill County Hospice, 1020 South 4th, Canadian, TX.

Graveside services for Mildred Doris Fontenot, age 77, were held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 29, 2004, in Rowe Cemetery in Hedley with Bright Newhouse, Minister of the Hedley Church of Christ, officiating.  Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mrs. Fontenot died Thursday, May 27, 2004, in Memphis, Texas.  She was born April 12, 1927, in Roosevelt County, New Mexico, and was a resident of Amarillo before moving to Hedley more than 20 years ago.  She was a restaurant owner/operator for several years and had worked for the City of Hedley and for the Hedley Senior Citizens Association before her retirement.

Survivors include a son, Johnny Lund of Hedley; two sisters, Lois Watson and Wanda Coots, both of Amarillo; five grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.

Funeral services for Della Jackson Ray were held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 25, 2004, at the Believers Way Church in Amarillo with Pastor Mark Farley officiating. Burial followed in Memory Gardens in.

Della Jackson Ray was born February 25, 1939, in Memphis, Texas, to Roy Calvin Jackson and Goldie Francis Lamb. Della married her husband, Freddie Jack Ray, on February 7, 1958. Freddie survives her today along with their children Toby Jack Ray and his wife Karen and daughter Cathy Delaine Gattis, both of Amarillo.

Ray has five grandchildren: Amanda Brooke Scheetz, Misty Nicole and her husband Shawn MaGouirk, Stacey Richelle Ray, her only grandson Jayson Ray Gattis, and her one-year old granddaughter, Bennett Delaine Ray whom she calls her angel sent by God. Della was to become a great-grandmother in September of this year.

Della’s dad, Roy Calvin Jackson, preceded her in death in 1974. Her 93-year- old mother Goldie now resides in Della’s home.

Della’s brother, Lee Jackson, and his wife Tiva reside in Clarendon; her special sister Peggy Svensson and husband Gus live in Garland. Aunt De-De is also survived by many precious nieces and nephews who were loved and so very special to her.

Too numerous to name or count are the precious friends and co-workers whose lives were touched in so many ways by Della’s loving and giving spirit. She was employed by Don Mason Builders as a building superintendent.

Della requested memorials be made to Harrington Cancer Center or to the Burton Memorial Library in Clarendon.