Obituaries

Graveside services for Dessa Ileta Cook Day, age 98, were held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 25, 2004, in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Rev. Bryan Knowles, Pastor of Community Fellowship Church in Clarendon, officiating.  Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mrs. Day died Tuesday, March 23, 2004, in Lubbock.  She was born in Stephenville, Texas, on May 25, 1905.  She was a Clarendon resident from 1910 until 1986 when she moved to Lubbock.  She graduated from Lelia Lake High School, attended Clarendon Methodist College (now Clarendon College), and West Texas Normal College (now WTAMU).  She was a teacher in some of the area rural schools for several years.  She married Kim Kyle Day on May 23, 1925, at Lelia Lake, Texas.  She was the secretary for the City of Clarendon for several years, then a secretary for Lone Star Gas Company for several years before retiring in 1965.  After her retirement, her hobby became oil painting, which she continued until the age of 92.  She was member of and Past Worthy Matron of the Clarendon Order of the Eastern Star – Chapter 6.  She was a member of the Bacon Heights Baptist Church in Lubbock.

She was preceded in death by her husband on November 22, 1986, and by two sons, Billy Clark Day on November 26, 1927, and Kim Kyle Day, Jr., on August 23, 1986.

Survivors include one son, Weldon Day and wife Pat of Lubbock; one sister, Virginia Smith of Borger; two grandchildren, David Day of Mustang, Oklahoma, and Debbie Venegas of Lubbock; and three great grandchildren, Dustin Venegas of Lubbock, Julia Venegas of Lubbock, and Matthew Day of Mustang, Oklahoma.

The family requests that memorials be to Citizens Cemetery Association, PO Box 669, Clarendon, Texas 79226-0669.

Funeral services for Virgil Dale Johnson, age 84, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 28, 2004, in the First Baptist Church in Hedley with Rev. Bruce Howard, Pastor, and Ronnie Lambert, family member, officiating.  Burial was held at Rowe Cemetery in Hedley under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Johnson died Friday, March 26, 2004, in Hedley.  He was born June 29, 1919, in Burnside, Kentucky, and had been a resident of Hedley all of his life.  He married Jo Anne Reeves on June 24, 1960, in Donley County.  He was employed in the water utility department of the City of Hedley and as a caretaker at Rowe Cemetery, as well as farming for several years before his retirement.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William Grover and Eva Neeley Johnson; two brothers, Ruben and Willie Johnson; and by two sisters, Laura Britton and Etta Moss.

Survivors include his wife, Jo Anne Johnson of Hedley; two daughters, Sue Britten and husband Jimmy of Groom and Beckie Torres and husband Frank of Amarillo; three sons, Jesse Reynolds and wife Dianne of Shamrock, Johnny Reynolds and wife Sharon of Graford, Texas, and Bobby Johnson of Hedley; one sister, Dorothy Christensen of Lyons, Kansas; four grandchildren, Jesse Reynolds, Susan Clendennen, Cindy Lambert, and Joshua Reynolds; and by five great grandchildren, Samantha Clendennen, Kenlee Lambert, Jayden Lambert, Emma Lambert, and Cara Lambert.

Casket bearers were Tommy Naylor, George Washington, Roy Brown, James Potts, Anthony Knowles, and Raymond Woodard.  Honorary bearers were M.O. Weatherly, Kenneth Swinney, and John Stiles.

Funeral services for Preston Colvin “Snooks” Judd, age 88, were held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 27, 2004, in the First Baptist Church in Clarendon with Rev. Truman Ledbetter, Pastor, officiating.  Burial was held at 2:00 p.m. in Llano Cemetery in Amarillo under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Judd died Thursday, March 25, 2004, in Clarendon.  He was born July 29, 1915, in Lark, Texas, and was a resident of Amarillo before moving to Clarendon 30 years ago.  In his younger days, he enjoyed caring for horses, cattle, and being involved in rodeo events.  He was a maintenance foreman for ASARCO in Amarillo for 28 years before his retirement.  He married Jewell Marie Edwards on April 8, 1948, at Wellington.  He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Clarendon.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, JoAnn Judd and a son Randall Earl Judd and his wife Teresa.

Survivors include his wife, Jewell Judd of Clarendon; two sons, Herman Colvin Judd and Calvin Leon Judd, both of Amarillo; a daughter, Gloria Gale Jones of Amarillo; two brothers, Buck Judd of Amarillo and Dick Judd of Wellington; four sisters, Helen Wisdom of Amarillo, Juanita Allenson of Austin, Betty Linley of Howardwick, and Janell Standefer of Yukon, Oklahoma; five grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild.

Funeral services for Gene White, age 70, were held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 26, 2004, in the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon with Rev. James Ivey Edwards, Pastor, officiating.  Burial was held at Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. White died Wednesday, March 24, 2004, in Amarillo.  He was born November 22, 1933, in Donley County and had been a resident of Clarendon all of his life, except for ten years when he lived in Amarillo.  While a resident of Amarillo, he taught school at Avondale Elementary and was an instructor at the Amarillo Air Base.  He married Doris Jean Wallace on August 23, 1953, at Clarendon.  He was a former member of the Clarendon Jaycees and had served several terms as a County Commissioner and as a City Alderman.  He had also served on the PRPC board.  He was an employee of the family business, Wallace Monument Company, from 1957 until becoming the owner/operator in 1972.  He retired from the business in 1998.  He had also farmed and ranched for several years.  He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and had served in various offices and capacities within the church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John Monroe White and Ruby Lee Deaton White, and by his brother, J.F. White.

Survivors include his wife, Doris White of Clarendon; one daughter, Kim Fowler of Clarendon; one son, Mark White and wife Diana of Clarendon; and by five grandchildren, Stephanie, Ty, Stephen, Scott, and Trent.

The family requests that memorials be to the First United Methodist Church, Clarendon, TX 79226 or to the American Cancer Society.

Funeral services for Henry Randolph Johnston were held at 3:00 p.m. on February 27, 2004, at the Fort Myer Chapel.  Graveside services were held at Arlington Cemetery.

Mr. Johnston, a retired Air Force Colonel, passed away at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Virginia, on January 24, 2004, of congestive heart failure.  He was a Texan, a native of Clarendon, a graduate of the University of New Mexico and of Georgetown School of International Relations. 

At the beginning of World War II, he was commissioned through the US Army Cadet program at Luke Field, Arizona, and assigned the mission of delivering military aircraft world wide in support of the war effort.  He flew over forty different type aircraft and retired in the CBI Theater as deputy commander of the US Army Air Base at Tzegaon in Dacca, India.

When the war ended, he returned to Asia as instructor pilot for the Chinese National Aviation Corporation, owned jointly by Pan American Airlines and the Chinese Nationalist government.  Subsequent to the communists overrunning China, he was recalled to active duty into the newly activated US Air Force, and a career in a variety of command and staff assignments and as a politico-military affairs officer followed.

From Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts, he led the 11th Air Transport Squadron, MATS, on the Resolute Bay Project to establish weather stations on Prince Patrick and Isachsen Islands above the Arctic Circle.  He was Executive Officer of the Berlin Airlift Task Force headquarter, and he also flew ninety airlift missions.  During the Korean War, he was Chief, Ferrying Division, Operations Directorate, MATS.  Later, he represented the Air Force on the staff of the Defense Advisor to NATO in Paris with specific responsibility for advising on Middle East and Baghdad Pact affairs.

After retirement he remained active in military and civilian affairs.  He organized the Wilmington Warrior Association and was a member of the Hump Pilots Association, the Air Force Association, and the Army Navy Country Club.  He traveled extensively and wrote of his experiences.

A command pilot, his honors include the Special Breast Order of Yun Hui from the National Government of the Republic of China, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Medal, and the Joint Services Commendation Medal.

Survivors include his wife, Alaire Geraldine Johnston of Arlington, Virginia; and a sister and brother, Lucile Foster and William O. Johnston, both of Fritch, Texas.

Graveside services for Cecil Ladell Sims, age 81, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, March 22, 2004, in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Rev. Bryan Knowles, Pastor of the Community Fellowship Church in Clarendon, officiating.  Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Sims died Friday, March 19, 2004, in Temple, Texas.  He was born May 17, 1922, in Clay County, Texas.  He was a former Clarendon resident and had lived in the Temple area for more than 20 years.  He served in the US Army during World War II, where he became disabled from injuries received while serving overseas.

He was preceded in death by two sisters and two brothers.

Survivors include one brother, Charles Sims of Borger, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Jackie Ranson, age 91, of Giles were held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 12, 2004, at Hughs Memorial Chapel in Memphis with Bright Newhouse, officiating.  Burial was held in Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Hughs Funeral Home in Memphis.

Mrs. Ranson died Friday, March 5, 2004, in Amarillo.  She was born June 13, 1912, in Leslie, Texas, to the late Mr. Dulah Wiginton and Mrs. Ollie Stevenson Wiginton.  She attended grammar school in Lakeview and graduated from Memphis High School.  She moved to Giles in 1936 from Memphis, which she called home for the next 66 years.  She married A.E. Ranson, Jr., on December 24, 1936, in Memphis.  He preceded her in death on December 3, 1991.  Jackie worked as an office manager for West Texas Utilities for many years and was also a homemaker.  She was a member of the Giles Pioneer Club and the Church of Christ in Hedley.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, R.D. and L.M. Wiginton and two sisters, Lettie Goodnight and Charlcie Woods.

Survivors include on daughter, Reatha Pyeatt and husband Gayle of Amarillo; one granddaughter by birth, Mary Margaret Eckert and husband Scott of Dallas; one granddaughter in spirit, Kelly Romans and husband Joey of Farmers Branch, Texas; two sisters-in-law, Omelee Tuck of Duncanville and Floye Wiginton of Memphis; one brother-in-law, W.J. Goodnight of Memphis; three nieces, Sherrie Betham of Lewisville, Texas; C.J. Nail of Deer Park, Texas; and Susan Goodnight of Cedar Hill, Texas; four nephews, Luther Liner of Florida, Larry Wiginton of Memphis, Dale Wiginton of Lubbock, and Tim Wiginton of Amarillo; and by myriads of friends who will miss her dearly.

The family suggest memorials be made to a favorite charity.

Memorial services for Harvey Carroll Shaw, Jr., age 78, were held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 17, 2004, in the First Baptist Church in Clarendon with Rev. Truman Ledbetter, Pastor, officiating.  Cremation was held on Thursday, March 18, 2004, in Amarillo. Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., in Clarendon.

Mr. Shaw died Monday, March 15, 2004, in Amarillo.  He was born February 12, 1926, in Donley County and had been a lifetime resident of Donley County.  He married Joan Hillman on April 2, 1945, at Memphis.  He was a US Army Air Corps veteran of World War II and had been a farmer and rancher most of his life.  He will long be remembered for his caring and compassion for his family, friends, and others in his community.  He particularly loved children and young people.  He was always willing to lend a hand to anyone in need and placed others’ welfare and happiness far above his own.  He had served as a board member of the Greenbelt Electric Cooperative and for several terms on the ASCS board in Donley County.  He was a member of Clarendon VFW Post 7782 and a member of the First Baptist Church in Clarendon.

Survivors include his wife, Joan of Clarendon; two daughters, Sherry Moore and husband Terry of Spearman and Carrie Shaw of Garland; two grandchildren, Billie Jo Pierson and husband Wayne of Muleshoe and Shawn Moore and wife Dynelle of Virginia; and two great grandchildren, Megan Pierce and Tobin Pierce.

Funeral services for William Roy Brunson, 94, were held 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 3, 2004,  in First Methodist Church in Claude with the Rev. Janet Edwards officiating. Burial was held in Claude Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Brunson died Sunday, February 29, 2004.  He was born in Armstrong County on August 9, 1909, to George John Brunson and Elizabeth Griffin Brunson. He married Laura Mae Hukill in Claude on November 25, 1928. He was a member of First United Methodist Church. He farmed until 1940 and then moved to Claude, where he lived until 1964. Then, he moved to Red River, New Mexico, for 16 years and retired to Kingsland. In 1992, he and Mae returned to Claude.

Mr. Brunson has worn many hats during his 94 years, but he was probably best known as sheriff of Armstrong County. He always had many stories to tell during the years. One story he always told was that as a small boy he attended the last buffalo hunt at Colonel Goodnight’s Ranch. He and Mae were busy as extras during the filming of the movie “Hud” in Claude. Their hobby was fishing, and they spent many hours on Red River and Kingsland lakes and streams.

He was preceded in death by his wife in 1996.

Survivors include four children, Ruth Robison and husband, Bill, of Amarillo; Norma Lambert and Johnny Brunson and wife, Judy, all of Red River; and Jimmy Brunson and wife, Marilyn, of Midland; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials be to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 136, Claude, TX 79019; Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch, P.O. Box 1890, Amarillo, TX 79174; or a favorite charity.

Bryan Douglas McFarland, age 19, died Friday, March 5, 2004, in Lubbock.

Services were held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 9, 2004, in the First Baptist Church in Clarendon with Rev. Carl Cox, officiating. Burial was in Citizens Cemetery with arrangements by Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Bryan was born October 22, 1984, in Amarillo. He attended school in Clarendon from 1992 until graduating in 2003. He was a student at Lubbock Christian University where he was planning on majoring in Youth Ministry.

He was very involved in his church and youth groups and had taught Sunday school in Clarendon while still in high school. He loved studying his Bible, Christian music, and playing baseball. Bryan had a love of life that exceeded his young age.

Survivors include his parents, Chandra and Billy Holman of Clarendon and Kenneth and Tammy McFarland of Brownsville, Tennessee; three brothers, Michael McFarland of Dallas, Cody Holman of Clarendon, and Zachary McFarland of Brownsville, Tennessee; two sisters, Marissa McFarland of Clarendon and Abby McFarland of Brownsville, Tennessee; his grandparents, Lonnie and Elva Robinson of Clarendon and Joyce and Jimmy Johns of Whiteville, Tennessee; six aunts; seven uncles; 17 cousins; and many, many dear friends.

Casket bearers were Tim Anderson, Patrick Childs, Jordan Zehr, Phillip Vorheis, Lee Stegall, and Judge Smith.

Honorary bearers were the Clarendon High School Class of 2003 and the Clarendon Bronco Baseball Team.