Obituaries

Sidney Samuel Stewart, 87, a retired funeral director, died on January 1, 2004, in a Fort Worth nursing home.  Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 4, 2004, at Eastridge Baptist Church with Rev. Myron Crawford, Rev. Tommy Pophin, and Rev. Bill Weaver officiating. Burial was held in Mountain Peak Cemetery near Midlothian, Texas.

Mr. Stewart was born on October 23, 1916, in Duncan, Oklahoma, to Richard L. and Onie Virginia Davis Stewart.  He was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Army.  He was a funeral director working in various places including Clarendon, Memphis, and at Baum-Carlock-Bumgardner Funeral Home in Mineral Wells.  He was a member of Eastridge Baptist Church.  He married Inez Juanita Bonner in 1942.  She preceded him in death on February 12, 2001.

Survivors include:  sons:  Stephen Ross Stewart of Goldsboro, NC, and Michael Rex Stewart of Fort Worth; grandchildren:  Stephen Stewart, Jr., of Puyallup,WA; Christopher Sean Stewart of Seabrook,TX; Michael Damon Stewart of Evansville, IN; Emily Gail Stewart of Evansville, IN; Jarred Nicholas Stewart of Goldsboro, NC; and Tiffany Nicole Stewart of Goldsboro, NC; 3 great-grandchildren; brothers:  Jack Stewart of KS; Lawrence Stewart of Oklahoma City,OK; Bill Stewart of OK; and Cecil Stewart of CA.

Arrangements were under the direction of Baum-Carlock-Bumgardner Funeral Home of Mineral Wells, Texas.

Funeral services for John Allen O’Neal, age 52, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, December 29, 2003, in the Clarendon Church of Christ with Bright Newhouse and Don Stone, Church of Christ Ministers from Clarendon, officiating.  Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc. 

Mr. O’Neal died Friday, December 26, 2003, in Clarendon.  He was born August 28, 1951, in Pampa and had been a Clarendon resident all of his life.  He was employed for several years as a custodian for the Clarendon Public Schools.  He was very involved in the Clarendon Church of Christ and in the activities of the Medical Center Nursing Home where he had resided for the past several years.  He was always eager and willing to help people in any way.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James LeRoy “Boots” O’Neal and Bernice Lee Andis O’Neal, and a sister, Becky Miller.

Survivors include three sisters, Mary Kay Mangum of Lefors, Beverly Shepherd of Channing, and Patricia Gattis of Irving; three brothers, Bill “Boots” O’Neal of Vernon, Wesley O’Neal of Holliday, and Joe O’Neal of Harrold; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Casket bearers were Jeff Mills, Joe Gattis, Fred DeLorge, Ike O’Neal, Mark Miller, Johnny Mangum, Chance O’Neal, and Chris O’Neal.  Honorary bearers were special friends.

Funeral services for Arley D. Bentley, age 73, were held on Saturday, December 27, 2003, in the Church of Christ in McLean, with Minister Jim Reyna and Rev. Thacker Haynes officiating.  Burial was held in Hillcrest Cemetery in McLean under the direction of Bailey-Ware Funeral Home in McLean.

Mr. Bentley died December 23, 2003, in McLean.  He was born May 20, 1930, to Phillip and Mamie Bentley in Magic City in Wheeler County.  He married Shirley Todd in Allison, Texas, on October 28, 1955.  They were married for 48 years. He served in the Army during the Korean War.  He worked for C&H Supply in McLean for 28 years.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley of McLean; one daughter, Judith Bentley of Amarillo; two sons, Donnie Bentley and wife Lisa Ann of Amarillo and John Bentley and wife Lisa Jane of Florida; one brother, W.A. Bentley of Amarillo; one sister, Joy Bentley of Amarillo; and three grandchildren, Justin Bentley of College Station, Jarrod Bentley and wife Stephanie of Amarillo, and Noel Bentley of Homosassa, Florida.

The family requests memorials be made to the Donley County Senior Citizens in Clarendon.

Funeral services for Marilyn Jean Adkins Parson, age 45, of Princeton, Texas, were held at 1:30 p.m. at Stevens Funeral Home in Lovington, New Mexico, with Mr. Jerry Burke officiating.  Burial was held at Lovington Cemetery under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home in Lovington.

Mrs. Parson died December 24, 2003, in Dallas.  She was born May 1, 1958, in Clarendon.  She married Thomas S. Parson in Rule, Texas, on June 21, 2000.  She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Clarendon.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Chuck Adkins; father-in-law, Frank Parson; and parents M.E. “Byrd” and Anne Adkins.

Survivors include her husband, Tom Parson of Princeton; one brother, Dr. Byrd Adkins, DDS and his wife Sherry of Amarillo; her mother-in-law, Helen Parson of Lovington, New Mexico; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.

Funeral services for Eva Irene Vinson, age 81, were held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 31, 2003, in the First Baptist Church in Clarendon with Rev. Truman Ledbetter, pastor, officiating.  Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mrs. Vinson died Monday, December 29, 2003, in Amarillo.  She was born February 223, 1922, in Spur, Texas, and had been a resident of Clarendon and the surrounding area most of her life. She married Herman Vinson on May 5, 1941, in Memphis.  He preceded her in death on September 13, 1966.  She was employed for many years in the dietary and nursing departments of the Medical Center Nursing Home prior to her retirement.  She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge, the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, and the First Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, A.B. Johnson, Sr., Mary Morrison Johnson; an infant daughter; two sisters; and five brothers.

Survivors include two daughters, Barbara Bobbitt and husband Buddy of Memphis and Ava Ontiveros and husband Cecil of Springlake; four sons, Herman Vinson and wife Jana of Pampa, Garey Vinson and wife Georgianna of Clarendon, Bobby Vinson and wife Charlene of Amarillo, and Eddie Vinson of Amarillo; twelve grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren.

Casket bearers were Andrew Vinson, Garey Vinson, Jr., Lance Vinson, Nick Simpson, Randy Green, and Bradley Escobar.  Honorary bearers were Clarendon Rebekah Lodge members and Medical Center Nursing Home staff.

Funeral services for Lee E. Caskey, age 74, were held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2003, in Robertson Chapel of Memories in Clarendon with Rev. Gene Allen of Pampa, and Rev. Joe Vaughn, Pastor of the Clarendon Assembly of God Church, officiating.  Burial was held in Hillcrest Cemetery in McLean under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mrs. Caskey died Thursday, December 18, 2003, in Olney.  She was born February 7, 1929, in Duncan, Oklahoma, and was a long time resident of Clarendon before moving to Olney in June of 2002.  While a Clarendon resident, she was a very active member of the Assembly of God Church and very involved in the Donley County Senior Citizens Association.  She was a homemaker.

She was preceded in death by her only sister, Rowena Allen.

Survivors include one daughter, Donna and husband Rev. Claude Hendricks of Olney;  one grandson, Rev. Bryan Hendricks and wife Traci of Justin, Texas; and three great grandsons, Josh, Zachary, and Caleb Hendricks of Justin.

Gene Woodman, age 69, died December 13, 2003, in Amarillo.

Services were held Tuesday, December 16, 2003, at 10:00 a.m. at Arden Road Baptist Church with Rev. Dale Bigham, pastor, and Rev. Richard McDole, of Madison, Wisconsin, officiating.  Graveside services were at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday in Gould Cemetery in Gould, Okla.

The family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall of the Gould Methodist Church in Gould, Okla., at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

Arrangements were by Brooks Funeral Directors.

Woodman was born in Gould, Okla., on December 21, 1933.  He graduated from Gould High School in 1952.  An avid Oklahoma State University fan, Gene graduated from there in 1956 with a degree in agronomy and entomology. 

He married the love of his life, Jorene “Jo” Heflin, on August 23, 1956, in Hollis, Oklahoma.  A Corporal in the Army, Gene served his country in Iceland during the Cold War.  Gene lived a rich and interesting life.  A Farm Bureau Agent in Altus during the early 1960’s, Gene later moved his family to Clayton, New Mexico, where he instilled his passion for science in hundreds of students as a teacher.  He moved to Clarendon in the early 1980’s as an agricultural consultant and later moved to Canyon.  Gene was known for his devotion to his family, his humor, and his love for the Lord. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lige and Lucille Woodman and two brothers, Charles Woodman and J. Walter Woodman.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Jorene, of the home; three sons, Eddie Woodman of Kenosha, Wis., Bart Woodman, and wife, Micki, of Dumas, Brad Woodman, and wife, Julie, of Glendale, Ariz.; one sister, Ruth Knight Hill, of Dumas; one brother, Jim Woodman, of Abilene; and six grandchildren: Matt, Chois, Brandel, Kami, Sydnee, and Braden.

The family requests memorial donations be made to the Arden Road Baptist Church Building Fund, 6701 Arden Road, Amarillo, Texas 79109.

Funeral services for Walter Reese, age 73, were held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, December 15, 2003, in the True Church of God in Christ with Supt. E.L. Demerson and Elder Jeff Riles, officiating.  Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery with Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Reese died Tuesday, December 9, 2003, in Amarillo.  He was born April 29, 1930, in Corsicana to Robert and Etta Forney Reese.  He attended Dallas schools and had been a Clarendon resident most of his adult life.  He married Bobbie Jean Gardner on August 25, 1950, in Clarendon.  He worked for the Fort Worth and Denver/Burlington Northern Railroad for more than 30 years before his retirement.

He was preceded in death by his wife and by a son, Keith Reese.

Survivors include three sons: Walter Reese, Jr., of Clarendon, Bennie Reese of Waxahachie, and Kenneth Reese of Dallas; one daughter, Margaret Jackson of Mississippi; two sisters, Erma Lee Scott of California and Lou Ethel Wilson of Illinois; ten grandchildren; and eleven great grandchildren.

Sidney E. Tice, 72, passed away at the family home in Nacogdoches at 2315 Clarice St. on December 8, 2003. 

He was born March 9, 1931, in Nash, Texas, and was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Ophelia Tice. 

He was married to former Clarendon resident, Jane Lowe, on September 15, 1972.  During his forty-six year career as a U.S. Army Civilian, he traveled through the United States, Europe, Ethiopia, Japan, and South Korea.  He was a life member of Border Lodge #672 in Texarkana, the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, and Hella Shrine in Dallas. 

He enjoyed golf, tennis, dancing, traveling, and being with family and friends.  He especially enjoyed his trips to Clarendon to visit with in-laws and special friends here.  As Alzheimer’s gradually took its toll in the last few years, he retained his winning smile, twinkling eyes, and love for fellowship. 

Surviving are his wife, Jane, and daughter, Amanda Beck, of Nacogdoches; daughter, Pamela Ann and husband, C. D. Jackson, of Avery, Texas; son, Richard E. Tice of Texarkana, Texas; six grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, a sister, and two nieces.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be to the Nacogdoches Treatment Center, 119 Hughes St., Nacogdoches, TX 75961.

Funeral services for Treva Nell Payne, age 75, of Amarillo were held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 13, 2003, in Robertson Funeral Home Chapel of Memories in Clarendon.  She was laid to rest next to her late husband, Al Covington. 

Ms. Payne died Tuesday, December 9, 2003.  She was born December 8, 1928, the daughter of Terrell and Faye Trussell in Memphis.  She graduated from Clarendon High School at the age of 15 and later graduated from West Texas State University with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics.  She further pursued her education and was awarded a master’s degree in mathematics in 1962 from Louisiana State University.  She later moved and resided in Casper, Wyoming, for 37 years.

Ms. Payne enjoyed a long and distinguished teaching career.  She was awarded the position “Professor Emeritus for Mathematics” at Casper College in Casper in 1966, a title she held until her retirement in 1989 after 23 years of teaching.

In 1994, Ms. Payne received special recognition when she was selected as one of the “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers,” and her biography was published in the 1994 edition.  She was extremely passionate about teaching, and her influence touched the lives of many young adults.  Ms. Payne was highly respected by both her peers and her students.  Following her retirement, she enjoyed traveling extensively and spending time with her family.

She touched the lives of many and will be missed by all.

Ms. Payne was married to Albert Wayne “Al” Covington on December 24, 1946, who predeceased her in 1966.  She later married Joe Payne, who has since passed away. 

Survivors include a son, Keith Covington and wife, Gwen, of Provo, Utah; a daughter, Andrea Covington of Phoenix; a brother, Art Trussell and wife, Elizabeth, of Amarillo; nine grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials be to Casper College Foundation scholarship, 125 College Drive, Casper, WY 82601.  The foundation can be reached at 1-800-442-2963.