Obituaries

Miles “Punch” Skelton, 79, of Clarendon died Tuesday, February 1, 2022 in Clarendon.

Services were held on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, in Robertson Funeral Directors Saints’ Roost Chapel in Clarendon with Travis Bennett, officiating. Burial will follow in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.
Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Punch was born August 8, 1942, in Dalhart to O.D. and Gwen Skelton. He married Kay Barkley on April 2, 1961 in Raton, NM. Punch was a lifelong cowboy and horseman who worked for ranches from Arizona, Colorado, to the Texas Panhandle. He started making handmade boots for cowboys in 1968 in his spare time. In 1993, He opened his own boot shop with his wife Kay in Channing, Texas.

After moving back to Clarendon, he continued his boot making business up until his death. He mentored and taught several people all over the U.S. the trade of boot making. He was a dedicated family man who loved his late wife, children, and grandchildren dearly.

He was preceded in death by his parents, O.D. “Fat” and Gwen Skelton; and the love of his life, Kay Skelton.

He is survived by his children, Lisa Parman and husband Danny of Lefors, Lori Leuch and husband Tracy of Menard. Shawna Demel and husband Robbie of Whiteface, and Bryan Skelton and wife Nerie of Donie, Texas; his sisters, Laura Turner, Carolyn Roach, and Ramona Berry; his brother, Bunk Skelton; 7 grandchildren; and 6 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be sent to Arena of Life Clarendon Cowboy Church Building Fund / PO Box 641 / Clarendon, TX 79226.

Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com

Mary Louise Morrow, 81, of Clarendon, died Thursday, February 3, 2022, in Memphis.

Graveside service were held on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Rev. Lance Wood officiating.

Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Mary was born September 10, 1940, in Goodnight to Lloyd and Frances Hearn McCord. She was long time resident of Donley County. Mary married John Tom Morrow September 11, 1999, in Cloudcroft, New Mexico. She enjoyed sewing, counted cross stitching and cooking. Mary was member of the First Baptist Church in Clarendon.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister-in-law’s, Jessica McCord; and uncle, Thad Carroll.

She is survived by her husband, John Tom Morrow; son, Gary Price of San Antonio, Texas; sister, Sue Hardy of Clarendon and brother, Lloyd McCord of Hawley, Texas; three sister in laws, Marti Price of Fort Worth, Mary A. Brown of Amarillo, and Ina Blassingame of Mineral Wells; brother-in-law, Earl Morrow and wife Sharyn of Clarendon; aunt, Cora Lee Carroll of White Deer; and niece, Angelia Price of Fort Worth; a cousin, Curtis Phillips and wife Pam of Pampa and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Salvation Army.

Jerry Don Courtney, born October 4, 1939, in Wills Point, Texas, to Albert and Lottie Courtney passed away Thursday, January 20, 2022 at his home in Amarillo.

With the help of his daughter, Courtney hosted an open house for his friends and family for three days before his passing. He lived and enjoyed life to the fullest and left it the same way.

Courtney grew up in Wills Point and graduated from Will Point High School in 1956. He attended The University of Texas in Austin before serving his country in the U.S. Air Force. He graduated with honors from The University of Texas in Arlington in 1967. While at UTA, he played minor league baseball with the Lewisville Merchants.

He earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1970 from The University of Texas School of Law in Austin. He began his career in Amarillo with the Underwood Law Firm before forming the Lowe & Courtney Law Firm in Clarendon, TX.

In his professional and personal life, he defended those who had no defense and received numerous awards for serving underprivileged communities.

He leaves behind his daughter, Emily Bayle, her husband; twin grandsons; brother Maston Courtney of Waco; sister Elaine “Sissy” Foster of Carrollton; nieces and nephews; cousins; and the many friends he cherished. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Dr. Albert K. Courtney.

Honorary pallbearers are Maston Courtney, Tom Paniszczyn, J.C. Fowler, John Homer, Danny Mayfield, and Tim Young.

Because of dangers associated with gatherings at this time, his memorial service will be postponed until late March or early April. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a charity or cause close and meaningful to you.

Alma Jean Laney, 87, of Clarendon, passed away at home.

Services will be at a later date in Hobbs, New Mexico.

Local arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

She was preceded in death by her two husbands, one son, and two grandsons.

She is survived by her children, Donna and William Esman, one son, David Trest, and her daughter and caregiver, Patricia Trest of the home.

She is also survived by six grandchildren, many great grandchildren, and many great great grandchildren.

Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com

Vivian Dobbs was born Mar 4, 1929 to parents Burney Vandivere and Vivian Brown in Wellington.

Vivian graduated from Wellington High School and later married her best friend Malcolm Nathan Dobbs on Sept. 3, 1947. This union produced five children: Michael L. Dobbs, Travis L. Dobbs (deceased), Thomas K. Dobbs, David Bruce Dobbs and Laura Lynne Miser, as well as 10 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren. They eventually settled in Fritch after moving from Borger.

While at Fritch, she was active in her church and community and established Fritch Meals on Wheels in which she participated for 10 years. She also worked at the Fritch Eagle Press and Fritch Museum.
Vivian was a wonderful wife and extraordinary mother and grandmother and was very active in community and Church. Later she moved to Clarendon in 2007 where she worked for a short time in the Library. As ever, she was active in her church and volunteered to support mission work in Lesoto Africa by helping to sew hundreds of school bags for their local children. Although in failing eyesight, she continued to prepare hundreds of loaves of pumpkin bread shared anonymously to Clarendon Meals on Wheels and sent cards of encouragement to local residents.

She was also an avid reader and loved music. Surprisingly, some of her favorites were artists Bob Seeger and the Eagles. Vivian was always full of life and laughter even as age and infirmity limited her ability to be as active as she once was.

She was loved by all who knew her and especially her children and grandchildren. Her enthusiasm and spirit will be long remembered.

Graveside services were held at Westlawn Memorial Park, 8547 Hwy 136 Fritch, on Jan 19, 2022. Vivian will lie in repose at the Minton Chatwell Funeral Home, at Broadway and Canadian, Fritch, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family request that remembrances be sent to Clarendon Meals on Wheels, 115 S 4th, Clarendon Texas, 79226. Phone: 806 874 2665.

Jimmy Paul Booth, 65, of Memphis passed away on Friday, January 14, 2022, in Childress.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at the First Assembly of God Church in Memphis with Dale Griswald, officiating. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Memphis.

Jimmy Paul Booth was born on February 22, 1956, in Memphis, to Bluford and Eula Stevens Booth. He was one of seven children. Jimmy graduated from Memphis High School and was a lifelong resident of Hall County. He married Ann Brown on December 5, 1976, in Memphis. Jimmy worked as a mechanic for Chamberlin Motors in Clarendon for 20 years before shifting careers. He later retired from TxDOT after 17 and a half years of service.

Jimmy attended the First Assembly of God Church in Memphis. He enjoyed spending time in God’s word and praying. He had a love for racing and racecars. He was a Kansas City Chiefs fan who never missed a football game. He also enjoyed reminiscing about his high school football days with his friends. Above all, Jimmy loved his grandkids and spent as much time with them as he could.

He is preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Bobby and Kenneth Booth; and two sisters, Mary Middleton and Lavern Booth.

He is survived by his wife, Ann Booth of Memphis; son, Johnny Booth of Memphis; three daughters, Lisa Booth and husband, Daniel, of Memphis, Janita Booth of Memphis, and Jennifer Benedict of Fort Walton Beach, Fl; two brothers, Don and Allen Booth; 14 grandchildren, Mary, Isaac, Alissa, Jordan, Elijah, Zachary, Joshua, Madison, Isaiah, Kyler, Emily, Lucas, Matiana, and Savannah; three great-grandchildren, Riley, Gracie, and Timothy; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Sign our online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com.

Joe Charles Poole, 72, of Hedley passed away on Saturday, January 8, 2022, at his home.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at the Hedley First Baptist Church with Rev. Bruce Howard, officiating. Burial followed in Rowe Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors in Clarendon.

Joe Charles Poole was born on May 21, 1949, to Bobbie Joe and Doris Covington. He was later adopted by his stepdad, William A. Poole, Jr. He graduated from Wichita Falls High School. He worked in the oilfield and was an airplane mechanic for 15 years at Tradewinds Airport. He was very talented in lots of areas and would gladly share and train anyone who wanted to learn. He was a paramedic for Clarendon EMS for about 10 years. He was a Deacon at the First Baptist Church in Hedley. He loved doing mission work in Haiti, the Children’s home, and other missionary work. He was the Assistant Chief of the Hedley Fire Department for many years. He loved working with the firefighters. Joe was a father figure and mentor to many. He married Lucy Cox in 1975.

He was preceded in death by his Dad, adopted dad, mother, sisters, Pamela Haas and Carole Poole.
Joe is survived by his wife, Lucy; daughter, Jennifer Ingraham; grandchildren Ashton Wansbrough and Cheyenne Ingraham; brother, Forest Poole; sister, Sue Gatewood and husband, Travis; niece, Crystal Lowrey and husband, Frank, who were our rock taking care of Mom; many nephews, nieces, and an ex-wife, Coco Partridge.

Thank you to Clarendon EMS, Hedley Fire, family, and friends for being there for Joe and me. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Hedley Vol. Fire Dept., PO Box 275, Hedley, TX 79237, Clarendon EMS, Rowe Cemetery, or Hedley Sr. Citizens.

Naomi “Joyce” Woodard, of Hedley passed away on Friday, January 7, 2022.

Private services will be held. A memorial luncheon will be held Saturday, January 15, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Hedley Fellowship Hall.

Cremation & Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Joyce was born on January 5, 1935 in Amarillo, Texas to Sam and Flora Sanders. She attended Hedley High School and married Toby Woodard on May 23, 1953. They resided in Hedley where they raised their family.

Joyce’s children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were the pride and joy of her life. The legacy of Joyce’s kind spirit, passion for sports and love of cooking will live on through them. Joyce “Nana” loved being surrounded by family, she enjoyed when everyone came together and sang along to the guitar. If you ever met Joyce she instantly became your Nana and she would make sure you left her house with a full belly and a cold glass of sweet tea.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband Toby Woodard; two sons Raymond and Randy Woodard; her parents Sam and Flora Sanders; five sisters, Lillian Fowler and husband Jimmy; Oretha Potts and husband James; Betty McGuire and husband Charle; Jean Rice; Sammy Housden and husband Kenneth; brother-in-law Frank Lindsey; two great grandchildren, Joseph and Shaley Wootten.

Joyce is lovingly survived by her two daughters, Kim and Jonny King of Hedley; Twannah and Eric Hall of Borger; her daughter-in-law Nancy Woodard of Hedley; eight grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; one Brother Tracy Sanders and wife Sharon; three sisters Helen Lindsey, Tobytha Wiggins and husband Billy and Delores Simpson and husband Terry.

Family requests that memorials be sent to the Memphis Convalescence Center in Memphis.

Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com

Patsy Blanks Spier, 92, of Hedley passed away on December 29, 2021, in Memphis.
Memorial services will be held at a later date.

Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Patsy was born in Hedley, Texas, on her mother’s birthday, March 4, 1929. The last of seven children born to Roy C. Blanks and Ruby (Sanford) Blanks. She attended Hedley School and graduated in 1946. She married Windoal C. Spier on April 16, 1945. She then finished school while he was overseas in World War II in the Army. Three children were born to this union; Patricia Kathleen (Kathy), David Windoal and Jacey Lynn. Patsy was a “stay-at-home” Mom until they were in High School. She loved to have a homemade “treat” for them when they came home from school, especially when they were in grade school.

She worked 7 years for Burlington Industries in Memphis, Texas, being an inspector for the sheet factory and then payroll clerk in the office, 19 years as a Beauty Consultant for Eckerd Drug in Ft. Worth where she won many awards and accolades, and 15 years as Directors of Hedley Senior Citizens where she retired in August 2017 along with Kathy; she and Kathy worked hard for the new Senior Citizen building.

She enjoyed going to the Hedley Methodist Church; she was a member at the church since her early teens, was a member of the Hedley Lioness Club, and Clarendon Red Hatters. She was an avid reader and she met one of her favorite writers, Jodi Thomas. Jodi knew her as “Aunt Pat” and she even wrote one book with “Aunt Pat” as a main character. Even Pat Boone (her favorite celebrity) sent her a birthday wish and an autographed picture for her 80th birthday (of course Kathy wrote to him and asked him for it and he was gracious enough to do it.)

She was preceded in death by her husband, Windoal Claud; one son, David Windoal; her parents, Ruby and Roy Blanks; sister, Merylene Sargent; five brothers, Charles, Leroy, Joe, Don, and Jack Blanks.

She is survived by her daughter, Kathy Spier of the home; son, Jack and wife, Shirley, of Burleson, TX; three grandchildren, Marci Spier of Portland, Oregon (daughter of David and Judy (Leggitt)), Jennifer (Spier) Harris (daughter of Jack and Shirley) and husband, Rosco, of Burleson, and Christopher (son of Jack and Shirley) and wife, Kendra, of Burleson; 6 great-grandchildren, Emory, Dasia, Amiya, Hannah, Josh, and Caleb. She had many friends and she had much family who loved her. She had many nieces and nephews; some were in the 5th generation.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Patsy Blanks Spier please visit our Sympathy Store.

Jeane Spencer Bartlett, 95, of Amarillo, Texas, died on January 2, 2022.

Memorial services under the direction of Boxwell Brothers will be at 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at First Baptist Church Chapel with Dr. Howard K. Batson officiating. Private graveside services will be at Llano Cemetery.

Jeane was born on July 8, 1926, in Gilmer, Texas, the twin daughter of Lorene McCaslin Spencer and Woody Lee Spencer, Sr. Her twin was Imogene Spencer.

She was a long-time member of First Baptist Church and a member of the Ruth Class.

She attended school in Clarendon and Draughon’s Business College in Amarillo. She was a 55-year employee of the Amarillo Globe News (1945-2001). She held several positions with the newspaper beginning with five years in the Classified Advertising Department. She became secretary to a number of the executives in 1950 and in 1972 was named the newspaper’s first Personnel Director, a position she held until retirement. She directed the newspaper-sponsored National Spelling Bee for over 30 years.

She married Harry Bartlett, also a Globe News employee, in 1959.

Jeane was active in the community and volunteered with a number of organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce. The Women’s Division named her the first Woman of the Year in 1990. She was secretary to the board of the Amarillo Chapter of the American Red Cross. Amarillo Women’s Network honored her with a lifetime achievement award. She was inducted into the Panhandle Press Hall of Fame in 2004. In 1993, Jeane was the recipient of a special award given by the Newspaper Personnel Relations Association for her work in the human resource field. She was honored by West Texas State University with the Distinguished Service Award. She participated in Leadership Texas in 1987 and was a lifetime member of Beta Sigma Phi.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Harry Moody Bartlett, her twin sister, Imogene, three brothers, Woody Lee Spencer, Jr., Jack Howard Spencer, and Morris Mack Spencer.

Jeane is survived by several nieces and nephews.

The family requests that memorial donations are made to First Baptist Church of Amarillo, Texas.