Obituaries

Funeral services for Don Ella Brinkley, age 64, were held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2003, in the First United Methodist Church in Claude with Brent Childers, Officiating.  Burial was held in Rowe Cemetery in Hedley under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mrs. Brinkley died Tuesday, May 6, 2003, in Amarillo.  She was born January 9, 1939, in Quail, Collingsworth County, Texas, and was an Amarillo resident before moving to Claude in 1990.  She married Robert Clifton Brinkley on January 11, 1958, at Wellington.  He preceded her in death on May 5, 1983.  She was a homemaker and a Baptist.

Survivors include two daughters, Brenda Harclerode and Sharon Lansbury, both of Claude; two sons, David Brinkley and Bryan Brinkley, both of Amarillo; three sisters, Jo Ann Kershner of Wasilla, Alaska; Loetta Gray of Panhandle; and Linda Maddox of New Orleans, Louisiana; four grandchildren; two step grandchildren; and six step great grandchildren.

Funeral services for Bill Williams, age 78, of Andrews were held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 12, 2003, at Means Memorial United Methodist Church in Andrews with Rev. Eddie Marcum, Pastor, officiating.  Burial was held in the Andrews West Cemetery under the direction of McNett Funeral Home of Andrews.

Mr. Williams died Friday, May 9, 2003, at Permian Regional Medical Center in Andrews.  He was born January 24, 1925, in Cumbie, Texas.  He served in the US Navy during WWII.  He married Ruthie Lee Williams on June 28, 1946, in Clarendon.  They moved to Andrews in 1956 from White Deer.  He worked for Magnolia Pipeline, which later became Mobile Pipeline, for 38 years as a mechanic.  He was a member of the Andrews Senior Citizens Center, Andrews Exxon-Mobil Annuitant Club, Andrews Methodist Men, and Means Memorial United Methodist Church in Andrews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruthie Lee Williams, on October 17, 1997; one son, John D. Williams on October 28, 2002; two brothers, Harry and Jimmy Williams; and three sisters, Mary Baker, Louise Dickenson, and Lucille Tidwell.

Survivors include one son, Paul Williams and wife Cathy of Andrews; two grandchildren, Jennifer Clift of Lubbock and Norman Williams of Sherman; and four great grandchildren, Lindsey Clift, Michael Clift, and Nathan Clift of Lubbock and Justin Williams of Sherman.

Memorials may be sent to the Andrews Senior Citizens Center, PO Box 327, Andrews, Texas 79714 and Means Memorials United Methodist Church, 306 NE 1st Street, Andrews, Texas 79714.

Services for Opal Kae Maxey were held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 1, 2003, in Robertson Chapel of Memories with Rev. Rob Seale, Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church, officiating.  Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mrs. Maxey was born January 9, 1924, in Childress and had been a resident of Clarendon most of her life before moving to Amarillo 4 years ago.  After the death of her first husband Forrest J. Helton, she married Malcolm Warren Maxey on February 28, 1949; and he preceded her in death on June 14, 1987. 

She had worked as a manager at Allsups Convenience Stores for several years prior to her retirement.  She most enjoyed dancing, being with her family members, and attending family reunions.

Mrs. Maxey was preceded in death by two daughters, Joyce Sutton and Mary Wells; and a brother, Bobby Hudson.

Survivors include four daughters, Wanda Roulett of Kileen. Maxine Wleczyk of Baytown, Pam Williams of Brady, and Ruby Dethrage of Buena Vista, Colorado; six sons, Phillip M. Helton of Amarillo, Bobby D. Helton of Hugoton, Kansas, Jasper Maxey of Dalhart, Gary Maxey of Dalhart, Gary Maxey of Amarillo, Warren Maxey of Canyon, Johnny Helton of Albertville, Alabama; two sisters, Jane Stevens of Clarendon, and Lola Sexton of Amarillo; 33 grandchildren; 27 great grandchildren; and numerous great great grandchildren.

Casket bearers were Phillip Helton, Monte Helton, Brandon Helton, Byron Helton, T.J. Maxey, Chad Maxey, and Zachariah Maxey.

Services for John W. Middleton, 56, of Memphis were held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, May 1, 2003, at the First Assembly of God with Rev. Carl Copeland officiating.  Burial was in Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Hughs Funeral Home in Memphis.

Mr. Middleton died Monday, April 28, 2003, in Memphis.

He was born on April 20, 1947, in Chestertown, Maryland, to the late Mr. Thomas Middleton and Mrs. Ruth Lynch.  He attended schools in Cincinnati, Ohio.  He moved to Memphis in 1969 from Clarendon.  He married Mary Booth on April 6, 1968, in Memphis.  He worked as an inspector at Bird Song, Inc.

Mr. Middleton was preceded in death by his sister, Virginia Taylor.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Middleton of Memphis; one son, Danny Middleton and wife Melody of Memphis; one daughter, Julie Morris and husband Michael of Clarendon; one brother, Harold Middleton of Amarillo; and two grandchildren, Kenzy Middleton of Memphis; and Casen Morris of Clarendon.

Jessie Elizabeth Drennan, age 91, of Vernon, Texas, died Tuesday, April 8, 2003, at a Frederick, Oklahoma, nursing home.

Graveside services were held on April 12 at 11 a.m. in Eastview Cemetery with Rev. Irl Holt officiating.  Interment was under the direction of Sullivan Funeral Home of Vernon.

Ms. Drennan was born May 12, 1911, in Vernon a daughter of the late Matthew and Elizabeth Martin Swinburn.  She married W.T. Drennan on June 16, 1935, in Clarendon.  He preceded her in death in 1978.  She attended Clarendon College and McMurry College and started a teaching career in Ashtola and Anson.  She returned to Vernon in 1957 to teach one year at Lockett High School; then she was a teacher at Shive Elementary School and Vernon Intermediate School.  She retired in 1976.  She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Vernon.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and one daughter, Christy Drennan in 1992.

She is survived by two daughters, Robbin Pelton of Amarillo and Judith Richardson of Mesquite; five grandchildren, Danny Pelton, Kimberly Higby, Elizabeth Kirchdorfer, Greg Henry, and Tara Carr; seven great grandchildren; two great great grandchildren; and special friends, Jan and Art Bergman and Mike Clayton.

Funeral services for Olace Hicks, age 85, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, 2003, in the Community Fellowship Church with Rev.Bryan Knowles, Pastor; Bright Newhouse, Minister of the Hedley Church of Christ; and Rev. James Ivey Edwards, Pastor of the First United Methodist Church, officiating.  Burial was held at Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Hicks died Friday, April 25, 2003, in Amarillo.  He was born June 6, 1917, in Fannin County, Texas, and had been a resident of Clarendon since 1947.  He married Billie Blanche Fedric on July 25, 1938, at Cone, Texas.  She preceded him in death on October 25, 1989.  He married Madelyn Amey Jones on November 10, 1992, at Clarendon.  He was a heavy equipment operator involved in road construction for most of his life prior to his retirement.  He was a US Navy Veteran of World War II and was a member of the Clarendon VFW Post 7782.  He was a member of the Donley County Senior Citizens Association and the Senior Citizens Dance Club.  He was a former Deacon in the Martin Baptist and First Baptist Churches, and he was a former Donley County Commissioner.  He was a member of the Community Fellowship Church in Clarendon.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, four sisters, two brothers, one half-sister, and a grandson, David Wayne Hicks.

Survivors include his wife, Madelyn Hicks of Clarendon; one daughter, Loretta Harrison of Amarillo; a step-daughter, Pat Sellers and husband Michael of Houston; two sons, Jerry Hicks and wife Mary John of Quail and Larry Hicks and wife Donna of Clarendon; a step-son, Robert E. Jones, Jr., and wife Donna of Vienna, Virginia; nine grandchildren; 4 step grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; and 5 step great grandchildren.

Casket bearers were Steve Reynolds, Delmar Wiggs, Bud White, Nelson Christie, Johnny Davis, and Will Chamberlain.  Honorary bearers were Steve Fedric and Al Musgrove.

The family requests memorials be made to the Citizens Cemetery Association or the Donley County Senior Citizens.

Funeral services for De Lois Reese, age 74, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, 2003, in the True Church of God in Christ in Clarendon. Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Ms. Reese died Monday, April 21, 2003, in Clarendon.  She was born December 13, 1928, in Dallas and attended school there.  She had been a Clarendon resident most of her adult life.  She was a homemaker and had worked in private homes and had been employed at Medical Center Nursing Home for ten years prior to her retirement.  She was a member of the True Church of God in Christ.

She was preceded in death by two sons, Calvin Reese and Freddie Reese.

Survivors include one daughter, Eva Wilson of Clarendon; one son, Alvin Reese of Clarendon; two sisters, Lou Ethel Edison of Illinois and Erma Lee Scott of California; one brother, Walter Reese of Clarendon; six grandchildren; three great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Casket bearers were Kenneth Bryley, Tyrone Calloway, Danny Gaines, Clemmon Weatherton, Loyd Weatherton, and David Weatherton.  Honorary bearers were Willie Weatherton, Howard Weatherton, Bobby Weatherton, and Charles Calloway.

Funeral services for Jack Thomas Leeper, age 67, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, 2003, in the Community Fellowship Church in Clarendon with Rev. Bryan Knowles, pastor, officiating.  Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Leeper died Tuesday, April 8, 2003, in Amarillo.  He was born January 29, 1936, at Washburn, Texas, and had been a resident of Donley County most of his life.  He married Scharlett Sue Banister on May 22, 1958, at Hedley. He was employed by the Texas Department of Transportation for 27 years, before retiring as Asst. Supervisor in 1998. He was a member and Deacon of the Community Fellowship Church.  He had also served as a Deacon of the Martin Baptist and First Baptist Churches.  He was a music director at the Martin Baptist Church for 15 years and had served as music director at many revivals and provided special music for many other events.

He was preceded in death by twin daughters, Lonna Sue and Donna Lou in 1961, his parents, one sister, and one brother.

Survivors include his wife, Sue Leeper of Clarendon; two daughters, Anna Gay Leeper of Friona and Scharla Miller of Claude; two sons, Tommy Leeper and Bryan Leeper, both of Clarendon; one sister, Lafern Gibson of New Jersey; three brothers, Wilburn Leeper of Quitaque, Benny Leeper of Belton, and Verrell Leeper of Kansas; and eight grandchildren.

Funeral services for Marie Reynolds McCracken, age 91, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, April 14, 2003, in Robertson Chapel of Memories in Clarendon with Rev. Bryan Knowles, Pastor of Community Fellowship Church, and Rev. Darrell Burton, Pastor of Martin Baptist Church, officiating.  Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mrs. McCracken died Saturday, April 12, 2003, in Amarillo.  She was born August 5, 1911, in Clark County, Arkansas. She had been a resident of Alanreed before moving to Clarendon 30 years ago. She married George McCracken on November 7, 1931, in Clarendon. She graduated from Groom Medical Nursing School and had worked as an LVN for 26 years at the Groom, Shamrock, and McLean Hospitals.  She retired from the McLean Hospital after 13 years of service and then worked at Medical Center Nursing Home in Clarendon for six years before her final retirement.  She was a member of the LVN Association, the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, and was a volunteer with Meals on Wheels for several years.  She was a member of the Martin Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George McCracken on May 2, 1964; by a daughter, Patsy McCracken Cox in 1987; two sons, Bobby Lee McCracken in 1932 and George Dale McCracken in 1934; by three sisters; and by five brothers.

Survivors include one daughter, Peggy Cockerham of Howardwick; one son, Ronald McCracken of Houston; two sisters, Lorene McAnear of Clarendon and Martiel Webb of Amarillo; 12 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; and 3 great great grandchildren.

Casket bearers were grandsons of Mrs. McCracken.

Funeral services for William Dee Wurst, age 56, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2003, in the First United Methodist Church in Claude with Rev. Janet Edwards, Pastor, officiating. Burial was held at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Wurst died Monday, March 31, 2003, in Amarillo.  He was born March 12, 1947, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and had lived in Amarillo most of his life.  He was employed for several years by the City of Amarillo.  He was a Christian.

He was preceded in death by his father, Henry F. Wurst, in 1995; a sister, Marjorie Albertena Wurst in 1943, and a brother, Henry Francis Wurst in 1989.

Survivors include his mother and step-father, Tena and Billy M. Powell of Claude; and four brothers, Robert H. Wurst of Gainesville, Texas; Thomas E. Sanders of Amarillo; Anthony Lee Wurst of Seattle, Washington; and James V. Wurst of Houma, Louisiana.