Obituaries

Memorial services for Martha Lou “Marty” Moore, age 61, were held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 30, 2003, in Robertson Funeral Chapel of Memories in Clarendon.  Cremation took place on Tuesday, January 28.  Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mrs. Moore died Sunday, January 26, 2003, in Howardwick.  She was born July 26, 1941, in Springfield, Missouri. She had been a long time resident of Amarillo and had also resided in the Clarendon and Howardwick area since 2001.  She married Jack R. Moore on January 1, 1973, in Las Vegas, Nevada. She had worked as a clerk and was a partner with her husband as a truck driving team for seven years. She also was involved in rare coin and gun shows around the area.  She was a member of the NRA and was a Methodist.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Teresa Kay Orcutt, in 1998.

Survivors include her husband, Jack R. Moore of Amarillo and Howardwick; four daughters, Trisha Stewart of Cheyenne, Wyoming; Rebecca Moore of Houston; Deanna Wooley and Jacqueline Mature both of New Waverly, Texas; two sons, Rodney Stewart of Amarillo and Duane Stewart of Enterprise, Alabama; one sister, Charlotte Hines of Alamosa, Colorado; an aunt and uncle, Eugene and Aileen Ferguson of North Glen, Colorado; 14 grandchildren; and 3 great grandchildren.

Graveside services for Minnie Christine Self, age 82, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 4, 2003, in the Claude Cemetery with Rev. Janet Edwards, Pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Claude, officiating.  Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mrs. Self died Sunday, February 2, 2003, in Claude.  She was born August 2, 1920, in Hill County, Texas, and came to Kress at age 3 with her parents, Joe and Minnie Kurth Bontke.  She attended schools in Taylor and Kress.  She married Henry Dee Self on September 28, 1944, at Plainview.  They lived in Plainview and Seth Ward for 42 years before moving to Claude in 1982.  Mrs. Self was a homemaker, baby sitter, and a quilter.  She was also a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and sister.  She was a Lutheran.

She was preceded in death by her husband in August 1991 and by four brothers, Joe Bontke, Max Bontke, Leon Bontke, and Alois Bontke.

Survivors include one daughter, Debbie Norman and husband Ricky of Claude; one son Mart Self and wife Regina of Amarillo; two sisters, Gusty Bontke of Amarillo and Ruth Young of Kress; one brother, Ernest Bontke and wife Lillie of Ford, Kansas; four grandchildren, Steve Self and wife Lisa of Amarillo, Kent Norman and wife Michele of Claude; Jeremy Self of Amarillo, and Shala Parker and husband Les of Lubbock; and four great grandchildren, Haley, Sarah, Madison, and Heather; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Honorary bearers were Steve Self, Shala Parker, Kent Norman, and Jeremy Self.

The family requests that memorials be make to the Peoples Church of Amarillo, PO Box 3309, Amarillo, TX 79116 or Claude EMS Fund, PO Box 195, Claude, Texas 79019.

Buster Lee Kerlee of Lewisville, 57, died Monday, October 13, 2003, at his home. Private graveside services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 18, 2003, at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.

Mr. Kerlee was born June 29, 1946, in Clarendon to Pete Mirl Kerlee and Lucille Myrl Smith Kerlee Watts.  He served in the US Army from 1966 to 1978.  He was a mechanic for Protow Trucking in Lewisville.  He was a Baptist.

He was preceeded in death by his father, Pete; his mother, Lucille; a half-brother, Carroll Wayne Watts; and his stepfather, James Owens Watts, Sr.

Survivors include one daughter, Sandy Wright of Valley View; two sons, Russell Kerlee of Justin and Joey Stefanatos of Canyon; one sister, Edna Wheeler of Amarillo; two brothers, Billy Kerlee of Clarendon and James Owens Watts of Claude; a stepbrother, James Edward Watts of Clarendon; and eight grandchildren.

Funeral services for Glenn Chester Butler, age 88, were held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2003, in the First Baptist Church in Claude with Dr. Charles Davenport of Tulia, officiating.  Burial was held in the Claude Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Butler died Tuesday, January 21, 2003, in Claude.  He was born Mary 25, 1914, in Weatherford, Texas, and had been a Claude resident much of his life.  He was a farmer and rancher prior to his retirement.  He married Allie Mae Cope on July 4, 1936.  He was a member of the First Baptist Church where he had served as a Deacon, Sunday School Superintendent, and a member of the church choir.  He was an honorary member of the FFA, had been a 4-H leader, and served as a Soil Conservation service Director for 25 years.  He also was a Past President and former Director of the Farm Bureau, and he was instrumental in  helping get Mid Plains Telephone for rural residents.

He was preceded in death by his wife on April 20, 2002, and by a granddaughter, Shana Delin Butler, on January 31, 1974.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Chester and Shirley Butler of Claude; two grandchildren, Kyle Butler of Amarillo and Shelly Allen and husband Pat of Canyon; and two great grandchildren, Tiffany Allen and Tyler Allen, both of Canyon.

Casket bearers were David Butler, Wendell Sanders, Nat McElroy, J.W. Butler, Doug Cope, and Gerald Wood.

The family requests that memorials be to the First Baptist Church in Claude or the Claude Volunteer Fire Department.

Funeral services for Winfred Leldon Chunn, age 75, were held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 18, 2003, in the Paramount Terrace Christian Church in Amarillo with Rev. Roy Wheeler of Amarillo, officiating.  Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Chunn died Wednesday, January 15, 2003, in Amarillo.  He was born October 22, 1927, in Clarendon and had lived in Plainview and Lubbock before moving to Amarillo in 1957.  He was a 1945 graduate of Plainview High School and received his BBA from Texas Tech in 1949.  He married Ira Jean Estlack on September 22, 1972, in Tucumcari, New Mexico.  He was the office manager for Beneficial Finance for much of his life before retiring in 1987.  He was a US Army Veteran of the Korean Conflict, an honorary member of the Panhandle Boat and Ski Club, and a member of the Paramount Terrace Christian Church.

Survivors include his wife, Jean Chunn of Amarillo; one daughter, Cynthia Dowdy of Amarillo; two sons, Mark W. Chunn of Batesville, Arkansas, and Bruce Chunn of Glade Park, Colorado; four step sons, Pat Chilton of Oklahoma City, OK; Mike Chilton of Purcell, OK; Steven Chilton of Pampa; and Lynn Chilton of Lubbock; one sister, Marian Weiss of Amarillo; 17 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; and a nephew, Robert Weiss of Hedley.

The family requests that memorials be to BSA Hospice in Amarillo or Citizens Cemetery Association in Clarendon.

Funeral services for Joy Gibbins Snyder, age 81, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 19, 2003, in the First Baptist Church in Groom with Rev. David Kelly officiating.  Burial was held in Groom Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mrs. Snyder died Thursday, January 16, 2003, in Amarillo.  She was born November 5, 1921, in Groom and was a lifetime Groom resident.  She married Ripley Albert Snyder on January 10, 1942, in Claude.  She had worked as a Ward Clerk at the Groom Hospital and as the Produce Manager at the Groom Grocery.  She was a cook for the Groom Lions Club and baked for the public before her retirement.  She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Groom for many years and had been a Sunday School teacher and then later kept the nursery at the church.

Survivors include her husband R.A. “Rip” Snyder of Heritage Convalescent Center in Amarillo; one son, Jerry Snyder and wife Carolyn of Amarillo; a daughter, Nina Richey and husband Truman of San Angelo; 5 grandchildren, Hallie Snyder of Austin, Kemberly Alexander of Dallas, Marc and Tonya Alexander of Amarillo, Sean and Leticia Richey of Carlsbad, TX, Cory and Jennifer Richey of San Angelo; and 8 great grandchildren.

The casket bearers were Earl Barker, Lynn Barker, Maurice “Cobb” Britten, Chris Britten, Randal Patterson, and Gary Parrish.  Honorary Bearers were A.J. Newsom and Bill Britten.

The family requests the memorials be to the First Baptist Church in Groom.

Richard “Pat” Patterson, age 75, of Amarillo died January 5, 2003, in Amarillo. Graveside services were held Thursday, January 9, 2003, at 10:00 a.m. at Panhandle Cemetery in Panhandle, Texas. The Reverend Robert F. Field officiated.

Mr. Patterson was born in Glastonbury, Connecticut. He served in the United States Navy. Mr. Patterson married Glenda Campbell in Borger on August 17, 1951. They had been married for 51 years. He worked for Phillips for 33 years as a heavy equipment operator, retiring in 1984. The family then moved to Clarendon in 1986 where they raised cattle for the next 15 years. In 2000, he and Glenda moved to Amarillo. Mr. Patterson was a member of St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Clarendon.

Mr. Patterson is survived by his wife Glenda Patterson; two daughters, Cindy Seymour and Joy Howard of Fritch; one son, Richard Patterson, Jr., of Houston; and one sister, Frances Phelps of Hartford, CT.

Oliver Newton “Junior” Patterson, Jr., age 72, of Chico, Texas, died Thursday, January 9, 2003, in Bowie.  Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 13, 2003, at Morris Memorial United Methodist Church in Chico with the Rev. Charles Cox officiating.  Burial was held in Chico Cemetery under the direction of Hawkins Funeral Home in Bridgeport, Texas.

Junior was born on May 4, 1928, in Hedley and was raised in the Clarendon area until moving to Wise County in 1979.  He married Patsy Jo Pointer on July 8, 1970, in Amarillo.  He was formerly a stationary fireman for Santa Fe Railroad.  He was the retired co-owner and operator of Pat’s Trucking in Bridgeport.  He was a member of the Pleasant Valley Methodist Church in Amarillo.

Survivors include his wife of 32  years, Patsy Patterson of Chico; children Rebecca Elam and husband, Wayne of Bridgeport; Susan Murray of Chico; William Choate and wife, Bennie, of Childress; Mary Washburn of Bridgeport; Oliver Newton Patterson, III, of Bridgeport; Kelly Choate and wife, Kim, of Bridgeport; Van Choate and wife, Sherry of Bridgeport; one sister, Inez Hill of Amarillo; 26 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Casket bearers were Walter Amonett, Roger Davidson, Billy Schull, Richard Elam, L.A. West, and Ray Camron.

Fannie McGowan Daugherty died December 14, 2002, in Chula Vista, California. Memorial Services were held in Chula Vista on December 19, 2002, with Reverend Harold Elliot officiating. She taught him in the first grade in Clarendon, and he is now Chaplain of the Arlington Police Department.

Fannie McGowan Daugherty was born September 10, 1919, in Clarendon. She grew up here and attended the local schools from Kindergarten through Clarendon Junior College (as it was known at that time). She graduated from high school at age 16; received a BA degree at West Texas State in Canyon, Texas, at age 20. Her teaching career began that fall.

After two years teaching at Tell Independent School District in Childress County, she returned to her hometown due to her mother’s ill health. There she taught first grade in the same room where she was once a first grade student.

She became victim of chronic hayfever, sinus, and allergy problems. The doctor said, “There is no available serum that will help you. The only solution is for you to move to another climate. I suggest you go to Prescott, Arizona, for relief. Stay one year, come back, and let me check you.”

She lived there three years; two she taught in the local school system. Later she moved to Phoenix and taught in the Creighton District. She taught during the day and attended night classes and Summer school to receive an MA degree in Elementary Education from Arizona State University in Tempe.

Another interesting thing took place while she lived in “The Valley of the Sun;” She met and married her beloved husband, Emmett Daugherty. They continued the westward movement to Chula Vista, California. Fannie taught there until her retirement. This concluded her public school teaching career (and substituting) in three states for thirty years. Once a teacher, always a teacher, so after retirement, she continued to tutor Japanese students in English as a second language, plus American students in her home.

Her life-long desire to travel led her to 49 states, 51 countries, and 6 continents. She kept a journal of her travel, and spent endless hours to record numerous experiences in many albums and scrapbooks.

Emmett preceded her in death in 1983. They both donated their bodies to medical research. There is a memorial marker for Emmett and one for Fannie in the McGowan family plot in the Citizens’ Cemetery in Clarendon.

She is survived by one brother, C.A. Wright of Clarendon; one sister, LaVerne Greene of Palestine, TX; and nine nieces and nephews.

Helena Elizabeth Catoe died at the age of 80 Monday, December 30, 2002, in Amarillo, Texas. Services were held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 1, 2003, in the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon with Reverend Marty Hamrick of Amarillo and Reverend James Ivey Edwards, Pastor, officiating. Burial took place at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with arrangements by Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mrs. Catoe was born February 21, 1922 in Ashtola, Donley County, TX. She was a long time resident of El Paso, and then a resident of Clarendon for several years before moving to Amarillo recently. She was a foster care parent for many years in El Paso. She was a public school math teacher for 28 years before her retirement. After retirement, she was an active volunteer in the Methodist Church in Clarendon. She was recently named to the Globe News Volunteer of the Day for her work at Park Place Towers. She was a member of the Polk Street Methodist Church in Amarillo.

She was preceded in death by an infant son, one brother, and five sisters.

Survivors include one son, Leslie Catoe of Odessa; three grandchildren, Ivy, Daniel, and Bryan; one sister, Willa Cook of Amarillo; 11 nieces and nephews, Joe Lovell of Claude, Jim Lovell of Dumas, David Butler of Dumas, Jan Chandler of Amarillo, Lea Reynolds of Amarillo, Elaine Poovey of Stinnett, Bob Poovey of Yoder, CO, Kenneth Butler of Quanah, Dean Cook of Amarillo, Bill Ramsay of Borger, Patsy Robertson of Clarendon; and numerous great, great-great, and great-great-great nieces and nephews; and many special friends.

Casket bearers were Sam Lowry, Don Williams, Jim Shelton, Paul Bivens, Ted Shaller, Doug Lowe, Jack Moreman, and Williard Skelton.