Obituaries

Graveside services for Annie Sue Hollar, age 95, of Paducah were held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 29, 2002, in Dumont Cemetery with Paul Smith and Curtis Smith officiating.  Arrangements were under the direction of Seigler Funeral Home.

Mrs. Hollar died Saturday, September 28, 2002.  She was born September 1, 1907, in Russellville, Alabama, to Doc and Viola Horton Thompson.  She married Clyde Hollar on September 11, 1936.

Survivors include a son, Burl Hollar of Clarendon; two sisters, Beatrice Smith of Matador and Viola Slover of Lubbock; four grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.

Funeral services for Jerrie Lou Bennett, age 72, at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 1, 2002, in the Clarendon Church of Christ with Billy Jones of Jericho, and Eddie Stegall, minister, officiating.  Burial was held in Claude Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc. of Clarendon.

Mrs. Bennett died Saturday, September 28, 2002, in Amarillo.  She was born January 25, 1930 in Hereford and was a resident of Washburn before moving to Clarendon 15 years ago.  She had worked as a home health nurse for 20 years before her retirement.  She married Ova Vestal Bennett on October 13, 1970, at Amarillo, Potter County, Texas.  He preceded her in death on February 13, 1997.  She was a member of the Clarendon Church of Christ.

She was preceded in death by a granddaughter and a brother.

Survivors include four sons, F.L. Pate of Houston; Danny Bennett, Dickie Bennett, and Larry Bennett, all of Clarendon; four daughters, Deborah Cox of Clarendon, Janice Perales of Houston, Donna Bennett of Amarillo, and Tonja Ruthardt of Clarendon; two brothers, Danny Pounds of Capitan, New Mexico, and Sammy Pounds of White Water, Missouri; three sisters, Martha Wilson and Dee Jameson, both of Fort Stockton, and Betty Pounds of Bernalillo, New Mexico; 14 grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren.

Casket bearers were Craig Cobb, Greg Bennett, Chris Cox, Brayden Bennett, Teal Bennett, and Tate Bennett.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to BSA Hospice in Amarillo.

Graveside services for Sibyl Rattan Jones, age 84, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 3, 2002, in Citizens Cemetery 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.

Mrs. Jones died Saturday, September 28, 2002, in Clarendon.  She was born February 15, 1918, in Cooper, Delta County, Texas and came to Clarendon with her parents at an early age.  She worked as a “Rosie Riveter” during World War II in a Dallas-Fort Worth Aircraft Plant.  Afterwards, she returned to Clarendon where she was a businesswoman engaged in rental property management.  She was a resident of Medical Center Nursing Home for the past 20 years, where she was involved in many of the activities of the home and enjoyed the staff and other residents whom she considered her extended family.

Survivors include one daughter, Dr. Charlotte Paul, LTC, of Clarendon; one son, Rick Rattan of Clarendon; one brother, Johnny Rattan of Duncan, Oklahoma; two sisters, Annese Bennett of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Bernese Moreland of Lowell, Arkansas; five grandchildren; and one great grandchild.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Donley County Senior Citizens Association in Clarendon.

Funeral services for C.E. Monroe, age 80, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 7, 2002, in Lemons Memorial Chapel in Plainview, with the Rev. Jack Huston, from Houston, officiating.  Burial was held in Parklawn Memorial Gardens.

Mr. Monroe died Thursday, September 5, 2002.  He was born in Byars on October 9, 1921.  He was raised in Hedley and attended schools there and also in the Cousins Community.  He moved to Plainview in 1937.  He joined the Army in 1942 as an anti-aircraft gunner.  He farmed with Monroe Brothers northwest of Plainview.  On July 1, 1960, he married Dorothy Rullie in Plainview.  He was a member of Finney Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Elzie and Donald Max Monroe.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Angela Monroe of Palm Dale, California, and Toka Ray Hamlett of Lubbock; three sons, Bobby Monroe, Carroll Monroe, Jr., and Alan Lee Monroe, all of Plainview; four sisters, Opal Messer of Clarendon, Mary Keisling of Dumas, Doris Evelynn Morgan of Plainview, and JoAnn Felder of Sunray; ten grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.

Clytis Pebble Rogers Blackerby, age 89, died Tuesday, September 17, 2002, in Clarendon.  Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 21, 2002, in First Baptist Church in Clarendon with Truman Ledbetter, pastor, officiating.  Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., in Clarendon.

Mrs. Blackerby was born in Eastland County, Texas, on May 11, 1913, to Raymond R. Rogers, Sr., and Martha Elisabeth “Bessie” Rogers.  She grew up in Anson, Texas.  On  March 28, 1931, she married Lester Blackerby in Stamford, Texas.  They moved to Clarendon in December 1980 when both retired.  Mrs. Blackerby had worked as a retail clerk, but since her first love was her Lord, followed by her family and the church, she was happiest serving as a pastor’s wife.

Mrs. Blackerby was preceded in death by her husband, Lester; her parents; and her brother, Raymond R. “Jack” Rogers, Jr.  She is survived by a sister, Mary Jo Hestand, of Temple and a brother, James Marvin “Jimmy” Rogers of Lubbock who is also a Baptist minister.

Survivors also include five children and their spouses, Jerry Roger and Billie Ruth Blackerby of Quitman, Texas; Jackie Dell and Tommy Ricks of Mineola, Texas; James Lester “Jim” and Carolyn Blackerby; Jo Ann and Leonard “Tex” Selvidge; and Beth and Jeff Walker, all of Clarendon; 21 grandchildren; 52 great grandchildren; and five great great grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials be to First Baptist Church in Clarendon where Mrs. Blackerby was a faithful member.

Funeral services for Carrie L. Kirkland, age 89, were held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 23, 2002, at N.S. Griggs and Sons Chapel in Amarillo with Wyley Chaney and Jacky Martin officiating.  Burial was held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, September 23, 2002, at Rowe Cemetery in Hedley under the direction of N.S. Griggs and Sons Funeral Directors in Amarillo.

Mrs. Kirkland died September 19, 2002, in Amarillo.  She was born on October 12, 1912, at Okmulgee, Oklahoma.  She married Curtis Kirkland at Lakeview in January 1934.  She owned and operated her farm at Hedley.  She enjoyed driving the tractor, plowing, planting, etc.  She also worked at a sheet factory in Memphis for several years starting in 1961.  She moved to Amarillo in 1980. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hedley.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Curtis Kirkland, in May 1978.

Survivors include four daughters, Georgia Forkner and Joan Wagner, both of Amarillo, Joyce Walter and husband, Walt, of Amarillo, and Barbara Escamilla and husband, Froy, of San Antonio; two sons, Cleo Kirkland and wife, Judy, of Panhandle, and James Kirkland of Clarendon; two sisters, Patsy Newsom of Meridian, California; and Venita Wortham of Live Oak, California; thirteen grandchildren; and nineteen great grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Crown of Texas Hospice or to Make a Wish.

William Smith “Bill” Montgomery, age 88, of Clarendon and Memphis, Texas, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, September 17, 2002.

Services were be at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 19, 2002, at the First Presbyterian Church in Clarendon with Lay Pastor Rick Massick officiating.  Burial were Citizen’s Cemetery in Clarendon.  Arrangements were by Robertson Funeral Directors in Clarendon.

Mr. Montgomery was born in Clarendon on February 6, 1914.  He grew up in the home that is still occupied by his nephew, Montye Smith and wife, Linda.  He received his education in the Clarendon schools.  He continued his education as an apprentice to his father in farming and ranching.  His father, Will and twin brother, Jim, homesteaded land in Hall County when they were 18 years of age in 1890.  He was always mindful of his heritage and remained a faithful steward o the land he farmed and ranched.

He and his brothers, Paul and Joe Montgomery, owned and operated independent farming and ranching businesses in Hall County.  His children and his nephews and nieces continue their connection to the land.  Cattle ranching was not only Bill’s vocation but also his hobby.  He was one of those rare individuals who truly loved what he did for a profession.  His cow horses worked with him and for him and were his loyal friends.  He was still riding his horse at 80 years of age, even though he had to have a lift up.  He never really retired.  He bought and sold cattle this past year.

Mr. Montgomery’s work ethic has been passed on to his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and nieces and nephews. He taught them “if something is worth doing, it is worth doing well.”  He taught them the value of a good education.  He challenged them “to lead the way regardless of the task.” He told them “get up and get back on” when the horse threw them.  He believed that his children should “rise and shine and listen to the birdies sing.”  As a survivor of the depression era, he always remembered the importance of saving, never wasting a dime, and protecting what he had earned.  He believed and lived the truisms, “a penny saved is a penny earned” and “waste not, want not.”

He married Faye R. Higgins on July 1, 1934, in the parlor of the First Presbyterian Church of Memphis.  Three children were born to them, JoAnne Montgomery Moore, William Grady Montgomery, and Sherry Noel Montgomery Semrad.  Grady preceded his father in death in 1969.

Mr. Montgomery was a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church in Clarendon, where he served as an elder just like his father before him.  His parents were the first couple to marry in the First Presbyterian Church of Clarendon.

Survivors include two daughters, JoAnne Moore and husband James of Canyon Lake, Texas, and Sherry Semrad and husband James of Tucson, Arizona; five grandchildren, Terri Truitt Griffiths and husband John of Houston, Tanya Truitt Puroff and husband Chris of Amarillo, Melissa Semrad and husband Marco Vera of St. Paul, Minnesota, Matt Semrad and wife Shelly Watkins of Dallas, Michelle Semrad of Los Angeles, California; five great grandchildren, Nicholas and Leah Puroff of Amarillo, Katrin Snider and Mateo Vera of St. Paul and Ari Vaclav Hardarson of Los Angeles.

He leaves with them memories of a truly unique individual.  He nicknamed each and every family member from “Dogface” and “Hinkly-Dink” to “Holy Terror,” “Tiger Tom,” “Ye Ole Melissa,” “Matt Dillon,” and “Mee Shell.”  They treasure the “RrrranDadisms,” such as “I’m gonna cleanup the car and take it dancing” or “rattle my hocks.”  He loved dancing to “Star Dust,” “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” and other Big Band music.  He loved singing hymns accompanied by his mother or at church.  He said, “I want to keep climbing to another branch on the tree and be careful about breaking a limb on the way up.” Even as his health failed, sparks of humor surfaced.  He answered a question about how he was feeling with a quip, “Oh, about 20.”

His grandson, Matt, read and re-read Pearl Buck’s The Good Earth because the book strongly brought his Granddad to mind. He thinks the central character misses his Granddad’s affection, toughness, and humor.  Nevertheless, many of the passages are reminiscent of the life Granddad lived.  As he leaves us this autumn, the harvest is bountiful from the seeds he has sewn.  He is proud of his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  He is the last of the real cowboys.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William M. and Sarah; brothers Paul and Joe; and his sister, Edna Louise Smith.  Three other siblings, John Calvin, Clara Careen, and Willie Clinton died in early childhood.

The family suggests that memorial be made to the First Presbyterian Church in Clarendon or to BSA Hospice of Amarillo.

Private graveside services for Mary Kathryn Hennessy Johnson were held at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 17, 2002, at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Denver, Colorado. 

Mrs. Johnson passed away September 13, 2002, at Clarendon Medical Center Nursing Home in the loving arms of her daughter, Annie, and surrounded by the loving staff of the home.

Mrs. Johnson, affectionately known as Marzie, was born in Joplin, Missouri.  Although Marzie refused to confirm the year of her birth, it is believed she was born June 16, 1909.

Marzie married Napier E. Johnson in Kansas City, Missouri, and the couple moved to Denver in the 1940’s.  Mr. Johnson preceded her in death in 1974.  Mrs. Johnson moved to Amarillo in 1988 and to Clarendon in 1995.

In Clarendon, for several years, she lived with special caregivers, Mike and Suzie Rhinehart, their sons and loving daughter, Sage.

Survivors include a daughter, Annie Johnson Roach, son-in-law Thomas Lynch Roach, III, and grandson McCullough Johnson Roach, all of Clarendon; and step-granddaughter, Katharine Ashley Roach of Amarillo.  A grandson, Thomas Lynch “Jack” Roach, IV, preceded her in death in 2001.

Also surviving is her son, Jerome Baxter Johnson of Costa Rica; granddaughters, Brandy Marie Johnson of Arizona, Lorraine Dorrance of Denver, and Tanya Goggins of Las Vegas; and grandson Kelly Johnson; and six great grandchildren.

Marzie’s twinkling blue eyes, good humor, and mischief will be missed by all.

The family asks that any memorials be directed to the Thomas Lynch “Jack” Roach, IV, Memorial Scholarship Fund at Clarendon High School or to Clarendon’s Medical Center Nursing Home.

Pauline Jones, 88, went home to be with her Lord on Sunday, September 15, 2002.  She died in Quanah, Texas.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 18, 2002, in Robertson Chapel of Memories with Rev. Harold Elliott of Fort Worth, officiating.  Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Ms. Jones was born October 23, 1913, in E ast Texas and had been a long time resident of Clarendon before moving to Quanah three years ago.  She was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church in Clarendon.

She was preceded in death by a son, Danny Ray Cearley, on November 6, 2001.

Survivors include one son, John Cearley of Amarillo; a daughter-in-law, Vickie Cearley of Quanah; six grandchildren, Dean Cearley of Amarillo; Angie Thorne of Louisville, Kentucky; Gregory Cearley of Hereford; Doug Cearley of Quanah; and Kimberly Cearley of Quanah; and eight great grandchildren.

The family requests that memorials be to the Donley County Senior Citizens Association or the Community Fellowship Church in Clarendon.

Services for Charley L. McQueen, age 78, of Ransom Canyon were held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, September 13, 2002, at the First Presbyterian Church in Lubbock with Rev. Bo Lewis officiating.  Burial was held at Evergreen Cemetery in Southgate, Kentucky.  He died Sunday, September 8, 2002.

Mr. McQueen was born on September 25, 1923, in Wellington, Texas, to Eddie Marvin and Gretchen Christianson McQueen.  He graduated from Hedley High School in Hedley, Texas, in 1942, and joined the US Marines, serving in World War II, the Pacific Theater, Marshall Islands.  He graduated from the University of Texas in Austin with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1950.  He worked for Anderson Clayton Company in Abilene, Texas, and Recife, Brazil.  He moved to California, joining EF Hutton and earning his license to be a financial planner.  He then worked for Salomon Smith Barney until his death.  He married Jean Margaret Tillman on April 18, 1974.  The same year, he moved to Lubbock.  He served as an Alderman on the Ransom Canyon City Council for seven years.  Charley McQueen served as a docent at the ranching Heritage Center for 20 years.  He served as a deacon and elder at First Presbyterian Church in Lubbock.

He is preceded in death by a daughter, Sharman Eilane McQueen.

Survivors include his wife, Jean Margaret McQueen, of Ransom Canyon; two sons and daughters-in-law, Geffrey Charles and Analyn McQueen of Laguna Hills, California; and Ted and Denise Tillman of Garden Grove, California; one daughter and son-in-law, Holly and Doug Carpenter, of Long Beach, California; four grandchildren, Grant, Jennifer, Trey, and Jillian; and a brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Martha McQueen of Pinole, California.