Obituaries

Graveside services for Doris Aldridge Byrd, age 89, were held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 21, 2001, in the Claude Cemetery with Rev. Don Travis, retired Methodist minister, officiating. Burial was held in the Claude Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mrs. Byrd died Wednesday, December 19, 2001, in Claude. She was born August 12, 1912, in Myra, Cook County, Texas, and was a resident of Claude most of her life, and had lived on the family farm south of Claude since 1935. She married Martin Cleon Byrd, Sr., on October 26, 1935, in Claude. She was a homemaker and a member of the First United Methodist Church in Claude, where she was involved with the United Methodist Women.

She was preceded in death by a son, Martin Cleon Byrd, II, in 1987 and two brothers, Bill Aldridge and Doug Aldridge.

Survivors include her husband, Cleon Byrd of Claude; one son, Bob Byrd of Claude; two daughters, Jo Ann Byrd Miller of Oakton, Virginia, and Sarah Beth Byrd Fox of Richardson; two sisters, Josephine Seal of Bridgewater, Virginia, and Betty Tune of Coronado Beach, California; eight grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren.

The family requests that memorials be to First United Methodist Church in Claude or to the Claude Emergency Medical Services.

Funeral services for Walter Albert “Buddy” Derr, age 90, were held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 29, 2001, in Robertson Chapel of Memories with Mike Suiter, Minister of the San Jacinto Church of Christ in Amarillo, officiating. Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Derr died Wednesday, December 26, 2001, in Clarendon. He was born May 19, 1911, in Eldorado, Oklahoma, and moved from Dallas to Clarendon 19 years ago. He was a self-employed mechanic most of his life before his retirement. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Letha Evelyn Venable Derr in 1981 and by his second wife, Allene Estlack Derr, in 1995. He was active in the Donley County Senior Citizens Association and was a member of the First Baptist Church.

Survivors include two daughters, Sue Howard of Clarendon and Letha Kay Williams of Sparks, Nevada; two sons, Walter Ray Derr of Iwakuna, Japan, and Kenneth Wayne Derr of Oceanside, California; one sister, Agnes Walker of Shreveport, Louisiana; 15 grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren.

The family requests that memorials be to the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department, Clarendon Emergency Medical Services, or the Donley County Senior Citizens Association.

Hugh G. Phelps of Terrell passed away in a Terrell hospital Sunday, December 23, 2001.

The son of the late Clarence Charles Phelps and Eva Effie Williams Phelps, he was born May 10, 1915, in Donley County, near Clarendon where he was engaged in farming. He was a veteran of the United States Army Air Corps. Prior to moving to Terrell 15 years ago, Mr. Phelps lived in Los Angeles, California, and retired from the City of Los Angeles in 1978 after 20 years as a welder. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Terrell.

Mr. Phelps was married to Vernelle Leathers of Lubbock on November 26, 1942, and is survived by his wife, Vernelle Phelps of Terrell; three sisters, Frances Lloyd of Rock Hill, South Carolina; Dorothy Breedlove of Clarendon; and Mildred Hayes of Panama City, Florida; his sister-in-law, Virginia Wardlaw of Terrell; and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Harold and Haskell Phelps.

Funeral services were under the direction of Goggans Funeral Home of Terrell and were held at the graveside in Highland Memorial Gardens at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 26, 2001, with Rev. Ernie McCoulskey, officiating.

Graveside services for Mabel Odell Schmalz, age 85, were held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 29, 2001, in Fairview Cemetery in Pampa with Rev. Jim Powell, Pastor of Hobart Baptist Church in Pampa, officiating. Burial will be held at Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mrs. Schmalz died Tuesday, December 25, 2001, in Amarillo. She was born June 12, 1916, in Albany, Texas, and was a former resident of Pampa. She lived in Irving for 45 years before moving to Amarillo two years ago. She was a registered nurse and worked both as private duty and in Highland General Hospital in Pampa and at Irving Community Hospital before her retirement. She was married to Peter Joseph Schmalz, who preceded her in death on February 24, 1987. She was a former member of the Order of the Eastern Star and was a Past Worthy Matron of the Wichita Falls Chapter. She was a Baptist.

Survivors include one brother and sister-in-law, Charlie and Datha DeMoss of Clarendon; and several nieces and nephews.

Ned T. Barnes passed away December 10, 2001, after a short serious illness.

Mr. Barnes was born March 5, 1933, in Clarendon and graduated from Clarendon High School.

He was preceded in death by his father, Edwin O. Barns, and mother, Lola R. Barns; three sisters, Nellie K. Martin, Lola Furman, and Annalynn Scussel; and four brothers, Roy D. Barnes, Edwin O. Barnes, Robert L. Barnes, and Joe A. Barnes.

Survivors include his wife, Peggy Barnes of Henderson, NV; one brother, Brigadier General Bert G. Barns (Ret) of Farmington, MN; and two sisters, Delia Carter of Sequine, TX, and Jewel Kolb of Raton, NM.

The body was cremated, and memorial services are pending in Las Vegas, NV.

Funeral services for Gerald Ray Frye, age 55, were held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 22, 2001, at the First Baptist Church in Clarendon with Rev. Truman Ledbetter, Pastor, and Peter Willis, of BSA Hospice Pastoral Counseling Service, officiating. Burial was held at Rowe Cemetery in Hedley under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Frye died Wednesday, December 19, 2001, in Clarendon. He was born October 1, 1946, in Wetumka, Oklahoma, and was resident of Fort Worth before moving to Clarendon three years ago. He married Linda Faye Naylor on August 24, 1968, at Dumas. He was employed at Pantex as a Budget Analyst and Accountant. He was a 1st Lt. in the US Army, having served on the Eastern Front during the Vietnam War. He was a member of Clarendon VFW Post #7782 and the Civil Air Patrol. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, where he worked with the RA group and with the Clarendon College Ministry.

Survivors include his wife, Linda Frye of Clarendon; one son, Tyler Blake Frye of Clarendon; two daughters, Tara Nicole Jackson of Arlington and Jamie Heather Morrow of Clarendon; his parents, Everett Eugene Frye and Margaret “Babe” Frye of Dumas; two sisters, Judy O’Valle of Amarillo and Patsy Day of Borger; and a grandson, Andrew Ryan Frye of Arlington.

The family requests that memorials be to Olivia’s Angels at BSA Hospice in Amarillo, the Clarendon College Library, or the First Baptist Church in Clarendon.

Graveside services for Elmer D. “Ed” Hall, age 62, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 19, 2001, in Claude Cemetery with Kent Waston, Minister of the Claude Church of Christ, and Glen Walton of Amarillo, officiating.  Burial was held at the Claude Cemetery under the Direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Hall died Sunday, December 16, 2001, in Albuquerque, NM.  He was born September 11, 1939, in Cleburne, Texas, and was a resident of Odessa for three years before moving to Armstrong County in 1974.  He had lived in Claude since 1977.  He married Patsy Lorene Cummins on May 29, 1964, at Amarillo.  He was a US Navy veteran and was a truck driver most of his life.  He was a member of the Claude Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife, Pat Hall of Claude; two sons, Mark Hall of Canyon and Ken Hall of Justin, Texas; two sisters, Rhonda Ross of Claude and Brenda Davis; three brothers, Alvin Hall of Culpepper Virginia; Gary Hall of Justin, Texas; and Michael Hall of Dallas; and five grandchildren.

The family requests that memorials be to the Claude Church of Christ or a favorite charity.

Norma Jean Chamberlain died here Sunday, December 16. She was 76 years old.

Services will be held Thursday, December 20, at 2 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church in Clarendon with Lay Minister Rick Massick officiating. Burial will be in Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc.

Chamberlain was born January 21, 1925, to Ophelia Barkley Colvin and George Colvin in Okmulgee, Okla. She married Fred Ellis Chamberlain, Jr., on June 10, 1947, in Roswell, New Mexico. They moved from Lubbock to Clarendon in 1953. He preceded her in death on January 23, 1980.

She and her husband established Chamberlain Motor Company in Clarendon in 1956. She was a member of the session and an elder of the First Presbyterian Church. She had served as president of the PTA and had served on the library board in Clarendon. She was an avid reader and belonged to the book club in Clarendon for many years. She had also been a presiding election judge in Donley County and had served on the Board of Directors of the Better Business Bureau of Amarillo.

Chamberlain was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Leroy and Bob; and a sister, Marie Ward.

She is survived by one son, Fred E. “Trey” Chamberlain III and his wife, Diane, of Clarendon; one daughter, Carol L. Thompson and her husband, Gene, of Pampa; and two grandchildren, Chris Chamberlain of Clarendon and Catherine Chamberlain of Sherman.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be to the First Presbyterian Church, PO Box 217, Clarendon, TX 79226-0217

Funeral services for Harvey Albert Fichte, age 79, were held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 10, 2001, in the Zion Lutheran Church in Pampa with Pastor Leif Hasskarl, officiating.  Burial was held at 2:30 p.m. at Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Fichte died Friday, December 7, 2001, in Armstrong County.  He was born August 23, 1922, in Megargel, Archer County, Texas, and was a resident of Holiday before moving to Clarendon in 1968.  He married Bessie Seedig on October 11, 1950, at Wichita Falls, Texas.  In his early life, he was a farmer and the owner and operator of a service station.  He was employed in the natural gas utility business for several years prior to his retirement.  He was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Pampa.

Survivors include his wife, Bessie Fichte of Clarendon; one son, Ray Fichte of Yukon, Oklahoma; one brother, Bennie Fichte of Megargel, Texas; two sisters, Alma Reeves of Archer City, Texas, and Ella Neinest of Littlefield; and two grandchildren, Zachary Fichte and Jami Fichte.

Casket bearers were Terry Latham, Jim Reeves, Kenneth Reeves, Bob Trout, Cecil McAfee, and Les Myers.  Honorary bearers were Max Hennigh, Hilmer Heintz, Joey Thomas, and Gene Snell.

The family requests that memorials be to Zion Lutheran Church, 1200 Duncan, Pampa, Texas 79065.

Services were held here Wednesday for long-time Donley County rancher Frank Derrick. He was 87.

Derrick was born December 13, 1913, in Spur, Dickens County, and came to Donley County in 1915. His father worked for the RO Ranch, which later became the Lewis Ranch, for 65 years.

Derrick was raised on the Lewis Ranches and went to work there at the age of 17. After the death of W.J. Lewis in 1960 and his son’s death a year later, Frank became the general manager, a position he held during most of the Lewis era of the RO Ranch and until his retirement.

He was very community oriented and involved in many community projects throughout his life. He served as a staff sergeant in the US Army during World War II and was involved in the chemical warfare division. He was a recipient of the Texas Trail Blazer Award as an outstanding rancher in 1991. He was the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year in 1988, and he received a special recognition for his support of the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department.

He was a member of the Texas Cattle Raisers Association and was a Methodist.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Henry Derrick, and a sister, Margaret.

He is survived by two sisters, Mary Harlan of Clarendon and Pearl Hermesmeyer of Clarendon; one brother, Floyd Derrick of Amarillo; and several nieces and nephews.

Services were 3 p.m. Wednesday, December 3, 2001, in the First United Methodist Church with Rev. James Ivey Edwards, pastor, and Bobby Boston and Lewis Gibbons, friends of Mr. Derrick, officiating. Burial was in Citizens Cemetery under arrangements by Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon. Nephews of Mr. Derrick served as casket bearers.

The family requests that memorials be made to a favorite charity.