Obituaries

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.

Church services for Jeanie E. McDaniel, age 61, of Muleshoe were held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, November 30, 2001, at the Trinity Christian Center Church in Muleshoe with Rev. Reydon Stanford and Presley Newton both of Muleshoe, officiating. Burial was held in Muleshoe Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home in Muleshoe.

Mrs. McDaniel died November 27, 2001, in Littlefield.  She was born April 7, 1940, in Eric, Oklahoma.  She married Don McDaniel in Littlefield on October 1, 1956.  She was a member of the Trinity Christian Center Church in Muleshoe and the Muleshoe Roadriders.  She had lived in Muleshoe for the past 45 years moving from Friona.  She worked as a homemaker.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Don, on July 7, 1995; and an infant son, Lonnie Dale McDaniel, in 1963.

Survivors include two sons, Darrell “Tuffy” McDaniel of Muleshoe and Gary Dale English of Clarendon; one daughter, Tina Obenhaus of Muleshoe; two sisters, Joy Guinn and Naoma Rippetoe, both of Clarendon; one brother, Lloyd Dickerson, Jr., of Abilene; six grandchildren, Kendall and Kyle McDaniel, Tabatha Obenhaus, Joshua English, Chrissy Alexander, and B.J. Alford; and two great grandchildren, Logan McDaniel and Joshua Cole English.

Memorials may be made to Trinity Christian Center Church, 1723 W. American Blvd., Muleshoe, TX 79347.

Memorial services for Alfred John Graue, Sr., age 67, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, November 30, 2001, in the Westside Fellowship Church in Memphis with Dale Miller, Pastor, officiating. Cremation took place on Friday, November 23, under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Graue died Tuesday, November 20, 2001, in Amarillo. He was born July 3, 1934, in Carrollton, Texas, and was a resident of Hedley before moving to Memphis eight years ago. He married Florence Kerns on September 8, 1983, in Amarillo. She preceded him in death on April 23, 1994. He had worked as a truck driver much of his life before his retirement. He was a veteran, having served in the US Coast Guard from 1952 until 1956.

Survivors include one daughter, Monique Asher of Holt, Missouri; one son, Gilbert T. Graue, Sr., of Memphis; two sisters, Pauline Foster of Camden, Missouri, and Dorothy Schmitt of Lincoln, Nebraska; one brother, Lawrence Graue of Kansas City, Missouri; and seven grandchildren.

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

Earl Emory Porter, Jr., died Friday, November 9, 2001, in Houston.

Private family services were held Tuesday, November 20, 2001, in Rose Hill Cemetery in Tulia, Texas.

Mr. Porter was born July 28, 1921, in Tulia, the son of Earl Emory and Viva Daphne Porter, long time residents of Tulia.

He attended schools in Sweetwater and Clarendon and graduated from Hedley High School. He joined the army and was stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas, with the Military Police during World War II. Porter began his newspaper career at an early age in Clarendon. He worked at The Donley County Leader for J.C. Estlack. Later he owned the Happy paper for a short time and was on staff at The Tulia Herald.

He spent a number of years in Amarillo at The Globe-News as compositor before his thirty years with The Houston Post.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Linda, in 1950.

Surviving are two sons, Ronald Porter of Kingwood, and David Porter of Minneapolis, Minn.; two daughters, Sandra Porter Long and husband Michael Long of Houston, Debra Porter of Martinez, California; ten grandchildren; and three great grandchildren. Also surviving are two sisters, Patricia Partlow of Tulia and Jeanice Weatherly of Clarendon.

Vivian “Marie” Corder Hatfield, age 46, of Amarillo went home to be with Jesus, her savior, on Tuesday, November 13, 2001.

Graveside services were held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 15, 2001, at Citizen’s Cemetery in Clarendon with Mike Suiter of San Jacinto Church of Christ in Amarillo, officiating.  Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson’s Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Marie married Stephen Edward Hatfield on September 7,1976, in Amarillo.  Steve and Marie lived in Rapid City, SD, until they moved to Amarillo in January 1983.  Marie was preceded in death by Steve on May 20, 2000.

Marie is survived by her parents, Frank and Vivian Corder of Clarendon; one brother, Frank William Corder, Jr., of Clarendon; one sister, Kathy Lynn Corder Swanson of Amarillo; four nephews, William Henry Corder, James Edward Swanson, Richard Eugene Corder, and David Corder; one great nephew, James Ray Swanson; and two great nieces, Heather Renee Swanson and Danielle Nicole Swanson.

Danny Ray Cearley, age 48 of Quanah, died Tuesday, November 6, 2001, at a local hospital.  Services were held at 2 p.m. on Friday, November 9, 2001, at the First Baptist Church officiated by Rev. Harold Elliot of Arlington, Texas.  Burial was held at the Quanah Memorial Park under the direction of Price-Jackson Funeral Home.

Mr. Cearley was born December 30, 1952, in Clarendon to Pauline (Foster) Jones and the late John T. Cearley.  He was a graduate of Clarendon High School.  He and Vickie Rine were married August 28, 1971 in Quanah.  He lived in Quanah for 24 years and worked for Red River Sheet Metal. He coached Quanah Kid League Football for nine years and was loved and respected by his players.  He was a member of the Quanah Volunteer Fire Department and First Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Vickie Cearley of Quanah; two sons and daughters-in-law, Greg and Stephanie Cearley of Vernon and Doug and Krysti Cearley of Quanah; one daughter, Kimberly Cearley of Quanah; his mother, Pauline Jones of Quanah; a brother, John Cearley of Amarillo; five grandchildren, Brayden, Jackson, Paije, Aubrey, and Hunter.

Gladys Noble Seago, age 92, of Waco, died Wednesday, November 7, 2001, in her home. Graveside services were held Saturday, November 10, at 10 a.m. in Clarendon at Citizens Cemetery with Rev. Gene Moore, her beloved son-in-law, officiating. 

Gladys was born September 5, 1909, in San Augustine, Texas, to Isaac and Susan Francis Noble.  She received her BA and MA degrees from West Texas State University.  Gladys married Nelson Seago in 1933, and they were active members of the Lelia Lake community for many years.

She was preceded in death by her husband Nelson; her son, Rodney Nelson; four brothers; two grandchildren; and one great grandchild.

She is survived by two daughters, Bobbie Moore of Waco and Sue Payne of Pleasanton, Texas; ten grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; one brother, Lacy Noble of Clarendon; and many nieces and nephews.

Gladys spent her life serving others. She taught in Texas public schools for 34 years and in Colorado schools for six years. She and Nelson were active members in Eastern Star, serving as Worthy Matron and Patron in the Clarendon chapter.  Just recently she received her 50-year pin.

Gladys lived her life for others and was the truest friend one could have.  When health kept her from doing for others, she made sure her daughters carried on her mission.

Her roots in Texas history date back to the early days of the Republic of Texas.  The four unchanging tenets of Gladys were, “I love my God, I’m a Texan, I’m a Methodist, and I’m a Democrat.”  However, in the last presidential election she accompanied her daughters to the Republican headquarters.  As she was about to cast her vote she said, “I thought I was a Democrat,” but her Texas spirit superceded party lines as she voted for her fellow Texan, George Bush.