Obituaries

Services for Charles W. Wood, 81, of Lubbock, were held on Monday, July 30, 2001, at 4 p.m. at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Keith Wiseman and Rev. William Fleming, officiating. Burial followed in the City of Lubbock Cemetery under the direction of Resthaven Funeral Home.

Mr. Wood died on Saturday, July 28, 2001, at Covenant Medical Center.

He was born on November 20, 1919, in Clarendon. He attended grade schools in Donley County and graduated from Clarendon High School and Clarendon Junior College. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from West Texas State College and his Master’s Degree in Education from Texas Tech University. He served as a U.S. Army Captain in the European Theatre during WWII and received a Purple Heart for sustained injuries while in Casino, Italy, prior to returning to the states in 1945. He married Juanita Ruth James in Roswell, NM, on June 17, 1950.

He taught math at Canadian, Lorenzo, Roosevelt, and New Deal. He served as a principal at Roosevelt and New Deal. He also served on the school board in New Deal. He retired from teaching in 1965 and continued to farm and ranch until 1992.   

He served as president of the Lubbock Co. Soil and Water Conservation District and also served on the State Board of Soil and Water Conservation. He received the Distinguished Service Award and was named Conservationist of the Year in Lubbock County.

He was a member of the New Deal Lions Club for many years and a member of First United Methodist Church. Mr. Wood served on the Administrative Board as well as a volunteer at the Second Helping Group at the First United Methodist Church. He was a member of Thursday Morning Men’s Prayer Breakfast and Bible Study class.

Survivors include his wife, Juanita Ruth Wood; one sister, Evelyn Jean Mann of Clarendon; several nephews and nieces.

A daughter, Linda Kay Wood, preceded him in death.

The family suggests memorials be to the First United Methodist Church of Lubbock or the American Cancer Society.

Funeral services for Leona C. Henson, age 87, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 21, 2001, in the First Baptist Church in Clarendon with Rev. Bryan Knowles, Pastor of Community Fellowship Church in Clarendon, officiating. Burial was held in Rowe Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mrs. Henson died Tuesday, July 17, 2001, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She was born August 31, 1913, in Shelby, Texas, and attended schools in Marlin, Haskell, and Ashtola. She married Gradie G. Henson on November 1, 1930, at Hollis, Oklahoma. They lived in the Martin and Ashtola communities near Clarendon before moving to Clarendon in the mid 1960s. He preceded her in death on November 12, 1982. She was a long time member of the First Baptist Church, where she had served as a Sunday School teacher. She was a Past Noble Grand of the Clarendon Rebekah Lodge and Past President of the Les Beaux Art Club. She had also been involved in various other church and community affairs.

She was preceded in death by one daughter, Wilma Henson Hill, in 1971.

Survivors include two sons, Floyd H. Henson and his wife Virginia of Albuquerque, NM, and A.R. Henson and his wife Frankie of Clarendon; one brother, Fred Mandrofsky of Tularosa, NM; three sisters: Mae Malone Waller of Denton, Jean Martin of Arlington, and Bee Robinson of Florida; seven grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; and six great great grandchildren.

Casket bearers were grandsons: Wes Henson, Greg Henson, Monty Henson, Brent Henson, Wallace Hill, and Jeffrey Henson.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Rowe Cemetery Association in Hedley or to a favorite charity.

Homer Charles Wilson died Saturday, June 30, 2001, at the age of 70 following a lengthy illness.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 3, 2001, in W.W. Rix Chapel with Rev. Jim Brannen and the Rev. Bruce Cotton officiating.  Entombment followed in Resthaven Mausoleum.

Mr. Wilson was born in Clarendon on July 11, 1930, and later moved to Spur with his family, graduating from Spur High School in 1947. He them moved to Lubbock to attend Texas Tech University, where he graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1952.  Following graduation, he entered the US Army and was assigned to the 48th Engineering Battalion.  He married Nancy Huval in Fairfax, VA, February 20, 1953.

Following an honorable discharge from the Army in 1955, Homer and Nancy returned to Lubbock, where he began a business career that lasted 49 years.  Homer was with Gulf Oil Co. for five years and then went into business with his brother, Leonard, where he was co-owner of Wilson and Wilson Construction for 24 years. Wilson and Wilson Construction became one of the largest residential and commercial developers in the Lubbock area.  In 1987, Homer founded Southwest Bingo Supply Co., which distributes bingo supplies throughout the West Texas area.

Homer devoted his entire life to his family and friends; and he will be profoundly missed.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy; two daughters, Patricia and husband, Robert Byers, of Lubbock and Sharon and her husband, Dale Breedlove, of Shallowater; a son, Clifford and his wife, Stacey Craig Wilson, of Lubbock; nine grandchildren: Christian Hames, Justin Johnson, Jenny Neal, Tiffany Byers, and Brandon Neal, Emily Breedlove and Alicia, Joshua and Tess Wilson; and one great grandchild, Bryson Blair.

Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Lubbock, PO Box 53276, Lubbock, TX 79453.

Graveside services for Merrelene Waddell Youngblood, age 65, were held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 13, 2001, in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Father Terry Burke of Amarillo, officiating.  Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Ms. Youngblood was born September 23, 1935, in the Chamberlain Community in Donley County, where she lived until age 16.  She had been an Amarillo resident most of her adult life.  She was a homemaker and a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Amarillo.

She was preceded in death by two daughters, Wynona Gayle Grace and Vunnona Belle Harmon, and by three grandchildren.

Survivors include two daughters, Ramon Dian Subera of Marysville, Washington, and Wanda Merrelene Youngblood of Amarillo; four sons, Kenneth Ray Youngblood of Hoquim, Washington, James Youngblood of Amarillo, Robert Eugene Rose of El Sanbarta, California, and Thomas Youngblood of Everett, Washington; one sister, Johnnie Belle Coty of Montana; one brother, William E. Waddell of Amarillo; 19 grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren.

The family requests that memorials be to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or American Diabetes Association.

Graveside services for Loyce Marie Moffitt, age 87, were held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 10, 2001, in Rowe Cemetery in Hedley with Rev. Bob Schroeder, Executive Pastor of Paramount Terrace Christian Church in Amarillo, officiating. Burial was held in Rowe Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mrs. Moffitt died Sunday, July 8, 2001, in Amarillo. She was born December 1, 1913, in Hedley and was a resident of Hedley most of her early life. She lived in Dumas for a short time and had been a resident of Amarillo for the past 21 years. She was married to Thomas Harold Moffitt, who preceded her in death in 1963. She was the owner and operator of H&M Variety & Dry Goods Store in Hedley for seven years. She was a homemaker and a member of the First United Methodist Church in Hedley.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Omer Wood, in 2000.

Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Sandra and Jerry Finchum of Amarillo; one son and daughter-in-law, Harold and Mollie Moffitt of Memphis; one sister, Opal Johnson of Amarillo; three grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.

The family requests that memorials be to Rowe Cemetery in Hedley or to a favorite charity.

Steven R. “Hoss” Toler, 38, a former resident of Belen, New Mexico, died suddenly on July 7, 2001.

Steven loved New Mexico. He enjoyed bulls and Bulldogging in the Rodeo and also was good at breaking horses in his younger years. He served his country in the US Navy as an air traffic controller. Hoss also wrestled while in the Navy. He graduated from Belen High School in 1981 where he was State runner-up two years in wrestling as a heavy weight. He also played football at Belen High School. Steven recently attended his 20th year reunion.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, July 16, 2001, 1:00 p.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery, with Pastor John Carpenter, officiating.  Arrangements are under the direction of French Mortuary in Albuquerque.

He is survived by his parents, Robert and Eleanor Toler of Amarillo, TX; sister, Mary Katherine Hawkins and husband, Russell of Amarillo, TX; a nephew, Wesley, and an aunt, Helen Bender.

Memorial contributions may be made to the local Epilepsy Foundation or to LAB Epilepsy Research Group, 4801 San Mateo Lane NE #170, Albuquerque, NM 87109.

Funeral services for Ethel Mann Dingler, age 95, were held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 2, 2001, in the First Baptist Church with Rev. Truman Ledbetter, pastor, officiating. Burial was held at Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc.

Mrs. Dingler died Friday, June 29, 2001, in Clarendon. She was born February 13, 1906, in Hale Center and was a lifetime resident of Donley County. She attended Donley County schools and was married to Gilbert Mann, Sr. He preceded her in death in 1955. She then married Richard Dingler who preceded her in death in 1986. She was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church in Clarendon.

Survivors include two sons, Gilbert Mann, Jr., of Amarillo and Jiggs Mann of Clarendon; six step-daughters, Ruby Jewell Hardin of Clarendon, Frances Grimland and Catherine Cosper both of Amarillo, Joyce Watkins of Midland, Joe Ellen Cowan of Tulia, and Glenna Cash of Topeka, Kansas; 26 grandchildren and step-grandchildren; many great grandchildren and step great grandchildren; and several great great grandchildren and step great great grandchildren.

Casket bearers and honorary casket bearers were employees and staff of Medical Center Nursing Home in Clarendon.

Funeral services for Fred Lee Patterson, age 82, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 28, 2001, in Adams Funeral Chapel in Wellington with Brian Gochenour, minister of the Clarendon Church of Christ, officiating.  Burial was held at the Dobson Cemetery under the direction of Adams Funeral Home in Wellington.

Mr. Patterson died Tuesday, June 26, 2001, in Clarendon.  He was born in Batesville, Arkansas.  He came to Dodson in 1924.  He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II in Guam, New Guinea, and the Philippines.  He graduated from Dobson High School in 1936. He moved to Clarendon in 1991 to be near family. He was a retired farmer and a member of the Church of the Nazarene. 

Survivors include a sister, Betty White of Clarendon; a brother-in-law, Elvis White of Clarendon; and a sister-in-law, Ruby Patterson of Wellington.

Pallbearers were Jerry Lewis, Tommy Lewis, Eddie Davis, Tim Harris, Kendall Harris, and Lanny Ford.

Memorials may be made to Dodson Cemetery.

Funeral services for Lillie Ruth Messer, age 97, were held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 23, 2001, in the Hedley Church of Christ with Bright Newhouse, Minister, officiating.  Burial was held in Rowe Cemetery in Hedley under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mrs. Messer died Wednesday, June 20, 2001, in Clarendon.  She was born September 17, 1903, in Hess, Greer County, Oklahoma, and came to Texas at age 2.  She had been a lifetime resident of the Hedley area.  She married Olen Ferral “Pete” Messer on October 6, 1921, at Memphis.  He preceded her in death in 1985.  She was a wonderful cook.   She was a homemaker, a farmer, and was a member of the Hedley Church of Christ.

She was preceded in death by her parents; five sisters; one brother, and a daughter-in-law.

Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Nelda and Jim Hudson of Amarillo; one son, Doyle Messer of Hedley; five grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; and many wonderful friends.

Casket bearers were Max Hudson, Lyndon Messer, Stuart Messer, Mike Hines, Ashton Hines, and Aaron Hines.

The family requests that memorials be to Rowe Cemetery Association in Hedley.

Funeral services for Gennielle Cherry, age 67, of Amarillo, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 2, 2001, in Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors Chapel in Amarillo with Rev. Terry Tamplen, pastor of Kingswood United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Schooler-Gordon Funeral Directors.

Mrs. Cherry died Wednesday, May 30, 2001. She was a member of the Kingswood United Methodist Church and a Sunday school class member. She also was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Widows Club, and past president and zone chairman of the Lions Club 2T1. She was a homemaker and a volunteer of the High Plains Eye Bank.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lynn Cherry, in 1992 and a grandson, B.J., in 1997.

Survivors include a daughter, Debbie Lynn Hamilton of Clarendon; a son, Douglas Lee Cherry of Silverton; and four grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials be to Crown of Texas Hospice.