Obituaries

Services for Floyd C. Crofford, age 98, of Amarillo were held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 20, 2001, at South George Baptist Church with Rev. Bob Miller, officiating.  Burial followed at Rowe Cemetery in Hedley at 2:00 p.m. under the direction of Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors in Amarillo.

Mr. Crofford died June 17, 2001.  He was born July 17, 1902, in Rule, Texas.  His family later moved to Kelton, Texas.  He married Gracie Lorene Williams at Claude on November 27, 1923.  They were married 70 years before her death in 1993.

Mr. Crofford was a farmer, having farmed at Hedley, Clarendon, Hereford, Colorado, and Bushland before retiring in 1976.  He was a deacon emeritus at South Georgia Baptist Church where he had served for 29 years.  Mr. Crofford was a member of the church choir and the Sunshiners.  He loved singing and playing his fiddle.  He also served on the Board of Trustees for Martin School located near Clarendon in the 1940s.

Mr. Crofford was preceded in death by his loving wife, Gracie; a daughter, Bobbie Lademan; his mother, father, three sisters, and two brothers.

Survivors include one daughter, Margie Crofford Phillips, and her husband, Billy M. Phillips of Amarillo; one son, F.G. Crofford and his wife, Bonnie, also of Amarillo; three granddaughters; one grandson; eight great grandchildren; one great great grandson; and many wonderful friends.

The family suggests memorials to be to United We Build Fund at South Georgia Baptist Church, 5209 S. Georgia, Amarillo, TX 79110.

Jerry Wayne Moore, age 68, passed away on Monday, June 11, 2001.  Services were held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 14, 2001, at Elmwood Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Wayne Lenz officiating with burial following at Elmwood Memorial Park under the direction of Elmwood Funeral Home.

Mr. Moore was born September 23, 1932, to Andrew Hayden and Lois Phillips Moore. He served our country in the Armed Services Division from 1953 to 1955 where he received a Medal of Good Conduct. He proceeded to attend West Texas State University, where he graduated with a degree in Business. Wayne was employed by Texas Employment Commission as a Tax Supervisor from his graduation until his retirement in 1993. Following his retirement, he began devoting his life to what he loved doing, volunteering his time with a loving commitment to helping anyone in need. He was honored by the Retired Senior Volunteer Program in the years 1998 and 2001 for over 1,000 hours of community service as an RSVP volunteer. He also received the Volunteer of the Year Award in 1999 and 2000 from Meals on Wheels, with the 2001 award bringing him recognition during Meals on Wheels’ 25th anniversary celebration. Wayne spent countless hours each day building wheelchair ramps, providing transportation, and helping out the community of Abilene in any way he could. His presence will be missed by all whose lives he touched.

He is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Kelly and Tim Goupil of New Berlin, NY; Jerri and Greg James of Alpharetta, GA; sisters and brothers-in-law, Jacqueline and Doyle Wells of Floydada, Linda and Dwight Blair of Lubbock; brothers and sisters-in-law, James and JoAnne Moore of Canyon Lake, Gorgon and Wanda Moore of Vega, Jack and Sue Moore of Lubbock; and three grandchildren, Cody Goupil, Casey Goupil, and Olivia James.

The family requests that memorials be made in his memory to Meals on Wheels, PO Box 903, Abilene, TX 79605.

Memorial services for Berkeley Gentry Ryan Neece, age 84, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 21, 2001, in St. John The Baptist Episcopal Church in Clarendon with Rev. Ned Creswell, Retired Episcopal Minister of Amarillo, and Rev. Jim Aveni, St. John The Baptist Episcopal Church Deacon, officiating. Cremation was on Wednesday, June 20, 2001, at Memorial Park Crematory in Amarillo with private committal services to be held on Friday, June 22, 2001, at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mrs. Neece died Tuesday, June 19, 2001, in Clarendon. She was born February 4, 1917, in Clarendon and was a lifetime Clarendon resident. She married Lawrence Chester Neece on April 4, 1943, at Clarendon. He preceded her in death on November 16, 1994. She was a homemaker and a member of St. John The Baptist Episcopal Church in Clarendon.

Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Emily Neece Wilson and husband Rev. Charles A. Wilson of Amarillo; one son and daughter-in-law, Lawrence G. “Larry” Neece and wife Barbara of San Diego, California; six grandchildren, Nomi Ryder of Lake Elsinore, CA; David Davis of Dayton, TX; Kathryn Miller of Amarillo; Kevyn Bobo of Huntsville, TX; Brian Wilson of Spring, TX; and Kevin Wilson of The Woodlands, TX; and 8 great grandchildren, Crystal Murry of Houston; Jill Davis of Dayton, TX; Tina Richards of Amarillo; Mercedes Miller of Amarillo; Richard Miller of Amarillo; Alison Wilson of The Woodlands, TX; Skylar Lucas, deceased; and Kelsey Wilson of The Woodlands, TX.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be to St. John The Baptist Episcopal Church, Donley County Senior Citizens Association, Citizens Cemetery Association in Clarendon, or to Catholic Family Services in Amarillo.

Funeral services for Stephanie Yolanda Wilson, age 25, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 14, 2001, in the True Church of God in Christ in Clarendon with Rev. Grover Neal, Pastor of the St. John Baptist Church in Amarillo, officiating. Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Miss Wilson died Friday, June 8, 2001, in Amarillo. She was born July 21, 1975, in Memphis, Texas. She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Stella Alexander and one brother, Terance Wilson.

Survivors include her mother, Gloria Wilson of Memphis; her father, Charles Sessions; her grandfather, Clifford Alexander of Clarendon; two sisters, LeNettie Wilson of Liberal, KS, and Angela Wilson of Banning, CA; and two brothers, Benjamin Wilson of Clarendon and Danny McCampbell of Queensboro, KY.

The family suggests that memorials be to Community Options, in Memory of Stephanie Wilson, 801 South Fillmore, Suite 230, Amarillo, TX 79101.

Joe C. Arthur, 85, a retired account executive, died Monday, June 4, 2001, in Granbury.

Memorial services were held at 2 p.m. June 6, 2001, at Gambrell Street Baptist Church.

Mr. Arthur was born June 6, 1915, in Crowell and moved to Southland at the age of six months. He graduated from Southland High School and attended Wayland Baptist University, where he played football, basketball and tennis.

He was in the Merchant Marine during World War II and in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and served as music and education minister for Baptist churches in Dalhart, Clarendon, Amarillo, Mineola, Littlefield and Lubbock. He was a deacon at Gambrell Street Baptist Church and served on various boards of Wayland Baptist University and Round Rock Children’s Home. He retired from A.B. Culbertson Co. as an account executive. He lived in Dallas for 15 years and then in Fort Worth for 20 years.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnye Huff Arthur, in 1992. Survivors include sons, Lynvol of Glen Rose, D’Nard of Lubbock, and David Huff of Saginaw; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one sister, Madeline Weeks of Wichita Falls; and Violet Dawes Arthur, the mother of sons, Lynvol and D’Nard.

Memorials may be to the general scholarship fund at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Office of Development, 1900 West 7th Street, Box 621, Plainview, Texas 79072.

Funeral services for Oley J. Milham, age 99, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 9, 2001, in Robertson Chapel of Memories in Clarendon with Brian Gochenour, Minister of the Clarendon Church of Christ, officiating. Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Milham died Thursday, June 7, 2001, in Shamrock. He was born October 1, 1901, in Mena, Arkansas, and was a resident of Clarendon before moving to McLean in 1957. He married Nora Arlene Jackson on September 5, 1960, at Wellington. He was a farmer, rancher, and carpenter much of his life before his retirement. He was a member of the McLean Church of Christ.

He was preceded in death by a son, Tomas Milham, and a daughter, Joy Milham.

Survivors include his wife, Nora Milham of McLean; one son, Larry Milham of Dallas; two daughters, Oleta Fay Williamson of Smithville, OK, and Betty Trice of San Antonio; ten grandchildren; and several great grandchildren.

Graveside services for G. Garmon Walden, age 77, were held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 12, 2001, at Resthaven Cemetery Mausoleum in Lubbock with Rev. Paul Jantzen, officiating. A memorial service was held at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 12, 2001, at First United Methodist Church in Clarendon with Rev. James Ivy Edwards, officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Schooler Funeral Home, Inc., in Amarillo.

Mr. Walden died June 10, 2001, in Clarendon. He was born May 6, 1924, in Hollis, Oklahoma. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruby Walden, in 1995.

Survivors include his mother, Bessie Pickens, of Levelland; two daughters, Carolyn Garner of Amarillo and Kim Prince of Lubbock; one brother, Max Walden of Lubbock; three grandchildren; and his best friend, Ruby Dell Estlack of Clarendon.

Memorials may be made to Second Chance Foundation, 200 NW 7th, Amarillo, TX 79107.

Graveside services for Leslie Neal, age 93, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 3, 2001, in Groom Cemetery in Groom with Rev. Rob Seale, Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Clarendon, officiating. Burial was held in Groom Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Neal died Friday, June 1, 2001, in Amarillo. He was born August 28, 1907, in Rhea, Arkansas, and was a resident of Portales, NM, before moving to Clarendon in 1980. He married Dora Edith Brown on July 16, 1933, in Armstrong County. She preceded him in death on May 16, 2001. He had been a rancher much of his life before his retirement. He was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Clarendon.

He was preceded in death by a son, Harold Neal, on August 4, 1999.

Survivors include three sons, Kenneth Neal of Gun Barrel City, Texas; Frank Neal of Fort Collins, Colorado; and Benny Neal of Ossian, Indiana; one sister, Bertha Knight of Groom; one brother, William J. Neal of Amarillo; numerous grandchildren; and numerous great grandchildren.

Mrs. Naomi Lee Newton Gilbreth, an 80-year resident of the Texas panhandle where she was a teacher, died May 23, 2001, in Atlanta, GA.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Clydean and Ron Wood of Atlanta; son and daughter-in-law Doyle and Vickey Gilbreth of Clovis, New Mexico; three grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held on Friday, May 25, 2001, at 11 a.m. at the North Atlanta Church of Christ with Minister Bill Long officiating. Interment was held in Arlington Memorial Park in Atlanta under the direction of Sandy Springs Chapel Funeral Directors in Atlanta.

Memorial contributions may be made to North Atlanta Church of Christ Missions-GA or the Family Enrichment Center, both at 5676 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody, GA 30338.

Rosalyn Bass Poindexter died Monday, May 21, 2001, in McKinney after a prolonged illness.

She was born in 1917 near Memphis, Texas, of John Morton Bass and Terra Emma Cagle and was a true daughter of the High Plains. 

She received her BA from Texas Tech, an MA and Ph.D. from the University of North Texas. She taught at Texas Tech, and later at Corsicana High School, and was a counselor with the Richardson Independent School District. She also served as a regional executive for the Camp Fire Girls before taking up a career in secondary education guidance counseling. She was a passionate advocate for the teaching profession, a dedicated worker in the Democratic Party, and a loving mother and grandmother. 

Rosalyn leaves a daughter, Janet; four grandchildren, Heather, Catherine, Mark, and Stephen; and four great-grandchildren, Max, Olivia, Margaret, and Nora.

A Requiem Mass will be said Thursday, May 24, at 1:30 p.m., at St. Francis Episcopal Church, 3838 Walnut Hill Ln. Dallas. In lieu of flowers, her family requests memorials be given to the Scholarship Fund at the University of North Texas, P.O. Box 311250, Denton TX  76203.

Her remains will be returned to the High Plains she so loved.