Obituaries

Funeral services for William Earl “Billy” Lewis, age 58, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 8, 2000, in the First Baptist Church in Clarendon with Bright Newhouse, Minister of the Hedley Church of Christ, officiating.  Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc.

Mr. Lewis was born September 9, 1942, in Clarendon and had been a resident of Donley County most of his life.  He married Linda Kay Swinney on May 10, 1982, at Sweetwater, Texas.  He had worked as a cowboy most of his life and was a member of the Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife, Linda Lewis of Hedley; four sons, Scott Lewis of Amarillo, Gary Lewis of Lelia Lake, Jeremy Gatlin of Clarendon, and Willy Lewis of Hedley; his mother and step-father, Edna Lewis Britt and Roy Britt of Amarillo; three brothers, Ernest Lewis of Amarillo, Bob Lewis of Lubbock, and Howell Lewis of Groom; and five grandchildren.

Casket bearers were Chris Harris, Sam Hermesmeyer, David Lewis, Steve Lewis, Harold Lindley, Elwyn McCleskey, Willie McCleskey, and Jason Sargent.

Graveside services for Linda Hope Lemons George, age 60, were held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4, 2000, in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Ken Cargle of Amarillo, officiating.  Burial was held at Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc.

Ms. George was born August 15, 1940, in Clarendon and was a long-time resident of Clarendon until moving to Amarillo ten months ago.  She was the office manager at Crow Hollow Cattle Feeders near Hedley before retiring due to her illness.  She was a member of the Trinity Baptist Church in Amarillo.

Survivors include three daughters, Jackie Pierce of Pampa, Chris De Luna of Amarillo, and Carol Miller of Canyon; one son, Carl George of Hereford; one sister, Johnnie Potts of Amarillo; and six grandchildren.

Casket bearers were Dean Fife, Bob Vaughn, Donny Stewart, Mack Phillips, Chock Grady, and Mike Wallendorff.

Funeral services for Robert Pyeatt “Bob” Ellis, age 69, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, October 9, 2000, in Citizens Cemetery with Rev. Darrell Burton, Pastor of Martin Baptist Church in Clarendon, officiating.  Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc.

Mr. Ellis died Saturday, October 7, 2000, in Clarendon.  He was born November 7, 1930, in Hall County and moved to Donley County in 1954.  He married Clara Lanelle “Kan” Holland on April 5, 1950, at Amarillo.  He was a heavy equipment operator for much of his life before retiring.  He was a US Army Veteran of the Korean Conflict and a member of the American Legion Post at Hedley.  He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Memphis.

Survivors include his wife, Kan Ellis of Clarendon; one daughter, Karan Jolly of Claude; three sons, Frankie Ellis of Claude, Steve Ellis of Clarendon, and James Ellis of Stinnett; two sisters, Laura Cavoness of Gravelly, Arkansas, and Lee Murdock of Amarillo; seven grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.

Funeral services for Billy James Williams, 66 year old Enid resident were held Wednesday, October 4, 2000, at 10:00 a.m. in the Henninger-Allen Chapel with the Reverend Terry A. Chick officiating, under the direction of Henninger-Allen Funeral Home, Enid.  Mr. Williams was then taken to Clarendon, where graveside services will be Thursday, October 5, 2000, at 11:00 a.m. in the Citizens Cemetery, Clarendon, with the Rev. Truman Ledbetter officiating.

Billy was born on May 1, 1934, in Memphis, Texas, to Harry Lee and Vonna L. “Scott” Williams and died on October 1, 2000, in Enid, Oklahoma.  He grew up in the Memphis and Dumas, Texas, areas.  Billy was a drilling superintendent for F.C.D. from 1979 until 1985.  He later worked as a driller for Lou Ward from 1985 until 1995.  From 1995 until his retirement in 1999, he was the directional driller for Dailey Directional Service.  Billy made a profession of faith and was baptized on April 3, 1983, in the Bible Baptist Church in Enid, Oklahoma.

He was preceded in death by one son, James L. Williams; one stepson, Ricky Washburn; and his father, Harry L. Williams.

Billy is survived by his mother, Vonna L. Williams of Enid; his loving companion and caregiver, Bette Hayes, of the home; four children, Brenda and her husband, Jim McGowen of Richwood, Texas, Linda and her husband, Gaylen Choate, of Enid; Andy Williams of Kansas City, Kansas; and Haven and her husband, Randy Chick, of Enid; one sister, Helen and her husband, Theo Andel of Gandado, Texas; two stepchildren, Teresa and her husband, Bob Arevalo of Lawrence, Kansas, and Victor Washburn and his wife, Vicky of Owasso, Oklahoma; nine grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; three great grandchildren; nieces; nephews; other relatives; and many friends.

Rachel Edith Riesener, age 77, of Eaton died Thursday, September 14, 2000, at her home.

She was born August 31, 1923, in Clarendon, the youngest of seven children of Patrick Henry and Edith Corder Longan.

On April 5, 1941, she married A.B. Stephens in Texas.  The couple moved to Colorado in 1955.  Mr. Stephens died February 3, 1961.  On June 2, 1962, she married W.J. Riesener.

After moving to Greeley, Mrs. Riesener was an active member of the Newcomers Club.

She worked for J.C. Penney Co. for ten years.  In later years, she owned a book store and Rachel’s Sportswear in Eaton.  She enjoyed bowling, playing cards, reading, and traveling.

Survivors include her husband, Jack Riesener of Eaton; two daughters, Vicki Cline and Henrietta Kaiser; a brother, Harley Longan; six grandchildren; and ten great grandchildren.  A sister and four brothers are deceased.

Services were held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, September 18, 2000, at Eaton Cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Northern Colorado.

Funeral services for James Arles “Boots” Ward, age 87, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 21, 2000, in the First Baptist Church in Hedley with Rev. Bruce Howard, Pastor, officiating.  Burial was held in Rowe Cemetery in Hedley under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc.

Mr. Ward died Monday, September 18, 2000, in Clarendon.  He was born May 23, 1913, in Hall County where he lived for most of his life until moving to Hedley in 1950.  He married Minnie Viola Eunice Pounds on December 28, 1940, at Memphis.  He was a US Army Veteran of World War II and was a farmer most of his life.  He was a Baptist.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Rhonda Diane Ward in 1958; a son, Ronald Lynn Ward in 1998; and two grandsons, T.J. Ward in 1999 and Brandon Nathan Ward in 1989.

Survivors include his wife, Eunice Ward of Hedley; four daughters, Jean Fallin of Childress, Lorene McCrary of Amarillo, Tonya Smith of Hedley, and Lawun Ward of Hedley; three sons, Leon Ward of Hedley, Glen Ward of Wellington, and Rickey Ward of Memphis; 16 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild.

Casket bearers were Kevin Wilkes, Glenn Erick Ward, James Lee Ward, Chris Ward, Jason Ward, and Dean McCrary.  Honorary bearers were  Don Davis, Thomas Salazar, Johnny Conatser, Mike Martin, Michael Stanley, and Terry Bailey.

Bettye Pearl Lee, 71, of Lefors died Friday, September 22, 2000, in Amarillo.  She was a Donley County resident for 14 years.  Memorial services were at 2 P.M. Tuesday in First Baptist Church with Rev. Lewis Ellis officiating.  Burial followed in Memorial Heights Cemetery in Lefors.  Mrs. Lee was born in Trent, Texas.  She was a housewife and member of the Fiirst Baptist Church in Lefors.

She married George P. (Pat) Lee on May 10, 1948, in Sonora, Texas.

Her son, James Stanley Lee, preceded her in death.  Survivors include her husband; four daughters, Mary Kay Nickel of Lefors, Vickie Nelson of Higgins, Beverly Prestidge and Judy Hix, both of Canyon; a special nephew, Roy Alderson of Lefors; a stepson, Don Boyd of Clyde; a sister, Jewel Derrington of Pueblo, Colorado; 13 grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren.

The family requests that memorials be to First Baptist Church in Lefors.

Joe Robert Leathers died Saturday, September 23, 2000, in Amarillo. He was 72.

Services were held Monday, September 25, in the First Baptist Church with Rev. Truman Ledbetter, pastor, officiating. Interment was in Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc.

Mr. Leathers was born November 11, 1927, in Lelia Lake and was a lifetime resident of Donley County. He married Joane Bullard on December 25, 1943, at Clarendon. He was a farmer and rancher most of his life and worked for Donley County for a time before his retirement. He was a member of the First Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Verue Shelton.

Survivors include his wife, Joane Leathers of Clarendon; one daughter, Beverly Hood of Plano; two sons, Robert Wayne Leathers of Pampa and Joe Lynn Leathers of Guthrie, Texas; two sisters, Mrs. Hugh Phelps and Mrs. J.L. Wardlaw both of Terrell; eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Casket bearers were David Warlick, Wes Hood, Brandon Leathers, Sean Hardman, David Leathers, and Jonathan Leathers.

Bobbie Guy Andis, age 78, died September 18, 2000, in Amarillo.

Mr. Andis was born May 25, 1922, in Gray County, Texas.  He married Vera Lee von Brunow on August 24, 1941, in Pampa.  They moved to Donley County in 1974 from Pampa.  He was a rancher.  He was a 33rd degree Mason and a member of the Pampa Masonic Lodges #1961 and the Top of Texas Lodge #1381.  He attended Grandview Elementary School, graduated from Pampa High School, and attended Texas Tech for two years.

He is survived by his wife, Vera Lee Andis of Clarendon, and two daughters, Bobbie Lee Bond of Amarillo and Linda Kay Mayer of Oklahoma City, OK; four grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.

Graveside services for Gordon Wade McElroy, age 36, were held on Saturday, September 9, 2000, in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Rev. Bill Hodges, Pastor of the Clarendon Church of the Nazarene, officiating. Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc.

Mr. McElroy died Wednesday, September 6, 2000, in Claude.  He was born August 21, 1964 in Memphis and was a resident of Armstrong County all of his life.  He had served in the US Marine Corp.  He married Evelyn Annette Mathews on February 12, 1992, in Waco.   He was a farmer and rancher most of his life, and was employed by Durrett Farms in Randall County.  He was a Baptist.

Survivors include his wife, Annette McElroy of Claude; one son, Kyle McElroy of Claude; two daughters, Ashley Pearson and Brenda Pearson, both of Claude; his parents, Nat and Marie McElroy of Claude; and three brothers, Bryan McElroy of Canyon, Mitch McElroy of Fort Hood, and Steven McElroy of Lubbock.