Obituaries

Funeral services for Jack McLaughlin, age 67, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, August 21, 2000, at the First United Methodist Church.  Burial was held in the cemetery in Liberal, Kansas, under the direction of Kitch Funeral Home of Liberal.

Mr. McLaughlin died August 18, 2000, in Liberal.  He was born May 19, 1933, at Gallatin, Missouri, to Bryan and Nora (Stout) McLaughlin.  He was a 1953 graduate of Benton High School in St. Joseph, MO.  He serviced in the US Army spending two years in the Korean War.  He married Maxine Leder on September 23, 1955, at St. Joseph, MO.  He was the vice president of National Beef of Liberal and retired in 1988.  He was a former resident of Liberal and was living in Clarendon.  He was a member of the Clarendon Country Club and the Men’s Golf Association and was past president of the association.

He was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers: Delbert, Ronni, Jim, and one infant brother.

Survivors include his wife; one son Randy and his wife, Elizabeth of Liberal; four daughters: Debbi Sumner and husband Dean, Rhonda Johnston, Rita Foster and husband Clark, and Deanna Burkhart and husband Jerry, all of Liberal, KS; two brothers, Bill McLaughlin of Denison, Iowa, and Frank McLaughlin of Sterling, CO; five sisters, Margie Blanton of St. Joseph, Vena Robert of St. Joseph, Ellen Shelton of Elwood, KS, Myria Trept of Downey, CO, and Connie Midyett or Riverside, CA; eight grandchildren, Chad, Jesse, and Derek Sumner, Dustin and Preston Johnson, Mitchell and Kari Foster, and Joshua Burkhart; and three step grandchildren, Tessa and Brady Davis and Alan Burkhart.

Memorials may be sent to Clarendon Men’s Golf Association or to the Topeka Foundation – Beep Ball (Baseball for the Blind) in care of Kitch Funeral Home, 1212 W. Second, Liberal, Kansas 67901.  E-mail condolences to the family can be sent to www.kitchfuneralhome.com.

Funeral services for Billy Carl Sims, age 74, were held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 12, 2000, in Robertson Chapel of Memories with Rev. Bryan Knowles, Baptist Minister from Clarendon, officiating.  Burial was held in Citizens Cemetery  under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Sims died Wednesday, August 9, 2000, in Amarillo.  He was born September 6, 1925, at Munday, Texas, and had been a lifetime resident of Clarendon.  He married Dorothy Eva Skinner on November 13, 1943, at Eufala, Oklahoma.  He had been employed by the City of Clarendon before his retirement.  He was a US Army Veteran of World War II, a member of the American Legion, and a member of the Assembly of God Church.

He was preceded in death by a son, Billy Charles Sims; two sisters; and one brother.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Sims of Clarendon; two daughters, Linda Hill and Mary Cole both of Clarendon; three sons, Jack Sims of Longview, Ronnie Sims and Bobby Sims, both of Clarendon; two brothers, Charles Sims of Childress and Cecil Sims of Whitney, Texas; 13 grandchildren; and 10 great great grandchildren.

Casket bearers were grandsons of Mr. Sims.

Funeral services for June Lavoise Armstrong Allen, age 75, of North Zulch, Texas, were held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 21, 2000, at the Madisonville Funeral Home, Madisonville, Texas.  Deborah W. Fray and Philip M. Smith of Christian Science Society officiated.  Burial was in Oxford Cemetery in Madison County.

Mrs. Allen died Tuesday, July 18, 2000, in Madisonville.  She was born June 24, 1925, in Clarendon to William Bryan and Nina Tollett Armstrong.  She grew up in Clarendon and graduated from Clarendon High School with the Class of 1942 and from Clarendon College with the Class of 1944.  She married Robert A. Allen on June 17, 1945.  She was a former resident of Houston, Bryan, and Calvert and had lived in Madison County for 15 years.  She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star in Franklin and attended the Christian Science Society in College Station.

Mrs. Allen was preceded in death by her father in 1993, her mother in 1995, and her husband in 1995. 

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Robert Bryan and Jackie Allen of Austin; a daughter and son-in-law, Kathryn and Harold Frank of Temple; a sister-in-law, Myrna Armstrong of Normangee; three grandchildren, Jennifer Allen, Colby Allen, and Kathy Lynn Frank; and one step-grandchild, Michael Johnson.

Funeral services for Jay White, age 75, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 1, 2000, at Fairlanes Baptist Church in Amarillo with Dr. Don Sewell of Dallas officiating.  Burial was held in Westlawn Cemetery in Amarillo under the direction of Brown Funeral Directors.

Mr. White died Sunday, July 30, 2000, in Amarillo.  He was born in Clarendon.  He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II.  He lived in Phillips 29 years and in Borger 21 years.  He retired as night superintendent for Phillips Petroleum Co.  He was a past member and president of the Phillips Lions Club and was named Lion of the Year in 1970.  He married La Nelle Reid in 1948 at Goodnight.

Survivors include his wife; one son, Jack White of Graham; one daughter, Aaronda Gerow of Borger; one brother, Gene White of Clarendon; and two grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials be to Alzheimer’s Association of the Texas Panhandle, 2200 W. Seventh Ave., Amarillo, TX 79106.

Funeral services for Dennis Meral Rattan, age 76, were held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday August 5, 2000, at Dennard, Arkansas, with Mace Straubel officiating.  Burial was held in Dennard Cementary under direction of The Roller Funeral Home.

Dennis died August 2, 2000, in Dennard, Arkansas.  He was born October 5, 1923, in Quitaque, Texas. He was resident most of his life in Clarendon, Texas, before moving to Dennard. He owned a business in Clarendon servicing radios and TV’s.  He was a veteran of the US Army in World War II.  He was Past President of Clarendon Lions Club. 

He was preceded in death by his father, Meral Rattan, and his mother, Roeda Rattan.

Survivors include his wife, Jackie Rattan of Dennard; two sons, Ronnie Rattan and Pam of Austin, Texas, and Kent Rattan and Nicki of Frederick, MD; two sisters, Annese Bennett and Carl, of Tulsa, OK, and Bernese Moreland and Tack of Lowell, AR; one brother John and Melanie of Clarendon, Texas; one sister Sybil (Rattan) Jones of Clarendon, Texas; a niece, Charlotte and Bob Paul of Edinboroh, PA; and a nephew, Rickey and Mary Ann Rattan of Clarendon; six grandchildren, Brandon and Jessica of Austin and Sean, Julia, Elizabeth, and Claire of Frederick, MD; and lots of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Funeral services for Cecil Odell “Shorty” Goodin, age 88, were held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 4, 2000, in the First United Methodist Church in Claude with Rev. Gene Weinette, Pastor, officiating.  Burial was held in the Claude Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc.

Mr. Goodin died Friday, September 1, 2000, in Amarillo.  He was born February 6, 1912, in Armstrong County and was a lifetime resident of Armstrong County.  He married Lucille Powell on May 22, 1932, at Clayton, New Mexico.  She preceded him in death on May 1, 1983.  He farmed near Washburn from 1954 until 1959.  He was the owner and operator of the Magnolia Petroleum Wholesale and service station from 1954 to 1959.  He and his wife owned and operated the Diary Bee Drive In from 1959 until 1973 when they retired.  He later worked for Ballard Texaco until the late 1980s.  He was a member of the 55+ Claude Senior Citizens Organization, a member of the First United Methodist Church in Claude, and the Claude Methodist Men’s Association.

He is preceded in death by one son, Clyde Odell Goodin in December 1932.

Survivors include one daughter, Allean Patterson of Claude; two sons, Darrell Goodin of Amarillo and Gail Goodin of Claude; two sisters, June Gibbs of Fort Worth and Dorothy Cole of Albuquerque, New Mexico; one brother, John R. Goodin of Claude; seven grandchildren; and nine grandchildren.

Casket bearers were Emery Goodin, Jack Goodin, Dick Goodin, Chris Gibbs, Leslie Goodin, Paul Goodin, Danny Goodin, and Mark Chapman.

The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Claude First United Methodist Church Pew Fund or the Claude Ambulance Service.

Funeral services for Annie Clara Edwards, age 88, were held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 2, 2000, in Robertson Chapel of Memories in Clarendon with Rev. James Martindale, Baptist Minister, officiating.  Burial was held at Citizens Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc.

Mrs. Edwards died Wednesday, August 30, 2000, in Amarillo.  She was born January 25, 1912, in Toolie, Utah, and was a resident of Howardwick from 1981 to 1999 when she moved to Amarillo.  She married Rev. Joseph O.C. Edwards on January 30, 1930, at Amarillo.  He preceded her in death on May 29, 2000.  She was a homemaker.  She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Amarillo and was the president of the WMU for many years.

She was preceded in death by one son, Billy Bob Edwards in 1948.

Survivors include two daughters, Patricia Ann Edwards of Howardwick and Evelyn O’Donna Melancon of Houma, Louisiana; one son, Lanny Edwards of Clarendon; five grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; and six great great grandchildren.

Casket bearers were Kenneth Stone, Kenny Bridges, L.D. Robinson, John McVicker, Lee Jackson, and Shin Maxey.

Graveside services for Woodrow “Woody” Clendennen, age 82, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 28, 2000, at the Rowe Cemetery in Hedley with Rev. Lewis Ellis, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Lefors, and Rev. Bryan Knowles, a Baptist minister, officiating.  Arrangements were under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa.

Mr. Clendennen died Wednesday, July 26, 2000, in Pampa.  He was born February 25, 1918, in Hill County, Texas.  He married Mildred Crawford on October 17, 1936, in Waco.  He had been a resident of Pampa since 1998, moving from Amarillo.  He was a member of the Chaparral Hills Baptist Church of Amarillo.  He retired from Fort Worth and Denver Railroad and worked for the Campbell Ranch. 

He was preceded in death by three brothers and one sister.

Survivors include his wife, Mildred of Pampa; one daughter, Betty Owens of Pampa; one son, Doyle Clendennen of Pampa; five grandchildren; and 13 great grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to BSA Hospice, 800 N. Sumner, Pampa, Texas 79065 or the Rowe Cemetery Association in Hedley.

Mona Van Cam Pittman, age 61, formerly of Amarillo, died Friday, July 14, 2000, in Rockwall, Texas.

Mona was born December 28, 1938, in Roaring Springs and was the daughter of Earl and Vera Van Camp.  She married Keith Pittman in December 1967 in Amarillo, where they made their home and owned and operated Pittman Paint Contractors until they moved their business to the Dallas area in 1999.  Mona was a homemaker, artist, musician, gardener, gourmet chef, interior decorator, and partner with best friends Rose and Charlotte in “3 Designing Women.” 

Mona’s parents and husband preceded her in death.

Graveside memorial services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 20, 2000, at Citizens’ Cemetery in Clarendon with Rev. Leonard Holt of the First Christian Church officiating.  Memorial services were held at 2:30 p.m. at the Memorial Park Chapel in Amarillo with the Rev. Terry Tamplen of Kingswood United Methodist Church officiating.

Survivors include a daughter, Denise Niesz of Dallas; two sons, Dirk Pittman of Rockwall and Darren Pittman of Amarillo; a sister, Laverne Sarrett of Amarillo; a brother, Virgil Van Camp of Amarillo; and three grandchildren, Shea Pittman of Amarillo, Cameron and Chelsea Pittman of Rockwall.  Mona was the daughter-in-law of Roberta Pittman and sister-in-law of Cowboy and Jeanie Johnson and Judy Burlin of Clarendon, Bill C. and Vivian Pittman of Austin, and Pat Jordan of Amarillo.  Mona will be missed by many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Funeral services for Mary Frances Caraway McCully, age 87, of Lee’s Summit, MO, were held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 27, 2000, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church under the direction of Langsford Funeral Home in Lee’s Summit.

Mrs. McCully died on Sunday, July 23, 2000 at Lee’s Summit Hospital.  She was born June 30, 1913 in Clarendon to Odos Caraway and Julia Taylor Caraway.  She grew up in Clarendon and graduated from Incarnate Word College in San Antonio.  She had been a resident of Lee’s Summit, Missouri since 1977 and a member of the Holy Spirit Parish.

She was preceded in death by Michael M. McCully and Julie Mae Land and two infant sons.

Survivors include two daughters, Mary F. and her husband Richard O. Welch and Melissa L. and her husband James A. Cross, both of Lee’s Summit, MO; a son, Dr. Michael C. McCully of Grand Rapids, Michigan; two sisters, Agnes Heironimus of Enid, OK, and Betty Bell of Clarendon; grandchildren, Camille Gordon of Austin, Michael Welch and Patrick Welch, both of Lee’s Summit, Joseph Welch of Columbia, MO, Adam Cross of San Diego, CA, Catie Cross and Stephen Cross, both of Lee’s Summit, Alicia Roy, Eric McCully, Kathleen McCully, and Williams McCully, all of Dallas; and seven great grandchildren.